USA > California > Yuba County > History of Yuba County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, public buildings, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 10
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During the early part of the year, a movement was made to establish the town of Eliza on the Feather river. In the previous year, the Kennoboe Company purchased of John A. Sutter the Memal ranch oc- enpied by Jack Smith, extending a mile along the river and three miles back. west of Rose's ranch. In March, 1850, the company removed to Downieville, took up thirteen river claims, dammed and turned the
stream out of its channel, and mined until the first of November, when it disorganized. This act was not caused by any trouble, but was thought to be an expedient measure. The property was sold at anction. the members being the purchasers. When it was found that the party were to locate ou land in the vicinity of Marysville, the owners of the towu offered one-fourth of their lots, if the company would settle there and aid in building up the city. Before departing on the Downieville trip. Dr. Med'ullough was appointed their attorney to conclude tho bargain. Before consummating it, the Doctor becoming alarmed, went to Eliza and purchased an interest there. The advantages claimed for this place were, that boats eonld always reach it. The supposed obstructions in the chamel b. low Marysville, and the grounding of several boats in that portion of the river caused quite an alarm. Eliza never realized the hopes and intentions of its locators. Judge Phil. W. Keyser was chosen Alcalde, and a few buildings were erected. In June the place collapsed and sank out of existence, the residents re- moving to other parts. In the middle of March, Charles Vero was born. His mother, whose maiden name was Mary Luther, came across the plains, arriving here in September, 1847, and was married in June or July, 1848, to Joseph Vero. It is claimed that this was the first white child born in the county; there is no doubt bnt that he was the first white child born of parents married within the present limits of the comity.
The first Legislature named the first Monday in April for the elec- tion of county officers, and, as the day approached, political matters be- came lively. The canvass developed a horde of candidates, and a lively contest ensued. The election resulted in the selection of the following:
HENRY P. HAUN.
County Judge,
SAMUEL B. MULFORD.
County Attorney,
EDWARD D. WHEELER.
County Clerk,
ROBERT B. BUCHANAN.
Sheriff,
ALFRED LAWTON.
County Recorder,
J. B. CUSHING.
County Surveyor,
L. W. TAYLOR.
County Assessor,
S. C. TOMPKINS.
Coroner,
S. T. BREWSTER.
It is stated that about eight linndred votes were cast at the election, seven hundred being in Marysville.
During the last of May, a man named Stoddard came to this region and traveled among the camps, endeavoring to enlist a sufficient num- ber of miners to form a party and take advantage of the wonderful dis- coveries lie had made. His story was a remarkable one, and well cal- culated to raise the curiosity and cupidity of the people. A short time before, while he and four others were prospecting about fifty or sixty miles northwest of Downieville, they lost their way and wandered about
for some time. One day they discovered a lake and went down to the bank to drink. While stooping over they saw something shining under the moss at the bottom, which, npon investigation, proved to be lumps of gold. While taking some of these out they were attacked by In- diaus, and two of the party were killed. Stoddard and two of his com- panions succeeded in making their escape in different directions, and were not afterwards reunited. Stoddard went down to San Francisco, where there were friends of the two others, that he thought had escaped, to soe if any tidings had been received fromn them. Not being success. ful, lie went to Nevada City. He described the lake as containing from three to five acres, and to prove his story, exhibited several Imps of gold, varying in valne from eight to twenty-four dollars. He called the place Gokl Lake. Great excitement was caused by this story, and a select party of twenty-five was immediately formed, of which Mr. G. E. Brittan, South Butte, Sutter County, was a member. This company were to search for the lake muider the guidance of Stod- dard. They had an opportunity to receive five hundred members, who were willing to pay anything for a chance to go with them, but the party was considered of sufficient size without. They started in May, and were followed by five hundred or a thousand men, who clesely watched them to see where they were going. Upon hearing Steddarl's story and learning of the subsequent organization of his party, the people became wild and almost crazed with excitement. In many places around the old elaims, miners had found pockets where gold to the amount of two or three hundred dollars had been taken out; hence the story that at the lake, in twenty-four hours, they could gather as much of the precious metal as could be carried away, did not seem improbable. The course of travel was on the divide between the Feather and Yuba rivers. Some organized into small parties, but as a general thing tlwy went along helter-skelter and pell-mell, striving to see who would ac- complish the journey first. The prices of horses, mules, and oxen went up at a rapid rate. Some started with wagons, but owing to the roughness of the region and the lack of roads, this method of traveling had to be abandoned. Mr. 1. E. Brown having disposed of his store at Long Bar on the first of June, was in Marysville when the excite- ment commenced. Perceiving an opportunity for trade and speenla- tion, but having no faith in the existence of the Gold Lake, he loadedl his wagons with goods and provisions, and started ont on the route of travel. His wagon broke down near the tent owned by Charles Bar- ker, a stopping place for travelers. Mr. Brown bought out Barker, and erected a store and hotel, called the Barker House (Woodville House). In the last part of October or first of November, he sold an interest in the business to Amos Hill and Cyrus Jumper and went East. When the Stoddard party arrived in the vicinity of the place where the leader thought the lake to be, the search was commenced. They humted in
County Treasurer,
SWAIN & HUDSON, PLANING MILLS.
SWAIN & HUDSON
DOORS,WINDOWS,BLINDS & MOULDINGS
-
LITH, BY C. L. SMITH & CO, OAKLAND CAL
PLANING MILLS, SWAIN & HUDSON PROP'S, MARYSVILLE, YUBA CO. CAL.
43
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY. CALIFORNIA.
vain for five or six weoks, their followers keeping on their track all the while, thinking that the party by roaming about, were seeking to throw the others off the track. The search was finally given up, and the great crowd began prospecting. The Gold Lake exodus, while it failed to bring about the discovery of the wonderful lake, was of grant benefit otherwise. The participants, after abandoning the search. commenced prospecting. Mines were found and locateal, and the rich northern mining district was opened up. The beds and banks of the streams yiohled abundant results, and the rivers were followed up to their sourens. Stoddard tried to get up another party, but was nusnecessful, us most of the people, considering him to be crazy, the Inko a creature of his disordered brain, would placo no confidence in him. Mr. Brittun does not consider him to have been crazy, and thinks that he really did find something, but his excitement made: him view his discovery in an exaggerated light. The lumps of gold were evidence that ho humul fouml somo kind of a mine.
The winter of 1849-50 was very severe, Travelers along the line of journey pursned by the Gold Lake adventurers, hauling to Laporte al Gibsonville, wow womler how boards which they fiml miled to tres twenty or twenty-five feet above their bases, camo there, and for what purpose they were usedl. These hoards were placed there by tlm lesuling parties of the Guld lake seekers, to serveras guide posts, mul ilm snow was sn ilnep at that time, that these marks were only about five foot from the surface. The snow in the mountains during Mint winter was from twenty to thirty feet deep. Previous to this grund exodus, another, but of less note, had taken plaer, and may be interesting. Two men, one of theun named Marks, were living with the Indians north of the Vuba. An Indian enme into the camp with somo splendid specimens aml sail that he had fomul them on a river further north, and that they lay looso in tho gravel. Marks ilid not malerstand the Indian tongue as well as the other man, aml asked him what haul been said. The man was sick and would not tell him, in- tuning when he recoverel, to seek it himself. However Marks understand enough to know the general direction, and about how far to g .. So he went to Marysville aml inldl a story of how he loul been tu a certain place and fomul great quantities of gohl on the river bank. and had been driven away by Indians, offering to lead a company there. A select company of about thirty was formed, and John Rose was ailmitted as a special favor. The man led them along the divide nearly on the same route traveled afterwards by the Gold Lake people. Marks lost. his way at the month of Nelson creek, and the party came back. If they had continued a little farther in the same direction, tlwy would have strnek Rich Bar, an exceedingly rich place that was afterwards developed. Mr. Rose thinks this was the place where the Indian obtained his specimen.
The District Court of the Eighth Judicial District. presided over by Judge William R. Turner, held its first sesion in Marysville on the third of June. Mr. H. P. Watkins was appointed District Attorney by the Court. The next day the first Grand Jury was drawn. In Angust the squatter movement which was progressing in the lower cities, gained a footholl in Marysville. A " splatter's meeting " took place in the Court House, and the subject of land titles and ocenjation was discussed. The attendants adopted a series of resolutions, depre- rating any nolawful acts, and among other things, resolving " that it " was wrong to settle npon city property, as it contlieted seriously with " the rights of third persons who had purchased for a valuable consid- " pration." The town had become of such a size, and the surrounding county so developed, that the success of a newspaper became assured. Accordingly, Colonel Robert DI. Taylor, on the sixth of Angust, issued the first muuber of the Marysville Herald, the first newspaper north of Sacramento. The possession of a journal for the dissemination of news gave now dignity to the town and county. It served to herald their condition and mesourers through different parts of the Territory and the Eastern States. The news of the death of President Zachary Tay- lor, at Washington, July 9, 1850, reached Marysville in September, and the funeral obsequirs were appropriately celebrated, Mr. S. II. Miles, who afterwards brenme the first Mayor, acting as Grand Marshal.
In the first part of September, 1850, there came on three days of the hardlest rain that had yet fallen. It raised the rivers aml drove the miners out. Supposing that another wet season had set in, the men in the mountains laid in a heavy stock of supplies for the winter at enor- mons prices. The weather became pleasant again, and there was no rain of any account till the following March. As a consequence, during this winter these extra quantities of food and supplies were sent back to Marysville, and disposed of at great sacrifices, the regular merchants bein midlersokl one-half. The State election was hekl in October, anul Judge Stephen J. Field was elected to represent Yula county in the Assembly, receiving a large majority of the votes cast. It was at this election that Jesse O. Goodwin was chosen District Attor- Hey. The cholera broke out at about this time and swept over many parts of the State. Marysville was singularly free from this scourge, as only one case was reported within its limits. Yuba City had also only one person afflicted. During the summer of this year, the water in Feather river became so low that it was impossible for steamers to ascend to Marysville. This interruption nearly suspended business transactions, and threatened to seriously affect the progress of the town, but in November the " Governor Dana " appeared, and as she steamed up the river, the enthusiam of the people was almost boundless. It was an occasion which could properly be celebrated with festivities.
A feeling had long been gaining ground relative to the probability of
Marysville becoming the principal of the " upriver" towns. As the population became larger. the citizens decided to avail themselves of the benefits and privileges gained by incorporating. December 3, a mass. meeting was held at the United States Hotel on D street, of which Mr. Gabriel N. Soczy was chosen Chairman. A discussion followed as to the practicability of petitioning the Legislature to pass the necessary net to incorporate the town. This meeting adjourned to meet on the tifth. after appointing a committee to prepare a set of resolutions. The next meeting, hell on the appointed evening, received the report of the committee and instructed them to pursue their labors further, and make a draft for a special net for the City Charter. The next sorting was held on the fourteridh, but was so shitaly attended that artion was delayed till the seventrenth, when a large gathering assembled. The draft of the City Charter was adopted and forwarded to the lawgiska tive representative, Hon. Stephen J. Field, who finally secured the passage of the act.
The Masons celebrated St. Johns day, Decender 27, Mr. II. 11. Mitchell bring the orator. In the evening, a grand ball was given at the United States Ilutel.
The town of Linda was started in the spring of 1850. Following the arrival of the party in the little steamer Linda at Rose's runch, the members of the company persuaded Mr. Rose to lay ont a town. The Ind was surveyed aml a number of lots sold. After the survey, the steamer of that name went up to the location with a large party of ex- cursionists to inaugurate the new town. The party enjoyed themselves. greatly, partaking freely of the refreshments provided. Charles Lupton built a house there; a few shanties and a small store were also pretted. . These, with the two old cabins of Smith and Nyr, comprised the settlement. Rose kept a ferry at that point, mul at a later date a bridge was built. In about two years the town was abandoned, and its site now lies about thirty feet below the surface of the tailings, und over where once grew the finest grain in Yuba County are now found the unprixlnetive willows.
The following report of L. W. Taylor, County Treasurer, for the fractional year ending December 31, 1850, was rendered to tla: Court of Sessions January 11, 1851 :
L. W. TAYLOR, IN ACCOUNT WITH YUBA COUNTY.
DR.
1850.
To am't rec'd for licenses to sell goods, wares, and mise, $2,782 0%
64 6
= " liquor licenses, 1,845 00
collected on duplicate, 4,593 93
46 rec'd for bridge and ferry license, 1,700 00
" fines, 677 50
14 25
" taxes not on duplicate
from Deputy Collector Wilson, 123 00
$11,735 73
+4
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY. CALIFORNIA.
1 .. W. TAYLOR IN ACCOINT WITH YUBA COUNTY.
1850.
( 'R.
By election expenses,
925 50
= Salariox of officers, 1,432 20
Offire rrut, =
8$4 00)
Stationery aud furniture,
2,793 15
Jurors' fres,
103 00
Sheriff's fans
978 32
11
Koping prixars,
514 75
Burying three unknown jersonx,
50 00
16 Tutorrst
127 89
16 Balance ihn the conuty 3,626 92
$11,735 73
In 1850, Mr. Ramirez settled the Quiutay Rauch, just east of Marysville, and just a umu wound Quintay upon the tract to take care "l' it. The carly comes were all greatly troubled with scurvy and other disorders, muy dying from the rffiets of the diseases. This was comused by a lack of vegetable mul aril food. and to supply this want in 1850 and 1851. vast, quantities of lime juice were imported in barrels; in every salou the traveler and miner could be found im- bibing the precions and healthful drink. x
CHAPTER XIII.
SUBSEQUENT HISTORY OF MARYSVILLE TOWNSHIP, AND INCIDENTALLY OF YUBA COUNTY.
Originni Brandaring of Yuba Cramty First Division of County Inta Townships Incorporation of the l'ity ed Marysville Election of First OMBeers-Boundaries of the City-Formation of Nevada County Mine Discovered un Yubu River at Marysville -- Mayor Miley' Proclama- tion Secomi Segregation idf County intu Townships-Acts Relating to the Incorporation uf The Chy od Mury aville -- Present Boundaries-Formation of Sierra L'onuty-First Election of DErers Third Division of Yules County into Townships -Present Townships -- Population of the P'annty us Different Periods Business Interests wdf Marysville in 1853, and at the Present Time- Talde off Brick Structures erected from 1850 In 1856-Literary arul Musical- Mortality Report for 1852 Other forms of Interest.
Vinha County Innl now fairly entered upon its career of advance- meut. Its agricultural hnuls were being located on, and began to yieldl abundant harvests; its mines give no indication of exhaustion. While most of the history of the period from the year 1850 has been segregated into topies and treated of in other portions of the work, there are seenes and incidents which occurred during this time that manot properly he classed under any of the headings, and that will naturally fall into this chapter. Yuba county as set off by the first Fagislature, February 18, 1850, was described as follows: Beginning at the month of Honeut creek, and running up the middle of the same to its source; theuer following the dividing ridge between Fenther and Yuba rivers to the summit of the Sierra Nevada; theuer east to the bouwulary of the State; thener sonth following said boundary to the northeast corner of El Dorado county; thence in a westerly direction, following the northern boundary of said County.
to the junction of the north and middle forks of the American river; thence in a northwesterly direction .. following the boundary of Sutter county to the numth of Bear crrek; tbence running up the michelle of Frather river to the month of Honeut creek, which was the place of beginning. The seat of justice was located at Marysville. Angust 24, 1850, the first division of the county into townships was made by the Court of Sessions, making fifteen large subdivisions. Marysville Township No. 1, Long Bar No. 2, Rose No. 3, Foster No. 4, and Townships Nos. Il am] 12 were within the present limits of Yuba county; the first four were north of Yuba river, and the last two south of that stream. The winter of 1850-5] was ex- tremely dull; money was scarce and business greatly depressed.
February 5, 1851, the Legislature passed a bill incorporating tho " C'ity of Marysville," dividing it into four wards and fixing the first Monday of the following March as the day for the cicetion of the city officers, a Mayor and eight Allermen. The election resulted in the selection of the following :- Mr. S. M. Miles, Mayor, and Messrs. L. W. Ransom, S. C. Stambangh, F. Schaeffer, B. Tallman, J. G. Smith, D. W. C. Rice, S. C. Tompkins and Charles Covillaud, Allermen. On the tenth the Board met and organized. . The follow- ing officers were elected :- L. W. Ransom, President; R. H. Taylor, Clerk; Lewis Cunningham, Treasurer; R. S. Olds, Assessor; F. J. MeCam, ('ity Attorney; Albert Miller, City Marshal. The boun- ilaries of the city of Marysville as laid down in the orig- inal charter wereas follows :- Commencing at high water mark on the southern bank of Ynba river, at a point one mile east of the public plaza, and running thence north two miles; thence west to Feather river; thence south following Featber river to high water mark on the sontbemn bank of Yuba river; thence east along the southern bank of Yuba river to the place of eginning. The pro- vision in regard to officers named the following :- Mayor, eight Alder men, Treasurer, Assessor, Attorney, Clerk, and Marshal. The Common Council were authorized to establish a Recorder's Court, but this power was taken away by the act passed April 10, 1852, when the Re- conler's Court was abolisbed as well as the offices of Recorder, City Attorney and City Assessor. Business agniu assumed its former pro- portions, and building was commenceil with renewed activity.
The original Yuba county embraced the territory now included in Sierra and Nevada counties, but as the legal and county business in- creased, it was found that the distances from the county seat were too great to accommodate the inbabitants. April 25, 1851, an act entitled " An Act dividing the State into counties and establishing the seats of Justice therein" was passed, which made the new county of Nevada, taking away a portion of Yuba county. The boundaries of Nevada county were as follows :- Beginning at the point in the
middir of Yuba river, opposite the month of Deer creek, and ruu- ning thence up the middle of Yuba river to a point opposite the mouth of the middle branch of Yuba; thenee up the middle of said michelle branch ton miles from its mouth; thence easterly in a straight line to the boundary of tho State; thence south along the boundary line of the State to the northeast corner of Placer county; thence westerly on the northorly line of Placer county to the source of Bear creek; thruce down Bear ercek to a point ine south of the juuction of Deer creek nnl Yuba river; thence north to the placo of be- ginning. The sent of justico was located at Nevada City. The fourth Momlay of May was set as the day for the election of officers in the now county. Henry Miller, J. N. Turner, J. R. Crandall, J. S. Allen, and Amos T. Laird were uppwinted a Board of Commissioners to designate voting precincts, appoint election officers and to supervise the election returns. Tho joint in- debtedness of the counties was thirty-three thousand five hundred dollars, Nevada's share being twelve thousand five hundred and seventy-two dollars. Commissioners woro appointed to settło and ile- termine these amounts.
In July, 1851, Captain Sutter had two Inmdred acres under culti- vation on Hock Farm. He was pursuing the business of farming sys- tematically and vigorously. In 1865, he left the coast and has since resided in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Monday, August 4, 1851, prospectors began work on the bar of the Yuba river between the upper and lower hundings of Marysville; a panful of carth from the surface yielded seventy-five ceuts. A notice of claim was immediately put up by the following thirteen gentlemen :- J. Low, C. Low, F. Low, S. R. Tribble, M. C. Nelson, J. J. Mechling, W. R. Taylor, J. J. McLeary, L. B. Farish, L. S. Priddy, W. Myers, T. Hispanger, aud J. J. Wellington. Thinking that the operations on a mining location so near the city woukl seri- ously affect the interests of the citizens, the following order was issued by Mayor Miles:
PROCLAMATION.
MAYOR'S OFFICE, MARYSVILLE, August 11th, 1851.
" It having been represented to me that sundry persons have Inid " ont and stakeil off claims ou the bar in front of the landing for " inining purposes :
" Now, therefore, I, S. M. Miles, Mayor of the City of Marys- " ville do hereby caution all persons against trespassing on or in- " jnring the public grounds within the limits of the City of " Marysville, in any manner whatever,
S. M. MILES, Mayor.
Angust 9, 1851, the Court of Sessions divided the county into
RESIDENCE OF FRED. BUTTELMANN. COR. C. & 6TH STS. MARYSVILLE. YUBA Co. CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON R. WEST.
45
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
eleven townships, the first six of which were in the present Ynla county, and the renmining five in what is now Sierra county. The fol- lowing is the list :- Ist, Marysville :; 20, Kliza; 3d, Parks Bar; 4th, Dry Grek; 5th, Foster Bar; 6th, Oak Valley: 7th, Chardyear's Bar; 8th, Downieville; 9th, Deigan's Flits; 10th, Rose Bar; 11th, not mmcal. At the same session, thirty-one election precinets were estalr lished, among them on at " Ohl Hat Hollow." Besides the regular business houses in 1851, a profitable trade was carried on by a large number of ont-door coffie stands, located on the sidewalks along First. Abrit, from the Phien to Ustreet, many of the proprietors paying as high as one lovalred and fifty dollars rent per month. Another illustration of the high rents pid during that early period is the following. In November, 1851, a gentleman was paying two Innlred dollars per mouth for an office five feet in willth and twelve feet in depth, and mado money notwithstanding. The importance of Marysville was rre- ognized by the outside world, for in 1851, Dr. J. B. Pigim-Dupuytren was Inented there, ns Vice-Consul of France.
In Junnury, 1852, a movement was imugurated to repeal the city churtor. The petition was drawn up aml placed before the citizens for signatures. A renumstraner was also prepared. On Thursily, Febru- wy 12, Hon, John A. Paxton presented the first petition in the Assem- bly. The opposing petition was offered by Hon. J. H. Garther, Great exertions wore put forth ou uch sido, but the act was finally passud, April 10. It was entitled " An Act supplementary to nn Aet incorp- " muting the city of Marysville."
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