Lake-Statewide County CA Archives History - Books .....Lake County 1891
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Book Title: Memorial And Biographical History Of Northern California

LAKE COUNTY.

  Before the coming upon the scene of the white man, Lake County was one of the
most populous parts of California, the Indians swarming in great numbers about
Clear Lake and in the neighboring valleys. The reason for this is not far to
seek, as the county presents a genial climate and has an abundance of every
material necessary for their rude life. Along the shallow borders of the lakes
were great marshes of the tale, so prized by them on account of its succulent
root. In and upon the waters were fish and fowl in plenty, while berries, nuts
and acorns were in great supply in the adjacent thickets and groves. Naturally,
the county abounded also in game of all sorts, and hence we are prepared to
learn that the first visits of white men to the section were paid by hunters in
pursuit of their occupation. The first authentic account is of a party of
hunters, names now unknown, who spent a winter in the valley near Lower Lake.
They were on their way from Oregon, and took this route instead of that usually
traveled down the Sacramento, intending to visit the Russians at Fort Ross and
there dispose of their furs. They built a cabin in the valley, and hence to
these forgotten men must be credited the first habitation in the borders of what
is now Lake County, This was in the very early days, a score or more of years
before American occupation. It is probable also that trappers and hunters in the
employment of the Russians and the Hudson Bay Company penetrated to this
country, although no record of this has come down. The occasional appearance in
the early days of an Indian whose skin was much fairer than that of his fellows,
would seem to corroborate this fact, as these individuals were more than likely
Russian or other half-breeds.

  In 1836, however, comes the first recorded event in the history of what
afterward became Lake County. In that year Captain Salvador Vallejo and Ramon
Carillo were sent at the head of a company of Mexican soldiers from the mission
at Sonoma to make an expedition into the Clear Lake country. Just what was
accomplished by this expedition does not appear, except that a few years later,
the Vallejos drove in cattle and took informal possession of the valley as a
stock ranch, conducted for them by major-domos, or overseers. Later on a claim
was made by Salvador and Antonio Vallejo, for a grant of sixteen leagues of
land, but for want of adequate proof, this was thrown out by the United States
courts. The cattle multiplied fast, becoming wild as deer, and soon filled the
valley to overflowing. In 1847, the Vallejos drove out all they could of the
cattle, and sold the balance to four parties by name Stone, Shirland and Andrew
and Benjamin Kelsey. Of these Stone and Andrew Kelsey came in and took
possession, the others not coming in to reside at all, and seemingly never
having much to do with the undertaking. They, or rather the Indians for them,
erected an adobe house of considerable dimensions, being forty feet long and
fifteen feet wide, on the banks of what is now known as Kelsey Creek,
immediately opposite the present town of Kelseyville. They treated the Indians
very badly, compelling them to work continuously, never paying them anything for
their labor, and often supplying them but scantily with food. Parties of them,
too, were more than once sent out to other points as laborers, and after the
discovery of gold, to dig gold for the whites, most of them perishing on these
trips. As a result the Indians became restive and occasionally even threatening.
Once they surrounded the adobe and but for the timely arrival of help from
Sonoma, would probably have killed the two white men. This was in the spring of
1848. Stone and Kelsey paid no heed to these warnings, but if anything treated
the Indians the worse, as a consequence. Finally, in the fall of 1849, the
catastrophe occurred. The Indians beset the adobe again and put both the whites
to death, burying them near by. As nothing was done to avenge the matter until
the following spring, the Indians, fancying they had disposed of their
oppressors forever, returned to their old haunts and habits. In the spring of
1850, however, Lieutenant Lyons, who later fell as General Lyons at the head of
the Union forces at Wilson's Creek, Missouri, during the Civil war, was sent up
with a detachment of soldiers. When they reached the lower end of the lake, they
found that the Indians had betaken themselves to an island in the upper part and
they could not get at them. Consequently they sent back to San Francisco for two
boats and two small brass cannon, which were sent up by wagon. It may be
remarked here that these were the first wagons as well as the first built boats
ever seen in Lake County. While a part of the soldiers, and volunteers who had
flocked in to assist, went across the lake in the boats, the balance went round
by land, this latter contingent being under command of Lieutenant (afterward
General) George Stoneman. The result was catastrophe, short, sharp and sudden
for the defenseless Indians, but a small number escaping from the rifles and
small arms of the whites. Later on in the year, H. F. Teschemaker and others
came up to Clear Lake, held a grand pow-wow and made a treaty with the
frightened Indians which they kept religiously ever after.

  During these years, beginning in 1846, Jacob P. Leese of San Francisco, had
also cattle in Coyote and Loconoma valleys in the southern part of the county,
but the genuine settlement of the county can hardly be said to have begun till
1848, when Walter Anderson and his wife, the first white woman in the county, by
the way, settled in the lower part for a short time. In 1851, he went on to
Mendocino County, an important valley in that county being named after him. In
the same year, 1848, William Scott settled in the valley that bears his name.

  In 1853, C. N. Copsey and L. W. Purkerson built a house, the first in the
county, near the head of Cache Creek, now the town of Lower Lake. The same year
Jefferson Wordeu settled on Scott Creek, in what is now called Scott's Valley.
In 1854 immigrants arrived in Big Valley and settled along the lake shore. In
this party were Martin Hammack and family, Brice Hammack and wife, Woods
Crawford and others. People then began to come in more thickly, but until about
1854 no real farming was done, cattle and stock-raising being the only
employment. From 1854 on, however, the country was quickly settled up,
presenting by 1860 much the same appearance it does to-day, so far as the
farming community is concerned.

  The Mexican land grant in Lake County was that of Collayomi, of 8,242 acres,
patented to Ritchie and Forbes in 1863.

  Lake County was set off from Napa County, of which it had till then formed a
part, May 2, 1861, the first election for county officers being held in June of
that year. Lakeport was chosen as the county-seat, and a two-story wooden
court-house erected. This burned down February 15, 1867, with the loss of almost
all the county records, probably the work of an incendiary. Then began a great
fight for county-seat between Lower Lake and Lakeport, the question of its
removal from Lakeport having already been voted upon several times previously.
After the fire the county-seat was fixed virtually at Lower Lake until 1870,
when the contest definitely ended by a popular vote in favor of Lakeport, where
it has since remained. As soon as the question was finally settled the erection
of the present brick courthouse and jail at a cost of about $20,000 was bugun,
and in the same year carried to completion.

  But probably the most disturbing matter that has ever arisen in Lake County
has been that of controlling and altering the level of the waters of Clear Lake.
In 1865-'66 a company called the Clear Lake Water Company, a wealthy San
Francisco corporation that had probably in view the carrying of the waters to
that city, secured the passage of a legislative act which authorized them to
build a dam across Cache Creek (the outlet), put up mills, etc. They built the
dam and mills, and as a result the lake was raised several feet above the
highest point ever known before. Sickness prevailed as a consequence and great
indignation followed. Finally in November, 1868, an armed mob assembled, and
after securing everyone who was considered friendly to the company, set fire to
the flour, planing and saw mills, and destroyed the dam. A heavy suit for
damages was the result, but this was finally compromised in 1871. The company,
now the Spring Valley Water Company of San Francisco, still owns large tracts of
land in the county, upon which it has large vineyards and a complete winery.

  Lakeport was founded in 1858, the first house being built on the site in the
year preceding, it being a store for the business of Mr. A. Levy. It is now a
prosperous and beautiful town, a good business point, and possessing several
large and handsome hotels, which are well patronized by visitors during the
summer season. It has a steam flour-mill, sash and door factories, and the
various industries that usually spring up in towns of its size. It possesses
also an academy of high merit, excellent schools and churches of the leading
denominations, two banks with ample capital, finding a good business.

  Lower Lake was founded at about the same time, and is following well in the
wake of its larger sister on the pathway of progress. Its first house was built
by E. Mitchell, in 1858. In the country surrounding Lower Lake are several large
vineyards and tine fruit farms, and it seems probable that fruit-raising and
wine-making will be the ultimate resource of this part of the county, if not of
the whole.

  Middletown, in the lower end of the county, is a town of much newer growth,
being settled first in 1868, and making comparatively slow, yet a steady
progress since. It is an important staging and business town, and possesses a
flouring mill and brewery.

  Upper Lake began its history in 1865, when a store was opened and several
families moved to it. A blacksmith shop had been built here as early, however,
as 1856. It is a quiet little place, with a good dairy and farming country about
it.

  Kelseyville, the home of Stone & Kelsey in early days, is the oldest town in
the county. It possessed a store and blacksmith shop in 1857, and is to-day a
place of considerable importance, having an academy and several manufacturing
establishments.

  Two newspapers are published in Lakeport, the Democrat and Avalanche,
established in 1872 and 1886 respectively. In Lower Lake are the Bulletin and
Clear Lake Press, the date of their first numbers being 1877 and 1886.

  In Middletown is the Independent, founded in 1888, while in Kelseyville is the
New Era, established in 1889. All of these are weeklies, of merit and push.

  Considerable mining is being done in Lake County, chiefly for quicksilver. The
principal mines are the Great Western and Sulphur Banks, both of which are being
profitably worked and are employing many men. Several other properties are being
worked spasmodically also. Borax has also been extensively exported from the
county, the product chiefly of Borax Lake, near Lower Lake. Petroleum and
natural gas occur generously near Kelseyville, but have never been utilized.

  Lake County is best known probably for its mineral springs, which are of all
sorts, hot and cold. The more famous of them are Bartlett, Highland, Harbin,
Anderson, Siegler, Adams, Howard, Soda Bay, Saratoga, Allen, Witter, Glenbrook
and Blue Lakes, at all of which are found hotels and improvements of extensive
character. They are much visited by the sick, and are favorite summer resorts
for the wealthy and fashionable.

  A deal of attention is also being paid to the raising of fine horses. Near
Middletown is the home of the Gueuoc Stud, owned by Freddy Gebhardt and Mrs.
Langtry. Above Lakeport is Captain Collier's band of thoroughbred Percherons,
and below him the Rodman Brothers' fine trotting stock.

  Lake County is often called the Switzerland of California, and it seems likely
that before very long the shores of its beautiful lake will be studded with the
villas of the rich, as is already the case to some extent. Its greatest drawback
is its isolation. It has no railroad, although three or four lines are pointing
towards its mountains. The staging service is good, however, and upon the lake
are several fine steamers, making local communication easy and pleasant. Lake
County has been represented in the State Assembly by R. V. S. Quigley in
1875-'76; A. P. McCarty in 1880; H. J. Crumpton in 1881-'83; E. W. Britt in
1885; L. H. Gruwell, 1887-'89, and others mentioned under the head of Napa County.

MINERALOGICAL.

  Lake County lies between the two branches of the Coast Range, the western
known as Mayacamas, and the eastern as Bear Mountain. Standing in these
mountains are a number of peaks having an elevation ranging from two thousand to
nearly four thousand feet. The center of the valley so formed is occupied by
Clear Lake, a deep body of pure water, twenty-five miles long with an average
width of seven miles. It is divided into two parts, Upper and Lower Lake, the
two being connected by a strait known as The Narrows. Six miles from the Upper
Lake is a group of deep ponds called the Blue Lakes, and which, taken
collectively, have a length of three miles by a breadth of half a mile. The only
considerable stream in this county is Cache Creek, the outlet of Clear Lake, and
which, flowing southeasterly, empties into the Sacramento. While more than half
of the county is covered with rugged mountains and water, the balance,
consisting of foothill and valley lands, is exceedingly fertile. The mountains
here are well timbered with pine and spruce, there being also oak, madrona and
willow along the foothills and water-courses.

  The county contains a great variety of metals and minerals; gold, silver,
copper, borax, sulphur, asbestos, and cinnabar counting among her mineral
resourses.

  The Sulphur Banks quicksilver mine is located on the border of Clear Lake, ten
miles north from the town of Lower Lake. It has been worked for a good many
years, the former production having been much larger than at present. The ore
now beng extracted comes from what seems to be an eruptive dike breaking through
a sandstone formation. The crevices of this dike are filled with a clayey
matter, some of which carries a considerable percentage of cinnabar. In breaking
out the ore here much barren rock has to be removed.

  Owing to the presence of sulphurous fumes, ore extraction is not carried to
any great depth. The work of exploitation consists of open cuts and short
tunnels. About two hundred pounds of Hercules powder, No. 2, are consumed
monthly. The ore is carted to the reduction works, which consists of ten
sublimating furnaces, six of the Knox & Osborn style, and four of the Hutton &
Scott. At present only two furnaces are being operated. A total of eighty-six
men is employed here—twelve in the reduction works, the remainder in the mine
and on the outside. Wages paid range from $1.15 per day and $70 per month. Five
cords of wood are consumed daily. Fuel and lumber, the latter at the rate of $20
per thousand feet, are obtained from the vicinity of Lower Lake.

  The Bradford mine, located in 1882, is situated four and one-half miles south
from the village of Middletown, on the stage road leading from that place to
Calistoga. The vein here, which has a north and south trend, and inclines to the
east at an angle of forty-five degrees, lies between sandstones on the hanging,
and serpentine on the foot-wall. The mine has been opened by a shaft sunk to a
depth of two hundred and fifty feet, and which, at a depth of sixty feet, leaves
the vein and passes into foot-wall. This shaft, which is timbered throughout, is
fitted with a single reel six by eight-inch spur-geared reversing engine. A No.
4 Dow steam pump, run four hours per day, suffices to handle the water. At
present work is confined to the one hundred and sixty-foot level, above which
the vein is being stoped, no definite limit having yet been found to the ore
shoot. The ore being extracted consists of sulphuret of mercury, mixed with
jasper and country rock.

  The coarse ore is treated in a Knox & Osborn furnace, of twenty tons daily
capacity, the fine in a thirty-ton Livermore furnace. Iron condensers are used,
the draft being aided by an exhaust fan. The reduction works are connected with
the shaft by a tramway eight hundred feet long. A total of thirty-five men are
employed here; white men are paid $2.50 per day, and Chinese $1.25. Two cords of
wood are consumed daily.

  The Great Western mine, which has been worked since 1856, is located four
miles south of Middletown. The claim covers six thousand linear feet on the
vein, which strikes east and west, and dips to the south at an angle of
sixty-five degrees. The hanging-wall is clay-slate, quite soft near the vein;
the foot-wall is serpentine. In the first instance the mine was opened by and
worked through a tunnel two thousand two hundred feet long, intersecting the
vein at a depth of two hundred and nineteen feet. Work is now carried on through
a shaft three hundred and fifty feet deep. Both shaft and tunnel are thoroughly
timbered.

  For ore hoisting a ten by eighteen-inch double spur-geared reversible hoist is
used. For handling the water a No. 6 Dean steam pump, with two one and one
half-inch columns, is employed.

  The ore is cinnabar, the fine being worked in a twelve-ton Knox & Osborn
furnace; the coarse in a thirty-ton Green furnace. For creating draft in the
condensers, blowers driven by a six by eight-inch horizontal engine are
employed. Water is brought on the premises through two miles of flume and
three-fourths of a mile of piping. Six cords of wood are consumed daily —three
for steam purposes and three in the furnaces. About two hundred pounds of Safety
Nitro powder are used every ninety days. The company employs thirty men in the
mine, and fifteen in the reduction works, the white men receiving $3 per day and
the Chinese $1.15.

  Gold and silver-bearing ores of low grade have been found at several
localities in the county; deposits of copper, borax, sulphur, and chromic iron
being also met with. In Paradise Valley, about five miles from the Sulphur
Banks, a shaft has been sunk to a depth of sixty feet on a ledge of quartzite.
The ore, which is much copper-stained, carries considerable pyrites, and assays
from $3 to $9 in gold per ton, with a small percentage of silver. Gold-bearing
quartz has been observed in the vicinity of Mount St. Helena, also near the
Bradford quicksilver mine, and at a point between Anderson Springs and the
Geysers. The croppings of these quartz veins contain a small amount of silver.

  One mile east of Bradford much copper float is to be seen, and near Harbin
Springs a shaft has been sunk to a depth of sixty feet, in a cupriferous vein,
but the ore is of too low a grade to warrant further sinking.

  Situated about a half mile east of the lower end of Clear Lake is a pond, the
water of which is highly charged with the biborate of soda. During the dry
season this .water mostly disappears, through evaporation, and the borax
crystallizing out is found in the mud on the margin of the pond. Twenty-five
years ago large quantities of this salt were manufactured here, the first made
in the United States said to have been produced at this place. There has,
however, no work been done here for a long time, the business having been given
up on the discovery of more extensive and productive salines in the southern
part of the State and Nevada.

  In Jerusalem Valley, eight miles east of Middletown, occur several large veins
carrying chromic iron. Owing to the cost of transportation to market, nothing
except a little prospecting work has been done on these deposits. The presence
of this mineral has been observed, also, in the serpentine near the Bradford mine.

  Some twenty years ago a good, merchantable article of sulphur was produced in
considerable quantities from deposits of this mineral, several of which occur on
and near the eastern shore of Clear Lake, and at some of which solfataric action
is still going on. Works for the distillation of the crude material were put up
at one of these deposits, and run for several years, but, the cheapness of the
imported commodity rendering operations here unprofitable, they were finally
suspended, and have not since been resumed.

  The water obtained by artesian boring, on the outskirts of Kelseyville, proves
so highly charged with natural gas that the latter burns readily. The well put
down here is one hundred and fifty seven feet deep, and being lined to within a
few feet of the bottom, this gas evidently comes from a lower stratum. Five
other wells sunk in this vicinity to a depth of sixteen feet each, though they
yield no water, emit gas, which under a slight pressure burns freely, with a
colorless flame, giving off the odor of sulphuretted hydrogen. These wells are
in an adobe soil, about two hundred feet above the level of Clear Lake. This gas
is to be collected and utilized in a fruit drier. A well put down near Upper
Lake also gives off natural gas.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.

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