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

PLACER COUNTY.

IN EARLY DAY.

  The word "placer" is Spanish, signifying a place where gold is found mixed
with alluvial detritus.

  This county has no history prior to 1848. From Johnson's ranch on Bear River,
a road led to Sinclair's on the American, and thence to Sutter's Fort, but no
settlements were made, nor discoveries nor developments that could give a name
to a locality. South of Johnson's ranch were some ponds which several writers
have mentioned as lagoons, which is the nearest to a Spanish name of all that we
can find in that period. Gold had been discovered on the south fork of the
American, in January, 1848, and in two or three months thereafter the fact was
made known throughout California and the rush to the placers began. As the
miners spread rapidly over the country it is presumed that some reached to the
north fork of the American early in the season.

  During the summer of 1850, the first duel was fought in Placer County. Colonel
Potter, who was subsequently a clerk in the California Legislature during
several sessions, and an English sailor named George Millville, a well-bred and
companionable man, fell into a dispute relative to mining operations, and a
challenge passed. Early the next morning (Sunday) the combatants, with seconds
and perhaps twenty friends of each party, crossed the river and took position at
twenty paces apart on the mining ground just back of Buckner's Bar. The weapons
were pistols. One shot was fired by each, and neither was hit. Potter, seeing
that his opponent was unhurt, threw down his weapon and cried out, "load again;"
but seconds and friends intervened, explanations were given and apologies made,
when the two men shook hands, recrossed the stream and passed the remainder of
the day in conviviality.

  When Sutter County included Placer, the Legislature named the first Monday in
April, 1850, for the election of county officers. The officers first elected
were: Gordon N. Mott, County Judge; W. Fisher, Attorney; T. B. Reardon, Clerk;
John Pole, Sheriff; George Pierson, Recorder; Willard Post, Treasurer; William
H. Monroe, Assessor.

  The first meeting of the Court of Sessions was held June 10, this year, at
Oro, the county seat, with Judge Gordon N. Mott presiding, and P. W. Thomas and
T. H. Rolfe, associate justices.

  Oro enjoyed its position as the capital of the county but a short time. There
was not a house nor a building in the town for any purpose, much less for
holding court, the transaction of county business and the preservation of public
records. Some preparations, however, had to be made by the owners of the town to
enable the first term, at least, of court to be held there; and for this end
they erected, or rather placed upon the ground, a zinc building about twenty
feet square, with a floor of rough boards, a roof of zinc, and holes cut for the
persons to enter, but they were scarcely doors; and the windows had neither
glass nor shutters. Not a tree or bush, or shrub grew near enough to give any
shade to the building. A June sun poured its rays down upon that zinc building,
until, outside and inside, it became almost as hot as the furnace of Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego. Law and equity, lawyers and litigants, jurors and
witnesses, with a spontaneity of action that would astonish nothing but a
salamander, rushed out of that building and fled, never to return. Such was the
first court-house of Placer County.

  The first act of the Legislature organizing the State into counties, placed
within Sutter County a portion of the territory afterward included in Placer
County. That section was southwest of a line running from a point on Bear River
six miles from its mouth direct to the junction of the north and middle forts of
the American River. All the regions east of that line belonged to Yuba County.
The Sutter County portion, the county seat in 1850 being at Auburn, had
political recognition in the appointment of election precincts at Auburn,
Spanish Corral, Miners' Hotel, Mormon Bar, Horseshoe Bar, Halfway House and
Beal's Bar. April 25, 1851, another act was passed by the Legislature,
redividing the State into counties, and the boundaries of Placer were next
described as follows: "Beginning on the Sacramento River at the northwest point
of Sacramento County, and running thence up the middle of said river to a point
ten miles below the junction of Sacramento and Feather Rivers; thence in a
northerly direction in a straight line to a point in the middle of Bear Creek
opposite Camp Far West; thence up the middle of said creek to its source;
thence" due east of State line; thence southerly of the State to the
northeasterly corner of El Dorado County; thence westerly on the northerly line
of El Dorado County to the junction of the north and south forks of the American
River; thence westerly of the northerly line of Sacramento County to the place
of beginning." The county-seat was fixed by the same act at Auburn.

  The dividing line between Placer and Sutter counties was for a number of years
a subject of controversy and uncertainty. The western line "from Sacramento
County, and running thence up the middle of Sacramento River to a point ten
miles below the junction of Feather and Sacramento rivers," was reported by a
county surveyor as impossible, as the northwest corner of Sacramento County was
already nearer than ten miles of the junction of those rivers; so the county had
no starting point. "When the country became settled, this indefinite line gave
great trouble to the county officers, and several acts were passed to remedy the
difficulty. But it was not until after the lines of the United States Land
Survey was adopted March 13, 1866, that the question was satisfactorily settled.
This act was adopted by the Codes, taking effect January 1, 1873, making the
boundaries as follows:

  " Beginning on the southwest corner at a point where the west line of 5 east,
Mount Diablo meridian, intersects the northern line of Sacramento County, as
established in section 3,928; thence north to the northwest corner of township
12 north, range 5 east; thence east to the southwest coiner of section 34,
township 13 north, range 5 east, thence north to Bear River, thence on the
southerly line of Nevada County up said river to its source; thence east in a
direct line to the eastern line of the State of California, forming the
northeast corner; thence southerly along said line to the northeast corner of El
Dorado County, as established in section 3,027 (said northeast corner of El
Dorado being a point on the State line, directly east of Sugar Pine Point on
Lake Tahoe); thence westerly on the northern lines of El Dorado and Sacramento,
as established in sections 3,927 and 3,928, to place of beginning."

  The topography of the county is as irregular as its outline. From the valley
of the Sacramento, thirty feet above the sea, where perennial verdure and
semi-tropic fruits gladden the eye, it rises in one grand swell to the summit of
the Sierra Nevada, embracing Twin, Granite Chief, Tinker, Lincoln and Donner
Peaks, which stud the crest of the lofty range, glistening in their white mantle
of snow 9,000 feet in the sky. In the valley of the Sacramento the county has
about 216 square miles; in the foothills and mountain valleys adapted to tillage
about 200 more; in Lake Tahoe, 90; and the remainder, 880 square miles, include
the mountain ridges and snowy peaks, with the intervening lakes and deep canons.
The forests are magnificent.

  The act of the Legislature approved April 28, 1851, providing for the
organization of the county, ordered an election to be held in Placer and Nevada
counties, for county and township officers, on the fourth Monday of May. The
election accordingly occurred May 26, two days before the approval of the bill
by the Government, resulting in choosing Hugh Fitzsimmons as Judge; Samuel C.
Austin, Sheriff; R. D, Hopkins, District Attorney; James T. Stewart, Clerk;
Alfred Lewis, Assessor; Douglas Bingham, Treasurer; Abram Bronk, Public
Administrator; and John C. Montgomery. Coroner. But the loose manner in which
the election was conducted in the mining camps left no definite means of
ascertaining the true vote. No party lines were drawn nor conventions held.
Friends of aspirants and the aspirants themselves presented names in which the
two parties were represented and voted for indiscriminately.

  The first military organization in Placer County was at Illinoistown, in
December, 1849, of a company called the California Blades, for a campaign
against the Indians, who had committed many daring robberies and were suspected
of some motives. This company was not recruited under the form of law, and its
roster will not be found in the archives of the State; nor was it armed and
equipped in the manner of armies of a great Government. Even the names of its
officers are lost to history by their title and rank, and, what is a singular
exception, their bills for salaries, arms, ammunition, forage, transportation
and damages, swell no list of "war claims" for animal presentment and subject of
demogogic appeals on the floors of Congress. Nevertheless, the California Blades
was a stalwart company, armed with long rifles, yagers and shot-guns, dragoon
and pepper-box pistols, butcher and bowie knives, and with powder-horns and
bullet pouches, blankets, and hard-tack and bacon, made several marches against
the Indians, killed and laid waste, and, after the manner of larger armies,
struck terror to the foe that lasting peace followed their victory. No outrages
were committed against the savages not justified by the occasion; and as soon as
the Indians ceased their depredations hostilities ended, and from that day they
were kindly treated.

  In 1853 society was in a somewhat chaotic condition, as the chief organizing
element— woman—was not sufficiently numerous to exercise a commanding influence.
Accordingly the "Miners' Guards" were organized as a kind of social body and
also to preserve order and repel Indian depredations. William L. Carpenter was
captain. Since, the other military organizations have been effected in this
county, and several companies were sent to the last war.

  The county had a section of purely agricultural land, which was occupied
shortly before the conquest by settlers who raised wheat and planted fruit
before the gold excitement came to interrupt them. It is said that a crop of
wheat was put in on Bear River by Johnson & Sicard in 1845, and that Chanon
helped Sicard to plant fruit trees the following season. Peaches, almonds and
vines from San Jose followed in 1848, and later oranges. The peaches brought
high prices in the gold fields. Mendenhall planted Oregon fruit at Illinoistown
in 1850. In 1852, 679 acres were under cultivation, chiefly in barley; and there
were 3,500 head of stock, one-third consisting of hogs. Of the population, 6,602
were white men, 343 females, 3,019 Chinese, 730 Indians and the rest foreigners.
By 1855 there were 143 improved ranches, after which a rapid increase set in.

  The above improvements centered their interest mainly at Auburn, making it the
leading town and the county-seat. It also occupies a beautiful spot, and from
the earliest time it has been considered a health resort. Dutch Flat was the
trading center in 1849, and as late as 1860 it polled the largest vote in the
county, namely, over 500. Forest Hill and Iowa Hill long held the lead in the
eastern section, overshadowing Elizabethtown and Wisconsin Hill, as did Forest
Hill excel Sarahsville or Bath, assisted by its cement deposits. Illinoistown,
first called Alder Grove or Upper Corral, and Yankee Jim's were prominent in
early days, owing to the rich diggings. The latter, according to one authority,
was named after Jim Goodland, but according to another, Jim Robinson, who was
hanged for horse stealing in 1852. Ophir, sustained by horticulture and
quartz-mining, was the largest place in the county in 1852, the vote being 500.
Michigan Bluffs and Todd Valley were long prominent. The railroad built up a
number of stations between Cisco and Rocklin, notably Lincoln and Colfax, the
latter being a junction. Placer's larger area of tillable soil saved this county
from sharing in the decadence of El Dorado.

THE ASSEMBLYMEN

from Placer County have been: Moses Andrews, 1855; Wm. P. Barclay, 1859; D. S.
Beach, 1860; N. W. Blanchard, 1863; John Bosquit, 1865-'66; S. B. Burt,
1873-'74; M. H. Calderwood, 1869-'70; Patrick Cannay, 1852-'53; W. W. Caperton,
1857; T. L. Chamberlain, 1880; George H. Colby, 1885; Wm. Corey, 1855; W. M.
Crutcher, 1875-'76; D. B. Curtis, 1858; John Davis, 1887; Charles C. Dudley,
1862-'63; B. L. Fairfield, 1854; Joseph H. Gibson, 1852; R. F. Gragg, 1855; J.
E. Hale, 1881; W. D. Harriman, 1861; W. J. Harrison, 1861; John W. Harville,
1860; E. W. Hillyer, 1862; Nicholas Kabler, 1858; O. H. Lee, 1871 -'72; Henry
Long, 1871-'72; S. W. Lowell, 1860; Philip Lynch, 1859; J. M. Makins, 1860; P.
McHale, 1883; Thomas Moreland, 1855; P. Munday, 1861; B. F. Myers, 1853-'54; Wm.
C. Norton, 1873-'74; James O'Neill, 1854, 1857; M. H. Power, 1869-'70; J. D.
Pratt, 1863-'64; T. H. Reed, 1856; Wm. Rousch, 1873-'74; A. P. K. Safford,
1857-'58; Silas Sellick, 1856; William Sexton, 1865-'66; L. G. Smith, 1861; E.
H. Snyder, 1863-'64; C. G. Spencer, 1867-'68; Lansing Stout, 1856; W. C.
Stratton, 1858-'59; Charles A. Tuttle, 1867-'68; G. H. Van Cleft, 1854; Mahlon
Waldron, 1867-'70; Jacob Welty, 1871-'72; R. L. Williams, 1856; M. W. Wilson,
1877-'78; M. C. Winchester, 1863-'64; W. P. Wing, 1859; S. B. Wyman, 1857; John
Yule, 1862-'63, 1865-'66.

IN MODERN TIMES.

  The most noteworthy feature of the later history of Placer County has been the
great extension and development of horticulture and the growth of grapes for
table use and raisin-making. In this direction she has outstripped most of the
other mountain counties, and has consequently suffered less than they from the
stoppage of hydraulic mining. Until that event gold-mining was her leading
industry, and still occupies a considerable share of the energy of the county,
but since then fruit-raising has been much the more important. Her people
discovered that they possessed a "citrus or warm belt" and were quick to take
advantage of it. Here in Placer County is seen perhaps as well as anywhere the
unusual—almost paradoxical—fact of flourishing orchards, oranges at that, side
by side wtih paying mines, or rather above and below one another, for such is
literally often the case.

  The people of Placer County, too, are enterprising. They are willing to spend
money for advertising, and hence Placer has been better advertised, is better
known, and has attracted population faster than some of her neighbors. She has
one great advantage over them, however, in the fact that she is traversed from
end to end by the Central Pacific Railroad, and her lower or western end is
crossed by the California and Oregon Road. It is along the line of the railway
that her chief, but not by any means only, development has been made. The newer
towns of Rocklin, Loomis, Newcastle, Penryn, Lincoln, with their fame as fruit
producers, were first made possible by the railroad, while the lustre of the
older towns, such as Auburn and Colfax, has been greatly added to by the same
means, with the possibilities it opened in a horticultural way.

  Placer has still another advantage from the railroad in that invalids and
pleasure-seekers gain thereby an easy access to the invigorating mountain
altitude, and to the cool, sparkling attraction of those unique mountain lakes,—
Tahoe, Webber and Donner, with their summer hotels. It will be seen, therefore,
that the activity and prominence of the county in everything but in mining, has
sprung up since the railroad was built along in the years from 1863 to '67, and
has been progressive since.

  One hopeful feature of the favorable outlook for this county, is the taking
advantage of the exhaustless water supplies of the high mountains in the eastern
part. The Bear River Canal has already been mentioned. Other irrigating and
general water supply ditches are the Worth Fork ditch, the Hickey ditches and
the South Yuba Water and Mining Company's ditches, already a large supply. The
Sierra Water Company, a strong San Francisco company, proposes to make a ditch
with water sufficient to irrigate 40,000 acres, when the supply will be ample
for the whole county.

AUBURN,

the county seat and a pretty mountain town, has attained considerable reputation
as a health resort. It is growing steadily, but not rapidly, and has a number of
fine business and residence structures. The court-house and county offices are
old buildings that have done duty for many years, sufficient for their purpose,
perhaps, but likely to give way shortly to more modern and sightly structures.
They occupy a splendid site on an elevation in the center of the lower part of
town. Within the town, in a large tract devoted to its uses, is a well-appointed
county hospital. On one of the hills overlooking the town is the Sierra Normal
College, established in 1882 by Professor M. W. Ward, giving normal, collegiate
and commercial courses, and possessing a high merit. In addition, the public and
high school system is complete and thorough. A fine stone and brick opera house
is now being erected (1890), at a cost of something like $40,000, which will
eclipse anything of the kind outside the large cities. The water supply of
Auburn, which is ample, is drawn from the Bear River ditch, the pressure of
water being sufficient to generate the electricity with which the town is
lighted; but there are no manufactories to take advantage of this convenient
water power. Auburn is a shipping point of great importance, drawing largely
from the sister county of El Dorado. There are two fruit-packing establishments
at the depot. The town was originally incorporated in 1861. This was repealed in
1868, and not until 1888 was it re-incorporated. Three miles below Auburn, along
what is called Auburn Ravine, is the famous old mining camp of Ophir, now given
over largely to fruit, although possessing rich quartz ledges upon which a few
mills are successfully working. This Auburn Ravine was fabulously rich in gold
in early days, and even yet sometimes after a rain a nugget will be picked up in
the very streets of Auburn.

VILLAGES.

  Newcastle is the centre of a section rich in orchards and vineyards, and a
lively business point. About five-sixths of the total shipments of fruit from
the county is placed on board the cars here, there being four extensive
fruit-packing establishments in the town. From 6,000 to 8,000 tons of fresh
fruit is now being shipped annually, besides dried fruit. All or nearly all of
this goes East. It should be remembered, however, that some portion of this vast
amount is drawn from El Dorado County. In the vicinity are many large orchards
of the various fruits. Penryn and Loomis are important points in the fruit
region, each shipping largely. Near the latter is the noted ranch of E. W.
Maslin, with its fine fig orchard and large vineyards. Large stone quarries
exist in the neighborhood, both the Loomis and the Penryn granite being
considered very superior.

  Rocklin, the next station, going down, has gained a reputation for its
valuable granite quarries and for its orange groves. It is the scene of the
great enterprises of J. Parker Whitney, the owner of the Spring Valley ranch of
20,000 acres, so well known as a leading Californian orchardist and
fine-stock-breeder. There are extensive orchards and vineyards of all kinds
here, there being one raisin vineyard of .200 acres. Rocklin has a round-house
and railroad shops. It lies at the beginning of the heavy grade over the
mountains, and here are attached the second engines that help pull every train
to the summit. It has a fruit cannery.

  Roseville is the point of junction of the Central Pacific and the Oregon line.
It has a brick-kiln and a good foundry. Some grain is shipped.

  At Lincoln, on the California & Oregon Railway, are the pottery and
terra-cotta works of Gladding McBean & Co., of San Francisco, the leading
manufacturing establishment of Placer County. About 100 men are employed, and an
immense business done. Near Lincoln there has recently been discovered a
valuable deposit of glass sand, and also lignite coal; and a company is now
proceeding to establish large glass works in town. Considerable grain is shipped
here, and there is a fruit-packing establishment.

  Sheridan, a minor station near the line, between Yuba and Placer, possesses a
flouring-mill, while grain-shipping and sheep-grazing are prominent industries.

  Beturning to the line of the Central Pacific, and proceeding eastward up the
Sierras from Auburn, the first place of importance is Colfax, where the Nevada
County narrow-gauge joins the Central Pacific. Much fruit, grapes, etc., is
grown here. Pears and table grapes are the specialty. Formerly a great deal of
mining was done here. Dutch Flat the next town going east, has felt most
severely the stoppage of hydraulic mining, and has dwindled in size.
Fruit-growing is being actively engaged in, and the town promises to recover its
nagging energies. The great pine timber belt of the county begins just above
here. At Towles are the large mills of Towles Bros. & Co., while at Emigrant
Gap, Bear River, etc., are other large mills, cutting in all something like
16,000,000 feet per annum. At Alta is a box factory and a pulp mill. At Hotaling
is the California Iron Company's mines and a blast furnace not now in operation.

MINING.

  On the Forest Hill Divide, which lies south of the railroad, between the north
and middle forks of the American River, is the chief mining district of the
county, gravel mining being the chief, or following the hidden beds of old
rivers to work the gravel for the gold contained.

  Among the leading mines may be mentioned the Hidden Treasure, the Mayflower,
the Church, Golden River, Mammoth Bar, and many others which are paying their
fortunate owners large sums monthly. Chili Bar slate is discovered in workable
.quantities. There is also some mining for chrome ore on the divide, which is
teamed to Auburn. Some timber is also cut' and sawed into lumber for local use.
Forest Hill is the chief town, and its glory is largely of the past. It is yet,
however, a thriving business point. Iowa Hill is quite a lively mining camp, but
Yankee Jim's and other such places are now hardly more than a memory of the past.

LAKE TAHOE,

a remarkably deep and clear body of water, lying partly in Placer and partly in
El Dorado County, and on the State line, was first named Bigler, in honor of
Governor John Bigler, who afterward had during the war strong secession
proclivities. Afterward Rev. Starr King and a party visiting the place named it
Tahoe, which is the Indian word for big water; and the people generally have
adopted this name. It was called Lake Bonpland on Fremont's map, after a
companion of Humboldt, the great scientific traveler. Of late years it has
become one of California's most favored summer resorts. Tahoe City has fine
hotels, steamboats and every appurtenance to summer enjoyment, including
fishing, hunting and grand scenery. Lumbering is also extensively carried on,
the timber being taken to Truckee, just across the line, in Nevada County.

THE NEWSPAPERS

of Placer County rank high. In Auburn are the Herald, Argus and Republican,
founded respectively in 1852, 1872 and 1884, able and representative weeklies.
At Newcastle is the News, founded 1887, and at Lincoln the Report, 1890, both
weeklies, and comparing favorably with their contemporaries anywhere.


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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