Butte County CA Archives History - Books .....Biggs 1882 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 26, 2006, 9:12 pm Book Title: History Of Butte County BIGGS. This flourishing town is situated in a rich agricultural region, and has long been the third town of Butte county in point of population and business. It is located on the east half of section fourteen, township eighteen north, range two east. It owes its origin to the discovery that the adobe lands were valuable for agricultural purposes, and to the building of the California and Oregon railroad, as do several other places in Butte county, and consequently its history dates from 1870. Alfred Munn was the first man to make a business venture at Biggs. He built a small cabin and opened a store. At the time the residents were A. Dick, P. Boulware, William Looney, Richard Prentice, Lewis Posey and A. M. Pitts. The land now occupied by Biggs was owned by Messrs. Pitts and Posey, who laid out the town. It is named after Major Marion Biggs, who shipped the first grain from the town, and did a great deal to build it up. Samuel Breeton was the first agent of the railroad company, and he was followed by a man named Cecil, who had opened a small store there and was the first postmaster. Cecil having a great many things to perform, was not thoroughly posted as to the requirements of all his duties. It is said that the conductor of the train presented him with a red flag one day, telling him to wave it and stop the train when there were any passengers who wished to get aboard. On the following morning the train was flagged, and to the conductor's query of "Where's your passengers?" Cecil replied, "There ain't any, but I thought perhaps some would like to get off." As postmaster he was equally prone to err. He kept a letter two weeks that was addressed to the "P. M.," and then began to inquire if anyone knew a Mr. P. M. The second store in Biggs was opened in 1871, by W. W. Stone. His was the first business establishment of any importance, and has always kept pace with the healthy growth of the town. The Planters' hotel, built at this time, was owned and run, as at present, by Philip Grein, who moved from Bidwell's bar for the purpose. This is the only hotel at Biggs. Its accommodations are ample for the traveling public, being a large structure, well furnished, and conveniently arranged for the comfort of its guests. A butcher-shop was opened at Biggs in 1870, by John Hess and two other parties. In 1874, a church was erected under the control of the Baptist association, though contributed to by several evangelical denominations, and known as the Union church. In the next few years the place grew rapidly and carried on a heavy trade with the surrounding country. A great many wooden buildings were erected, which served as convenient fire-traps in the dry season of 1878. The Butte county Register was started at this place in 1877, by William Sharkey, an old resident of the county. It was a live paper, and supplied the news-loving people of Biggs with local and general intelligence of passing events for the space of two years, when it was removed to Oroville. Shortly after, F. F. Carnduff started the Biggs' Recorder, issuing the first number on the fifth of March, 1880. On the fourth of March, 1881, T. J. McFarland became associated with Mr. Carnduff in the paper, and since that time has been its most active worker. It is an enterprising journal, and ably edited. Biggs had suffered twice by fire, the two conflagrations occurring within a month of each other. At 11:30 o'clock on the night of July 2, 1878, a fire broke out on B street and raged for three hours, consuming seven residences, Jones' residence, Doty's tin-shop, Titus' agricultural-implement depot, Flint & Gurnsey's grocery-store, Michael's carpenter-shop, Britten's furniture-store, and the Register building. The total loss at this burning was $29,000. On the eighteenth of August, 1878, another fierce conflagration ensued, in which a hotel, livery-stable, blacksmith-shop, five saloons, general store, candy-store, drug-store, barber-shop, and two residences were destroyed. Nearly the whole town was obliterated, and a considerable check was given to its growth. Many of the young men employed as laborers and clerks went away. The wooden buildings were replaced with substantial brick structures, which can the more readily defy the contagious effect of heat. The old railroad depot was removed in 1880, and a fine new one erected in its place. A two-story school-house of brick was built by the district in 1879, and the regular attendance at the institution of learning is two hundred and thirty. Biggs has a good system of water-works. C. T. Topping & Co. removed their apparatus from Oroville in 1878, and laid pipes on the principal streets. Water is pumped into a large tank by an engine, and supplied to the business houses and a few residences. Effective measures have been taken to protect the town against fire. Biggs precinct has a voting population of 280, and the town itself about 600 inhabitants. There are a number of stores, warehouses, a livery-stable, and a hotel; and many fine residences in the village and its vicinity. In 1874, it received seventy-four votes for the county-seat, and, it is said, has some aspirations that way at the present time. Its fortunate location will always secure it prosperity, supported as it is by the hundreds of beautiful farms in Hamilton township. It is connected with Oroville by a daily stage, in addition to its railroad facilities. BIDWELL LODGE, No. 47, I. O. O. F., the first Lodge of Odd Fellows in Butte county, is now at Biggs. It was organized October 23, 1855, at Bidwell's bar, but was removed to Oroville October 22, 1859, and on the twenty-first day of July, 1875, it was removed to Biggs. The charter members were: Joseph Block, James C. Bierce, George W. Drake, William Lattimore, George McBride, Gardner Lamp, Henry Rhodes, and Newton DeWitt. The number of members at present is forty-two; the total membership to date, three hundred and five; the value of the lodge property is $1,000. The present officers are: F. F. Carnduff, N. G.; Thad. J. McFarland, V. G.: C. F. Butler, S.; Phil Grein, T. CANBY POST, No. 18, G. A. R., was organized by Grand Commander C. Mason Kinne, February 28, 1881, with the following charter members: Frank F. Carnduff, Commander; P. G. Brown, V. C.; M. La Point, J. V. C.; D. L. Cecil, A.; D. L. Butler, Q.; S. B. Colvin, S.; Wm. H. Sutton, C.; J. L. Hicks, H. Eggleston, and Aaron Bayles. The above comrades are still members, excepting Wm. H. Sutton, who has gone east. The membership is at present twelve. The present officers are: P. G. Brown, Commander; M. La Point, S. V. C.; H. Eggleston, J. V. C.; F. F. Carnduff, Adj't: J. L. Hicks, Q.; S, B. Colvin, S.; F. Marshall, C.; D. L. Butler, O. of the D.; A. Bayles, O. of the G.; F. F. Carnduff, Representative to Department Encampment. BIGGS LODGE, No. 102, A. O. U. W., was organized May 28, 1879, by the following charter members: Wm. A. Walker, P. M. W.; Samuel Titus, M. W.; Ed. H. Gale, F.; Phil. Grein, O.; Charles C. Spence, Recorder; Daniel Cecil, Financier; F. Charles Kemper, R.; William J. W. Fleming, G.; George Isbell, I. W.; H. Cohn, O. W.; Phil. Grein, James C. Flint, Wm. S. Riddle, trustees; Alex. Dick, W. W. Webb, H. L. Lasell and Dr. O. C. Hawkins. The above gentlemen are still active members except Wm. J. W. Fleming, who died December 31, 1881. The lodge membership is thirty-three. It is in good financial condition, and owns property to the value of $200. Frank F. Carnduff of this lodge was Grand Lecturer of the Order in California during the year 1879, and is now District Deputy-Grand-Master of Butte county, and Grand Representative to Grand Lodge for Biggs Lodge. The present officers are: Ed. D. Smith, P. M. W.; P. G. Brown, M. W.; J. C. Flint, F.; T. R. Fleming, O.; C. C. Spence, Recorder; Samuel Titus, F.; F. C. Kemper, R.; James C. Burner, G.; J. M. Proctor, I. W.; Philip Grein, O. W.; Dr. O. C. Hawkins, Medical Examiner. A lodge of Chosen Friends was organized at Biggs, September 30, 1881, with G. W. Oman as Past Chief Councilor, and T. J. McFarland, Chief Councilor. On the eighth of December it affiliated with the Pacific branch, when it was disconnected from the Indianapolis supreme council, and took the name of the Independent Order Chosen Friends. The membership is twenty-four, and the officers are: T. J. McFarland, P. C. C.; D. L. Butler, C. C.; F. L. LaBonta, V. C.; G. W. Oman, S.; J. F. Coffman, F.; N. B. Lapoint, T.; John D. Stanley, M.; L. B. Carson, W.; Rev. W. S. Corwin, P.; J. L. Hicks, G.; Dr. B. Bussey, Medical Examiner. Meetings are held weekly in Odd Fellows' hall. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF BUTTE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, IN TWO VOLUMES. I. HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA FROM 1513 TO 1850. BY FRANK T. GILBERT. The Great Fur Companies and their Trapping Expeditions to California. Settlement of the Sacramento Valley. The Discovery of Gold in California. BY HARRY L. WELLS. II. HISTORY OF BUTTE COUNTY, From its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. BY HARRY L. WELLS AND W. L. CHAMBERS. BOTH VOLUMES ILLUSTRATED WITH VIEWS AND PORTRAITS. HARRY L. WELLS, 517 CLAY STREET, SAN FRANCISCO 1882. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1882, by HARRY L. WELLS, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. FRANCIS, VALENTINE & Co., Engravers & Printers 517 Clay St., San Francisco File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/butte/history/1882/historyo/biggs165nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 10.0 Kb