History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1923, Part 24

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026

USA > California > Sacramento County > History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1923 > Part 24

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"One of the first wide suspension bridges constructed in this state was by A. G. Kinsey and H. A. Thompson across the American River just above the town, to enable traffic to be held with the mining towns and camps north and east.

"At the commencement of the Rebellion in 1861, one of the first companies was organized in the town of Folsom, by M. M. Drew and P. H. Sibley ; it was enrolled with E. D. Shir- land as captain, and enlisted into the United States service for duty on the southern border, and did service in Arizona and New Mexico as the First California Cavalry. All the mem- bers were Folsomites, and Folsom was in- tensely loyal to the Union.

"Upon the completion of the Sacramento Valley Railroad in 1856, the machine shops of the road were established at Folsom, and a full force of mechanics employed, including

our old-time friends, G. J. Turner and Benja- inin Welch, both foremen."

The Folsom Water Power Company suc- ceeded the Natoma Water and Mining Com- pany. The latter had made two contracts with the state to build a dam across the American where the Folsom state prison now stands, the company agreeing to build the dam, the state to furnish convict labor to do the work, in return for land deeded to the state, and for a part of the water power, for use at the pris- on. Some disagreements arose, and after liti- gation, the company abandoned the work, leaving the state without power to compel the company to complete the dam. The property and water rights were then transferred to the Folsom Water Power Company. The first work on the dam was done in the fall of 1866, but it was discontinued when the dam was completed to low water mark in the river, and was not resumed again until 1888, when Cap- tain Aull, warden of the prison, induced Gov- ernor Waterman to take it up again, and it was finished about two years afterwards, as well as the canal leading down by the prison to the power-house at present owned by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. In the meantime the state had received under its contract with the Folsom Water Company 483 acres of land on which the state prison, farm and the state game farm now stand, at a cost of 11,000 days' work of convict labor. The dam when finished was ninety feet high from the bed of the river and recently an efficient fish ladder has been constructed at the side of it, the former one having proved useless. The canal leads the water to the power-house, the water power generating all the electric and other power used for lighting the grounds and for other purposes.

Coner's flouring mill was built in 1866 on the corner of Wool Street, and closed in two years, B. N. Bugbey purchasing it for a wine cellar and renting the upper floor to the socie- ties of Folsom. It was burned in 1871. The Natoma Mills were built by Edward Stockton in June, 1866, and discontinued later. The first brewery in Folsom was built by Chris Heiler in 1857, and destroyed by fire in 1868. In 1872 Peter Yager erected a brewery on the foundation of a large store destroyed by the destructive fire of 1870. It was burned in the fire of 1886.

The railroad bridge across the American River was built in 1858 on the line of the Cal- ifornia Central Railroad. It was ninety-two feet above the water, with a span of 216 feet and cost $100,000. It was the only bridge left on the American River after the flood of 1862, its superior height saving it. It was con- demned in 1866, having sunk in the center and become unsafe. In 1854 a wooden bridge was'

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built across the American, but was washed away by high water a few years later.

Thompson & Kinsey obtained a charter in 1861 for building a bridge across the American River at Folsom. It was a wire suspension bridge, but the flood of 1862 carried it away on January 10, and the rebuilding of it was begun in March. C. L. Ecklon purchased the bridge and franchise in 1871. It was con- demned and another was constructed in 1893.

Folsom suffered greatly from fires at various times. May 8, 1866, a fire burned "Whiskey Row" and a number of buildings on Sutter and Decatur Streets, including the office of the "Folsom Telegraph." The Hotel de France and other buildings were burned August 31, 1866. The Folsom Theater was burned June 27, 1871, and in the same year fire destroyed Patterson's Hotel, all of Chinatown and a part of Addison's lumber yard. May 6, 1872, a fire which broke out in Smith, Campbell & Jolly's store, destroyed all the block except the "Fol- som Telegraph" office, the loss being about $130,000. August 13, 1886, a fire broke out, destroying all the business property except three buildings, a loss of about $150,000.

The Folsom Hook and Ladder Company was organized March 3, 1857. The first offi- cers were : H. B. Waddilove, foreman ; Charles Plannet, first assistant foreman ; Frank Wheeler, second assistant; J. M. Ar- buckle, secretary ; H. D. Rowley, treasurer. The company owns its own hall. Young America, No. 1, was organized in September, 1861, and bought a hand engine costing $1,800, but the enthusiasm died out, and it disbanded in 1863.

The first public school in Folsom was es- tablished in 1857, the first teacher being I. M. Sibley. The first trustees were: E. P. Wil- lard, Dr. S. Palmer and J. S. Meredith. A school had, however, previously been taught at Prairie City.

Natoma Lodge No. 64, F. & A. M., was or- ganized in October, 1854, at Mormon Island. It was chartered in 1855, and removed to Fol- som. The first officers were : M. Wallace, W. M .; L. Bates, S. W .; A. O. Carr, J. W. The other charter members were: A. Spinks, G. W. Corey, S. Logan, H. A. Holcomb, D. Mc- Call, B. H. Conroy, J. H. Berry, W. Sheldon, C. S. Bogar, W. K. Spencer, D. M. K. Camp- bell, J. Clark and M. Hatch. The records of the lodge were destroyed by the fire of 1871. Granite Lodge No. 62, I. O. O. F., was organ- ized September 19, 1856, at the residence of Eli Nicholls, by David Kendall, D. D. G. M., assisted by C. C. Hayden, Samuel Cross, W. B. H. Dodson, George I. N. Monell, G. K. Van Heusen and George Nelson. The first officers were: J. E. Clark, N. G .; A. Mears, V. G .; W.

A. McClure, Rec. Sec. ; H. A. Hill, Treas. The other charter members were: S. F. Marquis. A. W. Beals, B. Kosminsky, L. Sampson, J. Crumberger, G. B. Hornish and E. A. Turner. Folsom Encampment No. 24, I. O. O. F., was organized June 28, 1864. Fedora Rebekah Lodge, I. O. O. F., was established February 16, 1891, with fifty-five charter members, and the number of members at present is 143. Excelsior Council, O. C. F., was organized February 20, 1882. Folsom Lodge No. 109, A. O. U. W., was established June 6, 1879. Granite Parlor No. 83, N. S. G. W., was organ- ized April 9, 1886. Social Lodge No. 54, Or- der of the Golden Shore, was established Feb- ruary 18, 1889. The Young Men's Institute No. 69 was instituted in January, 1888.

The first church services held in Folsom were held in Hook and Ladder Company's hall in 1856, by the Rev. Dr. Hatch, an Episcopal minister of Sacramento. About this time Father Quinn, of the Catholic Church, held services at the house of P. J. O'Neil, about two miles from Folsom. St. John's Church (Catholic) was organized in 1856, and the church structure was erected in 1857, the church society in the meantime holding its meetings in the Clarken College, Rev. Father Quinn, pastor. Trinity Church (Episcopal) was organized July 18, 1862, and the church building was erected the same year at the cost of about $4,000 for a fine frame structure. The Congregational Church was organized in 1860, and erected a brick building the same year. J. E. Benton was its first pastor. It ceased to exist many years ago.

Prairie City was located about two miles south of Folsom, on Alder Creek, and mining began there in 1853, on the completion of the Natoma water ditch. The miners flocked in, stores, hotels and residences were built, and it became the business town for a number of the surrounding mining camps. Early in 1854, the town numbered over 1,000 persons, and the miners were making from $5 to $20 a day. The town began to die out in 1860, and all traces of it have long since vanished.

Willow Springs Hill diggings were mined as early as 1851, and it is said that millions were taken out from these diggings. Texas Hill, Rhodes' Diggings, Beam's Bar, and other camps yielded well for a time.

The state prison is about a mile and a half east of Folsom on the American River. The site was selected in preference to Rocklin, in 1868, on account of the water power available. Through delays of the contractors it was not finished ready for occupancy until 1880. It is built entirely of granite, as are the officers' houses and all other buildings, the rock being quarried on the grounds. There is a rock

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crusher on the grounds, where the granite is crushed for road material, which is supplied for macadamizing the county roads and the streets of Sacramento. The prison was built to accommodate 650 prisoners, but additions have been built and there are now over 2,000 prisoners confined there. The sanitary condi- tions are excellent.

Origin of Names

Elk Grove was so named because of a num- ber of elk horns found in a grove of timber, near which in 1850 James Hall established his hotel and painted on its sign an elk's head. The name of Florin was given to that locality by the late Judge E. B. Crocker about 1864. The choice of that name was due to the great quantity of wild flowers to be seen in the fields. When the town was started in 1875, it received the same name. Folsom was named for J. L. Folsom, who died July 19, 1855.

There is some romance connected with the naming of Forest City in Sierra County, and it may not be amiss to mention in this connec- tion the history of the name. The first store at the forks of Oregon Creek was built by Samuel Hammond and was called Yomana store, from the bluff above the town, which was called by that name, meaning "Sacred Hill." In 1853 a meeting was held by the citi- zens for the purpose of selecting a name for the village. There was a tie vote for Forks of Oregon and Yomana. The matter was com- promised by agreeing to call the town after the first woman settler. The first lady resi- dent was Mary Davis, wife of a baker. After her advent the town was called indiscrimi- nately Forks of Oregon and Marietta. Davis soon sold out to a man named Captain Moon- ey, whose wife's name was Forest. Mrs. Mooney was a woman of education and con- tributed several articles to the Marysville pa- per. The articles were dated from Forest City. The editor did not know the location of that place, but published the correspondence as it was sent in and thus the name was used for the first time. Mrs. Mooney afterwards called into consultation several of the leading citi- zens and succeeded in having the place form- ally named in her honor.

The name of Galt was suggested for that town when it was laid out. John McFarland, who suggested the name to Judge E. B. Crocker, and who had come from Canada, de-

sired to name the place after the town of Galt in Upper Canada, where he had served his apprenticeship. The Canadian village had been named in honor of a Mr. Galt. The valley of Ione was named before the town was started and owes its title to Thomas Brown, a lover of books, who selected the name after one of the characters in the "Last Days of Pompeii" by Bulwer-Lytton. The town was first called Bedbug, then Freezeout and finally Ione.

Natoma is an Indian name signifying Clear Water. The name was given in 1850 to the Mormon Island postoffice on the suggestion of the late Judge A. P. Catlin. Afterwards the township was given the same name. Sut- terville was named after Gen. John A. Sutter. Andrus Island was named after George An- drus, who died there in 1852. Rancho del Paso means Ranch of the Pass and is often alluded to as the Norris Grant, Samuel Norris having formerly owned the land. The Ameri- can River was given that name by a company of western trappers who lived near its banks for a number of years between 1822 and 1830. Hicksville was named after William Hicks, an early settler. The Mokelumne River derives its name from a powerful tribe of Indians, the Mokelhos, who inhabited its lower banks and the adjacent territory. The Spaniards called it Rio de los Moquelumnes. The Consumnes River was named from the Cosumnes tribe. Mormon Island was named from the Mormons who settled there. Routier was named after Hon. Joseph Routier. The Sacramento River was first named Jesus Maria by Lieutenant Moraga, and the Feather was named by him the Sacramento, but later the names were changed to their present form.

Townships Reduced and Renamed

By an act recently passed by the state legis- lature, the number of townships is reduced from fifteen to eight, named as follows: Amer- ican, Brighton, Center, Georgiana, Granite, Lee, Sacramento, and San Joaquin. The su- pervisors were authorized to make the new boundary lines and rearrange the townships so as to distribute them about equally over the county outside of the corporate limits of Sac- ramento City. The bill was introduced by As- semblyman Percy G. West, and was framed along the' lines of the recently proposed re- apportionment of the senate and assembly dis- tricts of California.

ST GEORGE ORUL S

COMMEIL

YAR & CD.

DENTIST

J STREET, SACRAMENTO, IN FLOOD OF 1862

SHIPPING RICE AND GRAIN ON SACRAMENTO RIVER

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

CHAPTER XVIII

NOTABLE FLOODS IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY

T HE FLOOD of 1850, heretofore men- tioned as among the early disasters to the city, was only one of a series that devastated the city and county till later years, and some of which were far more widespread and destructive. Seasons of heavy rainfall have brought down from the mountains that bound the great Sacramento Valley on both sides torrents of rushing waters that have spread out over the lowlands along the Sacra- mento River or overtopped the levees con- structed to preserve the alluvial lands and swept away the banks erected as barriers, re- minding man that his puny efforts to restrain and control the forces of nature are futile at such times. Today the banks of the river in most places are crowned with substantial levees, many of them eighty to one hundred feet across the top, and holding back success- fully the angry waters that surge and beat against them. But in many places these huge mounds have proved ineffectual in time of great floods, and the reclamation of the river lands and islands has been a costly and dis- couraging undertaking. The labor of months and years, costing many thousands of dollars, has often been swept away in a day and fertile fields, often covered with a valuable crop, in- undated and covered with several feet of sand and detritus.

Long before the white man settled in the valley did these floods occur at different per- iods. The Indian mounds of past generations, the remains of which frequently appear on the low lands along the rivers, bear mute testimony to the rise of raging water and the necessity forced upon the aborigines of providing for the safety of themselves and their families from the devouring waters. Their traditions give an account of various floods before the white man invaded the valley. The great flood of 1805 forms an epoch in their history from which they still reckon in speaking of subse- quent events. That of 1825-1826 was often re- ferred to by the older members of the tribes who camped along the river in the early days of the state. The floods of 1846-1847 and of 1850 were familiar to the earliest pioneers and still remain vividly in the memories of the survivors of those days. The former did but little damage, for the reason that there was

very little property subject to damage in those days. The latter, which has been referred to earlier in this volume, did an immense amount of damage to the infant city and occasioned much suffering:

On the evening of January 8, 1850, a terrible southeast storm set in, swelling the Sacra- mento River to such an extent that the slough on I Street, between Second and Third, began to run over. Before night on Wednesday the water was running under the zinc building of Montgomery and Warbass, and torrents were rushing down Second and Third Streets. On Thursday morning the whole city for a mile from the Embarcadero, except some high places on Tenth Street, was under water. The next day buildings were carried from their foundations. Very few buildings escaped hav- ing their lower floors flooded. The damage was immense, great quantities of provisions and goods being swept away. Dr. John F. Morse, in writing of the flood, says, among other things :

"At 10 o'clock on the evening of the flood, when the back waters of the sloughs and the waters that came in from the banks of the Sac- ramento were rushing into the city, tearing up sidewalks and dislodging merchandise, sweep- ing away tents and upsetting houses-at this very time, and throughout the inundation, the city seemed almost mad with boisterous frolic, with the most irresistible disposition to revel in all the drinking, talking, swearing, dancing and shouting that were ever patronized by the wine-drinking son of Jupiter and Semele.

"All the shipping and two-story houses be- came crowded with the unwebbed bipeds of hilarity and merriment. When hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise were be- ing wrested from the merchants and traders by the sweeping currents that were running through the streets, in some places with irre- sistible force, no one could have found among the losers of the property a single dejected face or dejected spirit. There were no gloomy con- sultations, no longing looks cast upon the ab- sconding produce, no animosities excited. A man who would purposely roll into the water that he might share in the general laugh that was entailed upon one who had accidentally fallen in, would not wet the sole of his foot to

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save a barrel of pork that was being carried off by the current.

"In the early part of this great flood small boats would bring almost any price on sale or hire. A common-sized whale-boat would bring $30 an hour, and sell readily for $1,000; but in an incredibly short time every particle of lumber that would answer for boat- or raft- making was appropriated, and in a few days the people were enabled to emigrate to the adjacent hills, where settlements were made, similar to the Hoboken of 1853. It would be impossible to estimate the amount of property destroyed by this terrible visitation."

Teamsters lost from forty to fifty yoke of oxen and a large number of horses and mules were drowned, write the historians. On the 18th the water so far subsided as to leave some dry spots on the Embarcadero and most of Second Street. The great number of cattle drowned created much discomfort to the people.

Another flood occurred in March, in which the city was saved from a second disaster by the energetic efforts of Hardin Biglow, who had built a levee across the sloughs at his own expense. This was the inception of the pres- ent system of levees which so effectually pro- tects our city and renders it practically im- pregnable to the waters.

Two years later came another devastating flood. For some days prior to Sunday, March 7, 1852, both the Sacramento and American Rivers had taken on a threatening form, heavy rains in the foot-hills and a very heavy snow- fall in the mountains having filled them bank full. About 1 a. m. Sunday the citizens were aroused from their slumbers by the clanging of the alarm bell, warning them of impending danger. Excited men soon thronged th streets, anxious to ascertain the cause. On in- vestigation it was found that, owing to a sud- den rise in the American River, the levee near its mouth had given away and the water was rushing fast through a breach in its crumbling banks. The mayor, chief engineer and many citizens were soon on the ground, making every effort to avert disaster. Timber, hay, sacks of barley, dirt and other things were cast into the breach, but to no avail. The earth on which the timbers of the sluice gate rested became loosened and about two o'clock the bridge gave way and was swept away by the current into the slough. Brooks' store-house, on the levee, followed the bridge; and as the opening wid- ened the rush of waters increased and trees, houses, scows and tents were swept into the vortex and coming with tremendous force against the bridge across Third Street snapped it like a pipe-stem and it too was swept away, cutting off all communication with the penin- sula and imperiling the safety of residents.

Boats were quickly procured and after great · exertions all were rescued and conveyed to a place of safety. By four o'clock the water had reached the level of I Street and was running up Second to J Street. The mayor issued a proclamation, calling on all to help stem the tide. A temporary embankment stopped the water at I Street, but it soon found its way around to Seventh and submerged I Street again. The embankment was continued to Seventh, where the ground was higher, but soon the water was pouring into J Street through the slough. The Sacramento River at this time was two feet lower than in the flood of 1850, and lacked twenty inches of overtop- ping the levee, and the sloughs below the city contained less water than at the former flood. But the American was higher and was rising, while the Sacramento was stationary. The levee was crumbling and the water was trickling through and it appeared certain that the levee must yield to the rising waters. Much property had been destroyed already. Cattle. pigs and poultry floated by on the flood and the water stood from a few inches to two feet deep on the lower floors on I Street. By six o'clock the city was almost wholly submerged, the buildings rising like so many pyramids on the desert over the face of the waters, only Sutter's Fort and the Ridge being above the flood.

By this time the American River, which had overflowed its banks, had crept insidiously around the city and a torrent rushed in on the opposite side. The east levee had broken and the water poured violently in. The stores on K Street were nearly all flooded several inches deep, but J Street, being higher, was still above the flood. The entire city was wild with ex- citement. Every one who possessed goods or furniture ivas removing them to higher apart- ments or ground. Houses on the outskirts were almost deserted and the residents took refuge on scows. Carpenters became boat- builders, but there was not half enough ma- terial or labor on hand to supply the demand. The water still rose and by Monday morning scarcely a foot of land was visible in the city. Then a cold southeast wind rose and the water receded four inches by noon, but still stood two feet deep on K Street and also covered J, but not so deeply. From the commencement communication with the outside had been cut off. Stages for Auburn and Nevada leaving on the 6th were forced to turn back. On the following day one was wrecked while trying to cross a slough at Sutter's race, and the horses were saved with difficulty. Little's bridge at Coloma, the bridge at Uniontown, the two covered bridges at Salmon Falls and all the bridges on the south and middle forks of the American River were carried away. Many horses and mules were drowned while

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trying to swim a deep slough near Brighton. Most of the losses sustained, however, were in the suburbs, or outside of the city. The mer- chants had, as a rule, profited by their experi- ence in 1850, and removed their goods in time to escape damage.

But with all the damage and danger, not to say discomfort, the elastic spirits of the pioneers were undaunted. Many enjoyable experiences were not lacking and pleasure ex- cursions took place over the submerged coun- try outside. The Sacramento "Daily Union" of March 9, 1852, had the following to say :

"J Street, up town, proved to be the center of attraction yesterday, and presented many enlivening and animating scenes through the day. Its bosom was covered with unique water craft of every conceivable description, and the ingenuity displayed in their construc- tion was only equalled by the tact and skill with which they were managed. The greater number consisted of skiffs, and these con- stituted a regular line of ferry boats, plying from block to block. There were also freight boats laden with hay, barley, provisions, etc., which articles were transported in accordance with established rates. Then came the fancy sail boat of the man of leisure, shooting swift- ly past the meaner craft and stretching upward for more sea room! We noticed one of these far out on the prairie, close-hauled to a south- east wind and apparently bound for Stockton. Among other craft, the omnibus boat was con- spicuous. They are made by fastening two or three empty boxes together. These appeared to be the favorite conveyance of 'the people,' although scarcely a trip was successfully per- formed, owing to the pilots getting off their course, throwing their craft on their ends, and spilling their passengers overboard. Then, by hoisting signals of distress, these attracted the attention of some other catamaran, which bore down to their relief. One cute chap built a big box with wheels attached, and after getting 'steam up' threaded his way through K Street. Besides these, there were inetallic boats, dug- outs, hide boats and canoes-all filled with people, out on business or pleasure-all, too, joyous and happy. It was, in fact, an aquatic carnival, and the town was afloat on a frolic."

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History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1923, Part 24

Author: Reed, G. Walter Publication date: 1923 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1026

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026