A descendant of the Gann and Titherington families of West Calaveras, local historian Frances Bishop conducted indefatigable research on county roads, dams, ditches, reservoirs, ferries, logging camps, county government, land ownership, and anything and everything that occurred between 1848 and 1875. She was especially interested in the Union Water Company, the Calaveras Big Trees, and the Emigrant Road (present State Route 4). Copies of her files and maps may be researched at the Calaveras County Archives and Calaveras Big Trees State Park.