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  

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. 399 Feather River, where shelter was obtained in a . scarce, having to come from the Sandwich clapboard shanty, and there voted for the adoption of the Constitution making this a free State, little thinking then that in the near future this beautiful country, famed throughout the whole world for its resources, climate and natural grandeur, would be cursed by a population of Chinese, worse by far, in the estimation of many, to American people than ever slavery was. Truly, the Sacramento Valley might well have been called the “promised land,” for Nature had put on her finishing touches when California sprang into existence. The Indians were numerous, Campoodies everywhere; and what ample provisio: was made for them, as the country abounded in elk, deer, antelope, bear, and the streams teeming with salmon, causing epicureans io smack their lips at the pleasure anticipated of a fine repast! At the mouth of the Yuba our pioneer wended his way with his small family, hearing that persons had laid out a town, calling it Yuba City; and to get there he had to hire a conveyance to carry what little of this world’s goods he possessed. Arriving there he commenced to make a home, living in the meantime under the cover of his wagun, which was saved when he lost his wagon and cattle. People that crossed the plains began to stop at Yuba City, all living in tents made of cotton cloth, or in their wagons. Also at the same time Marysville, Yuba County, began as a town; and as it was more advantageous to the gold mines, it soon outstripped Yuba City in population; but Mr. Armatrong, having located at that point, went to work to get a place to stay by building a small house made of oak shakes, costing him, for lumber, $500 per thousand feet, and for shakes §32. To have credit on some money he had to pay at the rate of 10 per cent. interest per month. Everything in the shape of provisions was also high: flour, $75 per barrel, and they had to cut it out with a hatchet and pound it up; onions, potatoes, and vegetables of all kinds beinz so high that it took all his money to get the necessaries of life. Although inoney was plenty, those things were Islands. In those days an ounce of gold could be bought with from $10 to $12 in Mexican silver dollars, or gold doubloons, or English sovereigns. Very little American money was in circulation. Those prices would be paid by gamblers to make a show on their banking tables, having also two or three bags of gold dust ready for anyone if able to tap the bank. Everybody gambled in those days,—at least one would have thought eo if he went around to the tents after candle-light. Candles cost about fifty cents a piece. Some had to put up with only the light from camp fire. Short-handled Ames’ shovel would cost $16, and a tin pan to wash earth and gravel to obtain gold cost from $5 to $8; picks were not to be had, and a good iron spoon was worth from $10 to $12, realizing that this was traly the land of gold. All things needed in those days had to be transported from San Francisco to Marysville on the Yuba and to Yuba City, being brought up on ships, yawls or whale-boats, sailing up the bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Snisun. entering into the Sacramento River, either sailing up or had to be rowed, making the freight on everything enormously high and expensive. In a little while up came a scow named the Linda, propelled by steam, which was the first steainbuat, if itcould be called by that name, reaching this point. It had been brought round the Horn in the bark Linda from New York, belonging to a company from that city, and built on the bay of San Francisco. She blew her whistle and awakened the people all to the enterprise inspired by the stars and stripes. The banks of Feather River were lined by men from Pike County, Missouri, Posey County, Indiana, and every place west of the Alleghany mountains, because from that section was the exodus of emigration, men who had crossed the plains with ox whips in their hands, throngh dust, alkali and other hardships, and also all the In dians on the rancheria, and there were many. When the scuw blew her whistle, after making fast to the bank, the Indians were scared out of