USA > California > Placer County > History of Placer county, California > Part 92
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Among the French immigrants of 1849 were maps in which the mountain lake was given the name of " Bonpland." This name had been given to it by Preuss, the draughtsman accompanying Fremont in 1843-44, and was so published in Europe. This name scemed so appropriate, as in honor of a great traveler and geographer, the famous companion of Baron Von Humboldt, that, when the change was proposed to Tahoe, an effort was made to have the name of Bonpland re-established. This, however, did not obtain.
Upon inquiry of Governor Fremont in this con- nection, we have the following letter :-
PRESCOTT, Arizona Territory, Feb. 20, 1881.
MY DEAR SIRS: What is now called Tahoe Lake I named Lake Bonpland, upon my first crossing the Sierra in 1843-44. I gave to the basin river its name of Humboldt, and to the mountain lake the name of his companion traveler, Bonpland, and so put it in the map of that expedition. Tahoe, I suppose, is the Indian name, and the lake the same, though I have not visited the head of the American since I first crossed the Nevada in '44. Yours Truly,
J. C. FREMONT.
THE GEORGETOWN "SNAG."
One of the features te be seen along Tahoe's Placer County coast line, is the " Georgetown Snag," about half a mile south of Mckinney's. It is the top of a
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large pine or fir tree, barkless, which usually stands in the lake about 150 yards from shore, rising above the surface of the water from six to eight feet, and where broken off, about two feet in diameter. It is a dead tree standing upon end, and finds anchorage in water at the depth of 110 feet. From time to time, with the varying winds, it shifts its position, but never gets far from the locality where first dis- covered by the white man. It is a favorite hitching place for fishing boats. How long it has been there the "oldest inhabitant " knoweth not. Several years ago a severe gale prevailed off shore, and the old " snag " was seen to leave its moorings and move farther seaward than was its wont. Fearing it had got too far ever to be returned by favoring winds and currents, some daring boatman, who, from McKinney's, saw its movements, launched a boat, braved the gale, rowed to it, and towed it near the spot it had left.
MOUNTAIN LAKES.
Besides Lake Tahoe, Placer County contains a great number of small lakes in her extended mount- ain area, the most of which have been stocked with trout within the past ten years. West ofthe " George- town Snag," (described elsewhere), about one and a half miles west of Lake Tahoe, is Quail Lake, some 600 to 800 feet higher in altitude than the former, about 300x200 yards in extent, and from fifteen to forty feet deep. J. W. Mckinney, several years ago, caused some small trout to be put into this lake. In 1881 some of these were caught, weighing three to four pounds, which fact induced him to place more there. John Hunsucker that year added to Quail Lake about 3,000 young trout from one and a half to two inches long.
Bear Lake, a pretty sheet of water lying in the high mountains, about eight miles west of Mckinney's, and about 400 yards in diameter, nearly round, has been stocked with trout by shepherds in the employ of James H. Miller, of Latrobe, El Dorado County, who has extensive land interests near by, used for summer pasturage for sheep.
Buck Lake is 300x150 yards in extent, and lies about four miles southwesterly from MeKinney's; will be stocked with trout by Mr. Mckinney during the spawning season of 1882.
There is a lake about half a mile north of the trail going over from the Rubicon River to Lake Tahoe, which is about a mile long and 150 yards wide, the outlet to which flows into the Rubicon.
Four small lakes, of several hundred yards each in extent, lie embosomed upon the summit of the divide in the magnificent pass through which the trail from the Rubicon to Lake Tahoe runs.
Five-lake Valley derives its name from that number of lakes, which it contains. A portion of the water from these lakes runs into the Rubicon and finds its way to the Pacific, while another part goes into Bear Valley, and thence through Bear Creek to the Truckee.
MOUNTAIN PEAKS.
While the denizens of the lowlands bordering the great valley of the Sacramento, in Placer County, amid their vine-embowered foot-bills, and their or- chards of semi-tropical fruits, their level grain fields, and stretches of arid bowlder-strewn pasture grounds, Bwelter in the heat of Summer, from a point where no snow ever covered the surface of the land but for a few hours, if at all, they yet have the satisfaction of casting their eyes to the esatward, and taking in the range of their vision many lofty snow-clad peaks within the limits of their own county. Among these are Twin Peaks, near the head of Blackwood and Ward Creeks, 8,824 feet high; Ellis Peak, at the head of Madden Creek, 8,673 feet; Duncan Peak, 7,286 feet; with Devil Peak, Granite Chief, The Needles, near American Valley, Gray Eagle Bluffs, Bear Hill, Pluto Peak, at the head of Silver Creek (a stream flowing west into the Truckee), and many others, at whose feet nestle delightful little valleys of lesser altitude, and through which flow beautiful streams of purest water, cold and sweet, in which desport the nimble trout -- all inviting the beat-over- burdened mortal to comfort, freedom, and repose.
MOUNTAIN VALLEYS.
Many mountain valleys of small size are found in the eastern portion of Placer County, that are among the best in the world for summer pasturage for horned cattle, and for dairying purposes. the herbage being sweet, and not causing distasteful flavor to dairy products, while the cold, pure water insures cleanliness and solidity to the article. Nearly all of these are occupied for this business, and a great deal of butter is made, which, as a rule, finds ready market without leaving the mountains-at the tourists' resorts, the logging and wood-chopping camps, lumbering mills-and it is from this source that the well-to-do resident of the Silver State usually sceures his annual supply. One of the most important of these is
SQUAW VALLEY,
Lying at an altitude of 6,126 feet above the sea. Dur- ing the time in the history of the State when there were so many emigrant wagon-roads projected, the Placer County road, as contemplated, ran through it, and Surveyor Thomas A. Young thus said in his report to the Surveyor-General :-
Squaw Valley is the most beautiful valley the eye ever beheld. It is covered with luxuriant grass and the soil is of the most productive nature. The valley is completely surrounded by mountains, with the exception of the east end, at which point a most magnificent stream of water, that flows through the eatire length of the valley, empties into Truckee River. There is contained in the valley about 500 acres of tillable land.
The deboucheur of the stream running through Squaw Valley into the Truckee is about five miles from the lake. This beautiful valley bas been util-
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HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
ized by the farmer, its products of hay and vegeta- bles, butter, cheese, eggs, and berries, usually finding a market at the hotels on Lake Tahoe, the saw-mills of the region, and in Nevada.
FRENCH MEADOWS.
At the time there were so many people prospect- ing in the eastern portion of Placer County, from 1850 to 1856, but few places escaped exploration, as there are continuous beds of auriferous gravel upon most of the ridges elear up to the very base of the bare granite peaks which form the high Sierra. Early during that period a company of Frenchmen, in following up the Middle Fork of the Middle Fork of the American, came upon a narrow gorge, where for about half a mile the stream whirled and tum- bled through a rocky canon at a fearful velocity. Passing this they found that the country above opened out into a fair valley of near half a mile wide and for several miles in length. Here, for a time, they camped and prospected for gold, and subse- quent comers who followed, and found them located there, were wont to call the locality the Frenchmen's Meadows, to designate it from other places in the vicinity, which circumstance has indelibly affixed the name.
The altitude at the lower end of the meadows is 5,108 feet. The soil is gravel, but as frosts occur every month of the year, no attempt has ever been made at cultivation. Considerable prospecting bas been done for gold in the vicinity of the meadows, but no large results have been met. Gen. O. H. Evans, of Nevada County, is the owner of large mining locations, upon which he has been tunneling for several years, at a place several miles up the valley, called Chalk Bluffs. Sheep and cattle are kept here during the summer in large numbers, being driven in over the road via Murderer's Bar, Forest Hill, Secret House, Tadpole Lake, Main Top, and across Duncan Cañon. Splendid trout-fishing is to be had in the stream, running through the meadows, while various kinds of mountain game are plentiful, from quail to bear.
PICAYUNE VALLEY
Is simply an extension of the river valley in which French Meadows occur, lying upon the southern branch of the stream, while continuous bottom lands are found up the northern fork until the base of the ridge dividing the waters of the North and Middle Forks of the American is reached, ascending which Soda Springs Valley, to which a wagon-road from Summit Station on the Central Pacific Rail- road is constructed, and where there is a noted sum- mer resort. At this place, too, in 1864, did the pros- pectors rush and form a district, and locate many claims, with high-sounding titles, for mining pur- poses.
SODA SPRINGS VALLEY
Is at the head of the North Fork of the American, about ten miles west of Lake Tahoe. In natural
beauty, picturesque scenery, and romantic land- scapes it stands out unique and wonderful in all the features that compose it, surrounded by lofty mount- ain peaks, with their bare, rugged granite sides ex- posed, and with shaded depressions filled with snow. It is at this point where the great tunnel of seven miles in length, proposed by Colonel Von Schmidt to divert the waters of Lake Tahoe into the North Fork, has its exit to the California side of the Sierra
AMERICAN VALLEY,
Big and Little, lie at the extreme head of the Middle Fork of the American, and at an elevation of over 7,000 feet. A number of years ago, during the prevalence of the wagon road and mining excito- ments in the neighborhood, Jorge Ballen, or, as he is commonly called, Greek George, built a house in Little American Valley, and kept store as well as public house for the accommodation of travelers. He and his wife concluded at one time to remain there all winter, and brave the rigors of the climate. The one hibernation there, however sufficed, as the snow fell early and remained late, and most of the time was twenty feet deep. Mrs. Ballen did not leave the house for a period of five months, and then made her first appearance from that long imprison- ment in the month of April, after her husband had shoveled a trail from the door of the house to the roof, to which she ascended, and there, upon a blanket spread for the occasion stood for awhile to bask in the sunlight from which she had been 80 long deprived-the snow at that time being, by actual measurement, just five feet deeper than the apex of the roof.
A climb of half a mile east of the house brings one to the top of a ridge overlooking nearly the whole of Lake Tahoe and surroundings, and is mag- nificent, the point of observation being perhaps four miles distant from the north western shore of the lake, some 1,500 feet above it, with Squaw Valley inter- vening, and the valley of the Truekee stretching away to the northward, the railroad in view at a distance, while Tahoe City is at the feet of the beholder, and the summer cottages between that and Mckinney's-in fact a bird's-eye view of the whole scene is at once taken in-the immense water sheds at the heads of the Rubicon, and of the South, Mid- dle and North Forks of the American and their innu- merable tributaries in the sinuosities; the unequaled grandeur of the mountain meadows spread out at the feet, verdant with freshly-grown herbage; craggy and fantastie peaks; gigantie forests of conifera; leaping eascades; snowy, bleak, hoary and grand old mountains, rendered doubly magnificent by the reflection in the blue waters of the lake. The American Valleys are now used exclsively as a sum- mer pasturage for stock.
ANIMALS.
Among the wild animals of the high Sierra aro four distinet varieties of bear-cinnamon, brown,
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blaek, and an occasional grizzly. The black bear invariably has a white spot about the size of a man's hand on the breast. The cinnamon differs from the brown bear in that it has a longer and differently shaped head, and, next to the grizzly, is more dangerous to attack than the black or brown. Trappers in the mountains number among their captures the following fur-bearers: Fishers, pine martin, mink, otter, and black, red, silver-gray and cross fox; muskrats have also been caught in the Truekee River.
To the larger game mentioned may be added, deer, gray squirrel, grouse, and mountain quail, in the high Sierra; valley quail, doves, and wild pigeons, in the foot-hills and valleys. When the region was first oeeupied herds of antelope, num- bering thousands in a body, fed on the plains, and elk, and deer, and coyotes were quite plentiful, and all the streams abounded in fish. Now the game is confined to the mountains, and mining has driven the fish from the rivers.
AN AMPHIBIOUS MOUSE.
Perhaps the smallest of the furred amphibia that exists, and of which no mention has ever hitherto been made, is a tiny creature resembling an ordi- nary mouse, which is common along the clear streams of the high Sierra. Does a solitary eamper seek the bed of the ereek for water with which to wash down his noonday lunch, and keep quiet alongside of the huge granite bowlders that lie so thickly about him, more than likely will he see one or more of these little fellows peering forth from their lurking places, and finally stealing out to gather up the fallen crumbs. If he remains quiet he will see them, after finishing their repast on land, go directly to the water, plunge in, and swim and walk beneath its clear surface with as little inconvenience as if treading dry land. Its body is no more than one and one-half inches long, while the tail appears the same as that of the common mouse. In color, it is bluish, or maltese, and altogether is a curious little creature.
UNCLASSIFED BIG TREES.
There is a group of big trees, four or five in number, in Placer County, on the divide between the North Fork of the American and Duncan Cafion, east of Last Chance, and near a locality known as " Black Joe's Diggings." The largest of these trees was originally 300 feet in height, before it lost its top in a gale of wind. Several years ago the tree also fell, and is about thirty feet in diameter at the butt, tapering symmetrieally to the top. The bark of these trees, unlike those of the Mariposa and other mammoth conifera, is quite thin, being but a few inches thiek. The wood alone of the prostrate tree is thirteen feet in diameter, fifty feet up from the ground, and is soft and white, though at the same time susceptible to a high polish. They are doubt- less all of their kind there is in the State, and never
have been classified because of their isolated situa- tion.
MINING ON BEAR RIVER IN '49.
Notwithstanding the fact that Bear River is to-day turgid with thickened water, and that the gorge in which this slickens-laden element runs is now broad- ened by the resultant effects of the artificial erosion east from adjacent hills to a width of many yards, and a depth of near 100 feet; that dead, barkless, and rotting trees stand all along its sinuous way, easting out their bare and verdureless limbs in every direction as warning finger-posts to guide from cor- roding art's insiduous realm, time was when that stream, with all its ravines and tributaries, were marvelous in their natural beauty. Pleasant little flats covered with trees and bunch grass; clamber- ing grapevines; pebbly bars; moss-covered bowl- ders; elear, bright water inhabited by myriads of fish; fringes of cedars, spruce, fir, pines, vews, maples, and ash, greeted the eyes of the pioneers who first sought the banks of Bear River above its deboucheur from the foot-hills into the valleys, while below were extensive meads of bottom lands black in the moldy richness which had been caused by the aggregation of ages of alternate overflow, of thrifty vegetable growth, and annual decomposition.
Not noted as a great gold-producing stream, it has yet yielded up much treasure in its time. Many were the bars along its banks that in 1849 were sure to produce an ounce and a quarter to each 100 buckets of gravel washed out by rocker. That fall, about due north from Illinoistown, were a party of eight men from Palmyra, New York, among whom were I. N. Hoag and Joe Under- wood, engaged in their maiden efforts at gold dig- ging. And they did well, stripping off and throw- ing away top gravel that would have yielded five eents a pan had it been washed, to get at that which was ultimately worked. It is doubtful if the bed of Bear River, or the bars, were ever worked as thoroughly as their merit deserved, before being overwhelmed by debris from the hills. In the spring of 1851 a party of seven men went on to Bear River from S. D. Burge's place, on Doty's Ravine, intending to put in the entire summer at mining there; but the melting snow caused high water, and no work of account could be done the first few weeks. Fourteen elaims were located in the stream, and the camp was made upon a bar not a great way below Dutch Flat. About this time the Gold Bluff excitement began, and the rumors of wealth to be found on the far-away northern coast made the men restive while inactive and waiting for the snow to go off. S. D. Burge was of the party, and as he was permanently located on a ranch within one day's travel, while the others had no permanent abiding-place, they finally pro- posed to " sell " to him. He did not wish to buy, but for fun offered them half an ounce for diggings, tent and outfit. They took him at his offer and left.
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HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
As he could not yet work in the stream, the place on which the tent stood looked the more favorable spot to prospect, and so he sank a hole there. The first pan, after getting to bed-rock, yielded $52, and it was not many weeks before Burge folded his tent and went back to his ranch on Doty's Ravine with $9,000. Many other incidents of like character as the foregoing could be related, but the above suffices for an illustration.
CHAPTER XLVIII. OBITUARIES OF PIONEERS.
To some are given spirits high and daring, And stouter hearts than others of their kind ; Who never know the sense of fear and fearing, Who never in the race are left behind. * * *
And while we throng to do our country honor -- Our golden State, the proudest of her peers- May it not be that with our blessings on her Are mingled those of long-gone pioneers ? -O'CONNELL.
IN closing the history of Placer County a brief fare- well notice is due to those of her prominent pioneer citizens who have passed from the stage of their early toils, triumphs, and disappointments, hoping to revive a kind and sympathetic memory of those who bore a part in tho settlement and development of tho State. Many havo been noticed in the preceding pages whose names will not be found in this chapter, and the records of many are lost.
Benj. C. Allen, one of Auburn's old-time and prominent residents, died at his residence in Center- ville, R. I., March 20, 1880. Mr. Allen was a mem- ber of the firm of llall & Allen, bankers, of Auburn, and, to use the language of an old acquaintance, " Ben. Allen was a glorious fellow." He was socia- ble, and accommodating.
Lisbon Applegate, a pioneer citizen of Placer County, and one of the projectors of the tunnel at upper Horseshoe Bar, on the Middle Fork, in 1850, father of George W. Applegate, died at Keytsville, Missouri, January 23, 1875. Judge Applegate eamo to California in 1849, and for several years lived at Lisbon, between Auburn and Illinoistown, which place was named after him. He was a practical surveyor, and assisted in locating the western bound- ary of the State of Missouri, as well as making extensive surveys in the celebrated " Platte Pur- chase." In 1845 he was a member of the Constitu- tional Convention of Missouri, and during his life- time filled many important public trusts.
Judge L. B. Arnold, one of the leading citizens of Dutch Flat, and once County Judge, died at his home, March 10, 1879. at the age of sixty-five.
John Babney, a native of Switzerland and a resi- dent of Placer County since 1852, died at his home between Clipper Gap and Colfax, June 20, 1880, aged eighty-seven years. He was a highly respected citizen, a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and remarkably vigorous in his extreme age. His wife, Marian Bahney, followed on the 26th of January, 1881, aged sixty-seven years.
B. Il. Bartlett, for twenty years a resident of Dutch Flat, a gentleman very highly respected, died May 10, 1879. He was a native of Maine, forty- seven years of age.
C. Beckman fell over an embankment near Forest Hill, December 25, 1872, and was almost instantly killed. He was a gentleman of more than ordinary talent and correct judgment, and as a citizen was highly esteemed. Mr. Beckman was a native of Mecklenburg, Germany, and was thirty-nine years of age.
Conrad John Belty, a native of Germany, died at Wisconsin Hill, May 5, 1871, aged ninety-three years. Deceased was a good and brave man. Three times was he decorated on the field of battle with medals by his commanding generals. His last bat- tle was Waterloo.
Wm. Bissett, died at Rock Creek, June 18, 1875, aged sixty-six years. He was one of the oldest res- idents of that section of the country, and was always respected as one of Rock Creek's best citizens.
E. L. Bradley, an old resident of Placer County, but later of San Jose, died at his home in the latter place, July 17, 1880. Mr. Bradley was a valuable acquisition as a citizen to any community.
Mark Buckley, one of Placer's oldest residents, died at his home near Clipper Gap, November 21, 1880. He lived to the good old age of seventy- seven.
Thomas Coffey died at Pine Grove, March 24, 1860, in the thirty-first year of his age. He was formerly of Staten Island, New York, and came to California in 1849. Ile was a resident of Placer County, dur- ing the entire period. Possessing many qualities to insure the good will of men, be died leaving sincere mourners.
William Cory died at Auburn, September 20, 1863, aged thirty-nine years. He was a native of Eng- land, but at an early age came to California. At the time of his death he was County Clerk of the county of Placer, an amiable gentleman, upright in his deal- ing, and firm and true to his friends.
Edward Cook died at Auburn, August 14, 1861, of consumption. Mr. Cook was formerly from New York, and came to California in 1849. He was thirty-three years of age.
l'aul Cox, one of Placer's oldest pioneers, was, instantly killed by falling from a loaded wagon, September 6, 1870. Deceased had been a resident of Coon Creek for twenty years, and was particularly noted for his quiet, sober, and industrious babits.
George Crisman died at his home in Auburn, May 14, 1879. Deceased was forty-seven years of age. Few men were better liked, none would be missed more.
Col. Geo. Cullum died at Lincoln, December 23, 1877. Ile was a native of Ohio, aged seventy-font
STORE OF NICOLAS QUIROLO, TODDS VALLEY, PLACER CO. CAL.
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OBITUARIES OF PIONEERS.
years, ten months, and four days. He came to Placer in 1852, where he resided up to the time of his death, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him.
Edgar Culver died in Newcastle, May 23, 1871. Deceased was an early settler in Auburn, having been a member of the firm of llubhard, Woodin & Culver, in Auburn, in 1852-53. He was universally esteemed by all his acquaintances.
Wm. H. Davis, an old resident of Auburn, died at Iowa IIill, October 11, 1880. Deceased was a native of Woodstock, Maine, and was an exceptionally good man.
llorace Davenport died at Newcastle, December 3, 1875. Mr. Davenport came from New York to California in 1851, and settled at Rattlesnake Bar, where he resided until 1870, when he removed to Newcastle. 1Ie was an intelligent man, an honored citizen, and a good neighbor.
A. C. Denton died at Lincoln, December 25, 1877. He was an old resident of Placer, and a native of Kentucky, and was seventy-seven years of age.
Thomas Dodds died at Todd's Valley, December 10, 1880. Of Mr. Dodds, it can be said that no man was his superior in moral rectitude, and striet busi- ness integrity. He was a native of Scotland, and aged sixty-six years.
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