Plumas County CA Archives History - Books .....Quincy, The County Seat 1882
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Book Title: Illustrated History Of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties

QUINCY, THE COUNTY SEAT.

   One of the foremost gentlemen in securing the creation of the county of
Plumas was Mr. H. J. Bradley, proprietor of the American ranch and hotel. He was
named in the Act as one of the three commissioners for the organization of the
county, and the statute also located the county seat at his hotel until the
people should vote upon the question and select a permanent location. A town was
laid out and named Quincy by Mr. Bradley, in honor of the city of Quincy,
Illinois, from whence he had come to California. As an inducement to the people
to locate the county seat permanently at Quincy, Mr. Bradley offered to
construct a suitable building for a temporary courthouse, and give the free use
of it to the county until such time as the people thought best to build a new
and more substantial one. In fulfillment of his promise he constructed a rude
shake building in the rear of his hotel, which was used as a courtroom, and in
which some of the officials kept their offices. John Harbison, the county clerk,
soon moved his office to the upper story of the Bullard bailding, corner of
Harbison avenue and Main street. At the fall election there were three
candidates for the honor of being the county seat—Quincy, Elizabethtown, and
O'Neill's Flat. There were twenty-two precincts in the county, and Elizabethtown
sent out Thomas B. Shannon and several others to canvass them in the interest of
that place. Shannon was a merchant there, and hence his anxiety to secure for
his village the coveted prize. Being locked up in a narrow ravine, Betsyburg was
wholly unsuitable for the county seat, and the people wisely decided in favor of
Quincy, whose location was so favorable.

   At that time there were but a few houses in the seat of justice, the oldest
being Bradley's hotel. The old Plumas House, that had been built by Pierce,
Sharpe, & Houck, was then kept by Samuel Russell, elected coroner that fall. The
Masonic hall was built in the spring of 1855. H. J. Bradley, Joseph Greena, and
George W. Sharpe presented to the county the public square on which the
court-house now stands. At that time the building erected by Bradley was used as
a court-house, and for balls, political meetings, and public assemblings of all
kinds. William Houck who owned the land south of Jackson street, donated many
town lots to those desiring to erect buildings, among others giving to Samuel
Russell for a livery stable the lot on which stand the Plumas House stables.

   It was in January, 1855, that the postal department, upon representation that
Quincy was the county seat and of more importance than Elizabethtown, removed
there the post-office from the latter place, much to the disgust and indignation
of the people of Betsyburg. A contract was made with Wilson S. Dean, who was
then running a saddle-train for passengers between Quincy and Bidwell, to bring
up the mail, and take the receipts of the office for his pay. Twenty-five cents
were charged for each letter. This continued until 1858, when the department
made a regular contract with the California Stage Company to carry the mail from
Oroville to Quincy, and the citizens for the first time enjoyed full postal
facilities at the regular rates of postage. Whiting & Co.'s dog-express was
chiefly depended upon in winter for transportation of the mails.

   In 1857 a subscription-was made by sundry citizens for the purpose of
erecting a suitable courthouse on the public square, and on the eleventh of
November of that year a notice was published in the Plumas Argus inviting sealed
proposals for building a court-house. John Harbison, the county clerk, David J.
Wilmans, and John C. Lewis were appointed a building committee to secure
subscriptions and contract for the work. August 10, 1858, D. J. Wilmans was
appointed >>y the board of supervisors to superintend the erection of the
building, and gave bonds in the sum of $5,000. The board also appropriated
$5,000 towards the completion of the structure. November 15, 1858, John G. Corey
was appointed to supersede Mr. Wilmans, and February 7, 1859, 83,485 were
appropriated to liquidate the debt remaining upon the building. The various
officers took possession of the rooms assigned to them on the second of May,
1859. The next day the board passed the following resolution: "Ordered, that on
the payment of the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars subscribed by the county
judge to the court-house fund, he be permitted to occupy the north-east room in
the second story of the court-house for chambers, until the expiration of his
present term of office." Judge Hogan enjoyed the thorough business-like manner
in which the board was collecting its subscriptions, and with a pleasant smile
came up, paid his subscription, and took possession of his office, which he
occupied for many years.

   In 1861 the board had a little difficulty in collecting rent from Thomas Cox,
who was occupying a room in the court-house, and he finally paid in depreciated
county warrants. Determined not to be caught napping again, the board passed an
order "that the district attorney execute to said Tom Cox a lease of the room
now occupied by him, for the period of one year, upon receiving from him
sufficient bonds for the payment of said rent." The fence about the court-house
was built in 1864, at an expense of $700. In August, 1871, some repairs were
made on the court-house, and Mr. Whiting deposited in the north-east corner of
the stone wall on which rests the pillar supporting the roof a cast-iron box,
containing sundry newspapers, a great register, and a paper printed in Quincy in
1855.

   The first jail used by the county was a small log house, built in the spring
of 1855 by John S. Thompson, at a cost of $500. It stood in front of the house
now occupied by John D. Goodwin as a law office. The jail was used for a. number
of years, and three convicts, John Jenkins, Thomas Elder, and Amada Cardinez
were secured within its walls until their execution by the sheriff. The jail
stood in the street, and was therefore taken away when the present brick
structure was erected. This stands in the public square, just in the rear of the
court-house, and was built in 1863 by Mowbry & Clark, under contract with the
county, for $7,035.

   The first conflagration of any importance in Quincy occurred February 28,
1861, when a large portion of the town, including the principal hotel and a
majority of the business houses, was destroyed. The chief losses were: American
Hotel, by Mrs. Mastin; the mercantile establishments of M. S. Archeim & Co., E.
Truett, Jerry Ford, Mr. Newton, Moore & Pierson, Fayette Burr; the saloons of E.
H. Pierce and Bass & Co.; the Quincy House, unoccupied; and a number of other
buildings. This was the most destructive fire that has ever visited the town. At
that time the citizens had no means of protection from this devastating element,
and were able to impose but little resistance to its ravages. After the fire,
Houck & Pierce built a fine, large saloon opposite the site of the old one. This
was sold in June, 1872, to the Town Hall Association for a town hall, for
$1,500. In the year 1860 Coburn Brothers built a fine hotel at a cost of
$11,000, which was destroyed by fire April 14, 1862. They immediately erected a
new one at an expense of $16,000, which met the same fate as the other, in
February, 1865.

   A school was taught in 1857 in the pioneer school-house by Mr. S. A. Ballou,
afterwards a member of the legislature from this county. Dr. J. N. Hartzell was
the first superintendent of schools, and for the year ending October 31, 1855,
he reported but two school districts in the county, Elizabethtown and Mineral.
There were but ninety-three children, of whom seventy-five were in the
Elizabethtown district. The only school at that time was kept in the latter
place, by W. K. Logan, with an attendance of but twenty-nine scholars. In 1857 a
school was opened in Quincy, in a little building near the site of Judge
Goodwin's office. When the Masons built their hall, the ladies raised money by
means of fairs, dances, etc., and fitted up the lower story for a school-room.
In 1872, a building having been purchased from J. H. Houck by the Town Hall
Association, a high-school was carried on at that place. In 1876 steps were
taken to give Quincy more adequate educational facilities. W. W. Kellogg, John
C. Chapman, and J. R. Wyatt comprised the board of trustees, and Mr. Kellogg,
the chairman, drew up a bill authorizing the district to issue bonds to the
amount of $4,000 for the erection of a fine, two-story brick building. The bill
passed the legislature, and when the proposition was submitted to the people,
only seven votes were cast in the negative. The contract was let to G. W.
Meylert for $3,600; the building was completed in due time, well supplied with
furniture and the proper apparatus, and Quincy has now a flourishing graded school.

   At a meeting held June 6, 1872, John D. Goodwin, I. B. Shreve, and John C.
Chapman were elected trustees of the Quincy Town Hall Association, an
organization for the purpose of erecting and maintaining a hall for the use of
the public. The by-laws provided that each person who paid §2.50 was allowed one
vote at all meetings. Subscriptions were received amounting to $710.25. The fine
building that had been built by Pierce & Houck ten years before for a saloon was
purchased of J. H. Houck for $1,500, and fitted up for the purpose. A school was
maintained in the hall until the erection of the new school-house. In 1876 J. M.
Chapman and A. H. Ferguson succeeded J. C. Chapman and J. D. Goodwin as
trustees; and in 1877 J. C. Coburn succeeded Shreve. J. W. Thompson, J. H.
Whitlock, and W. T. Byers were chosen trustees in 1878, and subscriptions to the
amount of $431.25 were made to apply on the debt still resting upon the
association. The hall is used for public gatherings of all kinds, and is of vast
convenience to the people.

   Until December 19, 1878, Quincy had no protection from fire whatever. At that
time Quincy Hose Co. No. 1 was organized, with W. W. Kellogg, foreman; A. Hall,
assistant; J. M. Chapman, treasurer; B. B. Hughes, secretary. Liberal
subscriptions were made by the citizens, many of whom also sustained the
movement by becoming members of the organization. A hose-cart was purchased for
$80, and a small building erected for its accommodation for $59. The company
also purchased 500 feet of hose for $550. The first call upon the services of
the new company was made but a few days after its complete organization, when,
by promptly extinguishing a fire that had burned the roof of Hall & Howard's
saloon, they probably saved the town from a great disaster. In July, 1879, W. E.
Ward became assistant foreman, and Edward Gurner treasurer; $150 were
appropriated to the company that year by the board of supervisors. In January,
1880, W. E. Ward was chosen foreman, and A. Hall assistant; in July, A. Hall
foreman, and W. H. Moore assistant; in January, 1881, W. E. Ward foreman, and P.
L. Hallsted assistant; in July, P. L. Hallsted foreman, and M. S. Light
assistant. A bell was purchased in July, 1881, for $120. The by-laws are
subscribed by the following gentlemen: W. W. Kellogg, A. Hall, W. E. Ward,
William Goodwin, G. B. Sumner, J. M. Chapman, A. H. Hapgood, C. J. Lee, W. H.
Moore, R. W. Gill, A. W. Wilson, George Wilson, Edward Gurner, C. W. Blakesley,
W. J. Yariel, W. T. Bell, M. S. Light, Daniel Cate, E. Huskinson, B. B. Hughes,
T. C. Lee, J. W. Larison, H. Esburn, William Edwards, Henry Maurer, J. W. Brown,
R. L. Bell, J. E. Smith, Arthur W. Keddie, R. H F. Variel, Fenton P. Whiting, W.
H. Lake, W. J. Bell, G. C. Owens, P. L. Hallsted.

   The neat little church erected five years ago, and managed and controlled by
the Methodist Episcopal denomination, was built by the subscription of members
of various denominations, as well as gentlemen who give their adherence to the
tenets of no creed whatever. The express understanding when these sums were
donated was that the church would be open to the use of all denominations, as is
evidenced by the following copy of the original subscription list:

   "(1) It is mutually agreed that the friends of religious culture in Quincy
and the American valley undertake to raise, in labor, money, and materials, the
sum of $2,000, for the purpose of erecting a church edifice at Quincy, to be
known and styled the Methodist Episcopal church, and to be under the especial
care and keeping of the Methodists; but to be always liberal toward other
branches of the Christian church, never to be exclusive in the dispensation of
its privileges, but to open its portals and extend its favors to others of the
Christian brotherhood who may 'use and not abuse.'

   "(2) The plan for raising the amount proposed is by contribution; and every
member of any branch of the Christian church, living in this community, and
every lover of peace, order, and goodwill among men, is hereby requested to lend
his influence and his efforts, and contribute of his means what he can, to the
consummation of an enterprise so essential to the well-being of our community;
and are hereby constituted agents, and authorized to solicit pledges and
donations or any amount and from all persons.

   "It is desirable that all small sums should be collectable at such time as
may be agreed upon, and forwarded to the finance and building committee. All
pledges of more than $10 should have some part paid down when the work on the
building is ready to commence, and the rest in equal installments, as the work
progresses. So that none will be pushed in the payment of their pledges, and yet
all will be paid by the time the work is completed.

   (3) The style and dimensions of the building are to be as follows: (This was
left blank.)

   "It is hoped that all friends to the undertaking will make a strenuous effort
at once to complete the proposition, which is to raise $2,000.

   "AGREEMENT.—For the above-named object, we, the undersigned, agree to give,
in money, materials, or labor, the amounts set opposite our names: A. J. Welden,
$150; J. C. Gentry, $100; D. R. Finlayson, $100; Thos. Haycock, $100; F. B.
Whiting, $50; Lee & Rogers, $50; Clark & Brooks, $25; J. P. Knisely, $12; J. C.
Chapman, $10; R. H. F. Variel, $10; W. T. Byers, $20; J. H. Houck, $10; J. D.
Goodwin, $50; J. L. Betterton, $60; Alex. Thompson, $50; J. F. Hartwell, $50; F.
Gansner, $50; Samuel Lee, $60; A. W. Drew, $60; G. W. Meylert, $50; Wm.
Schlatter, $10; J. R. Wyatt, $25; A. Cohn & Bro., $10; D. R. Cate, $50; E. T.
Hogan, $20; P. L. Hallsted, $10; I. C. Boring, $20; C. C. Boyle, $10; L. F.
Gate, $25; R. M. Harris, $5; J. C Coburn, $16; J. E. Edwards, $24; B. W. Clark,
$18."

   As the above subscriptions failed of reaching the desired amount, the more
liberal of the subscribers were called upon for additional contributions, which
they cheerfully gave.

   Quincy is now a thriving mountain town, surrounded by good farms, and in the
midst of a mineral region that is rapidly being developed. A narrow-gauge
railroad will soon connect it with Reno, and in every way its future looks
bright and auspicious. The business of the town comprises two hotels, the Plumas
House and the Quincy House, seven stores, two livery stables, five saloons, meat
market, wagon shop, several blacksmiths, shoemaker, barber, jeweler. There are
also a church, school-house, court-house and jail, post-office with J. H.
Whitlock postmaster, W. F. & Co. express office with J. R. Wyatt agent, who also
does a banking business, telegraph office, I. O. O. F. hall, Masonic hall, town
hall, and one weekly newspaper. The Plumas National is ably conducted by its
publisher, William E. Ward, son of Hon. William T. Ward, the first county judge
of Plumas. The Plumas House is a splendid hotel, far above the average, and cost
$30,000. It is well furnished, contains a large dance hall, and is ably managed
by W. T. Byers and E. Huskinson. The proprietor is James E. Edwards, and to the
cape and supervision of his wife are largely due the neatness and comfort of the
house. From this house stages run to Indian valley and Susanville, to Oroville,
to La Porte, and to Sierra valley and Reno.

   The Young Men's Reading Club is an association of the young men of Quincy.
They have fitted up a nice hall on Main street, in which is a good library, and
where they give occasional literary entertainment to their friends. The club is
doing a great deal of good, and receives the substantial encouragement of the
citizens.

   PLUMAS LODGE NO. 60, F. & A. M.—This was the first lodge of the Masonic order
in Plumas county. On the first of May, 1854, the Masons of American and Indian
valleys met at the American hotel, then kept by H. J. Bradley, and drew up a
petition to the grand lodge for a dispensation, signed by H. J. Bradley, John
Harbison, John S. Root, John M. Bass, Abram Hargrave, Gilbert Hudson, John M.
Abbott, Robert I. Barnett, John E. Smaw, Asa C. Bryan, Stephen D. Bass, John S.
Ross, M. H. Farley, William Hall, James F. Ray, S. H. Mather, Jobe T. Taylor,
and D. J. Gloyd. By the courtesy of Mr. Bradley, a room in the second story of
the hotel was used by the lodge for its place of meeting. A dispensation was
granted, and the following officers chosen: H. J. Bradley, W. M.; John S. Root,
S. W.; G. W. Cowper, J. W.; John Harbison, S.; R. I. Barnett, T.; Abram
Hargrave, S. D.; Warner H. Meeker, J. D.; S. H. Mather, Tyler. The first regular
meeting was held at the hotel July 22, 1854. A public installation then took
place in the old court-house in the rear of the hotel. In 1855 the lodge built
their hall, the money being raised by subscription, and by the active assistance
of the ladies of Quincy; and for their zeal in the cause, the ladies were
permitted the use of the lower story for a school-room, a privilege that was
continued for more than twenty years. The lodge has been presided over by H. J.
Bradley, John S. Root, John R. Buckbee, L. C. Charles, J. D. Goodwin, T. F.
Hersey, R. H. F. Variel, and Arthur W. Keddie. Stated convocations are held on
the Saturday of or next succeeding the full moon.

   ALTURAS CHAPTER NO. 34, R. A. M.—This chapter was organized in La Porte, July
8, 1864 with the following charter members: Creed Haymond, H. P.; J. West
Judkins, K.; Charles W. Hendel, S.; A. H. Crew, T.; Fred Howard, Secretary;
Francis Descombes, Gidney Underhill, John Corbett, and Henry V. Kimberlin. Of
late years the membership decreased so materially that the chapter was removed
to Quincy August 6, 1881. In December, 1881, the membership was forty-five, and
the officers were: J. H. Variel, H. P.; James Dempster, K.; Julian Jacquel, S.;
J. E. Edwards, T.; J. A. Ketchum, Secretary. Regular meeting Friday on or after
the full moon. In former years, Quincy Chapter No. 32 existed here, but
surrendered its charter.

   PLUMAS LODGE No. 88, I. O. O. F.—Samuel Parker, P. G. M., instituted this
lodge at Rich bar, on the east branch of Feather river, July 23, 1859,
installing the following officers: Abram Bolyer, N. G.; D. Paschen, V. G.;
Charles Belden, S.; Benjamin F. Sheldon, T. The lodge flourished for a time; but
the decline of mining on the river so reduced its membership that the charter
was surrendered, the last meeting being held August 23,1863. The lodge met in
the hall of Sincerity Lodge, F. & A. M. In 1867 Mr. F. B. Whiting prepared and
circulated a petition for the restoration of the charter, and location of the
lodge at Quincy, which was signed by H. W. Kellogg, Richard Thompson, Richard
Irwin, Asa D. Hallsted, John P. Richards, Daniel B. Turner, and Abram Bolyer.
The following gentlemen were installed as officers by Charles N. Fox, M. W. G.
M., June 21, 1867: Levin C. Charles, N. G.; John S. Root, V. G.; Asa O. Davis,
S.; William Kinsey, T. The lodge occupied the Masonic hall until the completion
of their fine brick hall, which cost $4,500, and was dedicated December 28,
1876. The membership in December, 1881, was sixty-eight, and the officers were:
D. W. Jenks, N. G.; Joseph Braden, V. G.; F. P. Whiting, S.; William Kinsey, T.

   QUINCY LODGE NO. 129, A. O. U. W.—H. G. Oliver, D. G. M. W., instituted this
lodge September 16, 1879. The charter members were: N. H. Hapgood, M. W.; J. D.
Goodwin, F.; R. L. Gill, O.; B. B. Hughes, J. W. Larison, W. A. Cheney, J. H.
Houck, H. N. Brown, J. P. Richards, R. H. F. Variel, Joseph Braden, George
Wilson, N. G. Luke, and W. H. Moore. The present membership is thirty-five, and
the officers (December, 1881) are: A. W. Keddie, M. W.; T. L. Haggard, F.;
William B. Shaw, O. Meetings are held the first and fourth Wednesdays of each
month in I. O. O. F. hall.

   PLUMAS RANGERS.—This was an independent military company, organized in Quincy
in December, 1855. E. T. Hogan received a commission from the governor as
captain. The history of the organization may be briefly stated as follows: In
November there came to Elizabethtown an Indian from the vicinity of Goodyear's
bar, Sierra county, to whom Judge Hogan had formerly showed a kindness, and gave
a warning of impending danger. He said that the Pit River Indians had at a
recent council decided to begin a war for the expulsion of the whites. Judge
Hogan immediately called a meeting of the citizens to consider the situation,
and also disseminated the news throughout the mining camps, so that the people
might be on their guard. At the meeting it was decided to form a military
company for the protection of the people, and the judge was chosen to command.
Eighty-two men signed the roll, were supplied with muskets by the state, and
prepared for war. The expected outbreak did not occur, and the company confined
itself to parades and drills until two years later, when they went to Honey Lake
valley to aid the settlers there in their trouble with the Indians. There they
were not called upon for bloody deeds; and after a brief campaign, they returned
without any scalps. Judge Hogan resigned his commission in the spring of 1858,
having been chosen county judge, and Robert I. Barnett succeeded him. Again, in
1859, was the company called upon to go to Honey Lake for the protection of the
settlers during the progress of the Potatoe War. Hostilities had ceased when
they arrived, and the warriors returned to their homes. Captain Barnett was
succeeded in the command by Noble C. Cunningham, who held the position until the
company disbanded, in 1860.

   BLOOMFIELD LODGE No. 227, I. O. G. T.—This lodge of Good Templars was
organized June 15, 1866, with nineteen charter members. Meetings were held until
September 10, 1868, when they were discontinued. It was reorganized September
15, 1870, with twenty charter members, by Miss Emory, D. G. W. C. T. The
officers were: R. N. Smith, W. C. T.; Sarah Richards, W. V. T.; J. C. Coburn, W.
S.; J. C. Gentry, W. T. The officers in December, 1881, were: L. Ewing, W. C.
T.; Alice McDonald, W. V. T.; Hattie E. Kingsbury, W. S.; R. H. Whiting, W. F.
S.; Abbie Huskinson, W. T.; Mrs. Alice Hapgood, P. W. C. T.



Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties

San Francisco: Fariss & Smith
(1882)

File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ca/plumas/history/1882/illustra/quincyco131nms.txt

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