Jean,
My great-grandfather also was in mining in Trinity. I found a lot of information in the Trinity Co., CA - Index to Federal Land Records Database. I found a reference to William Elliott in the Siskiyou Co., CA - Index to Federal Land Records California Land Patents Database. The date is 1919 though.
I also found a reference in 1891/03/04 for ROOD, OBADIAH; MULLINAUX, JOHN; HOADLEY, ELIAS A; ELLIOTT, WILLIAM.
Hope this helps.
Don