California Genealogy

A sketch of this enterprising mining town cannot be written in detail without re-stating many similar points described in the sketch of Gold Hill. Both towns being contemporaneous in time of discovery and settlement, a history of one is almost essentially a history of the other. The parallel goes still further; many of the earliest settlers prospected and worked in both towns at about the same time. Virginia was opened to mining in the year 1852, by the discovery of gold on the adjoining hills and ravines. The want of water during the dry season retarded the work of miners … Read more

Todd’s Valley was first settled by Dr. Todd, who built a log house for a store and hotel, on the site of his present residence, at his ranch in the lower suburbs of the town, in June, 1849. The location at that time was the most eligible one to be found north of the Middle Fork of the American, and was the proper distance from the river to catch all the travel from the old diggings in El Dorado county to the new placers at Stony Bar,- Horse-shoe Bar and Rester’s Bar. The doctor also built a corral near his … Read more

In our general statistics of the county, we purposely omitted giving any notice of this branch of the mechanical pursuits of the people of the county, as we intended to give the only tanyard in the county more than a passing notice. Observing that saw mills, water ditches, turnpike roads, toll bridges, quartz mills, etc., formed the main feature of the report of the County Assessor of this county, and no mention whatever was made of this important branch of industry, we think it worthy of more than a passing notice. The Iowa Hill Tanyard is situated upon Indian Canon, … Read more

Virginia Temple Of Honor, No.15 was organized in Gold Hill, on the 12th day of April 1855, by Ben. E. S. Ely, D. G. W. T., with 16 charter members. The present officers are: J. A. Bond – W. C. T. Wm. Hilton – W. V. T. H. W. Starr – W. R. H. Green – W. A. R. J. Morris – W. F. R. I. J. Underwood – W. T. L. E. Harris – W. W W. M. Witters – W. D. W. E. Ross – W. G. A. P. Hendon – W. S. Whole number of members 24. … Read more

The village of Rattlesnake is situated on a beautiful flat, on the North Fork of the American River, about seven miles below Auburn. It is located near Manhattan, Horseshoe and Rattlesnake Bars. The mines in the channel, banks and bars of the river were worked in 1849, and were exceedingly rich; and large numbers of miners flocked to that portion of the river to work during the summer and fall seasons, but left again as soon as the winter rains set in, and no permanent settlements were made until after the discovery of the rich diggings in the flat on … Read more

May 26th, 1851 County Judge.– Hugh Fitz Simmons, 1261; James S. Christy, 722; H. Davenport, 763 District Attorney.–R. D. Hopkins, 1474; W. B: Greer, 889; P. J. Hopper, 292. County Clerk.–Wm. M. Jordan, 395; James S. Stewart, 1118; Hiram R. Hawkins, 961; John McNally, 219. Sheriff-Sam’1 C. Astin, 1280; A. B. Hall, 1059; Win. Kenniston, 453. County Surveyor.–Sam’l B. Wyman, 1624; Lisbon Applegate, 129. County Assessor.–Wm. E. Miller, 587; Alfred Lewis, 1073; E. T. Menhall, 139. County Treasurer.–Douglas Bingham, (died in 1851, and Abram Bronk appointed to fill vacancy,) 1151; Hiram Jacobs, 679; Abram Bronk, 818. County Coroner.–John C. Montgomery, … Read more

The first settlements in Placer County were made at an early period of the golden era, and many places became famous for the rich gold deposits discovered in their vicinity. In the summer of 1848, the principal tributaries of the American River were explored by a company of Oregonians, and rich prospects obtained upon almost every bar, as far up the Middle and North Forks as they proceeded. At this time the bars were generally explored as high up the Middle Fork as Rector’s Bar, which, proving as rich as any diggings the explorers expected to find, and it being … Read more

In the fall of 1850, a log cabin comprised the prospective town of Ophir; situated two and a-half miles below Auburn, on the Auburn. Ravine, which during the succeeding winter grew into the fair proportions of three or four frame buildings, several log houses (?) and an indefinite number of tents and canvas coverings. The summer of 1851 nearly skeletonized the little village, but the fall and winter rains resurrected, or recreated it, and the year 1852 saw it the largest and most prosperous town in Placer County. The mining was all of placer character, and very rich ; and … Read more

This flourishing mining town is situated in latitude 39°, among the Sierra Nevada Mountains, or as the words signify in English, the Snowy Saw Mountains. It is built on the top of a hill, at the bottom of which, some two miles distant, runs the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the American river, or of the Rio de Los Americanos, as it was called by the Mexicans. It is situated at an altitude of nearly 4,000 feet above the level of the sea. The climate for the greater portion of the year cannot be excelled for its beauty … Read more

Closely connected with the political history of Placer County, and partaking greatly of the nature of the party which each affected to represent, and professed to be or was really the mouth-piece of, the various newspaper enterprises of the county claim some notice in this sketch; and, in fact, it would be incomplete without it. The Placer Herald is the oldest newspaper in the county. The first number was issued on the 11th of September 1852, by T. Mitchell & Co., under the most favorable auspices, as we judge by the introductory remarks of the editor, and the liberal advertising … Read more