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

DOWNIEVILLE.

   Who was the first white man to reach the Forks of the North Yuba is not
known. Without doubt, many years prior to its invasion by the gold-seekers the
indomitable fur-trapper had traversed this region, but left no trace behind him.
Early in the summer of 1849 miners, with pick, crevicing spoon, and pan, had
found their way up to where Downieville now stands; but there were none here
save Indians when Philo A. Haven, Carlos Haven, Warren Goodall, and Thomas Angus
located on Little Rich bar, a half-mile below, in the beginning of September, or
when, a week before, Mr. Haven had been there with an Indian. Hedgepath & Co.
had located seven claims on Big Rich bar, but there is no evidence of any gold
discovery at the Forks prior to that made by Frank Anderson on the fourteenth of
September, 1849, as related in the remarks on "Early History." In November Major
Downie's party reached the forks. John Potter cut the first tree used for
building a cabin, which was erected about the last of December, 1849, with the
assistance of Kelley and others, at the mouth of the ravine on the north side of
town, and came to be known as the Kelley cabin. Another log cabin was
immediately built on Jersey flat, by a man named Lord. In January, 1850,
Anderson brought B. F. Parks, now of Marysville, and six others, to the Forks,
the Kelley and Lord cabins being the only ones there at the time. The population
of the Forks upon their arrival consisted of Mr. Marey, with his party of eight
men, and Major Downie, with his three companions, a detachment of eight having
been sent below in December for provisions. Albert Callis was then with Major
Downie, and was suffering from a severe illness which nearly cost him his life.
The snow was very deep during January and February, most of the members awaiting
idly for its clearance before going to work. Those who employed their time in
searching the crevices beneath the snow were generally repaid by making from one
to two hundred dollars a day. From the last of February to the middle of March
the snow fell in such quantities as to put a stop to the work on all such
diggings, the party having no bank claims opened. Not knowing the length of time
they would be obliged to wait for a fresh supply of provisions, the men were put
on rations. Downie went below and succeeded in obtaining two head of cattle,
together with a little rice and a few dried apples. Before the food was entirely
consumed, they were relieved by the arrival of a large number of miners fully
supplied. The news of the rich diggings spread rapidly, and with the return of
spring came great numbers to mine. In February a town was laid out by James
Vinyard, and a meeting to christen it was held, sufficient locators being there
to require a permanent title. Considerable rivalry existed in regard to the
selection of a name, and none of the disputants were willing to give up to the
others. Some favored Mareyville, while others wished to perpetuate their own
names or those of their friends in the camp. It was finally left to Mr. Parks to
propose a name, and he suggested Downieville, which obtained unanimous approval.
On the same evening the south side was christened Washingtonville, and the flat
above, on the south side, Murraysville. In the fall of 1850 James Durgan built
the first sawmill in Sierra county, on the south side, and soon that part of the
town was called Durgan Flat instead of Washingtonville. The name of Murraysville
did not prove popular, and the Jersey company, owning the river claim at that
point, invested it during the year with the title of Jersey Flat.

   In the early spring Parton opened a store on Jersey Flat, while James Hawkins
brought a stock of goods, and sold them in Downieville. The prices were
enormous, whisky being sixteen dollars a bottle, and other necessaries bringing
worse than "war prices." In April, 1850, the first eating-house was opened by
Mrs. Judge Galloway in a large log cabin, and the pioneer meat market owed its
origin to Ned Barker soon after. The town grew as if by magic. Hundreds came in
every day, without cessation, for weeks. It is estimated that in April not less
than five thousand people were at Downieville, coming and going all the time.
Numerous stores and saloons were opened in tent houses, the proprietors having
no time to indulge in more substantial architecture. "Woods soon put up his
large hotel, which became the must popular caravansary in that neighborhood.

   As early as March a miner's meeting was held, at which thirteen resolutions
were passed, forming the laws governing the people in their relations to each
other as miners. Claims were fixed at thirty feet to a man. Downieville soon
became crowded, and it was with difficulty that the multitudes could secure
their board. Of course all the lazy, worthless fellows, who by a little labor
could have made fifty dollars a day, protested that all the paying claims were
taken, and that the dimensions were too large. Too indolent to perform the
labors that others had done, and discover new mines, these malcontents demanded
a division of the claims already found and located. But it was not long before
hundreds left diggings that paid fifty dollars a day, to search for the famous
Gold Lake, and the pressure was removed. They were also drawn away by the
discoveries of diggings at Eureka, Howland flat, St. Louis, and other places.

   Downieville presented a different aspect then from what it did a year or two
later. The great pines that grew down to the water's edge were scarcely touched
by the miners, except when they wished to get them out of the way. Myriads of
tents covered the flats, in which the rude arts of the pioneer cuisine were
practiced in all their primitiveness. S. W. Langton started, in the spring, his
express to Marysville, and the arrival of the expressman with letters that cost
the homesick miner a dollar apiece was far more anxiously looked for than is the
mail-bag in these days of rapid communication, when the score is settled with
Uncle Sam at the beginning of the journey.

   The building of Mr. Durgan's saw-mill soon altered the appearance of
Downieville. The trees began to fall on every side; saw and hammer awakened the
echoes; building commenced in real earnest from lumber that cost eighty dollars
a thousand at the mill, and carpenters were in demand at sixteen and twenty
dollars a day. Gambling and drinking became the prevailing vices, as in all new
camps, with their accompaniments of boisterous music, big, yellow nuggets, and
oceans of coin striking the eye and ear at once. Whisky was retailed at four
bits a drink, and was mostly made in the back rooms of the saloons. This
explains why there was never a scarcity of whisky in the mountains, even when
flour and beans were worth nearly their weight in gold.

   The general idea in 1849 was that all the gold must be in the rivers; but in
1850 the rich flats, the deep bars, and the high benches began to be worked with
surprising results. Some fluming of the river-bed was done during the year, and
in 1851 this kind of mining had become almost a mania. Between Downieville and
Goodyear's, a distance of four miles, the river was carried nearly the whole way
in flumes, costing an immense amount of money. Though a great deal of gold was
taken out, these enterprises, on the whole, failed to supply very large
dividends, in consequence of the tremendous losses occasioned by incipient
floods. The fluming companies generally were deceived by the holes in the
river-bed, which, when pumped out, were often entirely barren. The richest
company working on the bars was the Steamboat, on Steamboat bar, which for some
weeks in 1851 averaged $5,000 a day. The Virginia company, of which S. B.
Davidson was secretary and general manager, had a claim below the mouth of Slug
canon, running down to Steamboat bar. There were nine in the company. In 1851
their highest day's work produced $2,617, and on the five succeeding days they
secured $2,200, $1,659, $1,120, $2,138, and $2,135, consecutively. It was the
custom among all the companies to divide the gold every night, thus avoiding
complications with defaulting cashiers. The Jersey company, in 1850, had a claim
above the present site of the Jersey bridge, embracing the spot where Frank
Anderson had made the first discovery of gold. Twenty persons formed the company
in the fall, who worked twenty rockers. Their yield was very gratifying, even in
those days, the gold being weighed nightly on the steelyards in the
butcher-shop, and divided with even-handed justice. Their harvest ran from
twenty to sixty pounds of gold-dust every day. On Durgan flat, Frank Anderson,
Charles Lewis, James Irwin, and J. W. Hamilton had a claim sixty feet square. On
this they worked eleven days, and took out $12,900, one day's yield amounting to
$4,300. Then they sold the precious piece of land to other parties, Anderson's
partners going back to the states. The new company did somewhat better,
averaging $1,500 per day to each man, working also eleven days. The Bennett boys
then took their chances on what remained, and averaged $1,200 per day per man,
until they disposed of the property to others. During the six months from the
time of opening this claim, it passed into several other hands, yielding, in the
aggregate, over $80,000. Around Downieville every foot of ground paid rich
returns. The Tin cup diggings, spoken of elsewhere, proved a mint to those who
worked them, for a long time. It is said that in 1850 three men always made it a
point to fill a tin cup with gold, before quitting work at night, and they
didn't wear themselves out at labor either. On a low bar just below, George
Barton and party were working. One day they sunk a hole five feet deep, and
panned out $2,500 in two hours, consisting of coarse gold that ranged in size
from two bits to eleven ounces. In the fall of 1850 the largest piece known to
be found on the river was excavated at Gold bluff, two miles above town, on the
Sailor claim. It was pure gold, almost round, and weighed twenty-five pounds.
Other pieces from the same claim weighed from one to five pounds. They were
exhibited in the theater, on the stage. Mr. Barton, who has written many very
interesting reminiscences for the Messenger, tells the following, as
illustrative of the condition of society at this period:

   "There was an absence of women in 1850, and well on to 1851. There were not
half a dozen women in town, white or Spanish. In the fall of 1851 I was mining
on Durgan flat, and was in the shaft drifting,' when suddenly I heard the most
exciting yells and hurras on the surface, and called to find out what was the
cause. It was some time before I could get an answer. My partner at last
hallooed down, 'Come up—come up; they are coming.' 'Well, who is it?' 'Why. the
women!' All hands knocked off, and soon the flat was alive with men. The trail
then was nearly straight down Galloway's hill, and they were in view from town
for about an hour. They were four or five of the demi-monde, under the care of
the afterwards notorious Rose Cooper; as they neared town it grew dark, and the
miners crowded in from up and down the river, cheering and yelling up the
crowded main street, till they landed in the Gem saloon. One of the women was so
frightened that when she entered she fainted, fearing they were going to be
lynched, as the Spanish woman had been hung by a mob on the 5th of July the same
year. In 1851 a Mr. Morris built a theater back' of the lower plaza, and Ned
Bingham, McClosky, and a tolerable company occupied it; and that was a step on
the road to more civilizing influences. It was run straight along, Sundays
included; in fact, that and Saturdays were their best nights. The scenery was
the worst of daubs, and the stage furniture the wildest attempts at sylvan
scenery: interiors of castles, ships, and raging seas; but it pleased all, and
the miners heartily supported it."

   In 1851 the Downieville precinct polled 1,132 votes. Sierra Woodall was the
first white child born in the county. Her introduction to the world was made in
1851, at Snake bar, two miles below Downieville, and at the organization of the
county the name of Sierra was given her. Agnes Galloway was the first child of
Downieville, now Mrs. H. F. Turner of Sierra valley.

   Eight hundred miners were working on Durgan flat in 1851. Durgan erected a
little footbridge across the stream to Downieville, and the inhabitants of that
section were taxed each four dollars a month for the privilege of walking across
it. On the night of February 19, 1852, Downieville was entirely destroyed by
fire. There were so many cloth tents and plain board shanties that the fire
fiend made quick work of it, and the morning sun shone on a flat waste of ashes.
The loss was about $150,000. Houses of a more substantial character soon
replaced the old ones. On the following day a great meeting of the inhabitants
was held. Robert Keifer, George A. Booth, and another man were appointed to lay
off the streets, which they did on the twenty-first. The citizens could not
agree at first about the width to make the thoroughfares, but at length, after
holding three meetings, in which the matter was fully discussed, it was decided
to make the streets forty feet wide. McNulty opened the St. Charles hotel two
days after the fire. It was an immense, light frame, covered with cotton, with
benches and tables running lengthwise of the structure. On the anniversary of
Washington's birthday McNulty took in, for meals alone, $2,600. Cray croft & Co.
in a short time put up their immense saloon, which had a counter in it
seventy-five feet long, that on many an occasion lightened the purse of the rash
individual who called the whole house up to drink, and to whom the long
perspective of expectant men waiting to be served at his expense must have been
a cheering sight. A brief glance at a few of the business men stationed here in
the summer of 1852 may not be inopportune. In the line of dry goods, E. W.
Haskell & Brother led the trade; Knapp & Paull kept a variety store; Sam
Rosinsquy dealt in boots and shoes; Ferdinand Reis supplied the miners with
implements and tools; while William B. Hamblin & Son sold them pots, kettles,
and tinware; Hawley, Simmons, & Co. and Thomas Tobin & Co. wholesaled and
retailed groceries and liquors; S. Walton & Co. traded general merchandise for
gold-dust; A. A. Cochran owned the Sierra drug-store; Green & Shepard worked in
precious stones and metals; George A. Reynolds bought gold-dust; Dr. B. N.
Freeman, Dr. George Chase, Dr. Wilson Carr, and Dr. C. D. Aiken attended to the
physical ailments of the camp. The National theater, with J. J. McClosky as
manager, supplied Thespian amusements to the pleasure-seekers; while Reverend R.
R. Dunlap preached Methodism to the religiously inclined. Among the numerous
hotels were the Arcade, kept by A. Wheeler, and the Bridge house, by Mrs. E.
Lowry & Co., together with McNulty's and Wood's caravansaries. In 1851 Craycroft
& Cheever had built a saw-mill above town, which was in operation; and in 1852
Philo A. Haven erected another farther up the East Fork. Haven's flume headed
two miles above Downieville, carrying water and lumber right into town. It was a
successful enterprise, and is still in existence, the property of Benjamin
Pauley, who has owned it a great many years. Mr. Haven sold to John Cum-mings
and John Angle, in 1854. Craycroft & Co. held their mammoth raffle December 31,
1853, for $3,000 in cash, and other property, amounting in all to $55,000; P.
Sniffer being the agent and manager of the affair.

   In 1856 W. H. Ladd & Co. were running a bank in Downieville. The Reis house
had passed into the hands of Grippen & Day, and many other changes in business
had occurred, among others the establishment of the United States hotel by
Nicholson & Pearce. It was at this time that Lola Montez, countess of Landsfelt
de Heald, the wonderful spider dancer, made her appearance on the boards of the
National theater, creating a profound sensation in the susceptible breasts of
the population. She was greeted with crowded houses, and so strong was the
impression left behind by this Teutonic beauty that her name was immortalized in
the christening of a lofty peak, Mount Lola.

   Downieville was a second time baptised with fire, on the first day of
January, 1858. The flames got beyond the control of the citizens, and swept with
remorseless fury over the fated town, destroying everything within their reach.
But a vestige remained on the Downieville side of the once sightly and crowded
business streets; ghastly ruins stared at the spectator from every side;
business, homes, treasured articles of domestic use, and merchandise of every
description were all swallowed up in the general holocaust. In this fire the
bridge to Jersey flat was destroyed, as were likewise the offices of the Sierra
Citizen and the Democrat. As these papers, in their demoralized condition,
failed afterwards to publish a list of the losses, and as it is impossible to
obtain more than a few items of the kind from personal recollections of
individuals, we are unable to make a complete statement of what was destroyed.
The fire was more destructive than any subsequent one that has visited the town,
owing largely to the want of proper means to make an effectual stand against it.
Many lost all they had in the flames, and some distress was felt; but the
neighboring towns came promptly to their relief. The donations received were as
follows: Nevada City, $402; Forest City, $318.50; Monte Christo, $315; Alleghany
and Smith's flat, $278; Marysville, $221.50; sundry persons, $69.25; whole
amount received, $1,604.25. Forest City, in addition to her money contribution,
gave twenty-six pairs of blankets.

   Downieville rapidly recovered from this blow. The inherent germs of progress
were too deeply planted for even such a catastrophe to prove disastrous, and
with the resuscitating faculties within her, commonly ascribed to the fabled
Phoenix, she could do no less than rise from her own ashes better than before.

   In a few years the question of incorporating the city was raised and
agitated. It became apparent that the interests of the two flats were closely
identified with those of the town itself, from which narrow streams of water
should not separate them. These ideas found fruition in an act of the
legislature approved March 18, 1863, incorporating within the following
boundaries the town of Downieville:

   "Commencing on Sierra turnpike, at the north-west corner of Stacey's
storehouse; thence in a southerly direction, crossing the North Yuba river, to
the south-west corner of Judge Van Clief s dwelling-house, on Durgan flat;
thence south-easterly to the south-west corner of S. D. Hill's dwelling-house on
Durgan flat; thence north-easterly to the south-east corner of Mr Towle's
dwelling-house, on Piety hill; thence easterly, crossing the South fork of the
North Yuba river, to the southeast corner of M. J. Ayer's house, on Jersey flat;
thence north-easterly to the south-east corner of J. W. Bailey's dwelling-house,
on 'Bailey's ranch'; thence north-easterly, crossing the North fork, to the
north-east corner of A. Wheeler's dwelling-house, on the North fork of the North
Yuba river; thence westerly to the north-west corner of S. W. Langton's
dwelling-house; thence to the place of beginning."

   The first municipal election was held on Monday, the twenty-seventh of April,
1863. Two tickets were in the field, the People's and the Union, and the former
was elected by an average majority of forty votes. The trustees so elected were
Joseph Wackman, Charles W. Gilbert, Ernest Kruse, H. A. Fordham, and J. N.
Flandreau. At the first meeting, held May 4, J. N. Flandreau was chosen
president; E. M. Grippen appointed marshall; R. Smidaker, night-watchman; and J.
F. Cowdery, city attorney. H. A. Fordham became secretary, but resigned, and C.
W. Gilbert succeeded him. Two ordinances relating to loose hogs and fast driving
were passed at this meeting. The contract for building the Jersey flat bridge, a
former one having been swept away by the floods of 1861, was awarded by the
council to James Borland, June 8, 1863. The incorporation act was amended by an
act approved March 31, 1866, which changed the boundaries as follows:

   "Commencing at the north-east corner of the warehouse of Hughes & Garnossett,
on the turnpike; thence southerly to the south-west corner of the dwelling-house
belonging to Thomas Frehill, on Durgan flat; thence easterly to the flume known
as Flandreau's flume, and along the same to a point on the South fork of the
North Yuba river opposite the south-east corner of the house of J. Volmer;
thence northerly to the south-west corner of Noble's foundry; and thence
north-westerly, crossing the north bank of the Yuba river, to the north end of
the brewery of F. Busch; and thence to the north-western corner of the Catholic
church; and thence to place of beginning."

   In a few years the expense of a city government became irksome to the people;
interest in the election of officers began to flag, and finally these elections
were discontinued altogether. The town is still incorporated, and may at any
time desired revive its municipal institutions, but at present there is little
disposition to do so.

   An act was passed in March, 1863, establishing a fire department in
Downieville, to consist of chief engineer, first and second assistants,
president, secretary, treasurer, and a board of delegates of three from each
hose company. Downieville for some years had had two of these companies, both of
which are in existence at present: the Mountain Torrent hose company No. 1, and
the Cataract hose company No. 2. At the first election of the department Otto
Housman was made chief; Jack Campbell, first engineer; John Long, second
engineer; Will Stich, secretary and treasurer. The delegates chosen from the
Mountain Torrent company were John Brockman, Henry Bassing,, and W. N. Burrows;
from the Cataract company the delegates were Mat Lynch, E. M. Grippen, and J.
Meroux. It was not long ere the choicest powers of the department were brought
into requisition, this time to cope with another great fire that threatened to
exterminate for a third time the prosperous town. The fire of February 21, 1864,
wiped out the principal part of the business portion, and was only held in check
by pulling down frame buildings that furnished fuel for its continuation. In
this way the solid brick structure now owned by J. W. Brown was saved from the
destroyer, though it received a severe scorching. The Sierra Democrat was again
burned out, and only a very small amount of damaged material was
recovered—proving the finishing stroke of that excellent sheet, that caused its
permanent dissolution. The hall and records of the Masonic order were a second
time destroyed, and the property of the Odd Fellows met a similar fate. The
Catholic church, which had been destroyed in the fire of 1858, was now farther
up the hill, and escaped a second burning. This fire, in its effects on the
prosperity of the town, was somewhat more disastrous than that of 1858. The
population had decreased in consequence of mining excitements elsewhere, which
drew off those given to speculation, and the ruined structures were replaced
only as the demands of business required. Downieville had reached its
culminating period, from which it settled down into a steady-going hamlet,
making thereafter but little noise or stir in the world.

   Among the incidents happening in this decade should be mentioned the accident
which occurred on the twenty-seventh of May, 1863. Company K, sixth regiment
California volunteers, had a short time before been recruited in Sierra county,
with headquarters at Downieville, By the premature discharge of a cannon fired
in honor of the capture of Vicksburg, from the bluffs below town, Lieutenant M.
M. Knox and Second Lieutenant William A. Donaldson were horribly mangled and
killed. Knox was blown down the declivity two hundred feet, while Donaldson had
his eyes blown out, his wrists torn off, and was otherwise mutilated. Military
rites were performed over the grave by the National Guard, the Sierra Guards,
and the fire companies.

   Downieville was made a post-office in 1852, Edward Haskell receiving the
first appointment as postmaster. He was succeeded in 1854 by James Gernon, who
presided over the mails for four years. In 1858 Francis Anderson was appointed,
and signed P. M. to his name until 1862. In that year A. G. McKinsey obtained
the position, holding it during the long period of thirteen years. In 1873
William Ryan became the postmaster of Downieville, and is the present incumbent.

   A man named Kempton started the first private school in Downieville, in the
spring of 1853. The money for its support was raised by subscription from the
few families who had children to send. Kempton taught but two months, when, not
finding a fortune in the educational line, he gave the school up to a Mr.
Boucher, who in a short time resigned in favor of a man by the name of Rogers.
In the fall of 1853 Mrs. S. M. Shoemaker established a school where the bank is
now situated, which became a very creditable institution, according to the
laudations of the Mountain Echo. In 1854 Mrs. Stephens taught in this place;
then a young man by the name of Myers, and afterwards a Mr. Patterson. In the
spring of 1856 J. A. Cobus was engaged in teaching, when Mr. George Hardy
started a subscription list to build a school-house. He succeeded in raising
about $800. The contract was let to George Webber and another party, for $780.
At this time the public was considerably in arrears with former teachers. To
lift this indebtedness, a theatrical performance was given in the Downieville
theater, which was participated in by R. H. Taylor, W. S. Spear, Captain
Hungerford, George Barton, Cheever, and several others. The play produced was
the "Golden Farmer." Several young men took the ladies' parts, and the single
entertainment was a grand success, netting for the school fund about seven
hundred dollars. D. H. Cowden taught the first school in the new building on
Jersey flat, starting with twenty pupils. In 1861 the building was raised eight
feet, to accommodate a primary school in the basement. This is the same building
now used for school purposes, in which Mr. James Tully presides as principal
over one hundred and fifty-one pupils in regular attendance. The value of school
property in the Downieville district is estimated at $1,900.

   Downieville can boast of having been the whilom residence of many who
afterwards rose to distinction and prominence in the various walks of life. Hon.
Joseph McKibben made Downieville his home for several years after its inception.
In 1851 he represented Yuba county in the California senate; and when Sierra
county was created commenced the practice of law at the county seat. He was
nominated for congress from the third district, in August, 1858, upon the
democratic popular sovereignty ticket, and was elected by a large majority, and
served with considerable ability. At the opening of the war he joined the Union
ranks, and soon became colonel of a regiment, where he did excellent service for
his country during the entire war. The illustrious and gallant Colonel E. D.
Baker resided in Downieville for some time after leaving Illinois. During the
Mexican war he served with distinction under General Scott, acquiring
considerable celebrity before following the tide of gold-seekers westward. He
was admitted to practice in the Sierra county courts, where his wonderful
eloquence was heard in many an important case, taking at once a position in the
front rank of California attorneys. Upon his removal to Oregon, a San Francisco
paper upbraided the people of this state for not properly appreciating his
remarkable talents in oratory and the law. Oregon did credit to herself in
sending Colonel Baker to the United States senate, from which body he withdrew
to join the army of the Potomac, as colonel. His death, which occurred at
Edward's ferry, October 21, 1861, was lamented by the whole northern people, and
especially by the inhabitants of the Pacific coast, to whom he was endeared by
many ties. John Mackey, the great millionaire, lived in Sierra county when
fortune had not yet learned to smile upon him. He was a common working-man,
though a good judge of ore, and worked on the ridges at Forest City and
Alleghany. It was in Downieville that he married the young widow of Dr. E. J.
Bryant, who was the daughter of Captain Hungerford, a popular barber of the
town. Ex-Governor J. A. Johnson, who left his law practice in Downieville to
take the gubernatorial chair, remembers this place as his home, as do several
others who have since risen to high positions elsewhere: among them, J. F.
Cowdery, city attorney of San Francisco; Moses Kirkpatrick, afterwards sheriff
of San Francisco county; Judge R. H. Taylor, William Stewart, L. E. Pratt, and
William J. Ford.

   Application was made by Judge A. J. Howe, November 10, 1881, in behalf of the
citizens of Downieville, at the general land office, for a patent to the town
site, which was granted. The town site embraces the east half of the south-west
quarter of section 26, and the north-west quarter of section 35, all in township
20 north, of range ten east of the Mount Diablo meridian, and consists of 240
acres. In the flood of February, 1881, the Durgan bridge was swept out. The
present bridge was constructed by the California bridge company, in the short
space of two weeks, on a contract calling for $3,200.

   Downieville is supplied with water by numerous ditches and pipes, owned by
five different water companies. S. D. Hill & Son furnish water to Durgan flat by
pipes running from the Oro tunnel. Jersey flat is partially supplied by M. H.
Mead, who carries the water in pipes from the South fork. S. M. York & Brother's
ditch taps the East fork two miles above; while the old Haven flume, owned by J.
M. Hall & Co., with John Hughes as agent, commences on the East fork, at
Pauley's saw-mill, and supplies Busch's brewery, Chinatown, and a number of
residences with what they require. H. Spaulding's flume, which is the main water
supply of town, heads at the Good Hope mine, runs a mile in length, and conducts
through pipes laid along the streets the quantity necessary for the usages to
which it is put. This ditch has been in operation many years. A reservoir on the
hill west of town furnishes water to protect the village from fire. On Main
street there are six fire-plugs, with a fall sufficient to throw a stream far
above the highest buildings. Jersey flat has three plugs, supplied from the
ditch of S. M. York & Brother, and Durgan flat owes its protection to the water
supply of S. D. Hill & Son. McGuire & Wilbern have a private ditch a mile and a
half in length, heading in Hungry Mouth ravine.

   The Downieville fire department is fully organized and in working order. A
large bell on Main street sounds the dread alarms, summoning the department to
its onerous labors, and the promptness with which the call is responded to
reflects credit on the members. The officers of the department are as follows:
chief engineer, L. Byington; assistants, N. H. Meaney, J. S. Wiggins; delegates
from the Mountain Torrent hose company, N. H. Meaney, V. Hartling, A. Cohn; from
the Cataract hose company, S. M. York, J. M. B. Meroux, W. J. Holmes. Joseph
Garibaldi is foreman of the Mountain Torrent company, with T. Bessler assistant,
and A. Cohn secretary. H. Spaulding is foreman of the Cataract company, assisted
by William Byington, while H. H. Purdy performs the clerical work.

   Downieville is connected by daily stages with Marysville and with Sierra
City. The former route is owned by Dan T. Cole, Warren Green, and John Sharp.
The distance is sixty-five miles, and twenty-four horses are in use constantly.
The drivers are George Sharp and Ben W«x>d:Jboth efficient men in the Jehu line.
Weir & Mead own the route to Sierra City, the distance being twelve miles. The
Alta California Telegraph company built a line of telegraph from Nevada City to
Downieville in 1855. W. W. Smith, the first operator, was succeeded by A. C.
Chapman the same year. In December, 1855, J. W. Orear took the office, and with
the exception of one year, 1864-65, he has filled the place ever since. In the
interim, A. F. Chapman was operator. A district telegraph system has been in
operation for a number of years, connecting several business houses and
residences with the court-house.   Wells, Fargo, & Co.'s express succeeded that
of Langton & Co., in 1866. J. W. Orear was appointed their first agent, and is
the present incumbent, having held the place continuously since.

   The Downieville foundry and machine shop is an important institution, being
the only one in the county. Solomon Purdy erected the first foundry, in 1855.
Prior to 1866 it was owned and run for several years by Oland & Noble. Messrs.
Manson, Thorn, and Luther bought it then, and conducted it until the spring of
1877, when the property was purchased by Taylor & Forbes. The dam across the
North fork was built in 1867, at a cost of $3,000, furnishing a splendid water
power to propel the machinery. Thirteen thousand dollars were paid at the last
sale for the property. Pennsylvania Lehigh coal is used in the furnace, costing
forty-four dollars a ton laid down at the foundry. The works were burned in
July, 1869, and again in September, 1872. Quartz-mill building and repairing
have for a long period been the leading features of the work performed. The two
breweries of Downieville make an excellent quality of beer. The amber fluid was
first brewed here in 1854, by Borge, who two years after sold his brewery to
Scammon & Schultz, and they to John Kupp and another party. Ferdinand Busch
bought the property in 1858, and still owns it. The Monte Christo brewery was
built in 1861. L. Nessler and Joseph Wackman became the proprietors the same
year. The former purchased the latter's interest in 1866; but in 1868, and for
eight years after, J. A. Blohm was a partner, Mr. Nessler being now the only
proprietor. The brewery was burned in 1864, involving a loss of $10,000, and a
second time was consumed in 1870.

   H. Scammon's banking house has been conducted by him since 1866. H. T. Briggs
is the present cashier. The principal business houses of Downieville may be
enumerated as follows: St. Charles hotel, P. Eschbacher; McDonald hotel, Owen
McDonald; dry goods, B. Latreille, Brilliant & Co., Cohn Brothers; groceries,
Spaulding & Mowry, A. Garibaldi, J. M. B. Meroux; hardware, J. W. Brown; drugs,
C. C. Smith, W. B. Kimball; watches and jewelry, H. Purdy; furniture, T. M.
Stackus; livery stable, Weir & Mead; butcher-shops, L. Byington, John Coster;
blacksmith shops, George Ift, W. D. Nolan. The town supports a large number of
saloons, several of them being elegantly fitted up.

   The Methodist Episcopal church of Downieville was organized some time in the
year 1855, with Rev. H. Ewart as the first regular pastor. Services were held
prior to that time by itinerant ministers. In 1856 Rev. John B. Hill was sent to
this place, and remained until the following year. During his pastorate he
succeeded in raising sufficient by subscription to build the church which now
stands. The list of ministers who have had this charge since Mr. Hill are given
as follows: William Hulbert, 1858; W. S. Turner, 1859; H. B. Sheldon, 1859; W.
S. Urmey, 1860; C. H. Northup, 1861; J. Rogers, 1863; James Wicks, 1864; J. B.
Fish, 1865; James Wicks, 1868: Joseph Pettit, 1870; W. B. Priddy, 1871; Will
Gordon, 1873; P. L. Haynes, 1874; E. M. Stewart, 1876; John Appleton, 1879; B.
F. Rhoads, 1881. A Congregational society was organized in Downieville in 1855,
with Rev. W. C. Pond as pastor, who held the position until 1866, when the
society was allowed to die out. A Congregational chapel was built in September,
1858, but upon the disorganization it was sold and used for other purposes. A
Catholic church building was erected in 1852, at which time Father Dalton was
priest. He was succeeded two or three years after by Father Delahunty. In 1858
Father Morris was sent to this charge, and in 1861 Father Lynch. The succeeding
pastors were Reverends Baker, Maroney, Sheridan, O'Donnell, and Kerley, the
present pastor; Father Kerley being appointed in 1879. In 1858 the church was
burned in the great fire, but was soon rebuilt higher up the hill, where it now
stands.

   MOUNTAIN SHADE LODGE NO. 18, F. & A. M.—This Masonic lodge was organized
under dispensation, in 1851, with H. P. Benton, W. M.; W. B. Hamblin, S. W.;
George Fagg, J. W.; and a membership of thirty-seven. A charter was received
Mayo, 1852, when G. Fagg became W. M.; T. B. Graham, S. W.; and H. McNulty, J.
W.; numbering fifty charter members. The present membership is forty-five, and
the officers are Robert Forbes, W. M.; Henry Spaulding, S. W.; Lewis Mowry, J.
W.; H. H. Purdy, treas.; John Scott, sec; A. Cohn, S. D.; A. J. McGuire, J. D.;
L. Byington, marshal; J. M. B. Meroux, J. A. Blomh, stewards; Valentine Hartling
tyler. The present hall was built in June, 1864, two former ones having been
burned in the fires of 1858 and 1864.

   SIERRA CHAPTER No. 21, R. A. M., was organized in October, 1857, under
dispensation, and was chartered May 7, 1858, with Lewis Reynolds, H. P.; John D.
Scellen, K.; and Solomon Purdy, S. The present officers are William T. Luther,
H. P.; L. Byington, K.; James B. Crooks, S.; H. H. Purdy, treas.; William Ryan,
sec; H. Strange, C. of H.; Benjamin Pauley, P. S.; George C. Martin, R. A. C.;
V. Hartling, M. of 3rd V.; Jacob Lewis, M. of 2nd V.; D. L. Whitney, M. of 1st V.

   SIERRA LODGE NO. 24, I. O. O. F., was chartered June 6, 1854. The first
officers were R. H. Taylor, N. G.; E. W. Casey, V. G.; William DeKay, R. S.; A.
Smith, P. S.; J. H. Scales, treas. The membership of the lodge at the time was
fifty-four. They erected a hall soon after, which lasted until the fire of 1864,
when it was consumed. The handsome structure now owned by the lodge was put up
in a short time. The present membership is seventy-one, with the following
elective officers: H. Carpenter, N. G.; T. B. Engleston, V. G.; H. D. Hill, sec;
L. H. Osgood, treas.

   BLUE RANGE ENCAMPMENT NO. 8, I. O. O. F., was instituted March 25, 1856, with
a membership of nineteen. The first officers were W. Heaton, C. P.; T. R. Kibbe,
H. P.; J. H. Hickox, S. W.; C. K. Wright, S.; E. M. Grippen, treas.; E. W. King,
J. W. The membership at present is fifty-two, with these officers: William J.
Holmes, C. P.; John T. Mason, H. P.; H. Strange, S. W.; A. Cohn, S.; H. G. Weir,
treas.; H. Carpenter, J. W.

   DOWNIEVILLE LODGE No. 123, A. O. U. W.—This flourishing beneficiary order was
chartered in Downieville in 1879, and has acquired a large and constantly
increasing membership. The hall is on Durgan flat, directly in front of the
court-house.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties

San Francisco: Fariss & Smith
(1882)

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/sierra/history/1882/illustra/downievi312ms.txt

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