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HISTORY
El
Dorado County, California.
LOCAL
HISTORY.
SARATOGA
(YEOMET)
PITTSBURG BAR
NASHVILLE (QUARTZVILLE)
In the fall of 1850, Edwin Beebee, John D. Morrison and
E. M. Simpson, who had arrived in California 1849, coming by the overland
route, settled at what has been generally known as the "Forks of the
Cosumnes;" but has been also known as "Saratoga" and "Yeomet"--
the latter being the name of the Postoffice, established the place many
years ago. The trading post established by Beebee, Morrison & Simpson
was continued by them until '59. These men were very popular with the
miners, and hardly even would they refuse their assistance in money or
outfit, whoever applied for it. The hotel and ferry, which were at Yeomet,
were owned by E. P. Bowman. In early days this was quite a much traveled
road, running from the northern to the southern mines of the State,
crossing the Cosumnes river here. An Indian agency under charge of Dr.
Rozencraft, was established here in 1850-51, and as a matter of
consequence there were a great many Indians camped in the vicinety*, who
continued to hover about the neighborhood until nearly all have been
removed by death. In the winter of 1852-'53 the small pox epidemic in this
neighborhood, and scores of Indians and many whites were victims to its
ravages. For a long time from one to two Indians burnings of the dead took
place daily; and during the long winter nights, the wailings of the
mourners could be heard continuously as they danced around the burning
pile of deceased friends. PITTSBURG
BAR was situated less than quarter of
a mile above the present site of the bridge across the river. It was noted
for being occupied and worked by a company who emigrated from Pittsburg*,
Pa. Those men were no less remarkable for their convivial habits than for
their intelligence. One of them, Dick Butler, was formerly Superintendent
of the U. S. Arsenal at Pittsburg; Dick was a natural wit, in 1850 he was
County Clerk of Sonoma County, but the demon drink had set him forth to
wander with the early gold hunters. He was buried near the base of Sugar
Loaf Mountain. NASHVILLE in
the early days more generally known as Quartzville, was settled by
emigrants from near Nashville, Tenn., Doctor Harris was the first
Superintendent of the afterwards called Havilla mine. Nashville was quite
a busy town in 1852; A. L. Chilton cam there in 1851, and opened a store
and boarding house. The Harvey brothers resided here for many years,
engaged in mining at the Montezuma mine, the oldest one, Dr. B. C. Harvey
died at Mud Springs. At Big Canyon, three miles east of Nashville, there
was Dr. Duncon as early as 1851-52 on his ranch, while Geo. McDonald was
engaged in mining with his brother John. Geo. was elected twice to the
State Legislature from this county. Dr. Thurston and his brother Joel were
keeping store at Quartzville, in early days for a number of years, and
moved subsequently to Mud Springs. About
three miles north-west of Yeomet, in what is known as the Sugar Loaf
region, the Grosh brothers were engaged in mining in Hise's ravine. These
two brothers, who subsequently discovered the celebrated Comstock silver
lode, in Nevada, were young men of remarkable intelligence, and as
eccentric as they were intelligent. The found valuable opal, which
was valued at Phildelphia at $1,500. One of them died in Washoe, from the
effects of a prick wound in his foot, the other perished in attempting to
cross the Sierra Nevada mountains in winter. There was Francis Hoover
familiarly known as "Governor Hoover," it is said he obtained
the name of Governor by reason of a declaration, made when leaving his
native State, Maryland, for California, that he would never return until
he had been elected Governor. He kept his word. He was the life and soul
of the most valuable developments of Sugar Loaf Mountain region. There
were many Mexicans and Chilanians at Yeomet in early days. On election
day, in the fll of 1853, two Mexicans had been detected stealing some gold
dust and coin from a miners cabin, were tried by a jury of twelve miners,
with the understanding that a majority should convict and determine the
punishment. For sometime the jury stood six for hanging and six for
whipping. t last one of the jurors, in order to end the controversy,
consented to vote for whipping. After having selected the place to
administer the punishment, S. E. Huse, who for twenty years past had been
the proprietor of the bridge of Yeomet, was selected to enforce the
judgment of the Court. It was night and the Board of Election was busy
counting the ballots, but the result of the election being the minor
importance, the counting was adjourned and the ballot box was left on the
table to take care of itself, until the Board could witness the execution
of the law of the camp for stealing. The poor victims were stripped and
severely punished in the approved style of the day. The
number of votes cast at this precinct at the above mentioned year was
about 250 ; at the present time we think the same region is hardly able to
muster 25 votes.
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