USA > California > Nevada County > History of Nevada County, California; with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and manufactories > Part 10
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Among the early and prominent citizens of Birchville were :. Henry Everett, came in 1852 nud is still a resident of the town; Michael Cissin, came in 1852 and was elected to the Legisla- ture in 1856; Christopher Collahan, came in 1852; Martin Moroney, came in 1852 and still resides here ; Thomas Leahy, came in 1852; Frederick King, came in 1853; Jacob Binnin- ger, came in 1853; Patrick Fogarty, came in 1854; Valentine Butsch, came in 1854; N. Cadwallader, came in 1855 and is still a resident ; Henry Powell, came in 1855 and is still a resi- dent ; others have been previously mentioned.
Birchville reached the light of its prosperity in 1865 and 6, but the leading claims have been since worked ont, and the village now contains a population of only half a hundred souls.
CHEROKEE.
This once flourishing and now by no means dead inining town is situated on the ridge, about four iniles cast of North San Juan.
The locality was known as Cherokee before the town sprang up, the name being derived from some Cherokee Indians, who moved here in 1850. Crego & Utter built a house here in 1851, and the following year the Grizzly Ditch was brought to the place. This gave an impulse to the settlement, and in 1852 the population reached four hundred. Of these there were but
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HISTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
1.wo families, that of John Ryan, and the family of Eugene Turney, who kept the Grizzly Hotel, and a store in the same building. Turney kept the hotel until 1852, when he moved to San Francisco. J. C. Hall is now keeping hotel in the same honse.
From 1856 to 1865 the village saw the cra of its greatest prosperity. During these years a drug store and a resident physician were among the adjuncts of the town. Owing to the decline in mining operations in the vicinity the village has lost ground since that time, and now contains a population of about two hundred. There are two hotels, one store, one blacksmith shop, one butcher shop, one shoemaker shop and two saloons.
A public hall was built in 1861 by Eugene Turney, which has been since used for dances and local amusements. A. pub- lic school was opened at an early date. A new school-house, a large frame building, was ereeted in 1872; a small library is connected with the school. August 13, 1872, the store house of Thomas Nankervis was destroyed by fire, the loss being $10,000.
A United States patent was obtained for the town site in 1875, which covers the northwest one-fourth of the southwest one-fourth and the lot No. 5 of the northwest one-fourth of section 1, township 17, north, range 8, cast ; containing 78 27-100 acres of land.
FRENCH CORRAL,
This is the last of the series of mining towns that lie on the ridge between the Middle and South Yuba rivers, Its altitude is but 2,000 feet above the level of the sea, and the climate is pleasant and agrevable.
A corral was built at this point in 1849, by a Frenchman from Frenchunan's Bar, on the Main Yuba, to be used as an enclosure for mules. From this fact the locality and afterwards the town received the name of French Corral. Mining was carried on in the ravines about this place in 1849, and a man named Galloway opened a store in a tent. He afterwards moved to the vicinity of Downieville, and became the proprie- tor of Galloway's ranch. His successor was an English sailor who was known as Jack, and who kept the store until Septem- ber, 1850, when he sold the tent and good will to Robert and John Bussenias, These two brothers erected a log house near where the Corral House was afterwards built.
Surface diggings were discovered here in 1851, and in the spring of 1852, a ditch was brought in from Shady creek, and miners began to settle here rapidly, so much so that the town soon had a population of four hundred. A post office was applied for and obtained. "The hill diggings were discovered in 1853, another ditch was brought in, and the town was progress- ing finely, when fifty of the seventy houses that composed the
village were destroyed by fire. The next summer another fire destroyed the balance of the town, but by the energy of the citizens the town was quickly rebuilt, and continued to thrive and prosper. The cra of prosperity lasted for a number of years, and even now the town is in good condition and the enter of large mining operations. There are in the town two hotels, one store, one saloon, one bakery, four blacksmiths, two carpenters, one physician and a number of dwelling houses; the population is about three hundred. An unsuccessful effort was once made to change the name to Carrolton.
The employment of Chinese in the mines so incensed the people that they organized, and December 1, 1867, drove away the Celestials and destroyed their cabins. Twenty-seven of the rioters were arrested, arraigned before a Justice of the Peace in Nevada City, and granted separate trials. Upon trial of David Norrie the evidence showed that there were from eighty to one hundred men engaged in the movement, miners, mer- chants, tradesmen, and men of wealth. Considerable difficulty was experienced in securing a jury, and when the case was submitted to them and they returned with a verdict of "guilty," upon being polled one of them said it was not his verdict. They were sent out again and soon returned with the same verdict. Norrie was fined one hundred dollars. The charges against the others were dismissed.
In 1877, the proper steps having been taken, a United States patent was received for the land on which the town is situated, which conveys the west one-half of the northeast one-fourth, the northeast one-fourth of the northeast one-fourth, lot number 19 of the northeast one-fourth, lots numbers 1, 2, 4 and 6 and the north one-half of the northwest one-fourth, the lots numbers 7 and 9 and the northwest one-fourth of the southwest one-fourth and lots numbers 10 and 16 of the southeast one-fourth of section 26, township 17, north, range 7, east; containing in all 419 96-100 aeres.
SWEETLAND.
This little mining locality is situated midway between North San Juan and French Corral. It has been and still is the scene of large mining enterprises. H. P. Sweetland, from whom the town derived its name, settled here in 1850, and from that fact tho locality became known as Sweetland's. The place was carly noted on the ridge as a trading post, and gradually became settled. The town did not assume the proportions of its neighbors at first, but afterwards overtook some of them, and has maintained its standing. There are now in the town two liotels, four stores, one saloon, one tailor shop, one shoemaker shop, two earpenters, three masons, three blaeksmiths and a pop- nlation of about four hundred. A post office has been estab- lishsd here for a long time.
SEBASTOPOL.
This is a little residence town one mile south of North San Juan, and contains the homes of the miners working on Manza- nita Hill. There was formerly a store here, but now there are but a few dwelling houses and a boarding house. North San Juan is the post office where the people receive their mail. The residents of Sebastopol, in 1877, received a United States patent for their property, covering lots numbers 9 and 10 and the east one-half of the southeast one-fourth, lot number 13 and the southeast one-fourth of the northeast one-fourth of section 6, township 17, north, range 8, east, containing 207 43-100 acres of land.
Other localities in the township will be spoken of in the history of the mines.
CHAPTER XXII.
EUREKA TOWNSHIP.
Boundaries-Eureka Sonth-Moore's Flat -- Orleans Flat-Woolsey's Flat.
Eureka township occupies the most northern portion of Nevada county, and extending as it does to the summit of the Sierra Nevadas, it lies for months under a deep covering of snow. It was one of the original townships and at one time extended beyond its present limits, both eastward and west- ward. As at present defined, the boundaries are :- Beginning at the source of the Middle Yuba river above English lake, at the initial point of Sierra county boundary line, and running thence down the Middle Yuba river to the line between ranges 9 and 10, east; thence south to the corner of sections 18 and 19, township 18, north, range 10, east; thence east two miles; thence south one mile to the south line of township 18, north, range 10, east; thenee east to the line between ranges 13 and 14, east; thence north to the place of beginning,
EUREKA SOUTH.
This, the first settled town of the township and from which it derived its name, lies near the summit of the mountains, twenty-six miles from Nevada City. The first mining was done here in the ravines, early in the spring of 1850. The following year the deep diggings were discovered and opened. At first but little water could be obtained except during the winter season, and the result was that a population of over six hundred at that time would dwindle down to two hundred in the summer. . The reason for the large number of miners at this point was the fact that the diggings were shallow and re- quired but little capital to work them.
A riot oceurred here in January, 1854, growing out of a dis- pute between some Englishmen and Irishmen as to priority on a claim. The friends of the Irish elaimant attacked the Eureka
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PUSUSKED BY THOMPSON & WEST.
GRASS VALLEY, 1852.
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HISTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Hotel. Some shots were exchanged, aul a general and bloodly battle was imminent, when better counsel prevailed and blood- shed was avoided. A woman in the street was slightly wounded by a stray ballet. Members of both parties were arrested, und two Irislnuen and three Englishinen were fined sixty dollars cach.
For liulf a dozen years, as long as the rich surface diggings lasted, Eureku was a thriving, bustling, lively mining town; business was good; hotels, stores and saloons prospered and thri'ved; but as soon as these diggings began to show signs of exhaustion, the town began to retrogade. One by one the miners departed for more promising localities, one by one the business houses were removed or closed out, and the town put on the appearance of desertion and decay. For eight years the fortunes of Eureka remained at a low ebb, but in 1866 the re- vivul of the quartz excitement of 1851 drew a large number of prospectors to Eureka and vicinity. In March of that year there were but about twenty people in the town, but the May following there were four hundred. The population remained stationary at about three hundred for several years.
In 1877 a post office was established here with the name of Graniteville, the same difficulty being experienced as at North San Juan, in the duplicity of names, a post office having been previously settled at Eureka, Humboldt county. In 1869 the towu contained two hotels, live saloons, two stores, blacksmith mind eurpenter shops, etc., and a publie school was opened the sune yenr.
In 1878 Eureka contained two hotels, two stores, three saloons, one brewery, one bakery, one market, one livery stable, one school house and a Catholic church. About two o'clock in the morning of August 12, 1878, a fire broke out in the rear of Ellis' saloon that soon laid the town in ashes, only ono business honse escaping the flames. The total loss amounted to $50,000. This disaster was a severe one, but the business men soon started again; new buildings were erected, and although not fully recovered from the blow, Eureka is pressing forward again with a population of about three hundred. Eureka is the distributing point for the reservoirs and places above, and assuch will always enjoy a certain amount of prosperity. If the many quartz ledges in the vicinity over become developed, as they no doubt some time will, Eureka will become a place of no small importance.
MOORE'S FLAT.
This, tho eenter and chief of the three flats that lie near the Middle Yuba river, and within a mile of each other, is now the chief hydraulic mining point in Eureka township.
The town derived its name from H. M. Moore, who settled here in 1851 and built a house and store, immediately upon arriving from across the plains. The diggings were soon dis-
covered here and miners began to pour in. At first Orleans Flat was much larger than this place on account of the liggings being more shallow. In 1852 this town had a population of about five hundred, with three or four stores, three hotels, a large number of saloons, etc. The rivalry between the three flats was exceedingly brisk, Orleans Flat taking the lead for a number of years. Now, however, both Orleans Flat and Woolsey's Flat are nearly deserted and Moore's Flat is the ecuter of trade and population for this district.
Application was early inale for a post office to be given the name of Clinton, the citizens desiring to change the name of the town. A few years later they lad the name of the post otliee changed from Clinton to Moore's Flat, as they found it impossible to shake off' the name that had become fastened upon the town.
A most destructive fire occurredl here May 19, 1865, by which one-third of the business portion of the town was burned to the ground. The losses, including Moore's Hotel, Marks & Co.'s bank, the drug store and post office, amounted to the the total sin of $30,000. Again, on Saturday morning, July 31, 1869, a devastating fire occurred, nearly blotting out the village. Both sides of Washington street to and including Abraham's dwelling, both sides of Yuba street to and including English & Wells' stable, and Moore street as far as Dr. Hardy's dwelling, were burned. On Jackson street Wells' building was also destroyed. The burnt district embraced all of the town proper except Dr. Hardy's dwelling and Odd Fellows Hall. In all some forty buildings were destroyed, including Shca's Hotel, Moore's Hotel, Morrow's Hotel, Masonic Hall and about fifteen stores and business buildings. The total loss was esti- mated at $100,000, on which the insurance amounted to $30,000.
Alter this great fire but few houses were built on the old site, which has since been partly mined and has partly slid away. The present town is about one-half mile south of the old loea- tion. Houses were moved from the old town to the present site, and the new town sprang up. In 1878, by order of the Board of Supervisors, the remains of those buried in the old cemetery were removed to the new one; one hundred and forty-five were removed at an expense of 8965.90.
At present Moore's Flat is still a thriving mining town with three hotels, three general stores, one drug store, one variety store, two saloons, one market, a bank, Catholie chnreh, school house, post office, express office, dressmaking establishment, brewery, lumber company, charcoal burner, carpenters, black- smiths, physician and a population of about five hundred.
ORLEANS FLAT.
This was the farthest east of the three noted flats on the Middle Yuba, and for a number of years was the most prosper-
ous, The diggings were discovered in 1851, and being more shallow than on the other thats, and for that reason more easily worked, soon attracted a large number of miners, In the competition between the three thats Orleans Flat took the lead in 1852, with a population of six hundred, several hotels, stores, saloons, etc. This position she maintained until 1857. when the mines began to fail and the town to retrograde. Gradually the people abandoned the town, some of them moy - ing to Moure's Flat, and others to more remote localities, In n few years the old town beenme entirely deserted.
WOOLSEY'S FLAT.
This was the third of the three flats, nover reaching the im- portance of the other two, and now entirely deserted. The diggings were discovered here in 1851, and soon n bustling mining camp was formed. Although never rivaling her moro pretentious neighbors, Woolsey's Flat flourished For a number of years, and then began to decline, on account of the exhaus- tion of the mines. Many of the people removed to Moore's Flat, taking their houses with them. One by one the hotels, stores and saloons closed out their business and departed until, in 1874, the last attempt at business, n hotel, was closed, and Woolsey's Fint gave up the ghost.
CHAPTER XXIII.
GRASS VALLEY TOWNSHIP.
Boundaries-Grass Valley -- First Settlers -- First Christian Burial-Centreville Walsh's Mill-Families-Hotels-Quartz Discovery Election of a Jus. tice-Church and Schools-Riot-Lala Muntex-City Incorporated Three Times-United States Patent-Great Fire of 1855-List of Lammes Wolle, Fargo & Co. Alcad-Fire of 1860-Fire of 1862- Other Fires-Water Works -- Grass Valley of To-day-A Happy Ride,
GRASS VALLEY TOWNSHIP'.
THIS, one of the original townships of the county, has always had nearly its present dimensions. It derives its name from the city of Grass Valley, which is the ouly large place within its limits, and contains four-fifths of its population. It extends from Nevada township on the north to Bear river on the south, and from Rough and Ready township on the west to Little York on the cast, and contains about one hundred and ten square miles.
The boundary lines as at present defined are :- Beginning at the intersection of Bear river by the line between ranges 7 and 8, east, and running thence north to the corner of sections 13 and 24, township 15, north, range 7, east; thence cast one mile ; thence north to the north line of township 15, north, range $, east ; thence east to the corner of sections 32 and 33, township 16, north, range 8, east; thence north to the one-fourth section
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HISTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
corner between sections 20 and 21, township 16, north, range 8, east ; thence cast eight miles; thenee south to the south line of township 16, north, range 9, east ; thence west to the corner of sections 2 and 3, township 15, north, range 9, cast; thence south to Bear river; thence down Bear river to the place of beginning.
The township has an elevation above the sea varying from two to three thousand feet, and the climate is mild and salubri- ous. Snow seldom falls, and then only to the depth of a few inches. Fruits, vegetables and grain are raised in the many fertile valleys, but the chief industry is the extensive quartz mines, of which much will be said in the proper place.
GRASS VALLEY.
This beautiful mining city, for a long time the second but now the first in size and importance in Nevada county, lies in a lovely little valley, surrounded by gracefully sloping hills, whose sides are dotted with the hundreds of quartz mines that have made the city so famous and prosperous.
lu the month of October, 1848, the foot of a white man first invaded this lovely valley, and trampled upon the Inxuriant grass. David Stump, a man named Berry and a third com- panion came from the Willamette valley, Oregon, when the news of the discovery of gold reached that region, and arrived on the American river during the summer of 1848. In the fall they started from Placerville, then called El Dorado Dry Diggings and later Hangtown, on a prospecting tour north. On Bear river they discovered evidences of erevieing having been done, and so continued their journey north in search of entirely new country. They found a stream running through a fertile valley, whose luxuriant growth of grass and will pea- vines refreshed their weary eyes. Here they stopped three weeks, aud ereviced for gold near where the Eureka and Idaho mines have wrested millions from the stubborn rock. They found gokl in large quantities and heavy pieces, but when the first indications of approaching winter crossed the sky they departed for the valley, fearing to spend the winter season iu the mountains.
Except these gentlemen no one is known to have visited this valley until 1849, wheu emigrants came here in search of cattle strayed from their camps on Bear river or Greenhorn creek. Here the cattle were found contentedly feeding and fattening upon the tall and juicy grass that billowed before the breeze and waved in the noonday sun. The place was known to them as the grassy valley from which, when a settlement was made, the road was dircet aud casy to the name Grass Valley.
In speaking of this valley Boston Ravine and Grass Valley will be considered as one place, as they practically are, adjoin- ing so closely that a stranger would be at a loss to say where Grass Valley ends and Boston Raviuc begins ; in fact, nothing
but the corporation boundaries can settle that point. Their history is one ; their mines and industries are one; and their joys, hopes, aims and future prospects are all onc.
The earliest actual settlers within the limits of the city appear to have been a party of five emigrauts who crossed the plains in 1849 and built a cabin on Badger Hill near the east line of the corporation, some time in the month of August. The party consisted of Benjamin Taylor, who still resides here, Dr. Saunders, Captain Broughton and his two sons Greenbury and Alexander. Zenas H. Denman arrived August 12, and re- mained in the city nearly twenty years. John Little, John Barry and the Fowler brothers also built a cabin iu the same vicinity. The Rhode Island Co. built the Providence Store on the summit of Main street. All these, with a few others, some twenty in all, spent the winter here, and formed the nucleus about which afterwards gathered this bustling, thriving city.
Boston Ravine, the point that early became of importance, and was the chief settlemeut in this vicinity for two years, was settled by a Boston company. Rev. H. Cummings was presi- dent of this company, which arrived on the twenty-third of September, 1849. They built four cabins on the south side of the ravine, which they named after their company, and spent the winter there; the cabins remained many years. On Sat- urday, September 28, the first Christian burial in Nevada county took place in Boston Ravine, Rev. H. Cummings officiating. An emigrant who had toiled across the plains, only to die on the threshold of his destination, was buried on the south side of the ravine. A number of others settled in Boston Ravine that fall, and in December Jules Rossiere opened a store, and laid the foundation of the flourishing trade the city has since enjoyed.
Quite a number of people mined in Boston Ravine during the fall and winter, and in the spring of 1850 a great many more came, and the settlement began to assume the appearance of a town. Grass Valley at this time had received but few additions to its population. By this time Rough and Ready and Nevada had become quite extensive and noted mining camps, and the few scattered settlers of Grass Valley changed the name of the embryo city to Centreville, as it lay midway between those populous locations. Letters were often received addressed "Grass Valley, near Rough and Ready." In Nov- ember, 1850, a postal route was established between Nevada City and Marysville, J. G. Fordyce carrying the mail on a mule. It was then that the citizens held a meeting and adopted the name Centreville. Letters were then frequently addressed "Ceutreville, near Boston Ravine." It was not long, however, before it was found that the original name was not only better but had a more pleasing sound, and the people returned to their first love, Grass Valley.
In May, 1850, Rossiere sold his trading post in Boston Ravine
to B. L. Lamarque, and in the following June, Fowler Brothers established a second one, but in the fall sold it to William Pattingall and Thomas Fielding, who still lives here and is familiarly known as Uncle Fielding.
Early in November, 1849, Samuel and George Holt, James Walsh and Zenas Wheeler selected a place about four miles below Grass Valley, and commenced the erection of two saw mills. Iu March, 1850, as detailed elsewhere, Samuel Holt was killed by Indians and the mill burned. James Walsh and Zenas Wheeler, with G. P. Clark, built a saw mill in Grass Valley near the site of Taylor's Foundry, in June, 1850. This was the first business enterprise in the new town.
During the summer that part of the valley east of Auburn street was fenced in with brush by some parties, who sold it during the summer to A. P. Willey and a man named McClin- tock. These gentlemen flattered themselves that they had a " good thing," as hay was eighty dollars per tou, and they could cut two heavy crops a year. Before they had fairly begun to improve the place, some miners wandered into the enclosure, sank a shaft through the rich, black soil, and came to a gravel deposit which proved to be very rich with gold. In less than twenty-four hours the whole rauch was staked off in claims fifty feet square, leaving not even a fifty foot claim for the ravaged proprietors.
In August or September, 1850, a man named Morey opened the first store in Grass Valley proper. His stock was kept in a tent upon the lot now occupied by Johnson's furniture store, on Main street. He soon sold to Leighton, Kent and Thomas H. Day, who had been engaged in cutting logs for Walsh & Wheeler, and took part of their pay from the mill in lumber at $200 per thousand feet. With this they built a new store upon the same lot, this being the first house constructed of sawed lumber in the city. In this store the first miners' meeting was held, in the fall of 1850, at which laws were passed regulating the size and right of claims and the size of town lots.
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