erected the brick store still occupied as such. A bars and a lively business began. Talcott & Rose Post office was established here January 6th, 1881, started the first regular store in this mining camp, with the present store keeper Mr. Gallaner, as Post Master, the Post office is called "Lotus," on suggestion of Mr. Lohry. Besides this store and some residences, the town comprises a hotel and a blacksmith shop. The first grain in this vicinity was raised by Rev. Cummings, on Granite creek, the first fruit was raised by the Cromwell family, on a lot where the blacksmith shop now stands. Mr. Haggert was first engaged in general fruit growing, MICHIGAN FLAT. On the North side of the South Fork below Coloma making this their head quarters for the winter, while they tended to their other places of business on the river during the summer season. Among the first ones, that came here to try their fortune at Centerville, was John Woods, of New York, he came up here from Salmon Falls in the fall of 1849, at which time there were plenty of grizzlies around here. The first house in town was built by Samuel Stevens in the earliest part of 1850. John Brown and Wilson kept one of the first boarding houses here, and did a splendid business. Another store was kept by Henry Stevens and Conrad Thompson, the latter known as Another board Hill," Topside," as he was an old sailor. there were the following mining camps: Red Coyote Diggings, Rich Gulch, all together called ing house was opened by Charles Tudsberry. Of other old residents at Pilot Hill out of the year of Michigan Flat since 1854. Charles Smith kept here 1850, we have to mention A. J. Bayley, F. B. the first store, on the South Fork at the mouth of Peacock, Gense Kirchan, Samuel Stevens, David Greenwood creek, in a canvass tent, in 1849, and a Ferguson, Thomas Ferguson, C. S. Rogers, P. D. butchershop, together with a hotel and boarding Brown. Robert E. Draper was the pioneer mail house, etc., was kept by one Tutsbury, a drink here carrier for the village, he was the best walker in the was 50 cents in 1849, and Wentzel Stock, now of State. Sometimes he would leave Pilot Hill at 6 Virginia City, had the first bakery. On the flat A. M., carrying the mail to Sacramento, got his mail Charles Dusenberg was the first merchant, his store and returned with it to Pilot Hill at 7:30 P. M., a in 1850, was built of canvass. It was here where distance of near 40 miles. He carried letters for one the Stanford brothers laid the foundation of their dollar each, and papers for 50 cents each. In the Spring of 1851, a number of people from Pittsfield, Illinois, arrived here and started a village of their own, consisting of 24 or 25 log cabins, which they called Pittsfield: Thus making it three different villages, but the whole publicly known as wealth. Thomas W. Stanford attended to a store here, a round topped live-oak tree marks the spot PILOT HILL. CENTERVILLE. The old town of Pilot Hill was located further north and nearer the base of Pilot Hill, the site is now owned by Dwight Burpee, and here the principal place of business was kept by James H. Rose. Of other early settlers in this district, who still live here we recall the names of Silas Hayes, who was first Post Master of Pilot Hill; D. Burpee, A. A. Bayley, oldest son of A. J. Bayley, and the present incumbent of the second Supervisor district of the county; Originally called Centreville, but now for Post office Wm. Buchan, at present Post Master, in office since reasons known as Pilot Hill, has retained more of the 1870, John Bishop, C. F. Briff, Hiram Stoddard, M. character of a mining camp of old, than most places W. Manning, of Cave valley. First school in Pilot in the country. The town is located at the north- Hill School District was taught by Mrs. Alice Galloeastern base of Pilot Hill, from which it derives its way, it was a private school supported by Bayley and name. The first mining was done in 1849, and the others, and was located near Bayley's present resifirst little store was opened here the same year, dence. John Bowman was the first blacksmith in in a common log building. Rich placers had been this community, since the Spring of 1852. He moved discovered, but as there was no water on hand, around considerably and finally settled on Bayley's the mining work had to be delayed until the winter ranch, where D. Burpee built a shop for him. The of 1850, when miners flocked in here from the river first white woman, at Pilot Hill, was Mrs. Avery, who MURDERER'S BAR. The derivation of this name as told by Mr. D. Fairchild, an old pioneer of 1849, and for years a resident of this county, which he only left to take charge of the Oroville Mercury, Butte county, is showing a true picture of early mining events: "Among the pio had been under the same circumstances at Oregon and respected as a liberal business man. But all the Bar The present hotel, a two and a-half story frame old settlers are gone except James Clark and Mrs. structure was built in 1854, and occupied for some Belsey Taylor widow of Wm. Taylor. years by Mr. Creque. Mrs. Jane McLagan is the present proprietor. There are still three stores kept here, two in town and Mr. Bayley's on Bayley's ranch, about a quarter of a mile northeast of town, where Mr. Bayley, in 1860, erected the present mag nificent and roomy three story brick mansion of the Bayley family, without any doubt, the most exquisite building in the county. There is a good deal of general neers of 1848, was Thomas M. Buckner, now a resifarming done in the township, stock raising, however, is the principal farming business; of late again some attention has been given to fruit farming and vine culture. During the winter months some activity prevails while free water abounds, and familiar faces of old times are seen in the old ravines, hunting for their hidden chispas. The outlook for quartz mining is most encouraging but the total absence of machinery to reduce ore, and the isolated location of the district, precludes the regular prospecting for quartz by miners who have to look out for present returns. Pilot Hill has a Masonic Hall, the property of Pilot Hill Lodge, No. 160, F. and A. M. dent of Spanish Dry Diggings, El Dorado county, who emigrated to Oregon from Kentucky, in 1845. When the news of the discovery of gold in California reached Oregon, several parties were immediately fitted out with the purpose to start for the gold-fields. Buckner was a member of one of these companies, numbering sixty-two young men, who made the overland trip to California, under the leadership of Captain Martin, and after some adventures of lesser importance arrived at Sutter's fort, on August 2d, 1848. While stopping at the fort for a few days, a party of sailors arrived from the mines with a considerable quantity of gold dust, and informed Mr. J. D. Hoppe, who The first Grange Lodge on the Pacific coast was was also there, and with whom they were acquainted, organized here in 1870, by A. A. Bayley; by reading where they had obtained it, and of the probability of a brief article on the objects and aims of the Patrons there being much more in the vicinity. Mr. Hoppe of Husbandry, he became so favorably impressed, immediately engaged a party of seven men, Buckner that he wrote for further information to the National being one, to go with him to the,Sailors Diggings.' Secretary, O. H. Kelly, Esq., at Itasca, Minn., from Having obtained unmistakable directions as to the whom he received, with the sanction of the National route and distance, they left the fort about the 10th, of Executive Committee, and in absence of a General August. In those days there were circuitous trails, Deputy, a special commission and the entire secret for though the objective point of the party, afterwards work. The Lodge was then organized on August proved to be the place, called the following year 17th, 1870, with twenty-nine charter members, form- "Rector's Bar," after an Oregonian of that name, on the Middle Fork of the American river. ing the Pioneer Grange of California. They proceeded to Sutter's mill thence northerly to Long valley (now Greenwood), over the ridge by Spanish Dry This was once a rich and active mining camp, sup- Diggings and down into the canyon of the Middle porting two or three stores and various other places fork to what was afterwards named 'Spanish Bar,' found around mining camps, John B. Hogg, after across the river and up the hill to the top of the ridge, whom the place was named, and doubtless the first where they traveled on the trail, made by the sailors, or one of the first settlers of the place, once picked up to the place now known as Bird's valley, and fixed a piece of gold weighing $1800; many pieces found their camp there. From here they went down into from $500 upwards. Hogg was a native of Tennessee the canyon of the river, in the morning, working dura man of fine culture and education, he had been ing the day in the crevices and returning to camp on Deputy Secretary of the State and Clerk of the Leg- the ridge at night. The only tools used by these islature in his native State. He was a successful primitive miners were butcher knives, iron spoons and miner and the first mining recorder of the district, and occasionally a small steel bar, and a pan, as they were continued as a popular man when going out of office. seeking for gold only upon and in the crevices of the He died at Hoggs Diggings on August 30th, 1875, bed-rock which the high waters of years had flowed about fifty-seven or fiifty-eight years old, and was bur- over and denuded of all loose material. The gold ried at Hoggs Diggings burrying ground. Many was coarse, and while some of the crevices would yield friends lamented his death as he was loved in society many pounds of gold, others contained nothing, this HOGGS DIGGINGS. rendered the success of the party variable, and though can, a few miles below Sutter's mill; traveled across generally lucky, when provisions began to get scarce, the divide, and descended into the canyon of the towards the rainy season, a separation took place; | Middle Fork, reaching the stream at a place where Buckner with two others, started unknown with the route, hoping to reach Johnson's ranch on Bear river. In this, however, they were disappointed, for the first evidences of civilization they struck were upon their arrival at Sinclair's ranch, opposite Sutter's fort. there was quite a fall, caused by an avalanche, years before, which had changed the bed of the river. "The month of April was not yet gone, there were no evidences of any work having been done by white men, but while traveling, the little party had observed "Knowing nothing about dry or ravine diggings, and signs of Indians, and, deeming any they would there believing the tales of trappers and others, that it meet would be hostile, on account of their small would be impossible to winter at the mines along the number a sharp lookout was kept. They remained rivers, Buckner went to San Francisco and thence to near the falls a day or two, endeavoring to get to the the redwoods, known as San Antonio, in the hills back bottom of the deep hole which was just below them, of the present site of Oakland, where Redwood-peak where the crude gold diggers imagined all of the is, here he found employment making shakes, pickets, large junks should be, if there were any at all in the whip-saw lumber etc., At that time these redwoods | locality; but not succeeding, they broke camp and contained scores of men of various nationalities and started down the stream. Captain Merritt, as an exprofessions; runaway sailors, beach combers, lawyers, perienced frontiersman took the lead. They had prodoctors, etc., all similarily occupied for present ceeded but a short distance, when they reached the necessity. head of a large bar, situated upon the South side of the river, and below them, some distance down the bar was a jutting point of rocks, beyond which they could not see. The captain was a nervous, excitable man, and when excited stuttered badly. When a few yards down the bar, he suddenly stopped short, bringing the train to a halt, and exclaimed: 'B-b-by G-g-god, he-he-r's wh-white ma man's ha-ha-r! Yeyes, a-and Injuns' ha-har, too!' And sure enough, so it was; there upon the pebbly bar above high water mark, among evidences of a plundered camp, was the white man's hair, strewn around with that of the Indian, silent evidence that the life of the superior race had not gone out to the great unknown unavenged and without a struggle. No bodies were found, but an ash heap close by, in which were calcined bones, told the story of the white and red man together. "Among these homogeneous spirits who were temporarily inhabiting the redwoods was Capt. Ezekiel Merritt, who had been a conspicuous character in the formation of the "Bear flag" party at Sonoma in 1846; during the winter an intimate friendship sprang up between Buckner and Merritt, and they determined to blend their fortunes in a venture to the mines, as soon as the proper season should arrive. Accordingly the two, accompanied by an Indian boy called Peg, whom Merritt had retained for a number of years as a servant, in April, 1849, left the redwoods and went overland to Knight's ranch, on Cache creek; Knight and Gordon, both old settlers in that section, were old acquaintances and friends of Merritt. "Upon learning the destination of his friend, Mr. Knight, with the hospitality then so characteristic of the old California rancheros, insisted upon killing a number of bullocks and jerking the meat, that the Captain and his companions might be provided with a sufficient quantity of carne seca, to ward off the chances of starvation, while pursuing their search of digging in an unknown region. Having prepared an ample supply of meat, Mr. Knight's generosity did not stop there, he loaded it upon one of his carts and sent it to the embarcadero, at Sacramento, so that the horses of the prospectors might be fresher for their mountain journey. At the time, a surveying party under Lieut. Warner, of the U. S. A., were laying out the streets of the future city of Sacramento. "Meritt and Buckner, assisted by Peg, packed up their animals, and first went to Weber creek, but did not like the outlook there, and advancing in a northerly direction, crossed the South Fork of the Ameri "Upon this discovery, the point of rocks ahead became a barrier post, beyond which the white men dared not go for fear of an ambuscade, and accordingly they retraced their steps to the head of the bar, where a large, smooth, deep stretch of water occurred above the ripple, while a small, low bar showed itself upon the northern side. At the extreme head of the bar, where they had found the evidences of death, they unpacked their animals in an open space of ground, and prepared for an attack. They remained in this position until the following morning, and no Indians coming to molest them, nor none being seen, Captain Merritt armed the boy Peg, and sent him around the point of rocks to reconnoiter. returned, and reported signs, but no Indians in sight. Thereupon all three, with arms in readiness in case of necessity, sallied forth for further explorations down He |