THE VALLEY OF HEART's DELIGHT
BICKNELL G.CONEY
was born in the western part
of England, January 5, 1830; lived with his parents until nineteen
years old, and graduated at an English university. He then
went to Australia, where he was employed in managing stock and
sheep for nearly three years. Next he engaged in quartz and
placer mining, and was Superintendent of a quartz-crushing machine at
Sandhurst. After remaining in Australia eigh tyears, he
retunred to England, in 1861, and about six months afterward came to
San Francisco, where he remained two months, and went to British
Columbia, staying there eighteen years. For four years he held an
appointment from the British Government on the inland revenue service,
and in 1867 he bought a farm of 160 acres, which he farmed for five
years, when he sold it and engaged in mining for a few months, and
afterward rented a farm for a year. He was then appointed
Recorder of Mining Claims in the Cassiar District, the appointment
coming from the Provincial Government. He was also a Justice of
the Peace, and had charge of the northern division o fthe disctrict for
two years. In May, 1880, he returned to England, where he
remained until March, 1881, then he came to California, and in the fall
fo the same year bought his present place.