|
HISTORY
El
Dorado County, California.
LOCAL
HISTORY.
GRIZZLY
FLAT.
Sometime in the summer or fall of 1850 Lyc. L. Ramsey,
(died in February 1876,) better known then and since as "Buck
Ramsey," with a company of prospectors was searching for gold on the
mountains between the North and Middle Forks of the Cosumnes river, in the
eastern portion of the county. The party were enjoying their evening meal
near one of those noble springs, that abound in the vicinity, relishing
after a hard day's toil the usual miner's feast of those times--bread,
bacon and coffee. The repast was not ended before an unexpected visitor,
parting the brush and cracking the dried limbs and leaves under his tread
presented himself. He was a magnificent specimen of Sierra's noblest
beast--a grizzly bear. His intrusion lasted but a moment. Rapidly, but
perfectly self possessed, "Buck" grasped his rifle, and with a
ringing shot sent his majesty tearing through the underbrush, over the
flat and down a steep declivity where he was subsequently found, a trophy
of the skill and coolness of the lamented pioneer. This incident furnished
the appropriate name which the village bears. The flat, or undulating
ground where this scene occured*, and where the town was soon after
located, proved to be rich in gold. Ramsey and his party did not, however,
remain, but others soon followed and in the Spring of 1851 placer
diggings, rich and extensive, were found for miles around, and though
distant and somewhat difficult of access, the camp grew in number.
Among the first settlers of the place was Wm. Knox, who
located near the Flat in the fall of 1851. Hiram and Eben Odlin about the
same time pitched their tent near Steely's Fork, then not named, and after
an absence of more than twenty years have returned to the scene of their
early labors, and have engaged in their old advocation*--mining.
Grizzly Flt is situated about 23 miles a little south of
east of Placerville, between the two Middle Forks of the Cosumnes river.
The North Fork of the Cosumnes, heading well in the Sierra Nevada, lies
three miles north-west of the village; Steely's Fork of the same river,
but one half mile distant to the southeast. "String Canyon" was
one of the richest that has been in the district, and probably in the
county, heads directly in town and flows 3 miles westerly to join the
Cosumnes. In 1852, the ridge leading down from Leak Springs and between
the Forks of the Cosumnes was adopted as one of the principal roads by the
emigrants of that year; nothing but a dim trace of this old thoroughfare
can be discovered, and its solitude is broken only by the annual
prilgrimage* of the dairymen or sheepherders. The usual red soil
predominates, yielding liberally, as often proved, to miner and farmer
both. Grand forests of spruce and sugar pine extend up to the summit.
It was soon found that our golden treasures were not
confined to the beds of our rivers and canyons, or to the surface of our
flats and the deep breast of our gravel hills. Our quartz veins, like
lines of longitude on the school-maps, traverse the earth throughout the
whole region, and many of the most extensive and costly enterprises have
been in this branch of mining; that they were not successful or only
partially so in the early days, affords no proof, as we can well
understand, against their value to-day.
Among the earliest and most extensive operators in
quartz was Victor J. W. Steely. In March, 1852, he discovered and located
one of the many ledges in the district, and in the progress of his work
erected two mills at different points upon that branch of the Cosumnes
that bears his name; from these he built a wooden railroad nearly a mile
in length to his mines which lies about three-fourths of a mile south-west
of the village. In these improvements he spent large sums of money; he was
a man of great energy of character, preserving, and full of hope. All of his
own capital, and the means of many of his friends and of the employees
were cheerfully and confidently loaned to help the enterprise. But years
of trial and industry, which in those days meant experiment, finally ended
in failure, and the ruin of the old mills on Steely's Fork, the vestiges
of the railroads up the mountain side, open cut at the Mt. Pleasant, the
well known handwriting in the book of laws and regulations of Mt. Pleasant
mining district, -- of which he was Secretary for many years, and a few
notes of hand, sere and yellow of age, are the remaining souvenirs that
remind us of Dr. Steely the quartz miner, not only of Grizzly Flat, but El
Dorado County and perhaps of the State. --Col. Knox also engaged during
Steely's time quite extensively in quartz mining, but with the imperfect
knowledge of those days with no better success.
From that day to this quartz mining, with varied
results, has been the principal industries of the district. The Eagle
Quartz Mine, located the same year as the Steely, was famous in its day
for the wealth it poured into the hands of its lucky owners. Much of the
reputation which this camp enjoys followed the working of this mine. Among
its original owners were Dr. Clark, its discoverer ; his nephew, Robert
Clark ; Elijah Kink, Benjamin Joiner, -------- Tuomey and John Cable.
Clark, King, Tuomey and Cable are no longer living, and Joiner--known as
Dr. Joiner--still lives in String canyon, near the locality of his old
property.
Like the balance of the ledges, work on the Eagle was
done principally on the surface. No considerable depth has been attained
in that or any of the neighbors. The Mount Pleasant has a depth of three
hundred feet. Want of faith or want of money--the latter probably--has
kept these quartz miners in the upper levels ; but it is to be hoped that
a better day is dawning. Persistent going down will hereafter be in order
until they pay. These mines and dozens of other are crying aloud for
justice, which means that they are tired of mere surface scratching ; that
their real worth lies deep, and are awaiting the dalliance of the miner's
pick to yield bountifully their golden affection.
From 1853 to '57 the fever of quartz mining prevailed,
but not to the exclusion of placer or river mining, which held their own
in the contest for supremacy. Among other notable mines was the Roberts'
lead, struck in 1855 by that man, which proved rich for a season, and
work, when it involved cost, was continued. At present it is owned by A.
B. Driesbach, of Carson City. Also, the Valle del Oro, operated in 1867 by
Captain Gedge, now of the steamer New World. This is a southern neighbor
of the Mount Pleasant, and had a forty stamp mill, hoisting works, etc.,
erected on the ledge, when work ceased, the mill and other property sold,
carried off and rebuilt twenty miles below, upon a worse mine. So also
with the Mount Pleasant (originally Steely). This mine, after several
years of abandonment, resumed work in 1867, spending three-fourths of
their capital in the wrong place--on the top instead of under the
ground--with only partial success. In March, 1872, it ceased operations.
Its extensive improvements--a twenty stamp mill, boiler, engine, steam
hoisting works, buildings, stores of every kind -- were sold, torn down
and moved away. These costly but imperfect and superficial attempts did,
perhaps, as much or more harm than good, as the results, if not properly
studied, looked like a condemnation of this leading industry of the
county; but there are men enough with an abiding faith in the value of all
these mines and the future will vindicate their confidence.
The Eagle mine, after a five years' sleep, got awakened,
and under the management of the intelligent and energetic superintendent,
John Treglook, promises to revive its former reputation. Other valuable
mines have from time to time been discovered and opened. The indefatigable
and lucky E. R. Morey, one of Grizzly's oldest and most valued citizens,
is still operating in the fascinating gamble of quartz mining. His late
developments on his lead formerly known as the "Charles,"
promises what he is entitled to--a golden harvest. Gabe Wentz, another of
the old and respected citizens, and Dave Brandover, his partner, have for
years been hammering away at a rocky rib at Henry's diggings, three miles
south of town. Their perseverance is about to be rewarded, as a permanent
ledge, rich in gold, already proved, awaits only the future industry. But
perhaps the most important discovery in this camp of later years is that
made in June, 1874, by that embodiment of every industry and good humor,
F. W. Earl. Having prospected for five months in the winter of 1873,
frequently uncovering snow ten feet in depth to reach the earth, and
sinking as much deeper after he found it, only to meet with a failure (for
the whole of the time his means and his patience were alike exhausted), he
packet his blankets and made for Grizzly Flat. He did not remain idle for
a day. Prospecting as suppossed, almost against hope, in n abandoned
locality near the old Mount Pleasant and Irish lodes he struck a quartz
ledge that has since proved itself to be worth anywhere from a hundred
thousand to half a million dollars.
Early in 1853 while working the rich surface of Spring
Flat, half a mile north of Grizzly, the rivers of the adjacent hills were
touched, which paying well led to explorations in the hills themselves.
These old riverbeds, which have strangely enough turned to mountains, are
known to be the true storehouses of our vast mineral wealth, and yet they
have not been fairly tested. The central channels, by tunnel or drift,
have never yet been cut, and they still award the proper attack of
industry and capital before they will surrender the rich tribute concealed
within their deep bosoms.
The first store established in the place was in 1852 by
Chris. Nelson, a German. He kept but a short time, and whether living or
dead is not known. Others soon followed ; for awhile Col. Knox was in the
business, then A. J. Grahm, Hurlburd, Deal and Weatherwax and others.
Since 1858 we have had Hulburd Milleken Bros., Riehl and S. F. Davis, who
kept until 1867. That year D. T. Loofbourrow bought out Dvis, the next
year Smith and Courson, and in 1869 sold to Alexander, bought back again
in 1870 and sold in 1875 to S. P. Haskin, besides which a second store is
kept by Nic. Aversine ; two hotels are kept in the town, one by A. C.
White, and the other by McClellan, there are also two blacksmith shops.
The principal mines in the district are : Mt. Pleasant, Driesbach, Eagle,
Spencer & Morey, Eagle King, Bullard, Melton Bros., Ohio extreme of
the Mt. Pleasant, and the Arctic, most of which are connected with stamp
mills ; the Mt. Pleasant is working a 20-stamp mill. There are several
small ranches and orchards in this vicinity; viz: those of M. Martin, S.
Springer, Fred. Zollers, Stephen Leoni, Samuel Finley, Wm. Cole, John
O'Lean, Slook & Smith, A. H. McAfee, August Niebur, S. Webster, A.
Myers, Jacob Behrens, George Haas and Bernard Plunker. About 3 miles from
tow there are two large saw-mills not the property of S. P. Haskin,
merchant of Grizzly Flat.
In 1866 the village met with its first calamity, being
nearly destroyed by fire, but few houses remained. Little suffering
followed, however, as the mines were on the height of their
productiveness, and everybody soon recovered their losses. In 1869 the
village was again destroyed by fire, and this time the loss was most
disastrous, as the place was larger, the houses more costly and a greater
amount of personal property contained in them. This fire originated in an
outbuilding where a drunken Indian was sleeping, and it is supposed
his attempts to light some matches during the night and carelessness in
extinguishing them, was the immediate cause; his body badly burnt and life
extinct, was discovered next morning. The town has never been build to the
same extent since. Two stone fire-proof buildings only withstood this
conflagration.
In 1855 the Catholics were sufficiently numerous to
erect a neat and commodious place of worship. Its site was on the side of
the hill just east of Grizzly Flat and near the residence of A. H. McAffee,
and was the first building to meet the view of the traveler as he entered
the village. In 1857 the Methodist church, a handsome edifice, was erected
on a lot just at the edge of town. This lot has been used as the village
burying ground, but owing to the wonderful healthy locality it contains
but few graves. The church itself was converted years ago into
school house, which it still remains. In 1855 the Masons built their
commodious hall, and a lodge organized by the appointment of Wm. McKean as
Master. Strange as it may seem an Iron Foundry was built in 1855, and for
some years did paying business. The old brewery that furnished beer
equal to the best Boca, gladdened the lips of the thirsty about 1854. For
many years this town was the residence of Hank Hazard, whose varied
attainments a professor of Spanish, German and Chinese, and master of many
musical instruments was well as unparalled teller of strange but true
stories most everybody had occasion to admire and appreciate.
In 1856 Kine's and Hereford's saw-mills were in full
blast. They made but little sunshine, however, in the surrounding dense
and magnificent forest. The remains of Kine's mill are yet to be seen in
String canyon. The first water ditch brought into the camp was dug by the
Eagle Mining Company in 1852 ; Bartlett & Co.'s ditch one year later.
Both ditches still supply the mills and mines in the vicinity, and run
water eight or nine months a year. The zenith of prosperity was reached in
1856. At the election in the fall of that year over six hundred votes were
polled, and the population probably exceeded twelve hundred.
The first judicial officer was Mr. Clegget, who
was elected Justice of the Peace in 1853. He died in Grizzly Flat. Never
of citizen of this place was elected to occupy a county office. James H.
Watson was elected to the Assembly in 1858. Colonel Knox, for one term,
occupied a seat in the Board of Supervisors from this district. From 1855
to 1857 two semi-weekly stage lines were maintained.
Grizzly Flat, like other mining towns, has had its share
of vicissitudes. It has always been a pleasant place to live in, and its
citizens possess the usual characteristics of Californians--hospitable,
generous and obliging. For a border town, but little outlawry and but few
reckless and desperate characters have flourished at any time in its
history. But one murder was ever committed in the place : Hiram Palmer,
while drunk, killed an Indian in 1873. A few of the old pioneer citizens
are still in town. Colonel Knox, who grows old slowly, can be seen most of
the time reading on his cozy front porch. A. H. McAffee, formerly Justice
of the Peace, who knows not what an idle day is, must be sought at his
claim. He has been living there since 1852. Jim Marshal, Samuel Stare,
Uncle Amon Melton and many others have been residing here more than twenty
years, with the intention never to leave except for a lot on that
schollhouse ground. Of other residents of Grizzly Flat unmentioned yet are
: Pink Fowler, who would not part with his bachelor's homestead for a
kingdom ; Shippey, Dave Hannah, Antione and Dominic Myers, Frenchmen ;
Sime Springer, a miracle of good nature ; Dennis Gallagher, Jim Bartlett,
Uncle Tommy Garland and others.
The patriotism of the young men of Grizzly Flat became
electrified before those of any other place, when, in the fall of 1857,
the Mormons became troublesome. They organized a volunteer company to
operate against them, on January 11th, 1858, and elected E. C. Springer
captain. A resolution was also adopted at the meeting, requiring the
captain to report the company ready for service and for marching to Utah
at the shortest notice. The members of this company were called the
"Grizzlies."
|
