USA > California > Yuba County > History of Yuba County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, public buildings, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 8
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The discovery of gold on the American river led Mr. Nye and a party to start out on a prospecting trip on the Yuba river. In the summer-the exact date is not known-they found paying diggings on Dry creek near its junction with Yaba river, and commenced working on an extensive scale. The discoveries by Mr. Spect and Mr. Nye's company were nearly contemporaneons, and as the parties started from different localities, and withont any knowledge of the acts of the other, dne credit should be given to each. A brief sketch of the life of Jonas Spect, the discoverer of gokl on the Yuba river, may be of interest in this connection. He was born in Pennsylvania. In 1846, he went from Ohio to Missouri. In 1847, he left Independence, Missouri, for Oregon, driving an ox team. At the first crossing of Snake river, he left the train and started for Oregon alone, a bold undertaking. The Indians treated him well, although one party with whom he stopped, a month later killed a great many of the train he had been with. He arrived
in Oregon six weeks before the train, and in Jammary, 1848, sailed for San Francisco. \ In April of the same year he went to Johnson's Crossing to join a train being made up to return to tho States. His subsequent career has been given in connection with the previous reeital. He founded, in March 1849, the town of Fremont, Yolo County, and was elected to the first Senate from the Sonoma District. Mr. Spect now resides in Colnsa. About tho sixth of June, 1848, after Mr. Spect commenced working on his claim, a party from Benicia arrived, consisting of Major S. Cooper, his son Sarshel, Nicolaus Hunsacker, Dr. Marsh, Dr. Long and his brothers. They commenced mining on Parks Bar. Major Cooper, Sarshel Cooper and Nicolaus Himsacker worked together and made fifty dollars an hour, and because they could do no better, left in disgust. In July, John Rose arrived at the bar which afterward bore his name. Mr. Rose was born in Scot- land and learned the trade of ship carpentering. He went to London in 1837 with the intention of shipping for the East Indies, but was disap- pointed, and instead, shipped for Peru. From there the vessel proceeded to Yerba Buena, arriving in 1840. He remained there a year, and then went on a voyage along the Coast to Peru and Chili, and returned in 1843. He remained nt Monterey a year, and then embarkel in ship carpentering at Yerba Buena with two others -- Davis and Wm. J. Reynolds; Davis left the firm shortly afterwards. Mr. Reynolds was an Englishman and came early to California; in 1840 he was carpen. ter on a vessel in the coasting trade. The firm started to build a vessel, but were compelled to discontinue it, as timber had to be cut iu Oregon and material could not be obtained cheaply enough. They were build. ing a grist-mill for General Vallejo when gold was discovered. Most of the men left at once, but a few were persuaded to remain and finish the mill, by the agreement to take them to Sutter's Mill in a wagon. This was done, the party arriving ou the American river in June, 1848. The next month another party was formed, mostly of men who had been working for Mr. Rose, which went to the Yuba river and located on Rose Bar, the diggings being worked on shares. The greater part of the company became dissatisfied and went away. Mr. Chana was in the bar-room at Weber's Hotel in San Jose, one day in February, 1848, when a man came in, and to pay for something he had purchased, offered some gold dust, saying that gold had been discovered at Sutter's Mill on American river, and all were going to work. The people were very incredulous and would not believe the story. Chana was going up on business, and an old Georgia miner told him that what the man had was really gold, and requested him to investigate the matter. When he arrived he asked Sutter regarding it, and the Captain assured him that it was a certainty, and that a man could make five dollars a clay. He carried the news to San Jose and the place was ahost deserted, everyone hastening to the mines. On the fifteenth of May, Mr.
APPEAL STEAM PRINTING HOUSE
DAILY & WEEKLY APPEAL.
W.L.LAWRENCE SADDLERY
F, BUTTELMANN & CO. WHOLESALE & RETAIL LIQUOR DEALERS IMPORTERS OF FINE WINES, BRANDIES ETC.
AGENTS
F.BUTTELMANN & CO. PHILADELPHIA WHOLESALE &RETAIL LIQUORS. LAGER BEER
W.L.LAWRENCE, HARNESS & SADDLERY,
APPEAL
LAWRENCE 107
LAGEA
BULLETIN
BEER
HARNESS SADDLERY
POT
LITH BY G.L. JAIFE 6200
AKLAND. CALL
FREMONT BLOCK CORNER OF 2ND & MAIDEN LANE, C.E.SEXEY,OWNER, MARYSVILLE, YUBA CO, CAL.
37
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Chana, three other white men and thirty Indians struck south from Bear river, searching for gold. The first night they camped ou Anburn ravine, near the present town of Ophir, Placer County. He struck his spade into the ground a short distance from camp and fond gold. The next day they all went to work. The gokl dust was weighed in very crude scales undle of a strap of leather, a silver dollar being used as a weight. They remained there three weeks, when Chana went up to the Yuba river at Rose Bar, where work had already commenced. He met a man named hunan who had been working on the river, and who informed him that he was going further south, as he could only unke five ar six dollars a day on Yuba river. Chana and his party went to the Iduce where he had heen ut work, und by digging a little deeper mundo one Inundred and fifty dollars cach the first day. Previous to these discoveries the whole travel lund been to the earlier inines, and the surrounding country had only been traveled by roving Canadian families and Indiens. But now others flocked in from Oregon, San Francisco and other localities; prospectors pushed ulend up the river and chims were rapidly located. During the summer af 1848, there wns but little permanent mining, the miners shifting about, finding rich pockets here and there. The nomadic und mantisfiod spirit of the prospectors led them to abandon paying claims in search of some place nearer the " source of gold," and ren- dering greator results. Through this action they failed to gain any satisfactory results, The more sober and industrions who came after- wards, located on the okl claims and worked them to good advantage.
In the full of 1848, an election was held at Sutter's Fort for First and Second Alenklos, resulting in the selection of Frank Bates and Jolin S. Fowler, The latter resigned in the spring of 1849, and H. A. School- craft was elected to the position. In December, the survey of the town of Shernmonto was made by Captain William H. Warner, an U. S. Army atheer. It has been stated that Cordua sold one Iulf of his interest to Charles Covillaud, in October, 1848, and it is probable that un agreement was made at that time, although the documents were not signed till early in January, 1849. The recorded deed sets forth that Theodore Cordua, of New Mecklenburg, Sacramento District, California, for $12,500 soll to Churles Covillaud " the imdivided one-half of all the " lauds leased to me by Captain Sutter, situate upon Ynba and Feather " rivers; all tho undivided one-half of all the lands granted to me by " Manuel Micheltoreun situate upon the Hungut; also the undivided " one-half of all the horned cattle owned by me; also the one-half of all " the tamo horses and mares; also the one-half of all the hogs and " poultry; also the one-half of all the goods and chattels upon said " rancho, viz: the one-half of all the saddles, harness, bridles, house- " held furniture, grain canoes, etc., etc. And the undivided half of all " other goods and chattels not mentioned in the above schedule now
" remaining and being upon my rancho at New Mecklenburg." The firm name was Cordua & Co. Mr. Corna remained in the firm till the fourth of January, 1844, when he disposed of his interest to Messrs. Nye andd Foster.
CHAPTER XI. YUBA COUNTY IN 1849.
Sale of One half of Cordua's Ranch by Mr. Covillaud to Michael C. Nye and William Foster- The Same Changed to "Nye's Ranch " Purchase of a Tract of Land on Yuba River, by Rose, Reynolds and Kinloch-Election of a Board of Commissioners to Frame a Code of Laws for the District-Adoption of their Report, and Election of Alcalde and Sheriff The Town of Vernon-The Placer Times- Constitutional Convention-Table of Delegates from Sacramento District-Camp Far West -Purchase of the Interest of Messrs. Nye and Foster, by Mr. Covillaud -Subsequent Sale of Une. half to .I. M. Ramirez aod .I. Sampson, and the. fourth to Theodore S card -The Kennebec Company-Appearance of the Ranch in the Last Portion of the Year -Survey Made by Mr. August Le Plonjean-Activity in Real Estate Transactions-Feary Relative to the Validity of the Title-The Name Changed to Yuba. ville-Settlements 0 Bear River-Acts of John S. Moore, the Counterfeiter.
The year 1849 opened with but little visible improvement in the future city, or many additions to its roll of inhabitants. The whale current of travel was towards the mines on the upper parts of the rivers, and few considered it necessary to remain more than a day ur two at the old rauch on the Yuba. On the fourth of January, Cordin for twenty thousand dollars sold to Michael C. Nye and William Foster his remaining one-half interest in the business and possessions of the firin of Cordna & Co., Charles Covilland retaining the other half. Nyc and Foster also put into the partnership their previous possessions, in view of which they ench were allotted a third interest in the joint busi- ness. Nye managed the ranch and stock business, while Covilland had a store at Sicard Flat, and Foster one near Foster Bar. The name of the main ranch was now changed to "Nye's Ranch." The firm found n ready market for all of their beef in the mines, or with travelers to and from the diggings. In April, 1849, the estimated amount of stock on the ranch was five thousand head of cattle, six hundred horses, five Inindred hogs, and a small collection of poultry. Cordna, having sold his property, moved to the mines, opening a store at Cordua Bar; it was not long before he had spent all of the money paid him by Nye and Foster. In the spring, Rose, Reynolds and Kinloch purchased the whole tract owned by Nye and Sicard on Ynba river. George Kinloch's father was a Scotchman, who came to California about 1825; his mother was a native Californian. George received his education in the Sandwich Islands under the tuition of the missionaries, there being no opportunities in California except in the mission schools of the Catholic friars. He entered into partnership with Messrs. Rose and Reynolds shortly after they opened their store at Rose Bar in 1848.
During the spring a Board of Commissioners were elected at Sacra- mento to frame a code of laws for the district. The following were the members :- Messrs. Brannan, Snyder, Slater, Hensley, King,
Cheever. MeCoover, MeDengil, Barton Ieee, Tetle, Southard, Fowler, and Dr. Carpenter. The committee speedily prepared their report aul, calling the people together under the shado of an oak trop at the foot of I street, Sacramento city, submitted to them tho result of their labors. It provided for the election of one Alcalde and a Sheritl, with a jurisdiction extending from the Coast Rango to the Sierm Nevada mountains, and throughout the Sacramento valley. The report having been adopted, H. A. Schooleraft was elected Aleable, and A. M. Turner Shevit. These constituded the judiciary of Northern California up to the latter part of 1849, About the first of April, the town of Vernon, in Sutter county, on the east bank of the Sacramento river at its confluence with Feather river, was started. The land comprising two sections had been purchased by Franklin Bates, E. O. Crosby, and B. Simous from Capt. J. A. Sutter, the latter retaining a quarter interest in the town, Owing to the fact that it was euusidered to be the "head of navigation," its riso was very rapid. Three or four wholesale stores were established m touts or in board structures. Ox teams and pack trains were loaded hero with supplies for the mining localities. In a very short time there were upone:I several hotels and boarding houses, butcher shops, blacksmith sluqes, bumdries, and even a law office and Alcalde's court, Fight or ten saloons or gambling houses were started, and the town presentoxl n busy apparence. Of the business men and firms were Capt, Savage, Bradbury & Co., and Williams & Co, Gilbert A. Grant was Aleakle and agent for the sale of lots. George W. Crane was the attorney- at-law. Jonas Spect lind previously settled on the west bank of the Feather river and located the town of Fremont. As soon as it was found that steamers and the larger sailing vessels conkI snccessfully reach the landing at Marysville, Vernon's fate was scaled and the town was soon nearly deserted. It was at one time the County scat of Suttor County, Thinking that Vernon was to be the city of Northern California, and tbat the limited confines of the first map would, in the rush of settlers, be insufficient for all the locations, au addition, called " South Vernon," was laid out, but only one house was constructed thereon. April 28, a weekly paper printed upon paper of the size of foolscap, and called the Placer Times, issued its first number, at Sutter's Fort. Mr. E. C. Kimble was its editor, type-setter, printer, and publisher, and was the " pioneer newspaper man " of the Valley.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Congress during its session of 1848-49, discussed at length the state of affairs in the newly-acquired possessions, the main point being whether California should be admitted as a free or as u slave State, The session closed without any final action being taken to provide a system of government for the new country. People were pouring in over the plains and mountains, and each successive steamer or sailing
38
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY. CALIFORNIA.
vesel landed its hundreds of passengers. Of different nationalities and temperaments, these immigrants could not work iu mity. The cxist- ing laws of California were of Mexican origin, well adapted to the quiet life in the missions or around the ranchos, but not suitable to keep in check the crimes and turbulence among the host of adven- turers. Anticipating the action of Congress, the citizens of San Fran- vixen, Sau Jome, Sinmun, wird Monterey, met in their respective localities und discussed the situation. They decided to elect delegates to a Con- stitutionud Convention, but owing to a lack of mity, the project failed. Like other haportant mul dreisive movements, it required a leader, competent to assume authority and to direct the movements of the furees. Under the existing laws, in the absence of a pouperly appointed civil Governor, the General in command of the Military Departmont wu erzofficio, civil Guverner. This office was entirely separate aud distinct, from the military position, and he was the only person- age exercising "untlwity by virtue of his military commission." The goverment of California was vested in the following officers: Governor, Secretary, Territorial or Digartmnoutal Legislaturo, Superior Court, consisting of four Judges and n Fiscal Prefect and Sub- Prefects For the expention of the laws, Judge of First Instance for each district, sometimes vested in the First Alcalde of the district, Alcaldes, local Justices of the Penve, Ayuntamientos or Town Councils.
By advico of the officials in Washington, General B. Riley, as Cov- eruur of California, issued a proclamation, dated at Monterey, June 3, 1849, " recommending the formation of a State Constitution, or a plan for Territorial Goverment." The first day of Angust was set for the election of delegates to the proposed Convention, and for filling any venueies existing in the offices. One Judge of the Superior Court was to lu' vated for in the districts of Sonoma, Sacramento and San Joaquin, and the persons chosen, if qualitied, were to be appointed by the Gov- erner, the office by law being tilled by gubernatorial appointment. The district. of Saenunentu was bounded on the north and west by the Sacra- mento river, on the south by the Cosunmes river, and on the cast by the Sierra Nevada mountains. To this district four delegates were allotted. Those elected muler this apportionment were: J. R. Snyder, W. E. Shannon, W. S. Sherwood and J. A. Sutter, Governor Riley, in his proclamation, had given permission for any district to elect super- muneraries if it thought itself entitled to more representatives, and left the question of admitting these gentlemen to the decision of the Convention. Under this authority, several supernumeraries were chosen. The Convention was called to meet at Monterey, Saturday, September 1, 1849, but as there were not enough members present to form a quorum, an adjournment was made till the following Mon- day. Considerable discussion followed in regard to the admission of these extra delegates. In the afternoon Mr. Hill, of the Committee
on Privileges and Elections, submitted a report recommending that the whole number of delegates admissable from Sacramento district be eigbt, and named the following in addition to the four already mentioned :- L. W. Hastings, J. S. Fowler, J. Bidwell, M. M. Mc- Carver. This did not end the discussion, however. Tuesday after- noon, Mr. Shannon, of the Special Committee, reported in favor of allowing this district fifteen delegates, and of the adurission of the following gentlemen, in addition to the four above-mentioned, as being entitled to seats: John McDougal, E. O. Crosby, W. Blackburn, James Queen, R. M. Jones, W. Lacy, C. E. Pickett. This report was adopted, and the gentlemen were admitted. At the conclusion of their work, the delegates procceded in a body to the house of General Riley, where Captain Sutter made a short address, to which the General briefly replicd. The accompanying table will show the rep- resentation from this district. It will be seen that out of the fifteen delegates cbosen and entitled to seats, only eight qualified and dis- charged the duties.
DELEGATES FROM SACRAMENTO DISTRICT TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL CON- VENTION, 1849.
NAME.
AGE.
WHERE BORN.
OF WHAT STATE HAST RESIDENT.
TOWN OR P. O. CAL.
HOW LONG RESIDENT CAL.
PROFES- BION.
Jacob R. Snyder 1
34 Philadelphia
Penn
Sacramento
4 years
Surveyor
Winfield S. Sherwood 2
32
Sandy Hill
New York
Mormon Is.
4 months Lawyer
S. W. Hastings
30 Knox County
lohio
Sntter
6 years
Lawyer
J. A. Sutter
47
Switzerland
Missouri
Sutter
10 years
1Farmer
John MeDongal
32
Ohio
Indiana
Sutter
7 months Merch'nt
E. O. Crosby
34
Tompkins CoNY New York
Vernon
7 months Lawyer
3I. M. MeCarver
42
Madison Co., Ky. Oregon
Sacramento Columa
1 year
Farmer
W. E. Shannon
27
Ireland
New York
3 years
Lawyer
12345678 8
The Convention closed its labors Saturday, October 13th, and one month from that date, the election for the adoption or rejection of the Constitution and the selection of State officers under its provisions, was held, The vote in favor of the Constitution was twelve thousand and sixty-four, and against it eight hundred and eleven. Peter H. Burnett was elected Governor, receiving six thousand seven hundred and sixteen votes, General Sutter being among the defeated candid- ates, and receiving two thousand two hundred and one votes.
In September, the United States Government established a Military Post called Camp Far West, on the north side of Bear river, eight miles below the Nevada county line. It was occupied by a detach- ment of the Second United States Infantry, usually one company, although frequently three or four companies were there. The post was under the command of Captain Day, an old army officer. Major Mckinstry and Captain (afterwards General) Lyon, who was killed at the battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri, in 1861, occasionally visited the place. The soldiers when off duty mined near the camp on Bear river, and could make five or six dollars a day. Log houses
were built for barracks and officers' quarters; a log fort was also constructed. The place was abandoned in May, 1852, and the troops, numbering about forty men of Company E, First Infantry, under command of Lientenaut Davis, were ordered to set out for the upper Sacramento, with the design of establishing a post in the neighborhood of Cottonwood, for the purpose of protecting the settlers from hostile Indians. A public sale was held ou the first day of May, of the extra stores. Mr. Chana states that many of the soldiers were dis- charged, of these some going to the mines or working for settlers others settling on lands, and the remainder going to their homes.
September 27, 1849, Messrs. Nye and Foster sold to Mr. Covilland, for thirty thousand dollars, all their title and interest in the lands, improvements, etc., which had been conveyed to thein by Cordua. Mr. Covillaud was now the sole possessor of the ranch, hut this was to be of but short duration. October 1, 1849, Covillaud sold to J. M. Ramirez and J. Sampson, for twenty-three thousand three hundred dollars, an undivided one- half of his property, twelve thousand dollars to be paid down, and eleven thousand three hundred dollars to be paid July 1, 1850, and during the same month he disposed of one- fourth to Theodore Sicard for twelve thousand dollars, the firm name being Covillaud & Co. On the twenty-fifth of October, a company landed in Marysville which was destined to become an important factor in the more close settlement of Yuba county. This was a joint stock company, composed of twenty-six active, and ten home share- bolders, organized in Gardiner, Maine, and called the Kennebec Company. In March, 1849, the Company went to New Bedford, Massachusetts, where they bought a vessel and loaded a cargo. The officers were :- C. N. Bodfish, President; C. M. N. Cooper, Captain; Leander Cox and one other, Directors. The departure was made on the first of April, the extra accommodations being secured by passengers not members of the organization. On the seventeenth of September, 1849, the ship arrived at San Francisco, and was taken up to "New York of the Pacific," the prospective metropolis on the lower rivers. A house, which they had brought with them in sections, was erected at the town, and the vessel was sold. After landing and making necessary preparations, the company started for the northern mining regions, making the voyage in six row-boats. They landed at the site of Marysville, and remained ou the night of October 25. The next day they resumed the trip. passing np the Yuba two miles to Simpson's Crossing, where they pitched s tent and covered their provisons. The journey was renewed, aul after passing ten miles up the river they discovered and located Keunebec Bar, during the last days of October, 1849.
In November, the only buildings at Nye's Rauch were two alobe structures at the foot of D street, about two or three rods apart.
MARYSVILLE WOOLEN FACTORY, MARYSVILLE, YUBA CO. CAL .
LITH. BY C. A.SMITH & CO GA YÊNNº C44. D.E. KNIGHT, AGENT.
LITH OF C.L. SMITH & CO. OAKLAND, CAL
WORKS OF THE MARYSVILLE COAL GAS COMPANY, D. E.KNIGHT. PRES' T. MARYSVILLE, YUBA CO., CAL.
39
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
One was used as a boarding house, and the other as a lodging apart- ment to accommodate the local travel. No furniture was placed in the latter room, the lodgers being required to furnish their own berlding. The brightening prospects of the location, and the certainty thut it would be the head of navigation, caused the proprietors to have a survey made for a town in December. The work was performed by Angust Le Planjean, who segregated the tract into ranges, blocks, and lots. Tho incipient eity was called Yubuville, the namo it bore till the beginning of the next year. Mr. 1 .. H. Babb states that it was n counnon rumer when he arrived in 1850, that the streets had been hid out and the liues ran by the use of a ship's quadrant. This, if true, accounts for tho irregularities in direction und distance existing now. The survey wns speedily followed by u livoly ront estalo market; lots nud blocks woro disposed of at good ronad figures, and the attention of many who had heretofore thought that all the wealth of the Stuto lay in the mines, was called to this now mewey-making investment. Thoro was one obstaclo which pro- vonted many careful speculators from purchasing lots in this new town, und that was, the validity of the title. The tract had been soeurod from Captain Suttor by Cordun, through a loase for nineteen yours, and at the end of that poriod the lund would rovert to its real owner. During the noxt year this matter of titlo wus settled, and the obstacle romoved. Although the genorally necopted name at this time was Ynbavillo, thore wore those nmong tho poople who had other favorite titlos, and who porsistod in applying thom to the new town. Tho okl adobo honso was tho nuclous about which were orectod, near the closo of the year, a number of shanties. The general xbyło of habitation was the tent made from canvas, cloth, or sacks. There upponrod to be no permanent population, evorylody being on the move, all full of lifo. A mon mmed Osborne had a store on Front street, near tho old adobe, and furnished the travelers and trunsiont settlers
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