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

TEHAMA COUNTY.

  Tehama is an Indian word of unknown signification. Although frequently visited
at a previous date by trappers and hunters on their way from Oregon to
California, the first recorded visit paid to that portion of the State
subsequently laid off as Tehama County, was made by General Bidwell in 1843.
Like all others who visit that part for the first time he was very favorably
impressed. He mapped the country from memory, named most of the streams and
described it so enthusiastically that as a result attention was aroused and in
1844 the first American settlers came in. They were four in number, William G.
Chard, A. G. Toomes, R. H. Thomes, and Job F. Dye. They were given grants on the
Sacramento River of five leagues each. Thornes and Chard chose their grant on
the western border of the river, one above and the other below Elder Creek.
Toomes and Dye selected locations immediately opposite them on the eastern bank
of the Sacramento. In this same year Major Redding went still higher up and
located in what is now Shasta County. These grants were taken up in the spring
of 1844. Later in the same year Josiah Belden also located a grant of five
leagues in the valley. This grant was sold in 1847 to William B. Ide, one of the
most prominent of the early settlers in the Upper Sacramento Valley, about whom
many characteristic stories are told. See pages 33-40.

  In the fall of this year also came Peter Lassen, after whom are named the
Lassen Buttes, Lassen County, etc. He was a marked character, a man of no
education and a thorough pioneer. Some time later he built a large adobe house
and blacksmith shop, and obtained great local distinction as a manufacturer of
bridle bits and Spanish spurs. He went to the mines in the early days and got
very rich, but, like so many other western pioneers, let it slip easily through
his fingers. One of his freaks was to go to San Francisco in 1849, and buy the
steamer "Lady Washington," load her with goods and make the voyage to the new
town he was attempting to found at the mouth of Deer Creek. She took the whole
five winter months of 1849-'50 to reach the spot, but she did so, being the
pioneer steamer to breast the waters of the Sacramento as far as Tehama County.
Uncle Peter gave a square league of the best of his land on Deer Creek in 1846
to another old trapper, Daniel Sill, Senior. Sill afterward started a rival town
to that of his friend, but neither of the places came to anything. Lassen was
unfitted for civilization, lost his money, sold his ranch to Henry Gerke, who in
1881 sold to Senator Stanford the celebrated "Vina" rancho. See page 150.

  The first house put up in Tehama County was an adobe put up in 1845 by R. H.
Thomes, where the town of Tehama now is. It was destroyed by fire in 1858. This
year (1845) saw only the addition of W. C. Moon to the list of grant-holders.

  In 1846 Mr. Toomes built an adobe on the opposite side of the Sacramento, and
Mr. Chard put up a log cabin, four miles north of Tehama. This was a public
stopping place for years.

  In 1847, Mr. Dye put up the adobe on Antelope Creek, which is still in
existence in good repair on Major Cone's place, the oldest building in the
county. In the same year Judge Ide built on what was known as Ide's Bottom a few
miles below the site of Red Cliff. In the spring of this year began to appear
occasional emigrant parties on the Oregon trail. They caused a good deal of
trouble in running off or killing horses and stock.

  In 1848, besides those already named, there should be added to those in the
county Captain Henry L. Ford and William (Uncle Billy) Meyers, the latter living
with Lassen. All of these parties acquired large fortunes in the mines in the
fall of 1848 and spring of 1849.

  In the fall of 1849 begins a new epoch, as people began to flock in, and we
will no longer attempt to keep track of them all. On September 9, 1850, was held
the first election for the purpose of choosing alcaldes. The election was held
at Lassen's ranch on Deer Creek. Captain J. D. Potts was elected Chief Alcalde,
and Colonel Wilson as his assistant.

  The Mexican land grants that were made within the present limits of Tehama
County were as follows: Las Baulinas, 17,707 acres, patented to W. B. Ide in
I860; Las Flores, 13,315 acres, to William G. Chard in 1859; Primer Canon 6 Rio
de los Berrendos, 26,637 acres, to J. F. Dye in 187L; Rio de los Molinos 22,172
acres, to A. G.Toomes in 1858; Saucos, 22,212 acres, to R. H. Thomas in 1857.

  The town of Tehama is the oldest in date of foundation of all in the county,
springing up on the Thomes ranch. During 1850 it was a flourishing place with
great hopes for the future. A good hotel was kept in the old Thomes adobe by a
Mr. Leonard. Two rival towns, called Danville and Benton, were also laid out on
Deer Creek, one on the Sill place and the other by Lassen, but they both came to
naught. Tehama was mapped and a city platted, but Red Bluff, which was afterward
started by S. Woods at the head of navigation and first named Leodocia, had too
great an advantage and soon distanced it. It is to day, however, a growing town
of considerable business activity and of importance as a railway point.

  The first house where Red Bluff now is was an adobe put up late in 1849 by
John Myers, who conducted it for a short time as a hotel. In the following
spring Mr. Cooper erected a small adobe there, and Judge Ide built another at
the "Adobe" Ferry, one mile north. The town was laid out in 1850. In 1851
Captain E. G. Reed, still one of the energetic men of Red Bluff, built and
started a hotel and conducted it with great success for years. The first brick
building was the Empire Stables, erected by Major John Brady. Being at the head
of ravigation, Red Bluff soon forged ahead, and during the early mining
excitements in the northern mines was a great staging town, and did an immense
amount of transhipping and teaming of goods. It languished later on with the
subsidence of activity in the mines, reviving again in the early '70's on the
advent of the Oregon & California Railroad. Since then it has progressed
rapidly, and has a promising future. In 1854 Red Bluff had a population of 1,000
people. In 1860 it had twice as many. The railroad made its advent in December,
1872, superseding1 river travel, and wholly changing the order of affairs. On
the organization of the county in 1856, there was a strong attempt to locate the
county-seat at Tehama, but in March, 1857, Red Bluff was chosen. One of the
characters of the flush early days was "Captain Jane," a woman of uncertain
virtue, who dressed as a sport, flourished a revolver, and could use it too, and
who had all the sturdy, independent characteristics of the time. She ran a farm
on Thomes Creek for some time, conducting it alone.

  In early days land was considered as worthless for farming purposes, and
nothing, was attempted except stock-raising. Early in 1852, however, Nathaniel
Merrill and Augustus Eastman began farming on the Moon ranch. In the fall of
that year Henry Wilson and James M. Kendricks located on Thomes Creek and also
went to farming. At the same time Andy Winemiller settled on Elder Creek, and
daring the winter kept a public house at the crossing. Robert E. Warren also
settled on Thomes Creek. In the same winter Thornelson and Woods settled about
four miles north of Tehama. This was the beginning of farming. In the spring of
1853 J. C. Tyler bought out Winemiller. From that time on agriculture spread
successfully, until it covered the whole county and is now being displaced by
.fruit-raising, the land being capable of anything; that can be raised in a
semi-tropical climate.

  The steamer Orient, in 1850, was the first one to enter Red Bluff. Later on
she and the Plumas ran regularly to that point. From that time on till the
completion of the railroad regular water communication was held. In May, 1854,
the Belle, Captain Pierce, pilot, made her way through the canon above Red
Bluff. Later several other boats went above the town, but it was only an
occasional thing. See page 77.

  The industrial beginning in Tehaina County seems to have been made in 1845
when W. C. Moon, a hunter named Merritt and Peter Lassen made a canoe load of
grindstones on Stony Creek, and carried them down the Sacramento. They did not
make a financial success of the undertaking, however, and never repeated it. In
1851 the first saw-mill was erected by a Mr. Payne on the Sacramento River above
Mill Creek. The first grist-mill, was put up on Mill Creek by Dr. Crosby in the
same year. The representative of saw-milling now is the great Sierra Lumber
Company, formerly the Sierra Flume and Lumber Company. It has 75,000 acres of
timber land, has five saw-mills and a flume thirty-five miles long to carry
lumber to Red Bluff, where its offices and factories are situated, in addition
to as long a flume, chiefly in Butte County, to its office and yards at Chico.
It began operations in 1875. In the flour-milling business there is more detail.
In 1854 Bull, Baker & Co. erected a mill on the left bank of the Sacramento,
removing afterward to Colusa. In 1855 J. F. Dye built a small mill on Antelope
Creek, six miles from Red Blaff. In 1857 Crosby & Kuetzer put up a mill one mile
east of Red Bluff, being twice burned out. In 1870 M. C. Ellis put up the Red
Bluff Flouring Mills.

  Tehama County was organized pursuant to the act of the Legislature approved
April 9, 1856. Until 1860 the county rented premises for court-house and other
county purposes, except jail, which was erected in 1857. The present court-house
was built in 1860.

  At the close of 1853 the first school meeting in the county was held at Red
Bluff to organize a school district. In the fall of 1855 the first school
building was erected in Red Bluff on the corner of Oak and Jefferson streets, at
a cost of $3,000.

  The first marriage ceremony in the county was performed by First Alcalde
Captain J. D. Potts in 1849. The high contracting parties were a Mr. Webber and
Miss May Hall. Miss Hall was a sister of Judge Newton Hall, who came to the
county in the fall of 1849 with his mother, brother and three sisters, and
started a hotel, long very popular, at a point seven miles south of Tehama. The
second: marriage took place in 1850 between Mr. Bessy and Miss Harriet Sill, a
daughter of Daniel Sill, Sr., to whom Lassen gave land. He brought out his
family in 1849.

  Among notable old landmarks in the county may be mentioned the "Massachusetts
House," on the redlands south of: Red Bluff, long used as a hotel. In the spring
of 1851 the first stage line from Colusa to Shasta was started by Baxter &
Monroe. In the spring of 1852 an opposition line was put on the other side of
the river "by Hall & Crandall, between • Marysville • and Shasta. Marshall
McCummings was the first man to drive a stage coach into Tehama.

  The Methodist Episcopal Church was the pioneer church of Tehama County, coming
up and holding services in 1854. In 1855 they rented a building in which to hold
services, but did not build until 1878. The Baptist Church was organized July
21, 1860. They built in 1874. The Presbyterians organized a church November 11,
1860. They built their church in 1862, but have added to it since. The Roman
Catholic Church came in 1864 for the first time.

  The Red Bluff Beacon was the first paper issued in Tehama County, appearing at
Red Bluff in June, 1857. Its proprietors were Steve Clark and Blanton. In
September, 1858, the Tehama Gazette was published at Tehama. In August, I860,
the Independent was issued as a semi-weekly. In October, 1865, the Tehama
Observer made its debut. In March, 1867, was published the Sentinel. In March,
1872, the Tehama Independent appeared for a season. All these have died. The
Sentinel was afterward revived and is now ably conducted by Dr. W. B. H. Dodson
& Son, as a daily and weekly. In September, 1874, the .People's Cause, now the
oldest paper, was first issued. The Pendleton Brothers now carry it on, making
it a bright and spicy paper, also daily and weekly. In August, 1875, the Tocsin
was first published. In 1883 the name was changed to the Democrat, and again in
1887 to the News, under which name a lively and interesting daily and weekly is
now published by E. F. Lennon. The central importance of Red Bluff may be seen
when it affords field and scope for three such able papers as the Sentinel,
People's Cause, and News. The latter is Democratic, and the two former,
Republican in politics.

MODERN TIMES. 
BY J. D. SWEENEY, OF TEHAMA.

  Tehama County is situated in the north central part of California. It is
bounded on the north by Shasta County; on the east by Plumas and Butte; on the
south by Butte and Colusa, and on the west by Mendocino and Trinity.

  The county extends across .the Sacramento Valley from the Sierras on the east
to the Coast Range OB the west. The Sacramento river flows through the county
from north to south, dividing it into two nearly equal divisions. Cottonwood and
Battle Creeks on the northern boundary, Antelope, Reed's, Red Bank, Payne's,
Dibble, Mill, Elder and Thomes creeks are among the principal streams of the
county flowing into the Sacramento.

  The California & Oregon Railway, under the control of the Southern Pacific
Company, enters the northern part of the county at Cottonwood and passes through
Red Bluff to Tehama along the western bank of the Sacramento. At Tehama the
railway diverges, one line continuing on the same side as before, through
Corning into Colusa County: the other division crosses the river on one of the
finest bridges in northern California, and passes through Vina into Butte
County. These two routes again unite at Davisville, Yolo County.

  The principal occupations of the people of the county are farming and
sheep-raising, though fruit-raising is beginning to attract many persons. The
Sierra Lumber Mills at Red Bluff give employment to about seventy-five or 100
men. The grain crops of the county are large, Tehama standing in the front rank
as a wheat and barley county. The lands lying immediately along the river cannot
be surpassed in the State for fertility.

  The leading farmers of the comity are J. S. Cone, J. S. Butler, J. C. Tyler,
W. W. Finnell, John Finnell, Fountain Finnell, R. H. Blossom, A. Gallatin, Hiram
Rawson, H. Kraft and Leland Stanford.

  "Berendos" is a beautiful tract of land east of Red Bluff and about two and
one-half miles distant. Though planted to trees but three years many of the
orchards are now bearing. Many of the citizens of Red Bluff own ten or fifteen
acres here. It promises to be the garden spot of northern Tehama.

RED BLUFF,

the county-seat, is situated on the right bank of the Sacramento River, between
Reed's Creek on the south and Brewery Creek on the north. The city is about 200
miles distant from San Francisco. Red Bluff is a growing steadily town; there
has never been a boom here yet; still, the population has nearly doubled during
the past ten years, and is now in the neighborhood of 5,000. The town is
situated on a low plateau, not as high as the surrounding country. The streets
are wide and cleanly kept, the town is lighted by electricity, the plant being
on Antelope Creek, about five miles east of town. The water used by the town is
brought from the same creek.

  The court-house, between Washington and Jefferson streets, is one of the
finest structures of its kind in northern California. The hall of records was
added to the northern part of the court-house about five years ago. The jail is
on the south side of the court-house and is neatly and comfortably kept.

  The county hospital is one mile west of Red Bluff, and is valued at about
$20,000. It is a neat, commodious building, well ventilated and supplied with
modern contrivances.

  The railroad company have here a large semi circular round-house, with stalls
for fifteen engines. The depot is large and does a heavy-business, the receipts
often reaching $2,000 daily. Tickets are sold to all parts of the Eastern States.

  Wool, wheat, lumber, and produce are exported, and machinery, merchandise and
provisions imported.

  Recently the citizens held a mass meeting to consider C. P. Huntington's
probable railroad from Eureka to Red Bluff, and from Fruito to Red Bluff. If
these roads are completed, and it is probable they will, they will open a rich
country and make Red Bluff an important center.

  Besides the railroad works there are several other manufacturing enterprises
in Red Bluff among them; Bidwell's carriage factory, a broom factory, glove
factory, and the Sierra Lumber Company's door and sash factory.

  The latter factory manufactured last year about 45,500 doors. 27,700 sash, and
several thousand blinds—not counting the thousands of feet of lumber cleared,
moldings, etc. The company owns 60,000 acres of timber, seventy miles of flume,
and about twenty miles of railway.

  About 200 men are employed by the corporation here and in the forests.

  The wool industry is enormous, Tehama County producing as much if not more
than Wyoming, Utah, Montana and other States in that vicinity. The annual
exportation is about 2,000,000 pounds. Red Bluff has the handling of this vast
amount, which is about one-fifth of the product of the State. Much interest is
taken in the proposed woolen-mill, which would enhance the value of Red Bluff
property greatly.

  The finest business house in Red Bluff is that of the Cone & Kimball Company.
This building is situated on the corner of Main and Walnut streets, in the
business center of the city. It was completed in 1886, at a cost of $65,000. The
dimensions are 100 x 115 feet, two stories high. The lower story is used by the
company in their extensive general merchandise trade. The upper story is fitted
for offices. The whole structure is of brick. A large tower surmounts the
whole—containing a town clock. The company have large warehouses in town and a
store in Vina.

  The I. O. O. F. building was dedicated March 26, 1883. It is situated on the
corner of Washington and Oak streets, fronting Oak. The building is 45 x 100
feet, with twenty feet ceiling in the upper story. The building with the grounds
is owned by the lodge. The cost was $16,000—lot, $3,500, and furniture $2,000;
total, $21,500. The lodge rooms are on the second story, the lower being fitted
up and occupied by business men. Swain & Hudson were the contractors.

  The Opera House, owned by G. L. Kingsley, situated on Main street near Oak, is
one of the largest houses in town.

  The Postoffice building, corner of Oak and Main, is owned by H. W. Brown. The
lower portion contains the postoffice and a grocery store. The upper story is
occupied by several fraternal lodges—F. & A. M., K. T., I. O. G. T., G. A. R.,
W. R. C., S. V., etc.

  The Bank of Tehama County is on Main, between Pine and Oak streets. In the
same building are the offices of Wells, Fargo & Co., the Western Union Telegraph
Company and County Treasurer's office.

  Nearly opposite the Bank of Tehama is the banking building of H. Kraft. The
upper story is occupied by Chipman & Garter, attorneys at law.

  The Town Hall on Main street deserves but little mention. The main things the
town needs at present are a good town hall and hotel. The town has a very
efficient fire company, consisting of a steam engine and a hook and ladder
company. Many dollars have been saved by the efforts of the gallant citizens who
are in the organization.

  The residences of Red Bluff are beautiful and attractive. The main dwellings
are on Washington and Jefferson streets, which are as delightful places for
homes as can be found in California. Among the fine residences are the homes of
G. G. Kimball, G. W. Westlake, V. P. Baker, H. Kraft, C. B. Ashurst, and many
others. Major Cone has a delightful residence on Antelope Creek east of Red Bluff.

  Many drug stores, clothing stores and general merchandise houses with two
hardware firms speak well for the prosperity of the metropolis of Northern
California. Besides these there are several stables, a candy factory, and two
photographers.

  The Tremont and National hotels are the leading hotels in Red Bluff and do a
good business. 

  As to newspapers, see page 264.

  In many portions of the town various handsome church edifices, well attended,
and neatly kept, argue well for the religious tendencies of the people of the
city. The Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Catholics, Christians, Baptists,
Methodists (North and South), have churches.

  But the crowning gems of the many in Red Bluff are her public schools. These
are two in number—the Oak Street, which is a fine brick structure, and the
Lincoln Street School, completed in 1888, one of the finest public schools in
the State. The system of instruction is well developed under the able
supervision of Prof. O. E. Graves, who for ten years has been principal.

  In 1880 there were but six or seven teachers, now (1890) there are thirteen,
and the school really needs more. There are about 900 census children in the
district, out of which about 800 are enrolled on the school register. In the
county there are but about 2,700 school children, so it can readily be seen that
almost one-third of the children attend school in Red Bluff. Well may Red Bluff
be proud of her educational facilities, which are something unusual in a town of
her size.

  In addition to the public schools an academy conducted by the Sisters of "Our
Lady of Mercy," gives instruction to seventy-five or eighty young ladies.

  Taking all in all Red Bluff is picturesque and attractive. It will compare
favorably with any town in the State in regard to healthfulness, the death rate
being but a little less than nine per cent, during the past few years. It is
steadily growing and increasing both in population and wealth.

TEHAMA,

situated about twelve miles south of Red Bluff, is the second town in the
county. In the early history of the county this place was the county seat. The
population is about 350. The country round about Tehama is among the finest in
the State, and immense quantities of grain are annually grown here. The most
thrifty farmers of the county are found in the vicinity of Tehama; among these
are the Finnell Bros., J. S. Butler, S. Chard, L. Schultz, Hon. W. P. Mathews,
Charles Tait, S. A. Gyle & Co., Andrew Simpson, and J. C. Tyler.

  The river is here spanned by a large railroad and wagon bridge. The California
& Oregon Railroad, from the east side of the river here connects with that from
the west, and makes Tehama a central point for trade and travel.

  The Star Flour Mills just across the river furnish excellent flour, and the
demand is such that the mill often runs day and night.

  John Simpson runs one of the best and largest assorted hardware stores north
of Sacramento: one can find anything in that line from a sewing-machine needle
to a harvester if necessary.

  Christain Heider, proprietor of the noted Heider House, is one of the most
enterprising citizens. His house is as well conducted as many of the hotels in
large towns. Mr. Heider owns a number of dwelling houses in town and also
conducts a large livery stable.

  The Tait House is ably conducted by Charles Tait, one of the heavy men of the
county, and does a thriving business. Mr. Tait is a farmer on a large scale.

  I. B. Ashbrook and S. A. Giles & Company are the leading general merchants.

  Dr. W. P. Mathews owns and conducts a neat drug store.

  John Tait and J. R. Kelly are the leading blacksmiths.

  The Presbyterian and Catholic churches are both neat and commodious.

  The public school of Tehama is a fine frame building, two-stories high, and
crowned with a belfry. The school is the second in the county, being next to Red
Bluff. The number of pupils enrolled is 100, average daily attendance
seventy-five. The principal at present is J. D. Sweeney, who is a very popular
young teacher. Misses Sallie Owens and Nellie Lowry are his able assistants.

  Corning, southwest of Tehama, is the third town in the county, and is situated
on a treeless plain in the midst of a grain growing country. The town supports
one weekly newspaper, The Observer. The public school is one of the best of the
kind in the State. Professor Webb has been the principal for a number of years.

VINA.

  If one wishes to see a vineyard—the largest in the world—he must visit that of
"The Leland Stanford, Jr., University" property at Vina, near the southern part
of the county. The town though small is pleasantly situated on the railroad not
far from the river, which is west of town. A goodly number of business houses
are found in the little hamlet.

  The vineyard is the leading feature in this vicinity: about 4,000 acres are
planted to vines and fruit trees. .Besides a vineyard and orchard a large grain
farm is owned by the same institution. The large wineries contain millions of
gallons of wines and brandies. A number of thoroughbred stock is to be found on
the farm. About 200 persons find employment in and about the ranch.

OTHER POINTS.

  Kirkwood, near the Colusa County line, is a small village in the midst of a
fine farming land. Paskenta and Henleyville are small towns southwest of Red
Bluff. Champion and Belle Mills are lumber camps high up in the Sierras.
Proberta is a small station south of Red Bluff.

  A chrome mine of some value is operated near Lowrey's, southwest of Red Bluff.

  The land west of Red Bluff is at present not very fertile. A scheme is on foot
to build a reservoir On Red Bank Creek, near Jackson Eby's place, about fifteen
miles west of Red Bluff. If such a plan can be found feasible and the reservoir
constructed, thousands of acres will be rendered valuable which are now
comparatively barren. The hills west of town afford abundant location for such
reservoirs.

GRAIN AND FRUIT.

  Tehama is really a great county and ranks among the first in the State in the
production of grain. The area of the county is about 3,000 square miles, or
about 1,920,000 acres; of these 400,000 are under cultivation and about 700,000
yet unsold. The average yield during the past few years has been about
10,000,000 bushels of grain, the average acreage being about twenty bushels of
wheat and thirty bushels of barley.

  Near Tehama fifty-eight bushels have been harvested and forty bushels is
nothing unusual. The land here can defy the State to equal the above.

  All varieties of fruit grow in abundance. The lemon and peach, orange and
pear, olive and apricot, citron and apple, grow side by side. Bartlett pears, of
the finest quality, grow. Prunes and grapes also grow abundantly. Oranges at
present bid fair to rival those of Riverside in Southern California, and may
become a staple product.

  May Tehama come to the front in the next ten years, and when the new century
is ushered in may there be none to compare with grand Tehama with her glorious
climate, rich soil and picturesque landscapes.

  In the State Assembly Tehama County has been represented by John F. Ellison,
in 1885, and others for the other years, a list of whom is given on pages 126
and 234.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.

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