This cache series follows the Yellowstone Kelly Heritage Trail and highlights the early Paradise families who gave their names to the main roads through town.
Neal Road was named for Samuel Neal
Years before gold was discovered in California, one of the early pioneers was Samuel Neal. He arrived as a blacksmith and worked at Sutters Fort in 1844. Sam Neal, along with John Bidwell allied with the Mexican governor in the Micheltornea war and both were rewarded for their loyalty. In 1845, Neal was granted the 22,193 acre Esquon Rancho which included the current communities of Durham and Gridley. He built a road along Nance Canyon to move cattle to cooler grazing pastures up the hill, past the current towns of Paradise, Magalia, Powellton and Inskip.
After gold was discovered in California, Sam Neal's road became an important route to bring supplies to miners on the ridge and later, to transport produce grown in Paradise to Chico and the valley communities. His road still runs from what is now Durham to Round Valley high in the Sierras. The length from here going north became part of Skyway. Sam Neal died of pneumonia in 1859 at the age of 43. He never married and his estate was bequeathed to his siblings and faithful bookkeeper, WW Durham, who is remembered by the town that bears his name today. Sam Neal is buried at the Durham Cemetary.
