Near Durham in Butte County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Samuel Neal

1816 – 1859

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, November 17, 2012

1. Samuel Neal Marker

Inscription. Born in Bucks County Pennsylvania, Neal a blacksmith by trade came to California with John Fremont’s second expedition in 1844. After working for John Sutter briefly at New Helvetia, obtained a land grant and established Rancho Esquon. After gathering a fortune in gold mining Neal turned to farming and ranching. Before an early death in 1859 Neal had immense holdings throughout Butte County.
“We today all owe a debt to this early pioneer”

Erected 1996 by E Clampus Vitus, Pair-O-Dice Chapter No. 7-11.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1844.

Location. 39° 40.532′ N, 121° 46.197′ W. Marker is near Durham, California, in Butte County. It can be reached from Oroville-Chico Hwy. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1727 Oroville-Chico Hwy, Durham CA 95938, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Sacramento Valley

and specifically in the Central Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: W.W. Durham House (approx. 2.4 miles away); Chico Forestry Station and Nursery (approx. 5.3 miles away); Chico World War I Memorial

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(approx. 5.4 miles away); General John and Annie K. Bidwell Gravesite (approx. 5½ miles away); Chico Cemetery G.A.R. Monument (approx. 5½ miles away); The Life and Times of John Bidwell (approx. 5.6 miles away); The Historic Home of Annie and John Bidwell (approx. 5.6 miles away); Rancho Del Arroyo Chico (approx. 5.6 miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. Honey Run Covered Bridge / Gold Dredge (was approx. 5.1 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Rancho Esquon - Wikipedia. Rancho Esquon (also called Neal’s Rancho) was a 22,194-acre (89.82 km2) Mexican land grant in present day Butte County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Samuel Neal. (Submitted on December 14, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, November 17, 2012

2. Samuel Neal Marker

Samuel Neal Tombstone image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, November 17, 2012

3. Samuel Neal Tombstone

Durham Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, November 17, 2012

4. Durham Cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2019. It was originally submitted on December 14, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,428 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 14, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.