USA > California > Nevada County > History of Nevada County, California; with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and manufactories > Part 12
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Allison Ranch, Union Hill, Gold Hill, Massachusetts Hill and other places in the township are specially mentioned in the
The follow-
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HISTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
chapter entitled "The Mines of Grass Valley Township," in another part of this work.
A HAPPY RIDE,
One of the many devious ways in which the course of true love can be made to run was illustrated in Grass Valley in 1867-8, showing how by a chance buggy ride a man saved $2,000 and gained a wife. A certain young bachelor of Grass Valley paid his " distresses " to one of the beautiful young ladies so numerous in that grassy vale, and matters were rapidly progressing towards a matrimonial entanglement, when for some reason best known to himself the wooing swain " flew the track." The deserted maiden was a girl of spirit, and she immediately commenced suit for breach of promise to marry. The trial commenced January 11, 1868, and the contest waxed lot for three days, resulting in a verdict for the fair plaintiff, with $2,000 damages.
Consternation was carriod into the camp of the bachelors by this threatening result. A meeting of the Bachelors' Club of Grass Valley was instantly called to discuss the situation and deliberate upon precautionary measures, to protect others of the fraternity from the fate that had overtaken their brother. Among other things it was proposed that all members who were in the dangerous habit of ealling npon marriageable ladies should supply themselves with a receipt book, and have a release signed at the termination of each visit, stating that no matrimonial engagement had been entered into, and that all was square to date. In an earnest speech and with a voice trembling with emotion, the President besought the members to specially avoid osculation, as in law a kiss was regarded as a seal to an implied contract, making it binding upon the parties. The club adjourned without taking final action, and the mem- bers departed to their homes with a deep rooted apprehension lurking in their bosoms, and resolved to spend their money on billiards and fast horses and let the girls severally alone.
And now comes the romantic termination. About three months later a heavily loaded stage was on its way from Nevada City to Grass Valley, when it was met by a gentleman in a buggy, who offered to relieve the stage of one of the pas- sengers, provided the person was willing to return to Nevada City while he transacted a little business. The innocent driver gazed down into the stage and asked a lady if she desired to accept the gentleman's offer. She did desire and did accept, and alighted from the stage which immediately drove away. Then it was that the old time lovers and recent litigants found that they were destined to take a ride. What was said during that ride we know not, but when they arrived in Nevada City, they went before Judge Reardon, the same who had presided at the trial, and were quickly made oue. Indignant at this defec- tion of a member whom they had considered tbeir staunchest
adherent, the Bachelors' Club called another meeting and expelled him with imposing ceremonies.
THE HUNGRY CONVENTION AT GRASS VALLEY.
DY OLD BLOCK,
The winter of 1852-53 was very severe. The roads, being new, were at times impassable on account of mud, the sloughs were full of water and unbridged, and at one time, a period of ten days elapsed when communication between the mines of Nevada county and Sacramento City was totally suspended. In consequence of this forced non-intercourse, provisions and supplies failed to arrive, while the stoeks on hand, of the merchants, were dwindling down "to the shortest pan," and anxiety was manifested on all hands for future supplies, pro- visions advanced to nearly starving prices. Flour went up from twenty-five to sixty cents per pound, potatoes could scarcely be had for thirty cents, bacon was scarce at seventy- five cents; and as hungry stomachs increased in number the necessaries of life grew less. The country was in fact mud- bound. Questions were asked, which none could answer- " What are we to do ?" The prospect of open roads was dis- tant, and scarcity was present, which seemed fast relapsing into absolute want.
In times of great emergencies great men always arise. Cir- cumstances seem to develop greatness, and so in this case, the exigencies of the times brought out bold spirits. A hurried consultation among individuals resulted in a proposition to call a public meeting to consult upon what was best to be done under the circumstances. Among the most active patriots for the occasion was a gentleman who held, by some form of law or courtesy, I do not know which, the title of Judge, who, since the great rebellion, was appointed Military Governor of Alabama, and another prominent citizen of Grass Valley who had acquired the soubriquet of " Blue Coat." Both were particularly active in getting up and managing the meeting to devise " ways and means."
A public meeting was therefore called, to be held at Beatty's Hotel, on Main street, and when the eventful evening came the house was filled to overflowing by our excited and interested miners. Judge Murphy was called to the chair, and if he has discharged the office of Governor with as much zeal and ability as be did that of the presiding office of the Hungry Conven- tion, he deserves the thanks of unborn millions, and probably will get it.
After a Secretary was appointed, the meeting was declared duly organized, and remarks in order. Our friend, Blue Coat, was eloquent in describing the startling condition to which we were reduced by the will of God and flood-gates of heaven, and declared that desperate diseases required desperate remedies, a truism which none could deny. Others made telling speeches,
and even the honorable Chairman waived his authority to frce his mind, and say that if it became necessary, rather than starve, we might be forced to help ourselves to the meagre supplies still left with merchants; at all events, they must be curtailed in asking the ruinous prices which they were demand- ing, and should be required to extend a general eredit to those who were unable to produce the quid pro quo. While a few dissented from this view of the case, the majority appeared to think that rather than starve they would go in for the "loaves and fishes." Finally, a committee was appointed to draw up resolutions and report to the meeting-five honorable gentlemen were accordingly named by the Chairman. They withdrew to another room, and in about five minutes returned with a paper having a long preamble and resolutions, which it seemed must require not less than an hour to prepare, leaving the unjust conclusion to be inferred that the resolutions and committee were all cut and dried before the meeting was organized; but we will not be so uncharitable as to think so. Upon signifying that the committee were ready to report, their Chairman, with the dignity which the solemn occasion demanded, slowly opened his document and began-a portion of which we transcribe :
At a meeting of the miners and citizens of Grass Valley, in Convention assembled, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted :
WHEREAS, When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for a people to protect themselves against want and starvation, when they are at the mercy of soulless speculators, who demand all their earnings for the support of life, we deem it right to act in self-defense, and demand provisions for our need, and at prices which we are able to give. A decent respect for the opinions of the world induces us to give a catalogue of our grievances, in order to show the justice of our cause. There- fore, we declare-
That in consequence of impassable roads we are short of supplies necessary to the support of human life. That the merchants refuse to sell at reasonable prices. That there are abundant supphes of flour and other necessaries in San Fran- cisco, which soulless speculators, taking advantage of our condition, are holding for exorbitaut prices, and refuse to sell. Therefore, be it
Resolved, That appealing to High Heaven for the justice of our cause, we will go to San Francisco and obtain the necessary supplies-" peaceably if we can, but forcibly if we must."
Gracious Heaven ! here was San Francisco, with a population of only forty or fifty thousand souls, threatened with sack and ruin by a hungry band of miners, amounting to the over- whelming force of, perhaps, one hundred able-bodied men, armed with picks, shovels and long-toms. Alas! poor San Francisco, what a volcano you was reposing on. The wave of
GRASS VALLEY
& NEY.
RESIDENCE OF C. W. BEEDLE, NEVADA CITY, NEVADA CO CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON & WEST.
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HISTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
revolution was hanging over you from the mountains. Was there no escape ?
Both preamble and resolutions met with strong opposition, but the eloquence of the Judge, of the sage Blue Coat, of mnem- bers of the committee, and a few appreciating wretches, who enjoyed the fun, fearless of the consequences, prevailed, and they passed by a decisive votre. A committee was named to proceed forthwith to San Francisco, to see if the flour specula- tors would come to terms, and send up supplies-mud or no mud; in short, if she would capitulate without shelling blood. and consent to lose her flour and bacon; but it was discovered the next day that the committee had no funds to pay traveling expenses, and then the roads were impassable and they could not get there. So the committee bided their time and San Francisco was saved, for the ruins ceased by providential dis- prusation, and in two or three days thereafter a report reached town that several teams loaded with supplies lay mnd-bound at or near Rough and Ready, and would bo up as soon as they conld move. A few days inore brought them in, San Fran- cisco was saved, and at this moment stands, next to GRASS VALLEY, the pride of the Pacific Coast.
CHAPTER XXIV.
LITTLE YORK TOWNSHIP.
Condition of the Township-Boundaries-Little York-Decker Family-F'ire and Explosion of 1878 Red Dog, or Brooklyn-Destruction by Fire- Abandonment-You Bet-Twier Swept Away by Fire-Rebuilt-Wal- lompa-Its Briof Career. Hont's Hill, or Gouge Eye.
This township, the second smallest in the county, contains about forty-five square miles and lies between the townships of Grass Valley, Novada and Washington and Bear river. It is purely a gravel mining region and its population is small and dispersed among tho mines throughout the township. The towns of Little York, You Bet, Red Dog, Hunt's Hill, Lowell Hill and other settlements have been thriving mining camps, some of them quite large and populous towns, but the num- ber of men required to work the mines has been so reduced that, together with the fnet that the mines in some localities have been exbausted, the population has materially declined. The natural result of the departuro of the people was the cessation of business and the dying out of towns, so that at present there are no towns of consequence and but few stores in tho whole township. There are, however, many large min- ing enterprises being carried on, and thousands of dollars aro annually drawn from their long resting place in the bosom of tho earth.
The first mining was done and the first settlement made in 1849, but no attention was attracted to this region until the
fall of 1551, when " deep diggings" were discovered in several places, and a great rush of miners commenced the following year. From this time Little York township dates her im- portance. Towns sprang up like magic, stores, hotels, saloons arl shops appeared, and the whole region was alive with miners and prospectors. For a number of years the population was large, and the region played an important part in the his- tory of the county. The exhaustion of some claims and the gradual crystalization of the others into extensive tracts, hehl by large companies, and the improvement in the hydranlie method of mining that requires but comparatively few men, have resulted in the depopulation of the district, the departure of business and the general decline of the influence and im- portance of the locality. The mining industries, however, in the hands of the Inrge companies, are still extensive, requiring a large amount of capital to carry them on, and returning a rich reward to the investors.
But little change has been made in the original boundaries of the township, except to make them conform to the lines of the government survey. As at present designated they are :- Beginning on Bear river in the northeast corner of section 23, township 15, north, range 9, east, and running thence north to the corner of sections 2 and 3 in the same township; thenee cast to the corner of sections 34 and 35, township 16, north, range 9, east ; thence north four miles; thence east two miles ; thence north one mile; thence east one mile; thener north one mile; thence cast three miles; thence south one mile; thence east four and one-half miles to Bear river; thence down Bear river to the place of beginning.
LITTLE YORK.
This onee noted mining town lies on the old emigrant trail by the Truckee route, and to this fact it owes its first and carly settlement. Emigrauts in 1849 knew that the gold regions lay on tho western slope of the Sierras, and when they erossed the summit and reached Bear river, they naturally began prospect- ing. Gold was found, but not in quantities to suit the exalted ideas they entertained of the fabulous richness of California, and so they passed on. A few settled here, and made this point their headquarters, among whom were Joseph Gardner, J. E. Squire and John S. Dunn. The favorite mining place was a ravine extending from the town to Bear river, afterwards named Scott's Ravine. Here they mined occasionally to secure the means for prospecting in other localities.
In the fall of 1850, a small party of miners, composed of L. Karner, H. H. Brown, J. H. Bailey and D. Crippin, located upon the ravine and built a cabin near the npper end. This was the first honse npon the ridge. They abandoned the place in the spring of 1851, and it was taken up by William Scott and others. Then it was that it received the name of Scott's
Ravine. They worked into the hill and discovered the rich gravel bels, but not knowing how to work them, they let the discovery lie dormant until 1852. At that time Willimm Starr and John Robinson, who were familiar with " hill diggings " came to Little York, and Ingan prospecting. A tunnel way startel into the hill just east of the lead of blue cement, which had been discovered and enrefully avoided by Starr, Karner and a number of others. Owing to several causes they did not. succeed very well that season. Meanwhile Robinson was prospecting lower down the ravine, on what was afterwards named Council Hill, and soon found dirt that paid one dollar to the pan. The news of this discovery was rapidly dissemi- nated and miners began to hasten here, not only from neigh- boring camps but from a distance.
The entire gravel range, as well as considerable ground that was not on the range, was quickly loented. The town site was laid out and the lots were engerly taken by the miners, No one had a title to a lot other than a possessory one. Town lots were free, any one could help himself, und all thint. he was required to do was to refrain from occupying the street, but when once selected his right to hold and occupy it was held sacred.
The town sprang up within n few weeks, and rough and hastily construeted shanties, with no attempt at architectural ornament, served for hotels, stores, saloons, shops und resi- dences. A small church was built and the erection of a primitive theater started upon. By the first of September, 1852, the busy, bustling camp had a population of over six hundred, aml all the requisites of a thriving mining town.
The carly settlers were chictly Eastern men, and the crowd that came in the fall was composed largely of Missourians and men from other Western States, Between these sectional feeling was great, and when a publie meeting was called to eleet a Recorder of the district a contest immediately sprang up between representatives of the East and the West. After a hard struggle Crippin, the candidate of the Eastern men, was elected, and the town was named Little York, the name de- sired by the Western. men being St. Louis.
The mines continued to be worked by many small companies for a number of years, and Little York flourished and remained a bustling town. Hotels, stores and saloons did a good busi- ness, and money was plenty. Among the men who went to Little York as carly as March, 1852, and who made important discoveries, were John W. Mackey, J. B. Byrne and Ed. Sebans. During the winter of 1852-3 provisions became very searce, and sold at one dollar per pound. Many lett and abandoned their claims, being unable to support themselves, but with the return of spring came an improvement of the roads, and provisions were soon plentiful and cheap.
During the first winter of its existence as a town, Little York
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HISTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
was infested by a gang of ruffians that went by the name of the Decker family, Diek Fisher, Billy the Butcher, Andy Thomp- son and half a dozen others. These men were the terror of the town and ruled with a high hand. The property nor the life of any one who had the temerity to oppose them was not safe. Fisher was a large, powerful brute, and several times beat inoffen- sive men in a ernel manner. If they desired a new pair of boots, they simply entered a store, fitted themselves and walked away. One day in the spring of 1853, several of them entered a clotli- ing stere kept by a Jew, and proceeded to array themselves in new garments. Upon the Jew making objection to the transae- tion they became offended and proceeded to pitch him and all his goods into the street. Quite a crowd collected to witness the affair, but no one dared to interfere. Among the spectators was Tyee Ault, who remarked that he should think some one would shoot them some time. This remark was reported to Fisher who threatened to whip Ault. Fisher was arrested for this offense, or had been previously, and fined, and had becomo incensed at the jury, one of whom was Ault. He sought out the object of his wrath and confronted him, with a pistol in his hand. Ault endeavored to avoid him and entered E. H. Gaylord's store, but was followed by the rufhan, Ault then drew his revolver and shot Fisher, who quickly retreated to the street, followed by Ault, who continued shooting until his antagonist lay dying in the street. The defeat and death of Fisher completely destroyed the power of the Deeker family, and they hastily left the town. This was the first and last homicide in Little York.
When in its prime the town contained two hotels, three stores, two saloons, forty houses and a population of about two hundred. A post office was established here which still remains, the mail being brought from Nevada City and Dutch Flat by stage.
Gradually the rude and primitive shanties gave place to neatly constructed dwellings; yards were ornamented with flowers and shade trees, orchards were set out and the town pre- sented the appearance of neatness, comfort and prosperity. The dreadful fires that had ravaged nearly every town in the county, for a long time spared Little York, and so long as there was work for the miner and business for the merchant everything seemed bright before the eyes of the people. But the decline in the number of mining enterprises and the reduction of the number of men employed began to reduce the hitherto prosper- ous town, and, finally, fire nearly blotted it out forever. In 1875 there was a fire that burned the lower half of the town and at the time was considered a pretty big one; but a fire oe- enrred June 26, 1878, that nearly exterminated the town forever. The fire was started at both sides of the Little York Co.'s barn and when the men rushed to get the hose it was found to be cut in several places with an ax; these two facts poiuted to an incendiary origin for t'.e fire. The flames spread
rapidly and soon reached the powder house of the Little York Co. Great exertion had been made to remove the 2,000 pounds of giant powder that were stored here, but when the flames seized upon the house 1,400 pounds still remained. The explosion was terrific; houses were demolislied and people overthrown : Dutch Flat, three miles away, was shaken as by an earthquake, As one of the citizens feeln_ly remarked, " It just knocked things endwise." About two thirds of Little York were destroyed.
As is frequently the case with mining towns in the gravel distriet, the town site was selected immediately over the chan- nel. The consequence was that the town had to be moved farther north, when the miners reached that spot, and the old town site has been washed away. Of the settlers in this region in 1852, there are now residing here, Frank Copeland, Thomas Pattinson and John Cooper. The first publie school was opened in 1862, and a good school house built.
The town now contains one store, one saloon, a post office, half a dozen houses and the houses, barns and shops of the Liberty Hill Con. Mining Co.
RED DOG, OR BROOKLYN.
This onee prosperous but now abandoned mining town was of sudden growth in 1852. Prospecting was done here early in the Spring of 1851 by a Mr. Wilson and two companions, who came from Nevada City. Upon ascending the hill from Green- horn ereek they discovered a small ravine running to the right, and Wilson suggested to his companions that they go down and prospect it. This proposition was assented to and the result was that, after digging down to the bed roek and seraping it, they discovered coarse gold. Very soon after J. Perkins and his partner Thornhill discovered diggings on Independence Hill. The ravine and adjoining hill were located by Wilson and com- panions, and the hill named Red Dog Hill, after a hill in the lead district of Illinois. There are several ways of accounting for this peculiar name, but this seems to be the most probable one. The announcement of these two discoveries soon drew crowds of miners from a distance, and claims were quickly located. The district was known as Red Dog far and wide, although the settlers endeavored to give the new town another name.
A meeting was -called July 12, 1852, to select a town site, make regulations, and christen the little fledgling. A majority voted to locate the town on Arkansas Hill and call it Chalk Bluff. The minority " bolted " the action of the meeting and located on Red Dog Hill. Between this and Chalk Bluff ran a creek, and owing to a similarity of situation they named the new town Brooklyn. The "Bluffers," Chalk Bluffers, soon recognized the advantages of the Brooklyn situation, came over to the new town, and Chalk Bluff vanished from sight.
In the Spring of 1853 Brooklyn contained two hotels, three
or four stores, several saloons aud about thirty dwellings. Busi- ness was good, and the town presented an exceedingly lively appearance. The first hotel was kept by Mr. Wooster, and Mr. Robinson and G. A. Johnson opened the first and second stores, one soon after the other. The name Red Dog still elung to the place, notwithstanding the adoption of the name Brooklyn, and in 1855, when a post office was applied for and it was discov- ered that the latter name had already been appropriated by Brooklyn, in Alameda county, the citizens gave up the strug- gle and fell back upon the name Red Dog with as good a grace as possible under the eireumstanees.
During the sixteen years of its existence, Red Dog suffered severely from fire. On the night of January 13, 1859, a fire originated in Fred Kempher's barber shop about half-past three in the morning, and destroyed seven buildings. Kempher's charred and blackened body was found in the ruins, and it was supposed that he had been beaten senseless by robbers who set fire to the building to conceal their erime. Mr. and Mrs. H. Henderson were severely burned while escaping from their blazing house. The losses were :-
H. Henderson .$3,000
J. H. Bullard. 3,000
Fred Kempher 1,000
Jones & Breithoup. 500
John McNally 500
John Yants .. 300
G. S. Brown & Bro 300
Total .$8,600
In June, 1862, a fire burned the Chinese portion of the town, and on the fifteenth of the following August the town was completely destroyed in less than half an hour, some sixty houses being burned. The briek store of J. Heydlauff was the only building in the town proper that escaped. The loss was nearly $50,000, and considerable suffering ensued. The town was quickly rebuilt and Red Dog continued to prosper for several years. In 1866 there were two variety stores, two elothing stores, one hardware store and tin shop, one shoemaker shop, one meat market, two fruit stands, one dressmaking establishment, one blacksmith shop, three saloons, two hotels, a Masonie Hall and an Odd Fellows Hall. At that time the pop- ulation was about two hundred.
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