Volume 023-5 - October 1969 (4 pages)

tenden’s House of Crockery,’?George Welch’s Pioneer Book and Stationery Store, A. A, Sargent’s law office, the Hunt medical offices, and the headquarters of the South Yuba Canal Company. *Dr. Lark’s building was purchased by James J. Ott after his next door assay Office office, at the rear of the Birdseye Bank, burned to the ground during the fire of 1863, Information in Recorder’s Office, Nevada City, Calif. Book of Deeds, bony 2, page 448, and Vol. 13, page 2», ** Book of Deeds, Vol 2, page 400: Dwight Crittenden to James Whartenby for $4,500. Lot and brick building on the north side of Main Street, bounded by Dr. John Lark’s drug store on the East, and the building of Sanford on the West. The twostory brick now Standing is used as a store by Crittenden and Welch. The South Yuba Canal Office in th 1940’s. fhe store building on the left crashed under the weight of Snow. Courtesy of The Union. . The South Yuba Canal Company Office as it appeared at the time of its opening ib 1855. Note th numbers on the building. a alee THEY HAD A DREAM LEADING FIGURES IN THE BUILDING . SOUTH YUBA CANAL JAMES WHARTENBY a silversmith by trade, sailed around the Horn ir 1849 from Philadelphia. He was < small man, with dark brown hair anc full beard, Extremely shrewd, ir business, and calculatingly careful with money, he became an important member of the South Yuba Canal Company team. Here he served at intervals as agent, trustee, secretary, treasurer and president. Cold and reserved in manner, he had little to say, and had few friends. His brother, Tom, an inseparable companion throughout the 1850’s, was lost at sea off the New Jersey coast in 1860. The most remembered phrase coming from the tight-lipped mouth of Jim Whartenby was ‘‘gibben-gobben,’’ a name ne gave to most of the mysterious concoctions originating in the galleys of the ditch camps. Druing the fire of 1856, he opened the gates to his reservoir on Lost Hill, at the head of Broad Street, and sent torrents of water rushing through the burnt area. Although not robust in health, he lived to a ripe old age. JAMES WHARTENBY GEORGE W. KIDD of Nashville, Tennessee, crossed the plains with his wife in 1849. Quite small in stature, he was clean shaven with thin, sandy hair. His lack of height became most noticeable on the night of Janary 15, 1865, when word was received that Grass Valley secesionists planned to raid Nevada City. The Light Guard met in their headquarters fo prepare for the onslaught, and Kidd was given the military trappings of Mark Rhineberger, a man twice his height. As he marched down Broad Street, the cartridge box pendant which was strapped to one side, struck the ground at every step. An observer noted ‘It was probably an appartion rarely met in the light of day. Time would not allow for taking it off or taking it up!’’ The secessionist threat did not materialize, and the incident is known in Nevada County history as ‘‘The BigScare.”’ George was often referred to as Captain Kidd, because of his love for ships. As a youth of thirteen, he ran away from home and became acabin boy on a Mississippi packet. He once said he would rather be the ‘‘captain of a steamboat than President of the United States.’? His wish was gratified with the completion of his river steamer at a cost of $100,000 in 1861. He named her ‘‘NEVADA’?’ and she plied the Sacramento River in opposition to the California Steam Navigation Company until blowing up on what was known as thetreacherous Hog’s Back, Becoming enamored with the interest accumulated by lending money, he opening the ‘Banking House of George Kidd’’ (Nevada City Florist, 221 Broad Street) in 1860, The store and office building at 234 Broad Street, corner of Pine, was builti by Kidd and Knox after the fire of 1856. He lived on High street for a time, but later moved a few doors above the Methodist Church on Broad, Alert and active, he served as general superintendent of the South Yuba Canal Company, DR. WILLIAM J. KNOX, blond and clean shaven, small in stature, was not robust in health. He came to Nevada City from St. Louis, and served as a State Assemblyman in 1855. A physician and surgeon, his offices were located in the Kidd and Knox building, 234 BroadStreet. In partnership with George W. Kidd, he engaged in many business ventures, one of which was the purchase of the first courthouse (The Eagle

tenden’s House of Crockery,’?George Welch’s Pioneer Book and Stationery Store, A. A, Sargent’s law office, the Hunt medical offices, and the headquarters of the South Yuba Canal Company. *Dr. Lark’s building was purchased by James J. Ott after his next door assay Office office, at the rear of the Birdseye Bank, burned to the ground during the fire of 1863, Information in Recorder’s Office, Nevada City, Calif. Book of Deeds, bony 2, page 448, and Vol. 13, page 2», ** Book of Deeds, Vol 2, page 400: Dwight Crittenden to James Whartenby for $4,500. Lot and brick building on the north side of Main Street, bounded by Dr. John Lark’s drug store on the East, and the building of Sanford on the West. The twostory brick now Standing is used as a store by Crittenden and Welch. The South Yuba Canal Office in th 1940’s. fhe store building on the left crashed under the weight of Snow. Courtesy of The Union. . The South Yuba Canal Company Office as it appeared at the time of its opening ib 1855. Note th numbers on the building. a alee THEY HAD A DREAM LEADING FIGURES IN THE BUILDING . SOUTH YUBA CANAL JAMES WHARTENBY a silversmith by trade, sailed around the Horn ir 1849 from Philadelphia. He was < small man, with dark brown hair anc full beard, Extremely shrewd, ir business, and calculatingly careful with money, he became an important member of the South Yuba Canal Company team. Here he served at intervals as agent, trustee, secretary, treasurer and president. Cold and reserved in manner, he had little to say, and had few friends. His brother, Tom, an inseparable companion throughout the 1850’s, was lost at sea off the New Jersey coast in 1860. The most remembered phrase coming from the tight-lipped mouth of Jim Whartenby was ‘‘gibben-gobben,’’ a name ne gave to most of the mysterious concoctions originating in the galleys of the ditch camps. Druing the fire of 1856, he opened the gates to his reservoir on Lost Hill, at the head of Broad Street, and sent torrents of water rushing through the burnt area. Although not robust in health, he lived to a ripe old age. JAMES WHARTENBY GEORGE W. KIDD of Nashville, Tennessee, crossed the plains with

his wife in 1849. Quite small in stature, he was clean shaven with thin, sandy hair. His lack of height became most noticeable on the night of Janary 15, 1865, when word was received that Grass Valley secesionists planned to raid Nevada City. The Light Guard met in their headquarters fo prepare for the onslaught, and Kidd was given the military trappings of Mark Rhineberger, a man twice his height. As he marched down Broad Street, the cartridge box pendant which was strapped to one side, struck the ground at every step. An observer noted ‘It was probably an appartion rarely met in the light of day. Time would not allow for taking it off or taking it up!’’ The secessionist threat did not materialize, and the incident is known in Nevada County history as ‘‘The BigScare.”’ George was often referred to as Captain Kidd, because of his love for ships. As a youth of thirteen, he ran away from home and became acabin boy on a Mississippi packet. He once said he would rather be the ‘‘captain of a steamboat than President of the United States.’? His wish was gratified with the completion of his river steamer at a cost of $100,000 in 1861. He named her ‘‘NEVADA’?’ and she plied the Sacramento River in opposition to the California Steam Navigation Company until blowing up on what was known as thetreacherous Hog’s Back, Becoming enamored with the interest accumulated by lending money, he opening the ‘Banking House of George Kidd’’ (Nevada City Florist, 221 Broad Street) in 1860, The store and office building at 234 Broad Street, corner of Pine, was builti by Kidd and Knox after the fire of 1856. He lived on High street for a time, but later moved a few doors above the Methodist Church on Broad, Alert and active, he served as general superintendent of the South Yuba Canal Company, DR. WILLIAM J. KNOX, blond and clean shaven, small in stature, was not robust in health. He came to Nevada City from St. Louis, and served as a State Assemblyman in 1855. A physician and surgeon, his offices were located in the Kidd and Knox building, 234 BroadStreet. In partnership with George W. Kidd, he engaged in many business ventures, one of which was the purchase of the first courthouse (The Eagle