Nevada County
History
BEAN'S HISTORY & DIRECTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. 1867.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF
LITTLE YORK TOWNSHIP.
BY J. E. SQUIRE.
Little York, from which the name of the township is derived, is situated on a narrow ridge between Steep Hollow and Bear River, and on the line of the old Truckee emigrant road, from which source its first settlement was derived. When the emigration reached this point they considered their toilsome journey completed and began to look around for temporary employment. Gold was found generally distributed in the water courses in good paying quantities, but not sufficient to meet the extravagant expectations of those who came to amass a fortune in a few months and again return to their homes and friends at the East; hence up to the spring of 1852 there were but few permanent miners in this section, although some of the "forty-nine" emigrants, among them Joseph Gardner and J. E. Squire, still of Little York, and John Dunn, now of Nevada, employed most of their time in successful mining operations in this vicinity. Among the favorite places which often attracted back our impatient, roving and broken miners was a ravine heading in the town and extending southerly into Bear river, to which they would resort to make a raise of a few hundred dollars to enable them to make explorations for richer "diggings" in distant parts of the State. Finally, in the fall of 1850, a small party of miners (L. Earner, now deceased, H. H. Brown and J. H. Bailey, of Gold Run, and. D. Crippin, last heard of in the grand Union army,) concluded to locate upon the ravine and built a cabin at the upper end, near where Curran & Buckman's cement mill now stands, which was the first house upon the ridge. They very superficially worked over the ravine during the winter, made from eight to ten thousand dollars, and left in the spring of 1851. Soon after, William Scott (whose name the ravine now bears) and others took possession of it and made more money, working it over, than the first locators. They pursued their work into the extensive gravel beds which lay at its head and exposed in a cut, about fifty feet long and ten feet deep, the celebrated blue cement, which has lately attracted so much interest and yielded such rich treasure. Although gold was visible over the whole face of the cut, yet by the rude method of mining at that time, it could not be economically extracted, and mining again languished in this section until the spring of 1852, when a couple of men by the name of William Starr and. John Robinson, who had seen what they called "hill diggings," came along, and began to prospect in the gravel banks around the head of the ravine, avoiding the channel of the blue cement. Starr, Earner and several others located just at the east of the blue cement lead, and commenced the first tunnel into these gravel hills. Their drift dirt was good, but there was not enough water to wash it and there was not much done that season in their claims. Robinson commenced prospecting lower down, on the face of what is known as Counsil Hill, and in a short distance found a prospect of a dollar to the pan; the report of which soon spread to the neighboring mining camps, and from thence to more distant parts of the country, and the place was soon thronged with an excited and eager crowd. The entire gravel range, embracing a great extent, and many hills, was soon located, the present site of the town laid off and lots distributed among the miners.
A ditch was soon commenced, to bring the waters of Bear river to the mines; saw mills, stores, saloons, mechanics' shops, and a meeting house, were erected—and even a theater started. By the 1st of September, the place was filled and surrounded with all the accessories and accompaniments of a large and thriving town, with a population of six hundred inhabitants. Most of the old denizens of the place and of those who came from neighboring camps immigrated from New York and other Eastern States, and those who came in a little later were from Missouri and other Western States, and provincial prejudices were very strong. A public meeting was called, in August, to elect a Recorder and name the town, when the Convention immediately divided between Eastern men and Western men. The Eastern men, after a hard struggle, succeeded in electing Crippin for Recorder, and gave the name of Little York to the town (instead of St. Louis) in commemoration of their victory.
As might be expected in all towns at that early period, there was a large proportion of roughs and rowdies, who were a trouble and terror to the peaceable and well-disposed. The leader of this class was a young man of great muscular power, of desperate character and abandoned habits, called Dick Fisher. No man, especially if he or any of his confederates took a dislike to him, was safe in his person or his property. However, for some violation of law Fisher was arraigned before a magistrate and. convicted by the verdict of a jury. He was much exasperated toward the jurymen, and threatened that he would whip one of them, by the name of Tyce Ault, and soon confronted him, with a pistol in hand, for that purpose. Ault tried to avoid him, but Fisher pursued when Ault turned upon and shot him several times, from the effects of which he soon after died, since which time the town has not been afflicted with that class of men. This is the only homicide that has occurred here.
In the latter part of September, 1852, the ditch was completed and water brought upon the mines, and notwithstanding it was sold at a dollar and a half per inch many claims were opened and paid a large profit to the owners; but all could not procure water, and some could not pay such an exhorbitant price for it, and the attention of many was again turned to the blue lead, as drift diggings. There were during the fall of 1852, and the year 1853, several tunnels run into it on the rim rock, and many rich crevices found, from which several thousand dollars were obtained; but the bed rock dipped from them, and the cement above the bed rock was very hard and the miners could obtain no gold from it by the mining processes then practiced, so that work was continued only at intervals until 1857, when a company from Nevada, known as the Massasaga Company, located a large tract of mining ground on the line of the blue lead, on the west side of town, and in October found rich prospects on the bed rock, at a depth of one hundred and ten feet. They immediately commenced erecting a mill, with hoisting works and a ten-stamp battery, to crush the cement, which was completed and commenced running in January, 1858. About this time the claims known as the Blue Lead were bought up and consolidated, by W. A. Begole, of Red Dog, and a ten-stamp mill erected upon them. These mills were very imperfect and insufficient for the work intended; having stamps of 250 pounds only, with wooden stems and open mortar; through which the cement was carried by a stream of water, and pulverized only as a stamp happened to hit it. The consequence was that a large proportion of the gold passed off with the tailings. In the fall of 1858 or 1859 the Massasaga Co.
washed the tailings which they had accumulated while running their mill four months, and took out $2,800. They were subsequently rewashed, and as much more gold obtained. After working irregularly and without much system or economy, the company became disorganized, and ceased work. The old mill is still standing upon the ground in a very dilapidated condition. The time they run the mill they took out between sixty and seventy thousand dollars—never made a dividend, and quit in debt. This mill was burned in Oct. 1861. Since then this blue cement ground has changed hands, and there are now two improved and efficient mills with two heavy stamps, each near the site of the others, owned and managed by Curran & Buckman, working the cement with better results. The extent, value and range of the blue cement lead, was first opened and brought to the attention of miners here, and is undoubtedly on the ancient river bed, which is believed to be traced from near Nelson's Point, in Sierra county, to the valley of the San Joaquin, and is probably continuous from Snow Point, on the Yuba, (from which there are different opinions as to its course), through Quaker Hill, Hunt's Fill, Red Dog, You Bet, Little York, Dutch Flat, Gold Run, to and beyond Iowa Hill
Overlying the channel of this cement was a heavy bed of washed gravel from sixty to one hundred feet deep, which has been washed almost continuously since 1853, and has constituted a large proportion of the extensive hydraulic mining conducted here. In 1863 some Spaniards sunk a shaft about twelve feet deep in a flat ravine, covered with brush, and situated about a mile west of town, in which they found a rich prospect in gold. This, to show that the miners here had some capacity for originality, they nomad "Cariboo.' A company of four or five men soon got possession of the claims and commenced working out the ravine, and in one season, with four men and about fifty inches of water, took out about $60,000 in gold. At the surface of the ravine, nor around it, was there any evidence of an ancient washed channel; and yet at the bottom there was a foot or two of river washed gravel, and large water-worn bowlders, and pot holes worn in the bed rock to a greater depth than they have ever found the bottom. The gold was coarse, and only about 840 fine, while the gold taken from the blue cement is about 900 fine, and that from the gravel above the cement, from 930 to 965 fine. This exceptional character and occurrence of gold is not confined exclusively to this ravine. At about the same distance below the great gravel range, at Snake Ravine, Mule Ravine, Pine Hill, Fools' Hill, and so on to Secret Town, in Placer county, the same quality of gold is found, and under nearly the same occurrences. It can be said at least that at some period there must have been a large water course through this range, the evidence of which is now nearly obliterated by denudation; but we cannot say why the gold deposited should be of such a different cast through its whole extent from that in such close proximity.
This town has been singularly fortunate and an exception to nearly all the old towns, not only in this county, but in the State. A fire has never occurred in it! It presents a comfortable and attractive appearance from the fact that all the primitive buildings have been torn down or rebuilt, and neat, comfortable ones erected.
The residences are nearly hid from view by shade and fruit trees. The citizens early took an interest in garden and fruit culture, and there are large yards filled with fruit trees planted in 1854. The prosperity and future prospects of the town have never been better. The citizens, in connection with their Dutch Flat neighbors, have completed a good wagon road at an expense of $5,000 to connect with the latter place, over which an omnibus runs to the depot daily. Mr. Colby is now constructing a wagon road, which will be completed in a few weeks, to connect You Bet with Little York, which will open a continuous road from Nevada to Dutch Flat direct.
In addition to the mills running daily upon a body of cement, which is yet but fairly opened, they have twice the amount of hydraulic banks to wash that have ever yet been worked and an abundance of cheap water to do it with.
There are three ditches of about 1500 inches capacity leading into the town, the united length of which is about thirty miles. Two belong to J. Gardner, and take the water from Bear river. One of them was completed in 1852 at an expense, including subsequent improvements, of about $70,000; the other was completed in 1858 at an expense of about $30,000. The other ditch takes its water from Steep Hollow, and belongs to Curran and Buckman, and was completed to Little York in 1864, at a total cost of about $25,000.
RED DOG.
Early in the spring of 1851, a Mr. Wilson and two other men came over from Nevada to prospect in this vicinity, and on coming up the hill from Greenhorn, near what is now known as the old Nevada road, saw, a little to the right of them, a small ravine running down from what is now known as Red Dog Hill. Mr. Wilson proposed to his companions to go down and prospect it. They assented to the proposition, went down to the ravine, and after digging down to the bed rock and scraping it, discovered coarse gold. They immediately located the ravine and adjoining hill, calling it after a hill in the lead mines of Illinois, "Red Dog Hill." The news of the rich discovery soon spread, and people from adjoining camps began to flock in. Among those who then came, are our fellow townsmen, Robert and Joseph Chew, present owners of the toll road between this place and Nevada. The next important discovery, and that which led to the building of a town, was made by Messrs. Perkins & Thornhill, who discovered the diggings on Independence Hill. July 12th, of the same year, a meeting was called for the purpose of determining a suitable location for a town site, and to give it a proper name. At that meeting the majority voted to locate it on what is now known as Arkansas Hill, and to call it "Chalk Bluff." The minority being dissatisfied with the location chosen by the majority, called another meeting the next day, and chose the present site, but named it "Brooklyn" on account of a small creek intervening between Chalk Bluff and the new site. The eligibility of the second location being much superior to that of Chalk Bluff, the Chalk Bluffers, like sensible men, came over in a body, thereby causing the town to expand and become permanent. The first hotel was built and kept by Mr. Wooster, and the first stores were kept respectively by a Mr. Robinson and G. A. Johnson. The latter is still a resident of this vicinity. The first ditches dug to supply the diggings of this vicinity were made by parties in the order named below:
Perkins' ditch, conveying water from the head of Missouri Canyon to Independence Hill; Henry Stehr's ditch, conveying water from Little Greenhorn to all the
mines near Red Dog. The largest and most valuable ditch, now owned by E. Williams, was constructed by Churchman & Co., and conveys water from Steep Hollow over the entire lower ridge.
Like all other mining towns in California, Red Dog has suffered its share from that relentless destroyer—fire. The first occurred on the night of January 13th, 1859, destroying all the buildings on the south side of Main street, and causing the loss of one man, who was burned to death in his saloon, and about $25,000 worth of property. The second fire took place in June, 1862, burning only the Chinese part of the town, and was generally believed to have been the work of the Chinese themselves. But the most destructive fire took place on the 15th of August, 1862, destroying the whole town, (except Heydlauffs brick store) in fifteen minutes, causing considerable suffering among some families, and a loss of between $40,000 and $50,000. It was, however, with that characteristic energy which marks Californians, whom no calamity can subdue, that they immediately rebuilt the town, and it now presents a better appearance than ever before. The business of the place is not as extensive now as heretofore, nevertheless it has a more healthy and solid foundation on account of the settled permanency of the population.
There are here, at present, two general variety stores, kept respectively by J. Heydlauff and McGoun & Combs. Both of these stores also buy gold dust, the former for himself, and the latter for the enterprising bankers, Mackie & Philip, of of Nevada. There are also two clothing stores; one hardware and tin shop; one shoemaker shop; one butcher shop; two hotels; three saloons; two fruit and liquor stands; one dressmaker, and one blacksmith shop. There are also two halls in the town—one belonging to the Masons, in which they meet every Friday on or preceding the full Moon; the other belongs to the Odd Fellows, in which they meet every Saturday night.
There is daily communication by stage with Nevada and Colfax. This is also the residence of a Justice of the Peace and Constable for Little York township. The population in the immediate vicinity of the town is estimated at about 200.
There are four mills within a short distance of Red Dog for crushing blue cement. The first was built by Mallory & Co. in the spring of '62, and is still running, having paid from its commencement to the present time. It is run by water with a hurdy gurdy wheel. The second mill was erected by Williams & Co., in '64, and is run by a 30-horse-power steam engine, 24 inch stroke, manufactured by Mr. Taylor, of Grass Valley. The third and fourth were constructed in the fall of '65—one on Bunker Bill, run by water, and known as Ennis & Co.; the other on Slaughter House Point, run by a 30 horse-power engine, and owned by Messrs. Garber & Cozzens. The latter mill is not in operation on account of a crack in the ground, which filled up the diggings, and caused a temporary suspension of work. The hydraulic claims are all being worked, and promise a good yield of gold this season.
I omitted to say that the reason for changing the name of the place from Brooklyn to Red Dog, was caused in this way: In '55 the citizens applied for a post office to be established here, and there being already a Brooklyn post office in Alameda county, they changed it to Red Dog.
Cement Mills.
Neece & West's mill, three-fourths of a mile south of You Bet, on what is known as Brown's Hill, was completed in July, 1855, and has been in almost constant operation since. It contains eight stamps, the motive power being a hurdy-gurdy water wheel; employs from twenty to thirty hands; crushes about sixty tons of cement in twenty-four hours.
Collins & Son's cement mill, joining Reece & West on the north, was completed in 1866, but has never been run steadily. It is a ten-stamp mill, the motive power being a hurdy gurdy wheel, and employs from twenty to twenty-five hands; crushes about sixty tons of cement in twenty-four hours.
G. S. Brown & Co.'s mill, located immediately between Heydlauff & Co. and Mallory & Co.'s mills, was completed in 1865, and has been in constant operation since. This mill has eight stamps, the motive power being a hurdy gurdy wheel; employs about twenty men and reduces forty tons of cement in twenty-four hours.
Heydlauff & Co.'s mill is situated on Brown's Hill, half a mile south of You Bet, and adjoining the ground of Brown & Co. on the south; was erected in 1866 and has been in constant operation since. This mill has eight stamps, the motive power being an eight-foot hurdy-gurdy wheel; employs from twenty-five to thirty men, and reduces about sixty tons of cement in twenty-four hours.
Mallory & Co.'s mill, adjoining Brown & Co. on the north, was erected in 1865 and has been in operation nearly all the time since. This mill has eight stamps, and is run by a hurdy-gurdy wheel; employs from fifteen to twenty men, reducing about sixty tons of cement in twenty-four hours.
Gougeye Company's cement mill, at Bunt's Bill, adjoining the Eastern Company on the east, was erected in 1866, at a cost of $3,000, and has been in operation ever since; has ten stamps, run by a hurdy-gurdy wheel. The mill was destroyed by a cave, in January last, but immediately rebuilt. Employs twenty-five men; uses fifty-two inches of water; crushes fifty tons in twenty-four hours—the cement averaging six dollars per ton—and is worked at an expense of $22.50 per day. The claims of this company were located in 1855, by Carney, Hammond, Goodspeed & Co. The pay streak is one hundred and fifty feet wide and twelve feet deep.
Empire mill, owned by Jacobs & Sargent, one mile south of Quaker Bill, is now in active operation, crushing thirty tons of cement every twenty-four hours; has ten stamps, run by a hurdy-gurdy wheel.
Green Mountain mill, owned by Jacobs, Sargent & Co., one mile south of Quaker Hill, was erected in 1866; has been in constant operation since; has ten stamps and is run by a hurdy-gurdy wheel; employs twenty men and crushes thirty tons in twenty-four hours.
Cozzens & Garber's mill, at Red Dog, was erected in the fall of 1865; has ten stamps, run by a 20-horse power engine.
Wright &.Co.'s mill, three-fourths of a mile east of Red Dog, was erected in 1865 and has been in operation ever since; has ten stamps, the motive power being a hurdy-gurdy wheel; employs from twenty to twenty-five hands, and reduces sixty tons of cement in twenty-four hours.
Eastern Company's mill, situated at Hunt's Hill, on what is known as the Eastern Company's claims, contains ten stamps, run by a hurdy-gurdy; employs twenty men, and crushes one hundred tons in twenty-four hours, at a cost of $20 per day for mill expenses. The claims of this company were located in 1854, by A. G. Turner, E. M. Avery, E. McCurdy and T. D. Kimball.
Buckman & Curran's mill, at Little York, was erected in 1865 and has been in constant operation since; contains eight stamps, run by a hurdy-gurdy wheel; employs thirty men, and reduces fifty tons in twenty-four hours.
Remington & Pond's mill, owned by Buckman, Curran & Co., at Little York, was erected in 1865; has ten stamps, run by a hurdy-gurdy wheel.
—For further information in regard to the cement mines and mills, see general history of the county.
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler