USA > California > Mendocino County > History of Mendocino County, California : comprising its geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber > Part 52
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LITTLE LAKE .- The towns in Little Lake township are not numerous nor very extensive in size. We will begin at the southern end and take them as they come. The first we meet is Little Lake. This is the name that was applied to the first village in the township, and was situated near the residence of the Baechtel brothers, and on their
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land. The first store in this place was opened by W. C. James in 1865, but there had been a saloon opened there as early as 1859, by a German by the name of John Streeve. There was a public hall built there about 1860, and several small dwellings were erected from time to time, making in all quite a little village. It was beautifully located in a cluster of wide-spreading oaks. The principal historical event in the existence of this place will be found in the chapter on Homicides, under the caption of "The Little Lake Vendetta." At present nothing remains of the town except the old buildings, all of which are going to decay and ruin as fast as the tooth of time can gnaw thein down.
WILLITSVILLE .- During the same year that Mr. James opened his store at Little Lake, Kirk Brier of Petaluma. came into the valley, and located, and erected a building, about two miles north of the above-named place, on the land owned by H. Willits. Soon after, James M. Jones opened a black- smith shop, and then a saloon followed, and the requisites for a town were at hand. The new place was called Willitsville, in honor of the pioneer owner of the land, on which it was to be located. Mr. Willits purchased Mr. Brier's interest in the store in the fall of 1865, and has since continued the business at the old stand. From that time on, the success of the town was insured, and it is now a thriving, beautiful hamlet, with about one hundred inhabitants. Its business interests are represented as follows: three' stores, one hotel, one restaurant, two livery stables, one blacksmith shop, two saloons, one meat market, one shoe shop, one drug store, and one harness shop. This is certainly a good showing, and the neat and thrifty appearance of the homes and places of business of the people of the place, betokens prosperity beyond mediocrity. The village is situated in the very heart of one of the lovliest and most fertile valleys that the sun ever shone upon, and it is no wonder that all around it has a thrifty look. Its future will always certainly be commensurate with its past.
Independent Order of Good Templars .- Willitsville Lodge, No. 259, I. O. G. T., was organized September 4, 1878, with the following charter members: J. Gordon, W. H. Young, Adele Thompson, William Jones, Cora Buell, H. Jones, W. Rhea, Dolly Jones, A. James, Samuel C. Thompson, Emma K. Jones, Robert Tuttle, Sarah Upp, J. Tatham, Alice D. Mast, Jessie Thompson, and L. J. Gardner. The first officers were as follows: J. Tatham, W. C. T .: Alice D. Mast, W. V. T .; Jessie Thompson, W. Secretary; L. J. Gardner, W. T. The present officers (June 30, 1880) are: S. C. Thompson, W. C. T .; Mrs. Vincent, W. V. T .; Martha Cropley, W. Secre- tary; Mrs. Clara C. Ross, W. F. S .; Adele Thompson, W. T. The member- ship at the above-named date was sixty.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows .- Little Lake Lodge, No. 277, I. O. O. F., was organized August 8, 1878, with the following named charter
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members: W. L. Brown, L. Barnett, I. A. Delano, J. S. Dobkins, J. M. Gil- bert, H. B. Hargrave, J. S. Holman, H. C. Lyon, W. N. Norton, H. L. Norton, J. M. Painter, Rev. A. O. Ross and Al. Rucker. The first officers were: W. L. Brown, N. G .; J. S. Holman, V. G .; A. O. Ross, Secretary ; L. Barnett, Treasurer. The following named gentlemen have had the honor of filling the executive chair : W. L. Brown, J. S. Holman, H. C. Lyon and W. N. Norton. The present officers (June 30, 1880) are : W. N. Norton, N. G .; H. L. Norton, V. G .; D. F. Vincent, Secretary ; and L. Barnett, Treasurer. The present membership is thirty-five, and the lodge is in a very flourishing condition. A fine hall was erected in 1878 by a joint stock company, at a cost of $2,500, all of which stock was sold at the time, or rather taken and paid up. The building is seventy by thirty feet and two stories high. The upper room is fifty by thirty feet, and is used for lodge purposes, while the lower floor is used as a public hall. They are just starting their library.
Ancient Order United Workmen .- Hope Lodge, No. 101, A. O. U. W., at Willitsville, was organized May 19, 1879, with the following charter mem- bers: B. B. Capel, W. L. Brown, J. Kraker, W. H. Young, G. T. Mason, R. E. Madden, P. L. Hall, W. A. Ingersol, Rev. A. O. Ross, J. C. Thompson, R. J. Barnett, E. Barnett, J. Tatham, W. Maxwell, S. C. Tuttle, W. N. Norton, A. Soules, and J. H. Truitt. The first officers were: W. H. Young, M. W .; G. T. Mason, Foreman; W. L. Brown, O .; Rev. A. O. Ross, Secretary ; J. Kraker, F .; and E. Barnett, Receiver. The lodge attained to a membership of twenty-one, but owing to the fact that its members mostly resided at a long distance from town, it was found impossible to convene a quorum, hence it was disbanded, and its charter surrendered June 24, 1880. The last officers of the lodge were: G. T. Mason, M. W .; B. G. Mast, Foreman ; Rev. A. O. Ross, Secretary ; R. E. Madden, F .; and E. Barnett, Receiver.
Willitsville Congregational Church .- This church society, which is the the only one of that denomination in Mendocino county, was organized in May, 1878, by Rev. A. (). Ross, with the following members: Jesse C. Thompson, Mrs. Margaret Thompson, Miss Adele Thompson, Mrs. Adah A. Norton, Mrs. Fannie Norton, C. E. Burge, Mrs. Fannie E. Burge, C. L. Whitney, Mrs. Elizabeth Whitney, Mrs. Clara C. Ross, Mrs. Clara Felton, Mrs. Robin- son, and Rev. A. O. Ross. The present membership is fifteen, and services are held in the school-house. Rev. Ross supplies Sherwood valley and Cahto once a month.
LAYTONVILLE .- This is a small hamlet situated in Long valley on the road from Willitsville to Cahto. It is just springing into existence, the post-office having been established February 22d of the present year, 1880. The business interests of the place are represented by one store, one hotel, one blacksmith
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
shop, and one saloon. It bids fair, however, to become a village of some considerable importance in time to come.
CAHTO .- This is a bright little town of some score or more buildings situ- ated at the head of Long valley in what is known locally as Cahto valley. The pioneers of the place are Messrs. John Simpson and Robert White, who came there as early as 1856. They opened a hotel there in 1861 which was the first place of business in town. In 1865 they erected a building of split redwood lumber in which they put a stock of goods, being thus the first to open a store in the place. They still do business in the same old building. Soon after this a blacksmith shop was opened by H. Chadbourne, and a saloon by I. P. Smith. The business interests of the town are at present rep- resented by two stores, one hotel, one blacksmith shop, three saloons, and one harness shop. Robert White is postmaster, and Simpson & White agents for Wells, Fargo & Co.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows .- Cahto Lodge, No. 206, I. O. O. F., was organized July 20, 1872, with the following charter members :- J. L. Killian, Robert White, J. C. Grime, J. C. Talkington, M. Vassar, and William Mckinney. The first officers were : J. L. Killian, N. G .; Robert White, V. G .; J. C. Grime, Secretary; and J. C. Talkington, Treasurer. The following named gentlemen have been honored with the position of Noble Grand: J. L. Killian, Robert White, J. C. Talkington, William Mckinney, J. M. Dill, J. S. Holman, J. Lambt, C. A. Irvine, J. P. Simpson, H. W.Ward, and C. M. Ward. The present officers are: C. M. Ward, N. G .; Robert White, V.G .; J. P. Simpson, Secretary ; and J. Davidson, Treasurer. The present membership is twenty-seven. They have a fine hall which was erected in 1872, at a cost of $1,500. The building is two-story, and twenty by forty feet in size. The lodge-room is twenty by thirty feet, and is neatly furnished. The lower floor is used for a public hall.
LITTLE LAKE TANNERY .- Operations on this enterprise were begun in July 1864, but it was not got into good running order until October of that year. It had a capacity of fifteen thousand sides yearly, and the tan used was the bark from the chestnut oak in the adjacent forests. It was located about three miles south of the old town of Little Lake on the road leading to Walker valley. It has since been abandoned, and all that remains of it now is a tumble-down bark shed, and a few decaying vats.
MILLS. - This township is not to be ranked among the milling sections of the first order, but a great amount of lumber has been cut in it nevertheless. Hiram T. Hatch built the pioneer saw-mill of the township in 1861, in Sherwood valley, and he is still its proprietor. When first constructed it was a water-power, with an over-shot wheel, having a capacity of three thousand feet daily. Its saw was a "muley." Since then the wheel has been changed to a turbine, and a circular saw, also a planer, edger, etc.,
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added to its machinery. It now has a capacity of ten thousand feet daily. It is estimated that the mill has cut two million feet of lumber, and there are still five hundred acres of timber accessible to it. There is in connection with the mill a run of stones.
Messrs. Simpson & White built the next saw-mill in the valley, which is located about six miles west of Cahto, in Jackson valley, This is driven by water-power, and the saw is a "muley." Its capacity is two thousand feet daily, and it is estimated that it has cut one and three-fourths million feet all told.
The mill now known as the "Reeves' Mill," situated west of Walker valley, was built by ---- Walker in 1868-9. It was a water-power, first, and had a capacity of four thousand feet daily. Since then it has been enlarged and steam-power added, which gives it a capacity at the present time of twenty thousand feet.
Norton's mill, situated a few miles north of Little Lake, was built during the winter of 1877-8. It has a capacity of twenty-six thousand feet daily: Its machinery consists of one double circular, one gang edger, one planer, one picket machine, and one lath saw. It is estimated that there have been two millions eight hundred thousand feet of lumber cut by this mill. A large percentage of this lumber finds a market in Lake county.
The first grist-mill in the township was put in operation by Willian C. James in 1860. It was driven by a large over-shot water-wheel, and had two run of stones. It was rebuilt in 1867, and is at present idle. It is located on the road south of Willitsville, and very near the site of the old tannery mentioned above. Its present owner is T. L. Kelley.
In 1875 F. L. Duncan built a grist-mill in the town of Willitsville, which was driven by steam, and had two run of buhrs, having a capacity of twenty barrels daily. Capt. J. A. Morgan and T. L. Kelley are the present owners of it.
MUD SPRINGS. - One of the most singular phenomenon to be found in Mendocino county is to be seen in this township. Reference is had to the Mud springs which are situated a few miles south of Cahto. It is stated ยท that the flow of these springs is contemporaneous with the tides of the ocean, and it is thought that either they are connected with the ocean by some subterraneous channel, or that they are acted upon directly by the influence of the moon or whatever causes the ebb and flow of the tides of the sea. Be it what it may, it is certainly a wonderful condition of things and well worthy the research of the scientist.
THE MENDOCINO COUNTY AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. - This has been established only two years, but its beneficial effects are already perceptible in Little Lake. No better location could have been found for the track and buildings of this Association than where it is, near Willitsville. A full and extended mention of it will be found in the body of this volume.
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
ROUND VALLEY.
GEOGRAPHY .- This township is bounded on the north by Trinity and Te- hama counties; on the east by Tehama county; on the south by Calpella township; and on the west by Little Lake township. South Eel river passes around its southern and western sides, forming the boundary line; while Middle Eel river flows in such a manner through it as to form almost a complete circle. Its mountains are quite high, and it is no uncommon thing for the winter's snow to rest upon them till midsummer.
TOPOGRAPHY .- When it is stated that about the center of the township there is a valley almost perfectly round, and that it is surrounded alternately by rivers and mountain chains, all in general conformity to the shape of the valley, about all is said that can be about the topography of the township, except in minor details.
SOIL .- The soil of the valley is a very rich, black loam, a great deal of it being reclaimed marsh land, which is by far the most productive in the State. On the mountains, the soil is partly adobe and partly argillaceous and grows grass advantageously.
CLIMATE .- The climate of this section is mild in summer, but rather rig- orous in the winter. The snow-capped mountains which immediately sur- round the valley cause the temperature to be colder in the winter season than it would otherwise be. In the summer season there are many hot days, but the air is so light that the extreme heat is not appreciated as it is in the lower valleys. During this season of the year there is more or less fog in the valley, which also serves to mitigate the intensity of the sun's rays.
PRODUCTS .- The products of this section are in keeping with other val- leys in the county, all kinds of fruits and vegetables thriving splendidly, also grains and grasses. The farms are mostly used for grazing purposes, not so much on account of the inadaptability of the soil to grain, as from the fact that the market is absolutely inaccessible.
TIMBER .- The timber of this section is mostly comprised in a few varie- ties of fir, pines and oak, there being little or no redwood at all in it. The fir is well adapted to the purposes of lumber, and is much used for that. The oak is excellent for fire-wood; while some considerable of the chestnut oak grows there, but is not available, on account of the absence of a market.
L. L. GRAY.
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ROUND VALLEY TOWNSHIP.
EARLY SETTLEMENT .- Frank M. Asbill claims to be the first white man who ever saw Round valley. In April, 1854, he and his brother Pierce left their home in Bodega, Sonoma county, and in a short time fell in with Samuel Kelsey, and a party who were on their way to the south fork of the Trinity river, and joined them. They passed up the Russian River valley, and crossed the south fork of Eel river and passed over the summit of San- hedrim mountain into Eden valley, to which Pierce Asbill gave its name, fancying that it must resemble the home of our first parents. Their camp was struck near the middle fork of Eel river and on the morning of the 15th of May, Frank went out upon the mountain side to catch their horses, and while gone discovered the valley. He returned to camp and reported that he had seen a valley which was perfectly round, from which expression it took its name. The party saddled their horses and rode over into the val- ley and had a fight with the Indians, killing about forty of them in their camp.
During that same month, and only a few days later, another party, con- sisting of George E. White, George Hudspeth, Dr. Atkinson, James White, Calvin White, and one other whose name has been forgotten, came into the valley from the opposite direction. The Kelsey party had not been gone long, for their trail was easily discernible, and a record of their names was found cut in a tree. Mr. George E. White states that they saw no Indians on this trip through the valley, and when the fact is remembered, that per- haps not a week had passed since forty of their number had been slain in a contest with the Kelsey party, it is not to be wondered at that they should keep secluded from the view of this new band of adventurers. What a lovely vista must have greeted the eyes of these first discoverers of this charming valley! Beautiful at all seasons of the year, but doubly so now, "as it was in that most glorious of all months for this section of the country- . May. The grass had already grown so tall that a man could hide in it, and vegetation of every kind was in the full glory of its prolific luxuriance. There is to-day no lovelier sight in the whole of Mendocino county than the view one gets of Round valley after he crosses the divide and begins the de- scent to Middle Eel river.
The first land located in the valley was by George E. White, in 1856, and he left Charles Brown in charge of it, who thus, in point of fact, became the pioneer settler of the place. He built a small cabin, which was the first house there, and it was situated near where Dr. Malinda now resides. Brown also brought the first stock into the valley, aside from that belonging to the reservation. George E. White built the next house, which was a small cabin, located near his present residence, and the third house was built in the fall of 1856 by Messrs. Devinna & Craft, near where Lindsley William- son's house now stands. The next house was erected by Messrs. Lawson & Arthur, near where George Henley now lives. These gentlemen brought a
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
drove of hogs into the valley, which were the first of their race. Sanders Hornbrook, John Owens, James H. Thomas, D. Lacock and - King also came into the valley during that fall. During the next year Martin Cor- bett, C. H. Eberle, Charles H. Diggin, S. P. Storms, E. S. Gibson, Antonio Leger (an Italian), William Pollard, the Wilsey brothers, D. C. and D. M. Dorman, P. A. Witt and Randall Rice came in and located in different parts of the valley. William Mantle was shot by the Indians and Stephens was drowned in South Eel river in the fall of 1858, and were the first to be buried in the valley. The first child born was Harry Storms. It is estimated that in the fall of 1856 there were nineteen white men in the valley, including those on the reservation. Two women came in in the fall of 1857, and spent the winter in manufacturing buckskin clothing, but their names are now unknown.
The first mail was carried on horseback by Jesse Holland, from Ukiah in the summer of 1858. He made weekly trips and was compensated by private subscription. The first mail contract was awarded to Charles H. Eberle, in June, 1870, who carried the mail from Cahto. In the spring of 1871 the mail route was changed to the Potter Valley route from Ukiah, and a stage line was then established. The first school-district was established in July, 1865, and there are now three districts in the valley. The first money-order was issued December 3, 1876. The road from Ukiah was an enterprise of the citizens, assisted some little by the county, and was completed in 1869. In March, 1879, the bridges which had been constructed across Eel river were swept away by a freshet, and none have been put up to take their places. It is one of the pressing necessities of the valley that they have bridges over those streams, so that communication can be easily had with the outside world at any season of the year: As it is now the people of that section are practically shut off from the world for from three to six months every year. The first court was held in the valley in 1859 by Charles H. Eberle, Justice of the Peace. Some Indians were arrested and tried on a charge of theft, and were fined $70.
A military post was established at Round valley in the spring of 1863, with Captain Douglas as commandant. There were about seventy soldiers in the first company stationed here, and they were afterwards re-inforced by about as many more cavalry-men. It was abandoned when Grant's Quaker policy was adopted in regard to the Indians.
COVELO .- This is the only town in Round valley, and was given its title by Charles H. Eberle in 1870, after a fortress in Switzerland. It is possible that this name is far-fetched in more senses of the word than one. The first building erected on the present site of the town was in 1858-9, by Benjamin Arther and - Murphy. The next was erected by Dorman & Hornbrook, and was used for a saloon. In 1866 or 1867 there was a blacksmith shop
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put up by Jacob Updegraff. The first store in the valley was opened by Messrs. Storms & Brown, near where Dr. Malinda now resides; but the first in the town of Covelo was opened by Messrs. Riley & Bransford, and the first hotel was opened by Thomas White; the first meat market by Charles H. Eberle, in 1873, and the first livery stable was built by Ira Hoxie.
Free and Accepted Masons .- Covelo Lodge, No. 231, F. and A. M., was constituted U. D., the preliminary meeting looking to the organization of the lodge having been held June 24, 1873. The charter members were James M. Ellis, Thomas L. Barnes, Jacob Updegraff, Josiah Anthony, Walter L. Bransford, John Shaver, Purd Henry, Daniel H. Lowry, John L. Burchard, Felix Purcell, P. K. Faulds and Nathan Ellis. The first officers were J. M. Ellis, W. M .; T. L. Barnes, S. W .; J. Updegraff, J. W .; J. Anthony. Treasurer; and Walter L. Bransford, Secretary. The following gentlemen have had the honor of filling the presiding chair: J. M. Ellis, L. H. Patty, W. L. Bransford, W. Henley and B. C. Bellamy. The present officers are B. C. Bellamy, W. M .; William Pullen, S. W .; J. R. Mathews, J. W .; L. D M. Montague, Treasurer; and J. P. Thomas, Secretary. The present membership is thirty-two, and the lodge is in a prosperous condition. They have the lodge-room neatly fitted up.
Independent Order of Good Templars .- Covelo Lodge, I. O. G. T. was organized June 28, 1880, with the following charter members: B. C. Bellamy, M. D .; Mrs. D. J. Bellamy, Miss Nettie Bellamy, Charles Kendrick, Sanders Hornbrook, Mrs. M. A. Hornbrook, William Pullen, Mrs. L. C. Pullen, D. W. Burchard, Mrs. Mary Willis, Miss Alice Willis, L. Willis, Mrs. Annie Sears, Miss Julia Dolan, Mrs. Emma Van Dyke, C. G. Finson, W. R. Melendy, Mrs. Beard, Miss Kate Robertson and Miss Roxy Hoyt. The first officers were as follows : W. S. Fisher, W. C. T .; Mrs. S. Hornbrook, W. R. H. S .; Miss Roxy Hoyt, W. L. H. S .; D. W. Burchard, W. S .; Mrs. Emina Van Dyke, W. A. S .; W. R. Melendy, W. F. S .; Miss Nettie Bellamy, W. T .; Rev. H. B. Sheldon, W. C .; Mrs. Annie Sears, W. V. T .; L. Willis, W. M .; Miss Kate Robertson, W. D. M .; Mrs. Alice Willis, W. I. G .; Sanders Horn- brook, W. O. G .; Charles Kendrick P. W. C. T .; and B. C. Bellamy, M. D. Lodge Deputy. The present membership is thirty, and on the increase.
MILLS .- The first saw-mill in the valley was built by Andrew Gray, in the summer of 1862, and in the summer of 1864, a grist-mill was added, with one run of buhrs; water was the motor power used for all this machin- ery. The saw was simply an old-fashioned muley. In 1868 the mill was sold to the Government, and it has since been rebuilt, and is now used for the purposes of the reservation.
Round Valley Indian Reservation .- This was established in 1856, and is still maintained. A full statement of the facts concerning this reservation will be found in the chapter on Indians, hence it is unnecessary to repeat
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anything here. It is a vexatious matter to deal with, and if the subject be discussed from any stand-point, there are open questions on the other side Suffice it to say here that the management of the reservation at present is very exemplary, and good work is certainly being done there. How much good can be effected, yet remains to be seen, but it is a fact that the Indians as a class are sober and industrious, and the reservation farm very nearly supports them now. It would seem that it should entirely do so, but it seems that such is not the case, why it is not is out side of the province of a work of this character.
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SANEL TOWNSHIP.
SANEL.
GEOGRAPHY .- This township is bounded on the north by Ukiah township, on the east by Lake county, on the south by Sononma county, and on the west by Anderson township. The Russian river passes entirely through it from north to south, and its valley is skirted on either side by high moun- . tain ranges.
TOPOGRAPHY. - Topographically speaking the township is divided into three sections, the series of mountains on its eastern side, the Russian River valley-its center, and the mountain on its western chain side. There are several valleys putting off from the main one, but they are small, and amount to nothing.
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