USA > California > El Dorado County > Historical souvenir of El Dorado County, California : with illustrations and biographical setches of its prominent men & pioneers > Part 37
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The first entry for January 3d is a charge against J. Bailess & Co., to 70 feet lath, $35 00. Further down we find Robt. Cadwalader charged with one scantling 102/3 feet, $4 30; then comes J. A. Perry for 225 feet of scantling at 40 cents, $90 oo; Mr. Perry is charged again on January 9th with $88 oo for 160 feet of plank and 60 feet of scantling. On the 10th of Janu- ary Winters & Bayley commenced purchasing lumber for the hotel at Pilot Hill, 16 feet for $6 40. On the 5th of February, Quay, Gardner & Moore are charged $1,787 96, for 4,077 feet of dimension lumber, 135 feet of rough boards and 256 feet of sheating. On the 18th of April the following are set down among the cash receipts : 31/3 feet of lumber, $1 oo; 2 slabs, $1 00; 5 slabs, $5 oo; 4 broken slabs, $2 oo. On the 20th of April, Alfred Finney pays $15 00 for 14 slabs. On the same day Jacob Stubbleben takes a rough lot (630 feet) of building lumber at reduced rates, only $189 00; on the same day Walter Buckland is cred- ited with one month's work in the mill, from March 2 1st to April 19th, inclusive, with $300 00. The same day we find this entry: J. S. Fisk, to 4 pieces, 2x4, 16 feet long, 422/3 feet, at 30 cents, $12 80; memo- randum, dentist over the river, payable in six weeks; reference, Osterhaut and Allen.
UNIONTOWN.
First called " Marshall," as Coloma was called Sutter's mill, below Coloma, once a mining community of some note. There were not less than one thousand men engaged here in mining, partially on the South Fork of the American river, partially on the neighbor- ing Granite and Shingle creeks, supporting ten or twelve large boarding houses, and a number of stores. The first store was opened by Inglesby & Merrill. Benjamin Smith also kept a store, and the first im- pression was to call the town in honor of him, but this was changed and the name Uniontown selected. Another store was kept by Franklin Prague, who also built the first Uniontown bridge. A saw mill, the second one in El Dorado county was erected on what was then known as saw-mill slough, by Athens & Vance. Dr. Doolin kept a drug store besides his practice as a physician. The first family in town was that of Mr. Olmstead, from Oregon ; Wm. Cromwell, Jno. Thompson, Robert Wood and others followed. Law & Stevens kept the first bakery, and furnished the very smallest loaves of bread in the winter of 1850, when flour was worth $50 per 100 lbs., and a pound freight was charged 16 cents from Mormon Island to Coloma. H. K. Stowe, was one of the first settlers, and Herrick Jacobs was probably the first blacksmith in town. In 1853, Mr. A. Lohry opened a general store here and a few years after
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LOCAL HISTORY.
erected the brick store still occupied as such. A Post office was established here January 6th, 1881, with the present store keeper Mr. Gallaner, as Post Master, the Post office is called "Lotus," on sugges- tion of Mr. Lohry. Besides this store and some residences, the town comprises a hotel and a black- smith shop.
The first grain in this vicinity was raised by Rev. Cummings, on Granite creek, the first fruit was raised by the Cromwell family, on a lot where the blacksmith shop now stands. Mr. Haggert was first engaged in general fruit growing,
MICHIGAN FLAT.
On the North side of the South Fork below Coloma there were the following mining camps : Red Hill, Coyote Diggings, Rich Gulch, all together called Michigan Flat since 1854. Charles Smith kept here the first store, on the South Fork at the mouth of Greenwood creek, in a canvass tent, in 1849, and a butchershop, together with a hotel and boarding house, etc., was kept by one Tutsbury, a drink here was 50 cents in 1849, and Wentzel Stock, now of Virginia City, had the first bakery. On the flat Charles Dusenberg was the first merchant, his store in 1850, was built of canvass. It was here where the Stanford brothers laid the foundation of their wealth. Thomas W. Stanford attended to a store here, a round topped live-oak tree marks the spot near which the store stood, while Leland Stanford was looking after the interest of another store, which the brothers kept in partnership together. Another store was kept by John Haas, there were also two or three boarding houses and a bakery, the property of Jack Miller. Drs. Stone and Wheelock were the res- ident physicians. Louis Meyer, James Groth, now of Sacramento county, Ernest Mortensen, still on the place, John Galbraith, E. Engelberg, of Stevenson's Regiment and Adam Dilken were among the first settlers ; Mrs. Harris was the first white woman on the flat. The population of Michigan Flat once was from 400 to 500.
PILOT HILL.
Originally called Centreville, but now for Post office reasons known as Pilot Hill, has retained more of the character of a mining camp of old, than most places in the country. The town is located at the north- eastern base of Pilot Hill, from which it derives its name. The first mining was done in 1849, and the first little store was opened here the same year, in a common log building. Rich placers had been discovered, but as there was no water on hand, the mining work had to be delayed until the winter of 1850, when miners flocked in here from the river
bars and a lively business began. Talcott & Rose started the first regular store in this mining camp, making this their head quarters for the winter, while they tended to their other places of business on the river during the summer season. Among the first ones, that came here to try their fortune at Center- ville, was John Woods, of New York, he came up here from Salmon Falls in the fall of 1849, at which time there were plenty of grizzlies around here. The first house in town was built by Samuel Stevens in the earliest part of 1850. John Brown and Wilson kept one of the first boarding houses here, and did a splendid business. Another store was kept by Henry Stevens and Conrad Thompson, the latter known as "Topside," as he was an old sailor. Another board- ing house was opened by Charles Tudsberry. Of other old residents at Pilot Hill out of the year of 1850, we have to mention A. J. Bayley, F. B. Peacock, Gense Kirchan, Samuel Stevens, David Ferguson, Thomas Ferguson, C. S. Rogers, P. D. Brown. Robert E. Draper was the pioneer mail carrier for the village, he was the best walker in the State. Sometimes he would leave Pilot Hill at 6 A. M., carrying the mail to Sacramento, got his mail and returned with it to Pilot Hill at 7:30 P. M., a distance of near 40 miles. He carried letters for one dollar each, and papers for 50 cents each. In the Spring of 1851, a number of people from Pittsfield, Illinois, arrived here and started a village of their own, consisting of 24 or 25 log cabins, which they called Pittsfield : Thus making it three different villages, but the whole publicly known as
CENTERVILLE.
The old town of Pilot Hill was located further north and nearer the base of Pilot Hill, the site is now owned by Dwight Burpee, and here the principal place of business was kept by James H. Rose. Of other early settlers in this district, who still live here we recall the names of Silas Hayes, who was first Post Master of Pilot Hill ; D. Burpee, A. A. Bayley, oldest son of A. J. Bayley, and the present incum- bent of the second Supervisor district of the county ; Wm. Buchan, at present Post Master, in office since 1870, John Bishop, C. F. Briff, Hiram Stoddard, M. W. Manning. of Cave valley. First school in Pilot Hill School District was taught by Mrs. Alice Gallo- way, it was a private school supported by Bayley and others, and was located near Bayley's present resi- dence. John Bowman was the first blacksmith in this community, since the Spring of 1852. He moved around considerably and finally settled on Bayley's ranch, where D. Burpee built a shop for him. The first white woman, at Pilot Hill, was Mrs. Avery, who
IS2
HISTORY OF EL DORADO COUNTY. CALIFORNIA.
had been under the same circumstances at Oregon Bar The present hotel, a two and a-half story frame structure was built in 1854, and occupied for some years by Mr. Creque. Mrs. Jane McLagan is the present proprietor. There are still three stores kept here, two in town and Mr. Bayley's on Bayley's ranch, about a quarter of a mile northeast of town, where Mr. Bayley, in 1860, erected the present mag" nificent and roomy three story brick mansion of the Bayley family, without any doubt, the most exquisite building in the county. There is a good deal of general farming done in the township, stock raising, however, is the principal farming business ; of late again some attention has been given to fruit farming and vine culture. During the winter months some activity prevails while free water abounds, and familiar faces of old times are seen in the old ravines. hunting for their hidden chispas. The outlook for quartz mining is most encouraging but the total absence of machin- ery to reduce ore, and the isolated location of the district, precludes the regular prospecting for quartz by miners who have to look out for present returns.
Pilot Hill has a Masonic Hall, the property of Pilot Hill Lodge, No. 160, F. and A. M.
The first Grange Lodge on the Pacific coast was organized here in 1870, by A. A. Bayley ; by reading a brief article on the objects and aims of the Patrons of Husbandry, he became so favorably impressed, that he wrote for further information to the National Secretary; O. H. Kelly, Esq., at Itasca, Minn., from whom he received, with the sanction of the National Executive Committee. and in absence of a General Deputy, a special commission and the entire secret work. The Lodge was then organized on August 17th, 1870, with twenty-nine charter members, form- ing the Pioneer Grange of California.
HOGGS DIGGINGS.
This was once a rich and active mining camp, sup- porting two or three stores and various other places found around mining camps, John B. Hogg, after whom the place was named, and doubtless the first or one of the first settlers of the place, once picked up a piece of gold weighing $1800 ; many pieces found from $500 upwards. Hogg was a native of Tennessee a man of fine culture and education, he had been Deputy Secretary of the State and Clerk of the Leg- islature in his native State. He was a successful miner and the first mining recorder of the district, and continued as a popular man when going out of office. He died at Hoggs Diggings on August 30th, 1875, about fifty-seven or fifty-eight years old, and was bur- over and denuded of all loose material. The gold ried at Hoggs Diggings burrying ground. Many friends Limented his death as he was loved in society
and respected as a liberal business man. But all the old settlers are gone except James Clark and Mrs. Belsey Taylor widow of Wm. Taylor.
MURDERER'S BAR.
The derivation of this name as told by Mr. D. Fair- child, an old pioneer of 1849, and for years a resident of this county, which he only left to take charge of the Oroville Mercury, Butte county, is showing a true picture of early mining events : "Among the pio- neers of 1848, was Thomas M. Buckner, now a resi- dent of Spanish Dry Diggings, El Dorado county, who emigrated to Oregon from Kentucky, in 1845. When the news of the discovery of gold in California reached Oregon, several parties were immediately fitted out with the purpose to start for the gold-fields. Buckner was a member of one of these companies, numbering sixty-two young men, who made the overland trip to California, under the leadership of Captain Martin, and after some adventures of lesser importance ar- rived at Sutter's fort, on August 2d, 1848. While stopping at the fort for a few days, a party of sailors arrived from the mines with a considerable quantity of gold dust, and informed Mr. J. D. Hoppe, who was also there, and with whom they were acquainted, where they had obtained it, and of the probability of there being much more ir. the vicinity. Mr. Hoppe immediately engaged a party of seven men, Buckner being one, to go with him to the ,Sailors Diggings.' Having obtained unmistakable directions as to the route and distance, they left the fort about the roth, of August. In those days there were circuitous trails, for though the objective point of the party, afterwards proved to be the place, called the following year "Rector's Bar," after an Oregonian of that name, on the Middle Fork of the American river. They pro- ceeded to Sutter's mill thence northerly to Long val- ley (now Greenwood), over the ridge by Spanish Dry Diggings and down into the canyon of the Middle fork to what was afterwards named 'Spanish Bar,' across the river and up the hill to the top of the ridge, where they traveled on the trail, made by the sailors, to the place now known as Bird's valley, and fixed their camp there. From here they went down into the canyon of the river, in the morning, working dur- ing the day in the crevices and returning to camp on the ridge at night. The only tools used by these primitive miners were butcher knives, iron spoons and occasionally a small steel bar, and a pan, as they were seeking for gold only upon and in the crevices of the bed-rock which the high waters of years had flowed was coarse, and while some of the crevices would yield many pounds of gold, others contained nothing, this
AT GRAY'S FARM RESIDENCE .f AT.GRAY &SONS GRAY'S FLAT ELDORADO,C".CAL.
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HISTORY OF EL DORADO COUNTY. CALIFORNIA.
had been under the same circumstances at Oregon Bar. The present hotel, a two and a-half story frame structure was built in 1854, and occupied for some years by Mr. Creque. Mrs. Jane McLagan is the present proprietor. There are still three stores kept here, two in town and Mr. Bayley's on Bayley's ranch, about a quarter of a mile northeast of town, where Mr. Bayley, in 1860, erected the present mag" nificent and roomy three story brick mansion of the Bayley family, without any doubt, the most exquisite building in the county. There is a good deal of general farming done in the township, stock raising, however, is the principal farming business ; of late again some attention has been given to fruit farming and vine culture. During the winter months some activity prevails while free water abounds, and familiar faces of old times are seen in the old ravines, hunting for their hidden chispas. The outlook for quartz mining is most encouraging but the total absence of machin- ery to reduce ore, and the isolated location of the district, precludes the regular prospecting for quartz by miners who have to look out for present returns.
Pilot Hill has a Masonic Hall, the property of Pilot Hill Lodge, No. 160, F. and A. M.
The first Grange Lodge on the Pacific coast was organized here in 1870, by A. A. Bayley ; by reading a brief article on the objects and aims of the Patrons of Husbandry, he became so favorably impressed, that he wrote for further information to the National Secretary; O. H. Kelly, Esq., at Itasca, Minn., from whom he received, with the sanction of the National Executive Committee, and in absence of a General Deputy, a special commission and the entire secret work. The Lodge was then organized on August 17th, 1870, with twenty-nine charter members, form- ing the Pioneer Grange of California.
HOGGS DIGGINGS.
This was once a rich and active mining camp, sup- porting two or three stores and various other places found around mining camps, John B. Hogg, after . whom the place was named, and doubtless the first or one of the first settlers of the place, once picked up a piece of gold weighing $1800 ; many pieces found from $500 upwards. Hogg was a native of Tennessee a man of fine culture and education, he had been Deputy Secretary of the State and Clerk of the Leg- islature in his native State. He was a successful miner and the first mining recorder of the district, and continued as a popular man when going out of office. He died at Hoggs Diggings on August 30th, 1875, about fifty-seven or fifty-eight years old, and was bur- ried at Hoggs Diggings burrying ground. Many friends lamented his death as he was loved in society
and respected as a liberal business man. But all the old settlers are gone except James Clark and Mrs. Belsey Taylor widow of Wm. Taylor.
MURDERER'S BAR.
The derivation of this name as told by Mr. D. Fair- child, an old pioneer of 1849, and for years a resident of this county, which he only left to take charge of the Oroville Mercury, Butte county, is showing a true picture of early mining events: "Among the pio- neers of 1848, was Thomas M. Buckner, now a resi- dent of Spanish Dry Diggings, El Dorado county, who emigrated to Oregon from Kentucky, in 1845. When the news of the discovery of gold in California reached Oregon, several parties were immediately fitted out with the purpose to start for the gold-fields. Buckner was a member of one of these companies, numbering sixty-two young men, who made the overland trir to California, under the leadership of Captain Martin, and after some adventures of lesser importance ar- rived at Sutter's fort, on August 2d, 1848. While stopping at the fort for a few days, a party of sailors arrived from the mines with a considerable quantity of gold dust, and informed Mr. J. D. Hoppe, who was also there, and with whom they were acquainted, where they had obtained it, and of the probability of there being much more in the vicinity. Mr. Hoppe immediately engaged a party of seven men, Buckner being one, to go with him to the ,Sailors Diggings.' Having obtained unmistakable directions as to the route and distance, they left the fort about the 10th, of August. In those days there were circuitous trails, for though the objective point of the party, afterwards proved to be the place, called the following year "Rector's Bar," after an Oregonian of that name, on the Middle Fork of the American river. They pro- ceeded to Sutter's mill thence northerly to Long val- ley (now Greenwood), over the ridge by Spanish Dry Diggings and down into the canyon of the Middle fork to what was afterwards named 'Spanish Bar,' across the river and up the hill to the top of the ridge, where they traveled on the trail, made by the sailors, to the place now known as Bird's valley, and fixed their camp there. From here they went down into the canyon of the river, in the morning, working dur- ing the day in the crevices and returning to camp on the ridge at night. The only tools used by these primitive miners were butcher knives, iron spoons and occasionally a small steel bar, and a pan, as they were seeking for gold only upon and in the crevices of the bed-rock which the high waters of years had flowed over and denuded of all loose material. The gold was coarse, and while some of the crevices would yield many pounds of gold, others contained nothing, this
A.T.GRAY'S FARM : RESIDENCE of A.T.GRAY & SONS GRAY'S FLAT · ELDORADO,CO·CAL.
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LOCAL HISTORY.
rendered the success of the party variable, and though generally lucky, when provisions began to get scarce, towards the rainy season, a separation took place; Buckner with two others, started unknown with the route, hoping to reach Johnson's ranch on Bear river. In this, however, they were disappointed, for the first evidences of civilization they struck were upon their arrival at Sinclair's ranch, opposite Sutter's fort.
"Knowing nothing about dry or ravine diggings, and believing the tales of trappers and others, that it would be impossible to winter at the mines along the rivers, Buckner went to San Francisco and thence to the redwoods, known as San Antonio, in the hills back of the present site of Oakland, where Redwood-peak is, here he found employment making shakes, pickets, whip-saw lumber etc., At that time these redwoods contained scores of men of various nationalities and professions ; runaway sailors, beach combers, lawyers, doctors, etc., all similarily occupied for present necessity.
" Among these homogeneous spirits who were tem- porarily inhabiting the redwoods was Capt. Ezekiel Merritt, who had been a conspicuous character in the formation of the " Bear flag " party at Sonoma in 1846; during the winter an intimate friendship sprang up between Buckner and Merritt, and they determined to blend their fortunes in a venture to the mines, as soon as the proper season should arrive. Accordingly the two, accompanied by an Indian boy called Peg, whom Merritt had retained for a number of years as a servant, in April, 1849, left the redwoods and went overland to Knight's ranch, on Cache creek; Knight and Gordon, both old settlers in that section, were old acquaintances and friends of Merritt.
" Upon learning the destination of his friend, Mr. Knight, with the hospitality then so characteristic of the old California rancheros, insisted upon killing a number of bullocks and jerking the meat, that the Captain and his companions might be provided with a sufficient quantity of carne seca, to ward off the chances of starvation, while pursuing their search of digging in an unknown region. Having prepared an ample supply of meat, Mr. Knight's generosity did not stop there, he loaded it upon one of his carts and sent it to the embarcadero, at Sacramento, so that the horses of the prospectors might be fresher for their mountain journey. At the time, a surveying party under Lieut. Warner, of the U. S. A., were lay- ing out the streets of the future city of Sacramento.
"Meritt and Buckner, assisted by Peg, packed up their animals, and first went to Weber creek, but did not like the outlook there, and advancing in a north- erly direction, crossed the South Fork of the Ameri-
can, a few miles below Sutter's mill ; traveled across the divide, and descended into the canyon of the Middle Fork, reaching the stream at a place where there was quite a fall, caused by an avalanche, years before, which had changed the bed of the river.
"The month of April was not yet gone, there were no evidences of any work having been done by white men, but while traveling, the little party had observed signs of Indians, and, deeming any thev would there meet would be hostile, on account of their small number a sharp lookout was kept. They remained near the falls a day or two, endeavoring to get to the bottom of the deep hole which was just below them, where the crude gold diggers imagined all of the large junks should be, if there were any at all in the locality ; but not succeeding, they broke camp and started down the stream. Captain Merritt, as an ex- perienced frontiersman took the lead. They had pro- ceeded but a short distance, when they reached the head of a large bar, situated upon the South side of the river, and below them, some distance down the bar was a jutting point of rocks, beyond which they could not see. The captain was a nervous, excitable man, and when excited stuttered badly. When a few yards down the bar, he suddenly stopped short, bringing the train to a halt, and exclaimed : ‘B-b-by G-g-god, he-he-r's wh-white ma-man's ha-ha-r ! Ye- yes, a-and Injuns' ha-har, too!' And sure enough, so it was ; there upon the pebbly bar above high water mark, among evidences of a plundered camp, was the white man's hair, strewn around with that of the Indian, silent evidence that the life of the super- ior race had not gone out to the great unknown un- avenged and without a struggle. No bodies were found, but an ash heap close by, in which were cal- cined bones, told the story of the white and red man together.
"Upon this discovery, the point of rocks ahead be- came a barrier post, beyond which the white men dared not go for fear of an ambuscade, and accord- ingly they retraced their steps to the head of the bar, where a large, smooth, deep stretch of water occurred above the ripple, while a small, low bar showed it- self upon the northern side. At the extreme head of the bar, where they had found the evidences of death, they unpacked their animals in an open space of ground, and prepared for an attack. They remained in this position until the following morning, and no Indians coming to molest them, nor none being seen, Captain Merritt arıned the boy Peg, and sent him around the point of rocks to reconnoiter. He returned, and reported signs, but no Indians in sight. Thereupon all three, with arms in readiness in case of necessity, sallied forth for further explorations down
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HISTORY OF EL DORADO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
the river. Scarcely had they passed the point, before some sixty or seventy Indians appeared upon the bench or higher bar, above them, yelling and gesticu- lating in a frightful manner, but as they were only armed with bows and arrows, dared not attack. Now that the enemy were in sight all fear of ambush passed away, and with 'Rachel,' as Merritt called his old-fashioned rifle, poised for business, the white men watched the yelping savages until the latter ap parently became convinced that they could do no harm to the former, and in the course of a few hours, retreated upon the mountain and disappeared from view.
" Upon the river bar that the whites thus were left the masters of were fine groves of willows, some ash trees, and many smooth-barked, thrifty alders, and while there it occurred to Buckner, that, as the bars along the South Fork and other streams to the south- ward, were all designated with names, he would also name the one they were then occupying. He accord- ingly took his pocket knife and cut upon the smooth and easily slipped bark of an alder tree,
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