Ralph Neasham Water Right. Know all men by these presents — that I Ralph Neasham have on this 30th day of January A.D. 1874 claimed and located one hundred (100) inches of the water flowing in the stream known as Neashams Creek situate in Surprise Valley in the county of Siskiyou, state of California.
Notes: Siskiyou transcription — EARLIEST USE DATE IN ALL RECORDS: claims 'quiet peaceable and undisputed possession' since May 1, 1859! That's pre-Civil War, 14 years before Modoc County was created. Named stream (Neasham's Creek = claimant's own name). Original filed Jan 30, 1874 by J.C. Bowmer. John V. Brown Recorder (F.R. Hogeboom Deputy). Certified by Eugene Dowling (new Siskiyou recorder, 4th name) May 18, 1910, from Vol 1 of Water Rights page 213. Recorded in Modoc at request of Modoc Abstract Co.