USA > California > Humboldt County > History of Humboldt County, California : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, farms, residences, public buildings, factories, hotels, business houses, schools, churches, etc., from original drawings, including biographical sketches > Part 24
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DISTRICT COURT.
This was the highest local tribunal of original jurisdiction, em- bracing chancery, civil and criminal causes. As at first created it had original cognizance of all cases in equity, and its civil jurisdiction embraced all causes where the amount in question exceeded $200, causes involving the title to real property or the validity of any tax, and issues of fact joined in the Probate Court. It had power to inquire into criminal offenses by means of a grand jury, and to try indictments, found by that body. In 1851, the Legislature took from this Court its criminal jurisdiction and conferred it upon tbe Court of Sessions, leav- iug it the power of hearing appeals from that Court on crim- inal matters, and the power to try all indictments for murder, manslaughter, arson, and any cases in which the members of the Court of Sessions were personally interested.
ADJUSTMENT OF THE DEBT OF TRINITY.
By the Act of 1853 for the division of Trinity Couuty and tbe organization of Humboldt out of the westeru portion thereof, ouc-half of the debt of the old county was apportioned to the new.
The whole amount of the debt was ascertaincd by the officers to be between $12,000 aud $13,000; that chargeable to Humboldt County being therefore something over $6,000. This last amount was funded, under an act passed subsequently, and bonds were issued for the same, bearing interest at the rate of ten per cent. per annumn. A special tax was also provided to pay the interest aud ultimately redeem the bonds.
FIRST COUNTY ELECTION.
We here give the vote in full of the first election after the organization of the county, as it shows very nearly the total voters of the county at that time and the different precincts. Election September, 1854.
TABLE OF VOTES CAST AT FIRST COUNTY ELECTION.
PRECINCTS.
Union
Eurcka
Bucksport
Table Bluff
Eel River ||2 00
Pacific
South Fork
Total
Majority
For Clerk of 5 Z. R. Beard, Whig
98 68.53
12 23 5 15 274
Supreme Court { Chas. A. Leake. Dem.
69 110 71 12 28 11
4 305 31
For the
§ A. H. Murdock, Whig
157
61|50 6:13 1 15 303 33 15 114 72 17 36 12 4 270
For ( Walter Van Dyke, Whig!
88 107 54 11 21
3 15 299 43
Dist. Attorney ? E. H. Howard, Dem.
79 59 64 11 28 12 3 256
For § John Vance, Whig
42 106 37 13 17 5 14 234
Treasurer
Į M. Spencer, Dem.
127, 62 80 11 30 11 6 326 92
For
87 56 53
23 5 15 239
Coroner
H. D. P. Allen, Whig { J. Johnson, Dem.
70 57 70 23 28 11 4 263 24
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
UNION, J. H. Cowan, Dem., J. A. Whaley, Dem .; EUREKA, D. F. Gilbert, Whig, Thos. Dean, Whig; BUCKSPORT, A. Cald- well, Dem., J. C. Murdock, Whig; TABLE BLUFF, Wm. Espie, Whig, J. Jones, Wbig; EEL RIVER, A. D. Sevier, Wbig, L. W. Fish, Whig; PACIFIC, Cutler Hatch, Whig, N. Patrick, Whig; SOUTH FORK, J. A. Drake, Whig, N. B. Hill, Whig.
REPORT OF ASSESSOR FOR 1854.
The following report of the Assessor will give a very good idea of the condition of the county at that date.
The quantity of land under cultivation in this county is probably about 2,500 acres; this is chiefly situated in the val- ley of Eel River and Mad River bordering on the bay. The area of land adapted to grazing is very extensive; I can give no information as to the quantity.
Bordering on the bay and coast the country is principally covered with timber and of excellent quality, consisting chiefly of redwood, pine and spruce.
This is probably the best as well as the most extensive lum- bering district in the State. The soil is of excellent quality,
Assembly
A. Flanders, Dem.
B.BLOCKBURGER
HALL
STORE
PROPERTY OF BENJAMIN BLOCKBURGER, BLOCKSBURG, HUMBOLDT CO. CAL.
Y
113
ORGANIZATION OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY.
producing grains and esenlents in great ahundance and variety. The exact limits and boundaries of this county are not defined in consequence of no survey being completed. Owing to this fact there are continued disputes as to the whereabouts of the boundaries between this and Klamath. Ay yet but little fruit has been raised, but another year or two will add greatly to this branch of agriculture. There is a large number of fruit trees of every variety adapted to the climate in fine growth, and some have already borne fruit.
The quantity of mineral lands known in this county is small. The number of horses, cattle, etc., of the county, as stated be- low, is as correct as possible, although many immigrants have located in the county since these were enumerated, and have added to the number somewhat.
FIRST BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
Under the law of 1855, organizing Boards of Supervisors, the County Judge, J. K. Wyman, gave notice that the county was divided into three districts, corresponding with the num- ber of Supervisors to bo elected, which were as follows, to wit: Eel River, Pacific and Tablo Bluff Townships constituting the lirst; Bueksport and Eureka Townships constituting the sec- ond; and Union and South Fork Townships constituting the third distriet. The election was called to be held on the see- ond Monday of April, 1855, and the places of holding the poils, aud the Inspectors and Judges of election, were as follows:
KIRST DISTRICT-Eel River .- Polls at R. R. Roberts' house. -Inspector, B. F. Jamison; Judges, L. W. Fish and T. D. Felt.
Pacific .- Polls at the house of S. L. Shaw .- Inspector, S. L. Shaw ; Judges, Uri Williams aud N. Patrick.
Table Bluff .- Polls at Table Bluff House .- Inspector, J. Van Aernaru ; Judges, J. D. Myers and John Jones.
SECOND DISTRICT-Bucksport .- Polls at school house .- In- spector, Dr. J. Clark ; Judges, J. C. Murdock and A. Cadwell.
Eureka .- Polls at Brett's Hotel .- Inspector J. M. Eddy; Judges, Jolin Chamberlin and G. H. Knight.
THIRD DISTRICT-Union .- Polls at A. Packsher & Co.'s Ho- tel .- Inspector, H. S. Daniels; Judges, J. H. Cowan, and H. W. MeNay.
South Fork .- Polls at Drake & Baggott's Ferry House .- In- spector, N. Hill; Judges, J. A. Drako and --- MeCann.
FIRST MEETING OF SUPERVISORS.
At this election the following persons were chosen: First District, John Quick ; Second District, Jonathan Clark ; Third District, J, S. Bowles.
The Board met May 6, 1855, and elected John Quick, Chair- man.
They continued in session seven hours each day, and disposed of a large amount of business.
They commenced the examination of all the affairs of the county since its organization. They passed an order requiring some of the county officers to give additional bonds. In some
cases the securities were dead, had left the county, or were men of straw, froin whom not a dollar could be collected by compul- sion. They carefully examined the books, accounts, and vonch- ers of the county officers from the organization of the county, and found them correct. Every cent received and disbursed by them was accounted for.
At this first meeting they abolished the election precincts at Angel's Ranch and South Fork on aceont of the frauds commit- ted at those places at last county seat election.
The County Assessor was allowed ten dollars per day for assessing; the Clerk of the Board $200 per year; the District Attorney, $750 per year. Byron Deming was appointed Cor- oner, and Benj. F. Myran Public Administrator.
They divided the county into six townships, named as fol- lows: Pacific, Tablo Bluff, Eel River, Bucksport, Eureka, and Union. And organized six Road Districts bounded same as the Townships.
The Clerk of the county reported the indebteduess of the
county, May 1, 1855, as follows :-
$4,532.05
Warrants outstanding 5,150.00
Bonds not redeemed . .. 591.00
Balance of money due estate.
Total debt. $10,273.05
COUNTY EXPENSES UP TO 1855.
The following statement was furnished to the Board by Hon. J. E Wyman, County Judge, of the liabilities of the county, from the organization July 1, 1853, to the 1st of May, 1855. twenty-two months, and for what such liabilities were incurred : $3,500.00
Salary of County Judge. 859.50
Rent of court room, offices, etc .. 48.88
Furniture and stationery for court room 612.50
Expenses of elections . 776.00
Per diem fees of Associate Justice. 845.00
Grand and trial jurors' fees . 1,031.66
Salary of District Attorney
Proportion of Trinity County debt apportioned to
6,159.61
Humboldt County
Expenses of commission to ascertain Trinity County debt 1,526.80 492.65
County Clerk, Auditor and Recorder's fees
Books, safe, furniture, etc., for Clerk's office 781.65
849.50
Sheriff's fees.
To Sberiff expenses of guarding and supporting prisons . 1,204.00 65.26
Books, furniture for Treasurer's office.
280.00
Expenses of carrying Iunatic to State Insane Asylum
Compensation to School Marsbal. 32.00
45.00
Advertising and printing bonds.
Expenses of inquest upon the body of Blaisdell. 82.50
$22,329.06
It will be seen that the annual expenses of the County Gov- ernment in a county numbering less than 1,000 men, women and children, amounted to $9,682.80.
114
KLAMATH FORMED AND DISORGANIZED.
KLAMATH FORMED AND DISOR-
GANIZED.
Formation of Klamath County ; County Seat Contests; Hopelessly in Debt; Con- duct of Officers; Final Disorganiza- tion and Disappearance, etc.
KLAMATHI FROM ORGANIZATION TO DISINTEGRATION,
As heretofore shown in the diagram on page 107, Klamath County was taken from north half of Trinity in 1852, the year previous to the organization of Humboldt. This county seemed to have an unfortunate career, and after losing the northern part of its territory in 1857, it was finally blotted out in 1874,
The first county seat was established at Trinidad, but in 1854, the Legislature declared Crescent City the county scat, and legalized the acts of the County Judge in changing the seat of justice from Trinidad to Crescent City,
Notwithstanding Crescent City had the honor of being the county seat, it was six days' hard travel to reach a distant por- tion of the county like the tributaries of the Salmon River, and so much dissatisfaction existed that by order of the County Judge an election was held September 5; 1855, for chosing a county seat.
The people living on the Klamath River were also much dissatisfied, and urged that the county seat be removed to Or- leans Bar.
At this election a large majority of the voters of Klamath County declared themselves in favor of removing the county seat of said county from Crescent City to Orleans Bar. It was therefore enacted, " That from and after the passage hereof, Orleans Bar shall be, and is hereby declared to be the county seat of Klamath County. That the order of the County Judge, removing the county seat on the 4th day of December, 1855, is hereby ratified and approved.
COUNTY BUILDINGS AT ORLEANS BAR.
County buildings were constructed at Orleans Bar in 1856, which were " considered an ornament to the county seat." Considerable taste was manifested in the selection of ground for the county buildings, being a square in the rear of the main street, and at an elevation of some twenty feet above the flat on which the town was built, affording a fine view of the place and surrounding country. .
This place is about 150 miles from Crescent City, the former county seat, and is situated in the midst of a mining district on the Klamath River.
Orleans Bar, the new county seat, became the scene of unu- sual activity. Hundreds of pack mules passel through the
place, destined for the upper Klamath and Salmon. Traders were driving a brisk business, miners were doing well, several new buildings were in the process of construction, and compe- tition among the business men ran very high, Goods were plenty and cheap, and good living could be had at a lower rate than at any other place on the coast.
The population of the county at this time, 1856, was estima- ted as follows: Happy Camp, mining population, 100; Indian Creek, 450; other localities down to the mouth of Salmon River, 250; Salmon River, 1,200; Smith's River Valley and Redwood Diggings, mining and farming population, 200; Cres- cent City, 800; total, 11,700.
BOUNDARIES AND CONDITION,
The Legislature in 1855 amended the act forming the County of Klamath so as to have it "begin at a point in the ocean, three miles due west of Mad River, and running thence due east along the northern boundary of Humboldt to Trinity County, thence due north to the northwestern corner of Trin- ity, thence easterly along said county to Siskiyou, thence northerly to the parallel of 42º (State line) and thence west to the ocean."
Klamath County was as badly governed as any county in in the State. Many and loud were the complaints in regard to the financial condition of the county, and much attention was called to the fact that Klamath County, although not quite four years old, was badly in debt, without roads, without county buildings, even without a proper safe for her records.
The Court of Sessions of Klamath County had, so far as the administration and general supervision of county affairs was concerned, made a complete failure in that particular line of business, and involved the county in debt at a time when it should bave had a balance standing in its favor.
It is no wonder, then, that a change in the county govern- ment was hailed with satisfaction by the tax-payers of the county, The change consisted in an act by the Legislature, transferring the management of county affairs to a Board of Supervisors.
FINANCIAL SITUATION.
The Board of Supervisors in August, 1855, reported the county $25,000 in debt. They ratified and confirmed all the acts and proceedings of the Court of Sessions except the proceed_ ings of the term of Court held at Trinidad long after the county seat had been removed to Crescent City. It was at this term of said Court that the $4,000 was allowed to the County Judge for six months' salary. Upon this the famous scrip was issued that afterwards became so celebrated in the San Francisco stock market.
The Treasurer's books had not been properly made up, and according to the books of the Auditor, a large amount of money had been unaccounted for by the Sheriff. In view of these facts, the Board refused to levy any county tax for that
115
KLAMATH FORMED AND DISORGANIZED.
year. The Sheriff had already reported that no property taxes had been collected for the past year.
All this may have been very pleasing to the tax payers, but it was certainly the means of involving the county in a maze -
of financial difficulties, which it required years to set right.
One of the inembers of the Board assigned as a reason for this step that " the county would he just as well off without our citizens throwing away their money for taxes, for what had been collected heretofore had never done any good as they could get no correct account of it."
THE TREASURER'S STATEMENT.
The County Treasurer, W. T. Wood, published the following card :-
" I was elected to the office of County Treasurer in 1852, with the general ticket of that year. All the moneys that have ever been paid me I safely deposited with the State Treasurer, where it belonged, and in return had his receipt given. It matters not how much I paid in, be the same more or less, it was all 1 had paid me.
"] even went to the great expense and trouble to travel to Sacramento City in 1854, to make such settlement. There was then a small balance due the State from the County. All the past years the county has had no charges against her, that is, from '53. All the funds of this State for 1854 were paid over to J. P. Haynes, District Attorney, except a small balance yet due from that year, which has not been paid me. For the year 1855, no settlement was ever had with the Controllor of the State, which was from the fact that no money was ever in my hands belonging from tho county to the State chargeable to me on the Statu's account."
BAD STATE OF AFFAIRS.
The tax payers having lost all confidence in the officers intrusted with the collection of revenue, refused generally to to pay their taxes. They said they paid their taxes year after year without benefiting the county or her creditors a farthing, und until a new order of things is established, they would not pay. There was such a strong sentiqueut in the county, in sup- port of this refusal to pay that it was impossible for the officers to enforce the collection under the law, and they collected only from such as would pay voluntarily.
The people of Klamath County had been outraged beyond measure by some of her officers.
In 1857, the Supervisors of Klamath County werc authorized to issue honds of not less than fifty dollars nor more than $500, to the amount of the then county indebtedness, with rate of interest at ten per cent. per annum.
JUDGE FLETCHER'S REMARKABLE CHARGE TO JURY.
The Court of Sessions, consisting of Judge Fletcher and Associ- ate Justices Darling and Mathews, inct April 14, 1857, at which time a Grand Jury was impanelled. Judge Fletcher delivered
an extempore charge, which, though hrief, was most decidedly einphatic and to the point. He said Klamath County had become a hy-word and a reproach among all decent men on account of the corruption and rascality that had been practiced, and said it was time to put a stop to it and charged them to inquire strictly into the conduct of the county officers, aud to he influencedl neither by fcar, favor, or atlection, or by the wealth or social position of any person.
He also recommended to their special attention those persons who have been in the habit of maltreating Iudians and the vagabonds who travel up and down the river without any business or means of support except gambling.
He stated that within the last three years, sixteen murders had been committed without the least notice having been taken of any of them, and he thought it high time that such a state of affairs should be brought to an end.
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY.
The Grand Jury say that they find the financial condition of the county much embarrassed.
The Sheriff absent from the county and delinquent in the suin of $32,461.27.
The Treasurer's books in such a confused state that they are unable to make anything out of them, and the Assesser is delin- queut in the sum of $39.
Speaking of county officers they say: "In the examination of the official acts of the officer and the clearness and accur- acy of his accounts, we find the County Clerk deserving our highest approval; and in giving us the information we have required of him in our investigations of the accounts in his office, he has displayed a commendable frankness and courtesy.
DISORGANIZATION THE REMEDY.
The ahove statements will give some idea of the situation the county had gradually approached, and it is no wonder the question of disorganization was considered hy some the only available remedy. Many attempts were made to adjust mat- ters and get the county in a flourishing condition, but without permanent success.
As early as 1871, the question of the disorganization of Klam- ath County was widely discussed by the newspapers of the northern portion of the State. The majority of the people of that county were in favor of the action. The population had become so reduced, and the assessment valuation was so low, that it was a great burden upon the people to maintain a county government, and an impossibility to pay the debt, that already amounted to over $20,000, and was annually increasing, Under these circumstances it was deeined hest to disorganize the county and to annex the territory to the surrounding coun- ties as would be the most convenient and for the best interest of the citizens. A bill to submit the question of disorganiza- tion to a popular vote of Klamath County was introduced into the Legislature of 1872, but failed to pass.
116
KLAMATH FORMED AND DISORGANIZED.
So expensive was everything used in the early days, and so great were the fees allowed for official services, that not only the State but every county, also, run badly into debt during the first few years of its existence. The amount of tangible taxable property was small, and the rate of tax at first imposed entirely inadequate to raise a sum sufficient to meet the current expenses of the county government. The population was of an active and energetic character, whose chief capital was enterprise and hope, and whose property consisted mainly of mining claims.
The county had uot been long enough settled to admit of the creation of valuable property to serve as a financial basis for a government. Services were performed and materials fur- nished at a high price, but there was not money enough in the treasury to meet a tithe of the warrants issued therefor.
PLANS FOR DISORGANIZING.
The matter remained 'in abeyance, although being more or less discussed, until the Legislature again inet in 1874.
· A. petition of the citizens of Klamath County was then pre- sented, praying that the county be disorganized and annexed to Siskiyou, Trinity, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. After considerable discussion, this resulted in the introduction of a bill by Assemblyman Tulley, for annexation to the Counties of Siskiyou and Humboldt.
A remonstrance was presented by some of the citizens of Klamatlı County, who preferred to be united to Trinity or Del Norte, the county seats of the others being almost inaccessible to their locality in winter. The bill was referred to the Klam- ath delegation:
SISKIYOU OPPOSES THE ANNEXATION.
Humboldt County seemed to look with favor npon the scheme, while in Siskiyou there was a great diversity of opinion. Politi- cal feeling entered into the matter as well as local interests.
It was claimed by the Republicans that it was a Democratic scheme to retain control of the county, as the section proposed to be added to Siskiyon had a large Democratic majority, which would atone to tbat party for the votes lost by tbe segregation of Modoc. Again the scheme was bitterly opposed in Yreka for local reasons. It was feared tbat the annexation of this sec- tion would make the western end of Siskiyon so strong, that the next move would be to take the connty seat away from Yreka and locate it in Scott Valley. Altbough any intention of this kind was disclaimed by the people of that valley, still they were arrayed on one side of the question, and the people of Yreka and Sbasta Valley on the other.
Petitions for and against the proposed action were sent by both factions to the Legislature, and the discussion was warmly quaintained, both in the newspapers and on the street.
It was argned with a great deal of force by the opponents of the measure, that the proposed territory was separated from the connty by the Salmon Mountains, to cross which, in winter, was almost, and sometimes entirely, impossible, save upon snow-
shoes, thus leaving it and its inhabitants completely isolated from the main part of the county a portion of the year; that the collection of taxes, the administration of county affairs and the conduct of legal business of that section, would be difficult, expensive and annoying; and, finally, that the county would have to assume a deht of $10,000 or $12,000 which the value of the acquired assessable property was not sufficient to justify.
DISINTEGRATION DECIDED BY SISKIYOU.
However well founded these objections seemed to be, they did not prevent the passage of the bill, although it was so amended as to have it take effect only upon a favorable vote of the people of Siskiyou County.
The Act of March 28, 1874, provided for an election to be held in Siskiyon County upon the question of receiving a por- tion of the territory of Klamath, and if the result was favorable to the measure, the act was to take effect, and not otherwise. The division was as follows :-
Commencing at the point where the present boundary of Klamath and Del Norte crosses the Klamath River; thence run- ning easterly in a direct line to where the Salmon River enters the Klamatb River; thence in a southerly direction, following the ridge of the mountain that divides the waters of the Sal- mon and its tributaries from the waters of the Klamatb and Trinity Rivers and their tributaries, to the northern boundary line of Trinity County.
All the Klamath Connty north and east of this line was to become a portion of Siskiyou County, and all sonth and west a a portion of Humboldt.
Causes in the conrts were to be transferred to the proper tribunals in the two counties, and two commissioners each were to be appointed by Humboldt and Siskiyou, to apportion the debt and cash on baud in proportion to the valuation of pro- perty in each section. Connty property was to be sold.
As the day set for the election approached the discussion grew warmer, the question narrowed down to a trial of strength between the eastern and western portions of Siskiyou Connty. The vote was taken May 30, 1874.
VOTE ON THE QUESTION OF ANNEXATION.
FOR
AGAINST
Fort Jones
104
10
Oro Fino
63.
1
Rough and Ready (Etna)
129
0
Callahan's
50
3
McAdam's Creek.
28.
2
Buckeye Bar
22
16
Scott River.
36.
34
Cottonwood
16.
13
Humbug
13.
15
Butteville.
3
62
Table Rock
10
39
Bogus
1.
8
Willow Creek
2
11
Yreka. .
52
278
Total
529
491
Majority
37
FARM & RESIDENCE OF G.H.GRAY, ADJOINING HYDESVILLE, HUMBOLDT CO. CAL.
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