USA > California > El Dorado County > Historical souvenir of El Dorado County, California : with illustrations and biographical setches of its prominent men & pioneers > Part 40
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In 1852 to '53 three ditches were constructed to convey water to the diggings-one from North Weber, four miles long; another from South Weber, about the same distance, and a third from the north branches of the Cosumnes river, ten miles long-by the "Eureka Company." In the meantime a saw- mill was put in operation near Pleasant Valley. In anticipation of these improvements, some parties started a town on the bench, half a mile southwest of Dog Town and one hundred feet above the creek. Israel Clapp put up a store; Lewis Foster put up an- other; W. F. Leon started a hotel ; then a butcher shop, a brewery, blacksmith shops, a post office, a ten- pin alley. Billiard saloons and drinking shops fol- lowed simultaneously. Miners' cabins were thickly scattered about the diggings. The ditch companies sold their water for less than half the price demanded for the same amount at Placerville. The water gen- erally lasted from November to July. Water for do- mestic purposes was obtained from wells dug twenty- five or thirty feet deep. Water for the brewery was brought in wooden pipes from a spring on the moun- tain side. In 1854 a wagon road was made directly from Placerville to Newtown, which was at that time a full-fledged California mining town, with all its appliances, even to a dance house in the suburbs.
On October 12th, 1872, a fire which had started in the brewery and spread over the village so rapidly that but very little could be saved by the inhabitants, leav- ing some entirely destitute, laid this whole town in ashes. The losses were considerable, and the princi- pal losers: Louis Rafetti & Co., merchants, loss $15,- 000 to $20,000 : J. F. Kaler, brewer, $4,000 ; Frank Giurdicci, saloon-keeper, $4,000.
In this locality is old " Fort Jim " located.
GRIZZLY FLAT.
Sometime in the summer or fall of 1850 Lyc. I .. Ramsey, (died in February 1876,) better known then and since as "Buck Ramsey," with a company of prospectors was searching for gold on the mountains between the North and Middle Forks of the Cosum- nes river, in the eastern portion of this county. The party were enjoying their evening meal near one of those noble springs, that abound in the vicinity, relishing after a hard days toil the usual miner's feast of those times-bread, bacon and coffee. The re- past was not ended before an unexpected visitor, parting the brush and cracking the dried limbs and leaves under his tread presented himself. He was a magnificent specimen of Sierra's noblest beast-a grizzly bear. His intrusion lasted but a moment. Rapidly, but perfectly self possessed, "Buck" grasped his rifle, and with a ringing shot sent his majesty
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HISTORY OF EL DORADO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
tearing through the underbrush, over the flat and down a steep declivity where he was subsequently found, a trophy of the skill and coolness of the lamented pioneer. This incident furnished the ap- propriate name which the village bears. The flat, or undulating ground where this scene occured, and where the town was soon after located, proved to be rich in gold. Ramsey and his party did not, how- ever, remain, but others soon followed and in the Spring of 1851 placer diggings, rich and extensive, were found for miles around, and though distant and somewhat difficult of access, the camp grew in number.
Among the first settlers of the place was Wm. Knox, who located near the Flat in the fall of 1851. Hiram and Eben Odlin about the same time pitched their tent near Steely's Fork, then not named, and after an absence of more than twenty years have re- turned to the scene of their early labors, and have engaged in their old advocation-mining.
Grizzly Flat is situated about 23 miles a little south of east of Placerville, between the two Middle Forks of Cosumnes river. The North Fork of the Cosum- nes, heading well in the Sierra Nevada, lies three miles north-west of the village; Steely's Fork of the same river, but one half mile distant to the south- east. "String Canyon" was one of the richest that has been in the district, and probably in the county, heads directly in town and flows 3 miles westerly to join the Cosumnes. In 1852, the ridge leading down from Leak Springs and between the Forks of the Cosumnes was adopted as one of the principal roads by the emigrants of that year; nothing but a dim trace of this old thoroughfare can be discovered, and its solitude is broken only by the annual prilgrim- age of the dairymen or sheepherders. The usual red soil predominates, yielding liberally, as often proved, to miner and farmer both. Grand forests of spruce and sugar pine extend up to the summit.
It was soon found that our golden treasures were not confined to the beds of our rivers and canyons, or to the surface of our flats and the deep breast of our gravel hills. Our quartz veins, like lines of longitude on the school-maps, traverse the earth throughout the whole region, and many of the most extensive and costly enterprises have been in this branch of mining; that they were not successful or only partially so in the early days, affords no proof, as we can well understand, against their value to-day.
Cosumnes that bears his name; from these he built a wooden railroad nearly a mile in length to his mines which lies about three-fourths of a mile south-west of the village. In these improvements he spent large sums of money; he was a man of great energy of character, persevering, and full of hope. All of his own capital, and the means of many of his friends and of the employees were cheerfully and confidently loaned to help the enterprise. But years of trial and industry, which in those days meant experiment, finally ended in failure, and the ruin of the old mills on Steely's Fork, the vestiges of the railroads up the mountain side, open cut at the Mt. Pleasant, the well known handwriting in the book of laws and regula- tions of Mt. Pleasant mining district,-of which he was Secretary for many years, and a few notes of hand, sere and yellow of age, are the remaining souvenirs that remind us of Dr. Steely the quartz miner, not only of Grizzly Flat, but El Dorado County and perhaps of the State .- Col. Knox also engaged during Steely's time quite extensively in quartz min- ing, but with the imperfect knowledge of those days with no better success.
From that day to this quartz mining, with varied results, has been one of the principal industries of the district. The Eagle Quartz Mine, located the same year as the Steely, was famous in its day for the wealth it poured into the hands of its lucky owners. Much of the reputation which this camp enjoys fol- lowed the working of this mine. Among its original owners were Dr. Clark, its discoverer ; his nephew, Robert Clark ; Elijah King, Benjamin Joiner, Tuomey and John Cable. Clark, King, Tuomey and Cable are no longer living, and Joiner-known as Dr. Joiner-still lives in String canyon, near the locality of his old property.
Like the balance of the ledges, work on the Eagle was done principally on the surface. No considerable depth has been attained in that or any of the neigh- bors. The Mount Pieasant has a depth of three hun- dred feet. Want of faith or want of money-the lat- ter probably-has kept these quartz miners in the upper levels : but it is to be hoped that a better day is dawning. Persistent going down will hereafter be in order until they pay. These mines and dozens of others are crying aloud for justice, which means that they are tired of' mere surface scratching ; that their real worth lies deep, and are awaiting the dalliance of the miner's pick to yield bountifully their golden affection.
Among the earliest and most extensive operators in quartz was Victor J. W. Steely. In March, 1852, he From 1853 to '57 the fever of quartz mining pre- vailed, but not to the exclusion of placer or river min- | premacy. Among other notable mines was the Rob- discovered and located one of the many ledges in the district, and in the progress of his work erected two ing, which held their own in the contest for su- mills at different points upon that branch of the
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LOCAL HISTORY.
erts' lead, struck in 1855 by that man, which proved rich for a season, and work, when it involved cost, was continued. At present it is owned by A. B. Driesbach, of Carson City. Also, the Valle del half a million dollars.
Oro, operated in 1867 by Captain Gedge, now of the steamer New World. This is a southern neighbor of the Mount Pleasant, and had a forty stamp mill, hoisting works, etc., erected on the ledge, when work ceased, the mill and other property sold, carried off and rebuilt twenty miles below, upon a worse mine. So also with the Mount Pleasant (originally Steely). This mine, after several years of abandonment, re- sumed work in 1867, spending three-fourths of their capital in the wrong place-on the top instead of under the ground-with only partial success. In
March, 1872, it ceased operations. Its extensive im- provements-a twenty stamp mill, boiler, engine, steam hoisting works, buildings, stores of every kind
The Eagle mine, after a five years' sleep, got awak- ened, and under the management of the intelligent and energetic superintendent, John Tregloon, prom- ises to revive its former reputation. Other valuable mines have from time to time been discovered and opened. The indefatigable and lucky E. R. Morey, one of Grizzly's oldest and most valned citizens, is still operating in the fascinating gamble of quartz mining. His late developments on his lead formerly known as the " Charles," promises what he is entitled to-a golden harvest. Gabe Wentz, another of the old and respected citizens, and Dave Brandover, his partner, have for years been hammering away at a rocky rib at Henry's diggings, three miles south of town. Their perseverance is about to be rewarded, as a permanent ledge, rich in gold, already proved, awaits only the future industry. But perhaps the most important discovery in this camp of later years is that made in June, 1874, by that embodiment of every industry and good humor, F. W. Earl. Hay- ing prospected for five months in the winter of 1873, frequently uncovering snow ten feet in depth to reach the earth, and sinking as much deeper after he found it, only to meet with a failure (for the whole of the time his means and his patience were alike exhausted), he packed his blankets and made for Grizzly Flat. He did not remain idle for a day. Prospecting, as supposed, almost against hope, in an abandoned
locality near the old Mount Pleasant and Irish lodes he struck a quartz ledge that has since proved itself to be worth anywhere from a hundred thousand to
Early in 1853 while working the rich surface of Spring Flat, half a mile north of Grizzly, the rivers of the adjacent hills were touched, which paying well led to explorations in the hills themselves. These old riverbeds, which have strangely enough turned to mountains, are known to be the true storehouses of our vast mineral wealth, and yet they have not been fairly tested. The central channels, by tunnel or drift, have never yet been cut, and they still award the proper attack of industry and capital before they will surrender the rich tribute concealed within their deep bosoms.
The first store established in the place was in 1852 by Chris. Nelson, a German. He kept but a short -were sold, torn down and moved away. These time, and whether living or dead is not known. costly but imperfect and superficial attempts did, per- haps, as much or more harm than good, as the re- sults, if not properly studied, looked like a condemna- tion of this leading industry of the county; but there had Hulburd, Milleken Bros., Riehl and S. F. Davis, are men enough with an abiding faith in the value of all these mines, and the future will vindicate their confidence, Others soon followed ; for awhile Col. Knox was in the business, then A. J. Graham, Hurlburd, Dean and Weatherwax and others. Since 1858 we have who kept until 1867. That year D. T. Loofbourrow bought out Davis, the next year Smith and Courson, and in 1869 sold to 'Alexander, bought back again in 1870 and sold in 1875 to S. P. Haskin, besides which a second store is kept by Nic. Aversino; two hotels are kept in the town, one by A. C. White,, and the other by McClellan, there are also two blacksmith shops. The principal mines in the district are : Mt. Pleasant, Driesbach, Eagle, Spencer & Morey, Eagle King, Bullard, Melton Bros., Ohio extreme of the Mt. Pleasant, and the Arctic, most of which are con- nected with stamp mills ; the Mt. Pleasant is orking a 20-stamp mill. There are several small ranches and orchards in this vicinity; viz: those of M. Martin, S. Springer. Fred. Zollers, . Stephen Leoni, Samuel Finley, Wm. Cole, John O'Lean, Slook & Smith, A. H. Mc.Afee. August Niebur, S. Webster. A. Myers, Jacob Behrens, George Haas and Bernard Plunker. About 3 miles from town there are two large saw-mills, now the property of S. P. Haskin. merchant of Grizzly Flat.
In 1866 the village met with its first calamity. be- ing nearly destroyed by fire, but few houses remained. Little suffering followed, however, as the mines were on the height of their productiveness, and everybody soon recovered their losses. In 1869 the village was again destroyed by fire, and this time the loss was most disastrous, as the place was larger, the houses more costly and a greater amount of personal property contained in them. This fire originated in an outbuilding where a drunken Indian was sleeping,
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HISTORY OF EL DORADO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
and it is supposed his attempts to light some matches during the night and carelessness in extinguishing them, was the immediate cause; his body badly burnt and life extinct, was discovered next morning. The town has never been built to the same extent since. Two stone fire-proof buildings only withstood this conflagration.
In 1855 the Catholics were sufficiently numerous to erect a neat and commodious place of worship. Its site was on the side of the hill just east of Grizzly Flat and near the residence of A. H. McAffee, and was the first building to meet the view of the traveler as he entered the village. In 1857 the Methodist church, a handsome edifice, was erected on a lot just at the edge of town. This lot has been used as the village burying ground, but owing to the wonderful healthy locality it contains but few graves. The church itself was converted years ago into a school house, which it still remains. In 1855 the Masons built their commodious hall, and a lodge organized by the appointment of Wmn. Mckean as Master. Strange as it may seem an Iron Foundry was built in 1855, and for some years did a paying business. The old brewery that furnished beer equal to the best Boca, gladdened the lips of the thirsty about 1854. For many years this town was the residence of Hank Hazard, whose varied attainments as professor of Spanish, German and Chinese, and master of many musical instruments as well as unparalleled teller of strange but true stories most everybody had occasion to admire and appreciate.
In 1856 Kine's and Hereford's saw-mills were in full blast. They made but little sunshine, however, in the surrounding dense and magnificent forest. The remains of Kine's mill are yet to be seen in String canyon. The first water ditch brought into the camp was dug by the Eagle Mining Company in 1852 ; Bartlett & Co.'s ditch one year later. Both ditches still supply the mills and mines in the vicinity, and run water eight or nine months a year. The zenith of prosperity was reached in 1856. At the election in the fall of that year over six hundred votes were polled, and the population probably exceeded twelve hundred.
The first judicial officer was a Mr. Cleggett, who was elected Justice of the Peace in 1853. He died in Grizzly Flat. Never a citizen of this place was elected to occupy a county office. James H. Watson was elected to the Assembly in 1858. Colonel Knox, for one term, occupied a seat in the Board of Super- visors from this district. From 1855 to 1857 two semi-weekly stage lines were maintained.
Grizzly Flat, like other mining towns, has had its share of vicissitudes. It has always been a pleasant
place to live in, and its citizens possess the usual characteristics of Californians-hospitable, generous and obliging. For a border town, but little outlawry and but few reckless and desperate characters have flourished at any time in its history. But one murder was ever committed in the place : Hiram Palmer, while drunk, killed an Indian in 1873. A few of the old pioneer citizens are still in town. Colonel Knox, who grows old slowly, can be seen most of the time reading on his cozy front porch. A. H. McAffee, for- merly Justice of the Peace, who knows not what an idle day is, must be sought at his claim. He has been living there since 1852. Jim Marshal, Samuel Stare, Uncle Amon Melton and many others have been residing here more than twenty years, with the in- tention never to leave except for a lot on that school- house ground. Of other residents of Grizzly Flat un- mentioned yet are : Pink Fowler, who would not part with his bachelor's homestead for a kingdom ; Ship- pey, Dave Hannah, Antoine and Dominic Myers, Frenchmen ; Sime Springer, a miracle of good nature ; Dennis Gallagher, Jim Bartlett, Uncle Tommy Gar- land and others.
The patriotism of the young men of Grizzly Flat became electrified before those of any other place, when, in the fall of 1857, the Mormons became troublesome. They organized a volunteer company to operate against them, on January 11th, 1858, and elected E. C. Springer captain. A resolution was also adopted at the meeting, requiring the captain to report the company ready for service and for march- ing to Utah at the shortest notice. The members of this company were called the "Grizzlies."
INDIAN DIGGINGS.
Indian Diggings was first discovered by a company of white men from Fiddletown (Oneida), who were on a prospecting trip, in the fall of 1850. They found several Indians there at work panning out gold in the bed of the creek, which was suggestive of the name adopted. A town soon sprang up, rich gravel de- posits having been discovered in the hills north of where the town is now situated. The distance from Placerville in a southeast direction is twenty-five miles ; from Oneida (Fiddletown), Amador county, twelve miles-the line between El Dorado and Ama- dor being only a few miles to the south from the place. Indian Diggings creek, upon whose banks the town was built, was among the richest surface or creek diggings in this part of the State, and have paid well by tunneling and by hydraulicking also. At one time (in 1855) the town was one of the most promis- ing in the southern portion of the county. There were nine stores, five hotels, the usual number of
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LOCAL HISTORY.
saloons, etc., with a population of fifteen hundred per- sons. The necessary water for working the mines, etc., was brought in the camp by means of the In- dianville and Cedarville ditches, built during the sum- mer of 1852, tapping the South Fork of Cosumnes river, and a water-power saw-mill was built at Browns- ville, where it has done a paying business for several years. In 1855 the number of ditches was increased by two, providing water from the Middle Fork of the Cosumnes from a point four miles above Py Py Val- ley. The expense of constructing these ditches was $200,000 for each. These ditches supplied the min- ers of Brownsville, Indian Diggings, Cedarville, Fair- play, Spanish creek and from thence it was taken across over the county line to Pokerville (now Ply- mouth), Arkansas Diggings, Michigan and Cook's Bars.
In 1857 all the water ditches in that section passed into the hands of J. M. Douglass, who held and oper- ated them principally in his own interest until 1874, when they became the property of Charles E. Me- Lane, of San Francisco, who is pursuing a more liberal policy towards the miners. There are several valua- ble claims still being worked at and near the old town, among which is to be mentioned the Bell and Dorscy claim, being owned and worked by McLane. Bur- rows & Co., Bell & Murry, Lamb & Co. and Patter- son are successful miners in the vicinity.
On the evening of August 27th, 1857, the town was totally destroyed by fire, including every store and hotel of the place. Another big fire, that laid in ashes a large portion of the town, occurred in 1860. The history of the town is not entirely without those incidents that were the greatest necessity to make up a first-class California town. In the summer of 1855, a ditch superintendent left town, taking with him the funds of the company and another man's wife. He was overtaken at Nevada City and gave up the coin, but stuck to the woman. In the fall of 1855 a man was shot at a circus by a man who had taken the wife of the injured party to the performance. The audi- ence was considerably alarmed. After firing several shots, the party fled, and, by the aid of friends, escaped. The wounded man finally recovered, though crippled for life. A duel was fought to settle a dis- pute about a game of ten pins. Pistols were used without effect, when one party went back to his cabin for his rifle, with which he would "fetch him." The difference was settled by friends. In the flushest min- ing time the town had quite a communication with other parts and the outer world. In 1855 there were three stages running between the town and Sacra- mento, two of them daily, one tri-weekly-all doing a good business.
The miners on the different branches of the Co- sumnes river were all supplied from this town. J. W. Gilmore was the first Postmaster, and one of the first hotel-keepers. He, as well as his estimable lady, will be remembered well by all who have shared his hos- pitality. They live now at the bridge spanning the Cosumnes near Latrobe.
" Indian Diggings Lodge, No. 85, F. & A. M.,". was organized in the summer of 1855, and continued with success until 1874, when it merged with Fiddle- town Lodge. "Polar Star Lodge, No. 56, I. O. O. F.," was organized in September, 1856, and continued until October, 1863, when the hall and records were destroyed by fire. The hall was rebuilt at Fairplay. In 1858 a mill for sawing marble was erected by Messrs. Aitken & Luce, of Sacramento, which is worked successfully to the present time. The reputa- tion of this marble for monuments, building and ornamental purposes is general, and is declared sec- ond to none yet discovered in the United States. A fine monument, as a specimen of this marble, was for- warded by the firm of Aitken & Luce to the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia.
In 1860 a dispute about a water right occurred be- tween some miners living a few miles below town, on Cedar creek, and Dr. O. P. C. White, formerly of Tennessee. The miners went prepared to cut White's dam, and while in the act two of the party-McGee and Sweeny-were shot dead, the third-Delory- barely escaping with his life. White, by the aid of numerous friends, succeeded in avoiding the officers until the following spring, when he left the State and gave up his life fighting for the South. Dr. Eckel- roth, now of Tuolumne county, being Coroner, started from Placerville for the scene of the murdered men, in company with Mike Welch. The party reached Buck's Bar at about ten o'clock at night. The water being high, Welch, taking the lead, plunged in, the doctor following. Welch was carried down the rapids and never has been heard from. The doctor escaped.
S. J. Ensminger, now of Evansville, Ind., familiarly known as "Big Sam," spent several years, in early days, in dispensing beef to the denizens of Indian Diggings and vicinity. E. H. Perry settled here in 1850. He now is a thrifty farmer, living within a mile of where he first located, at the head of the cresk which bears his name. He was a Deputy Indian Agent in 1851-52. Indian Diggings was a central point for Indians in early days. It was no uncommon sight at a "fandango" to see collected together fifteen hundred and more Indians of the forest.
Politically, Indian Diggings was quite an important point, and more than a few of those who have gained
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HISTORY OF EL DORADO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
prominence in this county made their debut from this place. Among those who have represented the county in the Legislature the following were from this town : George McDonald, two sessions ; Tyler D. Heiskell, H. C. Sloss, John C. Bell (who was killed during the session by Dr. Stone, of Georgetown), John Fraser, Ed. F. Taylor and Thomas Fraser, afterwards Sena. tor, now of Placerville. Of candidates who failed to be elected we mention J. W. Wilcox, the " Mariposa blacksmith." A good story has been told about John. On one of his evening rambles, with a com- panion, among his neighbors' turkey roosts, he con- cluded that, as Christinas was nearing, they would have a turkey dinner. When reaching up to catch a gobler, the old chap commenced, in loud tone: "Quit ! quit!" John and his comrade, supposing it to be the owner of the premises, broke and beat a hasty retreat, leaving their game behind them.
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