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HISTORY
El
Dorado County, California.
LOCAL
HISTORY.
GEORGETOWN.
[Growlersburg, Bottle
Hill Diggings, Mameluke Hill, Georgia
Slide, Jones Hill]
Georgetown in early days was the prettiest town in the
mountains, and up to this day, notwithstanding it can not be compared to
what it once has been, is a very pleasant mountain town on account of its
location at the summit of a high elevation, (contrary to most other mining
towns, which all occupy the bottom of canyons or gulches) overlooking a
wide expanse of country in every direction except towards the east, where
the gradual rise of the mountains starts too close to town, thus hiding
the sight. The altitude of Georgetown is 2700 feet above sea level.
Georgetown is and always will be a mining town in the full sense of the
word, the high elevation as well as the character of the country don't
recommend it for an agricultural centre, though there always has been
raised a superior kind of fruit, particularly of the harder varieties. The
first mining work on this divide was done by a part of Orgonians under the
leadership of Hudson ; they were mining in what has since been known as
"Oregon canyon" and Hudson's gulch" in July 1849, but
though they took out a large amount of gold at both these places they did
not stay, and left the vicinity. They were followed by a party of sailors,
among whom was one George Phipps, who first pitched his tent near the head
of what since has become called "Empire canyon," and from him
derived the original name of George's town, just as John's town lower down
in the same canyon, at its junction with Manhattan creek, was named after
another man of the same party. The afterwards famous "Sailor
Claim" in Oregon canyon, however did not obtain its name from the
Phipps party.
The first log house in the young George's town was
erected about September 20th, 1849, by Graham and Hull, and the first
store opened therein ; other building followed, and by January 1st, 1850,
their number had increased to a dozen, occupied chiefly as stores, among
whom were Graham and Hull ; John T. Little's branch of the Coloma store ;
old Tom Clegg ; Cushing and Grammer. Mr. Grammer also started the first
letter express, and during the summer of 1850, furnished a great
opportunity to a portion of the overland emigration to reach the valley
below by passing this way, and the location of the place proved to be a
very favorable one, if not a necessity, as the highway junction for all
those rich river bars on the Middle Fork of the American river ; as
Ford's, Volcano, Big, Sandy, Junction, Gray Eagle and other bars, and the
distributing point for supplies, etc., to those who were working on those
bars and all those flats and other mining camps beyond Coloma.
Meantime the town, imbeded* in the native wilds of
surrounding material wealth, made up of log cabins, shake houses and
canvass tents, was growing until a traveling photographer, in his attempt
to take a photograph of a deceased miner, a native of the State of Maine,
by accident set the frail building or tent on fire, July 14th, 1852. The
fire originated in the "Round Tent," a gambling saloon kept by
Pete Valery, where N. Lothian, formerly leader of the famous Lothian Band,
of New York, furnished the music. The flames spread with such rapidity
that it was only under difficulties, that the corpse could be saved from
cremation, and in one half hour the business portion of the town was
almost entirely laid in ashes. Only Frances Graham's store at the west end
and J. W. Slette's store at the extreme east end of town remained. Before
the ashes had cooled, the spirit of the California American arose like a
star in the midst of her desolation; the residents of the town assembled
and resolved to rebuild, and nobly was it seconded by the whole band of
independent miners from Mameluke and Jones' Hill, from Georgia Slide,
Oregon and South canyons, to change the site of town to the top of the
ridge, north of the old site (where the town now stands). This was then
covered by a magnificent growth of lofty sugar pines, but the pioneer
miners from the surrounding camps generously volunteering time and labor,
came with axes and other implements, and under their heavy blows the pines
fell with thundering crash and the think under brush was cleared away.
After a few days sufficient space had been cleared to lay out the town,
with a street one hundred feet wide, in a few hours the work of rebuilding
commenced, the first building completed was the Post Office. The building
lots were drawn for, the old traders and hotel keepers having first
choice, and every other man who desired had the next choice, and the new
town soon assumed a substantial and beautiful appearance, and a most
attractive mining town, justly called the
PRIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS.
The town then was in the most flourishing condition,
with rich placer mines surrounding it in every direction ; the crude
surroundings of its birth place were fast thrown off and a better
condition of society established, the church was built in 1853, the public
school organized a short time after, and the place settled down to a
steady and quiet existence ; but the whole change was due to the fire of
July 14th, the fire was needed to raise the place out of its low and
awkward location to the lofty, cheerful and healthy site it occupies
since.1
The first marriage celebrated in Georgetown was that of
Mr. Wm. T. Gibbs, now of Oakland, on November 10th, 1851, to Mrs. Cynthia
A. Turner, in the presence of nearly five hundred persons drawn together
by the novelty of the occasion from the surrounding mining camps. Gibbs
had located in town in 1850, keeping a blacksmith shop, and his eight
children were all born here. Mr. Gibbs is and always has been an
enterprising man, and a public spirited character, his removel* from
Georgetown was highly regretted. Mr. Gibbs is the present President of the
society of El Dorado Territorial Pioneers.
The first school in Georgetown was taught in a building
saved from the fire of 1852, at the east end of the old town ; Mrs. Dr.
Ray, a lady well known to all early residents of the place, had opened it,
and it was continued at intervals by various others. The Board of
Trustees, S. Knox, Wm. T. Gibbs and B. C. Currier, then on May 22d, 1854,
instituted the first Public School in town with Miss Minerva A. Horsford
as teacher. The following year Mr. John Waterhouse was made principal of
the public school with Miss Horsford as assistant.
A Temple of Honor was organized at Georgetown on
Saturday evening previous to November 30th, 1854, called Georgetown Temple
of Honor No. 11, and the following were elected the first officers : Jas.
A. Songer, W. C. T.; Wm. T. Gibbs, W.V.T.; A. J. Hill, W. R.; J. C.
Simpson, W. A. R.; Jno. Shorp, W. T. R.; M. A. Woodside, W. T.; H. M.
Porter, W.U.; J. B. Warren, W. D. U.; Hiram Lines, W. G.; Joseph Olmstead,
W. S.
A lodge of the ancient society of E. Clampsus vitus was
organized in Georgetown on March 15th, 1856, by E. H. Van Decor, P.N.G.H.,
and the following "Knights," were chosen officers : John L.
Boles, N.G. H.; J. Turner, R. P.; J. Z. Kelly, C. P.; J. C. Terrell, C.
V.; H. C. Kelly, J. H.; J. J. Lewis, T. and O. H.; H. Lines, G. R. F. and
S. Sternfels, R. G. M.
The Odd Fellows established in early days already a
lodge called : Memento Lodge No. 37, I. O. O. F., which is still in good
condition; their meeting day is Saturday.
Georgetown Lodge, No 25, F. and A. M., shows the
activity of the Masons at Georgetown ; they are meeting Saturday
preceeding the full moon. Mr. T. W. Wilson is secretary of the lodge.
A military company was organized at Georgetown in
August, 1859, called the Georgetown Blues. The following were elected
first officers : R. E. Phelps, Captain; S. Doncaster, 1st Lieutenant; D.
O. Deaves, 2d; C. B. Ferguson, 3d; J. Durham, 4th; J. McCormick, 1st
Corporal; Oliver Lear, 2d; J. Deaves, 3d; J. Vaughn, 4th; D. W. Bouker and
S. A. Logan Musicians.
A second big fire visited Georgetown on July 7th, 1856,
the day after Placerville had been destroyed by a big blaze. It originated
in the rear of what was known as Pat. Lynch's saloon, midway on Main
street the flames spread with such rapidity that scarcely anything could
be saved. Stores, hotels and dwelling houses on Main street, melted away
like snow before the sun, and only by almost superhuman efforts was it
possible to save the rear portion of the western part of town. But again
the indomitable spirit of the people arose in triumph over their
misfortune, and, phoenix-like, from its ashes new town sprang up.
Again on the 16th of August, 1858, the principal business portion of the
town was destroyed by fire ; the greatest damage was done on the east side
of Main street, which was only partially rebuilt. T lst time Georgetown
has been visited by the fire fiend was on May 28th, 1869 ; the fire was
discovered in the old Miners' Hotel, n Main street, shortly after
midnight, and the flames spread with such rapidity that the proprietor of
the hotel, Mr. Stahlman, barely escaped out over the roofs with his eldest
child ; but his wife, three children and Miss Stanton perished in the
flames. The west side of Main street was partially destroyed, also the
Catholic church and the Town Hall. Stahlman, suspected of arson, was on
trial in the County Court before judge Chas. F. Irwin, on July 13th, 1869.
G. J. Carpenter and Geo. E. Williams appeared for the people, John Bush
and J. W. Coffroth for the defendant. The trial lasted for two days, and
the jury being unable to agree was discharged, and the case set for
rehearing September 21st. Finally the trial came up again on February 1st,
1870, and the jury deliberately gave a verdict of not guilty.
Notwithstanding these several conflagrations and the changes which
followed each of these catastrophes, the town at the present writing will
compare favorably with any of the old mining towns of early days.
Mining in this district was first confined to the
canyons and gulches, and to the bars on the Middle Fork of the American
river. Then came the " Hill diggings," worked by drifting. The
first strike was made at "Bottle Hill," which was opened up in
1851, Mameluke Hill followed in 1852, and even richer deposits were
discovered in 1853 and '54 at Cement and Jones' Hill. At each of these
mining camps thriving tows were built up, and regular stage and
telegraphic communications with Georgetown established. But the days of
wild excitement have passed by, and an era of permanency apparently has
followed with a more general disposition to settle down and work in
earnest and thoroughly what has been left from the period of the first
excitement and rapid exhaustion, which soon scattered those engaged in
working there, and the houses, left without proprietors, one after the
other disappeared, until after a few years hardly a building
remained.
Next came what has been termed "seams
diggings," a peculiararity of the vicinity of Georgetown, worked
principally by the hydraulic process; with great promise in the constancy
of their character. The "Beatty Seams Claim," at Georgia Slide,
for instance, was opened in 1854, and has been permanently worked to the
present time. Nearly all the small divides between the canyons and gulches
contain deposits of this description, and constitute most of the mining
that is done at present. Very little, however, has been done at developing
the numerous quartz lodes which are known to exist in the district : The
Woodside mine, located within the town limits, was worked to a depth of
225 feet, and the amount taken out of the mine was over $50,000. The
Eureka had a shaft sunk to the depth of 230 feet and work was going to be
resumed in it this season. The Taylor mine was a good paying property some
years ago, but no work has been done since, and quartz mining, in which
the permanency of a mining community exists safely, awaits from the future
what the present still denies. Numerous canyons as: West, Illinois,
Oregon, North and Dark canyons have their heads almost within the townsite,
emptying into Canyon creek, and thence in to the Middle Fork, while
Empire, Manhattan, Badger, Iowa and Rock canyons find their outlet into
the South Fork of the American river. Thus showing that the location of
Georgetown is on the regular divide, being the water shed of the two
rivers. But it also is located on an underground divide, the cement
deposits of the underlaying channels emptying into the Middle Fork ends
right here ; no cement being found south from here.
The water of the Georgetown divide is controlled for the
most part by the "California Water Company," their main supply
is a system of lakes situated at a high altitude in the eastern portion of
the county, having an aggregate of 300 miles of ditches, flumes and iron
pipes. Two large reservoirs are located almost in town, and one of the
main ditches runs through town, providing it with a beautiful stream of
good mountain water.
The agricultural resources of the vicinity of
Georgetown, either for field or garden, are somewhat limited, there is no
increase in farming visible since 1860 ; some parts rather show some
perceptible decrease. From Coloma up to the summit there is no farming
done that would be worth mentioning, notwithstanding the abundant water
facilities, and the farming land did not make any increase in value
either. Some attention has been given to the raising of various kinds of
fruit, and excellent results procured, concerning quality as well as
quantity. But the lack of sufficient home consumption and the distance
from other market places, together with the want of quick transportation,
offers little inducement for extensive fruit culture. The farming entirely
depends on the mines ; from 1849 to '60 were the "flush times"
of the mines, producing largely, then money was plentiful and spent
lavishly, thus making Georgetown and surrounding country the liveliest
spot of ground, and to repeat such times, to a certain extent, the mineral
wealth of the land has to be disclosed ; there are thousands of acres of
mineral land unprospected, and the remainder is not prospected deep enough
to give an estimate.
Georgetown has given to the county of El Dorado many
officers, to the Halls of Legislature assemblymen and senators ; one of
her citizens became United States Senator, another the unsuccessful
candidate for Governor, but all of whom--with only two exceptions--retired
to other solitudes upon the expiration of their terms of office ; the
citizens of Georgetown have never been active in political affairs outside
of the local questions. The removal of the county seat from Coloma to
Placerville was not acceptable to them, and instigated by some old wire
pullers they entered the arena for the agitation, first, to have the
County Court seat of El Dorado county removed to Georgetown, this was in
1854, and afterwards in 1857, when they expressed to be in favor of a
division of the county of El Dorado, making Georgetown the county seat of
the new county of "Eureka," for which was intended all the
country bounded by the Middle and South Forks of the American River, and
falling through with this plan they never have taken a hand in politics
again, and were quite contented with no other officers in town besides
Justice of the Peace, Constable and School Trustees.-- Of important men
who lived here we have to name : United States Senator Cornelius Cole, who
was mining here in 1849 and '50 ; John Conness, of the firm Conness and
Reed, merchants, who lived here from 1849 to '64, was State Senator first
and afterwards elected United States Senator ; J. W. McClury, ex-United
States Representative and afterwards Governor of Missouri, kept a general
merchandise store here in 1851 and '52 and several others.
Incidents of an exciting character have been quite rare
at Georgetown, though the town has been notorious for stage robberies and
burglaries--on account of which Wells, Fargo & Co., discontinued their
office in town--at an immense cost to the county in not convicting. Judge
Lynch held a carnival here two or three times, only once with fatal
precision :
THE
HANGING OF DEVINE.
In the fall of 1850, for shooting and killing his wife
while in a drunken frenzy. Devine was in Englishman, a deserter from the
English army ; he came to California in 1849, and used to live on Oregon
canyon in 1850, at that time belonging more to the town. Mrs. Devine was a
woman of fine presence, dignified and somewhat reserved, kind and
thoughtful to those arround* her, in marked contrast with the course and,
as the sequel proved, brutal disposition of her husband. There were only
two women in town at that time. He had threatened here before already, and
when he reached for his gun, she attempted to escape and was shot when
passing out of the door in the rear of the building. One Joe Brown, a
noted character, and a few other persons determined that Devine was guilty
of murder, and that justice would only be satisfied by life for life ;
consequently he was hung by this mob from the limb of an ok tree on the
hill, south side of the head-waters of Empire canyon, opposite the old
town. The tree still stands there, a monument to the so-called justice. In
April 1851, Wm. Allen, of Missouri, shot Chas. Roux in Oregon canyon on
account of personal affairs ; Allen gave bonds and fled the country.
The lower or southern part of the town was a community
in itself, they claimed to be the first settlers and the only connecting
link with the old George's town. The denizens were called the growlers,
and they accepted the name: from thence that portion was called
GROWLERSBURG,
Which, though depopulated, retains its name if not its
reputation.
How one after another all the old relics of early days
are going shows the old Marion England place, north of town, owned by T.
Lebouf, and of late occupied s the residence of M. P. Baldwin. This house
was built by B. C. Currier and party in December, 1849, and probably was
the oldest house on the Georgetown divide. Originally it had been a log
cabin, but was remodeled in 1852, by leaving the old logs as they were
first placed; and notwithstanding its thirty-three years of service, was
yet a substantial building, when late in the absence of the occupying
family it was consumed by fire, with all its contents. Near the house was
a remarkable fine specimen of arbor vitae tree, Californian cedar,
measuring one foot six inches in circumference in 1849, and nine feet six
inches in 1879, a growth of eight feet round in thirty years.
BOTTLE
HILL DIGGINGS.
Were first discovered by one Ayers in Spring of 1851,
there being many bottles laying round, where the place derived its name
from. These diggings proved exceedingly rich and became a great attraction
between the miners of early days. The St. Louis Tunnel Co., a company of
eight men, took out in one week in 1854, ninety-four pounds of fine
specimen gold. Bottle Hill was incorporated as a town in 1854, its streets
bearing the names; Main street, Forrest street, Bottle Hill street and
Georgetown street.
MAMELUKE
HILL.
The derivation of the name is uncertain ; some take it
from a book that miners of the earliest times were reading, others say its
origin is to be looked for in " Mama look," the expression of a
child to its mama. The diggings were discovered by Messrs. Klepstein and
Keiser in 1851 ; Henry Garay came in 1852.
GEORGIA
SLIDE,
Originally called Georgia Flat, was worked as early as
1849, by a party of Georgia miners, some time later a big slide came in,
which caused the change of the name in Georgia Slide. In 1850, a party of
Oregonians were known to be engaged on Canyon creek and the slide, but the
were very secret workers and, though they had a rich thing, they would not
let on, contrary did every thing not to excite any attraction. Wm. Hughes
from New York, who came to California with Stevenson's regiment, claims
that he saw in passing by here, what he could estimate, about two hundred
pounds of gold spread for drying on blankets. Yankee Sullivan used to live
here in 1850, keeping bar at the time. It was then and for years
afterwards a wild and rough place, no other travel except on pack mules
was possible. The first store in the place was owned by B. Spencer, a
brother to Pat. Spencer of Georgetown, in 1851 and 1852, and, after
changes, came, in 1859, into the possession of G. F. Barklage. The largest
piece of gold that was taken out here, as far as Mr. Beatty knows from,
was weighing sixty ounces.
JONES
HILL.
Was named after its locator, James Edward Jones, of
Hannibal, Missouri.
1. On March 1st, 1855, there were nine large grocery
stores, two banking establishments, two express companies, three drug
stores, two jewelry stores, one jewelry manufactory, one ladies'
furnishing store, one book and stationary depot, eight clothing stores,
one tinshop, one soda factory, one tannery, etc., one saw-mill in the
valley, one saddle and harness shop, one merchant tailor, four
restaurants, three hotels, two bakeries, four carpenter shops, two cabinet
making shops, one paint shop, four blacksmith shops, two boot and shoe
shops, two meat markets, one daguerrean, one cigar store, three livery
stables, three billiard and tow bowling alley saloons, one Masonic Hall,
one hall Sons of Temperance, one church, one theatre, one Town Hall one
school.
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