Trinity County CA Archives History - Books .....Trinity County 1891
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 2, 2005, 10:44 pm

Book Title: Memorial And Biographical History Of Northern California

TRINITY COUNTY.

  Trinity Bay was so called from having been discovered on the anniversary of
the festival in honor of the Most Holy Trinity, June 11, 1775, by the second
naval exploring expedition under Captain Bruno Ezeta and Juan de la Quadra
Bodega. Trinity River received its name from P. B. Reading, who trapped on its
headwaters in 1845. It was so named because he supposed it emptied into Trinity
Bay, an error which misled thousands of gold-seekers in 1850, who sought to
reach its famous mines by entering the bay in vessels arid passing up the stream.

  This county is bounded on the north by Siskiyou and Humboldt, on the east by
Shasta and Tehama, on the south by Mendocino, and on the west by Humboldt
County. It is 55 x 150 miles in extent.

  Trinity is a mountainous county, its eastern third being covered by the Coast
Range, or Trinity Mountains, the summit of which divides this from Tehama and
Shasta counties. Bully Choop, Baldy and other peaks in this range reach an
altitude of over 6,000 feet, some of the summits in the Salmon Mountains, in the
northern part of the county, being still higher. The latter are also remarkably
steep, shooting up in spires so precipitous, that the snow is unable to lie upon
them, but sliding off into the deep rents remains there all summer. The
hydrography of this county is very simple, the Trinity River and its confluents
draining all parts of it. Heading in the Scott Mountain division of the Coast
Range, this river, after flowing south for sixty miles, makes a detour to the
northwest, which course it holds for another sixty miles, when it passes into
Humboldt County, uniting a little farther on with the Klamath.

  Nearly the whole of this county is heavily timbered with pine, spruce, fir and
cedar, oak and madrona forming a part of the forests at lower altitudes, while
the wild grasses afford much pasturage. Trinity-contains comparatively little
good farming land, though for the hardier fruits both the soil and the climate
are especially well adapted. As in most mining sections, the auriferous belt
varies, some of the veins being in slate, some in granite, while others are on
the contact between slate and granite. The deposits of gravel are as vast as any
found in the State.

TRINITY GOLD MINING COMPANY'S MINE

is located four miles west of the town of Weaverville, in the Weaverville
District. The claim has been worked for the past fourteen years. It was located
in 1851 and incorporated in 1874. Before incorporation it was known as the Ward
Placer Mine. The claim contains 430 acres. The channel runs about east and west,
extending from Oregon Gulch to Weaver Basin. On the summit of the mountain the
gravel belt is about one-half a mile wide. The altitude here is 3,100 feet. The
bedrock is clearly defined on both sides; its character is slate; the gravel
belt tapers down to the foot of the mountain, a distance of three-quarters of a
mile. The altitude here is 2,050 feet. From the summit to the gulch is an
unbroken stratum of gravel, and is estimated to be from 200 to 400 feet in
depth. At present the supply of water is insufficient to work the mines. The
owners assert that with 2,000 inches of water the property will produce $500
daily. An abundant supply of water can be brought from Canon Creek, a distance
of twenty-six miles, at an estimated cost of $150,000. Last year, owing to the
light supply of water, the company worked only 369 hours, and produced, the
superintendent states, about $8,000.

  There are a few other mining industries in the county.

  Major Reading, the first discoverer of the mineral wealth in that region,
says: "In the spring of 1854 I left Sutter's Fort for the purpose of trapping
upon the waters of Upper California and Oregon. My party consisted of thirty
men, with 100 horses. In May I crossed the mountains from Sacramento River near
a point afterward called the Backbone. In about twenty miles' travel I reached
the banks of a large stream which I called the Trinity, supposing it to lead
into Trinity Bay, as marked on the old Spanish charts. I remained on the river
about three weeks, finding the Indians very numerous but friendly disposed. On
leaving the Trinity I recrossed the mountains at a point which led me to the
Sacramento River about ten miles below the Soda springs. I then passed into the
Shasta and Klamath settlements, prosecuting my hunt. Having been successful, I
returned in the fall to Sutter's Fort.

  "In July, 1848, I crossed the mountains to the Coast Range at the head of
Middle Cottonwood Creek, struck Trinity at what is now called Reading's Bar,
prospected for two days and found the bars rich in gold. Returned to my home on
the Cottonwood, and in ten days fitted out ail expedition for mining purposes.
Crossed the mountains where the travel passed about two years since, from Shasta
to Weaver. My party consisted of three white men, one Delaware, one Walla Walla,
one Chinook and about sixty Indians from the Sacramento Valley With this force,
I left the bar bearing my name. I had with me 120 head of cattle, with an
abundant supply of other provisions. After about six weeks' work, parties came
on from Oregon who at once protested against my Indian labor. I then left the
stream and returned to my home, where I have since remained, in the enjoyment of
the tranquil life of a farmer."

  Reading worked at Reading's Bar about six weeks, and it is said that he made
about $80,000.

  Mr. Gross, a French agent, reported that he wound his way across to Trinity
mountain early in the spring of 1849, and on his way met two men, apparently
Americans, who claimed to have sojourned on Trinity River since the fall of
1847, and that each carried back with him $20,000 in gold dust. Mr. Gross also
reported that he found treasures of gold that year (1849) at the place now known
as Rich Gulch. He continued work there until the water gave out; then he removed
to Evans' Bar, on the Trinity, where he built the first log cabin in the county,
but Weaver & Co. may have preceded him in the erection of a building.

  Scott Mountain and Scott V alley are characterized by most beautiful scenery;
but many unfortunate travelers have been caught in the snows of winter in those
wilds and fastnesses, and of these many have succumbed to the Ice King never to
be redeemed.

  Among the prominent settlers were Curry and Noyes in 1854, a mile below the
mouth of Coffee Creek. Two miles further down Buckeye ranch was occupied by John
Christy. Near him was Meyers' ranch. Trinity Center, one of the most populous
and thriving mining camps in the county, was first settled by Moses Chadbourne
in 1851, but was of little note until 1853. Chadbourne built a saw-mill and took
possession of a ranch. Then there was the Norwegian ranch, Smith's ranch,
Robinson's and Hall's ranches, etc. Big Bar was settled in 1849, Sturtevant's
ranch in 1850, Felter's ranch at the mouth of Oregon Gulch, Big Flat, Milltown,
McGillivray's or Cooper's Bar, etc. A great deal of mining was done at hundreds
of points about this region.

  In 1851 the Arkansas Dam Company, of thirty men, organized themselves for the
purpose of diverting the water of the Trinity so that they could work the bed of
the stream; but after the dam was about completed, and before they tried its
virtues, a flood carried it away. They constructed another dam which, after some
discoveries had been effected with its aid, was also carried away. These
discoveries were sufficiently encouraging to warrant another effort. The third
dam was substantial and did good work; but in 1857 it was removed to give place
to other works of utility. The river bed, however, proved unprofitable; yet
claims in that vicinity continued to pay well for a long time.

  Trinity was legally one of the original counties of February 18, I860; and
from that time to 1851 Trinity County was attached to Shasta for judicial
purposes. In the spring of this year the ditchers and anti-ditchers, becoming
aware that their difficulties ought to be settled by homespun justice, without
calling upon Shasta authorities, bethought themselves to meet the demand of the
times, and an election was had, without due authority of law. This election
begat two justices and three constables as the legitimate issue of one faction
playing "roots" on the other. The justices elected were Johnson and Sevier.
Johnson declined to serve, with the hope of higher office at the hands of the
people of the State; but Sevier took the office. Colonel John Anderson, one of
the constables, was killed the following year.

  Pursuant to an act of the Legislature, approved May 28, 1851, this county,
then including also what is now Humboldt, was publicly freed from Shasta
tutelage, and five commissioners appointed by the act to superintend the
election; but none of these were from what is now Trinity County. The first
officers elected were: Dr. Johnson Price, Judge; William Cunningham, District
Attorney; John C. Burch, Clerk; William H. Dixon, Sheriff; J. W. McGee,
Assessor; Thomas L. Ball, Treasurer.

  Weaverville was chosen by the same election as the county-seat instead of
Eureka, although one poll-book made the majority seem to be for the last named
place. A new election was ordered, with the victory more definitely for
Weaverville. Nevertheless, Judge William R. Turner compelled the officers of the
county to repair to Eureka for possible District Court favors. The first court
held at Weaverville was in 1853, presided over by Judge Peters.

  In the fall of 1850 Weaverville was settled with miners, who prospered well.
Mr. and Mrs. Houghton kept the hotel, James Howe a large butchery and Mrs.
Walton a cake shop. In 1851 a one-horse express and a banking establishment were
kept by a Mr. Hinkle. In the spring of 1852 R. Reading, agent of a San Francisco
establishment, opened business in the commercial line. F. Blake, as agent for
Rhodes & Lusk, ran an express, and in November added banking. It was said that
these two houses, during the following season, averaged $15,000 of gold receipts
per week.

  At Weaverville the first church was built by the Catholics, in 1853, at a cost
of $4,500, and was furnished with a bell worth $700. Among the Protestants no
religious services were kept up, except by the Methodists, until 1858.

  The first newspaper in the county was the Times, in 1854, established by Rowe
& Conway. They were succeeded by Cressent, Dr. Trask, Williams, Crowningshield,
Smart, Howard, etc. In politics the paper was independent. Those were the times
when Know-nothingism seemed to be in the ascendant in that region; Democracy
rested on its oars and Republicanism was rising but still very unpopular. In
August, 1855, the Democrat was started by H. J. Howe and J. Crawford, but lived
only a short time. January 26, 1856, the Journal was started, also independent,
at Weaverville.

  The first school, a private one, was established in 1854, by J. Adams. In 1856
Mrs. Niblett started another, and this year a public school-house was erected.
In 1856 an "indigent sick fund" was established, and also a German hospital at
Weaverville.

  In 1854 an outbreak among the Chinese resulted in the death of seven on both
sides and the wounding of some fifteen or twenty.

  Trinity County was the dwelling-place of the celebrated James W. Denver in
1851-'52, after whom Denver, Colorado, was named. He was born in Frederick
County, Virginia, in 1818, and was an officer in the war with Mexico. Here in
Trinity County he was elected to the State Senate, in 1852, while he had charge
of the Emigrant Relief Train. He and Governor Bigler were charged with grave
offenses in the management of this train, by the Alta California. Gilbert, the
editor of that paper, challenged Denver to a duel. They met at Oak Grove, near
Sacramento. August 2, 1852, and used rifles, at a distance of forty paces.
Gilbert was killed. Shortly afterward Denver was appointed Secretary of State by
Governor Bigler. He was elected to Congress in 1854. In the fall of 1856 he was
appointed by President Buchanan Secretary of Kansas to Governor Shannon, and
then became Governor of that Territory in 1858. In 1861 he became Brigadier
General of Union Volunteers. He is still living, in Washington city.

  Trinity County has; been represented in the State Assembly by the following
named gentlemen: Fordyce Bates, 1859; John C. Burch, 1857; J. C. Dorr, 1865-'66;
T. E. Jones, 1867-'68; A. C. Lawrence, 1860; W. C. Martin, 1853; J.H. Matthews,
1862; S. F. McKenzie, 1852; George O. McMullin, 1852; John McMurray, 1869-'70,
1881; J. C. Montague, 1877-'78; John Musser, 1854; E. Neblett, 1858; M. W.
Personette, 1863-'64; J. S. Pitzer, 1853; R. G. Reading, 1853; E. A. Rowe, 1855;
T. W. H. Shanahan, 1887; W. J. Tinnin, 1871-'74; W. W. Upton, 1856; F. Walter,
1861; John Yule, 1885, and perhaps by others, named under head of adjoining
counties elsewhere.


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.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/trinity/history/1891/memorial/trinityc69gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/

File size: 14.1 Kb