USA > California > A history of the new California, its resources and people; Vol II > Part 35
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Mr. Kinley has in preparation a work on law, the actual publication of which is only delayed by conflict of interests between Jolin W. Butler who contracted to do the publishing, and the printing firm of H. S. Crocker Co. The Work is entitled "Kinley's American and English Precedents," embracing all important questions arising in "Law and Equity " and de- cided by the several courts of last resort in the United States and England, and monographically stated. The manuscript is prepared for fifty volumes, three of which have been published, but are not yet in circulation.
Mr. Kinley is an old-style Democrat, but is not an active participant in politics and is a member of no fraternal organization. Mr. Kinley has been married twice. By his marriage to Miss Isadora Church, of Brooklyn, Mis- souri, which union terminated in separation, two children were born, one of whom, Carl T., is living, and is a mechanical engineer in southern Califor- nia. His first wife died about twenty years ago. In 1873 Mr. Kinley was married to Miss Charlotte Frodsham, of Savannah, Missouri. They have three children: Frank M., is a pattern-maker and fitter in ship-building; Jule M. is mentioned above as the associate of his father; and Jean, the daughter, is the wife of Frank R. Barrows, a professor of music at Los Angeles.
The father's history of gold mining runs as follows :
CHAPTER I.
The discovery of gold in California, in the early part of the year 1848, by a party of workmen in the employ of Captain Sutter, while digging a race for a mill on the American
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River, produced almost an electric shock, giving a new impetus to the enterprise of daring spirits throughout the civilized world.
In a short time this rugged and mountainous region, formerly traversed only by the rude Indian in pursuit of game and a few hardy, enterprising trappers, became peopled with multitudes of roving gipsey-like-living people passing up and down throughout the country in search of gold, each bearing his peculiar manners and customs and speaking the language peculiar to his people, much resembling the confusion of tongues at the ancient Tower of Babel
The most remarkable feature of early operations in the mines was the very small value attached to the gold which all seemed so eager to obtain. It was estimated at from seven to ten dollars per ounce. And it was no uncommon occurrence for a successful miner to gamble away and squander from ten to one hundred pounds of gold in one night's carouse. Some even went to one hundred and fifty pounds for the evening's amusement. Thus one man would lavishly squander in one day his weight in pure gold. What an amount of good this vast treasure, properly applied, might have done for suffering humanity. It is but just to remark that many of those devotees of debauchery who have lost thousands upon thousands at the gaming table are yet in the mines mostly destitute of money and friends. Such are the visitations of Providence upon those who violate his imperative laws.
For the want of law administered by government authority, the miners took the administration of justice into their own hands. Civil cases were left to the decision of jurors chosen by the parties.
All criminal cases were brought before the potent dignitary, Judge Lynch. The whip- ping post was planted, the branding iron plied and the gallows erected. Thus in a cruel and barbarous manner were offenders punished. This summary meting of justice was the only apparent security of life and property. Few suffered innocently. Many of the early miners suffered much from the want of wholesome diet and from other privations peculiar to their situation.
Things have undergone a gradual change for the better. Wholesome provisions and other conveniences of life are now to be had in abundance throughout nearly all the mining districts. Post routes are established and the press is a medium in all the thickly . inhabited parts. Courts of justice are established by proper authority, but the relic of the sanguinary Judge is still in the land and occasionally an ill-fated wretch falls beneath his indignant frown and mighty power.
Order and civility are on their forward march. The Legislature of the State has made two or three unsuccessful attempts to suppress gambling by law, but it will be a long time before California is on par with the Atlantic States in point of advantages of civilized and enlightened life.
Tho' the climate of the "Ureka" State is mild and very healthy, yet there are sufficient and good reasons for not selecting this state as a suitable place to bring up and educate a family "in the way they should go."
"Ureka" means I have found it. It is explained in the 47th Prob. of Euclid.
CHAPTER II.
Now turn to the engraving. Examine it closely; the work is well executed and is very expressive of "real life" in the mines. In the northwest qr. observe two men. I presume they are on a prospecting tour. One is washing gold in a tin pan while the other is bending down to obtain the earliest sight of the gold as the sand is floated out of the pan. Perhaps they have carried their dirt several hundred rods here to "see how their ground will pay them." Their "prospect" may pay from 5 cents to $10 or $20; if the former, but little interest is manifested and they return, take their mining tools-leave for some other favorable place. But should the latter be the result, it is concealed and they are off quickly, speaking softly to each other for fear of being discovered. Returning they examine the ground, talk of the direction the "lead " runs, consult how they can manage to hold the largest portion of paying ground; locate their claims varying in size from 15 to 30 feet square in accordance with the regulations of different parts. By this time they are noticed by the vigilant eye ever on the "lookout," the sound of "New Diggin's" flies so rapidly that in a few hours is seen crowds of men with shovels, picks and crowbars and the ground is "staked off" for several rods around. In a short time the spot is so changed from the digging that it can scarcely be recognized by those most familiar with it. If it prove a failure, which is as likely as otherwise, in a few days it is abandoned and the huge heaps of fresh earth remain so many monuments of disappointment. Washing with the pan was the principal method in the early working of the mines. Gold
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was so abundant that one man often washed from 20 to 100 and sometimes even 500 dollars per day. Look at the S. W. quarter.
CHAPTER III.
Observe two miners at work, one washing with a cradle or roeker while the other carries the earth to him in wooden buckets. Two men are able to wash from two to three hundred buckets per day in this manner. This is the plan that followed that of panning. While they are busily engaged a prospector bearing a pick and shovel and pan intrudes himself upon them and inquisitively begins a conversation about the diggings. The parties eye each other closely, the one for the purpose of obtaining information, the other how best to deceive. The miner continues busily rocking while the prospector introduces one question after another, receiving short evasive answers. He pays little attention to these extorted replies but serutinizes closely every change of expression thereby reading from the countenance the desirable information. At length becoming weary of the unwelcome visitor, the rocker quitting his work seats himself near and commences a conversation about the mines, admitting the ground is paying or rather has paid moderate wages but is falling off very fast. Talks of leaving for other parts, speaks fluently of the numerous good chances to have made a fortune in times past, upbraids himself with many hard epithets. makes a few sage reflections, ete., wisely concludes "All is well that ends well," if he is to make a fortune in the mines he will make it. Thus fully satisfied the traveling friend with a heavy sigh shoulders his mining tools and leaves, much to the joy and satisfaction of the other two, who load his departure with "good wishes," "great success," etc., etc.
Alone, the laborers talk freely about things in general. Perhaps they are making good wages, but it is all the same to the prospector, so long as they keep it from his knowledge.
CHAPTER IV.
Let us turn to the S. E. qr. of the picture. This rudely constructed tent is the miner's habitation. You will readily conclude that it affords but few comforts of life. Yet the hardy miner endures it all cheerfully if he is making money. If he is doing well his heart is light and free-all care and trouble are banished from the man. Such is the bewitching power of the love of gold over the human character. "Happy man free from this craving desire."
CHAPTER V.
In the N. E. qr. of the picture are miners operating in deep diggings which com- meneed about the time the shallow mining began to fail and is now the principal extensive operations carried on. It is either by sinking shafts or by tunneling only that deep mining can be done. Observe the old gentleman represented in the ent, how composedly he descends into the shaft perhaps 200 feet in depth. Slowly descending, he examines well the sides of the shaft, removing every loose substance from which he might suffer injury should it fall. On reaching the bottom, he breathes a moment, lights a candle, enters a drift (sometimes many yards in length), examining it carefully with respect to safety and reaching the spot, seats himself and commences work. Thus continuing till the ground is worked out. Sometimes many feet under the surface making excavations large enough for a dining room, ballroom or a promenade. Sinking shafts is very expen- sive. being generally in the immediate vicinity of voleanie eruptions, lava and hard cemented rocks are found in abundance, often requiring the use of powder to break them. But the love of gold is a mighty propelling power and in time all obstacles and difficulties disappear before the energetie perseverance of the miner and what seemed impossible at first sight is overcome.
Much care and precaution are necessary to avoid accidents in deep diggings for the want of which many fatal accidents have occurred. Bad air is to be guarded against. This is done by means of wind sails collecting the air above, foreing it through a canvas pipe or conductor to the bottom of the shaft, thence to the extent of the drifts, furnishing continually a current of fresh and wholesome air.
Water often rises, requiring the use of pumps or engines. Deep diggings are some- times very rich; two or three hundred thousand dollars have been taken out at the one shaft. One single shaft in Bear Valley yielded not less than one and a half tons of gold or about $600.000 dollars. But as a general thing from five to eight dollars per day may be estimated as average wages.
A tunnel is a drift commenced on the surface. The dirt instead of being raised by means of a windlass is carried out on a wheel-barrow or small cars made for the purpose ; of the two methods of working deep ground it is difficult to say which has the preference, much depends upon the situation of the ground.
The gold found in deep ground is generally in larger and more irregular shaped pieces
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than that found in the streams or shallow ground. No shaft is down till to the bed rock (granite or slate). This short history of mining operations tho' written for a pastime is founded on facts and respectfully presented to my little son Joseph M. Kinley, aged seven years.
Written while encamped on the bank of the Moquelumne river waiting for the water to subside in order to work a claim in the bed of the stream.
June 26th, 1852.
EDWARD KINLEY.
IRENAEUS CORY LINDLEY.
Irenaeus Cory Lindley, a member of the bar now practicing at Nevada City and making a specialty of mining and probate law, was born September 4, 1871, in Chillicothe, Ohio. His ancestors in the paternal line came orig- inally from Essex, England. His paternal great-great-grandfather, Colonel William Bartlett, was an officer of the continental army, and his son, the great-grandfather, Captain William Bartlett, was first naval agent at the siege of Boston. His birthplace was Beverly, Massachusetts. Another great-grandfather in the paternal line was Colonel Henry Herrick, who was lieutenant colonel in Thomas Pickering, Jr.'s regiment, the "Lexington Alarm."
Henry B. Lindley, the father of Irenaeus C. Lindley, was born in Athens, Ohio, and became a merchant, conducting both a wholesale and retail trade in his native city. There he spent most of his entire life, his death occurring in Athens in 1899. He wedded Miss Mary Cory, who was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, and belonged to an old family that was repre- sented in the Revolutionary war. Her mother's maiden name was Johnston, and she was a first cousin of Oliver Hazzard Perry and also a first cousin of Mrs. Ball, who was the mother of the wife of George Washington. Mrs. Lindley is now residing in Chicago, making her home with her son, William O. Lindley, who is an attorney of that city.
Irenaeus C. Lindley began his education in the public schools of Chilli- cothe, Ohio, and continued his studies in the high school of that city, where he was graduated with the class of 1889, having completed a four years' Latin course. He then matriculated in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor as a student in the law department, and was graduated with the de- gree of Bachelor of Laws in the class of 1891. Completing his education, he returned to Chillicothe, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in March, 1891. He afterward practiced law there for three years and in 1894 came to California, settling at Nevada City. He was admitted to the supreme court of this state and has since been a representative of the legal fraternity here. He engages in general practice and yet pays particular attention to mining law and to a probate practice. He is also the legal representative of several corporations. He has a large and well equipped law library, one of the best in the county, and with its contents he has become quite familiar. He did not consider his graduation the end of his legal studies, but has con- tinuously read along different lines of jurisprudence and has gained a com- prehensive and accurate knowledge which is manifest as he presents his case before court or jury. Mr. Lindley is also interested in several mining com- panies in Nevada county engaged in both drift and quartz mining.
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Mr. Lindley is a discriminating student of political questions as well, and he gives an active support to the Republican party. He has attended the county conventions and was a member of the county central committee for five years. In 1902 he was the nominee of his party for district attor- ney. He is now attorney for the public administrator of the county and has been city attorney for the last five years.
On the 27th of July, 1900, Mr. Lindley was married in Nevada City, California, to Miss Vivie Rector, a native of Missouri, and a daughter of B. S. Rector, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. They have two sons, Bayliss Bartlett and Charles Rector Lindley. Mr. Lindley is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias fraternity, the Sons of St. George, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Knights of the Royal Arch. Although a young man he has already reached a position of distinction in local circles in central California, and his strong intellectuality and charac- teristic diligence give promise of greater successes in the future.
DAVID PAGE CUTTEN.
David Page Cutten, whose activity in business has contributed to the development of central California and who is to-day the secretary of the Redwood Land & Investment Company, which is having a marked effect upon the development and settlement of this part of the state, was born in Nova Scotia in 1850, his parents being Robert Dixon and Hannah ( Pride) Cutten, who were also natives of the same country. The mother, how- ever, was a representative of an old American family. The brothers of his grandmother were English officers and were sent to Halifax in charge of the English army at that port. Robert Dixon Cutten became a shipwright and ship-builder, and carried on business in his native county until 1857, when he came to California, locating first in San Francisco. He after- ward removed to Tuolumne county, and in 1866 came to Humboldt county, where he engaged in the lumber and milling business. He was thus iden- tified with the commercial and industrial interests of his community up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1889. He left a family of three sons and three daughters, Edward Logan; Margaret, who is the widow of Thomas McDonald, of Eureka; Mary, who is the wife of J. S. Murray ; Sophia Burton, the wife of Jacob Gardner, of Eureka; David Page, of this review ; and William Freeman.
To the public school system of his native country David Page Cutten is indebted for the early educational privileges that he enjoyed. He after- ward attended Sacville Academy of Westmoreland county, New Bruns- wick, and he left school at the age of sixteen years, but his education has never ended, for as the years have advanced he has gained valuable knowl- edge in the school of experience and has found in each transition stage of his career opportunity for greater mental activity as well as for the indus- trial force which is one of the strong elements of success in a business career. In 1868 he came to Eureka and secured a position as a salesman
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in the employ of Jolin Vance, who was engaged in the lumber business, and with him he remained for ten years. In the year 1880 he was appointed deputy county clerk, and served in that capacity until 1883. On his retire- ment from the office he was appointed private secretary to David Evans, who was an extensive operator in the timber lands and who organized the California Redwood Company, purchasing some of the largest lumber mills in the country. Mr. Evans engaged extensively in the manufacture of lumber, and Mr. Cutten was appointed buyer for the company, which posi- tion he hield until 1886, when he turned his attention to the real estate busi- ness. In 1899 he organized the Redwood Land & Investment Company, which now has the following officers: Thomas Bain, of Arcate, Cali- fornia, president; J. C. Bull, Jr., vice president ; and David P. Cutten, secre- tary. This company controls important and extensive property interests, and its clientage has reached profitable proportions.
Mr. Cutten was married to Miss Katie McGraw, a native of Eureka and a daugliter of Hugh McGraw, one of the pioneer settlers of central California and among the first to cross the Humboldt bar in a vessel. This was done in 1850. Mr. McGraw afterward became a prominent contractor and builder of mills, and was closely associated with the improvement and substantial development of this part of the state. To Mr. and Mrs. Cutten have been born three children: Charles Pride, who is a graduate of the Leland Stanford University, and is now successfully practicing law in Eureka; Ivy M .; and David Page, Jr.
Mr. Cutten is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and he exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party. Among the enterprising, far-sighted and public-spirited business men of Eureka he is numbered, and his close application to business and his excellent management have brought to him the high degree of prosperity which is to-day his.
JOHN McGREGOR VANCE.
John McGregor Vance is justly accorded a place among the prominent and representative citizens of Humboldt county, for he belongs to that class of men whose enterprising spirit is used not alone for their own benefit. He also advances the general good and promotes public prosperity by his ably managed individual interests, thus placing this section of the country on a par with the older east. He has excellent ability as an organizer, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution. This enables him to conquer obstacles which deter many a man, and this element in his career has been one of the salient features in his success. He is now presi- dent of the Humboldt County Bank, to which position he was chosen in the fall of 1903.
Mr. Vance was born in Queens county, New Brunswick, in 1845, and his parents, George and Esther (Geddes) Vance, were also natives of Nova Scotia. In 1852 the father came to California. Only a few years had passed since the discovery of gold on the Pacific slope and thousands of
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emigrants were flocking to the far west, so that excellent business oppor- tunities were provided, and Mr. George Vance felt that he might profit by the exercise of his labors on the Pacific coast. Accordingly he made his way to San Francisco and after a short time spent in that city removed to Humboldt county. He was a blacksmith by trade, and followed that voca- tion in different parts of the county for a number of years. In his family were seven sons and one daughter.
Mr. John McGregor Vance at the usual age entered the public schools of New Brunswick, wherein he continued his studies until he reached the age of sixteen years. He came to California in 1866, making his way at once to Eureka, where his father had located a number of years before. He soon became an active and recognized factor in business interests, and has been connected with sundry enterprises at different times. From 1892 until 1903 he was president and manager of the Eel River & Eureka Rail- road Company and in the latter year the road became a part of the Santa Fe Railroad System. Prior to that time Mr. Vance had also engaged in the lumber and milling business at different parts of Humboldt county, and in the fall of 1903 he was elected president of the Humboldt County Bank upon the retirement of its former president, James W. Henderson, who had held the position for twenty-four years.
In 1873 occurred the marriage of Mr. Vance and Miss Jennie Babbit, a native of New Brunswick, and they now have four children: Ida L., Ella L., Harry P. and Carlotta. The family is well known in this county and the Vance household is noted for its gracious and generous hospitality. Mr. Vance holds membership relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and gives his political support to the Republican party. He takes an active interest in local and state politics, doing all in his power to pro- mote the growth and secure the adoption of Republican principles. He belongs to the little group of distinctively representative business men who have been the pioneers in inaugurating and building up the chief industries of this section of the country. He early had the sagacity and prescience to discern the eminence which the future had in store for this great and growing country, and, acting in accordance with the dictates of his faith and judgment, he has garnered, in the fullness of time. the generous har- vest which is the just recompense of indomitable industry, spotless integ- rity and marvelous enterprise. 'He is now connected with extensive and important business interests.
COLONEL ADOLPHUS SKINNER HUBBARD.
Few men have taken a more active part in public affairs in San Fran- cisco than has Colonel Adolphus Skinner Hubbard. Business advancement and moral development have felt the stimulus of his co-operation and histor- ical research has been promoted through his efforts. He has left the impress of his individuality upon public life in California and he has been honored by his fellowmen because of his personal worth and the prominent part he has taken in the work of the Sons of the American Revolution, formed to
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perpetuate the memory of our honored fathers who fought for the indepen- dence of the nation and to keep the history of the American people continu- ally before the nation.
Colonel Hubbard is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred near the city of Chicago. His father, Theodore Hubbard, was born in Putney, Vermont, on the 19th of October, 1803, and was a lineal descendant in the eighth generation of Edmond Hubbard, who came from Hingham, England, and settled in Charlestown, Massachusetts, in 1633. Two years later he took up his abode in Hingham, Massachusetts, and became the founder of the family in the new world. Theodore Hubbard was educated for the minis- try and also followed the practice of medicine and continued to devote his energies for many years to the latter profession. Following his removal to the west he became identified with many events which shaped the early history of Du Page county in Illinois. He was one of the early county offi- cials, served as postmaster at Babcocks Grove and died in Chicago in 1872. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Annie Ward Ballou, was a daugh- ter of Ebenezer Ballou, descended from French Huguenot ancestry, the fam- ily having been established in America in 1710 by those who fled from France and settled in New Jersey. Mrs. Hubbard, surviving her husband for a number of years, passed away in Chicago in 1895. In their family were five sons and two daughters: Laura M., Augustus G., Carlos C., Myron O., Adolphus S., Ellen A. and Edward C. All are now deceased with the exception of Colonel Hubbard. His brothers were identified with com- mercial and professional life in Chicago, and were soldiers in the Union and Confederate armies, during the war of the rebellion.
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