by Susan Couso
Maud Tombs was one inspiring woman! She was born Maud Edna Long in Susanville in 1875. Her parents were John Thomas Long and Margaret Emily Owen Long.
In 1895, she married George Lincoln Tomb and they had three children; an infant son, Nadene (1901-1992, married Lyle Wemple) and Gladys (1903-2000, married Bernard McClelland).
George Tomb, a former minister, was elected Lassen County Clerk in 1898, but lost when running for a third term. In 1905, he was involved in the construction of the new Lassen High School, and in 1906, he was part of a ‘juicy’ scandal, when he was accused of taking ‘French leave’ from Lassen.
He apparently was involved in obtaining a heating system for the new high school, and then, instead of paying the supplier, took the money and gambled it away.
In an effort to quietly cover up the situation, some local businessmen chipped in and paid Tomb’s debt, but as he left Lassen County, they were stuck with the $20,000 that they had paid.
He was later spotted at the Palace and Oberon gambling rooms in Reno. Tomb mailed a letter to Maud, saying that he was on his way to Tonopah, Nevada, and was not coming back. So, George was out of the picture, and this put Maud in a really bad position. She had two small daughters, and George’s creditors were coming after her to pay up.
She divorced George, and in the 1910 U. S. Census, she and her girls were in San Francisco, living with her brother, James and his wife, Myrtle, and working as a cashier in a butcher shop. Fortunately for Lassen County, Maud returned to Susanville and lived with her parents on Roop Street, and by 1930, she was living in a rental on Main Street.
When the County Clerk position was up for election in 1918, she was persuaded to run against the man who had defeated George Tomb, back in 1906.
Maud, for whatever reason, now added an ‘s’ to the end of her name and became Maud Tombs, a decision that lasted for the rest of her life. She was the victor in the election, and though challenged through the years as her terms ended, she served continuously for the rest of her life. She remained Lassen County Clerk until 1951.
By 1951, Maud was ready to retire, and she gave her notice. She had a retirement party, which was a big event. It was held in the Hotel Mt. Lassen banquet room, and most every county employee, local dignitary, friend and family member attended the fete.
After 32 years serving as Lassen County Clerk, Maud had probably signed more county documents than anyone else ever has.
After her party, before she actually retired, Maud did not show up for work. Her daughter, Nadene, went to check on her and found Maud dead in her bed. She had apparently died in her sleep.
Nadene, who had worked for Maud as Deputy County Clerk, became Lassen County’s new Clerk, a job she held for many years.
Maud had succeeded in overcoming so very many challenges. She is a testament as to what people can do if they just try.
