USA > California > Yuba County > History of Yuba County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, public buildings, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 21
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LINDA.
John Rose, William J. Reynolds, and George Kinloch bought the grant land along the south bank of the Yuba river from Michael C. Nye in the spring of 1849. They kept large numbers of cattle which they grazed on the plains and with which they supplied the mines with
76
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY. CALIFORNIA.
mat. Her and Kinloch las charge of the ranch while Reynolds kept the stenen at Komme l'air. They lived at the old lamer where the town of Linda was niterwards Imilt. In December, 1- 99, the Linda Company arrived at the ranch in the: xteater " Litola" and disem barked. They were well played with the location and beauty of the Minst, sul thinking as they hol surredrd in reaching this point in their vonuel, navigation to the mines wonbl In extended as far as this place, and they advised Rose to lay out a town. They promised to take or well enough lots to repay him for any outlay he might wake in that direction. The partnership of Rose, Reynolds and Kinloch,
way dissolved in the spring of 1850, Rose keeping the ruch as his portion. In the spring, Rose laid out a town containing about one wego mile ml wand it Linda in hour of the company and the little pioneer straumer. The. " Linda " brought up a bowlof Marysville people, mol the new town was inaugurated and christened over many a bottle of wine. Lots were mlvertised for sale in Sacramento, April 26, 1850, by J. B. Starr & C., auctioneers. Her established a ferry neruss the river, Charles Laupdon huilt a house, a store was openel, and twoor three still dwellings were created. This was the condition of the jdave for two years, when all expectation of buibling a town was given up, and the proph. who had settled there removed to other purts. In 1856, a bridge was built across the river, at this point. und was carried away by the great flood in December, 1861.
'The site of the ohl town is now covered with sand and overgrown with willows. The waters of the Yuba sweep over it in winter, leav- ing no indication of the onee fertil spot ou which stood the little town of Linda.
E1,1%.1.
In the fall of 1849, a large company from Maine, called the Ken- uolwe Company, purchased of John A. Sutter, a large tract of land occupied ly Jack Smith, and called the Memal ranch. It was west of Linda, and extended one mil on the river and three miles back. In January, 1850, the town of Eliza was laid out on Feather river, three miles brlow Marysville, mol in the southwest corner of the Memal ranch. The advantage claimed for this point, was that boats conbl land without any inconvenience from the obstructions in the river, which remlered the stream above dangerous for navigation. Several boats bad groundbol betwern Eliza aml Marysville, which had created quito an alarm. The Keimobec Company. Captain Sutter, and Dr. Met'ullough were the proprietors of the town. When the owners of Marysville ascertained that the Kemrebec Company were to locate on land, they offered them a one-fourth interest in the city of Marysville, Int their agent, Dr. Met'ullongh, becoming alarmed at the prospects of Marysville, invested in the town of Eliza. Hon. Phil. W. Keyser emne to Eliza in February and was elected Alcalde. In April, lots
wer alvertised for sale at anction in Sacramento. A correspomlent writing to the Power Times, of Sacramento, under date of April 24, 150, says :-- Found tl barque ' Cunningham' and two other vessels " discharging their caryw's at Eliza; also notices of the public meeting " there on the 24th, to organize a town government. This place is "rapidly increasing." The town at this time contained eight or ten lemnses, including three stores, two or three saloons, a post-office, and sothe dwelling houses. also some temporary tents. A largo number of lots were soll, the transfers of which are recorded in the book kept by Aleable Keyser, aml now ou file at the Court House in Marysville. In June it became apparent that no town could be built up there, as Marysville had assumed such proportions as to overshadow her near rivals, and the people abandonat the ill-fated Eliza. There is noth- ing left to mark the spot, and the sand has taken complete possession. Two members of the Krimebec Company, lolm Seaward and A. W. C'utts, now reside in Marysville.
SAND FLAT.
This is an old mining flat on the Ynba river, ten miles above Marys- ville. Some portions of the flat paid rich returns for the labor spent on it. Three dlitches, the River, Eureka, and Tri-Union, were run to this place for the purpose of working the mines. A little work is still being done here.
OUSLEY'S BAR.
Just above Sand Flat is an old mining har, now entirely covered with mining debris. Work was conunenced here late in 1849, and quite a little mining town grew up which was named after Dr. Ousley, of Missouri, who mined and practiced medicine. In two or three years it was partially deserted, although in 1858, a little work was still being done here. When the Tri-Union ditch was constructed, it was ex- tended to this placc. There were no other settlements of any conse- quence in the township, except one made in 1850 near the river, where the Smartsville road leaves that stream. This place was called Ynba Dam, and is the original of the old " Yuba Dam Story " so familiar to all.
John Rose, in 1850, laid out a field of seventy acres, on which John Day and another man raised a crop of barley that year, which they cut for hay before it ripened. John Brophy hought the upper mile of Rose's ranch in 1850, and opened a hotel. The seventy-acre field was sold by Rose to a man named Chick in the fall of 1850. In 1853, Brophy returned east to bring his family here, and the Simpson family occupied his place. When he returned the next year, the Simpsons moved to Ynba Dam. In 1855, a school house was built and called the Brophy school. It was attended by all the children in that vicinity. Riley Lane laid out the Lane road in 1857, and opened the
hotel which he still keeps. He built a school house in 1858, which has since been torn down. Other hotels were opened along the lines of travel, and settlements were gradually made, until all the land ho- eamn occupied. Tho Oregon division, C. P. R. R., has a station on the south side of the river, where they receive freight. It is called Yuba Station, and consists of a warehouse and side track.
CHAPTER XXVI.
EAST AND WEST BEAR RIVER TOWNSHIPS.
Old Township Divisions-Present Boundaries-Early Settlements-First Efforts in Agricul- ture-Soil-Barham's Crossing-Trimble's Crossing-Kempton's Crossing -Johnson's Cross ing-Town of Kearney-Camp Far West-Wire Bridge -- MaCourtney's -Graham's Holel- Melon's Hotel- Cabbage Patch-Round Tent-Plumas Landing -Plumas City- El Dorada City-Reed's Station MeDonabl's Distillery -Von Schmidt's Mill Wheatland - Transfers of 'Title-Its Growth Town Government-List of Trustees-Present Dns'ness Interests Financial Exhibit-The Farmers' Bank of Wheathnd-Wheatland F'lonr Stills- Wheatland Recorder-Nicolaus Lodge, No. 129. F. & A. M .- Sntter Lodge, No. 100, [. 0. 0. F. Odl Fellows' Hall Association -Wheatland Lodge, No. 54, A. O. U. W .- Wheatland Laklgo, Nu. 353, I. O. G. T .- Wheatland Grange, No. 260, P. of H .- Wheatland Hook and Ladder Com. pany, No. 1-Euroka; Hose Company -- Independent Fire Company -First BaptistChurch- Christian Church-Grace Episcopal Mission.
At the first division of the county into townships by the Court of Sessions, August 24, 1850, the connty embraced Sierra and Nevadu counties. There were fifteen townships created, and the Bear river territory was called Town number twelve, no name being given it. The boundaries were very nearly the same as the present ones of these two townships. The next division was made, August 7, 1851, after Nevada county had been taken away, eleven townships being formed and this territory being included in Eliza number two, and Parks Bar number three. These two embraced all the territory between Yub and Bear rivers, and from Feather river to the Nevada county line. It was divided by a line running south from the junction of Dry creek, and the Yuba river, to Bear river. The west division was called Eliza, and the east, Parks Bar. October 7, 1852, after Sierra county was taken away, the court again divided the connty into ten townships. Eliza and Parks Bar were left the same as before, with the exception that the name Eliza was changed to Linda, and Parks Bar to Rose Bar. The Board of Supervisors made the next change, October If), 1856, and formed ten townships. Bear River No. 3 was the same as the present, except that a portion of the northwest corner of West Bear River was in Linda No. 2, and a strip of what forms the south end of Rose Bar was in Bear River. September 17, 1861, the last division was made by the Board of Supervisors, and the Bear River township was divided into two, and given the present boundaries which are :-
West Bear River :- Commeneing at the northeast corner of town- ship 14 N., range 4 E .; thence southi on the Government township line to Bear river; tlience down the middle of Bear river to its june- tion with Feather river; thence up the middle of Feather river to the
RANCH AND RESIDENCE OF C.P. GILLETTE, WHEATLAND, EAST BEAR RIVER TP. YUBA CO. CAL.
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HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY. CALIFORNIA.
southwest corner of Linda township; thence east on the south line of Linda township to the place of beginning.
East Bear Rivor :- Commencing at the northwest corner of town- whip 14 N., range 5 K. ; thence running cast on the Government line to tho southwest corner of section 35, township 15 N., range 5 E .; thence north to the northwest corner of said section; thenco east on section linos to tho lino between Yuba and Nevada counties; thence south on the county line to Bear river; thence down the middle of Bear river to the oast line of township 13 N., range 4 E .; thence north en suid line to the placo of begining.
Although thisrogion hud not the honor of recoiving tho first settlement in the county, still it was the first to bo agriculturally doveloped. The rich lund along the rivers and creoks wero cagorly suized by the first settlers who suw in thom onsy cultivation und great fertility. The higher land further back from the river bottom, and what is known as rod land, was net so soon occupied, for the roason that it was not thenght to bo so fortilo, or of so much valno. Passing over the onrly settlement of Benr rivor, which is given at length in the general his- gory, wo como to thio condition ef tho country in 1851. At the begin- ning of that your wo find a fow sottlers along Bear river and Dry creek. Comnoncing nt the river, near the Novada county line, we find Jolui 11. MoCourtnoy; holow him, where the wire bridgo now stands, was a saw-mill owned by Alexander Van Court. Further down was tho U. S. Military post, Camp Far West. From this point to the Novadu county lino, woro a number of miners working the small bars on Bonr river. Betwoon the Camp and Johnson's Crossing was Joseph Vero, and ut the crossing itself, Charles Hoyt who was in charge of the proporty of Robinson and Gillospio. With him was James Anthony, who afterwards started the Sacramento Union. On tho opposito sido of tho rivor was Claude Chana, whose placo was rented to J. L. Burtis. Burtis was in partnership with n man named Foster, and both wore ongagod in the live stock trado. Fostor spent his time chietly in the southern part of the State purchasing cattle. The animals were brought to Johnson's Crossing, to be grazed on the plains and driven te market in tho minos and at Marysville. On the south side of tho rivor, opposito the sito of Wheatland, was Harvey Dyer. Still further down, at whint is now called Kempton's Crossing, was a winn namod Law. This placo was then callod Robinson's Crossing, from a man hy that namo who settled thero in 1849, and had moved away. One mile from the mouth of Bear river, at Barham's Crossing, was John Barham. On the north side of the river, nt that point, was a hotel kept by Hiram Hackney and Dr. McCullongh. Two miles above Barham's was Trimble's Crossing. Allen Trimble settled there in 1850. With him wns James McMahon. Between Barham and Trimble was n man named Wilson. The settlers on Dry creek were
R. Baxter and William J. States, about one mile from Keunton's Crossing. They had a store at Rose Bar in 150, and came to this place the same year. Further up the crrek was J. B. Watson. on the ranch now owned by W. A. Crops. Below him was the ranch of tol. William Finley, and his partner Pratt. Just below them was James Finley. On Reed's Dry creek, where Reed's station now stands, was Henry Reed, who had settled there in 1850, At the Phunas Landing. on Feather river, south of the month of Reed's Dry creek, was Jesy! Robinson, a young man whose father had settled the place and died in 1850. Ilo was probably the man who settled at Robinson's or Komp- ton's Crossing in 1849, These were all the settlements in the Bear river country, January 1, 1851.
The occupations of the settlers were various. McCourtnoy kept a trading post, and Van Court had a saw-mill; Bartis und Foster were in tho cattle trade; Hackney and MeCullough kept hotel; John Barham kept hotel and had a race track; Allen Trimblo kept a hotel. The other settlers were either cutting hay or raising cattle. No grain was raised in 1850, except a littlo barley on Clande Chana's place by J. L. Burtis. A number of new settlers came in 1851, some occupying new lands and others buying the places already improved. Edwin and Danforth Prescott and G. W. Toby bought the Wilson place neur Barham's Crossing. Later in the year Danforth Prescott and G. W. Toby soll their interests to John Seaward, who now lives in Marys- ville. Dr. E. D. Smith settled on Dry Creek, about a mile from its mouth. A man named Vestel settled on a portion of the Johnson grant nenr Wheatland. The ranch now owned by F. R. Lofton, on Dry creek, was settled this year by a man named Ilcad. In the fall of 1851, a man named Baker settled at Round Tent. In 1850, the stages from Sacramento to Nevada crossed Bear river at Jolinson's and went np by the way of Watson's and the Empire Ranch near Smartsville, hurt in 1851, the route was changed to go over the hills and past Round Tent.
There was no grain raised on Bear river in 1851, hut most of the settlers cut the timothy grass and red clover that grew in great abun- dance all along the rich river-bottom. They hanled this hay up to the mines in the mountains and brought back lumber, with which they built houses, sheds, fences, etc. In the winter of 1851, Charles Justis, now living at Wheatland, came to Johnson's Crossing and interested himself in the cattle business with J. L. Bintis. In the spring of 1852, Burtis and Justis bought thirteen hundred head of cattle in Los Angeles, which they sold in the markets at Marysville and in the mines. William Campbell also became interested with them. H. H. Flagg arrived early in 1852 at Kempton's Crossing and cut hay there. Nathan Kempton came there in 1852, and kept a hotel. The name was then changed from Robinson's to Kempton's
Crossing. The same yeni, B. W. Howser. A. N. Howser, Mr. Sid- nor, and De. Wyntt settled on " the big tield." John Sharp and William Moulton bought ont Hackney and Med'ullough's place at Barhanı's Crossing in 1852, and the place has since been known as Sharp's hotel. Michael Tallent and Patrick O'Brien settled late in 1852 about three miles west of Whentland. Dr. Eli A. Hurper set. tled on the Johnson grant in 1852, and cat hay where Wheatland now stands. That samo year two negroes settled on Dry crock at the " Cabbage Patch." Anson Bartel also settled on the Marysville and Sacramento road, at Reed's Dry creek, thea known as Arroyo Moche (Cut off). In 1855, he moved two miles north and built ut hotel called Bartel's hotel. Mooney and Riley, of Empire Ranch, in Rose Bar township, bought J. B. Watson's ranch and went into the stock business in 1852. Colonel Lowis also enmo and cultivated " the hig tichl."
The first grain raised in the two townships after 1848 was har- vested in 1852. J. L. Burtis had n field of burley just bolow Camp Far West, and another on Cham's placo. The largest erop was that. raised by Colonel Lewis on " the big fich." Hero he had two hun- dred or three hundred neres of barley. The pluco received its mnom from the fact that at that time it certainly was n big tiekdl. There were no other grain erops in 1852, most of the ranches being engaged in cutting hay and herding cuttle. In 1853, the crop of barley on " the big field " was six hundred or seven hundred neres. It was raised by John J. Lynn. In the spring of 1853, Lynn went to Marysville and bought fifty-three pounds of wheat. After his little daughter had fed tivo or six pounds to the chickens, he sowed the remainder in an old cattlo corral. From this he threshed one hundred and eighty bushel of wheat. This was probably the only whent raised in 1853, though most of the ranchers had more or less barley.
Not before 1855 was there much whent raised. In 1852, J. 1 .. Burtis planted two thousand five hundred dollars worth of fruit trees on his place just below Johnson's Crossing. They never amounted to much, however, and are now buried in mining debris. A. W. Von Schmidt set out a vineyard in 1855, near Wheatland; the place is now owned by Mrs. O'Brien. The first threshing machine croployedl on Bear river was a one-horse endless chain machine used on Chama's place in 1852 to thresh Burtis' crop of barley. It belonged to John Hereford, who lived a few miles below Sheridan. Eben Noyes had a good machine which he used a distance south of the river in 1852. In 1853, he brought it to the river and threshed mnost of the grain along the stream. This year Jesse Robinson and Dr. Brower, who was then with him at Plumas Landing, also had a machine with which they threshed some grain. It was a poor concern, however, and was not much used. In 1854, a number of the ranchers procured reapers
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HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY. CALIFORNIA.
or mowers with which to ent their gram or hay, and by 1-55, or 1856, they were nearly all supplied. After 1852, the country along the river miał Dry creek began to be rapidly taken up by settlers who were tired of the mines. The chief crops how are wheat, barley. protectores and bay. Potatoes, which have become quiten product, were fint raised in any quadity in 1862. The potatoes shipped both by wagon and milroad in 1878, were about 14,500 sacks, or 2, 184, 000 pounds. These figures were furnished us by S. D. Wood, who is probably the best capable of making auch un estinte. The acreage of wheat, barley and potatoes for 1879, is estimated by the C. P. R. R. Co., to las- whent, twenty thanmnd ueres; barley, four thousand acres; potatoes, six hundred and thirty sven neres. Besides these ther .. wus u large quantity of huy cut. There are also about one hundred and thirty ueres of vineyund, containing one hundred and thirty thou. Hund vines.
Bear river, which Torius the southern boundary of the townships, has changed its course considerably siner it became filled with taitings frau the mines, and neur Wheatland it now runs ubont half a mile Month of its old chamel. The soil is of thive kinds; along the river in the bottom lands is'a rich back soil, which is now covered up with the sterile soud sont down from the mines, except where in a small spot near Wheatland it has been partly saved by levers. Back from the river on the higher ground the soil is chietly red dirt, with here and there a streak or patch of adobe. In the eastern part of the district, near to und in the foothills. the soil is red dirt und somewhat mixed with gravel. This land is used for sheep grazing, and large bands of sloep are kept by the runchers there. The eastern portion of the township runs into the foothills, which are covered with fir, pine, onk. and manzanita. The largo trees have long since been cut out for wood and timber. Along the ereeks are a mumber of thinly scattered whito onks, hardly dense quongh to bo called timber. They were, howover, more numerous in early days, but have been largely ent away. Along Boar river und the creeks wherever the water and debris havo taken posession. a thick matted growth of willows has sprung up. Aside from this there is no timber in the townships. 'l'ho first, school was kept at. Kompton's Crossing on the south side of the river in 1852. It was attended by children from both sides of the stromm. About 1855, a brick school house was built there large enough to accomunalate fifty scholars. In 1853, a school house was built near Plumas Landing, a small primitive atfair; in 1856, a better builling was erected. later a portion of the old building was moved to the site of the present Plumas school house, and with additions formed that structure.
BARHAM'S CROSSING.
John Barham settled in 1849, on the south side of Bear river, about
one mile from its mouth. The stages from Sacramento to Marysville, by the way of Nicolaus, used this place as a crossing point. Barham built a hotel here, and the locality became known as Barham's Cross- ing. A temporary bridge was built here in 1850, and in 1853, a letter one was constructed. This bridge was destroyed, and another built a short distance up the stream. In 1850, Hiram Hackney and Dr. MeCullough built a hotel on the north side of the stream. They sold to John Sharp and William Moulton in 1852. This house was then called Sharp's Hotel. Sharp was killed a few years later by a wool chopper named Sullivan. In 1851, Barham construeted a rude race track, which was gradually improved until it was put in good con- ilition. Bantham had a running horse called Selim and another man bad Due named Baldy: these horses ran frequent races in 1851, or 1852, and made a mile in about two minutes. The distance usually run was a quarter of a mile. The most noted race was in 1857, when a horse from Cache creek ran against Selim six hundred yards, for a purse of three hundred dollars. Selim won this race, but another immediately after for two thousand dollars, was won by the stranger. Large crowds attended these sports, and as the excitement was great and money plenty, a great deal of betting was indulged in. General Thomas Green laid out a town ono mile square, on the south side of Bear river, in Sutter county, at Barham's Crossing, and ealled it Oro. No buildings besides the hotel and a zinc house were erected, and the town never had any actual existenee, except on the plat. The corner stakes of the lots eould be scen until they were covered up by the sand.
TRIMBLE'S CROSSING.
Allen Trimble settled above Barham's in 1852, and built a hotel. A bridge was constructed of trees in 1850, on John Seaward's place by Henry Watson. This was used until 1853, when a better one was built and kept by Trimble as a toll bridge. This bridge was washed away in 1857. Another one was constructed one-half mile further up stream. The bridge was removed about ten years ago, and the site is now covered up with sediment. In 1853, when the old tree bridge was on Seaward's place, an opposition stage line used it as a crossing.
KEMPTON'S CROSSING.
This place was first called Robinson's Crossing, a man of that name having settled there in 1849. Robinson left in 1850, and a man named Low took the place. In 1852, H. H. Flagg and Nathan Kemp- ton settled there. Kempton kept a hotel, and the name of the place was changed to Kempton's Crossing. A crude structure to answer the purpose of a bridge, was built in 1850. A better one was built in 1853. This was subsequently partially destroyed by the floods, and was repaired. The place is the crossing point between Wheatland and
Nicolaus. It was here that the first school on Bear river was kept in 1852.
JOHNSON'S CROSSING.
At this point, a few miles above Kempton's, was the first settlement on the river. Don Pablo Gutteirez came there in 1844, and built a mud house on the north side of the river. Gutteirez was shot in 1845, and the place sold by General Sutter to William Johnson and! Sebastian Kyser. Johnson built an adobe house, and the place was called Johnson's Crossing. Theodore Sicard settled on the south side in 1844, and built an adobe house. Claude Chana bought Sicard's place in 1849, and Hemy E. Robinson and Eugene Gillespie purchased Jolm- son and Kyser's property. In 1849, Robinson and Gillespie laid out a town here and called it Kearney, in honor of the General of that name. In the issue of October 27, 1849, of the Placer Times, a newspaper published in Sacramento, we find the following advertisement:
" TOWN OF KEARNEY.
" The proprietors of Johnson's rancho, on Bear river, in view uf " numerous applications, bave laid off a small portion of it into lots, " which are now offered to the public. It is situated at the only cross- "ing on Bear river, surrounded by arahle and pasture land, and is " central and nearer than any other point to the mines, on the north fork " of the American river, Yuba and Feather rivers, and Deer creek. The " roads leading to these varions mines, as well as the principal emigrant "rontes across the Plains, interseet at Kearney. Communication may " be had with the mines at all seasons of the year. The officers ap- " pointed to select a military post for the erection of fortifications, " have, after a careful survey of the whole country, located at this " point. Two saw-mills are now in progress of erection, which will " soon furnish a plentiful supply of the finest lumber. To those wish- " ing to select a point for business, and who propose making permanent "improvements, the most liberal terms will be offered. Maps of the " town may be seen at the houses of Gillespie, Gerald & Co., and H. " E. Robinson, Esq., Sacramento, or at the office of the agent at 25tf."
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