Volume 003-4 - April 1950 (2 pages)

COMMITTEES FOR 1950 Committee chairmen may call meetings of the group and report to the president at regular intervals. Each committee should be active and complete work assigned to be done during the year. Finance Committee To prepare a budget and represent organization in obtaining financial support. Chairman, Bob Paine, Elmer Stevens, Bernice Penrose, Juliet Cox, Judge James Snell, Gilbert Tennis. Membership and Publications Committee To prepare and publish historical publications and through its publication increase the membership. Chairman, Doris Foley, Bob Paine, Audrey Weselsky, H. P. Davis, Herbert Nile, Bernice Penrose, W. W. Kallenberger, Harriet Farmer, Edmund Kinyon. Publicity Committee To publicize the activities of the society and compile regularly a historical column in the local press. Chairman, Edmund Kinyon, Clayre Lippman, Betty Eldridge, W. W. Kallenberger, Al Linsey, Kenneth Ray. Library and Research Committee To assemble books and manuscripts for historical library shelves in the city libraries, Chairman, R. C. Hill, Bernice Glasson, Iva Williamson, Grace Himes, Thelma Hirsch, Toni Richards, Olive Kallenberger, Alma Popps, Esther McCanless, Doris Foley. Historical Sites Committee To promote a regular program of locating and marking historical sites cooperating with the N.D.G.W. and N.S.G.W. and State of California. Chairman, Herbert Nile, Jerry Brust, Edward Uren, John Tremewan, Dr. C. Chapman, Guerdon Ellis, Retha Downey, Albert Wood, Ernest Young. Museum Committee To direct, control, and stimulate all museum operations and activities. Chairman, Elmer Stevens, Doris Foley, Genevieve Kent, Edna Sampson, Elza Kilroy, Bee Butcher, Mae Raddue, Harriet Farmer, Gertrude Goyne. Program Committee To unite the activities for the society and support and assist in the development of the years program. Chairman, Vere Hansen, John D. Conway, Elise DeMattei, Laura Lee Bostwick, Dorothy Dyke, Walter Carlson, Helen Chapman, Bernice Glasson, Gilbert Tennis, Adelaide Elliott, Wilda Steuber. Public Schools Committee To cooperate with the Public Schools in teaching local history and encouraging our youth to take an interest in the history of Nevada County. Chairman, Lee Ross, Genevieve Kent, Gilbert Tennis, Doris Foley, P. J. Conway, Mattie Luther, Ruth Hogan, J. D. Conway, Elizabeth Garland. Indian Research Committee To collect source material on Nevada County Indians. Chairman, Genevieve Kent, Marie Knight. Centennial Committee To plan and promote our part in the centennial of 1950 and design a float for the July 4th parade. Chairman, Elza Kilroy, Frank Rowe, George Mathis, Carl Tobiassen, George Legg, George Calanan, George Hansen, George Hallock, Eugene Ingalls. APRIL MEETING. The Nevada County Historical Society will meet at the Nevada City Elementary School on Monday, April 3rd at 8:00 p.m. Mr. Rinaldo Ronchi will tell the story of Dr. Hunt, pioneer physician of Nevada City with whom he was associated for many years. NOTICE The Nevada City Civic Improvement Club has invited the Nevada County Historical Society to join them in a dinner meeting on Wednesday, April 19th. Mrs. R. L. Stone, of Burlingame, State Chairman of California History and Landmarks for the California Federation of Women’s Clubs will be the guest speaker. Her talk will be highlighted with slides, Arrangements for the meeting will appear later in the local newspapers. Manuscripts for publication on Nevada County History should be sent to Doris E. Foley, 538 Main Street, Nevada City. Cover photo taken by and courtesy of Frank and Harriet Jakobs, Grass Valley. site “ROUGH” AND “READY” With such a nom-de-plume given the town in 1849 by the Rough and Ready Company in honor of Zachary Taylor, Commander of the American Forces in the Mexican War, one wonders if the town really lived up to its name. The power of suggestion was enough to sway the rough and boisterous young miners into acting upon any sudden impulse. However, the history of Rough and Ready is no worse than any community of the Northern Mines. One hundred years ago, in April, 1850, the town became famous for seceding from the United States, and setting themselves up as the Independent Republic of Rough and Ready. E. F. Brundage was elected president, and he appointed a cabinet. The cause of the secession was a mining dispute and the “leading citizens” wanted to handle it in their own way without any interference from the United States government. The mining “slicker”, who was the cause of the trouble was ordered out of the town by President Brundage and his Secretary of State. The capitol at Washington D.C. was peacefully unaware of the rebellion within its boundries, and even the Republic of Rough and Ready forgot its independent responsibilities after the mining dispute was settled. They began making plans for a fourth of July celebration in the town. “Why celebrate the Fourth?” asked a curious young man. “We are no longer a part of the United States.” President Brundage called for an immediate vote, and the crowd decided unanimously to return to the union. Tom Bell, the “Gentleman Highwayman”, made numerous visits to Rough and Ready. He had graduated from a medical institution, had become discouraged with the hard work and privations of a miner’s life, and had turned to gambling. Tiring of this, he took to the road. The late Miss Margaret Ennors tells of his stopping at their ranch, while walking to Rough and Ready, and asking for board and lodging for the night. He was very entertaining and the children enjoyed him. He left at 7:00 a.m. the next morning, and the Sheriff’s posse was at the ranch by 7:10 am. The Ennors family realized their guest was the notorious Tom Bell when the sheriff described his nose. Once shapely and classic, it had been smashed in at the bridge to a level with his face. Whippings were usually administered as a punishment for any misdemeanor. Thirty or more lashes and sometimes an order to leave town, Rough and Ready had its share of hangings too! Collo, an Indian, was the first to break the treaty made at the town of Kearney, on Bear River between the California Militia and three Indian Chiefs, after the attack on Holt’s Sawmill near Grass Valley. Article 2 of the treaty read, “Should any Indian belonging to either of the beforementioned tribes commit any murder, robbery or other offense against the persons or property of the American citizens, the offender or offenders shall be promptly delivered up to the proper authorities for punishment.” In the summer of 1851 a team driven by two men wound its way slowly along the crooked mountain road near the present site “of Spenceville. One of them, a young lad, loitered behind the wagon, and when his companion had disappeared around a bend in the road, an Indian appeared out of the thicket and shot the young man. The teamster heard the shot, and returned to find his companion wounded. He died later at the Indiana House. Chief Weima, true to his pledge, brought Collo, the guilty Indian, into Rough and Ready. On the day of his execution, runners were sent out to gather in all the Indians possible to witness the hanging, that they might be impressed with a wholesome fear of

COMMITTEES FOR 1950 Committee chairmen may call meetings of the group and report to the president at regular intervals. Each committee should be active and complete work assigned to be done during the year. Finance Committee To prepare a budget and represent organization in obtaining financial support. Chairman, Bob Paine, Elmer Stevens, Bernice Penrose, Juliet Cox, Judge James Snell, Gilbert Tennis. Membership and Publications Committee To prepare and publish historical publications and through its publication increase the membership. Chairman, Doris Foley, Bob Paine, Audrey Weselsky, H. P. Davis, Herbert Nile, Bernice Penrose, W. W. Kallenberger, Harriet Farmer, Edmund Kinyon. Publicity Committee To publicize the activities of the society and compile regularly a historical column in the local press. Chairman, Edmund Kinyon, Clayre Lippman, Betty Eldridge, W. W. Kallenberger, Al Linsey, Kenneth Ray. Library and Research Committee To assemble books and manuscripts for historical library shelves in the city libraries, Chairman, R. C. Hill, Bernice Glasson, Iva Williamson, Grace Himes, Thelma Hirsch, Toni Richards, Olive Kallenberger, Alma Popps, Esther McCanless, Doris Foley. Historical Sites Committee To promote a regular program of locating and marking historical sites cooperating with the N.D.G.W. and N.S.G.W. and State of California. Chairman, Herbert Nile, Jerry Brust, Edward Uren, John Tremewan, Dr. C. Chapman, Guerdon Ellis, Retha Downey, Albert Wood, Ernest Young. Museum Committee To direct, control, and stimulate all museum operations and activities. Chairman, Elmer Stevens, Doris Foley, Genevieve Kent, Edna Sampson, Elza Kilroy, Bee Butcher, Mae Raddue, Harriet Farmer, Gertrude Goyne. Program Committee To unite the activities for the society and support and assist in the development of the years program. Chairman, Vere Hansen, John D. Conway, Elise DeMattei, Laura Lee Bostwick, Dorothy Dyke, Walter Carlson, Helen Chapman, Bernice Glasson, Gilbert Tennis, Adelaide Elliott, Wilda Steuber. Public Schools Committee To cooperate with the Public Schools in teaching local history and encouraging our youth to take an interest in the history of Nevada County. Chairman, Lee Ross, Genevieve Kent, Gilbert Tennis, Doris Foley, P. J. Conway, Mattie Luther, Ruth Hogan, J. D. Conway, Elizabeth Garland. Indian Research Committee To collect source material on Nevada County Indians. Chairman, Genevieve Kent, Marie Knight. Centennial Committee To plan and promote our part in the centennial of 1950 and design a float for the July 4th parade. Chairman, Elza Kilroy, Frank Rowe, George Mathis, Carl Tobiassen, George Legg, George Calanan, George Hansen, George Hallock, Eugene Ingalls. APRIL MEETING. The Nevada County Historical Society will meet at the Nevada City Elementary School on Monday, April 3rd at 8:00 p.m. Mr. Rinaldo Ronchi will tell the story of Dr. Hunt, pioneer physician of Nevada City with whom he was associated for many years. NOTICE The Nevada City Civic Improvement Club has invited the Nevada County Historical Society to join them in a dinner meeting on Wednesday, April 19th. Mrs. R. L. Stone, of Burlingame, State Chairman of California History and Landmarks for the California Federation of Women’s Clubs will be the guest speaker. Her talk will be highlighted with slides, Arrangements for the meeting will appear later in the local newspapers. Manuscripts for publication on Nevada County History should be sent to Doris E. Foley, 538 Main Street, Nevada City. Cover photo taken by and courtesy of

Frank and Harriet Jakobs, Grass Valley. site “ROUGH” AND “READY” With such a nom-de-plume given the town in 1849 by the Rough and Ready Company in honor of Zachary Taylor, Commander of the American Forces in the Mexican War, one wonders if the town really lived up to its name. The power of suggestion was enough to sway the rough and boisterous young miners into acting upon any sudden impulse. However, the history of Rough and Ready is no worse than any community of the Northern Mines. One hundred years ago, in April, 1850, the town became famous for seceding from the United States, and setting themselves up as the Independent Republic of Rough and Ready. E. F. Brundage was elected president, and he appointed a cabinet. The cause of the secession was a mining dispute and the “leading citizens” wanted to handle it in their own way without any interference from the United States government. The mining “slicker”, who was the cause of the trouble was ordered out of the town by President Brundage and his Secretary of State. The capitol at Washington D..C. was peacefully unaware of the rebellion within its boundries, and even the Republic of Rough and Ready forgot its independent responsibilities after the mining dispute was settled. They began making plans for a fourth of July celebration in the town. “Why celebrate the Fourth?” asked a curious young man. “We are no longer a part of the United States.” President Brundage called for an immediate vote, and the crowd decided unanimously to return to the union. Tom Bell, the “Gentleman Highwayman”, made numerous visits to Rough and Ready. He had graduated from a medical institution, had become discouraged with the hard work and privations of a miner’s life, and had turned to gambling. Tiring of this, he took to the road. The late Miss Margaret Ennors tells of his stopping at their ranch, while walking to Rough and Ready, and asking for board and lodging for the night. He was very entertaining and the children enjoyed him. He left at 7:00 a.m. the next morning, and the Sheriff’s posse was at the ranch by 7:10 am. The Ennors family realized their guest was the notorious Tom Bell when the sheriff described his nose. Once shapely and classic, it had been smashed in at the bridge to a level with his face. Whippings were usually administered as a punishment for any misdemeanor. Thirty or more lashes and sometimes an order to leave town, Rough and Ready had its share of hangings too! Collo, an Indian, was the first to break the treaty made at the town of Kearney, on Bear River between the California Militia and three Indian Chiefs, after the attack on Holt’s Sawmill near Grass Valley. Article 2 of the treaty read, “Should any Indian belonging to either of the beforementioned tribes commit any murder, robbery or other offense against the persons or property of the American citizens, the offender or offenders shall be promptly delivered up to the proper authorities for punishment.” In the summer of 1851 a team driven by two men wound its way slowly along the crooked mountain road near the present site “of Spenceville. One of them, a young lad, loitered behind the wagon, and when his companion had disappeared around a bend in the road, an Indian appeared out of the thicket and shot the young man. The teamster heard the shot, and returned to find his companion wounded. He died later at the Indiana House. Chief Weima, true to his pledge, brought Collo, the guilty Indian, into Rough and Ready. On the day of his execution, runners were sent out to gather in all the Indians possible to witness the hanging, that they might be impressed with a wholesome fear of