Colusa County
History
SOURCE: "Colusa County", Justus H. Rogers, Orland, CA, 1891
PREFACE
THE history of one's own county bears a proportionate importance to that of the history of the nation. The leading events in the progress of a locality are generally not so well known and preserved by its residents as are those of the nation; yet the interest taken in the former is greater than in the latter.
A complete understanding of the history of the pioneer days of a California county, with their explorations, hardships, adventures, pleasures and successes in a new land, followed by an appreciative knowledge of subsequent developments from immature and tentative conditions to that of the permanent domestic, agricultural and mercantile life, naturally leads up to a more intelligent conception of the history of the State as a whole or of the nation as an entirety. It tends, also, to create more of a local pride and interest in the advancement and upbuilding thereof, which adds to the welfare of not only the locality, but of the nation as well.
In presenting this work to the public, the author has looked closely to accuracy. In all matters treated it has been the endeavor to be fair and impartial, and to record facts only. If errors have crept in, it is because they have been unavoidable to the most patient and equitable inquiry, and will be of themselves an insuperable reason why this book should be prepared at the present time, seeing that they may yet be corrected by men who were actors or contemporaries of actors in the events here detailed; and who have a natural pride in the accuracy of their local annals.
Considerable space is devoted to biography, but since history is the fruit and synthesis of biography, the lives of many prominent individuals of an early or present time naturally find an appropriate place here.
CONTENTS.
ABRIDGED HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA.
Discovery and Early Settlements.—Missions Established.—American Occupation. --Discovery of Gold and its Immediate Results.—California Admrtted into the Union.—The Vigilantes.—Military and Civil Governments 9-18
CHAPTER I. GEOGRAPHY OF COLUSA COUNTY.
County Boundaries.—Past and Present —Waterways and Land Drainage.—Plains, Foot-hills and Mountains.—Soils.--Vegetable and Tree Growths 19-26
CHAPTER II. INDIANS OF COLUSA COUNTY.
Tribes and Tribal Relations.—Traditions of a Flood.—Their Modes of Living.—Manners and Customs.—Religious Polity.—Circulatir g Medium.—Effects of Their Intercourse with Civilization.—Their Rapid Decline.—Chief Sioc —27-36
CHAPTER III. EARLIEST EXPLORATIONS OF COLUSA COUNTY.
"Indian Killers."—A Chase after Stolen Horses.—Adventures with Bears.—An Experience with Indians Who Had Never Seen a White Man.—Mapping of the Larkin Grant.—Making of Grindstones.—The First Settlers 37-54
CHAPTER IV. ORGANIZATION OF COLUSA COUNTY.
Derivation of the Name.—County Created.—Election on Organization.—Firs. Officers of Election.- County Seat Imbroglio.—Financial and Legal Difficulties.
First County Officers Elected.—Migratory Character of its Early Population.― County Seat Removed from Monroeville to Colusa 55-70
CHAPTER V. THE FORMATIVE PERIOD OF THE COUNTY.
Population in 1850.—Assessment Roll of 1851-52.—The First Jury.—First Legal Execution.—Residents in 1852.—Lines of Settlement.—A Steady Growth of Settlement 71-88
CHAPTER VI. RECORDS OF PERMANENT DEVELOPMENT.
Events and Local Happenings in Chronological Order from 1862 to November, 1890 89-262
CHAPTER VII. TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF THE COUNTY.
Their Origin, Progress and Present Condition.—Their Mercantile, Social, Educational and Religious Advantages 263-293
CHAPTER VIII. EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.
Standard of Eminence Obtained by the Public Schools.—Private Schools.—Teachers of the County.—District School Libraries.—Expenditures of Money in Support of Schools 294-303
CHAPTER IX. THE COUNTY'S RESOURCES.
Grain Cultivation.—Modes of Planting and Harvesting.—Fruit Growing.—Livestock.—Mineral Resources.—Mineral Springs 304-329
CHAPTER X. THE CLIMATE.
Temperature, Rainfall and Cloud Currents.—Tables of Temperature and Precipitation.—Relation of Climate to Agriculture 330-338
CHAPTER XI. IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION.
Irrigation Districts and Private Canals.—Sources of Water Supply.—Reclamation Districts.—Great Increase in Value of Once Overflowed Lands 339-342
CHAPTER XII.
BIOGRAPHICAL AND AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
A Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California - Chicago, Lewis Publ. Co., 1891