Lives of Nevada County Pioneers v5 (2024) (559 pages)

Lives of Nevada County Pioneers (version 2022) Dec 18, 1855—Fined $17 for non-attendance as juror in district court. Dec 19, 1855—Excused from jury duty. 1855-1856 —Joined with Conrad K. Hotaling to lay a water system with log pipes under Grass Valley streets. March 4, 1856—Had been chosen delegate to Democratic state convention. April 18, 1856—Part owner with Ransom Gilson and others of the Union Mill. Aug 30, 1856—Chosen delegate to Democratic county conv. Dec 1857—Member of group that planned to build Grass Valley to Nevada City turnpike. March 2, 1858—On building committee for proposed Nevada and Grass Valley turnpike. June 1858— Member Nevada Rifle Co. July 31, 1858 —He and Rufus Shoemaker bought half-interest in Grass Valley Telegraph and changed name to Nevada National. Roberts was editor. Sept 1858 — Assessed worth of Geo. Roberts & Co. was $7,085; his personal worth was $6,000. Sept 4, 1858—Left Grass Valley; Rufus Shoemaker became editor of the National. May 7, 1859—Returned to Grass Valley and again edited the National. June 11, 1859—Chosen delegate to Democratic state conv. Sept 15, 1859—Went to the Washoe mining district with George Hearst, T. J. Andrews, and John K. Sale. Began work on a toll road from Gold Hill to Dayton, that cost about $20,000 to build. Sept 17, 1859—Sold his interest in National newspaper to John Boardman. Oct 1859— Assets were $7,000. Dec 3, 1859— Attended the wagon road meeting at Nevada City and became a member of the committee to organize a corporation to build a toll road to Virginia City. March 17, 1860—Elected to board of directors of the Henness Pass Turnpike Co. 1860—Went to Virginia City and became a mine broker on the Comstock. Aug 21, 1860—Left San Francisco on a steamer to go east for six months. April 24, 1861—On way back to Calif. from Panama. June 8, 1861—Chosen delegate to Breckinridge Democratic state convention in Calif. 1861—Speculator at Dibble & Sowers law office, Grass Valley. july 16, 1861—He and S. B. Bosworth were going to erect a gasworks at Grass Valley. Oct 27, 1861—Severely injured in a buggy accident on the Henness Pass Road east of Eureka South while returning from Virginia City with William F. Anderson. Jan 17, 1862—Storm damage to his toll road from Gold Hill to Dayton would cost thousands to repair. The road was owned by Roberts, S. D. Bosworth, and H. C. Howard March 19, 1862—Was at Nevada City and advertised for 3040 men to work on his turnpike near Virginia City. March 20, 1862—Left for Virginia City, Nevada Territory. June 24, 1862—Arrived in Nevada City from Virginia City. Said the Henness Turnpike Co. had put a large number of men to work repairing the route. A boat was being used to ferry passengers and freight across the Truckee River until Stouts bridge could be rebuilt. July 26, 1862—Chosen delegate to Democratic state convention. At county convention he offered resolution of support for secessionists which was defeated 37-17. Aug 1862—Chairman of Breckinridge Democratic county 14 committee. Oct 20, 1862—Received a letter from Rufus Shoemaker, former Grass Valley publisher and Democratic leader, who had returned to Holly Springs, Miss., to join the Confederate Army. Shoemaker gave him news of other rebels from Calif. June 14, 1863—Married to Mary Emily Hall (b. 1840) at Emanuel Episcopal Church by Rev. Richard F. Putnam. Aug 3, 1864—He, Thomas Findley, Henry Scadden and Joseph Woodworth owned the Merrimac mine near Glenbrook racetrack. Nov 7, 1864—He, William Byrne, and John R. Ridge went to the Grass Valley Union office to demand retraction of editorial statements made by H. M. Blumenthal, one of its proprietors. It was charged that during the confrontation Ridge had assaulted Blumenthal. Nov 28, 1864—Powerful windstorm blew down and destroyed his house on Massachusetts Hill at Grass Valley. —Bought islands in the Sacramento delta, hoping to drain the marshes, build levees to keep out the floods, and turn the rich peat soil into farm lands. March 24, 1866—Owned mine in Long Tom district of Kern County. 1867—Joint owner with Asbury Harpending of the Lincoln Mine near Lincoln in Placer County. —Roberts offered to sell the Lincoln Mine for $250,00 through an English agent. The London Times called it a swindle. I. L. Pechy, who had invested $10,000 in the mine, sued for fraud, implied that Harpending, Roberts, and foreman Philp Arnold had salted the ore. Pechy failed to collect. April 1, 1868 —Daughter born in San Francisco. May 23, 1868 — Visited Grass Valley with his wife and daughter, and Mrs. N. Taylor. Dec 1868—Was in White Pine, Nevada, mining district, investing in mines. ca 1869—Roberts and Harpending bought a large number of shares in the Mineral Hill Company, 45 miles north of Eureka, Nevada, from William Lent. They also bought a silver claim (with Philip Arnold and W. D. Brown) in New Mexico, 2 or 3 miles south of Lordsburg. March 1870—Roberts bought Arnold’s share in the New Mexico claim. Nov 19, 1870— Arnold and James B. Cooper, a diamond-drill expert, said they had discovered precious stones and crystals. This later proved to be a hoax. Dec 8, 1870—William Ralston became a partner in the New Mexico enterprise and the company created the town of Ralston, New Mexico. —Roberts wound up owing Lent, Latham, Fry, and Ralston about $200,000. Lent and Ralston offered to give him time to raise the money. —Ralston and Maurice Dore loaned Roberts additional funds to reclaim the 32,000 acres of Sacramento delta land he owned, hoping the work would increase the value enough to recover their losses in the cursed diamond matter.

Lives of Nevada County Pioneers (version 2022) Dec 18, 1855—Fined $17 for non-attendance as juror in district court. Dec 19, 1855—Excused from jury duty. 1855-1856 —Joined with Conrad K. Hotaling to lay a water system with log pipes under Grass Valley streets. March 4, 1856—Had been chosen delegate to Democratic state convention. April 18, 1856—Part owner with Ransom Gilson and others of the Union Mill. Aug 30, 1856—Chosen delegate to Democratic county conv. Dec 1857—Member of group that planned to build Grass Valley to Nevada City turnpike. March 2, 1858—On building committee for proposed Nevada and Grass Valley turnpike. June 1858— Member Nevada Rifle Co. July 31, 1858 —He and Rufus Shoemaker bought half-interest in Grass Valley Telegraph and changed name to Nevada National. Roberts was editor. Sept 1858 — Assessed worth of Geo. Roberts & Co. was $7,085; his personal worth was $6,000. Sept 4, 1858—Left Grass Valley; Rufus Shoemaker became editor of the National. May 7, 1859—Returned to Grass Valley and again edited the National. June 11, 1859—Chosen delegate to Democratic state conv. Sept 15, 1859—Went to the Washoe mining district with George Hearst, T. J. Andrews, and John K. Sale. Began work on a toll road from Gold Hill to Dayton, that cost about $20,000 to build. Sept 17, 1859—Sold his interest in National newspaper to John Boardman. Oct 1859— Assets were $7,000. Dec 3, 1859— Attended the wagon road meeting at Nevada City and became a member of the committee to organize a corporation to build a toll road to Virginia City. March 17, 1860—Elected to board of directors of the Henness Pass Turnpike Co. 1860—Went to Virginia City and became a mine broker on the Comstock. Aug 21, 1860—Left San Francisco on a steamer to go east for six months. April 24, 1861—On way back to Calif. from Panama. June 8, 1861—Chosen delegate to Breckinridge Democratic state convention in Calif. 1861—Speculator at Dibble & Sowers law office, Grass Valley. july 16, 1861—He and S. B. Bosworth were going to erect a gasworks at Grass Valley. Oct 27, 1861—Severely injured in a buggy accident on the Henness Pass Road east of Eureka South while returning from Virginia City with William F. Anderson. Jan 17, 1862—Storm damage to his toll road from Gold Hill to Dayton would cost thousands to repair. The road was owned by Roberts, S. D. Bosworth, and H. C. Howard March 19, 1862—Was at Nevada City and advertised for 3040 men to work on his turnpike near Virginia City. March 20, 1862—Left for Virginia City, Nevada Territory. June 24, 1862—Arrived in Nevada City from Virginia City. Said the Henness Turnpike Co. had put a large number of

men to work repairing the route. A boat was being used to ferry passengers and freight across the Truckee River until Stouts bridge could be rebuilt. July 26, 1862—Chosen delegate to Democratic state convention. At county convention he offered resolution of support for secessionists which was defeated 37-17. Aug 1862—Chairman of Breckinridge Democratic county 14 committee. Oct 20, 1862—Received a letter from Rufus Shoemaker, former Grass Valley publisher and Democratic leader, who had returned to Holly Springs, Miss., to join the Confederate Army. Shoemaker gave him news of other rebels from Calif. June 14, 1863—Married to Mary Emily Hall (b. 1840) at Emanuel Episcopal Church by Rev. Richard F. Putnam. Aug 3, 1864—He, Thomas Findley, Henry Scadden and Joseph Woodworth owned the Merrimac mine near Glenbrook racetrack. Nov 7, 1864—He, William Byrne, and John R. Ridge went to the Grass Valley Union office to demand retraction of editorial statements made by H. M. Blumenthal, one of its proprietors. It was charged that during the confrontation Ridge had assaulted Blumenthal. Nov 28, 1864—Powerful windstorm blew down and destroyed his house on Massachusetts Hill at Grass Valley. —Bought islands in the Sacramento delta, hoping to drain the marshes, build levees to keep out the floods, and turn the rich peat soil into farm lands. March 24, 1866—Owned mine in Long Tom district of Kern County. 1867—Joint owner with Asbury Harpending of the Lincoln Mine near Lincoln in Placer County. —Roberts offered to sell the Lincoln Mine for $250,00 through an English agent. The London Times called it a swindle. I. L. Pechy, who had invested $10,000 in the mine, sued for fraud, implied that Harpending, Roberts, and foreman Philp Arnold had salted the ore. Pechy failed to collect. April 1, 1868 —Daughter born in San Francisco. May 23, 1868 — Visited Grass Valley with his wife and daughter, and Mrs. N. Taylor. Dec 1868—Was in White Pine, Nevada, mining district, investing in mines. ca 1869—Roberts and Harpending bought a large number of shares in the Mineral Hill Company, 45 miles north of Eureka, Nevada, from William Lent. They also bought a silver claim (with Philip Arnold and W. D. Brown) in New Mexico, 2 or 3 miles south of Lordsburg. March 1870—Roberts bought Arnold’s share in the New Mexico claim. Nov 19, 1870— Arnold and James B. Cooper, a diamond-drill expert, said they had discovered precious stones and crystals. This later proved to be a hoax. Dec 8, 1870—William Ralston became a partner in the New Mexico enterprise and the company created the town of Ralston, New Mexico. —Roberts wound up owing Lent, Latham, Fry, and Ralston about $200,000. Lent and Ralston offered to give him time to raise the money. —Ralston and Maurice Dore loaned Roberts additional funds to reclaim the 32,000 acres of Sacramento delta land he owned, hoping the work would increase the value enough to recover their losses in the cursed diamond matter.