USA > California > Nevada County > History of Nevada County, California; with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and manufactories > Part 19
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RESIDENCE OF L. R. WEBSTER, M. D. COR. SCHOOL & MAIN STS GRASS VALLEY, NEVADA CO CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON · WEST.
89
HISTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY CALIFORNIA.
I ever pointed a gun at my fellow man, and I would give a great deal that I could wipe this night out of my memory "
' Blaze' was kind heartel and considerate, as he always is when his ruce is in distress. He went up to the Court House a bottle of cocktails. 'Who comes there,' said Jor K, the Senator, on guard. 'Friend, with a bottle of cork-tails,' was the answer. "Advance, friend, with the cock-tails,' said Joe, promptly, 'd-u the countersign "'
The ' wee sinn hours ayont the twul' came and went, but no enemy. Suspicion crept in that the town was to be spared a day or two longer. As Captain Lancaster of the Invineilde Gnard would not surrender entire command to the Sheriff, the latter annonneed in stentorinn voice, that the county was to be deprived of his valuable services us an officer, and retired to a game of 'seven up,' in superlative disgast, resigning the city of Nevada to n fate deserved by the insubordination of its inhab- itante. In the midst of the game, the gas light was suddenly extinguished, und the Sheriff retired in not very good order to other quarters. And thus ended the ' Big Scare.'"
CHAPTER XXVII.
ROUGH AND READY TOWNSHIP.
louns Spret in 1848-Rose's Corral-Buyer's Trading Post-Township Boun- darioa Rough and Ready Settlement-Captain Towaand's Venture- Rov. James S. Dunleavy Judiciary Committee Brumulage's Mass Meeting -Magnus and Odd Fellows' Association-Beeline and Revival of the Town -Fire of 1853- Good Resolutions in a Bad Place-Destruction by Fire in 1850-I'vesont Condition-Nowtuwa-Mooney Flat -Spenceville.
The first. township in which n settlement was made, and one of the first to become known to the outside world was the township of Rough and Ready. The carliest trace we can find of white meu is that of Jonas Speet, now of Colusa, California. Ho snys, in a letter: "Sometime in the summer of 1838 I went prospecting up Deer creek, and just remember that I came to the fivest kind of n valley, which I think they afterwards ealled Peun valley, but nothing occurred which would be of interest." T'en valley was so named from the fact that a corral or pen was built there in early duys, nud should not be spelled Penn, as though named after the celebrated Quaker.
Early in 1849 John Rose built an udube builling at Rose's Corral, between the Anthony House and Bridgeport, the follow- ing year he built another nearer Rough and Ready, which was enlled Rose's Second Corral. In September. 1849. David Bovyer established a trading post at White Oak Springs, where he traded with the Indians who dwelt there in large numbers, and who had learned to collect goll dust. Ignorant of the value of the dust or of beads, they were at first willing to exchange measure for measure and then weight for weight. Trading
with them on such terms was protitable business. A settling un nit was also inade at Rough and Ready that fall.
When the county was divided into townships Rough and Really was one of them. It is the southwest corner of the county, and is adjoined by Yuba county on the west and Grass Valley and Novala townships on the east; it is separated by the South Yuba river from Bridgeport township on the north, and by Bear river from Placer county on the south. It con- tains about 153 square miles and its boundaries at present are: Beginning at the junction of Deer creek and Yola river, and running thenew south on the Yuba county line to Bear river; thence up Bear river to the line between ranges 7 and &, east ; thence north to the corner of sections 13 and 24, township 15. north, range 7, rast; thener cast one mile; thener north to the . north line of township 15, north, rauge &, east; thence cast to the corner of sections 32 and 33, township 15, north, range S. east; thuce north to the South Yuba river; thence down the South Yuba to the Main Yuba river; thence down the Main Yuba to the place of beginning.
Rough and Ready township offers more advantages for agri- culture than any of her sister townships. The elevation is so slight that the climate is favorable to grain and fruit of almost every variety. Little valleys are plentiful, in which agriculture may be carried on. The hills and valleys are well adapted to grazing. Plenty of clear water can be had in the natural water courses or can be brought to any desired spot by a little labor spent in constructing a ditch. Everything seems favorable for n good fature before the township, agriculturally. Its mines, also, are a source of wealth, the gold and copper mines now developed give promise of others to be opened in the future.
ROUGH AND READY.
The history of the town of Rough and Ready is like that of many a mining town in California. A discovery of rich diggings, an influx of miners and merchants, a sudden growth of population and business, prosperity and importance as long as the mines continued to yieldl, gradual deterioration with the decline of the mines, and, finally, resolved into a small village, with but little more than the memory of other days to live upon.
The first settlement was made in the fall of 1849 by the Rough and Ready Company, from which the town deriveil its name. The leader of this company was Captain A. A. Town- send, of Iowa, the others were Rev. Mr. Pope of Iowa, Putnam and Carpenter, of New York, and Peter Vammetre, John Rich- ards, Holt, Colgrove, Hardy and Dunn, of Wisconsin. Captain Townsend had served under Gen. Taylor in the Winnebago war, and for this reason the company was styled Rough and Ready. The company crossed the mountains by the Truckee route, and arrived on Deer creek, near the mouth of Slate
creek. September 9. 1549. Here they mined in the bed of the crock for several weeks with goal success Grizzlies and deer were plentifal, and while one of the company was ont on u foraging expedition after game, he came to the ravine below Randolph Flat Being thirsty he stooped to slake his thirst in the clear strenm nt his feet, and in doing so discovered a piece of gold lying expeed upon the led rack. The company pros- pected here, and finding rich ground, removed their enmp from Slate creek to this place. Two of the men were dispatched with a wagon to Sneramento to procure provisions, the route chosen by them being the saine afterwards known us the Tele- graph rond.
But n short time after the settlement here of the Rough and Ready Company, another, the Randolph Company, appeared and located on Randoiph Flat. In this company were William Chinhrel, James Patterson, William D. Malone, two Damerons und others, from Randolph county, Missouri. The Rough und Ready Co. had endeavored to keep their success a sperrt, they had located the whole ravine, and had even taken up claims that were known to be of no value, in order to keep others away. They maintained their monopoly whenever nny minces begun prospecting in the neighborhood, by going to the place they were at work and claiming the ground. This was the state of affairs when the Randolph Co. appeared and located on sume ground claimed by the others. This proceeding threatened to - result in a ditlieulty between the two companies, but a roupro- mise was effected, and the two parties divided the invite between them. The Randolph Co. built two cabins at the heud of the flat.
These companies were very successful in their mining opera- tions, and Captain Townsend returned East in the spring to proeure some more men. He made ap a company of forty inen, whom he had under contract to work for him one yeur for the wages that then prevailed in the States, All ure familiar with the magieal growth of mining localities in the summer of 1850, and when Townsend arrived with his new party in September, he was both surprised and disappointed to find four or five hundred people in a town composed of a motley collection of tents and shanties, where but a few months before stood only the cabins of the two companies. Hle was obliged to hire his men out to the owners of claims, and to bny an interest in a claim for himself.
The first family at Rough and Ready was that of a Scotch- man, named Riddle, who came here with his wife from South America. In April, 1850, James S. Dunleavy came with his wife and built the first frame house, paying $200 per thousand fect for the lumber at the mill near Grass Valley. Mr. Dunleavy had come to this coast as a minister, and had for several years previously resided in San Francisco, where he was elected by the inhabitants of that place in 1847 to represent them in the
90
HISTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Council called by Fremont, the acting Governor. The reverend gentleman got drunk on the night of the election, and seems to have retrograded rapidly, for upon his appearance in Rough and Ready he opened the first saloon in the new town, and a few months later dedicated the first ten-pin alley in the county.
Not owing to, but with the establishment of Dunleavy's saloon, the settlement began to grow. The roads which the severe weather of the preceding winter had rendered impass- able for wagons, began to free themselves from mud, and there was a great rush of miners from below to Deer creek, the fame of whose marvelously rich diggings had gone abroad. Claims were taken up on all available ground, tents were pitched on the flat and along the ravines, everywhere; a few shake and board shanties were built. Merchants came in with there stocks of goods and whiskey. The first store was opened by H. Q. Roberts, in a tent, consisting of the mainsail of a vessel, that some sailors had originally taken to the Anthony House, supported by pine poles stuck in the ground. This was in March, 1850.
The population grew so rapidly that it became necessary to have some kind of government, to maintain order and protect the people in their rights. A mass meeting of citizens was called, and a committee of three chosen to administer justice in the community. There was no higher court, and from their decision no appeal could be taken. Their authority was sustained by the people and their power was almost absolute. This committee administered justice equitably and with entire satisfaction. Under their direction the town was laid out and lots apportioned to the people. All disputes concerning claims and lots were brought to them and the people abode by their decree. They assumed all the functions of a court of justice, appointed a constable, issued writs and even accepted bail bonds for the appearance of accused parties. In the fall, in pursuance of an order of the Court of Sessions of Yuba county, of which this region was then a part, an election was held for Justice of the Peace and Constable. William G. Ross was elected Justice and Stephen S. Ford, Constable. This court was conducted on an exceedingly original plan, until Justice Ross departed from the town, and E. W. Roberts was elected to succeed him, in February, 1851.
It was during the uncertainty of 1850, when everything was new, and government of a legal kind was yet a stranger to the town, that E. F. Brundage conceived the idea of a separate and independent government. He issued a high sounding manifesto, and called a mass meeting to organize the State of Rough and Ready. About one hundred men adhered to him for a while, but the whole affair was so severely ridiculed that the State of Rough and Ready vanished like inist.
The population increased so rapidly in 1850, that at the
election in October there were nearly 1,000 votes cast. In the fall a society called the Christian Association was formed, and held services in a little clapboard shanty. A subscription was started for a newspaper, but with no favorable result. The question of a new county was agitated, and Rough and Ready aspired to the honor of being the county seat, giving way, however, to the claims of Nevada City. A number of cases of cholera, that fearful scourge from which the State suffered so severely in 1850, appeared in Rough and Ready, and in September the Masons and Odd Fellows organized themselves into a benevolent association. The cases of destitution relieved by them were many, and the generous people of the town aided them in their charitable efforts by liberal contributions.
The size of claims, at first limited to fifteen feet square, was extended to thirty feet square, and all the long, dry season the miners threw up heaps of dirt, awaiting the time when the rains of winter should provide the water for washing their treasure. They waited in vain, for the wet season of 1850-1 was a dry one, as it were, and the consequent lack of water led to the construction of ditches to supply the deficiency. In November a party commenced a ditch from Squirrel creek to run to Rich Flat, which they completed before the end of the year. Another company surveyed a line from Deer creek, but found a party of Nevada City men bent on the same purpose. They united and constructed the Rough and Ready Deer Creek Ditch, which was completed in the fall of 1851. The scarcity of water, while waiting for the completion of the ditch, paralyzed the mining industries and business of the town. Miners departed for more favored localities, business was at a complete pause, merchants failed in large numbers, buildings were torn down and removed, and the town presented a most dilapidated appearance. The appearance of water had a reviving influence, and the town regained, to a degree, its former prestige.
The now prosperous town was visited by a devastating con- flagration, on the night of Tuesday, June 28, 1853. A care- less person left a lighted candle too near a canvas partition when he retired to sleep, and the result was that in a few moments the whole business portion of the town, including forty hotels, stores and houses, was burned to the ground. The loss was estimated at $59,700. With the energy characteristic of those days, the town was quickly rebuilt, the streets being widened, and the new buildings, better and larger than the old, and concentrated more together.
According to a report made to the State authorities in 1851 Rough and Ready had a private school, small, to be sure, but none the less a school. But very few children were in the town, and the school was maintained but a short time. In 1853 Miss Franklin opened a school, and soon a public school was organized. In 1855 and 1856 the town had about three hun-
dred buildings, some of them of a very extensive character. The Masons and Odd Fellows each had a lodge here, and there were also an Encampment of Odd Fellows and two Divisions of the Sons of Temperance. From 1856 the most easily worked of the placer mines became exhausted, and as no quartz ledges had been developed, there was nothing to sustain the town, and it began to decline.
In December, 1856, the people of Rough and Ready met in public convention, and resolved that a proper observance of the Christian Sabbath required the suspension of business on that day, and agreed to close their stores on Sunday for one year, commencing January 1, 1857. The meeting was held and these good resolutions passed in a no less place than the Union Saloon.
Nearly the entire town was destroyed by fire on Friday, July 8, 1859. The fire originated about six o'clock in the evening in a building belonging to P. R. Bowers. A high wind prevailed, and as the people possessed no facilities for combating fire, the flames had complete control. The fire only ceased for lack of material, the whole town being laid in ashes, except Gilham's store, Downie House, Odd Fellows' Hall, and three or four other buildings. A large quantity of furni- ture, goods, etc., that had been taken from the burning build- ings and placed in fancied security on a hill, caught fire and was consumed. The following is a complete list of losses :--
S. M. Gilham, buildings and goods $3,000
P. R. Bowers, store. 500
Geo. Gephart, clothing store and buildings 4,000
A. L. Slack, restaurant. 1,000
E. Goodman, cigar store and dwelling. 4,000
S. Goepfert, store room . 150
Kean & Heritage, building. 500
L. Walling, restaurant and dwelling.
2,000
Dunster's barber shop.
150
O. S. Coston, wagon shop
350
L. Carr, dwelling. 350
3,500 J. H. Heilshorn, dwelling and livery stable. Heilshorn & Wyatt, saloon 1,800
Charles Kerns, shoeshop.
Masonic Hall. . 350
5,000
Webber & Outwell, saloon
1,800
J. P. Van Hagan, buildings
1.550
Maj. H. W. Woods, goods 12,000
John Single, blacksmith shop and dwelling.
J. M. Maguire, dwelling ... 1,600
1.200
Dr. H. Davis, dwelling, instruments, etc ... 3.000
William Blundell, dwelling .. 1,230
Abe Dobson, dwelling ..
Mrs. Dobson, millinery. S
1.000
RESIDENCE OF WM BETTIS, GRASS VALLEY, NEVADA CO, CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON & WEST.
90
Counci gentler have rr Ready montht Not saloon, severY able fc was a of wh were on the board of gol Rober some suppo Marcl
live the 1 calleil the c decisi sustaj This entin out a elaiu their justi bail in p con held was cour Justi elect It was to t sepa sonn Stať to 1 ridi mis I
91
HISTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Methodist Church.
2 000
Warren Davis, dwelling
1,200
A. C. Kran, dwelling . .
750
A. J. Niman, dwelling. 600
Rev. J. Il. Maddux, clothing aud library . 500
S. Jackson, store room
230
G. Jacobs, dwelling
500
l'ersonul property unspecifiedl.
12,000
Totul. . $67,850
Subscriptions were taken in Grass Valley, Nevada City and other loenlities for the relief of those so suddenly deprived of their honies.
From this blow the town never recovered. The rich surface diggings that lund drawn the people here had become nearly exhausted, there was nothing to induce the people to remain and build up another town. A few who still had paying claims remained, and there was population enough to maintain a store, snloon, post ollice und express office. Such has been the con- dition of Rough and Ready ever since the fire that blotted it ont, nud such is its condition to-day. Where once stood some three hundred houses, stores, suloons and shops, Masonic Hall, Odd Fellows' Hall, und a town throbbing with busy life, are now some two dozen houses scattered about a single store.
NEW TOWN.
In the fall of 1850, some sailors commenced work at the hend of a ravine running into Deer creek, six miles west of Nevada City and three miles northeast of Rough and Ready, and the loenlity was known as Sailor Flat. The town which instantly sprang up here was christened Newtown, which, in fact, it was, being younger than the surrounding settlements. Although small, this place was the scene of many exciting inci- dents, which are related in other portions of this work. In three or four years the mines were practically exhausted, and the town went the way of all mining camps of a like situation. A few houses are still in the vicinity of the ohl Newtown.
MOONEY FLAT.
'This little town is almost in Yuba county, lying along the boundary line, just below the mouth of Deer creek. It has been the scene of considerable hydraulic mining sinee 1855, and contains the residences of miners who are still at work there, for the two large companies now operating at that point. A hotel and line school house are among the adjunets of the town.
SPENCEVILLE.
wore lail out, and there was an immerse boom. Spence- ville Harketville, Wilsonville, Quen City, and several others made great pretentions, but the subiluce of the fever left thein without any population and now even their sites ure hard to find Sjonerville, however, still remains and is quite a little village, where the San Francisco Copper mine works are situated. A school and post office are situated at this point Three general merchandise stores and a hotel, are well supported by the miners and the surrounding farming community.
CHAPTER XXVIII. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Boundaries-Washington-Alpha-Omega-Gold Hill-Fire.
Washington was one of the original seven townships of the county, and was in extent by far the largest, embracing the present Meadow Lake township within its limits. The old lwindaries were :- Bounded ou the north by the south line of Eureka township and the southern boundary line of Sierra county; on the east by the State line; on the south by the northern boundary line of Placer county; on the west by the eastern boundary lines of the townships of Nevada and Little York. Meadow Lake township was cut off from the eastern end by the Board of Supervisors, February 16, 1866, and Washington was left with its present dimensions, which are :- Beginning at the corner of townships 17 and IS, north, innges 13 and 14, east, and running thenee south to the Placer county line; thence west on said line to the source of Bear river; thence down Bear river to the line between sections + and 9, in township 16, north, range 11, east; thence west to the corner of sections 2, 3, 10 and 11, township 16, north, range 10, east; thenee north seven miles to the north line of township 17, north, range 10, cast; thence east to the place of beginning. The area of the township is about one hundred square miles.
The township of Washington lies on the western slope of the summit peaks, ranging from about 5,000 to 8,000 feet above the sea level. It is wholly given over to mining enterprises, gravel and quartz, and is the seene of some quite extensive mining operations. In the winter time it is almost inaccessible by stage, frequently communication being maintained with the outside workl by messengers monnted upon snow shoes. When winter makes its approach, the little towns and camps lay in a supply of needful artieles, sufficient for their wants until the return of spring shall open the roads and permit them to renew the supply conveniently.
WASHINGTON.
river, twenty miles from Nevada City. It was one of the first settled of the ruining camps in the county. dating back to 1549
In the fall of 1542 a company from Indiana arrived at this point, and decided to remain through the winter. The place of their location was called Indiana Camp. The winter was a severe one, and the show lay on the ground to such a depth that lat little work or prospecting could be done, and they, therefore, amused themselves and supplied their larder with bear steak and venison by hunting the bears and deer that the severity of the winter had driven down the mountains from the higher altitudes. When returning spring removed the emburga of snow, deer hunting was abandoned and gold hunting resumed. The river was found to be quite rich and many others were attracted to the spot. Another party had made its way to this vicinity in the fall of 1519. This was n company from Oregon, led by a unu named Greenwood. They prospected up the South Yuba river as far as the Indium t'inp, their success drawing after them quite a number of others from farther down the strenin. They located that full at Greenwood's Chunp. afterwards called Jefferson, a mile und n half below Indinna Camp. In the spring a umjority of those who Inud spent the winter in Greenwood's Chmp cume on to the river in the vicinity of Indiana Camp, und these were soon followed by erowils of men from below, so that quite a town begun to winke its appearance. The new town was named Washington by ity patriotic inhabitants.
By the month of August, 1850, there were about one thou- sand men at work on the river, constructing dums, canals, etc., for the purpose of working the bed of the streum. In the vicinity of Washington in 1850-51 there were probably three thousand men. The town of Washington, which was the headquarters of this busy hive of workers, bud become u thuriv- ing, bustling, animated mining camp, with hotels, saloon, restaurants, bowling alleys, stores and all the accessories of a
successI'ul mining town. When the work of laying bare the river channel was completed, it was found that the goblen visions of the laborers were not realized in their fullness, and a great many deserted Washington to seek more favored loculi- ties. This gave Washington a bad name, and it is well known that it has as fatal an ellect on a mining camp as it bas on a dog to give it a bad name, and progress was necessarily slow. Those who remained made an ounce or two per day, and many of them returned East with considerable wealth. The region gradually became developed, and the population somewhat increased. Rich gravel banks were discovered in the neighborhood, hydraulic mining was introduced, and Washing- ton became and has always remained the most considerable
The little town of Washington, from which the township in . town in the township. In the vicinity and tributary to it were
The eopper discoveries led to great excitement in 1865-6, and thousands rushed to the copper belt to take up claims. Towns | which it is situated derived its name, lies on the South Yuba , the rich diggings on Poorman's creek, Gaston Ridge and Fall
92
HISTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
creek. In 1858 the town of Washington had five provision stores, two clothing stores, two hotels, one billiard saloon and the usual complement of liquor saloons and gambling rooms. The population was in the neighborhood of two hundred. In 1866 Washington was about the same size as in 1858, contain- ing two hotels, several stores and saloons, a butcher shop, a shoe shop and a population, including a considerable number of Mongolians, of about three hundred and fifty.
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