USA > California > Yuba County > History of Yuba County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, public buildings, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43
LITH C.L. SMITH & C? OAXLAND CAL.
RANCH AND RESIDENCE OF D.A. OSTROM YUBA C° CAL.
67
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
street, west to D street, down D street to Second street, and then cast to B street. It will be observed that this included some of the territory burned over by the fire in May, and which had been largely re- built. The Tremont House and City Hall were included in the loss, which footed up the iuunense sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The next blaze occurred at midnight, October 22, 1854, and originated in an unoccupied house on B street, between First and Second streets, Eleven houses were consumed, valued at eleven thousand dollars.
The city was free from any disastrous conflagrations until 1856, when another of the old timo visitations is recorded. At one o'clock, A. M., sometime in the month of Angust, 1856, a blaze was discovered in a stałde ou F street, between First and Second streets. The alarm was promptly sounded, and the wholo fire department consisting of three laund engines and a hook and ladder company, responded to the call to duty. As the fire was on the river bank, two of the engines were plucedl on the ferry boat for convenience in working, but the clumsy craft succeeded in sinking with its precions burden, and the fire raged ou. The balance of the depurtment with tho active assistanco of the citizens finally subdued the flames after they had consumed about one Indred nud forty five thousand dollars worth of property. The burned district was in the heaviest business locality, and the loss great in pro- portion. It extended nlong First street to the Merchants' Hotel, then up Commercial alloy, and on the south side of the plaza. Since this occurrence the city lins boon visited only three times by fires of a vory destructive naturo, and the facilities for extinguishing them now possessed by the fire department, place the repetition of any of the old scones among the improbabilities. At 3:30 o'clock, A. M., November 17, 1864, fire was discovered in the rear of a clothing store under tho old brick theater on 1) stroot, between Second and Third streots. "The spread of the flames to any extent was prevented, but the thonter with the stores under it was entirely destroyed. The loss was estimated at $40,000. The next noted blaze occurrod July 17, 1871. A fire orig- inated at noon in Swain's Sash Factory on Fourth street and spread towards the north, The whole block lying between D. C, Fourth, and Fifth streets was destroyed with the exception of the Presby- terian Church and a few dwellings. W. C. Swain's factory, Jolm Peffer's factory, and Harrington's factory were all consumed. The loss was about $80,000. About half past eloven o'clock, Sunday night, September 7, 1879, fire was discovered in the store of E. C. Ross & Co., on D street. A general alarm was sounded, and soon the whole fire department was on hand with the three steamers. The fire had made so much progress, however, that the firemen were unable to ex- tinguish it until it bad burned the stores of E. C. Ross & Co., N. D. Popert, and two houses on High street. The loss was about fifty
thousand dollars, besides the damage to goods removed from stores in danger of being consumed.
The loss by these largo and destructive conflagrations aggregated a large sum, and taught a lesson of prudence and cantion that should be well remembered. By this one item alone the city has lost directly nearly one and one-half millions of dollars, and were the conse- quental damages, such as the loss of trade, credit, etc., to be considered tho total would be largely increased. The direct damages from the large fires were :-
The fire of August 31, 1851 .$500,000
=
4 " September 10, 1851 80,000
6
" May 25, 1854 158,550
July 18, 1854 250,000
" October 22, 1854 11,000
August, 1856 145,000
=
= " November 17, 1864
40,000
July 17, 1871
80,000
"
" September 7, 1879
50,000
$1,314,550
A great many small fires havo occurred, which, owing to the effi- ciency of the fire department, have been extinguished beforo much daungo was done, and it is to be hoped that the future has only such in store for this city.
CHAPTER XXI. FLOODS.
Indian Tradition of Early Flood -Flood of 1825-26 - 1846-17 -1849-50-1852-53- New Year's Ball-Scarcity of Provisions in the Mines-March 25, 1853-Navigating the Streets -- Condition of the Country-Great Flood of 1852-Destruction of Buildings- Heroic Efforts of the Firemen-Steamboats in the Streets-Appearance of the country- Loss of Property-Loss of life-January 11, 1862-December 19, 1866-Great Flood of January, 1875-Break in the Levee-Escape of the People-Water in the Houses-Suffer- ing and Necessities of the People-Relief from Outside -- Relief Committee Organized- Loss of Life and Property-The Past Season.
The condition of the valley in the matter of floods, prior to its occu- pation by the white race, it is impossible to ascertain with any degree of certainty. The Indians, bowever, bave a tradition of a great flood sometime in the carly part of the century, probably in 1805, which inundated the whole valley and in which a great many lives were lost, and many villages destroyed. It forms an era in their calendar from which they date events. Again in the winter of 1825-6 we hear of flood, through Indian Peter. He used to say that the trapping party he was with was compelled to camp in the Buttes on account of high water, and that those hills were full of grizzlies, elk, antelope, and smaller game that had taken refuge there. The early settlers speak of floods in the winter of 1846-7, which did but little damage, simply because there was not much to be injured. The season of 1849-50
was also a wet one, and the streets of Marysville were for a time muddly and almost impassible. The miners along the river were com- I'llend to work in the erveks and mivines in the hills until the water subsided. There was but little property to be injured except mining dans, etc., and the loss was small in consequence.
In the winter of 1852-53, the city of Marysville was visited with four floods and the surrounding country was more or less under water the whole season. The rains commenced early in November, 1852, and towards the latter part of the mouth the water was as high as it. reached the season before. Again, a week or two later, the water rose six und a half inches higher than at first. The waters then subsided, bat the last week in December was ono of continued ruin, mul on the thirty-tirst the water began to come into the city. The rivers wore both very high, and the water in Yuba river was backed up by that in the Feather, and thus found its way into the streets. The next day the water was twenty and one-half inches higher than at the last flood, mud was from six to ten inches deep on the floors of the buildings about the plaza. There had been a grand ball projected at the Mer- chants' Hotel on New Year's eve, but when the hour arrived the hotel was surrounded by water. Several young gentlemen, loath to lose the anticipated pleasure, proceeded to the hotel in boats, and, with a nam- ber of ladies residing there, danced merrily until morning. All the low and bottom lands wero completely sabiserged by this food, and as it was the first experience the new ranchers Ind enjoyed of this kind, they lost very heavily in stock, crops, etc. Communication from the city with the outside world, and between the farmers, had to bo maintained by boats. People were compelled to come to the city in boats in order to obtain supplies, and trading to the mines wus effect- ually blockaded for sometime. The continuoas rains and ahnost im- passible muddy roads had been such a draw back upon freighting that a great stringency of supplies was caused in the mines. At the ear- liest possible moment, a number of energetic and enterprising meu started out trains of supplies, hoping to reach the destitute regions before the markets were supplied, and thus reap a bountiful harvest of gold to reward them for their labor. Those who reached the mines first were amply rewarded for their exertions, and were able to secure any price their conscience would perinit them to ask, such as one dollar per pound for flour, and twenty cents per pound for bay.
The fourth and last flood of the season commenced to assert itself on Saturday, March 25, 1853, and on Tuesday the water reached a point eight inches higher than in January. Both the residents in the city and the farmers had gained valuable and costly experience by the previous freshets, and though the water was higher, and a week passed from the time it commenced to rise until it finally subsided, yet there was not nearly so much damage done as would have been the case had
68
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
that len the first load. The farmers protected their property and removed stock, etc., to higher localities, and the merchants at the first warning moved their g.xxis apem shelves, or into the second stories, 80 that when the water came, there was les for it to destroy. About one hundred thousand dollars worth of damage was done, however, in various ways. The water covered First street, portions of A, B, C, and Datreta, Maiden Lane, and the Plaza. Thats of various sizes und many of wondeript character, bearing external evidencesof hasty und primitive construction, fitted along the watery streets. The im- prisoned ones leaned ont from the second floor windows, and merrily hailed the passing boatmen. A ferry line was established between the Merchants' Hotel mal dry land, over which the people who boarded there passed to reach their places of employment. The country on ull sides of Marysville was under water. Yuba City was completely flooded; the only dry spot in town was the ludian rancharie on the bank of the river. Sutter's garden at Hock Farm was overflowed, and water stood on the lower for of his hause. The steamer Gov. Dann coming up the stream on Tuesday, could proceod no farther than lock Farm on necount of the violence of the current, ail was eom- pollod to return to Sacramento. Considerable damage was done to erups that had been put in by the farmers, but beyond this the loss was small. By Saturday the waters had subsided sufficiently to per- mit the puck trains to leave the city.
Although, every few years the water rose pretty high and covered the low Innda, there were no disastrous floods until December, 1861. Long and incessant moins ushered in the rainy season, and Saturday, December 7, 1861, the water commenced to rise rapidly in the river. All day Sunday the rain pourod down, and that night the city was nearly under water. Early Monday morning several buildings, undermined by the water, fell crumbling to the ground, creating great consterna- tion. The floors of the Merchants' Hotel fell through to the basement, carrying with them the sleeping occupants, several of whom wero severely injured by the fall, though no one was killed. Many people wero rescued from here and other perilous situations by some of the lwroie firemen, who worked among the crumbling ruins at the extreme poril of their own lives. A great many frame houses were floated from their positions, and some of them were carried down the stream, in one of which was a woman, whose children lind been rescued by a boat. When tho boat returned for the mother, the house had been carried down the river. Only two cases of death are recorded, both by drowning. The stenmer Detiance made its way through the streets giving assistance to those who were rescning the unfortunate. The condition of the country is well described hy the Appeal, December 10, 1861.
-
" Westward one vast water level stretched to Yuba City, where a
" kindred inundation was raging, the entire town site being under water. " Beyond this to the foothills of the coast range there appeared to be " no dry land. Northward the plains were cut up into broad streams " of running water, which were swiftly coursing towards the great " sheet of water stretching between the Yuha nud Feather rivers, up " as far as the residence of Judge Bliss, unbroken except by the upper " stories of houses, trees and floating debris. Southward the wholo " plain towards Eliza was one sheet of water, dotted with trees, " wwfs of houses, floating animals and wrecks of property of every " description. Where Featber river sweeps past Eliza, stock of every " kind could be seen constantly passing down stream, some alive and " struggling and bellowing or squealing for life. Haro and rabbits " were destroyed hy thousands." The people in the country had to leave everything and flee to high ground for safety; many who wero too late for this, climbed trees and remained perched among their branches until rescued by friends. Nearly all the hridges on Yuha and Bear rivers were carried away, and drift timher and saw-logs came down the stream in great quantities, some of which were left in gorges thirty feet high when the water fell. The water-wheel in McDonald's mill on Bear river, near the wire bridge, was washed out and carried down stream to Johnson's crossing, a distance of five miles. A tbick deposit of sand was left on the hottom lands when the waters retreated, varying in depth from one to six feet, doing an immense amount of damage. This was the first appearance in any quantity of that disastrous " alluvial soil " that has brought ruin and devastation to so much of this fair valley. Farm produce, such as pumpkins, squash, potatoes, eorn, and hay, was destroyed in great quantities, as was also stock of all kinds. It was reported that over one hundred Chinamen were drowned at Long Bar, Onsley's Bar, and Sand Flat.
Again, a montb later, the eleventh of Jannary, 1862, the water raised six inches higher than before, hut the warning of the previous flood had caused the merchants and farmers to move everything perishablo beyond the reach of danger. The loss of stock this winter and the next summer was very great, and in Sutter county was estimated at three-fourths the entire number. The great loss here was that but few escaped except those able to reach the Br.ttes, and the cold weather nipped the grass, causing large numbers of the cattle to die from star- vation.
The next visitation occurred December 19, 1866. Quite a severe storm raged for several days, and all the low land and some of the streets of Marysville were flooded. A great deal of levee, which was small and of comparatively recent construction, was washed away in varions plaees.
It was, however, reserved for the year 1875 to ehroniele the greatest and most destructive flood that the annals of the city of
Marysville bear. The city had surrounded itself with a vast levee seven miles long, to construct which, had been expended an immense sum of money. To this fact is due the unusual amount of damage experienced this year; for, relying upon their huge and expensive guardian, the people did not take those precautionary inensures form- erly adopted, and when the flood came, it swept everything before it. Even goods that were placed upon platforms supposed to he above the renehi of the water, suffered, for the water respected nothing in the shape of the traditional " high water mark," but moved up higher, leaving a mark that tradition will not have to be called upon for some. time to verify. For a week, heavy and incessant rain and snow storms provailod, accompanied in some instances by thunder and lightning, an unusual phenomonon in the valley. Tuesday morning, January 19, the water rose so as to threaten a flood, and an alarm was sounded on the fire bell. The citizens all turned out to contest the advance of the invader. The Brown's Valley grade was the first point threatened, but by diligent Inhor two feet of dirt were thrown up in time to make it seenre. The next weak spot to he developed was the levee near the cemetery, where the water, already three feet deep, began to pour over the bank for a long distanco. Heroie efforts were made to stop this with sand bags, hut is was of no avail, and at dark the work was abandoned. Then there was a wild rush of poople to get to places of safety, large houses, churches, court house, etc., were thronged with people whosc residences were too inseeure to be trusted. At eight o'clock in the evening, a break was made near the hospital, and a tor- rent of water came sweeping down the slough and sprend itself over the first ward. Many women and children who bad delayed their departure had to be carried away in hoats or on the backs of the men who came to save them. Barns, sheds, and a few frame dwellings be- gan floating abont in an erratie manner, some of them containing people. Boats were few, and these had plenty to do in transporting people and goods to places of safety. Rafts were called into requisi- tion. The water steadily advanced until Wednesday noon, when it stood from three to five feet deep in the streets, and in some places in the first ward, ten feet deep. In most of the honses the water was . from two to five feet in depth, in some much deeper. About twenty honses alone of the whole city escaped this visitation, thanks to high basements. A strong current ran down the F strcet slougb to the Yuha river, and the whole valley, inelnding the city, was one vast sheet of water on a level with the rivers. When Wednesday came it was a mixed question where a breakfast was coming from. The waters in their angry roar had said: "Stand not ou the order of your going, bnt go at once," and go they did, making no provision for the hungry morrow. But food was provided in various ways, so that, although some may have feasted a little less sumptuously tban usual,
E
RESIDENCE AND RANCH OF F. KIRSHNER, NEAR WHEATLAND, YUBA COUNTY, CAL,
-
LITH. BY C.L. SMITH & CO. OAKLAND. CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON & WEST.
RESIDENCE AND RANCH OF S.E. INLOW, YUBA CO., CAL'A.
69
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY. CALIFORNIA.
no one suffered long from hunger. Those who had been so hastily driven from their lunnes, had nothing to wear but the wet clothing in which they had escaped, and nothing on which to sleep or pro- tect themselves from the coll. Thursday night, however, saw relief. The stemmer Flora from Sacramento Fought Christopher Green, Mayor of thut city, and a relief committee, with a load of provisions, clothing, etc. The citizens now argunized a relief committee for the purpose of n judicious distribution of the supplies of money, cloth- iug, etc., that now begun to pour in from the neighboring cities, who deeply sympathized with their stricken sister city. Sub-committees wire appointed to canvass the city and give orders for snpjdies upon the rolicf fund. In this mumer ull were rapidly and amply pro- vidod for. The amount of contributions, so generously inade, were about thirty thousand dollars in money, four hundred mattrasses, uno thousand blankets, besides clothing, provisions, etc. Only one life was lost in the city, thut of a little son of Mrs. John Laughley, six years of age. The family had been taken from their home ou a muft, when the boy was accidentally knocked into the water and druwned. His body was recovered in the morning. The damage done to property in the city was onormons. The Episcopal Church, M. E. Church, Court House, City Hall, Woolen Mills, Marysville Milla, Buckeye Mills, Browery, Marysville Foundry, Swain & Hud- , son's I'netory, Somp Factory, Empire Foundry, Gas Works, the two Lamber Yards, Rag Carpet Factory, Broom Factory, and the stores and residences generally suffered largely. It was a long time before the deposit of sand wns removed from its lodging places on the floors and in all the nouks and corners. The railroads were badly damaged, and in the country thoro was a great destruction of stock and farm prop- orly generally. The farmers of the valley and the citizens of Marys- ville especially, will long remember the great flood of 1875, which forms an ora from which they date events. .
The spring of 1879 had niso its full share of high water, a great deal of dmunge being done to the ranches on the low lands, and great expense and trouble were incurred in keeping the many levces in condi- tion to resist the encroachments of the water. The city happily escaped anything more serious than wet streets and flooded cellars.
CHAPTER XXII. MANUFACTURESOF MARYSVILLE.
Marysville as a Manufacturing C'enter-Bugs- Beer-Roots and Shoes-Brick-Brooms-Flour- Fouadries-Lænther Marble- Marysville Coul Gas Company-Marysville Woolen Factory- Suldlery -Sash, Doors and Blinds-Soap-Tiuware-Union Lumber Company-Wagons- Wine and Brandy Total Value of Manufactures.
The importance of Marysville as a manufacturing center was early recognized, und preparations were soon commenced to make here most of thre articles required to supply the immense mining and agricultural
districts tributary to this city. Several of the old branches vi manufacture have been abandoned or have suffered a decline, Int other industries have been put into successful operation, so that now the total valne of manufactures has reached a large sum annually. The chea 141xs of eastern goals and the facilities of transportation furnished by the great railroads have rendered the manufacture of certain classes of goods to a large degree unprofitable. The manufacturing industries of the city are given below, with a brief sketch of their progress, and their present condition.
BAGS.
The business of bag-munking is liveally descended from the carly canvas sewing enterprise. The houses in the early days were chiefly partitioned with canvas or sheeting, over which, to be ornamental, a facing of wall juper was occasionally placed. As early as 1852. a machine for sewing this canvas was introduced here by a man in the wall jeiper business, and soonafter there were several at work. When there came a demand for grain bags and flour sacks, and a falling off in the canvas wall trade, the proprietors of these machines naturally gravitated from the sewing of cloth for houses to the manufacture of bags for grain and flour. The only factory of this nature now in the city is that of Pierce & Harvey. on D street, between First and Second streets, which was established in 1873. There are from six to ten men employed and a very large quantity of bags manufactured, though not so many as a few years ago. . These bags, both for flour and grain are used throughout the northern part of the State.
BEER.
A small brewery was built in Marysville hy John Rueger, in 1852, corner of First and C streets. Its snecessor is the present California Brewery, owned by Gotlieb Sieber. There are six men employed here and the annual manufacture is over thirty-five thousand gallons.
In the great flood of 1875 the brewery sustained a loss of about six thousand dollars, and in April, of the same year, it was destroyed by fire. A new frame building has since been erectedl. About 1856, an ale brewery was built on Feather river at the foot of Third street, by an Englishman, but it was not long operated. and was converted in 1859, into a beer brewery by a man named Meyer. This was in opera- tion but a few years.
BOOTS AND SHOES.
The manufacture of boots and shoes is carried on in a small way by several firms who deal in that article. E. Terstegge & Co., 102 D street, established 1860, employ five men. P. J. Flannery, 91 D street, established in 1859 by E. Heely, employs six men. Moon & Creigh- ton 75 D street, established in 1877, employ six men. Philip Fisher,
Jol D street. employs one man. The goods manufactured by these tirihis are retailed over their own counters.
BRICK.
Summer Paine, of Sutter cuanty, claims the honor of making the first kiln of burned brick in Marysville, in 1852. for Culver. Evans & Co. Prior to this, the brick had been of the sun dried kind, called adobe. The records at the court house, however, show the conveyance Ilecom- ber 18, 1550, of a brick kiln from Fortum Genren to Heury Bouta. and it would seem from that fact that kiln burned brick were made In.fore 1852. In 1852, several brick yards were in equation, and that fall Mr. Paine made two hundred nud fifty thousand for J. M. Ramirez, for which he received thirty two dollars per thousand, in fifty dollar slugs. They cost bim sixteen dollars per thousand. The next year was a thriving one for the brick-trade, as the city was largely built up with brick, and Mr. Paine alan unde three million brick and employod seventy men. The business continued in a flourishing condition for several years, until there was a great cessation of building in the city. when the manufacture was nearly attendloned. The only one engaged in the manufacture of brick at present is J. I .. MeDonakl, who umkes nhout three hundred themsaud ammully. The material used is the soil outside the levee, between Marysville and Yuba City, where the yard is situated.
BROOMS.
As early as 1855, brooms were manufactured in a small way in this city. The farmers along Feather river began to raise broum coru about that time, which they sold to the factory here and in San Francisco. They have continued to make thisn crop, and at one time great quantities were raised. Several factories bave been in existence here at various times, some small and some quite large. At present there is but chie, on Second street between E and High streets, owned by W. F. LeFavor. He ammally manufactures three thousand dozen brooms, besides brushes of various kinds. The market for theso goods is chiefly in San Francisco.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.