USA > California > Tuolumne County > A history of Tuolumne County, California : compiled from the most authentic records > Part 37
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
per, no matter how minute in quantity. 'Holding ground' meant the pretense of a one day's work per month per- formed on a claim. I calculated that I could in this way ' keep up' and hold sixty claims per month, and still have time left to prospect for more. The company was organ- ized at Bob Love's store, in Montezuma. I wrote the con- stitution and by-laws. I fitted the company out on paper with a president, a secretary, a treasurer and a board of directors, and also with a 'prospector.' I was the pros- pector. The prospector was really the company. The prospector did all the work, discovered all the claims, kept them up, collected all the monthly assessments I could from some thirty members, living over an area of territory larger than the State of Connecticut, and officiated per proxy as president, treasurer, secretary and board of di- rectors. I took up and kept up copper and silver mines all the way from Coultersville on one side, the Rock River Ranch on another, up to the Sierra summits, east of So- nora.
" The active working force of the company consisted of a very poor horse, a very poor dog and very inferior shot- gun, whose energies were largely expended at the breech in kicking me when I fired, a frying-pan, a coffee-pot, a small stock of provisions and a pair of blankets. I obtained the loan of the horse for six months in exchange for company stock. I believe the saddle was furnished for a similar consideration. Tempted, indeed I may say almost forced by circumstances, I imitated greater corporations, and sometimes added a few drops of water to fertilize the com- pany's stock. Transient board for myself and animal I sometimes, with some difficulty, managed to settle in this way. It was at times Hobson's choice with the landlord, for it was all he could get. After these operations I avoided those hotels. These irregularities were the result
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of entrusting one man with too much power. I was that man. But it was hard and expensive to collect assessments when the members of the company were scattered all along from French Bar right and left to Eureka Valley, on the Summit.
""Among the more prominent members of my company, whose memories with me now rank among my greatest earthly treasures, were Dr. Lampson, of Chinese Camp, a whole-souled man, full of generosity, good will, and, in his profession, good acts for his fellow man, as many a miner can testify; David Hayes, my companion while hy- bernating during the winter of 1865 in ten feet of snow in Eureka Valley, as good and brave a man as ever the East sent to the West; Dr. Clark, noted for driving mustang teams and absent-mindedness-another being of eccen- tric and generous nature, of whom it was told as one of the many evidences of his peculiarity that, once buying a pair of new boots of a Sonora shoemaker, he, drawing one of them on, took the other, and, pairing it off with the dis- carded old one, flung the wrongly mated pair into the street; Sol. Miller, express and news agent at Chinese Camp, who, as a mimic and quick catcher of character mannerisms, would have made a hit on the stage, though I imagine he never suspected his talent in this direction; George Evans, and John Bourland, once Sheriff. Had the company managed to wriggle through another year, I should probably have had half the county holding its stock.
" The company had an active career of about six months. I discovered a great many mines, but none that would pay. More than this, I took up land for the company, so charmed was I with some of the picturesque valleys which I found in the remote fastnesses of the Sierras. They were small Yosemites, surrounded by granite walls many hun-
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
dreds of feet in height, abounding in beautiful lakes and rich meadows, apparently closed on all sides, no place of ingress or egress being visible, and studded with noble pines and oaks. Influenced at one and the same time by the ' love for the beautiful ' and love for cash, I nailed the company's notices to the trees, pre-empting these romantic spots, on which for seven months out of the twelve the snow laid ten or twelve feet deep.
" There was no money in all this. My soul was ever much on the heights of sentimentality, but cash lays deeper down. The early fall of the high Sierras came on, and from them, the early snows obliged me to come out. We all came out together. By ' we,' I mean the grizzlies, deer, cattle, Indians and myself. The first light snowfall of winter abounded with our individual tracks, all making our way to the warmer plains below. Such was our yearly custom.
" I brought up that winter at Dave Hayes and John Welch's Ranch, in Eureka Valley. There I staid till March. The company was bankrupt. When the man who had given his very slow horse for six months in exchange for stock wanted his horse back, and so obliged the company to use its own legs for purposes of locomotion, the final crisis was reached and the company was obliged to sus- pend. It had discovered much on which to base expecta- tion, but absolutely nothing on which to realize cash.
" I left this mountain abode in March, and set out alone on snow shoes for Sonora, fifty-six miles distant. I occu- pied three days and nights in getting to Strawberry Flat, twenty-six miles from Sonora, meanwhile freezing several toes and once taking an involuntary slide of six hundred feet down a smoothly frozen mountain side, where I re- mained all night at the spot where I was so fortunate as to bring up. Had I proceeded a few hundred farther, a few
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APPENDIX.
pounds of animal organization, known to a few by the name at the end of this sketch, would have been resolved by pro- cess of decomposition into what we term its original ele- ments, for I should have slid off a precipice and been broken to pieces.
"Arrived in Sonora, profoundly ' busted,' I set to work digging post-holes for my old and faithful friend Robert E. Gardiner, then County Clerk of Tuolumne. I don't think he was very anxious to have post-holes dug on his premises, but I do think he allowed me to imagine I was earning something in this way out of charity for my condi- tion. I alternately dug post-holes and composed a lecture. I hadn't the remotest idea of the subject of this lecture when I commenced writing it, and I had no very clear idea what the subject really was when I finished. Dreading to face a real audience at first, I rehearsed it before a private one, of my own selection, in the Sonora Court House, one evening. Finding that I could really stand fire, and that my tongue would not refuse duty in the presence of the multitude, as I feared it might, I hired my hall and adver- tised my lecture. It was a partial success. My critics said the matter was good, but the manner of delivery was not. 'they were right, and would be to-day were they to hear me again. I starred with this lecture through the county, delivering it at Columbia, Jamestown, Summersville, Oak Flat, Don Pedro's, and pushing the campaign into Mari- posa and Stanislaus, speaking at Coultersville, Mariposa and French Bar. I was my own agent, traveled on foot, carried my own posters, tacked them up, and depended mainly for remuneration on voluntary contributions. When in Coultersville, I suggested to the audience that if lacking coin they could substitute buttons. Some of them took me at my word. Often on arising to speak I felt an anxiety, hanging as a heavy weight on my mind, whether the re-
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
ceipts of the evening would suffice to pay a hotel bill which I knew could never be liquidated from any other source. This also is an experience which tries a man's soul.
" During this lecture season the State election came on. A wild impulse seized me to run for the Legislature. I had seen scalawags elected to the Legislature, and in this saw encouragement that I might be. True, I had no money, and not a first-class reputation in some respects; but, then, I had everything to gain and nothing to lose. So I an- nounced myself and ran. On the all-important day I ap- peared before the Democratic Convention in Sonora, made a speech which was a farrago of nonsense, and which did not even prove me a Democrat or endorse a single plank of the party platform; yet I was nominated by acclamation. But not elected. Perhaps the county did not wish to lose me.
"This attempt on the Legislature of California proved the indirect means of my riddance from the county. Some- thing of my writings in the Union Democrat, and something more in connection with my legislative canvass had ap- peared in the San Francisco papers. This influenced Joseph E. Lawrence, editor and part proprietor at that time of the Golden Era, to make me an offer to serve on that paper. I accepted, and in 1866 ended my connection with and baleful influence on Tuolumne.
" I count, however, my journalistic career as really com- mencing one Sunday under a big pine tree on the bank of an unnamed rivulet at Red Mountain Bar. I had, with a number of other gentlemen resident in that locality, been on a spree, and while under the influence of that certain loss of self-esteem consequent on excess of any description, and which by some is termed 'repentance,' I put my thoughts on paper and sent them to the Union Democrat. They were published over the signature of 'Dogberry.' I
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APPENDIX.
followed this up with other articles, from time to time, and acquired a certain local reputation as a writer, and, I be- lieve, a very poor reputation as anything else.
" Tuolumne County was for me a school. The great variety of human nature with which I was brought in con- tact seemed as a lesson to be learned. It was a mine of most valuable experience, one I have often worked since, and never yet bottomed. Life in great cities does not afford such opportunities for studying individual charac- teristics as does the life of isolated localities of small popu- lation. In the Californian 'camp' it became a necessity that everybody became more or less acquainted with every- body else. Put ten thousand men together, and the chances are that within a year's time you won't know more than a dozen of them well. Put fifty men together, and in a year's time you will know more or less of their individual characteristics and the lives of every one of them. All this is valuable. It serves as fifty separate lessons in hu- man nature. I put knowledge of human nature above the education of the college. Show me your successful man in business or politics, and I will show you the man whose chief study has been that of his fellow man-or woman.
" Among the distinguished men of Tuolumne with whom I have been brought in contact, were Tom Northrup and Gideon Thompson, perhaps the most prominent 'old- timers, at Red Mountain Bar. Northrup was a bony giant, and counted, in the matter of work on a river claim, a ' regular horse.' Gid. Thompson was as good a fellow as ever was, as all who knew him will testify. He ran the Red Mountain Bar Store till its stock in trade dwindled down to a gallon of whisky, and then, packing up his fiddle, trudged up the hill, singing, ' What can't be cured must be endured.'
"At Hawkins' Bar, Munson Van Riper, of the New York
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
Knickerbocker stock, was voted 'our oldest and most re- spected citizen.' Munse, in the early days, was counted the best cook and housekeeper on the Bar. He used to wash his own shirts and sheets. He slept in sheets, which at that time was deemed ultra-luxurious.
" Morgan Davis was another prominent inhabitant of Hawkins'. He was for years the custodian of the Hawkins' Bar Library, which had been purchased by the 'Boys ' in San Francisco-and a very creditable library it was. Often have I, at the East, cited this as a proof of the character of the early Californians. The prevalent idea in the States is that the Californian of that time was a rough, uncouth, whisky-guzzling semi-outlaw, when in fact those who came from 1849 to 1852 were the very pick of the energy, enter- prise and intelligence, not only of the States but of other countries. However, California writers and playwrights are responsible for this erroneous impression; and it's done, and can't be helped.
" Peter Haldeman, Pennsylvanian, once member of the Legislature, and afterwards my ' mining pard,' was a noted citizen of Swett's Bar. He was one of the salt of the earth. Poor fellow, he rests now, unmarked by a stone, somewhere in the Sonora graveyard. Old Jo Gallone, a former Key West wrecker, was also long one of the pillars of Swett's.
" At Indian Bar, in its later days, John Sanborn repre- sented its Vanderbilt. His big strike in the Indian Bar bank, after every one supposed it had been worked out, was perhaps the most prominent event in the history of that bar so long as anybody was left to preserve its history. Alas, how we are scattered, and what gnats we are; here to-day, and blown off by the winds of destiny to-morrow. But the river, hills and banks remain, though I am now even skeptical about calling them ' everlasting.'
"When Montezuma was a place, the store of Robert Love
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formed the Democratic headquarters, and that of William Brown the Republican rendezvous, from which, during the heated term of ' The War,' the political sympathizers made faces at each other.
" Ezekiel Brown, long landlord of the Crimea House, was in his time a bright and shining light, especially in promoting local mining enterprises.
With reference to the grade of character and intelligence among the earlier Californians, what a notable illustration was afforded of this in the flusher days of Sonora. What a galaxy of cleverness, talent, quick intelligence, wit and humor was found in the following group of men, all resi- dent there in 1859: H. P. Barber, the noted lawyer; Dr. John Walker, John Sedgwick, Charles Carroll Brown, Robert E. Gardiner, George Seckels, A. N. Francisco, editor of the Sonora Democrat; Charles Randall, Allen Mar- dis, Dr. Franklin, E. R. Galvin, David Hays, Sam Patter- son, James Stuart, ex-Sheriff; Caleb Dorsey, - Murphy, of the " Long Tom " saloon; Dr. Browne, Dr. Bruner, I. J. Potter, Dr. Snell, Fred Brown, the handsome barkeeper; Ned Rogers, and many others whose names now escape my memory. Why, such a convocation of men was a mass meeting all by themselves. Should I neglect also to men- tion 'Johnny Smith,' the prince of saloon keepers, and the insister and promoter of Order Gentlemen, under peculiar circumstances and conditions ?
" God bless the old county! In fertility of soil, beauty of scenery, a genial climate, and a general capacity for an earthly Paradise, God has blessed it already. It needs only that man's common sense and industry should take up the work where Deity has left off and make it one.
"PRENTICE MULFORD."
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
GENERAL GEORGE S. EVANS.
Among the many notable present or past residents of old Tuolumne, no one has ever occupied a more prominent position in public life, and no one has distinguished him- self in a higher degree, by the possession of valuable qualities of mind and heart, than has the subject of this sketch. During a third of a century General Evans has continued to retain the respect and admiration of his con- temporaries, and now, after long years spent in public ser- vice and private enterprise, we find him in possession of those valuable mental gifts which have made his career a succession of high achievements.
He was born in Tecumseh, Michigan, in August, 1826. Going to Texas in his early boyhood, his youth was there passed during the time when the heroic pioneers of that State were preparing for the struggle which gave them in- dependence from the hated dominion of Mexico. In the subsequent period, when Texas constituted a republic, his father became a member of the Cabinet of the "Lone Star " State. The fortunes of the war, however, drove the family from their pleasant home, and in the bloody and memorable conflict at Alamo, the brother of young George met his death while in command of a detachment. Directly after these stirring events had transpired, the subject of our account removed to New Orleans, there to attend school, and at a subsequent period to enter the dry goods store of Thomas Sheldon & Co., and again, at a later date, to go into the service of the Western Marine Fire Insur- ance Company.
Somewhat later, when war broke out between the United States and Mexico, Mr. Evans, now come to the age of nine- teen years, proceeded again to Texas, and enlisted in the independent company commanded by the celebrated Cap-
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APPENDIX.
tain Ben. McCulloch, and served until the battle of Monte- rey, being attached to the regiment of Colonel Jack Hays. After the taking of that city, Mr. Evans, with his comrades, were disbanded, when he returned to Texas and re-enlisted with McCulloch, receiving the appointment of Assistant Quartermaster, performing those duties acceptably until the company received its final discharge.
The arts of peace now demanded his attention, and we accordingly next hear of him as proprietor of a hotel at Saltillo, where he remained not long, going back to Austin just at the beginning of the great movement westward to the golden hills of California. As might be expected from the General's well known activity and love of adventure, he at once joined the moving throng, forming a company of gold-seekers, who left Austin on March 17, 1849, and pro- ceeding westward by way of the Colorado River, touched California soil on the 4th of July of that year. Passing through Los Angeles, the cavalcade came to Tuolumne County, arriving first at Don Pedro's Bar, and going next to Wood's Crossing, then the most notable mining place in the county, as well as the first discovered. On the 17th of August, Mr. Evans entered the town of Sonora, then in the very earliest period of its existence. The attractions of the new place did not detain him long, for we next hear of him mining at Murphy's, in Calaveras County, and later at Pine Log, where he, in company with C. M. Radcliff, located the well known " Texas " claim, which still bears its early name. This was in the month of October. In the next month Mr. Evans sold out his interest in the claim for $16, and walked to Sonora, entering there the service of Messrs. Green & Holden, and so remaining until the year 1851, when the state of his health compelled him to return East.
Spending a year or so in various places in Arkansas and
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
Texas, and having partially recovered his health, he pro- ceeded next to cross the Republic of Mexico, arriving at Mazatlan, on the shore of the Pacific, whence he came to San Francisco in a brig, arriving in the Golden Gate in May, 1852.
Before the great fire of June, 1852, Mr. Evans had re- turned to Sonora, and after that disastrous event he en- tered into partnership with " Uncle Josh " Holden, and erected the American Exchange, a public house, which they kept until the following year, when it was burned. In the same year he became County Clerk, having affiliated with the Democrats. He performed the duties of this office until 1855, when he removed to San Francisco, to take a position in the Custom House, under Milton S. Latham, then Collector of the Port. Since that year the General's changes have been so numerous, that the limit to which this brief account is necessarily confined will not permit more than a hasty mention.
Becoming Secretary of the Senate in 1856, again County Clerk of Tuolumne in the following year, and, at the ex- piration of his term, Minute Clerk of the State Senate, Under Sheriff of Tuolumne during the administration of Dan. Patterson, the proper performance of these duties filled up the years until the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, when he became Major of the Second California Cavalry, and achieved a war record whose main points are as follows: Mustered in at Camp Alert, San Francisco; then proceeding to Wilmington, he established Drumm Barracks; removed to Camp Latham, near Los Angeles; the next Spring proceeded to Owen's River with a detach- ment; fought the Indians successfully; established Camp Independence; July 4, 1863, was promoted to Lieutenant- Colonel; went to Visalia to put down Southern sympathiz ers, leaving Captain T. H. Goodman, now an officer of the
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APPENDIX.
Central Pacific Railway, in charge of Camp Independence. The subsequent months were spent in maintaining order in the difficult Department of Southern California, and after a time Lieutenant-Colonel Evans removed to Salt Lake, when, in consequence of the suspected treason of Colonel Simms, the former assumed command, being promoted to the Colonelcy of the Regiment and Brevet Brigadier- General. His acts during these years belong to the history of the military affairs of the nation, and it is sufficient to say here that the duties that devolved upon him were per- formed in the most efficient and praiseworthy manner, re- flecting credit alike upon the General and the Government in whose service he was.
Resigning his command in May, 1863, he returned to his home in California, and for a time represented the soldiers as delegate to the Sacramento Convention which nomi- nated Low for Governor of this State.
Elected now to the State Senate from Tuolumne, he held the office for four years, then becoming Adjutant-General of this State, but resigned to again enter the Senate Chamber. After the session he again became Adjutant- General, owing to the resignation of the incumbent, and he served during the remainder of Low's administration, and through the first half-year of Governor Haight's term.
Removing now from Sonora to Stockton, he continued upon his political career, being elected first to the Com- mon Council of that city, then Mayor, and finally State Senator from San Joaquin County; and at the end of his term of four years was renominated by acclamation, again to serve in that situation.
Our account now draws near to the present time. In 1880 General Evans was appointed Harbor Commissioner, by Governor Perkins, and he consequently removed to San Francisco, where he has since resided, with his family.
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HISTORY OF TUOLUMNE COUNTY.
Marrying Miss Fannie E. Markham, on August 8, 1857, the couple now have six children.
It would be difficult, indeed, to select a subject whose life would furnish a greater store of incident, adventure and enterprise to spur the pen of the biographer than that of the gentleman under discussion. Living for so many years in the midst of the most active affairs, and being him- self one of the most energetic and far-seeing of men, there is necessarily an immense deal to recount of which no men- tion can now be made. It would also be interesting to discuss the future of a life like General Evans', and en- deavor to foresee the results to which such qualities of brilliancy and persistence may give rise. Even yet in the middle of life, as it were, with the fruits of an immense experience to guide him, and still in the possession of the fullest powers of mind and body, and held in the popular estimation as one of the best regarded of California's famous citizens, there is every expectation of a future whose suc- cesses may infinitely surpass those of the past.
HONORABLE EDWARD C. MARSHALL.
In a previous part of this work reference has been made to a speech delivered in Sonora in early days by Captain E. C. Marshall, which had the effect, it is said, of inclining the County of Tuolumne to the side of the Democracy rather than to that of the Whigs. Men who heard that speech and who were conversant with the acts of the speaker, knowing of his penetrat- ing intellect, ready and forcible delivery, and rapid and incisive thought, could have prophesied, as many did, a future career which should stamp the author as a man of
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no common merit and importance. The promise given in Sonora in early times has been fulfilled. The Court of justice, the halls of legislation, and the political arena, have heard the telling eloquence of that voice, and scarcely a single inhabitant of this region but has heard the name and knows somewhat of the reputation of Hon. E. C. Mar- shall.
This distinguished gentleman is of the celebrated Mar- shalls of Kentucky, a family that has produced many per- sons of eminence, his brother, Tom Marshall, being of national reputation. General Humphrey Marshall is an- other name of celebrity which pertains to this family.
The subject of this memoir was born in Woodford, Ken- tucky, in June, 1821. Attending Centre College for a time, he afterwards graduated from Transylvania Univer- sity at Lexington. At the former institution he met the afterwards celebrated statesman and soldier, John C. Breckinridge, with whom he participated in the Mexican war, taking part in all the battles in which General Scott's command engaged subsequent to the capture of Vera Cruz.
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