Siskiyou settlers depended heavily on wagon construction and associated foundries. Louis Fafa built the wagon and furniture factory in Etna, which was expanded in 1877 by F.W. Frantz & Albert Wallis. In addition to wagons and wheels, the company supplied wood products, including doors, sashes and mouldings.
The Jackson brothers built a furniture and woodworking shop in Yreka that furnished wagon parts. A Mr. Shephard built an early machine shop in Yreka that burned down in 1864. After he rebuilt it, he sold it to Lawton & Skinner, who reopened it as the Yreka Iron Works in March 1870 on the corner of Lane and Second streets. It burned in Yreka’s “great fire” of 1871, was rebuilt and burned again in June 1881. Rebuilt again, that time of brick, the iron works served the community for many years.
Gilbert Lanphier built a rather unique “pail and tub” factory at Strawberry Valley, which would later become known as Sisson and then Mt. Shasta City. Farmers, laborers and farm women bought its products.
Source: Wells, Harry L. History of Siskiyou County, California. Oakland: D.J. Stewart & Co., 1881. 193. Print.
