HISTORY OF EL DORADO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. COMPILED BY P. SIOLI. To our patrons and the public in general we here- | wealth, spirit and enterprise of her people. The first with present the Illustrated History of El Dorado twelve chapters have been devoted to the pre-AmeriCounty. The county in which the discovery of gold can history of California and the American conquest, was made, which in consequence has given the im- preceding the discovery of gold at Coloma; while the pulse to set in motion an emigration, entirely unknown following chapters treat the history of El Dorado before in history, and which kept on coming here for exceptionally in her connection with the State as eighteen or twenty years, thus gathering within her well as concerning her own affairs, and in particular care borders a population ranging from twenty to forty is given to the local history of her towns. Biographthousand, including all grades and classes of people, ical sketches of many of the most prominent men and but constituting a community of pride and power which old pioneers fill another chapter of the work, which is made El Dorado to become the "Empire County" of illustrated with many portraits of well-known men, and the State. Not only on account of the great discovery a great number of attractive views of the pretty homes, already mentioned that was made here, but also for the scenery, etc, throughout the county. If we have the reason that she is one of the largest and richest been successful in accomplishing these aims, as we counties in the mining district she was deservedly hope, we have to return our thanks to all who have complimented with the name she bears. rendered assistance to the work; in particular we are Though slumbering now since the completion of indebted to the courtesy of D. W. Gelwicks, Esq., of the Central Pacific Railroad across the Sierra Nevada, | Oakland, for his files of the Mountain Democrat, the she will come to life and activity before long to re- oldest paper in the county, as well as to W. A. Selward the energy and industry of her people and to kirk, Esq., and B. F. Davis, Esq., of Placerville, for place her in the rank which she always has deserved. generous use of their files of the Mountain Democrat From the beginning of writing the history of El Do- and the Placerville Republican, respectively. Finally, rado County it has been the most serious aim and we express our heartiest thanks to our patrons for their design of the publisher and the writer to give in a liberal support of the work and the interest they have most comprehensive and precise form the complete taken in having it completed with illustrations, etc. and exact history of geography, topography, climate But for their generous aid, no such book could have and soils, of resources and productions as well as of been published. |