Collection: Books and Periodicals > Nevada County Historical Society Bulletins

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Title: Volume 039-1 - January 1985 Collection Type: Books and Periodicals Collection Name: Nevada County Historical Society Bulletins # of Pages: 8 Download PDF: User Login Required Download OCR Text: User Login Required

Date Scanned: 2014-02-19 05:59:48 OCR Software Version #: tesseract 5.4.1 Item Sourced From: PDF First Created: 2025-03-17 04:05:57 Last Updated: 2025-03-17 04:05:57

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

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NEVADA COUNTY IN 1885 Litigation following Judge Sawyer’s 1884 decision that banned the escape of mining debris into streams and rivers, caused problems that continued to dominate the local news in 1885. On the national level, Grover Cleveland took office as the 22nd president of the nation on March 4, and Thomas A. Hendricks became vice president. In June, masses lined New York City’s waterfront to welcome the Bartholdi Statue (Statue of Liberty) when it arrived from France aboard the French ship, Jsere. Funds were solicited from the American people for the pedestal. Ex-Vice President Schuyler Colfax, for whom the Placer County town was named, dropped dead at the Mankato, Minnesota railroad depot on January 13. The president whose first term Colfax shared, General Ulysses S. Grant, died of cancer on July 23 at Mount McGregor, New York. Flags were lowered to half mast and bells tolled in Nevada City and Grass Valley. The Nevada (City) Transcript announced the 18th president’s death in a heavily blackbordered edition. Buildings in both towns were draped in black. Services were held at the Nevada Theatre in Nevada City and from a draped grandstand in Main Street, opposite Holbrooke House in Grass Valley. Flags were again at half mast in November after Vice President Hendricks died on the 25th. He was the fifth American vice president to die in office. In California, James W. Marshall died a poor and bitter man at the age of 74 at Coloma on August 12, 1885. His discovery of gold at Sutter’s Coloma sawmill in January of 1848 eventually triggered California’s gold rush. Leland and Jane Stanford founded Stanford University in memory of their son, Leland Stanford Jr., in 1885. Stanford was governor of California as the year began, but became a U.S. Senator on March 4. In the spring, property was purchased for a new state insane asylum near Agnew Station in Santa Clara County. Nevada County was vying for the facility untilit was learned that only incurable cases were to occupy it. Parlors of Native Sons of the Golden West were instigated at Smartsville, Nevada City, Brownsville, Grass Valley and Auburn in 1885. The Transcript proudly announced in March that a new anesthetic so successfully used by doctors and dentists in the east, was now being used by Nevada City dentist, Dr. A.R. Pennington. It was cocaine. KENT RETURNS Charles Kent, proprietor of the Keystone Meat Market in Nevada City, vanished in May of 1884 while on a cattle buying trip. JAMES W. MARSHALL The discoverer of gold in California, who died August 12, 1885. Foul play was suspected, as he carried a large sum of money. Later, he was traced to southern California. As 1884 ended, he had not returned to Nevada County. His arrival in San Francisco following a tour of the world was reported in the January 1 Transcript. He was ill, and his forgiving wife was caring for him at their daughter’s home in Oakland. In February, Kent’s market, slaughterhouse, barn and stables were sold to satisfy a judgment against the property. By June, Kent was back in business at his old stand at the Keystone Market. NSGW ORGANIZES The Native Sons of the Golden West was formed in San Francisco on July 11, 1875 and units were organized in that city and Sacramento. Only native-born sons of pioneers were eligible to join this historically oriented society. Hydraulic Parlor #56 NSGW was instituted at Pythian Castle in Nevada City on February 27, 1885 by Grand President John Anthony Steinbach of San Francisco. Leroy Johnson was the first president and W.T. Morgan secretary.