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

YUBA COUNTY.

  Yuba (Spanish) is a corruption of the Spanish word "uva," meaning grapes. The
river was so named by an exploring party in 1824, because of the immense
quantities of wild grapevines which grew on the banks. The county is bounded on
the northwest by Butte, on the east by Sierra, on the southeast by Nevada, on
the south by Placer and Sutter, and on the west by Sutter County.

  Yuba is one of the few historic counties of the State. During the exciting
times of the mining fever, the reputation of its wonderful riches and resources
spread far and wide, and it received its share of the immense immigration which
poured in during that era. Its metropolis, Marysville, occupied a prominent
position among the cities of the coast, both in population and extent of
mercantile interests. Immediately preceding the discovery of gold on the Yuba
River, the site of that city was owned and occupied by one man, with his
employes and tenants; but as the news of the finding of new gold fields spread
settlers flocked in, stores and hotels were established, and the once quiet
rancho sprang into a bustling and busy city. The change was almost
instantaneous. After the first leap, however, the progress was slower but not
less marked.

  The early settlements of Yuba and Sutter counties were parts of a series
extending through nearly the whole Sacramento Valley. Sutter's map included a
much larger area than the Mexican laws would allow; and in order to hold the
land he placed tenants on various portions of the territory embraced within, its
limits. Subsequently, when it was thought that he could not hold all the land
applied for, he endeavored to obtain a sobrante (surplus) grant for his children.

  Theodore Cordua obtained from Captain Sutter in the fall of 1852 a lease for
nineteen years of the tract of land upon which Marysville is now located and
erected at what is now the foot of D street an adobe dwelling-house, a store
house or trading room, culinary department and out-houses. The spot was named
New Mecklenburg by Captain Sutter, in honor of the place of nativity of Cordua.
It soon became known, however, as Cordua's ranch. Like Sutter, Cordua utilized
the Indians in his vicinity.

  December 30, 1844, Cordua obtained from the Mexican government a grant of land
bounded on the north by the Feather River and Honcut creek, on the east by the
foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, on the south by the Yuba River and by the
tract of land previously leased from Captain Sutter, and on the west by some
other land and the Feather River, embracing about seven square leagues. Cordua's
house was located on the trail leading from the upper to the lower portion of
the Sacramento Valley; and as the country became more densely settled travel on
this road became more extensive until finally, in 1846, Cordua conceived the
idea of establishing a trading post at his adobe structure. In the summer of
1847, when William G. Murphy arrived at the ranch, Cordua had in his employ
fifteen or twenty Indians and white men, among whom was Charles Covillaud, who
acted as mechanic and overseer. At that time Cordua had also about 10,000 or
12,000 cattle and 500 wild mares.

  As to Theodore Chicard, or Sicard, see page 260.

  The Mexican land grants in Yuba County were: Honcut, 31,080 acres, patented to
Charles Covillaud and others in 1863; Johnson Rancho, 22,197 acres, to William
Johnson in 1857. In Yuba, Sutter and Sacramento counties: New Helvetia, 48,839
acres, to John A. Sutter in 1866.

  About the tenth of February, 1850, J. H. Jewett and Horace Beach arrived at
Yuba City with a train of packed mules from Sacramento. Within a week they
became fully convinced that the town across the river was to be the fortunate
one, and they crossed over to it in a canoe, swimming the mules; the result
ultimately showed the wisdom of their decision. During the first part of January
the second steamer, the Lawrence, arrived, commanded by Captain E. C. M.
Chadwick, and she was quickly followed by others, when business became brisk.

  January 15, Stephen J. Field, now of the United States Supreme Court, but then
a young lawyer, arrived from New York and invested largely in lots, finding his
legal knowlege of great use. Directly there were two candidates in the field for
the office of first alcalde, Mr. Field and Dr. Dobson. The principal objection
to Mr. Field was that he had been in the place but three days, while Dr. Dobson
had been there about a week, but Mr. Field was elected by a majority of nine
votes. J. B. Wadleigh was elected second alcalde. T. M. Twitchell, who was
elected sheriff, declined to serve, and Judge Field appointed Robert Buchanan.
An ayuntamiento was also selected, but they had scarcely any duties to perform,
leaving what little they had in the hands of Judge Field.

  In the midst of the hilarity on the evening after election, the subject of
naming the town was brought up. Yubaville was thought too similar to Yuba City;
Yubafield, Norwich, Sicardora, Sircumdora and other names were proposed, but no
unanimity was reached until Rev. Mr. Wadsworth arose and in a neat little speach
proposed Marysville, in honor, of the beautiful wife of Mr. Covillaud; indeed,
she was the only lady in the place.

  A good local government being organized here, a peaceable condition of the
community was insured, and thus Marysville was safe from many of the disgraceful
scenes characterizing most other initial towns.

  The original Yuba County, organized pursuant to act of February 18, 1850,
embraced the territory now included in Sierra and Nevada counties, but the
increase of population at the remote parts of the county necessitated subdivisions.

  April 25, 1851, the County of Nevada was set off, and April 16, 1852, Sierra
County.

  The first officers of Yuba County were, Henry P. Haun, Judge; Samuel B.
Mulford, Attorney; Edward B. Wheeler, Clerk; Robert B. Buchanan, Sheriff; Alfred
Lawton, Recorder; J. B. Cushing, Surveyor; L. W. Taylor, Treasurer; S. C.
Tompkins, Assessor; S. T. Brewster, Coroner. It is said that about 800 votes
were cast at this election, seventeen being in Marysville.

  The first term of the District Court for Yuba County was held June 3, 1850,
with William R. Turner as Judge. He was succeeded in 1851 by the appointment of
Corydon N. Mott.

  Before the close of 1850 the people of Marysville moved to have their place
incorporated, in which effort they were successful February 5, 1851, Mr. Field
representing them in the Legislature. The city was divided into four wards, and
S. M. Miles was the first mayor. April 10, 1852, the charter was repealed, in
spite of much opposition.

  In 1851 Ramirez settled the Quintay ranch just east of Marysville, and a man
named Quintay was stationed there to take care of it.

  The salt food to which the early immigrants had been so closely confined
produced a scorbutic condition and a great appetite for fresh vegetables and
acid fruits. This appetite became so intense that extreme acids were desired,
and accordingly lime juice by the barrel was imported and sold in great
abundance at the saloons.

  Sunday afternoon, March 21, 1852, Eliza Sutter, the daughter of the celebrated
captain, was married to George Engler, of Marysville, the ceremony taking place
at Hock farm and performed by Judge Cushing, of Marysville. Visitors were
present from nearly all parts of the State.

  The directory for 1853 shows that there were six auction and commission
merchants at Marysville; sixteen lawyers, five bankers, eighteen hotels, two
steam saw-mills, etc.

  Five months after Marysville was laid out, in 1849, Colonel R. H. Taylor, a
San Francisco merchant, came here and issued the first number of the Marysville
Herald, August 6, 1850, and continued to publish it semi-weekly; in October it
was made a tri-weekly. January 28 following (1851) Stephen C. Massett, a
talented joung man from Sacramento, became interested with Colonel Taylor, and
the paper was edited and published by Taylor and Massett, July 15, 1851; L. W.
Ramson purchased a third interest. At first the paper was independent, and then
Whig. A column of news was printed in the French language. In 1852 a weekly
edition was commenced and in 1853 a daily.

  The first number of the California Express appeared at Marysville, November 3,
1851, published by George Giles & Co. and edited by Colonel Richard Rust. July
26, 1852, J. McElroy and Andrew Brady purchased the paper; July 22, 1854, Luther
Laird, George W. Bloor and M. D. Carr became the proprietors. Laird died in 1856
and Lloyd Magruder became one of the proprietors. Colonel Rust continued as
editor until July 26, 1857, when he resigned the place to John R. Ridge. This
paper was both weekly and daily; was Democratic from the first, and during the
war advocated States' rights and then secession. It thereafter declined until
1866, when it breathed its last, after a very lingering illness.

  George C. Gorham was a resident of Marysville in 1849-'60; was admitted here
as an attorney at law, but never practiced; was editor of the Marysville Daily
Inquirer in 1855-'56, and the Marysville National Democrat in 1859, and
afterward was engaged on the San Francisco Nation, in 1860; on the Sacramento
Union in 1861; was clerk in the United States District Court in 1865-'67;
candidate for Governor in 1867; Secretary of United States Senate in 1868-'79;
Secretary of the National Republican Executive Committee in 1876.

  Among the noted professional teachers, who in early days taught in this
county, were D. C. Stone, who taught in Marysville in 1854-'68, and then moved
to Oakland and established a "family school;" J, B. McChesney, who commenced
teaching at Forbestown in 1857, but soon after removed to Nevada City, and in
1865 was elected principal of the High School; Isaac Upham, who taught for a
long time in Butte County and was superintendent of the Butte County schools in
1868-'69; and Azro L. Mann, who afterward went to San Francisco and became
superintendent of the city schools there.

  The first school in Marysville was opened during the last week in May, 1850,
by Rev. S. V. Blakeslee. It was a private school, of nine pupils, in a
sheet-iron building 10 x 18 feet in size; but it was too hot in warm weather and
the school had to be discontinued. Some time during the latter part of 1851 a
school was established by Rev. Mr. Thatcher in the Presbyterian Church on D street.

  The College of Notre Dame at Marysville was founded by Father Magagnotta,
Passionist missionary, in 1856. The first building erected that year under his
auspices was a solid brick structure of three stories, 35 x 51 feet. The Sisters
of Notre Dame entered into the possession of their new establishment October 26,
1856. In 1857 an addition was made to the structure. In 1858 a free school for
girls was opened. By the year 1869 possession of the entire block was obtained,
the college was chartered by the Legislature, further additions to the building
were made and the institution now accommodates a large number of pupils. In 1860
the Legislature established a State reform school at Marysville, appropriating
$30,000. The original building was 52 x 218. In 1861 $25,000 more were
appropriated, and the school conducted until May, 1868, when it was
discontinued. The highest number of pupils was fifty-four.

  Up to 1855 the only land-office in California was at Benicia; then one was
established at Marysville. John A. Paxton was the first receiver and Charles S.
Fairfax register.

  The Marysville Pioneer Society was organized February 20, 1869, those living
in California ever since September 9, 1850, being elegible to membership. At one
time they had a membership of 135.

  Local military organizations existed in Marysville from 1855 to 1875. Like
almost every other town in America, Marysville has had a number of destructive
fires, one or two sweeping away almost everything in the business portion. The
town is situated upon low ground, and has also been subject to floods; but the
levee is so complete now as to guard the place sufficiently.

ASSEMBLYMEN.

  D. O. Adkison, 1855, 1863; Francis L. Aud 1858-'59; H. Barrett, 1857; A. J.
Batchelder, 1856, 1865-'68; J. H. Beaman, 1863-'64; J. C. Bradley, 1871-'76; J.
E. Brown, 1869-'70; J. P. Brown, 1880-'81; W. Burns, 1857; T. H. Carr, 1880;
John Carter, 1873-'74; Charles S. Chase, 1855; L. B. Clark, 1867-'68; J. E.
Clayton, 1855; John Cook, 1852; N. D. Coombs, 1883; J. M. Crowell, 1860; Wm. M.
Cutter, 1883; C. W. Dannalls, 1854; Charles E. De Long, 1858-'59; Wm. Edgar,
1871-'72; Benj. E. S. Ely, 1858: Charles S. Fairfax, 1853-'54; Stephen J. Field,
1851; Mortimer Fuller, 1857, 1859; James H. Gardner, 1852-'53; E. S. Gaver,
1855; Wm. Geller, 1855: James H. Hanson, 1861; D. L. Haun, 1861; L. Hubbard,
1863-'64; Benj. P. Hugg, 1860, 1877-'78; T. O. Jackson, 1862; J. C. Jones, 1854;
H. B. Kellogg, 1854; Martin Knox, 1873-'74; C. H. Kungle, 1860-'61: E. Lalor,
1861; F. R. Lofton, 1871-'72; Lloyd Magruder, 1861; C. McClaskey, 1869-'70;
James Y. McDuffie, 1854; George Merritt, 1869-'70; Benj. T. O'Rear, 1860; D. A.
Ostrom, 1875-'78; Wm. H. Parks, 1881, 1885; John A. Paxton, 1852; B. B. Redding,
1853; O. F. Redfield, 1863-'64; D. W. C. Rice, 1857; J. C. Sargent, 1862-'63;
Jacob Shearer, 1856; T. J. Sherwood, 1865-'66; James S. Slingerland, 1859; James
K. Smith, 1867-'68; B. R. Spillman, 1858; John M. Sterritt, 1856; Orrin Stewart,
1865-'66; G. N. Swezy, 1857; Eli Teegarden, 1862; R. M. Turner, 1856; Jonas
Wescott, 1860; John Wheadon, 1859; N. E. Whiteside, 1858; W. B. Winsor, 1856.

THE LATER HISTORY

of Yuba County is unique above all others in that daring the past twenty or
thirty years she has almost completely altered her configuration, the surface
level over no mean part of her superficies having changed materially. The cause
of this has been hydraulic mining, chiefly, and the vast amount of "slickens,"
or mining debris, washed down thereby. Where prosperous orchards, gardens and
farms stood in former days along the banks of the rivers, their place has been
taken by an overflow of sand and mud,— the "slickens" of the mining
regions,—fences, trees and even telegraph poles going out of sight under
fifteen, twenty, or even thirty feet of this debris.

  The still more curious sight is to be seen in some parts, of a fresh orchard
and new fields of grass appearing now upon this new and artificial surface, a
second layer, so to speak, of agriculture. This is only the case in some parts,
however, as the deposits are not always capable of cultivation. This refers of
coarse only to the bottom lands along the rivers.

  Yuba County stands in the peculiar position of being both a gainer and a loser
by the celebrated decision of Judge Sawyer in 1884, placing a permanent
injunction upon hydraulic mining. The upper end of the county, in the foot
hills, was injured directly, in that it was largely interested in hydraulic
mining, while the largest city and county town, Marysville, felt it seriously
but indirectly, by the shrinking of her trade; but the people of the lower end,
the farmers, the larger part of the population, hailed the decision with joy as
giving them now a chance for their lives and property. They set energetically to
work to raise their dykes and levees once more to a living height, and once more
to set out and cultivate their orchards.

  This is for the most part a level county. Only on the east, where the country
breaks into the foot-hills of the Sierra, does it rise much above the sea level,
nor does the highest portion of the county reach an altitude of more than 2,000
feet. The rivers and larger creeks in this county consist of the main Yuba and
its middle fork, the former flowing west centrally across the county and
constituting, in part, the dividing line between, this and Nevada County;
Feather River separating Yuba from Sutter County on the west; Bear River,
dividing line between Yuba, Placer, and Sutter on the south; Honcut Creek, its
northwestern boundary, and Dry Creek, running across the county from northeast
to southwest.

  The soil throughout the lower portions of the county is a deep alluvial,
capable of producing heavy crops of the cereals; that on the upland being
admirably adapted for fruit and vine-growing. A good many cattle and sheep are
also kept here, being sustained partly by the cultivated, but mostly on the
native, grasses.

  Yuba County is celebrated for her early fruits, her cherries, her apricots,
her peaches, reaching market among the first. It has been discovered, too, that
she has a citrus belt, and large plantings have been made of oranges, lemons,
etc., whole colonies being founded upon this industry. With renewed energy, too,
irrigating ditches are being taken out and water brought upon the neglected
valleys, thus greatly extending the scope of fruit-raising. Brown's Valley is
one of the most important parts being benefited in this way. Already a large
acreage of trees, grapes, etc., has been planted, and a decided increase made in
the population of the Valley. Below Marysville are located several large citrus
colonies. The Colmena Colony, adjoining Reed's station, a few miles below
Marysville, have orange orchards of several hundred acres, while others are
still more extensive.

  In this lower portion of the county the chief industry is wheat-growing,
however, the principal town of the county outside of Marysville having the
suggestive name of Wheatland. In the mountainous eastern portion of the county,
mining is still an important business, although much less so than formerly.
Lumbering also attracts a good deal of capital, there being large forests of
pine, fir, etc., in the mountains, oak on the bench lands, and cottonwood and
willow along the streams.

  Yuba is well supplied with transportation. Marysville is situated at the head
of navigation on the Feather River, the original cause indeed of its location.
The California & Oregon Railroad crosses the western end of the county, and a
branch line runs from Marysville to Oroville. The line from Knight's Landing
across Sutter County, just completed to Marysville, gives that city short and
direct communication with San Francisco.

  Marysville, seventy-seven feet above sea-level and 142 miles from San
Francisco, is a remarkable city. At first sight to the eye of the stranger it
presents the appearance of a walled city. On every hand it is surrounded by
lofty and substantial dykes or levees that might well serve as ramparts to
resist the attacks of an invader. Upon arrival in the streets one sees at once,
however, that he is in no antiquated city, for the place has a business air and
a stir and bustle that announce it at once as a place of large trade. The lofty
and handsome rows of brick business houses, the large and prosperous hotels and
the extensive structures devoted to manufactures, etc., proclaim it the center
of large business interests. Marysville, in fact, ranks only next to Sacramento
in her volume of business, and is the wholesale supply point for a large
section, especially of the mining regions. Marysville has known many
vicissitudes, but her history, at any rate since the flush mining days which
culminated in 1856 and continued till 1860, has been one of progress. The coming
of the railroad in 1864 for a time took away a deal of trade and altered
materially the channels of business, but the completion of the road to the upper
Sacramento Valley, which took place shortly afterward, opened new 'scope to the
enterprise of her citizens, and gave the city an ever expanding market for her
fruits, etc. Marysville is a terminal point upon the railroad, possessing thus
equal advantage with Sacramento and other cities in matters of freight charges.
The Marysville Woolen Mill is a very large establishment, employing over a
hundred hands. The Buckeye Flouring Mills are in a large four-story building and
have a capacity of 550 barrels a day. There is a large winery, with about
150,000 gallons capacity, and also a foundry and machine shop that has more than
local reputation. There are about a dozen wholesale firms, besides scores of
retail. There are seven churches with strong congregations. The public school
system is well organized and in addition there are four private schools, the
principal one being the College of Notre Dame, a Roman Catholic institution.
There are two banks, that of Rideout & Smith, with assets of over $1,000,000,
and that of Decker, Jewett & Co., with half as much. The city has little debt,
has splendid water-works and is lighted by gas and electricity.

  Wheatland, twelve miles south of Marysville, is the center of a rich
grain-growing section, the cultivation of hops being also an important industry.
It has good schools and churches and does a large shipping business.

  Besides these two large towns in the valley, there are a number of smaller
places in the foothills and mountains. Of these Brown's Valley, Camptonville,
Timbuctoo, Brownsville and Strawberry Valley are the most important.
Stock-raising, farming, mining and lumbering are their industries. About
Smartsville is a noted, section for Bartlett pears and table grapes. It adjoins
the line of Nevada County.

  The newspapers of Marysville, the Appeal and Democrat, both dailies and
weeklies, hold high rank in the field of journalism, the Appeal being one of the
oldest and most influential papers in Northern California. It was founded in
1859, the Democrat in 1879. There is also a monthly, the Budget, established in
1887.

  At Wheatland are published the Graphic and the Four Corners, lively weeklies
founded in 1881 and 1888.


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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