Collection: Books and Periodicals

About This Item:

Title: A Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California (1891) Collection Type: Books and Periodicals Publisher: Lewis Publishing Company Published: 1891 Copyright: In the public domain or published before 1925 Source(s): Google Books # of Pages: 713 Download PDF: User Login Required Download OCR Text: User Login Required

Date Scanned: 2024-07-22 00:25:09 Item Sourced From: PDF First Created: 2025-03-17 03:11:29 Last Updated: 2025-03-17 06:30:36

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

Page: of 713  

Virginia City the company was increased to seventy-seven inen and served through the campaign of six weeks, doing good service. On returning they brought back the body of Meredith. A few days after the departure of the company for the seat of war, an effort was made to raise another. It is related that, at the meeting called for the purpose, an enthusiastic gentleman was moved by the scarcity of volunteers to say: “Let us make up & cumpany consistent with the pride of the county and the danger to be encountered. Yes, gentlemen; let us raise enough to make a respectable corpse.” The effect of this ghastly remark was the opposite of that intended, as many of the volunteers wilted on the spot. : RAILROADS. In 1859 the Sacramento, Placer & Nevada Railroad was projected, and a survey was com+ menced from Folsom to Auburn, by Sherman Day. ‘The intention was eventually to extend the line to Nevada City, and the merchants of this county subscribed a sum sufficient for a survey of a route from Anburn to Nevada City by the way of Grass Valley. A preliminary survey was made, and was embodied in Day’s report, showing that a line could be constructed thirty-six miles in length and with a grade of eighty feet to the mile. From this time the railroad question was never entirely laid asides every year it was brought out, rubbed over and polished, and laid carefully away within easy reach. A road to Lincoln was at one time under discussion. As soon as it became evident that the great transcontinental road would be built, great efforts were made to have the Henness pass route adopted, but in vain. After several tedious efforts, work was commenced on the narrow-gauge road in February, 1875, and was completed from Colfax to Grass Valley in April, 1876, and regular trains began to run between those points. The total length of the road is twenty-two and a half miles. HISTORY OF NORTHERN OALIFORNIA. 115 JOURNALISM. As an exception in the field of journalism, Nevada County has not been the fatal ground of many newspaper enterprises, a majority of them having been paying investments for a number of yéars, and some for many years. The Nevada Journal tirst appeared in April, 1851, started by Warren B. Ewer. This was the second paper startéd in the mines of California. R. A. Davidge issued the first number of the Young America September 14, 1853. This was afterward changed to the Democrat, under Niles Searls, and died in 1863. The Nevada Duily Lranscript first appeared September 6, 1860, under the management of N. P. Brown & Co.; with the name of Morning Transcript. The Grass Valley Telegraph was started in September, 1853, by Oliver & Moore. After several changes of proprietor ship, it was changed in July, 1858, to the Grass Valley Vational. In 1872 the materia of the paper was sold to the Nevada Gazette and taken to Nevada City. In 1854-56 the noted Lola Montez made Grass Valley her residence and the scene of many of her eccentricities. She attempted to cowhide Henry Shipley, editor of the Grass Valley Telegraph, but was disarmed after she struck oné blow. Both Lola and Shipley published their versions of the affair, each severely réflecting upon the character of the other. The true, full name of this woman was Maria Dolores Porris Montez. She was born in Ireland, in 1824; was married early, and soon separated from her husband; appeared as a danseuse at Paris in 1840, and soon afterward at Munich, where she became mistress of King Louis and received the title of Countess of Landsfeld, in 1846; took an active part in politics, but was compelled to leave the country by the popular outbreaks of 1848; came to the United States in 1851; appeared for some years as an actress and lecturer, and published her autobiography, besides various other writings. She died at New York in 1861.