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History of El Dorado County

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HISTORY 

El Dorado County, California.

LOCAL HISTORY.

SPANISH DRY DIGGINGS.

Award-Winning Books
Highway 49 Volume I
El Dorado, Placer, Nevada & Sierra Counties - Index
Click on link for a PDF preview of the chapters and index - Click on cover image to buy now.

Is situated in the northern part of El Dorado county, on the summit of the hill above the Middle Fork of the American river, five miles from Georgetown, four miles from Greenwood, Spanish Bar, El Dorado Slide, Dutch Bar, Rocky Chucky, Canyon Creek and other noted localities of early mining days are within a short distance. 

In 1848, Dan Andreas Pico, brother of ex-Governor Pio Pico, organized a company of Mexican miners, chiefly Sonorians, for the purpose of a prospecting tour through the Sierras, to test the extent of Marshall's discovery of gold. The company thus organized under the leadership of Don Andreas, proceeded north to the Yuba river, and from thence south to the Stanislaus, traversing and superficially prospecting all the since celebrated mineral belt known to the world as California's richest placer diggings. 

In the course of his trip Don Andreas passed through what is known as Spanish Dry Diggings. Resting a short time here, the most experienced of his men, detailed for prospecting, were at work in the ravines, obtained rich prospects in course gold of a quartz nature.

In 1849, the report of Don Andreas having become generally known among the Mexicans, other of that nationality became in many instances the pioneers in mining settlements. Thus it was here, the first settlers of Spanish-American origin. Soon after came Americans, Germans and others. The name of the first trading-post, or permanent settlement was Dutchtown, after which the name of the village was changed to correspond with that by which the mines in the vicinity were known, and thus came the name of Spanish Dry Diggings.

In 1854, the first quartz-seam diggings were discovered here, which has since resulted in the development and working of many valuable mines, the most celebrated of which are the Grit, Barr, Short Handle, Cherry Hill, Summit, Davis, Taylor, and others of less note. The amount of gold taken from these claims has been very large, the best authority of the place estimating the Grit and Barr claims alone to have yielded $500,000 and #300,000 respectively.1

Aside from these seem diggings there is the celebrated Sliger quartz claim, a true and well-defined quartz lode, owned and worked by Messrs. Hunter, Wade, Roush, Simpers, Hines and Grinnell; a claim, undoubtedly among the best in the county if not in the State. The owners are content to themselves, quietly working their claim without the aid of outside capital, which fact of itself is the best recommendation. About one mile north of the Sliger mine, and on the same lode is the claim of Messrs. Hines & Co., worked continuously and profitably.

Among the earliest and best known citizens are Messrs. W. R. Davis, John Hines and T.M. Buckner '49ers. Messrs. G. W. Hunter, G. W. Simpers, A. Rooke, James K. Easterbrrok, Trueworthy Durgan and Andrew Deller still reside here. The present population approximates about a hundred souls, living in comfortable residences with beautiful surroundings which will stand comparison with any one of the sister mining town in the county. The town comprises now only one store; the first store in town was kept by Folger, now of San Francisco, about a quarter of a mile below where the present store stands, and also a good school house.

1. In these diggings the proceeds were almost all profits. O. B. Powell of Quincy, Illinois, in one day in October, 1854, together with his partner M. Orr, took out 26 pounds of gold. In November 1854, in eleven days, 110 pounds of gold were taken out of what was known as the Kelsey claim by W. D. Vincent, A. Barth, M. Orr, O. Powell, S. Searles, D. Ellis, S.P. Nye and John E. Stover. Mr. Crawford says he has seen it to be carried out by water pailsfull. Also, large nuggets have been found occasionally, the largest one was of 16 pounds weight. (back)

 

El Dorado County, CA -- HISTORY MENU

History HOME

History of El Dorado County 1883 
by Paolo Sioli

Table of Contents
I. Early Discoveries and Exploration of the Coast and Lower California
II
. Missions in Upper Calif.
III
. Civil Gov't under Spanish
IV
. Calif. under Mexican

V. California under Mexican Regime (continued)

VI
. The Bear Flag War

VII. American Conquest--Mexican War

VIII
. American Conquest--Mexican War (continued)
IX
. American Conquest--Mexican War (end)
X
. California under American Regime
XI
. Laws and Organizations
XII.
Early Condition, Inhabitants and Exploration

XIII. Early Condition, Inhabitation and Explorations in this Region

XIV
. Discovery of Gold
XV
. Routes of Immigrants
XVI.
Organization of County

XVII. El Dorado County, Geographically
XVIII.
Mining--River Mining
XIX.
Mining --Dry Digging and Hydraulic Mining
XX.
Mining --Quartz Mines
XXI
. Mining Laws
XXII
. The Water Supply

XXIII. Farming Industry &  Statistics

XXIV
. Internal Improvements--Roads
XXV
. Internal Improvements--Bridges--Stage --Express & Telegraph Companies
XXVI.
Internal Improvements--Railroads
XXVII
. Journalism
XXVIII
. Secret Societies
XXIX
. Hospitals, Schools, etc.

XXX. Criminal Annals

XXXI. Indian Troubles

XXXII
. General Election

XXXIII. Reminiscences and Anecdotes

     Local History 

Coloma 
Uniontown
Michigan Flat
Pilot Hill (Centerville)
Hoggs Diggings
Murderer's Bar

Spanish Dry Diggings

Greenwood

Georgetown

Kelsey Spanish Flat
Mosquito Valley
Newtown
Grizzly Flat

Indian Diggings

Saratoga

Latrobe
 
Shingle Springs

Negro Hill
Salmon Falls

El Dorado

Cold Springs

Diamond Springs
Placerville (Hangtown)

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