USA > California > Tuolumne County > A history of Tuolumne County, California : compiled from the most authentic records > Part 29
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Captain Green is now a resident of San Francisco, where he performs the duties of Superintendent of Washington-
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street Wharf, an office under the charge of the State Gov- ernment.
His living children are five in number: John Henry and Adeline Savilla, who, with Austin, now deceased, were born in Sonora; and Charles D., Frank M., and Verdenal N., who were born in San Francisco.
JUDGE C. H. CHAMBERLAIN.
The above gentleman, now Receiver in the United States Land Office at San Francisco, lived in Columbia in early years, when that town was one of the liveliest camps of which the mines of California could boast ..
The Judge was born in the State of Maine, coming thence in the Summer of 1849. He mined for a time on the Mo- kelumne River, going in October of that year to Monte- zuma, Tuolumne County. In the Spring of 1850 he worked in Soldiers' Gulch, near Tuttletown, and still later at Dusty Bar and Grand Bar, on the Stanislaus River, and at Little Garrote. In the year 1851 he was at Tuttletown, mining as before, and went in the Fall of that year to Co- lumbia. His residence in the latter place was a fact of importance to the community at large, his public and pri- vate acts identifying him with the highest interests of the town. Concluding his residence in Columbia, he went in 1857 to San Joaquin County, where, in that year, he be- came Whig candidate for the State Senatorship, against J. M. Mandeville. His public service in Columbia embraced three years as Justice of the Peace, which office he held with honor and credit. In 1861 the Judge became State Senator, and in 1865 Assemblyman. In the Fall of 1866 he was appointed to his present position in the Land Office, by President Johnson, and has been reappointed to that
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situation by Presidents Grant and Hayes, having served sixteen years in all.
Judge Chamberlain now resides in his pleasant home in Oakland, with his wife, nee Miss Susan G. Wilson, also a native of Maine, and who has been previously mentioned as having taught the first school ever established in Colum- bia. The pair have one son, Colonel William H. Cham- berlain, of the National Guards of the State of California, and one daughter, Carrie.
It may be mentioned that the Judge is a member of the Tuolumne Re-Union, the State of Maine Association, and of the California Pioneers.
CAPTAIN A. B. BEAUVAIS.
This gentleman, a well known and respected citizen of the section where he resides, is a native of South Dart- mouth, Massachusetts, having been born in July, 1828. Having prepared himself for a seafaring life by the study of surveying and navigation, he went to sea in 1842, and continued so employed until 1851. Arriving then in San Francisco, he there engaged in mercantile affairs for awhile, until when, in the Fall of 1851, he removed to Carson Hill, Calaveras County, one year later going to Columbia, where he has since remained, Mining and the construction of ditches occupied the Captain's time until 1870, when he was elected County Surveyor, and also received the ap- pointment of United States Deputy Mineral Surveyor of the District, which latter position he still retains.
He married Miss Vinnie Andrews, a native of Bangor, Maine, by this union there being two children living, Addie and Katie.
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H. B. McNEILL,
Previously referred to, furnishes these additional facts in regard to his interesting career: He was born in Oxford, New York, April 4, 1820. In 1849 he went to California, via Cape Horn, on the brig Mary Tucker, arriving in San Francisco on July 6. Stopping but a short time at San Francisco, he proceeded to Tuolumne County, and mined for awhile on Sullivan's Creek. In 1850 he went to the Sandwich Islands for a period of four months. Returning to California, Mr. McNeill made two trips to Panama, and in 1852 again went to Tuolumne County, there receiving the position of Deputy, under County Clerk W. H. Ford.
Having been admitted to the Bar before coming West, he commenced practicing law at Sonora in the Winter of 1852, which he continued until 1872. In 1871 Mr. McNeill was elected County Judge, taking his seat in 1872, remain- ing on the bench four years and resuming practice in 1876. He resided in Tuolumne County two years longer, from there going to San Francisco to enter the Revenue Service, in which capacity he still continues.
ALEXANDER STAIR,
Who was born in York, York County, Pennsylvania, on February 9, 1828, came to California in November, 1849. Locating first at Sonora, and stopping there for a brief period, he went from there to Mariposa County. Remain- ing in the latter place for a short time, he returned to Tuolumne County, this time taking up his residence at Chinese Camp, in 1854, his occupation being Stage Agent, which place he filled for nine years. Leaving Chinese
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Camp in 1863, he came to San Francisco and engaged in mercantile pursuits, at which place he yet remains, at present being connected with the firm of J. Wagner & Co., Nos. 105 and 107 Mission street.
JOHN A. SAMPSON,
Born in Kingston, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, Oc- tober 3, 1831, came to California in 1852. Proceeding almost immediately to Tuolumne County, he engaged in mining in the Corral Ranch Claims, situated on Curtis' Creek. Mr. Sampson was one of the proprietors of a tun- nel which was run into Table Mountain, called Scooperville Tunnel, and which was completed to a length of 3,500 feet. His sojourn in the county extended over a period of twelve years, during which time he was one of the originators of the Republican party, in connection with Dr. Gunn. In 1864 Mr. Sampson came to San Francisco, and for the past fifteen years has been employed in the Custom House, at the present time holding the responsible position of Assist- ant Cashier.
R. A. ROBINSON,
Born at Patterson, Putnam County, New York, March 29, 1813. Came to California, arriving November 7, 1852, via Panama. Remained in San Francisco until about March 1, 1853. Went to Sacramento, taking a position in the banking house of D. O. Mills & Co., remaining however only two months, going from there to Tuolumne County, engaging in mining in the vicinity of Columbia. In the Summer of 1853 he became Secretary of the Tuolumne
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Water Company. In the Fall of 1855 he was elected County Clerk, his opponent being General Evans, and held the office for two years. In 1859 Mr. R. left Tuolumne County to take charge of Lloyd Tevis & Co.'s ditch, and lived in Knight's Ferry and vicinity for two years. Since his de- parture from Stanislaus County, Mr. R. has been placed in numerous positions of trust; especially may be mentioned his connection with various copper interests in Calaveras and some of the southern counties, where his sound judg- ment saved his patrons thousands of dollars which might otherwise have been uselessly involved. For the past nine years he has been in the office of the Superintendent of Streets and Public Highways, occupying the position of Chief Deputy. Though taking the post under Republican administration, such were his capability and efficiency that with each change of party the incumbent of the office-the Superintendent of Public Streets-has deemed it desirable to retain Mr. R. in the capacity of Chief Deputy.
THE MACOMBER BROTHERS.
These old settlers, and well known residents of this . county, are natives of Utica, New York. The elder, George Macomber, was instructed in mercantile pursuits at several of the prominent business houses in New York City, and since that time has been engaged in business in St. Louis and New Orleans.
The three brothers came to California in 1850, crossing the plains, a part of the journey having been made in com- pany with Holliday's, Dr. Knox's and Crow's trains. They settled at Stockton, where they were in business for a time, then removing to the mines, where they commenced mining for gold at Angle's Camp, Jamestown and Shaw's Flat.
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George and Frederick Macomber were also among the first engaged in using the hydraulic on their mines in Amador County, where they worked off and on for twelve years, finally permanently settling at Sonora, where they have since lived. These gentlemen were in company with Mr. Brown in the ownership of the well known Big Table Mountain Lead, which at one time paid as high as $16 to the single pan of earth, and 100 ounces of gold per day. They also owned in the Mexican Claim, purchased of May, Solomon and Antonio, in Tennessee Gulch. The ground was yellow gravel, but, notwithstanding this fact, paid at times from $5 to $50 to the pan, and some pieces valued at $800.
George and Frederick Macomber are now located in the north part of Sonora, where their pickle, cider and vinegar works are established, producing the finest quality of champagne cider, pickles and cider vinegar on the Pacific Coast, and shipping largely througout the Pacific States and Territories.
J. P. TIBBITS, M. D.
This old settler of Tuolumne County is a native of Can- andaigua, Ontario County, New York, and was born May 2, 1806. In 1828 he commenced the study of medicine at Buffalo, New York. He located at Steubenville, Ohio, in 1830, and in 1834 removed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he practiced his profession four years, then gradu- ated at the Jefferson Medical College, in Philadelphia, in 1836. He resided in Pittsburg until 1845, at which time a fire destroyed all his property, and he then located at Cin- cinnati, Ohio. In 1849 he came to this State, arriving in San Francisco on the 5th of July of that year. He at once went to Big Bar, on the middle fork of the American River
1
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where he mined and practiced his profession. In the Fall of that year he returned East, and in the following Spring, with his family, again came to California, settling in So- nora, on the 23d of August, 1850. In the Fall of 1851 he built his Barnum House, near the head of Washington street, which hotel he kept until it was burned, in 1853. He remained in Sonora, living with his son-in-law, Captain Green, of the City Hotel, until the Spring of 1854, then moving to San Francisco. After a residence of two years in that place, he went to Iowa Hill, Placer County, where he lived until 1862, then going to Idaho, thence to Mon- tana and Washington Territories, but afterwards returned to San Francisco, where he lived three years. He came to Columbia in 1872, where he devoted his time to mining and the practice of his profession. He married Rachel o- hanna Bartlett, a native of Jefferson County, Ohio. This estimable lady, with Mrs. Holden and Mrs. Brodigan, were the only American female residents of Sonora in the early part of 1849. Mrs. Tibbits was a lady of refinement, hold- ing advanced ideas, and much respected by all who knew her, not only for the many excellent personal qualities, but as one of the pioneer mothers of California.
A. B. PRESTON.
Judge Preston was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on October 3, 1829, receiving there his primary education. He reached the age of fifteen years, when, going to New York City, he there engaged as a clerk, which occupation he followed until his departure for California. He arrived in San Francisco on March 9, 1849, staying in that city until 1850, when he came to Tuolumne, settling at Colum-
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bia. Mining for a time at Columbia and at Jacksonville, he then moved to Campo Seco in January, 1851, where he became Constable and Interpreter for Judge Halsey's Court. He moved to Jamestown in 1852, where he has since lived. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1856 and was his own successor up to 1878. We do not remem- ber of ever having recorded another instance where a per_ son has held the same office continuously for twenty-two consecutive years. In 1856 Mr. Preston was appointed by Governor Neely Johnson as Notary Public, and has held that office also up to the present time. He was elected one of the Supervisors of this county in 1878, and is the pre- sent incumbent. He married Maggie C. Donovan, on May 21, 1870. They have three children living: Howard, Gracie and Pearl, and have buried three others.
H. M. ROSEKRANS
Was born in Saratoga, New York, January 24, 1829. In 1852 he came to California, locating in Tuolumne. County, and for one year kept a store at Kincoole's Flat. Next he engaged in mining, but concluded to give that up to follow his trade of painting. As an example of the prices ob- tained for provisions in those days, for a load of flour, which in 1852 Mr. Rosekrans brought from Knight's Ferry, he received $200 a barrel. After over three years' resi- dence in Sonora, he removed to San Francisco, still follow- ing his trade, all his undertakings in the latter place having been attended with success.
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
J. W. MCCARTHY.
The subject of this sketch was born in Columbia, on May 5, 1853. He resided here till 1870, when he moved to Stanislaus. He was elected Minute Clerk of the Assem- bly in 1875 and 1877, and was elected County Clerk in 1877, and was his own successor for three terms. He is still County Clerk, and a nominee of the Democratic Con- vention for Clerk of the Supreme Court of the State. His brother, C. F. McCarthy, is now the nominee to succeed him as County Clerk. He is not married.
JUDGE CHARLES H. RANDALL.
Judge Randall, now the editor of the Union Democrat, and a resident of Sonora during some thirty years, and, withal, one of the most widely known and honored of all those who have owned Tuolumne as their home, has kindly . put the publisher of this book in possession of a few plain facts relating to his life, of which the following are sub- joined :
The Judge was born in Providence, Rhode Island, June 7, 1824. Went from there to New York City in 1844, from New York City to Tennessee in 1846, coming to Cal- ifornia around Cape Horn, landing in San Francisco Sep- tember 9, 1849. In that year he mined at Weber Creek, a tributary of the American River. In 1850 he went to Cen- tral America, spent the Winter in Nicaragua, returned to California in 1851, and came to Chili Camp, Tuolumne County. in that Spring. Followed mining in the county until the Fall of 1853. In October, 1853, he entered the Sheriff's Office, under Major P. L. Solomon, continuing
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
with him during the term, or until the Spring of 1856. Solomon was appointed United States Marshal in 1857, and Mr. Randall was Deputy in his office until the Fall of 1858, when he returned to Sonora, and entered the mercantile business with the late James Lane, doing business under the firm name of Lane & Randall until 1862. In 1861 he was elected Supervisor, and served six years. In 1867 he was elected County Judge, serving from June 1, 1868, to January 1, 1872. In 1869 he bonght the Union-Democrat, conducting it until August, 1875, when he sold it and moved to San Francisco. In two years he came back, and bought into the Democrat again, where he now is. In politics he was originally a Whig. After the Presidential election of 1852 he was identified with no political party until 1856, since which time he has supported the Demo- cratic party. Most of the time since 1856 he has been an active partizan, and has taken much interest in the welfare of the county. The Judge was one of the mass in early times, and saw many of the exciting scenes of those days. He says: " I hope to always live in the county, for it is my home, and all other places are strange to me compared with it." It may not be out of place to say that he has been an active Odd Fellow since 1846; was Grand Master of the State of California in 1878-79, and has represented the Grand Encampment of California in the Sovereign Grand Lodge, I. O. O. F., for five sessions.
JOHN H. GRADY
Was born in San Francisco, July 23, 1852, and in 1855 re- moved to Yankee Hill, Tuolumne County. His early edu- cation was acquired at Shaw's Flat and Springfield, at
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which places he lived alternately until 1864, returning then to his native city. At the age of fifteen Mr. Grady learned the upholstering trade, and remained in the furniture busi- ness until elected to the office of Tax Collector, in 1881, and of which office he is the present incumbent.
Mr. Grady was one of the only three Democrats elected on his ticket, and is the youngest executive officer in the City and County of San Francisco.
DR. W. P. GIBBONS
Was born in Wilmington, Delaware, April 19, 1812. At the age of twelve he entered a printing office to learn type setting, where he remained for three years. Subsequently he was connected with the Franklin Type Foundry, one of the largest establishments of the kind in the United States.
Leaving the foundry, he went into business for himself, but failing health obliged him to give it up. After living on a farm for two years, he sufficiently recovered his health to take charge of a young ladies' seminary in Poughkeepsie, New York. His health again failing, the Doctor came to California, practicing medicine in San Francisco, having graduated in that branch in 1847, at the University of New York.
San Francisco's cool climate not agreeing with him, he removed to Tuolumne County in 1857, with headquarters at Columbia. Dr. Gibbons practiced here successfully for thirteen years, changing his residence, at the end of that period, to Alameda, where he has since remained, being one of the prominent medical men of that place.
Geology and Mining.
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Chat, & Blakes
المـ
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GEOLOGY AND MINING.
GEOLOGY AND MINING.
Since the earliest explorations by miners, much specula- tion has been rife, and uncounted theories have been set forth concerning the geological formation of these hills and valleys, and finally a vast deal of knowledge has been collected concerning them; and if this knowledge has not resulted as men have insisted it should, in rendering the discovery of gold certain and easy, it has at least been of benefit in a scientific way.
Many men, with real or imagined scientific knowledge, have given their thoughts to the solution of the great ques- tions which underlie the formation of mineral veins and ore bodies; and while thus far the discoveries in that direction have not proved the entire truth of what has been put forth as theories, still the progress of scientific research has been such as to inspire confidence in the future ability of men to demonstrate the truth.
It is not the purpose of the writer of this hasty sketch to do aught more than to set forth simply the main truths concerning the geology of this county, as at present under- stood, leaving theory and hypothesis for discussion by those who feel themselves qualified for such a task.
The eastern portion of the county belongs to the granite region -the rocks underlying and characterizing the locality being of that class. Westward we find a region which is as manifestly the slate region; the country rock be- ing argillaceous, or silicious, or talcose, presenting miner-
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alogically such differences that we may again divide the slate region into two divisions, viz: the clay slate belt, and the talcose slate belt; the latter lying parallel to, but west from the other.
The prevailing character of certain of the upper sedi- mentary rocks stamps them as belonging to the Cretaceous epoch. Tertiary deposits occur, and will be referred to in their proper place. So, to simplify the geological view of the county, the surface may be regarded as being divided into three great belts, parallel to each other, and whose course is north and south. These are the granite, the clay slate, and the talcose slate belts.
Limestone occurs abundantly, constituting a broad belt or deposit, hundreds of feet in thickness and several miles in width, penetrating from north to south, and nearly co- incident with the central slates.
No richer field for scientific study exists in this State, and within the county the vicinity of Sonora possesses perhaps as many points of interest as any other locality. The town is situated in what was apparently the basin of an immense lake in far distant times. What was the size of this lake is impossible to approximate to. Viewed from the summit of Bald Mountain, its shores stand out in bold relief. Eight miles north by west they seem to consist of coarse sandstone, outlining the base of a conical volcanic peak. Northward still farther the eye catches the view of the same peculiar characters of table-capped summits at a distance of some fourteen miles. In other directions the appearance of shore-lines is hardly less clearly defined.
While viewing these evidences, one cannot but be struck with admiration and wonder at the various changes that this portion of the country has undergone, and one cannot have even the slightest conception of the extent of that
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power by whose influence these changes have been wrought. Upon these hills one may sit, and in imagination picture to himself the smooth and unruffled surface of this lake, whose depth may have been four hundred or more feet, and whose breadth reached a score of miles, with a length of twice that, with animals far different from those which now in- habit its site, feeding upon its shores or basking in its waters. Where in this age the toilsome miner spent his years in exhuming from Mother Earth's bosom the treas- ures scattered abroad by Nature's forces and left in the deep cañons or in the clefts in the rugged limestone bowl- ders, once there trod strange animals feeding upon strange plants, or warring with and devouring each other. The mastodon, the giant of mammals, and the highest developed and strongest being of its remote age, roamed at will throughout this region, finally laying his bones to rest in the alluvium which was forming, and from whence they have been torn by the inquiring men of to-day, to be eagerly scanned by the scientist who adds another species or an- other genus to the sum of knowledge.
The limestone deposits above referred to form one of the most curious formations ever remarked by science. Addi- tional interest pertains to them on account of the fact that the earliest and most extensive placers ever worked were upon limestone. This belt runs through all the southern mining counties, and can be traced for one hundred miles, with variable width, the greatest extent of which is several miles-at Columbia. The overlying placer deposits were very extensive, but were in general shallow, not usually extending more than six feet beneath the surface; but in some instances the auriferous gravels were a hundred feet in depth, inclusive of the depth of the crevices into which the gold had penetrated. Throughout its whole ex- tent the limestone bedrock has been carved into fantastic
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forms by the agency of water carrying carbonic acid, which has dissolved the more soluble portions, leaving projecting masses, irregular in outline, standing like gravestones to mark a prehistoric burial place of giants. This action of the water is not confined to the surface; below, and out of vision, the same agencies have been and still are at work, carving the limestone into formless shapes, wearing out small crevices and huge caverns, some accessible to man, but most of all secured from his gaze by many feet of stone.
Several distinct strata of limestone exist, overlying each other, and one or more of these are said to contain fossil encrinites; but there is no distinct and indisputable evi- dence to show the place in geological history of this de- posit. However, it is clear that it is of deep-sea, marine origin. It shows distinct stratification, and alternate layers of gray, blue and white. The stratification is nearly ver- tical.
At a point near Columbia is the already well known "Crystal Palace Cave," a vast cavern in the solid limestone, excavated, as above indicated, by percolating waters charged with carbonic acid. Its extent is measured by miles, while acres of passages and chambers exist, ornamented by nature with stalactitic formations of the most gorgeous descrip- tion.
Many evidences of intense volcanic action exist in Tuol- umne County. Streams of lava have in ancient times flowed downward across the land, and Table Mountain yet remains a memento of those epochs, while in the easterr. part of the County fifty feet of breccia, a different lava de- posit, cover the hills. No greater wonder exists than Table Mountain. Thirty miles long, and of surprising regularity, even on the summit, a stream of molten lava forced itself downward towards the plains, and hardened where it ran,
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attaining a width of from twelve to eighteen hundred feet, and being of an average thickness of one hundred and fifty feet.
"The space occupied by this wall-like mountain was once the channel of a river, having precipitous banks," down which the melted basalt ran from its source in a neighbor- ing volcano. That an old river-bed lies beneath is proved by the fact that the underlying detrital matter is water- worn, and that deposits of gold-bearing gravel are contained therein, from which immense sums have been realized from their workings. Beneath the basalt comes a deposit of what by the miners is called "pipe clay," but which doubt- less is but another form of volcanic matter which was poured out previous to the main overflow.
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