Collection: Books and Periodicals > Nevada County Historical Society Bulletins

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Title: Volume 013-4 - October 1959 Collection Type: Books and Periodicals Collection Name: Nevada County Historical Society Bulletins # of Pages: 2 Download PDF: User Login Required Download OCR Text: User Login Required

Date Scanned: 2013-11-30 16:56:36 OCR Software Version #: tesseract 5.4.1 Item Sourced From: PDF First Created: 2025-03-17 04:05:31 Last Updated: 2025-03-17 04:05:31

Original Held At: Searls Historical Library Location: 161 Nevada City Hwy, Nevada City, CA 95959

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she is of the nobility and wife of an Indian Chief, and a heroine of sacrifice for her tribe. Betsy has been a good citizen—has never broken a law or knowingly frightened a child. By her example of cheer and good will and her attitude of gcod fellcw-ship with her faithful friend and companion, Josie teaches us the lesson of FRIENDSHIP and SINCERITY and on the hearts of many good women of Nevada City is imprinted a kindly feeling for —“THE LAST OF THE OUSTOMAHS”. : Note: To cur interested members and readers: In the Nevada County Historical Museum, The Old Fire House of No. 1 Company located at 214 Main Street, Nevada City, California, you will find oil painted pictures of the very likeness of Betsy and Josie together with a nice display of Indian relics including baskets made by these noted Indians. CORRECTION: On the last Bulletin, “The Grass Valley Public Library.” Part of the downstairs is no longer used for a primary grade class room of the Grass Valley Elementary School. These rooms are now shared by the Nevada County Health Department and the Armed Services Recruiting Service. Also, the Library Board was incorrect as given, for 1959. It should have read: Jerry Brust, President Joe Moran, Vice President Mrs. Molly Shine Mrs. Edith Chalmers Richard McGuire Lois Goldsberry, Secretary NEXT REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING Place, Grass Valley Elementary School Date, April 7, 1960 — Time 8:00 P. M. 1960 OFFICERS OF THE NEVADA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY President—Elza J, Kilroy, 318 Drummond Street, Nevada City, Phone 45 Vice President, John Ne 216 Pleasant Street, Grass Valley, Phone 669 Secretary—Esther Hartung, 303 South Church Street, Grass Valley, Phone 552 Treasurer—Adelaide Elliott, North Bloomfield Road, Nevada City, Phone 610-M BOARD OF DIRECTORS Grass Valley, Mrs. Edna Sampson, Miss Bernice Glasson, John Nettell Nevada City, Isabell Hefelfinger, Mrs. Weselsky, Thomas W. Reynolds County at large, John Trauner, Mrs. Monian, Dr. E. J. Best Lyle White, Bulletin Editor JOIN NOW AND BECOME A PART OF THE NEVADA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND HELP PRESERVE THE HISTORICAL AND ROMANTIC PAST, $1.00 per year, January to January. Membership dues for 1960 are now due and payable. Have you paid your dues? Visit the Nevada County Historical Museum Located at corner of Main and Commercial Streets, Nevada City, Open 11:00 A. M. to 5:00 P. M., every day June through August Winter Season by Appointment—Phone Caretaker, Richard Nickless, Nevada City, Phone 152-J. Nevada County Historical Society Vol. 13, No. 4 March, 1960 The Last of the Oustomahs By Belle Douglas (Contributed by Elza Kilroy) This story was written by Belle Douglas in December 1921 and is based on original studies and research and personal contacts with the Indians themselves with whom Belle was intimately acquainted and greatly respected for her kindness toward them. “A century ago, Nevada City, unnamed and unknown, was the peaceful abode of various tribes of the Red Race, fourteen camps existing within a radius of two miles. Two of the larger settlements housed about seventeen hundred Indians who were believed by some students of Indian lore to be a branch of the Midos tribe. Another tribe known as the Washoes were roamers in the area of Truckee and resided on the slopes of the summit on the Truckee side. The Midos meaning ‘‘people” living on the Nevada City and Grass Valley side. This tribe inhabited a large area including the counties of El] Dorado, Amador, Placer and Nevada. Claiming no tribal affiliation, the members of the clan were content to follow their own pursuits and customs. Before the discovery of Gold and the coming of the white man, Indian life was simple. They lived on the food that was easy to obtain such as deer meat, grubs, earthworms, grass-hoppers, fish, jackrabbits, grey squirrels, geese, blue jays, grouse, and wood peckers. Upon the arival of the white man and the establishment of their settlement the nearest of these Indians became proud and named themselves Oustomahs, the Indian word for “TOWN”, adopting this title by the right of their close proximity to the t city of NEVADA. It has been said many times that they were little choosey about food, but their belief was to ta A away from eating the meat of any ground squirrel because a rattlesnake could change itself into a ground squirrel at any time. Needless to say their choice plant foods were acorns, pine nuts, roots, manzanita berries, buckeye, mushrooms, hazel nuts, wild plums and the like. Acorns were used for soup and as flour for their bread. Water-tight woven baskets served as their cocking utensils which were heated by filling with soap stone rocks; too much cooked food was considered unhealthy; therefore no prol 4 Probably the oldest Native Daughter we know of is OLD BETSY, who claims to have passed a hundred winters and who was born in a camp located on the present site of the Washington School House. The life of Betsy covered an interesting period in this section and she is about the only living resident at this time to tell of the birth and growth of our city. Betsy had four sisters and one brother, none of whom are now living., the family enjoyed the blessof a genuinely free country. Nature provided all the necessities of life. Their weapons were the almost extinct bow and arrow and the sling shot. It was often told that the natives used gold-bearing rocks for the latter weapon, appreciating their weight as being more effective than the lighter rocks. Matches were unknown, two pieces of flint stone or two sticks were used to bring a spark for their fire which heated the rocks to be dropped one by one into the basket of soup or other food. To a bystander it seemed an easy matter to boil a basket of porridge in this manner. Epidemics of disease were frequent. The only cures known to the Red Men were the herbs and roots. The big boulder in the yard of Mrs. John Hocking on East Broad Street was known as the MEDICINE ROCK and was often used; the patient lying on its hollow top to enjoy the warmth radiating from its surface and for many years this was a source of comfort in times of distressing illness. Appreciating the efficacy of heat the camps usually provided a “Sweat House.” These were built of mud and brush or such covering as could readily be provided and covered with large slabs of cedar or pine bark, old clo or animals skins. Stones were heated red hot and piled inside the house, then the patient crawled into the house