Sierra County CA Archives History - Books .....Goodyear's Bar 1882
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Book Title: Illustrated History Of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties

GOODYEAR'S BAR.

   This celebrated old mining camp, one of the first located within the present
confines of Sierra county, is picturesquely situated on the North Yuba, four
miles below Downieville. Beautiful pine-clad hills surround the place,
conspicuous among which is the noble crest of Grizzly peak. In the distance may
be seen Saddle Back, Fir Cap, Monte Christo, and many other points of interest
alike to the practical miner and the lover of nature. The first inhabitants of
Goodyear's bar were Miles Goodyear, Andrew Goodyear, Dr. Vaughan, and a Mr.
Morrison, who settled here in the late summer of 1849. At that time the hand of
man had not molested the beautiful groves of oak and other valley growths that
fringed the turgid waters of the Yuba, Rock creek, and Goodyear creek, then
dashing their silvery torrents over primeval rocks, or explored the rippling
depths where lay the yellow sands so highly prized for ages. The scene was soon
changed. Discoveries of rich gold deposits caused others to settle in the
neighborhood, who had left the lower diggings and followed up the stream in
search of a more rapid road to wealth. Philo Haven, Frank Anderson, and the
Downie party passed here during the fall at different times, seeking the North
fork.

   Miles Goodyear was taken sick shortly after his arrival, and lingered along
for several months, finally, on the twelfth of November, 1849, yielding up his
life. He was buried on a point opposite Goodyear's bar, since named Slaughter
bar. The remains were deposited in an old rocker, with a buffalo robe for a
shroud. A rough head-board, carved by Dr. Vaughan, told the stranger that Miles
Goodyear was no more, giving the date of his departure from earth. The body was
afterwards removed below by his brother Andrew.

   Great hardships were experienced at Goodyear's bar during the succeeding
winter. Food was terribly scarce, and the prospect of famine drove nearly all
the pioneers to the lower country to obtain the necessities of existence. Flour
was the most needed and the most difficult to procure. Even the nutritious bean,
the pioneer's loadstar in all new countries, was not to be had. Famishing
parties from other places came to Goodyear's to sate their vigorous appetites,
but most had to go away hungry for what their abundance of gold would not buy.
What was sold brought the uniform price of four dollars a pound, were it food,
tools, or blankets. Before supplies arrived the inhabitants of the bar were
compelled to test the unsavoriness of beef bones from a dead animal lying on the
bar, and the last bone had been deprived of all animal matter ere relief came.
With the return of spring came a great horde of eager miners, and long ere the
snows had vanished from the ridges thousands were delving every foot of ground
that showed promise of returns. Andrew Goodyear was located on a point, with
several Indians who were working for him, and had very rich pay ground. At a
meeting of the miners the size of the claims was fixed at thirty feet square.
Daniel Cowley, who arrived that spring, was forced to content himself with half
a claim, not another spot being vacant. James Golden, now a well-preserved old
gentleman of 82 years, arrived at the camp on the thirty-first of March. The
buildings were nearly all of canvas. Many of them were called hotels, where a
fare rude and plain enough for an anchorite was charged for at the fancy price*
which prevailed. A man named Woodruff opened the first regular store, in a log
building; other stores were soon run by James Golden and a Mr. Vinyard. Among
the early business men of Goodyear's, in addition to these, may be mentioned:
Hughes & Davis, Scott & Arnold, Hook & Co., Hickok & Johnson, and George & Scellen.

   Several rich bars were settled on, above, and below Goodyear's. Two miles
below was St. Joe bar, above it was the Nigger Slide, and farther up was
Woodville bar, first named Cut-Throat bar, because of a sick German who had cut
his own throat there. Ranty Doddler bar and Hoodoo bar were close to town. The
origin of the latter name is ascribed to the peculiar enunciation by an Indian
of the salutation, "How-dye-do?" rendering it "Hoodoo." Two hundred yards above
Goodyear's, a wing-dam was built in the summer by Dr. William Todd, John
Scellen, and others. Cox's bar was located two miles above the town. Sickness
prevailed at Goodyear's during the fall of 1850, erysipelas becoming an alarming
epidemic, from which a large number died. In the winter of that year a log cabin
was put up for hospital purposes, and supported by donations from the
large-hearted miners. Daniel Cowley was deputed to the office of making the
collections for the sick, and many times his leathern purse was packed to the
top with freely given gold-dust. Dr. Barkdul, an Ohio man, officiated in the
capacity of physician at the hospital.

   In 1850 the old ditch that supplies water to the town was built by Colonel T.
M. Ramsdeil, James Harpman, and John Lake. The water supply was from Rock creek,
and the ditch supplied many of the miners with water to work the long toms. The
North Yuba tunnel, a very good piece of engineering, was constructed in 1852, by
Messrs. Cunningham, Cowley, Ramsdell, Hocker, Echstein, Dr. Todd, Peterson, and
others, the company being a consolidation of several others. The tunnel was
three hundred feet in length, twelve feet wide, and ten feet in height. It cut
off a point around which the river flowed, and into it the waters were turned,
leaving the bed of the stream dry for some distance. The enterprise was not
prolific in returns, paying slender dividends on the investment. Under the
beautiful ranch now owned by H. H. Kennedy numerous tunnels were run, the
bed-rock being below the present bed of the river. Several years ago some miners
were exploring one of them, when they came across a place that was caved in.
Digging through this obstruction they came upon a pool of water from which they
obtained a basketful of trout that were adapted by nature for their subterranean
abode, having no eyes at all. This curious circumstance shows that in a
comparatively short space of time species of the finny tribe can undergo
important changes in their physical structure.

   In 1852 a dozen well-patronized whisky-shops were in operation at Goodyear's,
sufficient indication of a wild and rollicking camp. It was at Goodyear's that
Peter Yore made his first lucky find. Having several men working at the north
end of Kennedy's ranch, he saw one of them standing over a long torn, holding up
his hands and exclaiming, "My God! my God!" He proceeded to the spot, and found
that from one wheelbarrow of dirt had been cleaned up two thousand dollars of
gold-dust. The news was kept secret from the other miners, and the harvest of
dust for some time continued large. In 1852 extensive fluming operations were
carried on between Goodyear's and Downieville. Flumes were erected all along the
water-course, and with but short breaks here and there, the river was conducted
from the latter town, four miles to Goodyear's, on the flumes. Hundreds of
miners were working the bed of the river. In November, 1852, heavy rains came
on, which raised the stream to a volume greater than the flumes could carry, and
they were all swept out. Vast quantities of timber went down the swollen
torrent, the puerile strength of man being powerless to overcome the
irresistible forces of nature. The losses by these floods were enormous. In 1853
more fluming was done, but not on so extensive a scale as during the year
preceding. In 1852 Mr. J. C. Stewart arrived at Goodyear's. At that time the
whole flat was covered with houses. The presidential vote of that year was
nearly 600 from Goodyear's alone, the outside camps forming other election
precincts. An effort was made at the organization of the county, in the early
part of the year, to get Goodyear's bar named in the organizing act as the
county seat, but it proved unsuccessful. It is believed that had the miners paid
more attention to this matter the seat of justice might have been fixed here
instead of at Downieville; but the people were far more interested in making
money from their diggings than in the prosperity of the town, considering
themselves only temporary sojourners on California soil. In this way Good-year's
lost the only opportunity she ever had of becoming the permanent metropolis of
Sierra county.

   In 1851 George Young, now deputy assessor, came to Goodyear's bar, where he
mined a number of years. Stores were then owned by Robinson & Wood, James
Golden, Hugh Lynch, and Sam Davis. A hotel was being run by Edward Echstein; the
Mansion house was undet the supervision of Mr. Wellman, while the Eldorado,
about the first of the permanent caravansaries, was managed by James Harpman and
John Lake. The saw-mill, as it now stands, was erected in the summer of 1852, by
Peter Britton and George Lechtenberger, who sold to James Golden in May, 185a,
he having bought a part interest in the fall of 1852. In 1854 Mr. Golden sold
half of the mill to a man named Englebrecht. Mr. Stewart, in 1856, bought the
other half, and has been interested in it since. John Schriver became his
partner in 1864, the firm still existing as Stewart & Schriver. The flume which
brings water from Woodruff creek to the mill was first built in 1858, and has
been rebuilt once, at a subsequent period.

   A post-office was established at Goodyear's in 1852, and Woodruff became the
first postmaster. He was succeeded by Robinson, who was followed in succession
by the Meyers brothers and Julius Meinhart. Mr. O. F. Ackerly has had the office
about, ten years. Langton's express started through this place in 1850. Wells,
Fargo, & Co. established an office here in 1858, with John D. Scellen as their
first agent. Some years ago the office was discontinued, without ever being
re-established. A private school was first taught at Goodyear's, in 1856, by
Mrs. Massey. She had but few pupils, the boy-and-girl crop of the mountains
being at that time very small. Afterwards Mrs. Parker, now Mrs. J. M. Haven of
San Francisco, taught the young idea for a short time. The school was held near
the present site of the school-house. Mrs. Delaney became the next instructress
of youth. The school-house now used was erected in 1862, for church and public
uses, and was built by subscription. It was finally converted into a temple of
learning, where, at the present time, Mr. Albion Miley presides, giving
universal satisfaction.

   The customs of the early days are so often described by able writers that
perhaps not more than a casual mention of a few peculiarities is necessary here.
The scarcity of the softer sex in the mining camps is a fact so often rehearsed
as to be proverbial of the times. In the pioneer dances, impersonations of
females for partners were made with the utmost care. Men would don muslin
head-gear and tread through the mazy waltz with as much composure and propriety
as though they had always played maiden parts on the theater of life; and their
rude admirers would cavort and salute with as much suppleness of limb and
excessive politeness as they had ever exercised in the more brilliant circles of
eastern society where they had formerly moved. The old fiddler who always
presided at these strange orgies knew but half a dozen notes of one sickly tune,
which he repeated over and over during the long nights of revelry. But when a
real "live woman" appeared on the floor, the joy of the miners knew no bounds.
Upon the arrival of one in camp, she would be greeted with rousing cheers,
throwing up of hats, and a general jubilee. In 1852 a celebrated singer came to
Goodyear's, accompanied by her husband, who was a gambler. Though dressed in
male attire, she did not escape the congratulations invariably vouchsafed to her
sex.

   Life at Goodyear's bar was not always one of pleasure. Adam's sentence,
imposed for disobedience, has been inherited by all his descendants; but to no
one was given a larger legacy than to the miner of this region who earned his
daily bread by a liberal flow of cranial perspiration. Hard work was the
programme of the hour to a large majority of the miners, but the rewards were
generally proportionate to the intensity of the labor, and every body made
money, and was willing to spend it. Scenes betokening a not very high
civilization were frequently enacted at the bar. Some of these are related in
the criminal annals of the county, but a very large preponderance of them are
never spoken of, while many are forgotten entirely. In 1852 people who walked on
the road to Downieville noticed, two miles above, at the McGintie place, a
horrible stench arising from decaying matter on the bank of the river. No
investigations were made for some time as to the character of the objects
producing the offensive odor, but one day Henry Foster saw a piece or canvas
close to the river, and descended the bank to obtain it. Lifting it up, he saw a
leg protruding; then two human bodies in an advanced state of decomposition were
revealed to his astonished gaze. They were well-known Germans, who had been
murdered and buried there weeks before. Bullet holes were numerous on their
persons, and the head of one was crushed and beaten. Lying around were several
Indian arrows, placed there to throw suspicion on a few miserable savages who
lived in the neighborhood. The mystery enveloping the death of these men was
never cleared; nobody was suspected, and the world heard no more of the affair.
The fatal quarrel of the two Taylor brothers occasioned some excitement when it
occurred. In 1852 they lived in their cabin on the point, seemingly on amicable
terms. About noon one day several Indians were seen near the door of the cabin,
making violent gesticulations and yelling. The miners working a distance off
thought the Indians had been up to some deviltry, and started for the place,
ready to take dire vengeance on them, providing anything of a sanguinary
character had been perpetrated. In a moment the younger brother emerged, tore
open his shirt, and exclaimed, "See what my brother has done," expiring as he
fell to the ground. The boys, while sitting at their dinner-table, had quarreled
over some trivial matter, when the younger rose to strike the elder, who was a
less powerful man. Seizing a long bread-knife from the table, the elder Taylor
plunged it into the body of his brother. He was afterwards tried, convicted, and
sent to the penitentiary.

   A Missouri gambler by the name of Kuntz was for some time seen haunting the
gaming-tables of the place. After his arrival twenty-dollar gold pieces began to
disappear mysteriously, and no amount of searching could reveal their
hiding-places. Kuntz was the proud possessor of a long, heavy beard, that he
kept tucked away under his collar. When several bright double eagles were shaken
out of his beard one night, he was politely requested to migrate to other
pastures by the irate vigilance committee that sat on his case.

   The road was completed that connects Downieville with Goodyear's, Mountain
House, and Camptonville, July 4, 1859. The stage came up from Camptonville,
decorated profusely with flags and banners, and the horses were decked out in
proper colors. This was a great day of rejoicing in the mountains, for it meant
the abandonment of the time-honored pack-mule, who had painfully threaded the
narrow trails for so many years, and the establishment of a closer communication
with the outside world on wheels greatly more indicative of a country civilized
and prosperous. Praises went up from all sides to Colonel Piatt of Forest City,
to whose untiring efforts, with voice and brain, were largely due the successful
issue of the enterprise.

   On the fifth of September, 1864, a fire broke out in P. Cody's saloon, which
spread rapidly and consumed the business portion of town. We append a list of
losses: Jacob Fluke, hotel, $4,000; F. H. Nichols, $3,000; Nicholas Gunsburger,
butcher-shop, $3,000; John Newman, stable, $2,500; Newell & Lynch, saloon,
$3,000; Mrs. Newell, residence, $1,000; Henry Thompson, hotel, $2,500; P. Cody,
saloon, $2,000; J. Jennings, hotel and stable, $4,000; Sam Lee, China store,
$7,000; together with five others of lesser amounts. After the fire many of the
business men failed to rebuild, and the town gradually declined; diggings that
had paid well for a number of years were yielding less returns, and in
consequence most of the mining population moved away. The town is now but a
shadow of its former self, having but one store and one hotel. Once the Chinese
population alone numbered four hundred, and the whites were several times that
number. A Catholic church was built in 1853, over which Father Delahunty
presided, but it was given up at a subsequent period. Under the building now
occupied by Mr. Ackerly, P. Cody took out $3,000 within a few years. All the
flats were exceedingly rich in gold, yielding in the aggregate an immense
amount. Directly in front of the St. Charles hotel in former years stood a
beautiful and productive orchard, which was finally sold to Chinamen and worked
out for the gold in it. Now only unsightly piles of bowlders lie where was once
a broad expanse of green covered with myriads of fruit-laden trees. H. H.
Kennedy's ranch, at the base of the lofty hill on the south of town, is truly
the garden spot of the mountains. This property was purchased by Mr. Kennedy of
Jason Campbell, in 1875, and the sightly house erected thereon now occupied by
himself and family. The St. Charles hotel was rebuilt after the fire in 1864 by
Jacob Fluke, which establishment is now conducted by his widow.


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/goodyear313ms.txt

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