USA > California > Napa County > History of Napa and Lake Counties, California : comprising their geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber, together with a full and particular record of the Mexican Grants, also separate histories of all the townships and biographical sketches > Part 40
USA > California > Lake County > History of Napa and Lake Counties, California : comprising their geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber, together with a full and particular record of the Mexican Grants, also separate histories of all the townships and biographical sketches > Part 40
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Other portions of the township were not settled until a much later pe- riod. Mr. Barnett relates that a homicide occurred in the valley at a very early date, of which there is no record in the archives of the county, hence we incorporate it here rather than under the head of Homicides. In the spring of 1854 John Lemon, who was a son-in-law of Pope's, traded horses with one Gainya, and some trouble grew out of the matter, and Lemon killed him. Lemon fled the country, and went to Los Angeles, and from there he went to New Mexico, where he remained during the war, and his wife joined him in that country. After the war he got killed in a sort of general row or riot.
TOWNS .- There are but two small villages in the township-Knoxville and a little place called " Wardners." Every mining community presents the appearance of a little village, but we can hardly catalogue them as towns.
KNOXVILLE .- This is quite a little village which has grown up around the Redington Quicksilver Mine, and is the property of that company. Operations in this mine were begun in 1862, and immediately, as a natural result, a village began to spring up about it, and it has continued to increase until there are buildings sufficient for three hundred people. There is a general merchandise store, a notion and tobacco store, a hotel, post office, Wells, Fargo & Co.'s express office, a church, and a school-house in the place. There is a great curiosity here. A blind man keeps the post office, and does his duty with great proficiency. When the mail arrives, some one opens it and calls the mail off. The letters are all put in the boxes in such an order that he remembers just where each one is. There is a tri-weekly stage be- tween this place and Napa City via Monticello.
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Knoxville Catholic Church .- The Knoxville Catholic Church was erected in 18-, and is a very neat little building. It has a seating capacity of about two hundred, and is well attended by the members of that faith when services are held in it, which is generally once a month. The pulpit is sup- plied from Woodland, the priest supplying Lower Lake also.
WARDNERS .- This is a very small place indeed, there being only a store, one blacksmith shop and some half dozen dwellings in the place. It is situated in the lower end of Pope Valley, in the heart of a good country, and there is room for much improvement in the future.
MILLS .- This is not pre-eminently a lumber producing section, hence mills have been scarce in it. Mr. W. Boardman at one time had a mill near where the town of Wardners now is. It was a portable mill, and was taken from there to Howell Mountain. There is also a mill in connection with the Oat Hill Mine. It is of small capacity, and is used chiefly in the saw- ing of lumber and timber for the mine. There may have been other mills in the township, but they were small and of little capacity, and did not remain long in any one place, for the body of timber was not sufficient to justify the erection of large mills.
MINES .- Under the head of mines and mining will be found a full history of all the mines in this township, but we will give a list of them in this connection. They are the Redington, located at Knoxville, and owned by the Redington Quicksilver Mining Company; the Phoenix, located north- west of Ætna Springs, and the property of John Lawley et al .; the Man- hattan, located adjoining the Phoenix; the Washington, located on the same lode as the last two; the Ivanhoe, located on the north side of the range in which the above occur, but on a separate lode; the Oat Hill or Napa Consolidated, which is located on the north side of the cañon run- ning to the north of the Ivanhoe, and in the same formation of rock, but not on the same lode ; the Valley, located at the Ætna Springs, and others of minor importance; of these only three are now in active operation, the Redington, Ivanhoe and Oat Hill. They are all quicksilver mines, and there are no other kinds of mines in the township.
SPRINGS .- The following very applicable and appropriate remarks concerning the medicinal springs of California appeared in the San Fran- cisco Alta a few years ago, and they are so pertinent in this connection that we incorporate them here: "The medicinal springs of California have a great future, and deserve much more present attention than they receive. Some bear a close resemblance to the most famous springs of Europe, so that a publication of the compared analytical tables of their solid contents is all
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that is necessary to prove their high value, and the diffusion of the infor- mation through the Eastern States would attract thousands of invalids ; but there, as here, much of the custom of the springs is influenced by gross ignorance of the therapeutic effect of the water. People go, without med- ical advice, to springs that have never been analyzed, and then use the remedy blindly. Medicinal waters, like other therapeutic remedies, should be taken under competent medical advice. Every spring should publish a pamphlet, giving an analysis of its water, with explanations and authorities in reference to its medicinal use, and a general statement of information valuable to invalids who would like to visit the place. Several of the springs have already published pamphlets, and the best that we have seen is that of the Ætna, in Pope Valley. The water is the counterpart of the Ems, which was made the subject of a comprehensive medical report by the German Government. This report being applicable to the Ætna, is translated in its pamphlet, which is the most complete of its kind in the State. The Ems springs now attract ten thousand visitors annually, and send away one mil- lion six hundred thousand bottles of medicinal water yearly, so that the matter deserves the fostering care of the Government. Besides attracting visitors and supplying water for exportation, some European springs also furnish large quantities of medicinal salts to be used as remedies at a dis- tance. The Atlantic States have many mineral springs, but they are poor in therapeutic value as compared with those of California, and therefore there is the more motive for studying and advertising those of our State, which seem to be without competition on our continent."
ÆTNA SPRINGS .- These springs are sixteen miles north-east of St. Helena, in Napa County, in a charming little valley at the northern extremity of Pope Valley, and separated therefrom by low hills. There are two springs of considerable capacity that flow to the surface, and one large spring that discharges itself into a shaft one hundred and twenty-five feet below the surface. The spring that supplies the shaft and the bath-house was discov- ered while mining for cinnabar, and is of a temperature of 106 degrees at the spring, and is so heavily charged with gas that it was accompanied with a constant noise in its flow into the tunnel while it was worked for ore. The flow of water and issue of gas were so great, and the heat so intense, that the working of the mine had to be abandoned. The two springs that flow to the surface are of the temperature of ninety-eight degrees, blood heat, and contain fifty-eight cubic inches of carbonic acid gas to the gallon. The lower spring contains more heat and gas. There are also two large soda springs, which are supposed to contain a considerable quantity of iron, about eighty rods from the the thermal springs on the Ætna grounds. The valley in which these springs are located has an elevation of one thou- sand feet, and is warm and dry, with the most picturesque and charming
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Knox Township.
mountain scenery around. The waters are pleasant, purifying, exciting and exhilarating, and many have asserted that they were heavily charged with electricity.
Here is a water that bears a close resemblance to that of Ems, one of the most noted in Europe, highly prized for the cure of many diseases, and especially for chronic bronchitis, granular pharyngitis (clergyman's sore throat), and catarrhs of the stomach, hepatic ducts, bladder and uterus. The Ems water, however, produces constipation when it is used to excess. The Ætna water would probably not have this injurious influence, because it has none of the acrid sulphate of potash found at Ems, and has a small proportion of the purgative sulphate of soda which is lacking.
Contents in a Gallon.
Ems.
Etna.
Carbonate of Soda, grains.
81
75
Carbonate of Magnesia, grains.
7
14
Carbonate of Lime, grains
10
10
Carbonate of Iron, grains
. trace
Sulphate of Soda, grains.
trace
8
Sulphate of Potash, grains
3
Chloride of Sodium, grains
62
29
Silica, grains
3
trace
Total Solids, grains
170
137
Carbonic Acid, cubic inches
59
58
Temperature, Fahrenheit.
115
98
The carbonate of soda and magnesia in the Ætna Springs are double or bicarbonates. The excess of chloride of sodium (common salt) in the Ems Springs is not an advantage. The Vichy and Fachingen, the two other best springs of the same class in the world, have about the same amount of that substance as the Ætna.
These baths are so pleasant that some have pronounced them champagne baths. The waters are drank by many in considerable quantities and with great unction. The use of the waters unlocks the pores, expels the un- healthy secretions and dead deposits, and thus excites action in all the organs, and invigorates the system. For camping there is an extensive and desirable grove, with an abundance of pure, fresh spring water.
Although these springs have been known to and visited by white men for the past thirty years, no efforts were made to bring them into the notice of the public until about 1878. In the few years just previous to that campers had come to the place in greater or less numbers, but there were no accommodations except those which nature afforded. In 1877 the num- ber of campers was so great that the proprietor, Hon. Chancellor Hartson, decided to make the necessary arrangement for accommodating visitors and to throw the springs open to the public. Accordingly in that year Mr. W. H.
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History of Napa and Lake Counties-NAPA.
Lidell took charge, and began the erection of buildings, and from time to time their number bas been augmented, until there are at present about a dozen, comprising a dining-room and kitchen, a laundry, an elegant bath house of twelve rooms, with tepid and hot water, reading-room and library, summer house, double and single cottages. There is also a livery stable con- nected with the place. Nothing further remains to be said except that many wonderful cures have been effected by this water, and that a fair trial of them will cost but little, either in time or money, and may cure others similarly afflicted.
WALTERS SPRINGS .- Are situated on the western side of the mountain range bordering Pope Valley, and have gained the reputation of being among the best in the State. They were first discovered in the fall of 1871 by J. J. Walters. A joint stock company purchased it soon after who made a few improvements, but after three or four years Mr. Walters and ex- Supervisor J. W. Smittle, of Berryessa, became and are now, sole owners. The surroundings are as rugged and romantic as one can well conceive, the springs being hidden away, as it were, in the quiet of the mountains which rise on the east, north and west, several hundred feet above the valley. The hills parting to the right and left on the south, give a grand view of Cedar Mountain, a few miles distant, thickly covered with chemisal brush in places, and in others with dense thickets of cedars, the limpid waters of Pope Creek flowing at its base. There are two springs on the grounds a short distance from each other, the waters of which possess remarkable curative powers, a fact to which scores gladly bear witness. The improvements made in the past have not been extensive, the proprietors desiring to know for a surety that the springs possessed qualities that would justify them in expending large sums. Assured now that they have something substantial to work on they will build a hotel near the lower spring, also a bath-house and a bot- tling establishment, which will be ready for next season's visitors. Many marvelous cures have been effected here, the water, air and quiet combining in the good work. Dyspepsia, and kindred complaints, asthma and heart disease are put to rout and the rheumatic cripple soon after coming here throws away his crutches and climbs the hills in search for the deer and rabbits that are found in numbers.
A dining room and kitchen and six cottages have been put up this sea- son. Mr. Walters is at present running the Springs, the boarding depart- ment being under the charge of Dr. M. Thomas and wife. Several parties rent cottages ; others have pitched their tents here and there.
The water has never yet been analyzed, but they are known to contain soda, magnesia and iron, and the other is very heavily charged with carbonic acid gas. This is the strongest soda spring in Napa or Lake Counties with one exception-the Witter.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
John Lawley
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ALLEN, CHARLES HENRY. Whose portrait appears in this work, is the fourth son of Rhodes and Rebecca Bowen Allen. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island, April 24, 1817. He resided at his birth-place until he was twenty years of age, and during this time he received the advan- tage of a common school education. In June, 1837, he sailed on the ship " Atlas," of Mystic, Connecticut (touching at one of the Azores for supplies), for Possession Island, one of the Crozet group in the Indian Ocean, for the purpose of obtaining sea elephant oil, at which point the ship arrived on the 6th day of September following. A few days after the ship and ten- der-a schooner of about eighty tons-were wrecked at the same time upon that desolate island, six thousand miles from home. The crew and officers numbered thirty-seven men. Fifty-two days after the men were taken on board of the French frigate " L'Heroine." While cruising on the Indian Ocean they spoke the whale ship "North America," of Wilmington, Dela- ware. She lacked two whales of being full of oil. A number of her men were sick with the scurvy, and therefore unable to man the boats. Mr. Allen and nine others were placed on board. By their aid everything that would hold oil was in a few days filled. The ship sailed for Fort Dauphin, Madagascar, for supplies ; thence for the Cape of Good Hope. Upon her arrival a strong gale was blowing from the land, which made it unsafe to enter the harbor. The ship's course was then changed for the island of St. Helena, where Mr. Allen arrived in February, 1838. Soon after landing at Jamestown, early in the morning, the ten ragged and barefooted men were formed in line by the American consul, in front of his office, and presented with a rupee each and told to go and enjoy themselves. Having experi- enced many hardships, and been confined on shipboard at sea for months, they felt like caged birds let loose, and therefore concluded to try their free- dom by making a pilgrimage to Bonaparte's tomb, about four miles dis- tant. They found a portion of their way difficult to travel without shoes. Upon their return at evening with bruised and bloody feet, Mr. Allen, being an American citizen and a destitute shipwrecked sailor in a for- eign land, went to the American consul and asked for the assistance and protection of the United States Government. He received food, cloth- ing, and a passage home on the ship "John and Elizabeth," of New
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History of Napa and Lake Counties-NAPA.
London, Connecticut, at which place he arrived in March, 1838, within seven miles of the point of his departure, being absent nearly ten months. His compensation was an actual knowledge of a sailor's life. In July, 1838, we find Mr. Allen in Stonington, Connecticut, where he embarked in the hardware and tinware business, and during his residence in the above named town he was twice honored by being elected to the Lower House of the State Legislature. This occurring in the years 1845-6. He obtained the title of Colonel by being elected and commissioned to that position in the Eighth Regiment of the Third Brigade of the Con- necticut State Militia. August 10, 1849, he sailed from Stonington on the ship "Calumet " for California via Cape Horn. The ship sprung a leak, went to St. Catherine, Brazil, for repairs; sailed thence on the voyage, arriving in San Francisco March 8th, 1850. He, with six of the crew, purchased of the supercargo, for $406, a small sail boat brought upon the ship, and which he had formerly owned in Stonington, and valued there at about $40. When loaded with men and provisions the gunwale of the boat was but a few inches above the water. He left the ship early in the morn- ing, the bay fortunately was calm, and proceeded up the Sacramento, Feather and Yuba Rivers to Marysville, where he sold the boat for $200, and in that vicinity commenced prospecting and mining along the river from Parks Bar to the head waters of the north branch of the north fork of the main Yuba, about ten miles above Downieville. In the fall of 1850 he returned to Parks Bar. In the spring of 1851 he prospected on the north fork of Feather River, and returned to the Yuba at Roses Bar in May following, and bought what was considered a worked- out claim, for six ounces. The miners agreed that the new comer had been badly cheated. By thorough work he struck a rich lead which extended across several claims, and he took out gold by the pound instead of ounces. Then the miners said he was lucky. He became generally known in that vicinity, and was frequently called upon to act as an arbitrator in settling disputes between miners, and to serve upon miners' juries, to protect them against thieves and scoundrels. He mined on Sucker Flat during the winter of 1851-2 with good success. In the spring of 1852 he returned home via Nicaraugua route ; staying but a short time he returned to California the fol- lowing October. On his arrival for the second time in the Golden State he proceeded to Stockton, where he resided during the winter of 1852-3. In the spring of 1853 he proceeded to the mines on the Yuba River, above Marysville, where he became very much reduced with the chills and fever. Learning that the climate of Napa Valley was healthy, on the 3d of No- vember of that year he came to Napa, discontinued the use of medicine, soon recovered his health, and has not experienced a sick day since. He purchased a farm in Browns Valley, two miles west of Napa City, and
.
369
Biographical Sketches.
engaged in farming. In 1855 he opened a hardware and tinware store on Brown street, in which he continued until 1856, when he sold to Mr. W. Smith. Prior to this time he had experimented with the Napa soda water, and found he could make it marketable. He then contracted for the Soda Springs, he furnishing everything to start the business and receiving one-third of the net profits; the contract to run for three years. Soon after the business began to pay, the title to the Springs became involved in litiga- tion. He then gave his attention to his old ranch in Browns Valley, where he continued farming. In 1857 he was elected one of the County Supervi- sors, and re-elected in 1858. In 1861 he was elected Sheriff, his term com- mencing in October of that year and ending in March, 1864. September 22, 1863, he was commissioned Captain of the Napa Guard, a volunteer military company, composed of loyal men, organized for the purpose of assisting in preserving the peace of the State in time of war. His com- pany was attached to the Second Brigade, and was ordered into camp in Alameda County in October, 1863. In 1873 he was appointed Treasurer of the City of Napa, and elected a City Trustee in 1874, serving two terms. He made his home in Browns Valley until 1867, when he removed to Napa City, and in 1869 became a partner in the firm of Allen, Parks & Kimball, in the general hardware business, in which he continued until 1876, when he removed to his present ranch of fifty-three acres, near Napa City, where he is engaged in farming and grape growing. He was united in marriage to Miss Caroline A. Forshew, who was born near Malden on the Hudson River, New York, October, 1821.
ANDERSON, W. E. Was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, July 2, 1845. When he was ten years of age, his parents came to California. They came by water, and arrived at San Francisco November 29, 1855. After about one month they located in Napa Valley, where the father died in the fall of 1861. In 1869 the subject of this sketch returned East, where he remained until February, 1881, when he returned to California, and located at St. Helena. Here he is engaged in merchandising. He was mar- ried December 31, 1872, to Miss B. Y. Patterson, by whom he has two chil- dren, William T. and Guy P.
ALLYN, JOHN. Son of Mathew and Clara Merrill Allyn, of English descent, was born in Litchfield County, Connecticut, August 29, 1820, and resided in his birthplace until he was fourteen years of age. He then moved to Lorain County, Ohio; and at the age of twenty he undertook to educate himself ; and by teaching in the winter, and working at his mechan- ical trade in the summer, he was enabled to enter Oberlin College, where he prosecuted his studies for two years. He then spent the same period at a High School at Quincy, Illinois, and then entered the Lane Theological
24
370
History of Napa and Lake Counties-NAPA.
Seminary at Cincinnati ; and upon graduating from that institution he had the honor of delivering the valedictory address of the class of 1846. After graduating, the subject of this sketch moved to Illinois, locating in Carroll- ton, and there read law; was admitted to the bar, and practiced his pro- fession until 1851. In July of the above year he sailed from New York, coming via Panama, and arrived in San Francisco August 30th of the same year. He then followed mining for some time, and again returned to the East, and resided until the breaking out of the war, when he once more came to this coast, and was appointed Superintendent of the Marine Hos- pital at Port Townsend, W. T., for one year; and in March, 1864, moved to Oakland, and engaged in the real estate business. In May, 1870, Dr. Allyn moved to Napa County, and in January, 1873, purchased his present de- lightful home of six acres in the limits of St. Helena. The Doctor was married in New Hampshire, June 2, 1861, to Miss Sophronia Scott, a native of that place, and has one surviving child, Charles H., now engaged in mer- cantile business in Ventura County in this State.
ALSTROM, SWEN. Was born in Carleshom, Sweden, October 5, 1825, and there resided until he was twenty-five years of age, where he received a common school education. In May, 1851, the subject of this sketch came to America, arriving in Boston, Massachusetts, July 10th of the above year, where he sojourned until March, 1852. He then sailed for California on board the "T. B. Wales," coming via Cape Horn, and after a voyage of one hundred and forty-five days arrived in San Francisco. He immediately found em- ployment in the Rasset House, where he remained only a short time, and then proceeded to the mines in Grass Valley, but by reason of the Sacramento fire and the flood of that year he returned to San Francisco, and found employ- ment as porter in the Occidental Hotel, which situation he held for six years. He then, April 12, 1859, became proprietor of the above hotel, where he remained until the spring of 1861. In the meantime he purchased the White Sulphur Springs property, in Napa County, and from 1861 to 1866 he was partner in the Lick House, under the firm name of Alstrom & Co. In the latter year Mr. Alstrom moved to Napa County, and engaged in running his hotel at the above mentioned springs. He owned this valuable property some twenty years, and conducted the hotel for fifteen years, when it was sold in 1879. He then moved to St. Helena, and in April, 1881, he erected the fine hotel he now occupies, the Windsor, which was opened to the public, June 11, 1881. Mr. Alstrom is generous to a fault and is obliging and accommodating in his business relations, and withal the right man in the right place. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, in San Francisco, in 1860, to Miss Mary Bremberg, a native of Sweden, by which union they have the following children : Sophia, Josie, Annie, John, Mamie, Oscar and Herbert.
371
Biographical Sketches.
ADAMS, JOHN. Was born in Howard County, Missouri, April 16, 1834. In 1842 he moved to south-western Missouri, where he resided until the spring of 1845. He then joined a train commanded by Mr. English and went to Oregon, being six months on the route. He settled with his father's family in Yamhill County, and remained there till July 9, 1848. His father, himself and two sisters, then came with pack horses to California, and went direct to Greenes Springs, and from there to the Salvador Ranch in Napa Valley, where they spent the winter. In 1849 they went to the mines, and in the fall of that year they moved to Yolo County and located on Cache Creek, and ranched and traded in stock till 1850. The summer of that year was spent in Napa Valley, and in the fall John began working for J. M. Harbin. In 1853 he returned to Missouri, and in 1854 recrossed the plains to California, and settled on Cache Creek, and farmed till 1857, when he moved to Suisun, Solano County, where he resided for one year. In 1858 he came to his present place, where he now owns twenty-four hundred acres, and is engaged in farming and stock raising. He was married Octo- ber 1, 1854, to Miss Polly Adams, a native of Howard County, Missouri, born September 15, 1828. Their children are Ward, born May 27, 1857, Nellie, born August 27, 1859, and Arthur, born January 11, 1864.
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