USA > Oregon > Douglas County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 63
USA > Oregon > Jackson County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 63
USA > Oregon > Josephine County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 63
USA > Oregon > Coos County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 63
USA > Oregon > Curry County > History of southern Oregon, comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos counties, comp. from the most authentic sources > Part 63
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With the foregoing facts concerning the resources, extent and growth of Josephine county in mind, and its new advantages of access, the reader will doubtless be able to form conclusions as to its future. In regard to its agricultural importance, it must always remain very limited; but not so as to the culture of special products. There is an abundance of land suitable for fruit growing, on which can be raised a limitless amount of the more hardy and useful fruits of the temperate zone. With a very slight difference in climate, there is a strong parallel between the two counties of Jackson and Josephine as to nearly all the agricultural products which have been so far experi- mented upon. Probably every one of the fruits which have proved so signally suc- cessful in the Rogue river valley, would flourish equally well upon the hills of the
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Illinois and its tributaries. The once famed and prosperous valleys of Sucker, Alt- house, Galice and other creeks, exhausted of their golden store, may renew the pros- perity of their former days when the culture of the vine and the apple fills the vacant place of a decreasing industry. Farms are offered for sale in the Illinois valley for one-half of the value they would command in the Rogue river valley. Much gov- ernment land remains unsold there, which would afford homes for many whose exer- tions would elevate the condition of agriculture and benefit the county immensely. The soil of these tracts is pronounced excellent and highly productive.
Though in its decadence, gravel mining is not by any means dead. Much valu- able ground remains to be worked, and for this purpose great preparations are made each year. With the introduction of immense hydraulic apparatus, the working of the gravel beds has become very rapid in comparison with the former mode of work- ing, whereby hundreds of hands are spared to other occupations. Doubtless further explorations will reveal yet other deep gravel beds, whose working will afford a con- stant supply of wealth to their owners and to the county for many years. On quartz discoveries similar expectations may be safely based with even more certainty, since, as quartz mines require a longer time for their discovery and working, and are altogether less certain in their returns, it follows that this particular species of mining may not cease permanently as long as the country remains inhabited or gold retains any value.
CHAPTER LV.
THE ILLINOIS AND ITS TRIBUTARIES.
Importance of the Section-Illinois River Deer Creek Eight Dollar Mountain-Kerbyville-Sucker Creek Fort Briggs Althouse Creek-Browntown -Quartz Mining-Waldo-Gravel Mining - New Hydraulic Claims-Copper Mines-The Queen of Bronze.
The principal historical events of Josephine county are found to cluster about Illinois valley. Along the river of that name and upon its tributaries by far the greater part of the mining has been done and still is doing, and the bulk of the pop- ulation of the county has made its home here. The greater portion of the arable land of the county lies upon or near Illinois river, and farming to a limited extent has been an important industry. The tillable land here is of a very rich quality, and produces excellent crops of small grain, corn, fruit and potatoes, usually sufficient to supply the very limited market of the immediate vicinity. In early years agriculture and min- ing bore the same relation as in Jackson county, and the same remarks are applicable with the exception that in Josephine the agricultural land is so limited in amount, that tilling the soil could never supplant the mining industry, nor could it afford occu- pation for the very large population engaged in that pursuit in the early years. Hence
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we do not find any considerable class of gold-seekers retiring from their placers and settling on donation claims ; but when mining was in its decadence the swarms of men thrown out of lucrative employment, turned toward other mining districts beyond the borders of Josephine, and were lost to the county.
Beginning with the Illinois river, we find the inhabited portion of its valley to have been the upper third of its length, lying between the California line and a point some miles below Kerbyville, where the stream enters a series of narrow and deep canyons, which continue to its mouth, thirty-five miles below. Along its shores no settlements have been made, and no human habitation ever existed there save an occasional miner's shanty, built by the hardy gold-seekers who were working the various bars of the lower Illinois. The stream is hardly to be called river, for in the rainless season its bed contains little water, but in winter it becomes a torrent, and dashes swiftly through its stony, rough and crooked channel. Low down the Illinois there is a tributary, Silver creek, so-called, which runs through a deep and precipitous canyon. This stream derives its name from a pretended discovery of silver ore upon its bank, from which arose quite an excitement, with all the concomitants of difficult accessibility, high assays, and finally the total collapse of the bubble. This happened in 1879.
Higher up the Illinois, and within Josephine county, we come to the mouth of Deer creek, which enters from the east, rising in the divide between the Illinois and Applegate. Its name has an obvious derivation, and its valley has been the scene of many historical incidents. Here is a small extent of rich agricultural land, which early attracted settlers, and - Mooney was the first to avail himself of the privi- leges of the donation law. It was in 1853 that he came. Soon after came William Wixom, followed by Philpot-whose murder by Indians is alluded to in the history of the Indian wars-and William McMullin. Philpot, it is said, was sitting upon his horse which was drinking from Deer creek, when concealed savages opened fire and pierced the rider with several bullets, killing him instantly. Besides this, there was the Guess catastrophe, also alluded to, wherein the head of the first family to settle in Deer creek valley was killed. The tragedy took place while the victim was plowing in his field. The bereaved widow subsequently removed to Salem, but after a resi- dence there of over twenty-five years, returned to the old homestead on Deer creek in 1882.
In the midst of these troublous times Forts Briggs and Hayes were built, the latter being situated between Deer and Slate creeks, the former on Sucker creek. These were fortified farm houses, in which the surrounding settlers took refuge, and garrisons were maintained in each of them during the later Indian war. Fort Hays is on the Thorn- ton place, nine miles north of Kirbyville. The Indians besieged it for a short time, but ineffectually. At the time of the battle of Eight-Dollar mountain the troops rendesvouzed there. The Hayes family who resided at the station gave name to it.
Eight-Dollar mountain, the scene of an important but indecisive battle with the Indians in the early months of 1856, stands at the south side of Deer creek and in the angle formed by that stream and the Illinois. It is perhaps 3,000 feet in elevation above tide-water. A road passes over it which has been in use since the earliest years by travelers between the Illinois and Rogue river valleys. The mountain derives its
WALLING - LITH, PORTLAND.OR.
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JOSEPHINE COUNTY.
name, it is said, from the price of a pair of boots which some one wore out in a single day's tramp over its rough surface. Who the wearer was is differently stated, but is of no consequence. The eminence is in the pine region, and good timber of that sort is abundant.
At the mouth of Deer creek occurred yet another tragedy in the killing of Horace Seeley, James Elzey and a German nicknamed Dutch Pete, in the latter part of Feb- ruary, 1856. These men with M. Ryder, A. Ryder, Coyle, Frank Larkin, and two others, were engaged in mining on Deer creek bar, where they were surprised by Indians, and these three were killed, the others retreating. Anthony Ryder was wounded, but escaped. This incident occurred on the twenty-sixth of February, 1856.
Six miles below Kerbyville, on the Illinois, is Dead Fish bar, a considerable mining locality, the most valuable claim being once the property of Peter Reiser, but now owned by W. W. De Lamatter. In the condition of mining at present these are some of the most important placer claims in the whole country. The gravel beds are exten- sive and on the claim mentioned are worked by a hydraulic stream whose fall is 200 feet. On the other claims ground-sluicing is chiefly resorted to.
The history of early times on Josephine creek embraces a vast deal of interesting matter, relating to mining and prospecting and to Indian troubles, from which the miners of the stream and Canyon creek were not by any means exempt. The incident of the escape of Jolin M. Bour, Billifeldt, George Snyder and another, from Indians in the fall of 1853 is given. The party of four stood a siege for many hours and after nightfall left their cabin and getting past the savages, found safety in another camp. Mr. Bour now resides on the Illinois river several miles below Kerbyville, and is supposed to be the oldest resident of the county. He came to Canyon creek in August, 1852. At Pearsall bar, on the Illinois, and about fifteen miles below Kerbyville, Mr. Tedford was mortally wounded by Indians, and Rouse, his partner, severely cut with an axe, as previously recounted.
Still further up the Illinois is Kerbyville, the county seat and the most import- ant place in Josephine county. It is in the extreme northern part of township 39, south, range 8, west. The place was named for James Kerby, who took a donation claim there in 1855, or thereabouts. Two years later, or in 1857, the town-site was laid off in anticipation that the county seat, then at Waldo, would be changed to a more central locality. Dr. D. E. Holton purchased a part of the Kerby claim, and became instrumental in bringing about the change. S. Hicks had been a partner with Kerby originally, but in 1857, or the following year, he abandoned his portion of the claim, and C. R. Sprague, who squatted upon the land, also left, selling his rights to John B. Sifers, who got a patent for his land. The new town became a commercial center of importance, and yet retains a standing as such. The first building was erected by Dr. Holton in 1857, it being a residence. The second building of importance was a hotel, now existing, and owned by M. Ryder. This was built by G. T. Vining, and was con- sidered an extraordinary structure, indeed, it being really a large and commodious house. At the same time, Vining built a store and filled it with a stock of merchan- dise, and began to traffic. David Kendall was his partner. Captain M. M. Williams, an enterprising Scotchman, who signalized himself in the Indian war of 1856. also built a store, which he rented to the firm of Koshland & Brother, traders. Morris &
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Taylor, another firm of merchants, soon after built a fine store, over which was a hall occupied by the Free Masons. This latter building was burned. In 1857 or 1858, a grist-mill was erected by Crawford & Dodd. At the time of these improvements min- ing was very active in the neighborhood. The bars of the Illinois river were being worked satisfactorily, and Josephine county was seeing its palmiest days. A long and costly bridge across the river at Kerbyville was built by Colonel Backus. It cost $7,000, was 600 feet long, the center span was 120 feet, and it was the principal struc- ture of the kind in Southern Oregon. The county seat had been moved to its present location, and affairs were extremely lively. In 1858, there were five saw and grist- mills in the county, and the same number of school houses. Kerbyville was described, in 1858, as improving rapidly, and being the liveliest town of its size in the state. It had two large stores, two splendid hotels (the Eagle, kept by C. C. Fairfield), a livery stable, barber shop, and billiard saloon. The Crescent City stage arrived every other day, bringing many passengers, and taking away much treasure-the product of the mines. By act of the legislature of January, 1859, the name of Kerbyville was changed to Napoleon-doubtless because of the renowned French emperor, who had just conquered the Austrians-but this cognomen failed to cohere, and Kerbyville the place remains, except that most people are now in the habit of leaving off the final syllable of the town's name, and calling it Kerby. On September, 23, 1861, a destruc- tive fire occurred, the loss being about $8,500. At present the village contains the county buildings ; stores of general merchandise, kept by Naucke and De Lematter, respectively ; a hotel, of which M. Ryder is proprietor; a livery stable also owned by Mr. Ryder ; and two saloons.
Proceeding up the east fork of the Illinois, the traveler finds himself in the center of what once was the most productive mining region in Oregon. This fork, with its affluents, Althouse and Sucker creeks, and Democrat gulch, have long been celebrated as placer mining localities, and yet remain productive to some extent. Sucker creek- named thus on account of some Illinoisan miners-rises in the Siskiyou mountains and flows west-southwest and falls into the east fork at a point nine miles north of the State line, and five miles south of Kerbyville. The first settler on the creek was Rhoda, who established a dairy in 1852, but did not remain long. Early in 1852 the first house in that region was erected by A. G. Walling, E. J. Northcut and - Bell, near the mouth of Democrat gulch, and there sold supplies to miners on Sucker and Althouse creeks. At this place, known as " Walling's ranch," miners left their horses in charge while they remained at the several diggings. Walling & Company sold to Cochran in 1853. The Briggs and other land claims were early taken up. When the Indian war of 1855-6 commenced, the people of Sucker creek, then rather numerous, experienced some of the ills attending it, and several narrow escapes were run. In the fall of 1855 Elias Winklebeck was pursued by the Indians and compelled to take refuge in Sucker creek, where he lay with only his head out ; the enemy failed to notice his location, and he escaped. During hostilities Fort Briggs was prepared, wherein the surrounding settlers and miners took refuge to the number of eighty or more. This was simply a palisade constructed so as to enclose George E. Briggs' log house. Mrs. Briggs, widow of the former owner, still occupies the building. Elijah Johnson was mortally wounded by the Indians on Althouse creek, and being taken to
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Fort Briggs, died there some time afterward. Daniel Wiley, another victim, was killed at the time Johnson was wounded. This occurred on October 30, 1855.
There is a pleasant anecdote relating to an incident of Sucker creek mining life that has been often narrated. A culprit had broken into Smith Brothers's store-kept on the creek in 1857-and being apprehended, was taken before J. D. Post, justice of the peace, for examination, and was held to answer before a higher court; but as Josephine county had no jail, and the accused no money to put up as bail, his honor, the justice, released the fellow, compelling him to sign a note for fifty dollars to secure his appearance at the proper time.
In the spring of 1858, prospectors found quite extensive placers at the head of Sueker creek, which they named Sepoy diggings. At this time the other mining interests on the creek were in their decadence, and have steadily diminished in impor- tance until the present, when some forty persons only are at work, half of these being Chinese. Sucker creek possesses a saw mill, built in 1868 by Beach, Platter & Brown, and now owned by the two former partners. Its capacity is slight, the total daily product being 1,000 feet of lumber. It is situated three miles above the mouth of the creek.
Althouse creek, a still more celebrated and important mining locality than any yet mentioned, empties into the east fork at the mouth of Sucker creek, and like the latter stream, also rises in the Siskiyou range. Its course is northwest, and it receives several small tributaries. All the region round about is famed for its mining operations in former times, and is replete with historical incidents of importance. Althouse creek was named for Philip Althouse, who was one of the party who first prospected the stream in 1852. In a very short time a large number of miners had arrived, and hundreds of claims were staked out, over ten miles of the creek bed being occupied within a year. In 1853 it was supposed that nearly 1,000 men were mining there, though not all at once.
A village-named Browntown, in honor of " Web-foot" Brown, the pioneer Brown of the vicinity-was started and it speedily became a point of much importance. At one time Browntown was supposed to have had from 300 to 500 inhabitants. Near by was a less important place, ealled Hogtown, which was regarded as a Brooklyn to its greater neighbor. The Althouse diggings continued to pay excellently for half a dozen years, and the population remained very large. In 1858 the miners were said to be prospering finely. The hills near Browntown were being tunneled into, the sur- face having mostly been worked. In the south hills were the Virginia Tunnel Com- pany, Patten & Company, Peterson, Drake & Company, Lanigan, Miller & Company, and others, all doing well, for coarse gold, frequently in large water-worn slugs, was abundant. Althouse creek was noted for its yield of coarse gold in the early days of mining it. The largest slug of pure gold was found about a mile and a half above Browntown, weighing nearly twelve hundred dollars.
The region fell gradually into decay with the decrease of mining and at a faster rate than any other section of the country. In 1865 Althouse was said to have " nearly winked out," and was compared to Goldsmith's Deserted Village, as to its air of deserted loneliness. Since that time the process of decay has continued, and in spite of many attempts to revive it, the locality contains little to show but the remains of its former
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activity and importance. Browntown, Hogtown and Frenchtown are known only by their names, and nothing is left of them but the indestructible refuse of mining camps, the tin cans, the culinary vessels and the rough stone chimneys of miners' cabins. Nevertheless, all life and energy has not passed away. A few gravel miners remain, and in Democrat gulch some work is being done. On the Althouse is one of the most remarkable and extensive engineering works ever constructed in Oregon for min- ing or any other purpose. These are the drainage tunnels through the divide between that stream and Illinois valley below Democrat gulch. In 1871 Frederic and Peter Hansen, Gustaf Wilson and Chris. Lutz commenced the first of these tunnels, which is 1,200 feet in length, and succeeded in turning the water of Althouse through it. In 1865, Beach, Platter and Leonard projected another tunnel, similar to the first, tapping Althouse creek half a mile above the first one and ending near the mouth of Demo- crat gulch. This was completed after ten years's work, occupying a force averaging five men for that time. The tunnel is six by seven feet and contains a flume four by four feet, through which passes the water of Althouse creek. The object of draining certain mining ground on the creek was not fully attained, as the tunnel is above the bed- rock of the stream. The projectors were Beach, Platter and Leonard, who sold to Harvey S. Brown, of San Francisco, in 1877. In 1877 Beach and Platter erected and stocked a store in Democrat gulch, which they still carry on. A post office was estab- lished there in the same year, of which C. H. Beach has since been postmaster.
Althouse, in common with the rest of Southern Oregon, had a quartz excitement in 1860. At that date the Enterprise mine, three miles east of Browntown, was opened and worked with profit for a time, being abandoned in 1867. The vein was from eight to eighteen inches thick and was in metamorphic sandstone. By arastra process the quartz yielded twenty-six dollars per ton. Two tunnels were run and a large body of pay ore exposed. In 1875 the Oregon mining and milling company re-located this claim and bought several other quartz leads upon the Althouse, and set to work to revolutionize mining. They built a ten-thousand-dollar mill at Browntown, with five stamps, amalgamating pans, settlers and other apparatus. The motive power was water. ' The properties owned by the company were the Enterprise-otherwise called the Gold Back or Cohen mine-the Sucker ridge claim, Yankee Doodle mine, Jesse Randall ledge, several reputed silver lodes said to be astonishingly rich, and the Althonse ledge, near the crest of the hill opposite the mill site. After a few months of active prospecting the company suspended operations, and have not since resumed them. Another association, the Webfoot quartz mining and milling company, J. M. Tiernan superintendent, succeeded them in 1878, and proposed to establish reducing works containing a reverberatory furnace for treating sulphurets containing gold. They, too, suspended, and the presumed rich quartz ledges on and near the Althouse now lie neglected.
Waldo is situated on Sailor gulch, between the east and west forks of Illinois river, and only three miles north of the California state line. It has been, and still is, an important mining camp and celebrated for the amount of gold taken out in the earlier years. The camp and regions round about were at first called Sailor Diggings, having been discovered by a party of seamen in 1852. At a later period, when the place had grown much in importance, its name was changed to that in use at present,
L.L.WILLIAMS
WALLING. LITH. PORTLAND. De
L. L . WILLIAMS MONUMENT, ODD FELLOWS CEMETERY, ROSEBURG.
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in honor of a California politician, made the more applicable as the place was thought to be in that state. In 1855, Waldo had grown to be the largest town in the county, and was advanced to the dignity of county seat when Josephine was set off from Jack- son county. This eminence it did not retain long, but was succeeded by Kerbyville, as a more central and convenient location. The population of Waldo, in 1856, is thought to have been 500 persons. The place continued to improve in later years, and in 1858 several substantial buildings were being put up, among others, a large hotel. In 1851, Hunt's diteh brought water to Shelby gulch, where many miners were work- ing. At the same time, the Butcher gulch flume was in operation, and two saw-mills were turning out and selling 20,000 feet of lumber per week, and trade was very brisk. The village passed through the ordinary mutations of a mining camp, and has fallen off very much in later years, but retains more of its pristine greatness than most other places in the county. It is favored by being on the stage road to Crescent City, and particularly advantaged by the deep and extensive beds of auriferous gravel near by, which are a great resource, but not to be worked until of late, for want of water. Bringing on a hydraulic stream in 1880, Wimer, Simmons & Company took out con- siderable wealth in a season's work, and since then the firm of Simmons & Ennis have brought water from a distance of four miles, and have completed preparations to work a very large and valuable deposit of gravel, superior, it is said, to any other known deposit in Oregon. Their ditch is ten feet wide and four feet deep, their hydraulie pipe twenty-two inches in diameter, and the working head, 150 feet. They will be able to pipe during half the year. This claim is three miles from Waldo.
In the vicinity of Waldo exist some very promising and important beds of copper ore. Of these, the mine called Queen of Bronze is best known. The first indications of the metal were found in 1859, when a small piece of native copper was picked up. Prospectors soon found some lodes of that metal, the mine mentioned being one of them. This ledge is no less than fifty feet thick at a depth of thirty feet, and fourteen feet of this is said to be pure sulphide, the most valuable of all the ores of copper. Much of the ore from this and surrounding claims contains fifty, or more, per cent. of metal. In 1864, the ore from the claim of Emerson & Company assayed sixty-five per cent. In that year, the Queen of Bronze mine was being developed. No use of these deposits of wealth have ever been made, and no work of any consequence has been done in the claims, beyond developing two or three to some extent. The present high price of copper, far above what it has been for many years, should stimulate the owners of these lodes to endeavor to realize upon their undoubted stores of metal. 59
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