Nevada County, CA News

Miscellaneous News Articles for Nevada County, California

Transcribed by: Rita Morgan

By private letter received from our old friend, A. R. Morrison, under date of Oct. 6^th, we learn that his present address is North Bloomfield, Nevada County, California, where he is in the employ of the Derbee Blue Gravel Mining Company. He reports being well and happy and desires to be remembered to his old friends here, and their name is legion.

(The Idaho Avalanche, Saturday, Oct. 16, 1880)

Carelessness of Hunters. A Disastrous Forest Fire Started in Nevada County, California

Sacramento, July 23 – Information was received here from Grass Valley yesterday giving a meager account of a huge forest fire in Nevada County. It is stated that the woods were blazing between the town of Forest Springs and Parin’s mine, and that smoke could be seen from Grass Valley. The fire is believed to have spread over ten miles square, sweeping in its passage several farm houses, orchards, and any number of acres of oats. Careless hunters are supposed to have started the fire.

(The Morning Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, Thursday, July 24, 1890)

San Francisco, Dec. 31 – Particulars of the late storm in Nevada County, California, have been received. It appears that the terrific tornado passed about a half mile southwest of the town of Nevada, leveling houses, trees, everything in its course. – Had the hurricane gone directly over the town it is impossible to calculate what damage it might have done. At Peak Ravine Cove, thirty-two large trees were broken in twain 8 or 10 feet from the ground and shivered into kindling wood as though it had been the work of lightening. Large houses were picked up by the wind, carried some distance and thrown a mass of ruins to the ground. In its course to the northward its width was about 500 feet. It was by far the most terrific storm which has ever occurred in California.

(The Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Thursday, January 10, 1867)

The Great Fire at You Bet – As there are many people from Nevada County, California, in this section, we append, for their information, a full list of losses, by the recent destructive fire at You Bet. They are as follows:

White & Mason, house, dry goods and groceries, $10,000; J. Franklin, house and goods, $9,000; Captain Curella, saloon and house, $2,500; James McManns, saloon, $1,500; Frank Snell, butcher-shop, $500; Dunster & Co., Kennebec Hotel, $7,000; W. W. Rowen’s livery stable, $600; Good Templar’s Hall, $500; J. Quigley, residence, $400; J. Flag, residence, $400; S. Lewis, residence, $500; Bard Hotel, $800; E. B. Hopkinson, $500; G. R. Dunster, house, $300; Morlarty, shoe shop and dwelling, $600; J. Dixon, dwelling, $200; J. Simerly, tin shop, $200; G. H. Colby, stable, $200; Lawrence, house, $400. In addition to these there were four or five Chinese houses burned. White & Mason were partially insured, but a number of others, who had been insured allowed their policies to expire only a week or two ago.

(The Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, Saturday, May 15, 1869)

Immense Estate – The Sacramento Union, is informed that Mrs. Jennie Hunt, wife of Dr. Hunt of Nevada County, California, and Mrs. T. B. McFarland of Sacramento, California, are heirs of the Edwards estate lying in New York City, which fell to the heirs of Robert Edwards on July 19^th 1871, at the expiration of a ninety years lease. This estate is of immense value, being estimated to be worth $82,000,000. H. E. J. Boardman, one of the leading lawyers of Iowa, is agent for a number of the heirs. This estate is in a prosperous condition, and an early settlement and distribution are confidently expected.

(The Idaho Statesman, Tuesday, February 11, 1873)

Letter from a School Teacher – Last mail brought us a letter from Jas. A. Ford, of Birchville, Nevada County, California, asking for information regarding school matters here, and the chances for getting a school to teach. The letter is well and correctly written, and it is our opinion that the writer thereof is competent, and could get a situation here. (The Arizona Miner, March 4, 1871)

Information Wanted – Information wanted of the whereabouts of one Patrick Peters, who was last heard from in Idaho. He had relatives in Nevada County, California. He is a legatee of a generous bequest under the terms of a will now in probate in California. If he is dead, we would like to hear from his children, if he left any. The undersigned will be thankful for any information on the subject. Very respectfully, Nilon & Arbogast, Attorneys at Law. (The Idaho Register, Friday, January 30, 1914)

Information Wanted – Mr. James Peters, of Bodie, would like to learn the whereabouts of his brother, Patrick T., who was in South Bloomfield, Nevada County, California, three months ago. Any information about him would be thankfully received. Coast papers please copy. (The Idaho Avalanche, October 29, 1881)

The village of Moore’s Flat, Nevada County, California, has been destroyed by fire. The loss is estimated at $100,000. (The Cincinnati Gazette, Tuesday, August 3, 1869)

Captain W. S. Weare, an old resident of Nevada County, California, who has been officiating as Engrossing Clerk of the Nevada Assembly, has been ousted from his position on the grounds of incompetency. Weare’s penmanship was at fault. He consoles himself by giving vent to his feelings in a poetical effusion in the Gold Hall News. The last stanza contains the burden of his lay:

Oh, shade of Greeley come to me,

And see if you can help me out

Of this cursed labyrinth of doubt,

And lend me your chirography.

(The San Francisco Bulletin, Friday, January 26, 1877)

Mineral Patents – The following claims for mineral patents have been approved in the General Land Office and will be promulgated within a few days:

Archer S. Cook, upon the Belcher quartz mine in the Meadow Lake mining district, Nevada County, California, 20.65 acres.

Thomas Hodge, Thomas Findley, Henry Scadden, W. A. Smith, H. H. Day and William Scadden upon the All’s Well quartz mine in the Grass Valley mining district, Nevada County, California, 28.92 acres.

Placers – James E. Broderick, 51.65 acres Columbia Hill mining district, Nevada Co., California

(The Salt Lake Tribune, Saturday, November 13, 1880)

Resolutions in Memoriam of Robinson

Vallejo, February 27^th – The Frisbie Engine Company met last night and passed resolutions of respect for their dead comrade, Isaac S. Robinson, who was killed by Watkinson last Friday. Robinson’s mother resides in New York and he has a sister in Nevada County, California.

(The San Francisco Bulletin, Friday, February 28, 1873)

A little girl named McCarvey, in Nevada County, California, fell from a haystack, one day last month, and lodging upon a pitchfork, a prong entered at her knee joint and came out at the thigh.

(The Cincinnati Tribune, Tuesday, December 7, 1869)

Insane – H. G. Bennett of the Union, and John R. Ridge, of the National, Grass Valley, California, are going to fight a duel.

(The Idaho Statesman, Saturday, February 4, 1865)

Old John Robinson, the circus man, has two sons who have profitable silver mine at Grass Valley, California.

(The Wheeling Register, Sunday, January 21, 1883)

A panther tried to steal a porker from Otto Epps’ old sow in Grass Valley, California. She drove him up a tree and made so much noise that Epps came with a rifle and shot the vagrant.

(The Tombstone Epitaph, Wednesday, October 30, 1889)

Lola Montez, in attempting to jump her horse over a wide ditch, in search of wild flowers, near Grass Valley, California, was precipitated into the chasm, and barely escaped with her life.

(The Barre Patriot, Friday, July 7, 1854)

Mining Briefs – N. C. Berryman, who is exploiting the Dromedary Hump mine, at Grass Valley, California spent yesterday in Salt Lake, and departed last night for Boise, Ida., where he also has large interests. Of the Grass Valley country, he said, “There is an awakening unprecedented in our State. The day for taking out the low grades has arrived, and new projects are exceedingly successful.”

(The Salt Lake Telegram, Friday, October 5, 1906)

Rev. W. F. Snow – We are happy to learn by recent letters, that this gentleman has received a call from a Congregational Society, at Grass Valley, California. He writes under date of June 6^th, “I find here a pleasant Church, a flourishing Sabbath School, and a good congregation.”

(The Friend, Honolulu, July 1, 1864)

Welsh Beats Hyland

Butte, Mont., Oct. 9 – Freddie Welsh, English lightweight champion, clearly outpointed Fighting Dick Hyland of Grass Valley, California, in twelve rounds here last night.

(The Daily Alaska Dispatch, October 9, 1913)

At Last Rewarded

A Miner Made Wealthy by the Act of a Relative in California

Hazelton, Pa., July 20 – John McDonald, a poor coal miner of Janesville, a suburb of this city, is now thankful he extended hospitality to an apparently poor and ragged relative a few years ago. For this act of kindness he is destined to receive by the will of a relative in Grass Valley, California, $75,000 with a yearly income of many thousands more.

Arthur McDonald, the deceased relative, was an early settler in this section, and in 1885, tiring of the coal regions, went to California, accompanied by his brother, George, and a half sister. From the first he prospered, but all trace of the trio was lost to the eastern relatives. He became interested in several gold mines and was owner of the Hudson Bay mine, which was a bonanza.

Two years ago, Arthur McDonald, wishing to know whether the relatives in the east were worthy of sharing his wealth in the event of his death, sent his brother George hither, disguised as a poor and helpless beggar soliciting help. He called on John McDonald, in Janesville. Mr. McDonald had a large family to support and was not over burdened with wealth, but he welcomed the relative and gave the best he had in the house. The uncle left shortly afterward, apparently satisfied that at least one of the relatives was deserving of a share of the legacy.

He left for New York City to visit another nephew, but the reception was of a different character from that received in the coal regions, and he was told to move on. The result is that the son has been cut off the will with $25. Mr. McDonald has received word of the death of his uncle Arthur, and also other letters and a copy of the will, the latter now being in the hands of Rev. Fitzmaurice in this city. The latter first communicated with by the bishop of the Grass Valley diocese to establish the identity of the Janesville miner, which is now complete.

(The Fort Worth Register, Wednesday, July 21, 1897)

Mr. Louis Cryer and family left for Grass Valley, California, on Tuesday, on a visit to Mr. Cryer’s father. They expect to return to Boise in about a month.

(The Idaho Statesman, September 11, 1889)

Mrs. Lloyd T. LaRue departed last Tuesday night for her home in Grass Valley, California. She came to Cheyenne in order to be present at the funeral services of her uncle, the late George W. Hoyt, held in this city on Sunday afternoon last.

(The Cheyenne State Leader, April 27, 1917)

Geo. Gumbert and family left here last night for Nevada City, California. Mr. G. has a brother-in-law there in the meat business, with whom he is going to associate himself. He has been in the employ of Mr. Tregaskis here for several months past.

(The Daily Avalanche, Thursday, September 23, 1875)

Ancient School Saved At Auction For French Corral
FRENCH CORRAL (Nevada Co.) April 22—The French Corral Schoolhouse, which has served as a center of community life here for nearly a century, was saved for posterity late yesterday by Mrs. Rena Thatcher, member of a prominent pioneer family. Mrs. Thatcher, a native of Reno, Nevada, and a granddaughter of William Moultan who settled here in 1859, was the successful bidder when the county auctioned the building. Her final bid of $750 was not met by Sam Evans of Colfax, Placer County, whose closing offer was $700. Mrs. Thatcher, widow of a prominent Reno attorney, immediately turned the building over to the newly formed French Corral Community Hall Association. Her uncle, William E. Moulton, Jr., accepted the building in the name of the Association. More than 100 residents of the area, which 75 years ago was the heart of the $100,000,000 hydraulic mining industry, gathered at the schoolhouse as County Clerk Ralph Deeble opened bids. The starting figure was $25 but the amount passed the $500 mark in less than ten minutes. From that point, the competition was limited to Evans and Mrs. Thatcher. Citizens of the western Nevada County community of less than 100 population immediately started planning for a dedication dance and party to be held May 20^th. Ed Kohler, President of the North San Juan-Camptonville Chamber of Commerce, said steps will be taken to establish the school as a historical landmark. Mrs. Thatcher presented the building to the community in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles William Perry. Her mother was Cora Perry, sister of W. E. Moulton, Jr., native of French Corral and a community leader. Older residents of the town recalled stories of the building as a recruiting center for Union soldiers during the Civil Way and that its bronze bell tolled the death of Abraham Lincoln. [Sacramento Bee, 4-22-1950. Submitted by Kathie Kloss Marynik.]

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