An illustrated history of Sacramento County, California : containing a history of Sacramento County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future portraits of some of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also prominent citizens of today, Part 35

Author: Davis, Winfield J., 1851- 4n
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 916

USA > California > Sacramento County > An illustrated history of Sacramento County, California : containing a history of Sacramento County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future portraits of some of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also prominent citizens of today > Part 35

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ISLETON, on this island, is forty-one miles from Sacramento and seventy from San Fran- cisco. The town was established by Josiah Pool in 1874, and is now a thriving place, with better prospects for the future. The wharf was built in 1875. The principal local industry here for a time was the manufacture of beet su- gar, but it was discontinued about five years ago. It may be revived again.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

A lodge of Good Templars and one of the Patrons of Husbandry formerly flourished here, but at present are dormant.

TYLER ISLAND is situated east of Andrus Is]- and and was settled in 1852. The upper end only is leveed, the lower end being unreclaimed land. There are only a few cultivated ranches on this island. Sutter Island is in process of reclamation, and some of it is now under culti- vation.

WALNUT GROVE was first settled by John W. Sharp, in the fall of 1851. There has been a postoffice here for abont thirty-three years. - Walnut Grove is situated on the main land, at the junction of the Sacramento River and Geor- giana Slough, and is the shipping point for a large extent of country. There is a wharf, at which the steamers stop going each way, a school-house, a small hall, and a hotel.

THE PEARSON RECLAMATION DISTRICT.

Of the famous thirty-five miles of orchard along the left banks of the Sacramento River, extending from a point a few miles below Free- port to six miles below Isleton, there is no part that has attracted more attention than the stretch of nine miles from the Hollister to the Eastman ranch. It has been the subject of fre- quent favorable comment by the press and the people. But few, however, are aware how much of its beauty and productive value and conse- qnent fame is due to a remarkable work of reclamation quietly done. The irregular curve in front is subtended at an average distance of abont three and a half miles, by an immense levee about nine miles long, twenty-three feet high and twelve feet wide at the top, enclosing with the levee in front about 9,000 acres of land, including the orchards in front, which seldomn exceed half a mile in depth. In 1878, the old levee, which was obviously inadequate, but which had been weakly relied upon, gave way before the rush of waters which soon turned the back land into an inland lake and seriously dam- aged the fruit ranches in front. Through the

financial disaster ensning, the San Francisco Savings Union soon became owners of about 4,000 acres of these overflowed lands.

With a conrage unusual in moneyed institu- tions, inspired perhaps by the far seeing judg- 'inent of some sapient director, and carried to a successful issue by the management of Mr. P. J. Van Loben Sels, the Union proceeded to re- claim the land by the construction of the levee just described. The cost las been about $180,000, of which nearly one-half fell on the Union for its comparatively worthless back lands. But they builded wiser than they knew, as every acre has been made available for culti- vation, and some small portions bring an annual rental of $14 an acre, and highly favored spots as much as $20. The erection of the levee was a necessary beginning, which was quickly fol- lowed by an ontlay of $130,000 for pumping works, with a capacity of 120,000 gallons a minute, and a system of drainage twenty-four miles in length. The central low-lying dis- triet, which in winter is a shallow lake, becomes in June a field of beans, yielding forty sacks to the acre in September. In 1887 Mr. Alexander Brown, of Walnut Grove, the lessee of the whole 3,830 acres now remaining in the ownership of the Union, raised two crops of barley on part of this land which but a few years since was a mere waste of waters. Probably two-thirds of the Pearson District is capable of producing two crops. Eleven thousand five hundred and eighty sacks of potatoes have been raised on a thirty-two and a quarter acre piece of this no longer dismal swamp. Fifty-two sacks of barley, 300 sacks of onions and one and a half tons of beans are normal products of this new land of Goshen. There are three or- chards already planted, one of ninety acres and two snialler ones. Very neat, substantial im- provements in the way of barns and residences for workmen and sub-tenants are being put up by the Union, and the Pearson District is an excellent example of what may be done for the overflowed lands of Sacramento County, by in- telligent and efficient reclamation.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

GRANITE,

Granite Township was created by the Board of Supervisors on October 20, 1856, and for- merly was included in the boundaries of Missis- sippi Township. The boundary line runs as follows: Beginning at the southwestern corner of Mississippi Township, and running thence eastwardly and northwardly along the southern and eastern side of Mississippi Township, which line is the American River, to the intersection with the range line between ranges 7 and 8 east, in township 10 north of Mount Diablo base; thence south and along said range line to the township line between townships 8 and 9 north; thence west and along said township line to the range line between ranges 6 and 7 east; thence north and along said range line to the begin- ning.

The land in Granite Township is partly agri- cultural and partly mineral, being probably two- thirds mineral and one-third agricultural. The Natoma Water and Mining Company owns a large amount of land in the township, which they are working according to the quality of the land, the mineral claims being leased, the com- pany furnishing the water. They also have ex- tensive orchards and vineyards, and manufacture wine.

Nearly all of the land in this township is in- cluded in the Leidesdorff grant. The grant was given to Leidesdorff by Micheltorena in 1844. James L. Folsom bought the interest of the heirs of Leidesdorff, and by his executors secured its confirmation in 1855. This grant runs from the Sutter grant up the American River, which forms its northern boundary; the southern bonndary is nearly parallel to the river and dis- tant therefrom four to five miles, and includes Folsom. The land was pretty well taken up by squatters, who were compelled to buy the title to their possession or vacate.

FOLSOM.

The history of Folsom properly includes that of Negro Bar, which was the pioneer of the former place, and it is more than probable that

had it not been for the fact that there was a mining camp of large proportions at Negro Bar, Folsom would have been located farther down the American Fork. Negro Bar received its name from the circumstance of negroes being the first men to do any mining at that point. This was in 1849. The Bar commences at Folsom, on the same side of the river, and runs nine- tenths of a mile down stream. Miners came flocking from all quarters, and in 1851 there were 700 people here. In the summer of 1850 the Virginia Mining Company was formed for draining the river at this point; this company was composed of 240 members, with John Mc- Cormick for president. It took them two years to build the canal, which was intended to leave the old river-bed clear for mining. The com- pany did not pay very well, but the canal was used for mining the Bar, by using " Long Toms." The Long Island Company was composed of thirty-eight men, Robert Reeves, President. The Tennessee Company, thirty members, Will- iam Gwaltney, President. The Bar was splendid mining ground, and large quantities of gold have been taken out; there is still some mining going on here now. The product now is about $17,000 per month.

J. S. Meredith opened the first hotel and store at Negro Bar, both being in the same building, in April, 1850. William A. Davidson opened the second store, but was shortly after bought ont by A. A. Durfee & Brother. A few months later Rowley & Richardson opened a third store. These were the principal business houses until Folsom was started.

Among some of the physicians living at the Bar at that time were Dr. S. Lyon, now living in Folsom; Dr. Caldwell, who returned to Ten- nessee, and died; Dr. Palmer, still a resident of the State; A. A. Durfee & Brother, both of whom have gone East, and Dr. Cline.

Folsom was laid ont by Theodore D. Judah, Richmond Chenery and Samuel C. Bruce, for Captain J. L. Folsom, in 1855. The lots were then sold ou the 17th of January, 1856, at public auction, in the city of Sacramento, Colonel J. B.

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Starr, auctioneer. The lots were all sold at this sale. Purchasers commenced building, and the town grew rapidly. On the 22d day of Febru- ary following, the Sacramento Valley Railroad was finished to Folsom, and opened with free ex- cursion trains and a grand jubilee. This was the first railroad operated in the State. One of the operatives who assisted in taking ont the first train is still in charge of the station at Folsom. Mr. Joe Kinney, the station master, has been continnously in the employ of the railroad com- pany for twenty-seven years. At first he sold tickets under trees here. Then large brick buildings were put up, machine shops opened, and 800 men at one time at work in them. The shops were afterward closed, and the work is now done at Sacramento. The company has just completed a small frame station honse, neat and convenient, and supplying a want felt for some time.

In 1857 a road was projected to run from Folsom to Marysville, by a company called the California Central, of which Colonel Charles L. Wilson, now of Nord, was the principal mem- ber. In 1861 trains ran from Folsom to Lin- coln. Afterward the road was absorbed by the Central Pacific Company, and the track be- tween Folsom and Roseville was taken up. That portion of the road from Roseville to Lincoln is now a part of the California & Ore- gun Railroad.

The Sacramento Valley Railroad built its car and machine shops at Folsom in 1861. The buildings consisted of a brick machine shop, 60 x 110 feet; a car shop, also built of brick, 40 x 80 feet, and a foundry-in all, employing about 1,500 men. The shops were closed and the machinery moved to Sacramento, December 26, 1869.

In early mining days, and especially during the Washoe excitement, Folsom was a busy place; then it was almost stationary for a muni- ber of years; but now it has entered upon an era of substantial prosperity. The population is about 1,000.

Colonel Folsom, the projector of the town,

died at the mission of San José, in Alameda County, July 10, 1855.

HOTELS.

Patterson & Waters' Hotel, afterward the Patterson House, was built in 1856. Patterson & Waters ran the house for abont ten years; they were succeeded by Charles Watts; he, in turn, by Mrs. H. B. Waddilove, and the last manager was M. Doll, who was in charge at the time of the fire of 1871.

The Olive Branch was built in 1856 by Mr. Heaton, who kept the house until it was burned down.

The Mansion House was built in 1857. J. Holmes was the proprietor; he was succeeded by L. M. Dennison, who kept the house until the fire, in May, 1864.

The Tremont House was built in 1860 by Mrs. Lucinda Sinart; she sold to Ira Sanders, who managed the business until 1868, when the house was destroyed by fire.

The Granite Hotel was built in 1858 by Cap- tain Hughes; he was succeeded by Martin Wetzlar. The honse was burned in 1866.

The Central Hotel was built by George Well- ington in 1859. This house changed hands several times, until, in the spring of 1879, Mr. Rand assumed the management. In the fire of Angust 13, 1886, it was burned down, and a better building replaced it.

The American Exchange Hotel was first erected by Mr. Dresser, and used as a livery stable; next it was converted into two store- rooms. David Woldenberg, the first merchant in this building, returned to Germany, his na- tive land. The store was next conducted by Hyman & Alexander. In 1877 the building was purchased by W. C. Crosett and converted into a hotel. Up to that date the building was a one-story concrete structure; then a fraine second story was added. The proprietors have been Mrs. Kate Hamilton six or seven years, Mrs. Jane Williamson three years, and since then James A. Graham, who holds a ten-year lease. The property still belongs to the heir

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

of Mr. Crosett, Mrs. W. C. Caples, who intends to build an addition 39 x 40 feet and two-stories high, on account of the increasing patronage of the honse.

The business of the New Western Hotel was started in 1875, by Charles Zimmerman, who has ever since been the proprietor. He pur- chased the property of Dr. B. F. Bates. It consisted of two buildings, one for a hotel and one for a shoe shop, at the corner of Sutter and Wood streets. Mr. Zimmerman added about $800 in improvements; but the fire of August 13, 1886, utterly consumed it. The insurance was $2,800. Mr. Zimmerman immediately re- built what is now known as the " New Western Hotel," having a frontage of ninety-five feet, and costing $7,000, including furniture and fixtures. The main building is 40 x 60 feet and two and three-quarter stories high.

NATOMA WATER AND MINING COMPANY.

This company, the largest owner of water rights in the county, was organized in 1851, and was originated by A. P. Catlin, now living in Sacramento, and still the attorney of the com- pany. A. T. Arrowsmith, a civil engineer now residing at Oakland, was associated with him. Dr. John H. Veatch, long since deceased, was the first secretary; T. L. Craig, treasurer. The main canal was commenced in 1851, taking its water from the south fork of the American, two miles above Salmon Falls. The length of this canal is sixteen miles. For many years the water was used to a great extent for mining purposes, but it is all now used to render a tract of 8,454 acres, otherwise nearly valueless, as good as any in the county. There are now 300 acres in orchard, and about 2,000 in vines.

In the superintendency of the company's in- terests here Henry Shusler has recently been succeeded by Horatio Livermore, of San Fran- cisco.

The company purpose the division of the large tract into smaller tracts of ten or fifteen acres each. to be disposed of to actual settlers. The land is fertile, water is abundant, incli is

already producing, railroad communication with market is complete and effective. Under such circumstances the small tracts present induce- ments offered by little property now upon the market. There are no problems to solve by ex- periment as to the productiveness of the land, and upon the erection of a honse the home is complete, and an immediate income secured. Its settlement by a number of small farmers would raise its value very high, and improve the whole surrounding country, towns and all.

THE FOLSOM WATER-POWER COMPANY'S CANAL.

No enterprise in the State is at present at- tracting more public attention than the effort to utilize the water-power of the American River at Folsom. The scheme is not a new one, having been broached abont twenty-two years ago by Mr. H. G. Livermore, then president of the Natoma Water and Mining Company. Con- siderable work in building the necessary dam and canal has been done by both the Natoma Water and Mining Company and the Folsom Water-Power Company. Two contracts were made between the first company and the State, looking to the performance of the necessary work by convict labor, in return for land deeded to the State, and for a part of the water-power, and some work was done under these contracts. Serious disagreements arose as to the tenor of the contracts, and much litigation followed, re- sulting in a practical abandonment of the under- taking by the Natoma Water and Mining Company, without power on the part of the State to compel its completion.

The property and water rights were there- after transferred to the Folsom Water Power Company (a corporation of $600,000 capital, divided into 6,000 shares of $100 each), which now owns the land on both banks of the Ameri- can River, and the mining patent covering the bed of the stream, for the whole distance to be traversed by the canal and for some distance above the dam.

The first work toward the construction of the dam was done in the fall of 1866, but it was

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

discontinued when the dam had been completed up to low-water mark of the river. The results at the beginning of this year, 1888, had been the acquirement by the State of 483 acres of land, comprising the tract now used by the State Prison, upon one edge of which, close by the river bank, the prison buildings stand (npon which the State had only paid 11,000 days' labor of convicts), and the laying of a part of the necessary foundation of a dam, upon which abont $42,000 in money had been expended by the companies, and about 11,000 days' work of convict labor used, which was furnished by the State as part of the consideration mentioned in the deeds for the land comprising the prison tract.

About $100,000 was also expended in the work upon the canal and otherwise necessary to the enterprise, but not directly upon the dam. Such was the condition of affairs when Captain Charles Anll, the present warden at the Folsom prison, took charge in Jannary, 1888. But many of the conditions had changed.

Under the management of General McComb, the preceding warden, the buildings and grounds had been so nearly completed that it was no longer necessary to use the whole force upon them; and the number of prisoners being larger, the amount of labor available for such work as the dam and canal required was much greater than before.

Captain Aull was perfectly familiar with the events incident to the location of the prison at its present site, and of its selection because a water-power could be constructed there. He was acquainted with all the efforts to render it available, their failure, and the various questions which had arisen in connection therewith, and fully appreciated how valuable it would be to the State and to the community when fully de- veloped. These facts were submitted to Gov- ernor Waterman, who immediately gave the matter earnest and serious attention.

In company with Secretary of State Hen- dricks, and Mr. Joseph Steffens, President of the Sacramento Board of Trade, he visited Fol-

som in April last, for the special purpose of investigating the practicability of at last ac- complishing the plans of those who had studied the question of the American River water-power for thirty years back.

The advantages that would accrue to the State were pointed out, and the present agreement is that the State is to furnish all the labor to com- plete the dam, and the canal as far as the Rob- bers' Ravine Mud Sink, about 2,000 yards below the dam, and the company is to furnish all the free labor necessary, such as engineers, foreman, etc., and all the material and machinery. The work is already nearly completed. The dam is forty-five feet high, and forty-five feet thick at the bottom and twenty-five feet at the top. There are upward of 3,000 cubic yards of masonry, of the heaviest kind, laid in the best Portland cement. During the progress of the work the river is turned by a temporary wooden fume. The work is under the direction of P. A. Humbert, civil engineer. See a sketch of his life's career elsewhere in this volume.

OTHER INTERESTS.

Coners' Flouring Mill was built in 1866, on the corner of Wool street and the railroad; the mill was operated about two years, when it was closed. The building, a three-story brick, was purchased by B. N. Bngby, and used by him as a wine cellar, the third floor being rented as a hall to the societies at Folsom. The building was burned abont 1871.

Natoma Mills were built by Edward Stock- ton, in June, 1866, using the three-story brick building formerly occupied by the Wheeler House. The power was taken from the Natoma ditch, and using two runs of stone. Discon- tinned.

The first brewery in Folsom was built by Chris. Heiler in 1857, and was run for several years by Raber & Heiler. This was destroyed by fire in 1868.

In 1872 Peter Yager erected a brewery on the foundation of a large store which was de- stroyed in the destructive fire of 1870. . The

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

building was a substantial brick structure, had a daily capacity of about ten barrels, and the sales amounted to about 450 barrels. This brewery was burned in the conflagration of 1886.

The railroad bridge across the American River was commenced on May 31, 1858. This bridge was on-the line of the California Central Railroad, was ninety-two feet above the water, withi a span of 216 feet, cost $100,000, and was the only bridge left on the American River by the flood of 1862, caused by the elevation being fifty feet greater than the suspension bridge. The bridge was condemned in 1866, it having sunk in the center and been considered unsafe for some time. It was subsequently sold and taken down some time after 1868.

In 1854 a wooden bridge was built across the American River at Folsoni. It was washed away by high water a few years later.

Thompson & Kinsey then obtained a charter for building a bridge across the American River at Folsom in 1861. This was a wire suspension bridge. The flood of 1862 carried this bridge away on January 10. On March 7, 1862, the work of rebuilding commenced. This is the present structure; it connects Folsom with Ash- land, a little town across the river, and is called " The Folsom and Ashland Suspension Bridge;" is of the Halliday patent; length of span, 350 feet between towers; has two cables, 800 feet long, and four towers; weight of bridge, seventy- five tons. Kinsey & Whitely were the builders. C. L. Ecklow purchased the bridge and franchise in 1871.

Folsom has suffered heavily by fires at differ- ent times. May 8, 1866, a fire burned " Whisky Row," and a number of buildings on Sutter and Decatur streets, including the office of the Fol- som Telegraph. August 31, 1866, the Hotel de France and a number of contiguous buildings were burned.

The Folsom Theatre was destroyed by fire, June 27, 1871. In 1871 a fire destroyed all of Chinatown, Patterson's Hotel, and part of Ad- dison's lumber yard. May 6, 1872, a fire broke out in Smith, Campbell & Jolly's store, and de-

stroyed all the buildings in the block, with the exception of the office of the Folsom Telegraph. Among these buildings were Meredith's drug store and Farmer's blacksmith shop. The loss was abont $130,000.

August 13, 1886, at 3 P. M., occurred a fire occasioning a loss of about $150,000. Of the business property only three buildings were left standing! In Chinatown they say that fires happen on an average about every two years.

Young America, No. 1, was a fire company, organized in September, 1861. The company bought a hand engine, costing $1,800, and dis- played some activity for a year or so, but the en- tlinsiasm dying out, it was disbanded in 1863.

The Folsom Hook and Ladder Company was organized March 3, 1857. The first officers were: H. B. Waddilove, Foreman: Charles Plannett, First Assistant; Frank Wheeler, Sec- ond Assistant; J. M. Arbuckle, Secretary; H. D. Rowley, Treasurer. The company owns the building known as Firemen's Hall, which was built in 1870, located on Sutter street. The average inembership has been about thirty-five. Their hall is used for all public meetings and theatrical performances.

In all Sacramento County there is probably no institution to the examination of which a day could be devoted with more pleasure and profit than the State Prison, two miles from Folsom.

The first act of the Legislature concerning a branch prison was passed in 1858, and author- ized the Board of Prison Directors to select a site for the Branch State Prison. Much disens- sion was had, but nothing done until 1868, when an act of the Legislature was passed requiring the Board of Prison Directors to determine be- tween a proposed site at Rocklin and the pres- ent one of Folsom, before the 1st of July of that year. The present site was selected chiefly on account of the available water power, the valne of which was even then fully recognized. In 1868 the State secured 350 acres of land, and in 1874 obtained 153 acres more, together com- prising the present prison tract. In 1874 the State appropriated $175,000 for the construction

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

of a prison, and in the fall of that year the work began. In 1878 a further sum was appropriated, and in 1880 it was ready for occupancy. During all this time the key-note of all operations was the utilization of the water-power, though the schemes directed to that end all failed. The present contracts and agreements between the State and the Folsom Water-Power Company will doubtless accomplish the long-sought re- sults.

The prison is in many respects a model onc. The prison building is exceedingly well lighted and ventilated, though the cells are not quite so large as should be to conform to the sanitary laws regarding cubic feet of air per person en- closed. There is cell-room enongh now for 650 prisoners. The drainage and sewerage is per- fect, and all the cells are perfectly dry. Every spot about the prison building is most scrupu- lously clean. Thus in clean, dry cells, with good light and ventilation, and the air of the building kept pure by good sewerage and the free play of the sunlight all the day long, are found the main elements of health well pro- vided for. The Record representatives saw three meals prepared for the prisoners, going into every department of the kitchen, bakery and refectory.

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Author: Davis, Winfield J., 1851- 4n Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 916

Author: Davis, Winfield J., 1851- 4n
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 916