Sutter County CA Archives History - Books .....Chapter 10 Yuba City 1924
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Book Title: History Of Yuba And Sutter Counties

CHAPTER X 
YUBA CITY 

THE CITY IN EARLY DAYS 

    The land on which the original town of Yuba City was laid out was deeded by
Capt. John A. Sutter. July 27, 1819, to Samuel Brannan, Pierson B. Redding, and
Henry Cheever. This tract extended from opposite the mouth of Yuba River four
miles down the stream, and was one mile in width. These gentlemen employed
Joseph S. Ruth to survey the future city, lay it out in lots, and make the map
displaying streets, lots, blocks, public squares, etc., measures usually adopted
by the proprietors of the multitude of prospective cities in those days. By
September 16, 1849, everything was complete; and Pierson B. Redding was
appointed agent for the sale of lots. At this time the city of Marysville had
not been laid out, and the little settlement there was known as Nye's Ranch. 

    An early historian, referring to this stage in Yuba City's growth, says: 

    "It was a generally conceded fact that a town laid out at the head of
low-water navigation, at its nearest approach to the now rapidly developing
mining region, would receive most of the vast trade of that section and become a
city of great wealth, population and influence. The banks of Feather River at
this point were high and well adapted for the purposes of a vessel-landing.
Although no vessels had as yet stemmed the current farther than the
ferry-landing at the little settlement of Nicolaus Allgeier, still it was
evident that any vessel able to reach Nicolaus could also go to Yuba City. The
land was higher there than at Nye's Ranch, and the proprietors also thought that
this would largely determine the location of the future city. So thought many
others who bought lots by the dozen on speculation." 

    The first store in Yuba City was opened in August, 1849, by Tallman H. Rolfe
and Henry Cheever. Two advertisements by these enterprising men appeared in the
Sacramento Placer Times on August 25, 1849. They read as follows: "Rolfe &
Cheever, wholesale and retail dealers, Yuba City, corner of Water and B
Streets." "Notice to Miners. Rolfe & Cheever, having established a store at Yuba
City, will keep constantly on hand a large and general assortment of dry goods,
groceries, provisions, etc., which will be sold low for cash or gold dust." 

Rivalry between Yuba City and Marysville 

    But few locations were made that fall, but early in the spring of 1850 a
great many tents were clustered on the river bank — some used for stores, some
for saloons and gambling houses, and still others for residence purposes. George
M. Hanson bought lots in the new city in the spring of 1850, and established the
first ferry across the river. This spring there was great rivalry between Yuba
City and Nye's Ranch, across the river, which had been laid out in lots in
January and named Marysville. The proprietors of Marysville were the more
enterprising; and when the steamer Lawrence made her appearance in January, they
persuaded the officers of the craft to make Marysville the terminus of the
route. This was the first great victory gained by Marysville, and it was a
deciding one; for, of course, travelers bound for the mines would disembark at
the terminus of the route, in preference to any other point. There were,
however, many who came across the country by way of Knight's Landing. These,
arriving at Yuba City and finding a settlement there, and being assured by the
proprietors that this was the site of the future city, and that Marysville would
not, and could not, "amount to a row of pins." were easily induced to pitch
their tents here. Some bought lots and went into business; while others, after
remaining a few days, struck their tents and went over to Marysville.
Notwithstanding that Yuba City was on higher ground, and for several reasons had
a better location for a city than her rival, yet she labored under a great
disadvantage, a disadvantage her proprietors did not seem sufficiently to
consider. She was on the wrong side of the river. The expense, difficulty and
trouble met in crossing the river proved to be a serious drawback to the trade
of the town; for the traders from the mines would not take the trouble to cross
over so long as they could procure their goods in Marysville at reasonable
rates. In spite of this obstacle, however, the town steadily advanced; the
business men and the owners of lots still had confidence in a prosperous future,
and made every effort to further their interests. 

    A correspondent of the Placer Times of Sacramento, in giving an account of a
trip made up Feather River, in April, 1850, says of Yuba City: 

    "Yuba City is rapidly increasing. Several new stores have gone up within two
weeks, and are already well stocked, and are enjoying an active trade. A meeting
was held on Wednesday evening, to establish a ferry below the mouth of the Yuba,
and to open a good communication through to the road that leads out to the lower
diggings on the river; all the shares were immediately taken up, and the money
paid in. They opened a handsome bowling saloon there on the same evening." 

    This scheme of easy and sufficient communication with the Yuba River mines
was just the thing that the city needed to maintain her trade against the
encroachments being made on it by the merchants of Marysville; and had it been
successfully carried through, Yuba City might have been the successful
competitor for the mercantile prize. The difficulties in the way, however, seem
to have prevented the completion of the enterprise, and the last hope of the
young city was abandoned. 

    In the spring, Harvey Fairchild was elected alcalde of Yuba City. He
discharged the duties of that office until the courts were organized in June.
Some of the principal owners of land in Yuba City in the spring of 1850, in
addition to the original proprietors, were: Henry A. Schoolcraft, George
Pierson, Tallman H. Rolfe, W. S. Messick, Richard N. Allen, Jonas Winchester,
Gordon N. Mott, George M. Hanson, Harvey Fairchild, Emil V. Sutter, and W. S. Webb.


Early in 1850, the citizens and merchants of Yuba City being now convinced that
Marysville was destined to be the city, there was a great stampede to that
place, and Yuba City was nearly deserted. A few remained, however, detained by
their property interests and by the hope that the future had something better in
store. These formed a nucleus about which others gathered, and in a year or two
the town had again made a little advancement. The Sutter Banner, under the head
of "Reminiscences and Prophecy," in its issue of September 17, 1870, has the
following: 

    "About the year of our Lord 1849 and 1850, Yuba City and Marysville were
rival embryo towns, each striving for the supremacy and trade of the interior
mining camps. At this period, the former town had the advantage, if any there
was, excelling its neighbor at Nye's Ranch in trade, population, number of
dwellings, beauty of location and scenery, etc. But the tide of fortune, which
was not seized by its denizens at the flood, soon turned in favor of Marysville,
and the glory departed, for the time being, from the flourishing young city
located at the former capital of the ancient and lordly Yubas. A large number of
its inhabitants left; many of its buildings were removed to the neighboring
town; gone, but not forever, were its beauty and its strength. Like a young
Samson shorn of his waving locks, there was a recuperative power left." 

    At this time, the late John R. Ridge, the rightful chief of the Cherokees,
the delightful poet, the accomplished writer and the genial companion, who had
been a resident of Yuba City, removed to Marysville, and on the 29th day of
April, 1851, published, in the Marysville Herald the following address to, or
lament over, the nearly deserted city of his admiration. From his own manuscript
the poem is printed, running as follows: 

[poem not transcribed]

Reminiscences of 1850 

    Reminiscences of Yuba City's life in 1850 are found in a story published in
the Marysville Democrat of April, 1899, from the pen of William Armstrong, then
a resident of Biggs, in Butte County. Armstrong related how the promoters of
Yuba City, in 1850, were offering to give two lots to settlers who would agree
to build on one of them. He accepted the offer and at once started to construct
a home, the lots being located opposite the present courthouse. At that time
lumber was selling at $500 per thousand feet. While his house was principally of
oak shakes, it cost him $1000. Furniture was a luxury that few indulged in, most
people then being satisfied, with a board for a table, and a seat and a bed made
from the cheapest of lumber. A man was taken sick soon after Armstrong's house
was finished, and his friends asked Armstrong to take him in, as there was no
other place to which he could go. He agreed, and the friends bought a board from
which to make a bed for the patient. This board cost $12, and the friends paid
$21 a week for the sick man's room. 

    At that time there was a camp of Indians just below Yuba City, a real
"campoodie." Early that season a small river steamer came up to the junction of
the Yuba and Feather Rivers. The captain was for a while undecided as to which
town, Marysville or Yuba City, he would choose for a landing, but finally tied
up at Yuba City. The Indians had never seen a steamer and were very shy of it.
When the whistle sounded, they ran for their campoodie, and did not return. 

    Armstrong and his wife attended a ball that season, given in the Covillaud
Hotel in Marysville, a two-story structure on the plaza. All the women in the
town were induced to attend; and when they were counted they numbered seven —
one short of making up two dancing sets. This deficiency was supplied by
dressing a slim young man in female apparel. He filled the requirement so
satisfactorily that the miners believed him a new-comer to the camp. This young
fellow was John Brazier. His experience made him quite popular; and when his
identity became known to the miners, he was in demand for all dancing parties.
Ball tickets for this first affair at the Covillaud Hotel sold for $16, and all
considered that they got a good time for their money. Armstrong said he could
remember the names of three of the women at that dance — Mrs. Mary Covillaud,
Mrs. Caroline Fairchild, and Miss Marion Fairchild, all now passed to the Beyond. 

Early Development 

    In 1852 Yuba City had one hotel, the Western House, one small grocery store,
two saloons, one blacksmith shop, one justice of the peace's office, the
post-office, fifteen or twenty dwelling-houses, and a population of about 150.
In the spring of 1853, A. S. Brown opened the Elk Horn House, across the street
from the Western House. He kept no liquor in his establishment, an unusual thing
in those days. 

    The first school in Yuba City was one taught three months in the spring of
1854, the teacher being C. E. Wilcoxon, who later became the head of a large and
respected family, and a member of the State Board of Equalization and the county
board of supervisors. The first schools in the county had been opened some time
before this, and were located at Kempton, on the Walker ranch, and at Nicolaus. 

    The city was soon connected with Marysville by bridges. Later the Marysville
Water Company and the Marysville Coal & Gas Company laid pipes to Yuba City,
through which water and gas were conducted for many years. Yuba City now has its
municipally owned water-works, with a record for such public institutions not
excelled in any part of the State, for a place of the same size. 

    The north part of Yuba City, known as "Hudson's Addition" for many years,
was surveyed and laid out in -1869 by E. L. Wright. The tract had been bought
from Gillespie, Messick and McDougal for $1600, by W. S. Webb, on May 24, 1855. 

Incorporation of the City 

    In 1877, the business men and property-holders of the place began to agitate
the question of incorporation. Some protection against fire was desirable as a
precautionary measure, and also certain improvements of a public character in
the city were thought desirable; and the only way to secure these properly was
to incorporate the city, and have a legal government that could pass and enforce
the necessary ordinances, being clothed with the requisite power to levy and
collect the taxes necessary to accomplish the desired end. A bill to incorporate
the city was presented to the legislature, was passed, and received the approval
of the Governor, March 30, 1878. By this act the town of Yuba City was
incorporated with the following boundaries: 

    Beginning on the right bank of Feather River at the intersection of the same
by the south side of Oak Street, according to the map of the Hudson's tract,
part of Yuba City, Sutter County, California; thence along the south side of
said street to the east side of Sonoma Street of said Hudson's tract; thence
along the east side of Sonoma Street southerly to the north side of A Street,
according to the map of Joseph Ruth of the original survey of Yuba City; thence
along the north side of A Street forty feet, more or less, to a point in range
with the west side of Fourth Street, according to said original map of Yuba
City; thence across A Street and along the westerly-side of Fourth Street to the
southerly side of G Street, according to the last mentioned map of Yuba City;
thence easterly along the southerly side of G Street to the right bank of
Feather River; thence up said right bank of Feather River to the place of
beginning. 

    The act provided for a board of three trustees, to be elected annually on
the first Saturday in May, and whose term should begin the second Monday after
election. They were to meet within ten days after election and choose a
president and clerk from among their number. They were also to appoint a city
marshal, and were given the power to levy a tax not exceeding one-half of one
per cent, and a poll tax of one dollar, but were not allowed to create any debt
beyond the amount of funds in their hands. An assessor and ex-officio collector
was to be elected at the same time as the trustees. Under the provisions of this
act, the board of supervisors called an election for May 25, 1878, to fill the
offices mentioned in the act. 

    The election was duly held, ninety-three votes being cast. By choice of the
voters, W. F. Peck, S. J. Stabler, and J. B. Stafford were made trustees, and A.
E. Clary was elected assessor. The trustees met, and after considerable
discussion it was decided that the rate of tax allowed by the charter would not
raise money enough to conduct the city government and defray the expenses of the
fire department and the other desired improvements. Therefore it was decided to
disband, and not attempt to organize the board. A committee of interested
citizens was appointed, and an attempt made to raise by subscription a sum
sufficient to purchase the necessary fire apparatus for the protection of the
city. This was likewise a failure, and consequently the whole effort was
abandoned. The city was reincorporated in 1908. 

YUBA CITY TODAY 

    Yuba City of today is faithfully portrayed in an article prepared by the
Sutter County Chamber of Commerce and the community-development division of a
San Francisco magazine. This article reads, in part, as follows: 

    "Yuba City, the county seat of Sutter, is the largest town in the county and
is incorporated. It is beautifully situated on the bank of the Feather River,
and is a city of comfortable homes, with large gardens and wide streets shaded
with orange, magnolia, olive, hawthorn, palm and walnut trees. On one of Yuba
City's main streets may be seen the largest walnut tree in the world, which
overlooks the surrounding buildings, with its topmost branches over 100 feet
from the ground. The circumference of the trunk, four feet from the ground, is
fifteen feet and four inches, and the greatest spread of branches measures 108
feet. This wonderful tree stands as an enduring and living monument to the
productivity of Sutter County's soil. 

    "Yuba City is a modern, progressive and flourishing city, nestled in the
heart of one of California's richest fruit districts. There are a national and
savings bank, hotel, flour mill, lumber yard, two newspapers, municipal
water-works, churches, excellent school buildings, and the usual business
institutions required to serve a community of its size. Both the Sacramento
Northern, an electric railway, and the Southern Pacific have depots here, and
these two railroads render a splendid transportation service. One large
fruit-canning factory and two dried-fruit packing houses give employment almost
the whole year round to several hundred men, women and children, many of whom
make wages that compare favorably with those of the skilled mechanic." 

Municipal Water-Works 

    Yuba City has good reason to be proud of its municipally owned water plant.
Built in 1908-1909 at a cost of $30,000, it now feed's six miles of mains and
has 655 patrons, the latter having doubled in the last three years New families
are being added at the rate of sixteen a month, which, according to City Clerk
and Collector Claude C. Kline, means an addition to the population of Yuba City,
which is now in the midst, of a healthy boom, of at least 1600 a year. The plant
has three deep wells, one sunk to the depth of 80 feet, another to 120 feet, and
the other to a depth of 285 feet. 

    The plant at present is paying six per cent on an investment of $47,000;
pays all costs of maintenance, and a five-per-cent depreciation; and retires
$2000 of bonds each year. Besides this, it pays the interest on outstanding
bonds, and would pay the tax, if a private corporation. Considering all this, it
showed a net profit of $216 in 1922. In the last seven years, the plant has
loaned the general fund of the town the sum of $20,000, which means a lowering
each year of the municipal tax rate. The officials challenge any city of its
size in the State to produce a better record for a municipally owned
water-supply plant. 

    Before the city erected its own plant, water was supplied from a private
plant owned by the late C. B. Andross. 

Street-paving and Zoning 

    Yuba City also lays claim to ranking first, for a place of its size, in the
matter of street-paving. Few streets are now left to be paved. At the present
time Yuba City has invested in street-paving work a sum representing $151 per
capita. The trustees at present serving aim to complete every street during
their term of office. Several streets with "dead ends" are also to be opened up,
and thus be changed into thoroughfares. 

    The trustees also are planning on a zoning ordinance, necessitated by the
rapid growth of the business and residence sections. Under that ordinance a
building inspector will be employed, who will see to it that a permit is secured
before a building is started. 

Memorial Park

    Yuba City Memorial Park was dedicated on Decoration Day, May 30, 1922, as a
tribute to the memory of the Sutter County soldiers and sailors who perished in
the World War. Yuba-Sutter Post of the American Legion and the survivors of
Corinth Post, No. 80, Grand Army of the Republic, arranged the ceremonies, which
were attended by a great throng. Hon. Peter J. Shields, of the Sacramento County
bar, was the orator. 

    A tree grows in the park for each youth who made the supreme sacrifice. The
names of all the heroes are engraved upon a bronze tablet that occupies a
conspicuous place in the park. Paths wind through the green lawns at the head of
Bridge Street. At the rear of the park a stairway, wrought of stone and
concrete, leads to the top of the Feather River levee. Handsome electroliers in
front of the park give illumination by night. 

    The idea of a memorial park in Yuba City was conceived by Dr. and Mrs. J. H.
Barr and C. C. Kline. An appropriation from the board of supervisors of Sutter
County made its establishment possible. The grounds were laid out and planned by
Dr. and Mrs. Barr, City Surveyor Edward Von Geldern, and H. H. Wolfskill. 

Masonic Lodge 

    Sutter County is distinctive in Masonic circles as being one of a few
counties in the State of California having but one Masonic Lodge. This lodge has
now been in existence for sixty-eight years. Its name and number are Enterprise
Lodge, No. 70. 

    Organized under dispensation on January 13, 1855, and granted its charter on
May 4 of the same year. Enterprise Lodge celebrated its Golden Jubilee Friday
evening, January 13, 1905. The souvenirs presented the members on that occasion
show the charter members to have been D. H. Apperson, M. Bassett, J. A. Brown,
E. Burson, A. F. T. Calley, S. Z. Cross, A. B. Davis, J. P. Dillon, J. M. Fronk,
J. W. Gaither, D. B. Goode. G. M. Hanson, A. S. Hightower, A. G. Jones, J. B.
Kyler, C. C. McClure, J. Nichols, D. G. O'Donnell, I. Ramsey, L. W. Taylor, C.
L. N. Vaughn, G. W. Watson, and C. E. Wilcoxon. Not one of these charter members
is alive today. 

    The first officers of the lodge were: C. E. Wilcoxon, W. M.; C. L. N.
Vaughn, S. W.; D. H. Apperson, J. W.; C. C. McClure, treasurer; G. M. Hanson,
secretary; D. G. O'Donnell, S. D.; J. W. Gaither, J. D.; and J. M. Fronk, tyler. 

    The first meeting place of Enterprise Lodge was in the upper story of a
schoolhouse on C Street, which building long ago was razed to make place for a
residence. During the sixties, the lodge rooms were moved to the upper story of
the building still standing at Second and Bridge Streets. The lodge owning
one-half the lot. the members entered into agreement with C. E. Wilcoxon and T.
D. Boyd, who owned the other half, to construct the two-sory brick building,
with the understanding that the Masons should maintain 
the upper story and keep the roof over all. Here the lodge made its home until
1908, when the present Masonic Temple on Second Street was erected, at a cost of
$35,000. 

    Fire caused the members to plan on a new temple. That was in 1907, when Yuba
City was visited by a disastrous conflagration that razed its only hotel and
partially destroyed the old hall. 

    The oldest Past Master of Enterprise Lodge is M. E. Sanborn, now a retired
attorney living in San Francisco. Irwin Griffith, former resident of Sutter
City, now living at a distance, is the only member of the local organization who
has attained the thirty-second degree in Masonry. 

Odd Fellows Lodge 

    Yuba City Lodge, No. 185, I. O. O. F., received its charter in January,
1871. This charter was granted to the following: Stephen R. Fortna, P. G.; Moody
C. Clark H. J. Schults, D. E. Hamblin, W. R. Ink, Joseph Hardy, Thomas Brophy,
John T. Ogden, L. Battler, J. Silverstein, Calvin Spillman, J. H. Gillenwater,
and C. A. Glidden. The lodge met for many years in the upper story of the
building at Second and Bridge Streets, renting from the Masons. In 1888 a
two-story building was erected on the present site. In 1907 this structure was
razed by fire, compelling the members to hold their meetings temporarily in the
Odd Fellows Hall in Marysville. The present two-story structure was built and
dedicated in 1908. 

    Progress has marked every year of the life of this lodge since its founding.
At the present time there are thirty-nine Past Grands and ninety-one
third-degree members in the lodge. The present officers are: Noble Grand, F. B.
Hager; Vice-Grand, H. E. Cox; secretary, H. L. Hite; treasurer, E. J. White;
Junior Past Grand, H. H. Herr; and chaplain, George W. Littlejohn. 
The older records of the lodge were destroyed in the fire of October, 1907. 

Other Yuba City Lodges 

    Yuba City also supports active branches of the order of the Knights of
Pythias and the Woodmen of the World, Shamrock Camp. Woodmen of the World, owns
its own hall, and is considering the erection of a more modern structure on a
new site. 

Resident Veterans of Corinth Post, No. 80, G. A. R. 

    Yuba City is the home of five honored survivors of the Civil War, the
remnant of Corinth Post, No. 80, Grand Army of the Republic, which for many
years was among; the leading organizations of Marysville and foremost in the
celebration of Independence Day and in the program of exercises on Memorial Day
each year. 

    These veterans are: W. E. Tucker, justice of the peace of Yuba Township, and
W. C. Gibson. J. Ashley, Isaac Drake and J. Larrabee. 


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF YUBA and SUTTER COUNTIES 
CALIFORNIA 
WITH 
Biographical Sketches OF 
The Leading Men and Women of the Counties Who Have Been Identified with Their
Growth and Development from the Early Days to the Present 

HISTORY BY 
PETER J. DELAY 

ILLUSTRATED 
COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME 

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1924


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