A business transaction of considerable importance transpired in
Mariposa the past week, whereby F. T. Schlageter has taken over the
well known Huls Grocery.
Mr Schlageter is a young man, born and raised in this community,
and has a wide circle of friends who will be glad to see him make a
success in this new venture.
transcribed by Tom Hilk
Fresno
Bee, Sat, Feb. 2, 1929
HUGE TUOLUMNE, MARIPOSA TIMBER DEAL FORECAST
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Feb 2- An agreement filed with the recorder at
Mariposa a few days back at the request of Arthur H Fleming shows
that the White and Friant Lumber Company of Los Angeles agree to sell
to Robert C Gillis of Los
Angeles and to Arthur H Fleming of Pasadena
all of the immense timber holdings in Mariposa and Tuolumne Counteis,
consisting of over 11,000 acres.
Much of this timber is adjoining the timber lands held by the Yosemite
Lumber Company, but which of late, it is understood have been
transferred to the Sugar Pine Lumber Company of Fresno.
It is reported that the Sugar Pine Lumber Company will begin operations
in the woods near Hazel Green just as soon as weather conditions will
permit and that more than a thousand men will be employed in the mill
at Merced Falls and the woods during the coming season.
transcribed by c feroben
Fresno Bee
October 4, 1929
POWER COMPANY BUILDS STATION IN MARIPOSA
Mariposa-Mariposa CO- Oct 4- The San Joaquin Light and Power
Corporation is spending in the neighborhood of $30,000 in the
construction of buildings a sub-station on the Summit between Bear
Valley and Bagby. Included in the improvements is a four-room
modern dwelling equipped with hot and cold water, electric power, a
stable for the employee who will have to keep a horse to ride the
lines, a garage and the substation and building. F O Scott is the
foreman in charge of the work. From this point the service of
Coulterville, Bagby, Mt. Bullion, Mariposa and the mines and highway
resorts will be cared for.
HORNITOS
RANCHER GETS $45,500 Federal Loan
Fresno Bee
Republican, October 14, 1934
Mariposa (Mariposa
Co), Oct. 13-
Records filed here this week with County Recorder J W
PRATT show that George D TURNER of Hornitos, has been granted a $45,500
Federal Land Bank loan.
As a result of the loan, the county treasury is enriched to the extent
of $3,200 in delinquent taxes.
F A BONDSHU, who represents the land bank, reported that no other loan
in the county had exceeded $20,000. Bondshu has been able to get
more than $250,000 in government loans for Mariposa County farmers and
stockmen.
Turner's holdings consist of 6,088 acres near Hornitos and Indian
Gulch- transcribed by cferoben
---------------------------------
COVERED WAGON
MAKER DOES A THRIVING BUSINESS
Modesto Bee, Sunday March 22, 1959
by Nadine Wharton
HORNITOS, Mariposa Co- Reconditioning a wagon is just part of the
day's work for Al, senior citizen of this community. And the
market for covered wagons, in a day of sleek chrome loaded automobiles,
is "pretty good," Daugherty says.
Daugherty found himself in the "used covered wagon business the day
someone wanted to buy the picturesque wagon he used for advertising
purposes. He has reconditioned and sold three wagons since that
time, and is planning to start work on another very soon.Who buys
covered wagons today? Contractors and motel owners who use them to
attract business. Daugherty says he sold one wagon to a man who
wanted to "fix up his yard."
Just Found Himself in Business
Daugherty sells antiques and relics of the west from his rambling house
and ground just outside Hornitos. He "found himself" in the antique
business in much the same way he one day found himself making covered
wagons.
During the depression, and until recently when he recently retired,
Daugherty sold household supplies in Mariposa County. In the
tight days of the depression, a housewife who was short of funds would
pay in goods rather than cash when Daugherty delivered her order.
Daugherty soon found himself accepting everything from pigs to iron
stoves as payment, and he discovered many people were interested in
buying old relics.
Buys and Sells and Reconditions
Daugherty combs the hills of Mariposa County in search of the old
wagons which he later covers and reconditions. And if someone has an
old harness making outfit, or a wagon wheel, or some antique glass,
knows Daugherty will take it off his hands.
Today, Al and May Daugherty live and work at their Hornitos home. Part
of the Daugherty property once was mined extensively, but today grass
covers the diggings. Neat outbuildings shelter the wagons and the many
relics daugherty has collected.
For these two senior citizens, the years of retirement are busy and
productive, and certainly do not mean retirement from life. cdf
-------------------------------------
CATHEY's VALLEY NEWS
Fresno Bee
Republican, December 13,
1963
POSTOFFICE NAME AGAIN WILL BE CATHEY's VALLEY
Cathey's Valley-Mariposa Co- Cathey's Valley again will be the offical
name for this postoffice in Mariposa County, nestling in the lower
foothills, effective January 1st.
The change in name from Cathay to Cathey's Valley followed a petition
to
the US Postal Department by nearly 100 per cent of the residents in
that area.
Cathey's Valley is named for the Cathey family who originally settled
in this agricultural area and filled the bread basket for the miners
during the Gold Rush. They particularly provided grain and meat for the
entire area.
Said one Cathey descendent: "The women were almost too religious, and
the men loved to gamble and race horses." The Cathey's Valley Methodist
Church was started by this family, and the Mariposa Methodist Church
was supported by the Cathey's Valley Church for many years.
Descendent of the original Cathey, Wills, and Rowland families still
live in this picturesque valley and recall the stories handled down of
the wagon train days across the plains and mountains.
Gloria Palmer, postmistress of Cathey's Valley, announced the zip code
number of 95306 will remain the same after the name change. c feroben
CHINESE
HISTORY IN MARIPOSA COUNTY(click here)
CHURCH
NOTES
New
Catholic Church
Stockton Daily Independent
FRIDAY, 23 JAN 1863
MARIPOSA NEWS -- During the last year, says the ‘Gazette,’ many improvements have been made in Mariposa -- many of them being of special
importance, as indicating the growth and prosperity of that place; but there has been erected no structure deserving so much credit, or
adding so much to the beauty of the place as the new Catholic church. The enterprising citizens who have labored and worked and accomplished this are deserving of all credit. It exhibits an energy -- a religious devotion -- truly admirable and worthy the commendation of all good people.
The new church has been erected between 1st and 2nd streets, fronting on Main street, on a little eminence, and its steeple rises high over the
town. 2 blocks will embrace the entire grounds; the one on Main street containing the church and grounds, and the block in the rear -- 250 feet by
125 -- being intended for a cemetery. The selection of the site is well made; and it is capable of being rendered even more beautiful
than at present. The church is not entirely finished, but near enough to have been consecrated, in accordance with the rites of the
Catholic persuasion, on Sunday last.
Stockton Daily Independent- Mar 16, 1864
MINISTER "SURPRISED" – The congregation of Rev. J.C. PENDERGAST, of Mariposa, on the 11th instant surprised that gentleman by the presentation of $285.
Oakland Tribune,
March
3, 1939
Pope
Has Second Cousin in Mariposa County
Merced,
March 3- Father M J Stack of Merced said today that Ernest
Misio of White Rock, Mariposa County, was a second cousin of the newly
elected Pope Pius X11 and believed to be one of his closest living
relatives. Father Stack went to White Rock yesterday to notify
Misio of the election. He said Misio was in correspondence with Pius
XII when he was Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli.
Fresno Bee, March 7, 1939
PAPAL KIN AVOIDS PUBLICITY
(photo caption)
Angelo Ernest Missio, cousin of Pope Pius XII, is shown working as a
stone mason on a new home at Whiterock, Mariposa County, before he was
besieged with curiosity seekers who sought to question him about his
distinguished cousin. In order to escape the sudden limelight he has
gone into hiding in the Bull Creek district near Briceburg/
POPE PIUS' ONLY AMERICAN COUSIN FLEES LIMELIGHT
WHITEROCK, Mariposa Co- March 7- Angelo Ernest Missio, 50 year old
stonemason who gained nation wide publicity when his cousin, Eugenio
Cardinal Pacelli, was elected Pope Pius XII last Thursday, is taking a
temporary vacation from his work here and is reported idn seclusion
somewhere inteh Bull Creek country near Briceburg, where he has his
home.
Missio told friends here the publicity he received followintg the
elevation of Cardinal Pacelli to the papal throne was distasteful to
him and that he did not wish to bask in the limelight of his
distinguished cousin.
"After all," he said, "I'm still an humble stonemason despite the
exhalted position of my cousin. I am sure, too, the great honor
bestowed on him will not change his attitude towarrds his fellow men."
Missios's paternal grandaunt, Virginia Graziosi, was the nother of the
pope, and the local man, a native of Udine, Italy, was well accquainted
with his cousin when they were young men. He has many letters
which he has received from his cousin during the last twenty
years. c feroben
Fresno Bee, Friday, January 7, 1944
POPE's COUSIN IS FOUND NEAR CHICO
Chico (Butte Co.) Jan 7
Police said today , Angelo E. Missio, 52, cousin of Pope P1us XII, is
safe in a Winter cabin in the Philbrook Valley after being reported
missing enroute from Oakland on a supposed trip to visit friends in
Mariposa County.
A. S. Jones, owner of cabins in the valley east of here, said he rented
a cabin to Missio and Missio told him he intended to remain there
all Winter.
Missio, who had been working at the Kaiser Shipyard in Portland, left
his boarding house last July, telling friends he planned to visit
friends in Mariposa County.
Search for Missio was instituted by mariposa COunty's Undersheriff
Clyde C. Adams.
Adams reported to Oakland police Missio arrived in Chico last
September, purchased $700 worth of groceries and announced he was going
to the Carr Mine, to remain there until March of this years, Adams told
authorities he found Missio in good health.
COULTERVILLE
NOTES- 1937, 1941
COURT
HOUSE ITEMS OF INTEREST
(ed note- The Mariposa County Courthouse is NOT
the oldest courthouse in continuous use west of the Mississippi-
It is the oldest courthouse in continuous use west of the Rockies.)
Mariposa Gazette July 25th, 1891
exert from,
Monday, July 20, 1891
The Board of Supervisors met according to adjournment. Present- the
full Board. J. J. WESTFALL in the chair.
Bids for the construction of an addition to the Vault of the Court
House were opened, and the contract for its construction was awarded to
Chas. S. PEEK of Merced, with certain alterations and additions,
provided for in the contract, for $1,860, on condition of his furnishing
a good and sufficient bond in the sum of $1,000.
Supervisor Thomas HODGSON was appointed a committee of one to
supervise the construction of said Vault according to specifications,
and the auditor was authorized to draw his warrant in payment of amounts
as they fall due on such fund as will hereafter be designated.
(Thomas Hodgson was my g g grandfather)
Mary Ashworth Phelan
Alpine, Az
Fresno Bee, August 11, 1925
Mariposa-(Mariposa County)
Aug. 11- After seventy-one years the old Mariposa County Courthouse has
been fitted with water pipes. No more will court be recessed
while judge and jury descend stairs and cross the street to quench a
Midsummer thirst.
Incidentally the improvements
afford the first fire protection to the building since its erection in
1854, and progressive residents are in hopes that shrubbery and lawns
will soon adorn the spacious courthouse grounds.
MARIPOSANS FIGHT ALTERATIONS IN OLD COURTHOUSE
SERA Plan to Make Changes in Historic Building Hits Snag
Fresno Bee Republican, Sunday March 3, 1935
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) March 2- Agitation has been started by leading
citizens of Mariposa County against the projected alterations to the
Mariposa County Courthouse under an SERA program which calls for
rearrangement of partitions and offices in the historic building.
Recently, the SERA allotted $4,899 for remodeling work in the old
building, which was erected in 1852 (sic-the
courthouse was erected in 1854) , and for the constructin of
another story on the courthouse annex.
FAVOR ANNEX ADDITION
No objections are being raised, according to John L Dexter, local
publisher, against the addition to the annex but Mariposans are up in
arms agains the alterations i nthe old building.
Dexter contends that, if the situation were brought to the attentino of
the native sons and daughers and others interested in hisoric
California, enough money could be raised not only to presere the old
building in its original form but also to construct a new building.
WANT RELICS PRESERVED
"It seem sridiculous," says Dexter, "for the SERA on the one hand to be
allotting $10,000 for the study of old Mariposa County architecture,
with a view of preserving it, and on the other hand to be appropriated
money for the militaltion of the most famouns and historic old building
in the county. We have no objectin to the addition to be made to
the annex and we contend the annex can be improved and remodeled to
accomodate the business for which the proposed alterations in the
old building are designed."
All SERA work in Mariposa County was stopped temporarily yesterday
because lack of funds and the local opponents of the alterations in the
old courthouse hope in the interim to marshal enough oppositin to the
project to prevent its realization.
DOMESTIC
TROUBLES
Sacramento
Daily Union
,Tuesday Morning
,January 1, 1867
STATISTICS OF CALIFORNIA - 1866
THE STATE
June 26th=Mrs.
GREEN left her husband and child, at Mariposa, and eloped with James
BORDEN.
DUELS
Stockton Daily Argus
Monday, 27 May 1861
FATAL DUEL -- A duel took place in Marin county on Saturday between Hon. Chas. W. PIERCEY, from San Bernardino, and Hon. Dan SHOWALTER, from Mariposa, both members of the late Assembly. The weapons used were rifles and the distance 40 paces. PIERCEY was shot dead on the 2nd fire. The difficulty originated in a debate on the Union resolutions which passed the Assembly on the 17th inst., in which personal remarks were made by SHOWALTER. On account of this language, after the adjournment of the Legislature, Mr. PIERCEY sent a challenge to Mr. SHOWALTER. H.P. WATKINS, Senator form Yuba, and Sam. SMITH of the same county, acted as friends of Mr. PIERCEY; and F. SORREL, Assemblyman from Siskiyou, and Thos. LASPEYRE of San Joaquin, filled the same office for Mr. SHOWALTER.
Mr. PIERCEY was a young man, single, a farmer, and lived at Gorgonia Pass in San Bernardino. He was from Illinois, 26 years of age, and a Douglas Democrat. Mr. SHOWALTER is also single, 30 years of age, a resident of Horse Shoe Bend, a miner, a Breckinridge Democrat, and hails from Pennsylvania. transcribed by Dee S
EARTHQUAKES
Fresno Bee Republican, March
17, 1933
Kin of Mariposan
Killed in Earthquake
Mariposa (Mariposa Co)
March 17- Mrs. Edna Greenamyer, sister-in law of C. E. Greenamyer of
Bridgeport inn, Mariposa County, was numbered among the list of killed
in the recent earthquake in Southern California. She was a resident of
Huntington Park. Greenamyer went South for the funeral
MARIPOSA
IS ROCKED BY SEVERE
EARTHQUAKE
Modest Bee and News- Herald
Friday Nov. 12, 1948
Mariposa, Nov.12- The historic mining
community of Mariposa rocked Wednesday evening during what old timers
described as the worst earthquake in their memory.
The quake hit the town at
approximately 6:30 o'clock and most residents
rushed outdoors to see what blew up. Many thought it was the
neighbors' gas tanks or hot water heaters.
No damage was reported to
the various historic buildings in the
community. The quake lasted a few seconds.- c feroben
EDITORIAL
JABS
Stockton Daily Argus
Thursday, 20 Sept. 1860
*************************
THE MARIPOSA 'GAZETTE,' a paper which long since forfeited the respect
of the decent portion of the people of Mariposa, and which, in this
city, is better known as the Mariposa 'Varieties,' attempts to pass
judgment upon the "tone and respectability" of the 'Argus.' That's
refreshing!
FIRES
Because of the large amount of articles on
Mariposa County fires they have been moved to a page of their own.
Sept. 2008
FLOODS
Sunday, 27 Mar 1859 Weekly Stockton Democrat-transcribed by Dee S.
ANOTHER STAGE AFLOAT -- We learn that one of the Hornitos stages, running between Visalia and Hornitos, was swamped on Tuesday last while attempting to cross Mariposa creek, and 2 of the horses drowned. An effort was made to save the stage, but it had not been recovered up to our latest advice's.
The
Big Flood of Dec 1861
DON PEDRO BAR
Merced Express, October 30, 1936
EARLY DAY TOWN
NOW UNDER LAKE
An old California town, once teeming with life, now lies under 160 feet of water. This unusual addition to the lore of ghost towns was recently
revealed by members of the WPA writers project, now compiling the American Guide, a six-volume handbook of the United States.
The town was Don Pedro Bar, famed mining town of the gold rush days. From Don Pedro Bar, Well Fargo Express shipped over $13,000,000 in raw
gold. In the presidential election of 1865, the old town cast 1,500 votes for president of the United States.
Since 1923, Don Pedro Bar has been under 160 feet of water, backed up by the $5,000,000 Don Pedro dam. In the Tuolumne river this dam forms the
reservoir from which the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts are supplied. transcribed by Tom Hilk
THE HERMIT OF HORSESHOE
BEND
Daily Review, Hawyard, CA
December 6, 1965
Hermit
Gets His Christmas Supplies
MARIPOSA- The Hermit of Horseshoe Bend- in the rugged foothills
of
the Sierra Nevada- was visited over the weekend by Mariposa County
welfare workers carrying 400 pounds of canned and dehydrated food.
The 83 year old hermit- Italian born Pedro Anato- welcomed the
supplies and said it looked as if he would have a good Christmas.
Anato, a former gold prospector, has lived on the banks of the Merced
River near Bagby since 1937.
Waters of the Exchequer Dam Project will force him to move from his
remote farm in a few months. The old man admitted his tiny
farm is in danger and indicated me may simply move uphill.
County Supervisor Gene McGregor offered Anato a stone cabin five miles
above Hornitos on the Exchequer Road. Anato did not say if he
would accept.
The Daily
Review, Hawyard, California
December 19, 1970
OLD HERMIT
WILL NOT MOVE
Mariposa-
the old hermit of Horseshoe Bend is nearly deaf
and
almost bland at age 88, but he says he would never leave his mountains.
"He's quite and example of human endurance," Harry Harris, Mariposa
County fish and game warden said Sunday of the old man, who lives in a
shack he built above Lake McClure.
Harris, making his patrol rounds, delivers food to Pietro "Pete" Arata,
"but these are not handouts- they are regular grants he earned from
Social Security through years of hard work in his early days," says
Harris.
Harris has tried to persuade Arata to move to Hornitos, the Mariposa
County town from which bandit Joaquin Murietta operated but the hermit
has refused. "He was offered free quarters but turned them down,
" Harris said.
Arata said he "will never leave" a high bluff where he has lived since
1937, after years of working as a miner.
"I'm all right, but I need wood,' the hermit shouted Sunday through the
cloth-and-paper door of his lean-to shack.
Rising waters of Lake McClure, backed up by the new Exchequer Dam, have
covered his vegetable garden and forced him to move higher up the bluff
six times.
harris said he has tried more than once to convince the old man to go
to town and visit and eye doctor, but he refuses.
"He's never been to a doctor," Harris said. "He remembers when
doctors used to ride 50 miles on a horse to see someone. He
thinks a doctor ought to come see him."
An interviewing newsman reached Arata after a trip up the lake in the
boat of Sam Ruff, a retired Mariposa fireman.
Told about the hermits need for wood, Ruff said, "Tell him I'm going
right back home and get my chain saw. I'll buck him out some
wood."
The old man nodded when he heard a call of "Wood-Sam is going to cut
you some wood."
"Thank you," he cried. Thank you for wood."
Fresno Bee
Republican, April 22, 1971
HERMIT HAS
NEW HOME IN HIS MARIPOSA HILLS
MARIPOSA- The Hermit of Horseshoe Bend has returned to the hills of
Mariposa and to a new home.
Pietro Angelo Arata , 88, whose sight was restored through an operation
in San Francisco, has come back to Mariposa where he is staying at the
Clear Haven Guest House near Midpines.
Arata, who for years lived in solitude near the shores of Lake McClure
below Bagby, gained nationwide attention when he was found Jan 23
dehydrated, almost frozen and nearly unconscious in the woods by his
home. Nearly blind and hard of hearing, he had become last and
went without food or water for almost six days.
He was found, taken to John C. Fremont Hospital in Mariposa and then
to the US Public Service Hospital in San Francisco where surgeons
removed the cataract covering one eye.
Now he is back and apparently adjusting well to his new home. Mr.
and Mrs. Ira Fournier, managers of the home, report Arata is eating
well
and gaining strength.
For the Doctors at the US Public Service Hospital he has nothing but
praise.
"Fine and dandy," he says they are. "When I was at San Francisco
hospital I can't see nothing. Now I can see good."
About the guest home, he says, "I feel better since I come here. Sleep
and fresh air- I like the place find and dandy. I walk by myself-
of course I go slow, but I go along. Soon I expect to be stronger.
Thought Arata has been called a hermit, he is not antisocial. And
he claims he did not move away from civilization, but that it moved
away from him. He said there were about 25 miners living near him
when he settled down. And for many years the yosemite Valley
Railroad ran past his hillside home.
If Arata misses his tumble down shack by the lake, he does not say
so. When he arrived at the guest home last Friday he spotted
some goats in the yard and his eyes lit up. Now he goes for walks
in the yard of the isolated home.
FREMONT NEWS
Stockton Daily Argus
Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA
Friday, 20 July 1860
The Mariposa 'Gazette' learns that Col. FREMONT's family will pass
the remainder of the summer and early autumn, as last year, upon Mt.
Bullion. It is very cool and comfortable up there and very slightly
too, being some 5000 feet above tide water. transcribed by Dee S
Fresno Bee, Tuesday, December 5, 1939
FREMONT GRANT TO BE SPLIT UP BY JANUARY 1st.
Mariposa- Mariposa Co- The historic Fremont Grant, consisting of 44,000 acres of gold bearing and grazing land in Mariposa County, held virtually intact for the last ninety years, will all have been broken up into smaller holding by January 1st.Most of the land will have been sold to cattlemen of this
region.More than 100 former lessees and a few other buyers have recently purchased approximately 30,000 acres of the famous estate.
Judge Charles W Slack, attorney for the Mariposa Mining and Commercial Company owners, has been making the transactions under a policy of liquidating the land holding of the grant company, began in 1938. It was three ago, however, that large scale transactions began.
Placer Rights Transferred
Prospecting and placer mining for pocket gold on the grant, which has furnished a livelihood for hundreds of persons for almost a century will disappear as the new owners, mostly cattlemen, fence off the tracts.Among the larger purchasers of land in the past two weeks have been Louis Trabucco, 2,000 acres; John Trabucco, 1,280 acres; Frank Casaccia, 1,280 acres; Horace Meyer, 3,000 acres; Arthur Giles, 2,000 acres; John Marre, 2,000 acres; Frank Trabucco, 640 acres; Vance Uhell, 1,600 acres, and John Morrissey, 1,940 acres.A transaction for the
sale of 7,000 acres in the southwest corner of the grant is expected to be closed by January 1st.
Merced Group is Active
Raleigh Casad of Merced and his associates plan to lease under option to buy 2,000 acres near the town of Mariposa, known as the Mariposa Mine Extension.The principal shareholders of the grant company are the Hobart estate, Coleman Jennings, and Mary L. Jennings. They will retain mine holdings in the Mariposa, Princeton, Mt. Ophir, Green Gulch and one or two other areas of the Mother Lode.The Trebor Corporation's dredging lease will continue in force on Mariposa and Agua Fria Creeks.The price of the range land and choice lots has varied from $5 to $100 an acre.
NEWSPAPERS
NEW PAPER -- The Mariposa 'Free Press' is the name of a new weekly
newspaper published in the town of Mariposa by J.H. LAWRENCE. The 1st
number was published last Saturday. The editor in his salutatory
article characterizes the Administration as "revolutionary in its
aims and despotic in its ends." It's of the peace Democracy stripe of course.
TUESDAY, 27 JAN 1863-Stockton Daily Independent-(transcribed by Dee S)
----------------------
NEW
PAPER-Daily Evening Bulletin, San Francisco, July 11, 1856
The fist number of a new paper published in Mariposa, entitled the Mariposa Democrat, has just reached us. It is a pretty large and well printed sheet. Its opinions of the Vigilance Committee are moderate.
-------------------------------------------
Wednesday, 17 Sept. 1861-Stockton Daily Independent
TIRED of BUSINESS -- HOLMES, in the last number of the Mariposa ‘Gazette,’ says:
“We advertise in this number this paper for sale, and for sale low. We have conducted it, owned it,
and have had all to do with it for nearly 7 years. Blurs are on our eyes, and public warts
grow where warts are superfluous and uncomfortable. Any dirty, half-bred, lousy pup
has a right, as he thinks, to bark at and to question an editor's course, and if he don’t like it, bite [rest cut off]
-------------------------------
Stockton Daily Argus
Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA
Monday, 1 Apr 1861
IN TOWN -- Among the sojourners during the past few days in our city is L.A. HOLMES, Esq., of the
Mariposa ‘Gazette,’ a journal known throughout the State as the medium of the wit and humor that
flows from the genial pen of its editor. We note it as an item properly coming under the head of
“personal,” that HOLMES yesterday morning attended the Church of Rev. Mr. ANDERSON; and as it
becomes our duty to chronicle all important movements of distinguished literati, we would “also
state” that the interior press will this evening be ably represented at the Masquerade Ball of the “Blue” in the person of the jovial and good looking editor of the ‘Gazette.’
--------------------------
Stockton Daily Independent-
WEDNESDAY, 28 JUNE 1865
THE MARIPOSA 'GAZETTE' has entered the 11th year of its existence. It is decidedly the best and ablest of our interior weekly exchanges and ought to be correspondingly supported by its neighbors. transcribed by Dee S
--------------
Stockton Daily Independent
FRIDAY, 10 JAN 1868
CHANGE of PROPRIETORSHIP - A.M. SWANEY has disposed of his interest in the
Mariposa 'Gazette' to John F. HARRIS, a practical printer, long a resident of
that town, and brother of Thos. H. HARRIS of this city. Mr. HARRIS says, in
announcing the change in politics, "while the 'Gazette' will preserve a
reasonable independence, it will adhere to, and support the great Union party as
the political organization best fitted, by tried patriotism and approved wisdom,
to secure safety, honor and prosperity to our common country." transcribed by Dee S
------------------------
December 30, 1874
Daily Evening Bulletin, San Francisco- State News In Brief
Ex-Senator James H Lawrence, publisher and editor of the Mariposa Gazette has sold the journal to Angevine Reynolds, who assumes the control and management of the paper.
----------------
Angevine Reynolds moves to San Francisco
April 2, 1887 Mariposa Gazette
Our Expectations.- With a view to visiting San Francisco, we have been engaged, at intervals, for several months past, and with the assistance
of Captain DILTZ, in the execution of a large map, which shows the topography of the whole County in sections. All that portion of the
county north of Township 6, which embraces all the towns, mines and the entire length of the Merced river from east to west, as far as it passes
though the county and its tributaries, are shown on this map. We have taken special pains to dot down the best mines, the character of which
we are generally familiar with.
Beyond seeking to restore our health, if possible, we intend to devote considerable time to talking up our mines to capitalist and
mining men, and with the map, together, with the map together, with our personal knowledge, we believe we can excite interest sufficient to
induce capital to seek investments in the mines of our county. As soon as we can we shall establish for awhile, a headquarters, an office, in
San Francisco, where we can be found, and shall publish to the world that we are ready to talk " mines." Our mission will be to represent,
sell and dispose of all the mines we can belonging to Mariposa County. If we can be instrumental in brining capital into our county, and
develop some of our mines, it might entitle us us to a banquet by our friends upon our return, we shall strive to merit it anyway. To several
who have already written to us about there mines, or have talked to us personally, as soon as we get a few day's rest after our arrival in San
Francisco, we shall open our business, and shall expect to receive correspondence from all of them regarding their mines. Our address will
be made known through the Gazette as soon as we are settled. In the meantime, the Gazette, as we have stated in another place, will be under
the editorial control of J. W. CONGDON, Esq., who will be happy to receive correspondence from different sections of the county giving
items of news that will be interesting to the general reader. The Gazette wants items of a local character, and we hope our friends will
aid the Gazette in this particular during our absence. submitted by Bill Disbro
GOOD
TIMES
From
Mariposa Gazette - 1918
Page 86
OAKVALE PICNIC ENJOYABLE AFFAIR
The annual picnic given in the HUGHES field
at Oakvale Sat. of last week drew a large crowd from
all section of the county. Sports of all kinds were had
including bronco busting, foot races, horse races, etc.
FRED WASS carried off prize in bronco busting
contest and the foot race was won by LOUIS T. MILBURN
Mariposa won LeGrand 6 - 4 at baseball and a hugh
crowd enjoyed a dance given in STOUT'S hall at Oakvale.
submitted by Mary Phelan
Fresno Bee, May
4, 1923
The children of
Mariposa followed their annual custom on May day in carrying beautiful
hand-made baskets of flowers and goodies to the friends' doors.
This custom has been in vogue in Mariposa for many years and it is held
as sacredlly to the children as most of the holidays.
Merced Express,
May 21, 1926
P.W. ASHWORTH
While plowing his garden a few days ago P. W. (Winnie) Ashworth
uncovered a German coin bearing the date of 1726. The coin, which is
known as a Pfennig, is in almost perfect condition. It is made of
copper. The coin bears, in addition to the date, the words Pfennig,
Scheide and Muniz. Evidently the coin was lost many years ago by an
early miner who was prospecting on the Chowchilla, near where
Ashworth’s ranch is located.
transcribed by Tom Hilk
Modesto News Hearld- May 4, 1927
PIONEER FAMILIES TO HOLD ANNUAL REUNION NEAR LeGRAND MAY 8
Descendants of two pioneer families, the Turners and Helms, numbering about 300 will meet in their third annual reunion at the Savana (hard to read) school ground near LeGrand , May 8.
This year an added feature will be an invitation to any of the old pioneers of the state or their families, neighbors and friends to attend.
The oldest direct descendent of these families, Mrs. Francis McClure, living here with her daughter on Connejo avenue, came across the plains when she was 10 years old. B. C. Turner, living on Yosemite avenue is the oldest native born of the families.
The story of the two pioneer families is briefly outlined as follows:
Captain Nicolas Turner, as he was called, came first to California in 1848. He was a miner, later he centered his activities in the livestock business. Turner made three successive trips from Missouri to this state with caravans. On the last trip his brother-in-law, Allen Helm, and their families came with him. Neighbors and friends joined the company.
Driving cattle and horses before them they came through this valley and decided to stop and settle on Mariposa creek near Le Grand. They followed stock raising until the advent of the railroad through the valley in 1870 turned the country into a wheat section. They built the first house of worship and the public school in 1858. Many old timers from all parts of the state will attend the picnic. cferoben
PROFITABLE
HABIT
Port Arthur News, Port Arthur , Texas, April 3, 1930 page 19
MARIPOSA,
Calif. This habit of picking up things has
been highly profitable to Steve PENDOLA, pioneer miner of Bear
Valley. Recently Pendola picked up a gold nuggett valued $10
which he found in the road near his place. A few years ago he
found $500 in $20 gold pieces, believed to have been buried years
before and uncovered by rain and erosion- c feroben
Hornitos-
Fresno Bee, April 14, 1923
QUARTZBURG SCHOOL BENEFIT
Almost 400
people gathered at Given Grove near Hornitos on
Saturday and enjoyed a day of sports and entertainment.
A fine
beef donated by J P Gagliardo, stock raiser and
merchant of Hornitos, was barbecued by George Bauer.
Some excellent horsemanship was demonstrated by bronco riders, among
whom were Mrs. Arch Westfall, Arch Westfall, Joe Cahegut (hard to read)
and others. A ball was given in the evening at Gagliardo's hall,
attended by 125 couples. The proceeds of the day, amounting to
nearly $300 were donated for the benefit of the Quartzburg School.
cferoben
LOVELIEST BABIES OF THE
SAN JOAQUIN
Fresno
Bee, October 23, 1925
Division 7- Mariposa, Merced and Stanislaus Counties (transcribers
note: I am only transcribing the entries from the Mariposa Area.
This appears to be some contest with points awarded- A very large list
of names from throughout the San Joaquin district)
USONA:Miles Robert Kane, MOUNT
BULLION: Lucille B Cardoza, Joseph James Cardoza, Geoge Lozier,
Elizabeth Prowse, Ira Tournier, Eugene E. Warner MARIPOSA: Lois Brooks,
George Leo Carter, Ellen M. Hamlin, Harold Hogan, Lloyd Melborn, Eugene
McNally, Thelma Norman, Carolyn Jean Price, Elizabeth Scott, Nadine
Alta Trabucco, Ralph Walker, Madeline Wass, Russell Vernon Wass, Doris
Westfall, Ester Wilkinson, Ruby Pearl Zimmerman, Thomas Zimmons CATHAY:
Kenneith Neil Jones YOSEMITE: Joseph Dale Archworth (as written),
William Brautley Jr., Doris Irene Boothe, James Degnan, Alex B. Dugan,
James Walter Gann, George E. Grenfell, Betty M. Lloyd, Temple
Schlaster, JERSEYDALE, Frank Scott, Kenneth Waller BAGBY: Helen Rose
Nail, BEN HUR: John Hibpshman RAYMOND: Lewis Babcock, (some first names
are cut off completely or show only a few letters of the first/middle
name )....... Francis, ara Harless, ey Edith Lewis, Colena
Lollich, Luke , Preston, Marie Sparks, Vignol, Westfall,
Jr., Wignola (as written).
cferoben
Fresno
Bee, Wed November 12, 1930
GOLDEN
WEDDING CELEBRATION- ROWLAND/GANN
SELMA (Fresno CO) Nov 12- A golden wedding celebration of unusual
interest was held at Selma on November 2nd, 1930, when a group of
relatives and friends gathered at the home of Mr. and MRs. C G ROwland
on South McCall Ave. The date marked the fiftied wedding
anniversary of Charles G Rowland and Nancy Jane Gann, who were married
in Hornitos, Mariposa County, on November 1st, 1880. They made
their home in Cathey's Valley until 1905, then moved to Selma where
they have resided ecvery since and where Rowland ioerates a servuce
statuib,
The parents of both Mr. and Mrs. Rowland were early California pioneers
having crossed the plains in the 50's and settled in what is now-known
as Cathey's Valley.
The couple received many pretty flowers and gifts, and a buffet supper
was served in the evening.
The relatives who gathered to celebrate with the happy coule were Mr.
and Mrs. H J Rowland and children, Georgia, Maxine and Lorraine; Mr.
and Mrs. Fred Margrave and their children, Betty, Leonard and
Jaques; Hiram Rowland, Mrs. Lucy Smith, Mr. and Mrs. George Smith and
children, Adeline and Bobby, all of Selma; Cleveland Rowland of Fresno
and Mr. and Mrs T C Rowland of Mt. Bullion. c feroben
MARIPOSA
GROUP MAKES PLANS FOR ANNUAL FIESTA
Fresno Bee, September 2, 1931
Mariposa (Mariposa Co), Sept 2 The Mariposa County '45 (sic) Fiesta
Committee, October 60th, 17th and 18th, met with Louis Ringol of
Bakersielf, director of the fiesta, this week to make plans for the
celebration. Ringol will return here next week to remain
permaently until after the fiesta.
It was decided to entera section advertising the fiesta in the Merced
Roundup parage. John L. Dexter was appointed to organize the parage
section.
Mrs. Hattie Bertken was appointed chairman of the fiesta party to be
held at the hallin Mariposa Saturday evening. Dinner, dance and
entertainment are to be furnished free. Every one is urged come
in '49 dress. Misses Bernice Castagnetto and Marguerite Dexter are in
charge of the entertainment.
Last year more that 15,00 people visited the '49 Fiesta at Mariposa,
and its expected that the number of visitors this year will exceed the
figures of last year.
A free barbecue, lion hunt, miners' parade and tug-of-war are among
the events planned. cferoben
Modesto News-Hearald, May 27,
1933
HILL BILLIES WILL GATHER ON SUNDAY
Mariposa, May 27 --The annual reunion of the Hill Billies will be held
at Dan's Place on the Tuolumne River near Jacksonville Sunday,
according to an announcemnet by Mrs. Clyde E Smith of Groveland. It
will be the fourth annual reunion of present and former residents of
Mariposa and Tuolumne counties. cferoben
Nevada
State Journal -March 6, 1938
Mariposa Cal. March 5- A long time lodge membershp within one family
was established here when Frank and John Trabucco, brothers, who reside
in Bear Valley, were presented with 50-year pins by the Oso lodge of
Odd Fellows.
The 20th
WASS Child is born
San Mateo
Times, October 23, 1943
MARIPOSA, Cal., Oct. 23- Mr. and Mrs. William WASS today were receiving
congratulations on the birth of their twentieth child, and the mother
reported the twentieth "was just as much of a thrill" as the first.-
Fresno Bee
Republican, May 6, 1945
Mariposa Couple Fete Anniversary
MARIPOSA, (Mariposa Co.) May 3- Mr. and Mrs. Frank T. TRABUCCO of
Mt. Bullion celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at a reception
and party in their home.
They were married in Mt. Bullion and have lived there continuously
since 1895. Both are members of old time Mariposa County
families. Trabucco was born in Bear Valley in 1851. He
served as postmaster at Mt. Bullion 54f years prior to his retirement
in 1936. One of his most cherished keepsakes is a personal letter
from former Postmaster General James A Farley congratulating him on his
unique record.
When the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Yosemite National
Park and the Mariposa Grove in 1938, Trabucco met and talked with
him.
Mrs.
Trabucco is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs.
David Ashworth.
The Trabuccos have one daughter, Mrs. Paul Westfall of Le Grand.
Trabucco has four children by a former marriage.
Greeley Hill Reunion- 1959
MRS. MAY
BALLANTYNE WILL BE IN LIMELIGHT
Modesto Bee and News-Herald, April 16, 1970
The first introduction to Mariposa County for Mrs. May H Walker
Ballantyne was a stagecoach trip to Yosemite in 1910.
Since then she has come to know the territory and its people- and her
friends will be gathering in the reception room of the Mariposa United
Methodist Church from 1 to 4:30 pm Sunday to honor her on her
80th birthday.
Hostess for the afternoon affair will be her daughters, Mmes. James and
Frances Dulcich, and her daughter-in-law Mrs. Ralph Walker.
Romance flowered in Yosemite Pork, when the honoree met Charles Walker
and they were married in 1911. Four of the couple's five children
still are living, three of whom are residing in Mariposa.
Following her husband's death in 1929, Mrs. Ballantyne worked for 20
years in San Jose as a vocational nurse and returned to Mariposa in
1947.
Her
interest include fishing and lapidary work. She is
a past president of the Native Daughters of the GOlden West, director
of the Mariposa Tuberculosis Association, and belongs to the Butterfly
Rebekah Lodge.
She also is a member of of the Women's Society of Christian Service of
the Mariposa United Methodist Church, and Mariposa County Historical
Society.
She hs six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The public
is invited to honor Mrs. Ballantyne.cferoben
AND MANY
HAPPY MORE...........
Modesto Bee and News-Heald November 7, 1971
Mariposa -
Emmet PRESTON of the Oakvlae area, descendant of a pioneer Mariposa
family, was feted last weekend on his 87th birthday in a rather unique
manner.
The first day of the three day weekend was devoted to a wood-cutting
party by the men of the group, who cooperatively cut the winters supply
for Mr. and Mrs. Preston.
On Sunday all gathered for a potluck dinner at the ranch home in which
he was born and they have lived all their married life.
The festival also served as a homecoming celebration for a grandson,
Emmet Fiske, just returned from three years in Peru serving with the
Peace Corps.
Emmet Preston is the descendant of pioneers who came from Missouri in
the early 1850's by wagon train down through Texas and on to the
Boojack are in southern Mariposa County.
THEY VOWED "I
DO" IN HORNITOS IN 1901
Modesto Bee and News Herald, June 28 , 1971
DOS PALOS- Mr. and Mrs. George J Muller, California's longest married
native born couple, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary yesterday
at a reception held by four daughters and a son.
The Mullers, he is 94 and she is 85, were married June 26, 1901 in
Hornitos, Mariposa County, where Mrs. Muller was born.
She recalled, "It was a Wednesday and there weren't very many at the
wedding because the folks didn't have very much. A justice of the
peace married us and aferward george took me away to his homestead in
Madera County in a spring wagon. He was running (raising) beef
cattle at the time."
Mrs. Muller attributed their long marriage to "never both getting mat
at the same time." She added, "we worked hard all our lives and he
never drank or smoked."
Muller, born in Merced, recalls, "I used to go around with her oldest
brother."
What kept the Mullers together 70 years?
"She's got nine brothers and they're all bigger than me," he joked,
holding his wife's hand in a display of affection not uncommon,
according to many friends, some from as far away as Oregon, who came to
offer conglatualtions.
They were honored as the state's longest-married natives during the
California Bicentennial in 1969 and this year received a congratulatory
card from Gov. Ronald Regan and a telegram from Lt. Gov. Ed Reinecke.
The Mullers moved here in 1928 and after a period of dairying turned to
rice farming, which is still being done on their Millox (?) Road ranch
where they live. Their son Eugene now does the work.
Their daughters are Mrs. Eleanor Desmond of Turlock, Mrs.Mabel Angle
and Mrs. Grace Letlow of Dos Palos and Mrs. Genevieve Shadoworth
of Oakhurst- transcribed by cdf
TRANSCRIBERS
NOTE- A similar article in the San Mateo Times, July 02, 1971 gives
Mrs. Mullers first names as Madeline, and states that they raised seven
children, and that two sons are deceased.
Merced Express, July 5, 1901
MULLER–ARANCEBIA – Near Merced
Falls, June 26, 1901, by W. Ruddell, Justice of the Peace, at the home
of the bride's parents, George Muller of Madera and Miss Maggie Arancebia. -
submitted by Tom Hilk
------------------------------------------
EIGHT ENTER RACE TO BE MARIPOSA QUEEN
Modesto Bee and News Herald, Friday, July 11, 1969
Mariposa- eight girls are entrants in the Maid of Mariposa contest to
be held August 2 beginning at 8 p.m. in Mariposa Park.
Also entered are seven girls in the "Little Miss Amigo" contest that
same evening.
Kathleen Trabucco, 19 year old native Mariposan and local high school
graduate, who is sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, is a
brunette, stands 5 feet 4 inches tall and is an ardent horsewoman.
Born in Wawona but now living in Mariposa, Judy Phillips 17-year old
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Les Phillips, is another candidate. She
trains horses and is a member of the Pep Club, Garrett's Raiders, and
is a senior this fall at Mariposa High. She weighs 130 pounds,
stands 5 feet, 5 inches and has reddish hair and blue eyes.
Mariposa High
Sponsored by the Native Daughters of the Golden West, Judy Lundgren, a
recent Mariposa High graduate, is another contestant. She is 18,
weighs 120 pounds, stands 5 feet 3 inches and is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. John Lundgren of Mariposa.
Banky (Becky?)Pearson, sponsored by Fremont House, California Market,
Oasis Store, Cap's Lighthouse, and Pines Motel, is 17, weight 118
pounds and is 5 feet 3. A senior at Mariposa High, she served as
class officer twice was Girls State alternate, and is active in
athletics.
Tracey Bannon of Catheys Valley also will be a mariposa High
senior. SHe has engaged in school drama and music performances
and is a business major. Tracey, 17, is 5 feet 5 and weights 110
pounds. She is sponsored by Forestry WOmen, Yosemite Market and
Mariposa TV and Communications.
Sponsored by Mariposa Soroptimists, Gayle Lynn Croft, 18, is an
entry. She is 5 feet 8 1/2 inches tall and weighs 120
pounds. A recent graduate of Mariposa High, she was a member of
California Scholarship Federation for three years, recipient of a
Soroptimist scholarship and was Girls League representative at Asilomar.
Bear Valley
Leslie Rogers, daughter of Mr. and Mr. Earl L. Rogers of Bear
Valley, is a home economics major at Mariposa High and has won special
honors in art. She is 17 weighs 125 pounds and stands 5 feet 7.
First entrants were Sue Leslie, sponsored by the Greeley Hill Community
Club, and Judy Ann Roberts, sponsored by the Mariposa Lions.
Contestants in the "Little Miss Amigo" contest must be 5 or slightly
under. Entries include Tricia Williams, daughter of MR. and Mrs. Merle
Williams, Kimberly Hudson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hudson, Kim
Marie Vastbinder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Vastbinder; Joy Lynn
Hopper, daughter of the Paul Hoppers; Cheryl Hulbert, daughter of the
Kenneth E. Huberts; Teresa Tate, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Del Tate, and
Kimberly Kay Bates, daughter of Mr. Barbara bates.
Richard Blanchard, chairman of the committee, said the contest is the
only means of supporting the parade for the fair over Labor Day. He
asked the public to support the committee's efforts in sponsoring the
parade and also in giving opportunity to the girls.
WInner in the Maid of Mariposa also will compete in Sacramento and in
the Miss California-Miss Universe contest in Los Angeles.
Tickets for the August 2 Event are $2 for adults and $ 1 for children
under age 12.
HANGINGS/
LYNCHINGS
Mariposa
Chronicle April 21, 1854
THOMAS MANCILLA,
convicted of murder in
Bear Valley, and sentenced to be hung on the
21st inst. has had his sentence commuted by
the Governor, to imprisonment for five years in
the State Prison, and left last Tuesday, under
convoy, for the above "institution."
This is certainly a country in which the largest
liberty is allowed to the greatest number.
Come on all ye who have suffered from the
laws in other countries, and settle in the bosom
of this peaceful community. transcribed by Tom Hilk
The Alta
California, San Francisco March 01, 1854
Murder
in Mariposa- Two Mexicans Hung by the Crowd
From
Mr. Gould, one of the editors of the Mariposa Chronicle, who
arrived in this city last night, we learn the patrollers of a desperate
murder committed on Friday evening, near the ranch of Mr. Corbett, who
keeps a public house on the road between this city and town of Mariposa.
On
Saturday morning a man named Mc Closkey visited the house of Mr.
Corbett, and told him that an old gentleman named Nathan Pratt had been
murdered near his tent, and requested Mr. Corbett to go with him to the
scene of the murder. Mr. Pratt was an old man, between fifty and
sixty years of age, and much esteemed in the neighborhood, and when the
story of his murder was told, he consented to go, and on arriving at
the place found the old man dead, weltering in his blood, his head
crushed and horribly injured.
Information
was immediately sent to Squire Gaines, at Quartzburg, and
parties started out to obtain information who had done the deed.
Suspicion fell on the Mexican people, and a man started off to the
house of a man named Dolores, who when he saw them approaching,
advanced, and telling them that he knew what they wanted to, requested
them to hide while he brought the offender. On being
questioned as to how he obtained the information, Dolores stated
that on Friday evening, one of his servants ahd gone off, and did
not return until late in the night. Dolores accused him in being
engaged in something wrong, when the man faltered, and on being
pressed, admitted that he witnessed the killing of Pratt. Dolores
told him then that there was no use in his denying it any more, but
that he might just as well make a full confession. The fellow did
so, stating that himself and three other Mexicans had murdered Pratt
for his money.
On a
relation of these facts, the party took the Mexican, and carrying
him to the cabin in which the murdered man was lying, tried him, found
him guilty, and hung him up to the limb of a tree just in front of the
door. On his confession, sufficient information was obtained to
identify another man, a Chilean, and a party of six men dispatched to
Bear Valley in search of him. He was at work at the time they
arrived, and when the demand for his surrender was made, the MExicans
refused to let him go, saying that he should not be taken except by a
regular officer. A courier was dispatched to Quartzburg
immediately, when a company of forty started over forthwith. On
their arrival the Mexicans ace way, and the prisoner was taken over to
the place of the murder, tried and hung alongside of his accomplice.
Both of
them were found quietly , and booth met their fate like
hardened criminals. Their bodies are now swinging to the limb where
they were executed, and will probably continue to cast the wonder gaze
of the public until time and decomposition shall allow them to fall to
pieces.
The
body of the old man Pratt was buried near the spot of his murder.=
Stock. Journ
transcribed by cferoben
Weekly
Stockton Democrat
Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA
Sunday, 2 Jan 1859
EXECUTION -- Emeterio UGUES, convicted of murder at the last term of the
District Court, was hung on Friday, the 22d inst., in Mariposa. The
execution took place at 15 minutes past 1 p.m., and was only attended by
about 25 persons, including the officers, physicians, reporters and friends
of the prisoner. The 'Star' says the prisoner appeared very indifferent to
his fate, and died without a struggle -- his neck being broken by the drop.
After hanging 35 minutes his body was taken down and delivered to his friends.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Daily Argus
Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA
Friday, 16 Mar 1860
EXECUTION in MARIPOSA -- The execution of Dennis MAHONEY for the murder of
John KILLBURN on the 5th of Sept. last, took place in Mariposa on Friday.
The Mariposa 'Gazette' gives the following particulars of the execution:
The gallows was erected at the eastern end of the jail, in a space enclosed
to the height of about 20 feet. At 12 minutes past 12 o'clock, MAHONEY was
led from his cell to the scaffold, accompanied by Sheriff CRIPPEN,
Under-Sheriff HOWELL and Father AUGUER. The Death Warrant was then read by
the Sheriff. He was then asked if he had anything to say, to which he
replied by giving a full account of his difficulty with KILLBURN, closing
his remarks as follows:
"If I was placed in a similar position again I would do the same thing
over. I was defending my own life, and I do not think that I should suffer
death for it. I little thought, when 12 years of age, that I would die
ignominiously upon the scaffold. But it must be so, and I am willing to
die, although I die innocent of the crime of murder. I forgive my enemies,
if there are any, and I hope and trust that God will forgive me. I have
nothing more to say, further, than that I am innocent, as God knows, of the
crime for which I am about to give up my life."
At 15 minutes past 12, his hands were pinioned, the rope adjusted and the
cloth drawn over his face. He cried "God have mercy on my soul,"
repeatedly. At 20 minutes past 12 the pulleys were drawn and the platform
fell; and in an instant the spirit of Dennis MAHONEY fled affrighted from
the earth it had stained with another's blood to the illimitable realms of
God, there to be judged in infinite mercy.
The execution was witnessed by some 20 persons. It would have been well
could all those in this State have witnessed it, who are accustomed to
carry pistols in their pockets, and villainous whisky in their bodies.
The drop broke the neck, and no life was perceptible for an instant, except
a slight twinging and quivering of the muscles. After the body had hung a
proper length of time, it was taken down and buried.
MAHONEY was tried at the November Term of the District Court, found guilty
and sentenced to be hung Dec. 30th. He was respited twice, as in the case
of ELYEA, and like ELYEA, executed on the same day. The 'Gazette' adds that
it was not until the day before the execution, when the cloud of impending
death seemed to bound life's horizon, did he seem to be fully awake to the
horrors of his situation. He however maintained a wonderful degree of
composure under the circumstances, declaring his intention to die like a man.
transcribed by Dee S.
------------------------
IVY HANGING
San Joaquin Valley Argus
July 5, 1879
IVY EXECUTED. – The Mariposa Gazette Saturday last, contains a column
and a half article descriptive of the execution of Henry Ivy, for the
murder of John S. Royal. The main points of the article are that the
unfortunate man was hanged by the neck, in pursuance of the judgment of
the District Court, on Friday, June 27th, for the murder of John S.
ROYAL, and that: "The whole affair connected with the execution was
well and satisfactorily conducted," that at three minutes past 12, M.,
the lever was pulled by the Sheriff, the door fell, and that Doctors
Turner and Kavanaugh, who were present, "decided that the neck of the
victim was broken; that his heart ceased beating at 11 minutes, and his
pulse at 14 minutes." The taking of human life, in the manner described
so minutely by the Gazette, is truly a horrifying scene, and it is well
that the number permitted to witness such scenes is limited by law.
-----------------------
Julien LeDON Lynched
San Joaquin Valley Argus
February 4, 1888
JULIEN LeDON. His Funeral Takes Place To-Day. The Murdered Man's Remains Find a Resting Place in
the Catholic Cemetery.
The body of young Julian Le Don, who was so unceremoniously Lynched byunknown person, in Mariposa county, on Monday night or Tuesday morning last, was brought down here yesterday for burial. The funeral started
from the undertaking rooms of J. E. P. Williams, Main street, at nine o'clock this forenoon, Rev. Father McNamara, of the Catholic Church, conducting the funeral ceremonies; the cortege proceeded to the Catholic Cemetery, where the remains were buried in accordance with the rites of the Catholic Church. The mother and brother of the deceased were the chief mourners, besides whom a large number of sorrowing friends and neighbors followed the remains to their last resting place. The sudden taking off of this man in the prime of young manhood by unauthorized executioners - secret enemies, perhaps - appears to have been a most brutal, cowardly and unmitigated murder, planned and carried out in secret by men whom it would be base flattery to call cut throats. So
far as we can learn from gentlemen present at the Coroner's inquest, the hanging was done by two men only, who rode to the place of execution, one on either side of their victim to the fatal tree, where they committed the foul deed, and after unsaddling and turning loose the murdered man's horse, mounted their own animals and rode away.
So far as we known suspicion rests upon no particular individuals, yet it is probable that circumstances will lead to the detection of the guilty parties, and that the local officers will do all in their power to bring
the guilty ones to the bar of justice. The deceased is represented by neighbors as having been a peaceable, quiet, honest young man, who attended strictly to his own business, and had few if any enemies among his neighbors. But even if he had been one considered dangerous to the peace and quiet of society, the manner of his taking off is no less a foul murder, and the murderers should be hunted down and punished for the crime. submitted by Tom Hilk
LYNCHERS ARRESTED
San Joaquin Valley Argus
July 21, 1888
Since the lynching of young Julien Le Don in Mariposa county last January the local officers and special detectives have been quietly working the case up. This week the officers came to the conclusion that
the time had come to bring matters to a close and so they arrested Jim Westfall, Jake McGirk and a man named Smither's charging them with the offense. Le Don was hung, it is said, on account of some stock being missed, and as the above named men were in the stock business, suspicion pointed strongly to them, thus the arrest. It is said that more arrests will follow.
submitted by Tom Hilk
HORNITOS- The only incorporated city of Mariposa County
INCIDENTS REGARDING INDIANS
BATTLE OF HOGAN'S POTATO PATCH-
Mariposa Indian War
1859-squirimish
BEAN AND GIBBS
MURDERED -------1860
Stockton Daily Independent
Monday, 14 Apr 1862
-Shooting Affray -- Another of these affrays which occur so frequently between whites and
Indians, occurred on the Chowchilla last week. The cause of the trouble as usual, was on account
a difficulty between the squaws. It appears that a man by the name of WINDSOR, living at the place
mentioned, endeavored to secure a child or 2, to which he laid claim; the Indians resisted it, and
2 of them visited his camp. Shooting shortly commenced; WINDSOR firing at the Indians with a
double-barreled shot gun, and they at him with a rifle, wounding him mortally, as was thought. One
Indian was shot dead, the other was thought to be unhurt, but since was found dead -- so report
says. The wound of WINDSOR proves not a mortal one, as matters have turned out.
transcribed by Dee S
Stockton Daily Independent
FRIDAY, 6 FEB. 1863
INDIAN DESPERADO KILLED -- The Mariposa ‘Gazette’ says a Yaqui Indian desperado, named Colorado Jack, was killed on the 25th of January, near the town of Colorado, Mariposa county, in the following manner: “A party of men from the latter place heard that he was concealed in an old tunnel and on arriving at the place a dog was sent in. Jack, who dreaded a dog more than he did a rifle or 6-shooter, immediately came out and opened upon the party with a double barreled shot gun. The fire was returned and about 16 bullets put into him, killing him instantly. A Yaqui Indian, known to have murdered his partner some time ago, was also arrested in the neighborhood, on suspicion of being engaged in the murder of DATES, brought to town and lodged in jail. Tuesday he was handed over to the authorities at Coulterville.
San Joaquin Valley Argus
November 25, 1871
INDIAN RAID. – The Mariposa Gazette of yesterday contains a letter from J. J. Westfall,
an old mountaineer and one of the pioneers of Mariposa
county, that will probably create considerable alarm among settlers and
owners of stock in the mountains, as the writer predicts future trouble
with the Piutes and Digger tribes inhabiting the mountain valleys of the
Sierras east of this place. The Indians are said to be well armed and
assume a war-like attitude at their "fandangoes." It is probable that
they will steal sufficient of the stock of our people ranging in the
mountains to supply them with meat for the winter, unless measures are
taken to suppress them and make them afraid to commit depredations upon
the property of the whites. submitted by Tom Hilk
MASSACRE-1879
Mike DOUGHERTY and unknown Indian-
1872
INDIAN TOM BUSHYHEAD-
Killed by Lawrence, 1889
Nov. 16, 1923 San Francisco Chronicle
SPIRIT OF OLD DAYS RECALLED IN COURT SUIT
Age Pleads for and Against Claimant of Share in the Henry Castor Estate
SAN FRANCISCO THRILLS
Plaintiff, Half Indian, Makes first Visit to the City Appalled at Sights
The spirit of California in the days before fences "ruined" cattle ranges and gold was still taken from the ground by the crude methods of a half
century ago breathed again in Judge Dunne's division of the Superior Court yesterday when the old-timers whose memories still are clear, despite
advancing years, attempted to straighten out the tangle of Henry Castor's estate.
Claiming interest in that estate, as the natural daughter of Castor and "Indian Mary," is Tillie Castor, half-caste, and it was in her support or
against her claims that veterans of Mariposa county of a half century testified. There ranged in age from 70 to 88 years.
CLAIMS SHARE OF ESTATE
Henry Castor died last year. His widow petitioned for distribution for distribution of the estate, and at this juncture the claim of Tillie Castor
to a share in the inheritance, involving something like $20,000, was advanced.
Bob Wellman, nearly 88 years old, was one of the principal witnesses on the stand yesterday, He told of his long friendship with Castor in the early
seventies and asserted that Tillie, then a tot, was recognized as the daughter of Henry Castor in that far away period.
STATEMENT IS REFUTED
This assertion, however, was refuted by William H. Young, owning to 70 year, and S. W. Westfall, also advanced in years, appearing for Mrs. Castor, although Young said he had often "joshed" Castor about the Indian baby and that Castor had indignantly denied that he was her parent.
Scene of most reminiscences in the courtroom was the ranch of J. J. Westfall, the homes of other cattle raisers of the district and the Indian
village which stood on the Westfall home site. Bob Wellman is particularly proud of the growth of San Francisco, which
he has visited but once since the exposition, and the "new courthouse," as he terms the City Hall building.
What kind of people, these? queried Tillie Castor yesterday. "All night they no sleep. Noise, noise, noise. Don't people ever go to bed here?"
FIRST VISIT TO S. F.
Tillie had never been in San Francisco before. In fact, she has seldom been further away from the Mariposa hills than Merced. She finds the city
confusing and not to be compared with Mariposa county. Tillie admits she doesn't want to live any place else. She doesn't work she says, just "lives
around."
The case will be continued before Judge Dunne at 10 o'clock this morning and may be concluded today.
contributed by Walter Castor
INDIAN
LUCY 120 BOBS HER HAIR
Yosemite
Tribe Member now "Oldest Flapper"
Fresno
Bee , July 28, 1924
CAMP
CURRY-Mariposa Co, July 28
"Indian
Lucy" has bobbed her hair. Although her snow whte locks were
shrt before, they are shorter now. Lucy has adopted a bob of a
boyish style, right in accordance with the lates dictates of fashion.
One of her great-grandchildren is reported to have give her the cut
while half a dozen of Lucy's great-great-grandchildren watched the
inreresting process.
Lucy,
who has no other name, recently passed her 120th milestone, and
it is claimed that she is now the oldest living womqan, as well as the
oldent Indian, in existence. Visitors to the Indian Field Days in
Yosemite Friday and Saturday, August 1st and 2nd, will be able to see
Lucy inher tepee, surrounded by four generations of her descendants.
Since
the news of Lucy's 120th birthday was sent out from Camp Curry,
much additional informatino has been brought to light about her
history- a history that dates back to the dim beginnings of the
Yosemite as far as the white race is concerned, for Lucy was an old
woman-past fifty-when the first white men came to yosemite. They
drove all the Indians out later, but when some of the bolder braves
returned, Lucy returned also. And now, about eight months of
every year, she spends at her tepee harvesting a few quarters every day
from tourists who wish to photograph her. These she spends for
the few groceries she needs to keep body and sould togetherm, and when
the weather turns cold her great grandchildren take her down to El
Portal in an old weatherbeathen car to hibernate and await the coming
of Spring.
INDIANS
FEAR QUEER DOOM AT MARIPOSA
Oakland Tribune, Friday Evening , May 23, 1930
Tribal
Leaders, With three of Friends Murdered by Mystery Killer, Ask U. S.
Aid and Hire Body Guard
Modesto, May 23- Death, hunter of men, with three scalps already
dangling at his belt, stalks the Indians of the Mariposa region with
bloody tomahawk upraised and ready for his next victim.
So say the Indians, and so afraid are they of the strange Nemesis which
they believe lurks among them that they ahd appealed to the Great White
Father for protection.
Three deaths, all mysterious, all violent, have struck down Mariposa
county Indians during the last six weeks. One Indian has been
jailed, but the Indians, with the strange intuition of their race,
shake their heads and merely say that he is not the killer. Out
of their superstitions, their fear and the enmity of two rival
factions, the tribesmen have built up a fearful picture of the
killer something like the fabled "loup garen" which harassed the French
Canadians.
LEADER MURDERED
The facts are these:
The automobile of Billy Lances, Indian leader, was found wrecked in the
Merced river on April 1. Sixteen days later hid body was
discovered near his car. His will cut off Indian relatives and
left his estate valued at $70,000, to Abner B. Brown, retired
Mariposa attorney. An Indian uncle of Lances sued to break the
will.
Last week Billy Wilson, an Indian who was to have been a important
witness in the will contest and his wife were found dead in the orchard
near El Portal. The woman's skull was crushed. Wilson had
been shot to death with his own pistol. Their automobile was a
shambles, and signs of a tremendous death struggle were on every
hand. Mrs. Wilson's hands were securely bound.
FEAR STALKS INDIANS.
Joe Rube, brother of Mrs. Wilson, found dazed by head injuries a few
miles from the scene of the double killing, was arrested by Sheriff J.
J. Castagnetto, but will probably be released, no evidence having been
found against him. Authorities have tentatively adopted the
theory that Wilson killed his wife and then committed suicide, but this
ideas is scouted by the Indians.
Now every Indian carries a gun and glances furtively behind him as he
walks about. The valley is in a state of tension. Where
will this murder madness burst out next?
So great has the fear of the Indians become, so certain are they that
others of their number are marked for death, that one group has moved
to the Indian village in Yosemite National park to be under federal
protection., E. R. Klein, owner of the Indian Flat resort, has
appealed to the sheriff, the forest and park services and the San
Joaquin Valley Tourist and Valley association for aid in solving the
riddle before another death occurs. Klein himself keeps an armed
bodyguard with him night and day, and other wealthy Indians were
reported to be doing likewise.
LAW
ENFORCERS
Mariposa's New Posse Is Formed
Modest Bee and News Herald, Sept. 6, 1967
Mariposa- White-hatted riders of the new Mariposa County Sheriff's
Working Posse, modern version of an 1850 group here, will help Sheriff
Norman Garrett's regulars and aid in rescue missions.
The men, who represent every area in Mariposa County, may be called to
duty at any time by the sheriff and will serve without pay. They
also will act in public relations work for the department.
Equipped with new uniforms and badges presented when Garrett
administered the oath to them, the posse riders furnish their own
horses and pack and equipment to move mounts to any area in the county.
Uniforms
Posse members furnish their own uniforms of blue denim western shirts
and jeans, hat and white neckerchief. County authorities
issue the men shoulder patches and saddle blankets.
Serving in the new group are: O. M. (Mike) Overstreet; John E.
(Jack) Callahan and A. H. Jacobs, all of Bootjack; Guy D. Abby and Dale
Allison, of Usona; Robert Barrett and George Myers, of Hornitos; George
C. Sevell, Mariposa; Warren Sterns , of Raymond; Clifford L. Moore, of
Westfall; Donald M. Phillips, of Darrah; Frank Leonard, Jerseydale; Ted
England, of Mormon Bar; Eddie Mankins, of Cathey's Valley; and Laverne
Greeley, of Greeley Hill.
LAWSUITS/LEGAL
NEWS
MONDAY, 6 JAN 1868
Stockton Daily Independent
A HARD ROAD to TRAVEL - On Friday night, about 9 o'clock, Judge
DEERING, General BOOKER, Mr. DUDLEY, Dr. CLARK and D.W. PERLEY, arrived
from Mariposa, having left that place on Monday, Dec. 30th. Messrs.
DUDLEY and BOOKER were employed in the defense of SWANEY, and Mr.
PERLEY assisted the prosecuting attorney in the same case. On Monday,
BOOKER and DUDLEY arrived at Merced Falls, 6 miles from Snelling,
shortly after dark, procured a private conveyance and reached Snelling
at 11 o'clock the same night. The bad condition of the roads compelled
them to remain at Snelling 2 days. At this point they were joined by
Judge DEERING, Dr. CLARK, and Mr. PERLEY, and the Company afterward
traveled together. From Snelling they found their way to the Tuolumne
river; crossed the river in a small boat and arrived at the house of
Mr. SALTER, where they found comfortable quarters. The next morning
they procured a wagon (one which had never been ornamented with
elliptic springs) and started for Dry Creek, arriving at the
latter place just an hour and a half too late to find the Stockton
stage. The party pushed on with their own vehicle, however, and reached
French Camp a quarter before 7 o'clock on Friday night, procured other
private conveyances at that place and arrived in this city about 9
o'clock the same night. transcribed by Dee S
MONDAY, 4 MAY 1868
Stockton Daily Independent
H.C. ERVINE, for some time a teacher in the public school at Mariposa,
the
'Mail' of the 2d instant says, is a fugitive from justice, it having
been
ascertained the latter part of last week that the wretch was in the
habit of
taking indecent liberties with the persons of several children of his
school, and that he had actually made a criminal assault upon 1 of
them.
Complaint was made before Justice McVicar, a warrant was issued, and on
Friday morning last the accused was arrested in his school room by
Constable
Foisey. Judge McVicar held him under $1000 bond to appear for
examination on
Saturday morning. He spent the day, in charge of the officer, in
fruitless
attempts to procure bail, and about dark asked Mr. Foisey to allow him
to go
to his lodgings for some clothing, before going to jail. The prisoner
entered the house where he lodge, Foisey remaining at the door. And
that was
the last that was seen of him. The scoundrel slipped out the back way
and it
is supposed escaped to the chaparral on the mountains west of
town.
submitted by Dee S
Monday 4, May 1868
Stockton Daily Independent
DISTRICT COURT - This Court opened yesterday morning, Judge CAVIS
presiding.
Waiving the usual proceeding of calling the Court immediately proceeded
to
impanel a jury to try the case of the People vs. A.N. SWANEY, indicted
with
Adelia SEALE, for the crime of murder, committed in Mariposa county
some
time last Fall, by poisoning one J.W. SEALE. The prosecution on the
requirement of the defense elected to try A.M. SWANEY first. The day
was
spent in empanelling a jury, and the following persons were accepted as
the
jury:
C.T. MEADER
H. RAMSEY
D.C. FUGITT
Henry WILSON
D.W. CARD
S. FOREMAN
W.P.H. CAMPBELL
G.L. DOUGHERTY
Robert WINTERS
W.H. BEDORD
Henry A. SMITH
T.P. WILLIAMSON
Monday 4, May 1868
Stockton Daily Independent
THE SWANEY-SEALE CASE - This case, transferred from Mariposa
county, is set
in the District Court for today. A very large number of witnesses has
been
summoned, many of whom arrived yesterday. The Mariposa 'Gazette' gives
the
list of names as follows, those marked with a star (*) being summoned
both
on the prosecution and the defense:
Prosecuting witnesses -
Dr. J.T. TURNER
Dr. J.F. BEDFORD
Geo. W. ETLEY
C. BOGAN
John HESLER
J.B. CAMPBELL
J.D. CRIPPEM
R.S. FOIZEY
D. RAMSDEN
Mrs. E.S. TERRY
E.S. TERRY
Mrs. M.A. GUARD
Mrs. M.A. GREEN
Mrs. A.F. WASHBURN
R.W. BARCROFT
R.H. FLEMING
J.J. COOK
David EGENHOFF
Wm. TERRY
J.H. SMILIE
C. NELSON
B.H. SKELTON
Mrs. J. SKELTON
S.C. BATES
T.C. WEST
Alex DEERING
For the Defense -
*E.S. TERRY
*John HESLER
*J.B. CAMPBELL
*Mrs. E.S. TERRY
*J.H. SMILIE
James QUERIOLO
John KELLET
J.D. TATE
*J.J. COOK
J.W. THOMAS
E. FORAN
G.W. TEMPLE
Amassa MULLEN
Chas. E. PEREGOY
F.W. MELLO
J.F. MYERS
Cyprian LARGARIQUE
Mrs. C.G. LIND
Joseph LIND
G.S. MILLER
Mrs. Jane GALLISON
G. CARDWELL
C.G. LIND
Geo. A. HAYES
Dr. W.S. KAVANAUGH
Peter GORDON
A. ALEXANDER
Chas. MENSING
A.H. WASHBURN
*Alex. DEERING
H. DAVANAY
Adelia SEALE
Mariposa Gazette
November 24, 1871
PATE ACQUITTED
Acquitted--The trial of F. M. Pate, before Judge Lovejoy on
Wednesday last, on a charge of falsely branding cattle, resulted
in an acquittal. It was a just verdict. Mr. Pate is an old
resident of the county, his character for honesty and integrity
has never before been called in question,
and is as good now as ever. Appearances indicate an attempt on
the part of the prosecuting witness to gratify a personal spite.
It is a poor way to get even on an old grudge.
submitted by Steve Miller
Nancy
J (BOLTON) Hart-
lawsuit over cattle , 1890
The Evening Bee
Sacramento, Cal.
Thursday, November 23, 1905
MURPHY vs BONDSHU
Upheld the Lower Court - The Appellate Court has rendered a decision in the
case of C.H. MURPHY vs. F.A. BONDSHU, Auditor of Mariposa County, in which
it upholds the decision rendered by the lower Court. (need to see what this was about!)
CLARK-Feb 10, 1910-Mariposa Gazette
Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Smith of Le Grand were in Mariposa Monday on business connected with the estate of the late John W. Clark. Mrs. Smith is the principal beneficiary under the will left by Mr. Clark.
Branson testifies at Hornitos - 1927
1927
CRUELTY CHARGED IN ACTION AT MERCED
Modesto News-Herald, November 1, 1927
Merced- Oct 21- Charging that her husband, J J Dulcich, was possessed of a violent temper and selfish disposition, Mrs. Mary P Dulcich filed suit for divorce here to-day charging cruelty. Mrs. Dulcich declared that when she refused to accede to his "unreasonable" demands, he called her names and told her any man who lived with her was a darn fool and that she knew where the courthouse was and what she could do." The couple were married in Mariposa County on June 25, 1927, and separted twenty seven days later.
EX POLICE CHIEF OF MERCED HELD AS CATTLE THIEF
Fresno Bee, Friday, July 15, 1938
Wayne WESTFALL, Now Candidtate For Sheriff, Is Accused At Mariposa
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) July 15- Wayne E Westfall, former chief of police of Merced and now a candidate for sheriff of Mariposa County, is in fail here today on a charge of cattle stealing.
he is accused with two Pea Ridge men, Slaire Wolfsen and Hampton W. Peterson.
Wolfsen and Peterson were released from jail late yesterday when each posted $1,000 bail. Westfall, unable to make similar bail immediately remained in jail.
Steer Is Stoot
The three men are charged with shooting a fat 2 year ol steer belonging to O. B. Price of Raymond and dividing the meat.
Sheriff J. J. Castagnetto, whom Westfall opposes for election, says the trio drove the steer from the Price ranch in the Pea Ridge district to the adjoining Best ranch where Wolfsen was employed.
A fourth man, not yet under arrest, skinned and butchered the animal, the sheriff says, an dthe hide an head were hidden in a pile of rocks on the ranch. The hide, still bearing the Price brand, and the head were found by Castagnetto. The theft occurred April 28th.
The sheriff declares both Wolfsen, and Peterson have confessed. Westfall has refused to talk.
Sheriff Castagnetto and John Birkhead, investigator fo rthe California Cattlemens Association, arrested Peterson Wednesday night, Wolfsen Thursday morning and Westfall last night.
Peterson Faces Two Charges
Besides being charged with cattle stealing, Peterson faces an additional count of altering earmarks on a steer owned by Price. A statement signed by Peterson says he sold the animal to a Le Grand man. The proported confession also states Peterson stole two unbranded calves, proably belong to Price and James Scurlock.
The Pereson confession names Westfall as the only man of the group of four who carried a gun at the time of the theft. It does not directly accuse the former officer of shooting the animal but states he was seen to put his gun back into his pocket after the shooting.
Price signed the complaints against the three men.
Westfall was dismissed form the position of chief of police of Merced in April, 1936, following a change of city administration. He subsequently moved to the Usona district in Mariposa County.
Modesto Bee and News-Herald, March 8, 1938
WHIPPING POST IS APPROVED BY JUDGE TRABUCCO
San Francisco- March 8- The whipping post for husbands who beat their wives received the spproval yesterday of Superior Judge J J Trabucco of Mariposa County.
Judge Trabucco, sitting pro tem on the SAn Francisco bench, has heard several cases recently of husbands whipping thier wives. WHile declining to apply his remarks to the specific cases before him, Judge Trabucco remarked: "In proven cases of wife beating, I believe the whipping post would be a good thing. It ought to have a most salutary effect and would teach him a lesson. Chances are a man who would beat a woman couldn't take a beating himself.
"Women go to court every day complaining of having been struck, slapped, cuffed, kicked and beaten by a drunken or vicious husband.
"If these men knew they would be beaten themselves, they probably would think twice before striking a woman."
The judge said that before a man is subjected to a beating, it would be proved beyond a doubt that he did strike a woman. cferoben
LOGGING
HUGE TUOLUMNE, MARIPOSA TIMBER DEAL FORECAST
Fresno Bee, Feb 2, 1929
Mariposa (Mariosa Co) Feb 2- An agreement filed with the recorder at Mariposa a few days back at the request of Arthur H Fleming shows that the White and Friant Lumber Company of Los Angeles agree to sell to Rovert C Gillis of Los Angeles and to Arthur H Fleming of Pasadena all
of the immense timber holdings in Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties, consisting of over 11,000 acres.
Much of this timber is adjoining the timber lands held by the Yosemite Lumber Company but which of late, it is understood, have been transferred to the Sugar Pine Lumber Company of Fresno.
It is reported that the Sugar Pine Lumber Company will begin operations in the woods near Hazel Green just as soon as weather conditions will permit and that more than a thousand men will be employed in the mill at Merced Falls and the woods during the coming season.
Fresno Bee, November 5, 1930
LOGGING ENDS IN MARIPOSA
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Nov 5- The Yosemite Lumber Company, which hs been logging the past season in the virgin sugar pine belt near Hazel Green, suspended oeprations in the woods Monday. The camps were scheduled to close on October 29th but the date was suspended on account of the detrailing of one of the logging cars on the incline. With all minor repais made, the empty cars were lowered to the foot of the incline.
In the six months that the company had been operating, a total of 7, 816 carloads of logs were sent down the incline and on to the mills at Merced Falls.
Transportation onthe steeop incline railway of the Yosemite Lumber Company in the Merced River Canyon was suspended for many hours last week, due to one of the logging cars having jumped the track.
No one was injured, but the car was demolished and the track badly damaged.
MAYHEM
BUILDING BLOWN
DOWN IN HEAVY GALE- 1896
Pg. 104 Coulterville 1896
SF Chron. Tues. Mar. 3, 1896
"Coulterville Mar. 2. At 5 o'clock this morning, during a heavy southeasterly
gale, a large three-story hotel building under construction on Merced street
in this city was blown down. The building was nearing completion and would
have been ready for occupancy in a fortnight. No one was injured. The loss falls
on the contractors and bondsmen, who estimate it at $1750. The building was
being erected by Dick WALSH of the Mountain House for Joseph DOYLE of the
Jeffrey Hotel. It was the largest building ever erected in Coulterville."
Transcribed form the SCHELLENS COLLECTION
Walter Castor
RURAL PEACE DISTRUPTED BY
PLANE'S VISIT
Fresno Bee, Monday, May 14, 1928
Mariposa-(Mariposa Co) May 14- A prominent resident of the
historic town of Hornitos relates a very amusing incident that took
place in that town a few days ago and of the great consternation
that prevailed when the airpance of Lou Foote, a Merced flier,
made landing here. He told how the donkeys and the calves, the
cows and the horses, the fowls and pigs sought cover and
protection upon the aopproach of this great seething flying monster of
the air. It was some hours before the animals became quieted and
willing to proceed with the usual methods of gaining a livelihood.- cdf
Courthouse Clock Vandalized- 1930
MILITARY
NEWS
Monday, 3 Mar 1862-Stockton Daily Independent
CALIFORNIA REBELS -- The Mariposa 'Gazette' of Feb. 18th says:
Rumor says that several persons well known in this county [Mariposa]
are now fighting in the rebel army. In what way it comes, except that
a little of news leak's out privately from time to time, it is hard
to make. However, it is quite probable that Billy POWELL is captain
of an Alabama company, and that McALISTER is a private in the same.
B.B. HARRIS, when last heard from, was at Richmond, Va.; undoubtedly
connected with the army. So was Phil. HERBERT. It is further reported
that Capt. POWELL, at Mormon Bar, with his small party succeeded by
taking a mountain trail in evading United States troops and posts,
and now is far on his way home. transcribed by Dee S
FRIDAY, 8 MAY 1863- Stockton Daily Independent
RECRUITS -- Lieutenant L.M. GARDNER, of Company
L, 1st Cavalry, C.V., arrived in this city yesterday, with 15 recruits for his company. They
were all obtained at Mariposa and Hornitos, within the last fortnight, and are a fine,
intelligent, sober lot of men. This raises company L to 52 men.transcribed by Dee S
SATURDAY, 9 July 1864- Stockton Daily Independent
UNIONISM of the JEWS – Mr. George SILVERBRICK, a Jew, recently from the Union Army, where he served 2 years, arrived in this city the other day on his way to Mariposa, on a visit to a brother and sister which he has not seen for 16 years. He says that he has no means of knowing the sentiments of the Jew in California in regard to the war; but he vouches for their loyalty generally throughout the States struggling against the rebellion. He is from New York and served in the 31st New York Volunteers. During the term of his service he fought under 4 different Generals: 1st, under McDOWELL, at Bull Run; 2d, under McCLELLAN, at the 7 days' fight near Richmond, at Malvern Hill, West Point, Yorktown and Antietam. His 3rd commander was General BURNSIDE, at Fredericksburg; and 4th, under Joe HOOKER, at Fredericksburg and across the Rappahannock. He was taken prisoner twice – once under McCLELLAN and once under HOOKER. He was shot in the thigh at Sabbath Station, and was cured of his
wound by rebel surgeons. He says that there were 450 Jews in the same regiment, 17 of whom only are now surviving, the rest having all been killed in battle or died from wounds. In the 66th New York there were 550 Jews; in the 38th, 335. In the 7th, 11th & 20th New York Regiments there were also many Jews in the ranks; also hundred could be found in the volunteer regiments of other States. He says the Jews of the North and West are loyal to the core, and as substantially true to the Union cause and strongly opposed to the rebellion as any class of citizens in the country.
transcribed by Dee S
Oct 15, 1866, Stockton Daily Independent
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY -- A Mr. SCOTT, formerly a resident of Princeton, Mariposa county, says the 'Gazette,' received tidings a few days ago from his old home in Burnett county, Texas -- to the effect that his father, Judge SCOTT, and brother, had been assassinated by the rebels on account of their Union sentiments. A brother of Jim LAMON was forced to leave the country and take up his abode among the Camanches, where he says, life is much safer than among the newly reconstructed rebels. transcribed by Dee S
MINING
- Good and
Bad
"San Francisco
October 9, 1850
"Mr. John Richard NORRIS
Mariposa
"Dear Sir
"In addition to being made satisfied that this new ledge of quartz is
rich and extensive enough to warrant an expenditure to procure and put
in
operation heavy machinery upon it, I want to know if the way is open to
it so
that ox teams or mule teams and waggons with the machinery or necessary
implements of work and for use can be got there. Is the way to it to go
to
MARIPOSA or is the way to it meaner or better after crossing the MERCED
River
to take a new route without going to FREMONT Road or MARIPOSA.
" Would it not be best for you to get some Mexican Mulatos or some man
you can depend on to go for a day or two and ascertain all about a road
to
this ledge if you find it really valuable to work on. Mr. RHODES says
his
machinery has arrived but he did know when he should be able to get it
out of
the vessel. He has some hope or expectation of putting it up somewhere.
"I heard today in a letter from Mr. BROCKWAY who says he has contracted
for machinery and it is now being prepared with all sorts of modern
improvements as are judged wise and best. But if cannot of course be
got here
for some long months to come and if I could have such a description of
the
kind of machinery adapted t use I am in favor of buying tghem and not
wait(that is if I can buy any here.)
"And so get to work as soon as possible with such machinery as will get
out the GOLD fast. I want to hear often from you as to what you as well
as
others are doing or have done. I want you to get out if possible some
very
rich specimens and send to me. Mr.UPTON who had my quicksilver machine
is here
or was a few days ago. I hope you can send and get my machine and all
belonging to it quicksilver and all and find a use for it or a sale for
it as
well as for my tools you was to get at STOCKTON.
Yours Truly,
Wm.
H. DAVENPORT"
"P.S. The machine was left by UPTON at MARK's ranch just above water
ferry."
note from BOB, Tue, 2 Feb 1999
FOLKS: I have furnished photcopies of this and the, March 31,
1851,
letter to the Mariposa Museum and History Center in Mariposa. I
understand
that they and some other ggf materials are at the Center in our Norris
folder.
Take a look sometime - if your ever there with nothing better to do:-))
Have a nice day,
Bob Norris in Dallas
Phantom at Sam Penders Mining Shack? 1854
Daily Evening Bulletin, San Francisco, CA Friday,
November 20, 1857,
Issue 38; Col B
MINING AT PHILLIPS' AND BROWN'S FLAT , MARIPOSA COUNTY
At Phillip's Flat the miners generally are in a transition state, from
river to flat and hill diggings. The claims in the river bed have
turned out to be a perfect failure. Floyd & Co have just
taken out
their flume, and another company adjoining, after losing about five
hundred feet, are engaged in tasking out the remainder.
Several
parties are doing very well below, at Brown's Flat, one company making
fifteen or sixteen dollars per day to the hand. The people here
seem
to be industrious- nobody loafing- and notwithstanding that many have
lost heavily by river operations, on one is cursing his luck.
They are
a reading community too, and have a library of about 300 volumes in the
camp-~ Mariposa Gazette
KILBURN- mining
accident- 1858
Stockton Daily Democrat, Jan 31, 1858
A man by name of Richard KILBURN fell into a deep shaft at Horseshoe
Bend, on the night of the 13th inst., breaking both of his legs, and
otherwise sustaining severe injury.
transcribed by Dee S.
FUNK-- mining accident- 1858
Weekly Stockton Democrat
Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA
Sunday, 18 April 1858
FOUND DEAD -- Mariposa 'Gazette'
The body of a man by name of Samuel FUNK was found at a Quartz Mill on
Gentry's Gulch, on Wednesday evening last. It is supposed that in
attempting to arrange some of the machinery about the batteries, he was
caught by the wheel which was revolving, carried over with it and
instantly killed. His head was horribly crushed. The deceased has been
long and favorably known in that neighborhood as an honest and
industrious man. He owned an interest in one of the rich veins in that
section, together with the mill at which he was working, and which he
and a Mr. PALMER had but recently constructed.
McLENNAN -
Drowns- 1858
Weekly Stockton Democrat
Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA Sunday, 1 August 1858
DROWNED -- Mr. Hugh McLENNAN, citizen of Mariposa county, was drowned in
the Merced river, on the 22d inst. He had gone in the river to mine, when
getting in deep water he drowned before assistance could be rendered him.
transcribed by Dee S.
The San Andreas Independent
San Andreas, Calaveras County, CA
Saturday, 22 October 1859
FATAL ACCIDENT -- We learn by the Sacramento ‘Standard,’ that Mr. D.N. HUNT, for several years Sheriff of Sacramento county, was killed at a quartz mill in Mariposa county on the 12th instant, by having his head crushed in the machinery. Deceased was a gentleman of high standing in this State, and leaves a widow and children to mourn his loss. transcribed by Dee S
DAVID HUNT- CRUSHED IN
ARASTRA
Mariposa 1859
DAVID N. HUNT--------
Transcribed form the SCHELLENS COLLECTION
Walter Castor
Pg. 005 Sacramento 1859 Mariposa Co...
Sac Dly Union Sat. Oct. 15, 1859
"On Thursday morning last, it was published that David N. HUNT had been
seriously if not fatally injured by being caught in an arastra at his
quartz mill in Mariposa county. The wound was in the head and proved
fatal on the
day the accident was announced in this city. His family was residing
here, and
upon the receipt of the melancholy news by telegraph, his wife and
brother, J.
W. L.
HUNT, immediately left for Mariposa. David N. HUNT arrived in
Sacramento in 1850, and after being engaged in mining for some time,
was appointed by
Ben McCULLOUGH Deputy Sheriff of the county. Upon the election of a A.
D.
PATTERSON, he was tendered the responsible position of Under Sheriff,
the duties of
which he discharged with so much acceptance that he was in 1853 elected
Sheriff of the county, although his party at that election was several
hundred
votes in a minority. As a Sheriff, the county has never been served by
a more
faithful, intelligent and energetic officer. After the expiration of
his term of
office, in September 1855, he visited the Atlantic States, and on the
23rd of
January 1856 was married, in Jackson, Miss., and within a few weeks
returned to California with his wife. Subsequently he was for some
months
proprietor of the International Hotel in San Francisco, but withdrew
from it and engaged
in quartz mining in 1857, both at Big Oak Flat, in Tuolumne, and
Gentry’s Gulch
in Mariposa. It was at the latter place, where he was superintending
the
operations of a quartz mill, that he met with the accident that cost
him his life…… He leaves a wife and two young children to morn the
death of him who was
to them all that could be asked of a husband and a father.
Stockton Daily Argus
Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA
Thursday, 12 July 1860
CALIFORNIA MINERS in MEXICO -- Two men named WARREN and ROGERS, latterly from Mariposa county, have recently found new and
extensive silver mines on the Yaqui River. A correspondent of the S.F. ‘Times’ writing from Hermosillo, says the rock is deeply impregnated with
the precious metal. From 56 pounds of rock, 12 ½ ounces of pure silver were extracted. Some of the rock will yield $16 to the arroba (25 lbs).
Rich leads of gold-bearing quartz have been found in the same vicinity. The Mexican laws are very liberal as to the working of silver mines; the
owners pay but a small tax on the produce of the mineral. transcribed by Dee S
Thursday, 18 Apr 1861 -
Stockton Daily Argus
A CHISPA -- In Mariposa, Miss Kitty NICHOLS, lately, while walking along the ravine leading from SEAL's vein, near Quartz Gulch, picked
up a piece of gold-bearing rock, which contained about $150. The late rains had evidently washed the dirt from it, leaving it exposed.
Stockton Daily Independent
THURSDAY, 4 SEPT 1862
The 'Gazette' of the 2d inst., has the following:-
Mr. James CRAYEN was pretty severely injured about the face by the
premature explosion of a blast last week in the Princeton vein. transcribed Dee S
Stockton Daily Independent
FRIDAY, 23 JAN 1863
In relation to the copper discoveries made in Mariposa, the ‘Gazette’ says: About 3 miles
easterly of Mariposa a vein of copper was discovered about the 1st of last November and
thousands of feet located under the mining laws. The vein is very thick and is traceable for a
long distance. Specimens of the ore have been tested by different parties, and at different
places, and the average yield is from 25 to 50 per cent of copper. A shaft has been sunk more
than 30 feet on the vein, and as the shaft is sunk down the vein increases in size and
richness. We saw some of the ore taken out recently by Mr. PHILLIPS, 30 feet from the
surface, and richer specimens we have never seen. The rock is nearly 1/3 copper. transcribed by Dee
Stockton Daily Independent
March 24, 1863
MINING at HORNITOS -- At Hornitos on the 21st instant N.S. STOCKTON and George BUFFUM found a quartz boulder weighing 40 pounds, from which they extracted $400 in gold. A few days preceding, a part of Germans and Mexicans found several similar boulders from which they obtained some thousands of dollars.
FRIDAY, 5 JUNE 1863
Stockton Daily Independent
QUARTZ MACHINERY -- Messrs. KEEP & BRIGGS, of the Globe Foundry in this city, have completed a steam engine of 24 horse power for T.W. PARK, of Princeton, Mariposa county, where it is intended to be employed in running a new quartz mill recently erected at that place. A large boiler, 24 feet in length, was landed on the Levee yesterday, for the same destination. transcribed by Dee S
WEDNESDAY, 17 JUNE 1863
Stockton Daily Independent
ANOTHER BOILER -- A huge tubular boiler, destined for T.W. PARK’s quartz mile in Mariposa county, passed through this city yesterday being the 2nd which has been forwarded for the same mill within a few weeks. transcribed by Dee S
FRIDAY, 13 November 1863- Stockton Daily Independent
RICH QUARTZ – Yesterday Mr. J.A. NELSON showed us some rich specimens of gold-bearing quartz from the claim of the Yo Semite Gold Mining Company. The claim is located in Mariposa county. A tunnel 60 feet in length has been cut in the rock and the prospect is said to be very encouraging. transcribed by Dee S
TUESDAY, 17 NOV. 1863-Stockton Daily Independent
MORE COPPER – The 'Free Press' says: A new discovery in copper has been recently made on White's gulch, on the Coulterville trail by Mr. Wm. WHEELER. It is said to be very rich.
WEDNESDAY, 2 MAR 1864 Stockton Daily Independent
INTERIOR ITEM – Stephen JEFFRIES was killed at the "Virginia Lead," near Coulterville, Mariposa county, on Thursday, February 18th, by the caving in of a tunnel in which he was working at the time. transcribed by Dee S
TUESDAY, 10 MAY 1864 Stockton Daily Independent
FATAL ACCIDENT – The Mariposa 'Gazette' of May 7th says: Dr. TILDON, for many years a resident of this county and the first nominee of the Republican party for County Judge, was killed Friday last at Horse Shoe Bend by the caving of a drift in which he was working. A Mr. CATLIN was working with him at the time and fearing that something would occur, moved a few feet away, when the earth fell, striking him also, and breaking his collar bone. transcribed by Dee S
Stockton Daily Independent
WEDNESDAY, 24 JUL 1867
MINING ACCIDENTS in MARIPOSA -
-James WILSON fell down a shaft at the Potts mine, in Hunter's Valley lately, and narrowly escaped being killed.
-On the 19th, John F. DORN was instantly killed by the caving of a tunnel, on the Merced River- transcribed by Dee S
Sacramento Daily Union
,Tuesday Morning
January 1, 1867
--STATISTICS OF CALIFORNIA - 1866
THE STATE
April 8th-Gold nugget worth $4,440 found at Jimisal, Mariposa county,
by some Mexicans.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Daily Independent
TUESDAY, 6 AUG 1867
INJURED BY A BLAST - On Monday last, Frederick DAUT and "Indian Tom," both of whom were working
for Mr. MALONE, near CLARK's saw mill, Mariposa county, were
considerably injured by a premature blast while working in a tail-race of a
mining claim. Mr. DAUT had the flesh torn from his hand and his eyes badly
burned with powder. Tom was also burned about the face and eyes. transcribed by Dee S
Stockton Daily Independent
MONDAY, 3 MAY 1869
MARIPOSA ITEM -- The 'Gazette' of April 30th says: Andrew RAY, working in the
mining claim of Mr. McERLANE, on Whitlock's creek, had his leg broken on
Wednesday last by the caving of the bank and rocks. Dr. MARKS set the limb. No
further particulars. transcribed by Dee S
Mariposa Gazette- April 29, 1870
JOHN F CASSELL, Esq., late manager of the Oaks and Reese mine at Hunter's Valley, left on Tuesday with
his family for San Francisco. We regret to lose such men as Mr. Cassell from our community. Good-
bye John, and may your lot be cast in pleasant places and your udertakings regarded with success.
GOLD QUARTZ MILLS IN MARIPOSA- 1871
page 2, column 2 of
the January 17, 1873 edition of the"Mariposa Gazette",
towit:
"JUNE 1850, Stampmill was brought here for Commodore STOCKTON. It
was placed on Stockton Creek, one mile from the town of Mariposa. J.R.
NORRIS[my ggf] an old Mariposa resident, now residing in Salinas Valley, was
the agent and business manager for STOCKTON and John BARNETT, who died here
last Spring, was superintendent of the mine." submitted by Bob Norris
Pine
Tree Mine Catastrophe, 1876
Oakland Tribune, Monday, April 23, 1877
John Hite, discoverer and owner of the famous gold quartz mine in
Hite's Cove, Mariposa county (the most valuable gold mine ever
discovered on the earth), spent the day yesterday with his
brother-in-lae, Captian J. G. Riley, in this city.
transcribed by c feroben
Mariposa
Gazette September 4, 1886
VANDERBUILT MINE
Machinery
For The Mines.- W. T. TURNER of Hornitos passed through
town
yesterday with his teams and several wagon loaded with Machinery
including
a large compressor for the Vanderbilt mine. This looks like
business,
and it is to be hoped that the enterprising owners will
realize
their fullest anticipation's. The mine is extensive and contains
an
inexhaustible supply of quartz which its present owners have
prospected.
Taking into consideration the great amount of work done
preparatory
to permanent operations the owners must be well assured of
the
richness and character of the rock to make further expenditures and
improvements
as present appearances would seem to indicate.
Mariposa Gazette, September 23, 1899
The Merced Gold Mining Company of Coulterville are progressing rapidly with the work of erecting an electric plant. They have erected a saw mill just over the county line in Tuolumne county, They have about twenty five men at work on the ditch, flume, and grading. With the use of about two miles of pipe they can have a fall of something like 1700 feet.
Mariposa Gazette, September 23, 1899
It is reported on the best authority that the Mt. Gaines mine near Hornitos will adopt a new scale of wages on October 1st, paying miners $3 a day and muckers $2.50. Board seventy-five cents a day. Here is a chance for some of the 500 men laid off for want of water in Tuolumne county, as with these wages the Mt. Gaines Expect to get strong, active men. We understand that there is an immediate job for a good miner who can run a hoist as an extra.
Mariposa Gazette, September 23, 1899
The Mt. Gaines Company have material ordered for a new dam to be put in the river at Merced Falls. The dam to be put in is to be four feet higher than the present one and will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $12,000.
these three articles submitted by Tom Hilk
Los Angeles Times, October 29, 1895
The mine on the Wilson ranch near Hornitos, Cal., is being developed by
Joseph Weringer. A two-stamp mill operated by a crude-oil engine
of eight horse-power has lately been erected on the property and will
be
in operation in about two weeks. The old shaft has been
retimbered and an improved horse-power hoist has been erected.
The water has all been taken out of the shaft in the Hite mine, near
Mariposa, Ca., and the work has begun in the shaft. The mill will
be in running order n a short time.
The Doss mine in the Hornitos mining district, near Mariposa,
Cal., is being opened up and put in working condition by a man by
the name of Steward.- c feroben
WHITLOCK MINE HISTORY-
Fresno Bee, Wednesday, Jan 29, 1896
Mariposa Mine Accident
Two Workmen at Hite's Cove Mine Blown to Atoms
Mariposa, Jan 28- A distressing mine accident took place at Hite's Cove
mine about twenty-five mils east of this plave this morning, resulting
in the death of two miners and fatally injuring a third. William
Stern and two partners were preparinga blast in the HIte
mine. THey went to another part of the drift where the powder was
kept to prepare the cartridges for blasting. One man had prepared
his cartridge and proveeded about fifty years away, leaving Stern ahd
his partners and crippling the man who had just left them. One hundred
pounds of giant powder was exploded. The two men were blown in to
atoms so that it was impossible to distinguish the parts.- transcribed
by c feroben
Mariposa Gazette, September 23, 1899
The Francis Addident. [sic]
The report we received last week just before going to press respecting the accident at the Francis mine was somewhat exaggerated. Mr. Ashurst was the unfortunate man who got hurt, he was putting off several blasts in the face of the drift and delayed too long, the first blast went off when he was within a foot of it and that he escaped with his life is a miracle. The force of the first shot threw him 20 feet back in the tunnel to where there was a crosscut and he fell into the crosscut at right angles with the main tunnel and the remaining blasts went off but he was out of harm's way. He received a severe shaking up and a number of rock from the size of a pin head to the size of a large walnut have been taken form various parts of his body but no bones were broken. It seems almost incredible that a man could be thrown a distance of twenty feet by a blast and not be killed, but to think that one should be thrown just to where a crosscut was and then fall at right angles into !
it seems little short of miracn-lost. [sic] Mr. Ashurst was brought to town and is under Dr. Richter's care, and we hope he will soon be able to be around again.
t hilk
Sad Fatal Accident March 14, 1906
(unknown publication)
Bernard Andrew Fitze of Cathey's Valley, this county, and a son of Peter
Fitze was accidentally killed in the Princeton mine Wednesday last. The
young man, who was but 24 years of age, was employed in the mine when a
large rock dropped from its place and struck him on the head, badly
fracturing both the front and back skull.
The accident occurred in the early afternoon and death resulted about
10:30 P.M. that night.
Doctors Gallison and Kylberg were immediately summoned and
everything that medical and surgical skill could do for the unfortunate young
man was done, but it was decreed that he should die, and as in the case
of all such decrees, this one was observed.
The deceased was a most exemplary young man sober and industrious, and
his death is the cause of genuine regret to all. His sorrowing relatives
are entitled to the sympathy of the community in their sudden, sad and
irreparable loss. submitted by T Hilk
The Saturday Bee
Sacramento, Cal.
June 9, 1906
Not as Lively as It Was 3 Years Ago
KESWICK (Shasta Co.), June 9 - James FOLGER, for years employed in the mines of Mariposa County, arrived in Keswick yesterday morning. He was a disappointed man. He had heard a few years back that Keswick was the liveliest town in Superior California, which was a correct estimate of the town at the time FOLGER received his information. However, he had not since kept well informed. He had not learned that the smelter had been closed for nearly two years and the entire pay roll of the Mountain Copper Company at Keswick now included twenty-five names.
About a week ago he became disgusted with Mariposa County and concluded to make a jump to Shasta County and strike the liveliest town within its borders. Without stopping to get more recent information he bought a ticket to Keswick and had his baggage checked accordingly. When he alighted from the stage in front of the Post Office he could not see a man on main Street. He got his bearings before the day was far advanced and went on to Kennett on the evening train. Transcribed by Betty
ROY
GRIEVE KILLED IN A MARIPOSA MINE - San Francisco Call, March 20, 1906
University Graduate Is
Electrocuted at His Work. Sad End of Young Man Who Was Engaged to
Marry. BERKELEY,
March 15.— Roy Grieve, a graduate of the university with the class of
'05. was electrocuted yesterday at the Mount Bullion
mines In Mariposa County, of which he was electrical engineer. News of
the tragedy was conveyed to Harry Waste, superintendent of the
properties, who has been a guest of his brother, Judge William H.
Waste, In a telegram which reached him last night. Superintendent Waste
left at once for the mines to make arrangements for Grieves funeral.
Grieve was killed as the result of contact with a heavy feed wire at
the mines. More than this is not known, the telegram stating simply the
fact of Grieves electrocution. The young university man had been at the
Mount Bullion group of mines since his
graduation from the university, having risen to the position of
directing engineer there. He made a brilliant record as a student in
Berkeley In the college of engineering, and had been offered various
important and lucrative positions since allying himself with
Superintendent Waste at the Mount Bullion
mines. The dead youth was engaged to wed Miss Ida Lamb, a former
resident of Berkeley, whose
acquaintance he made while a student at the State University.
She now lives with her people at Lemoore, Kings County.
Proof of Labor- - Mining Claims Located, Feb. 1910
VARAIN-Feb 10, 1910-
Mariposa Gazette
John Varain, Jr., was
brought to the county hospital from the Jasper Point stone crusher
yesterday afternoon. Mr. Varain, while at work at he
crusher, met with an accident that will incapacitate him from labor for
awhile, although no bones were broken. Dr. E.S. O'Brien has charge of
the case and reports that the young man is getting along very
nicely today. The young man is a son of John Varian, Sr.,
of Pleasant Valley- Merced Sun-Jan 29.
Mountain King Mine- 7 lives lost-
May,
1917
MOUNT OPHIR- MYTH AND MYSTERY SURROUND
THE FIRST GOLD COINS MINTED IN CALIFORNIA-article written in 1919
Mt. KING MINE
Merced Express, January 14, 1922
The famous Mt. King mine on the Merced River, which has been in operation for nearly twenty years, has ceased operations and will sell all equipment, it is learned from a letter received from the board of directors addressed to stockholders in Mariposa. This step is taken on a report made by Clifford G. Dennis, a mining engineer on the staff of Frederick W. Bradley, who has made a careful examination of the property and does not recommend further development. This is the deepest mine in the county having a shaft 2150 feet and the ore bodies at that depth do not carry sufficient gold to justify further development. submitted by Tom Hilk
HISTORY OF MARIPOSA MINE BEING COMPILED
Fresno Bee, March 14, 1923
Mariposa-Mariposa Co. Boswell, Carpenter and Stephens who are operating the Mariposa Mine, have been engaged the past several weeks in gathering data from the files of the Mariposa Gazette dating back to 1854, touching upon the operations of the Mariposa Mine has been one of the heaviest producers of Mariposa County. The gentlemen will use the data gathered to prepare a booklet on hisotry of the Mariposa Mine.
RUTH PEARCE MINE AT MARIPOSA PUMPED DRY
Fresno Bee, March 14, 1923
Mariposa- Mariposa Co- The unwatering of the Ruth Pearce Mine near
Mariposa has been completed, Superintendent McMahon reported yesterday,
that the mine is now dry and ready for operations.
McMahon reports that several bad cave-ins were found when the mine was
inspected after the pumps had cleared it sufficiently for examination,
and that it will be three weeks before ore samples can be secured from
the various points necessary to determine the value of the ore
body- c feroben
Freson Bee, Sunday, January 18, 1925
RICH ORE FOUND IN MARRE MINE
Mariposa (Mariposa Co.) Jan.17 - Some very rich ore is being taken
from the Marre mine on Arkansas Flat near the old townsite of Agua
Frio. This mine in on the holdings of the Mariposa Commercial and
Mining Company and is under lease from that company by Marre. The ore
is being hauled to the Princeton mill to make a test run, a distance of
about two miles. Recent Assays show values running as high as
$100 per ton. There is an extensive chute with good prospects showing
for several hundred feet along the surface.
Hunter's Valley Mine is Good Producer
Fresno Bee, Feb 22, 1925 page 32
HUNTERS
VALLEY (Mariposa Co) Feb 21- The Schoolhouse mine, located in
Hunters Valley and owned by Milton Sutherland and the Maschio estate,
has been one of Mariposa County good producers during the past two
years. Recently an excellent shoot of ore was encountered which
brought handsome returns to the owners. Bullions is being
regularary shipped from this mine-
Indian Gulch Mine Leased to Operators
COULTERVILLE-
Mariposa, Co- Feb 21-
The well known Quail mine, located in Indian Gulch near the north fork
of the Merced River and owned by D Brushi, well known merchant of
Coulterville has been bonded to A B Chenoweth and Son of San
Francisco. This mine is located in the one-time rich East Belt
and near the famous Red Cloud, Bondurant, Martin and Walling and Marble
Springs mines.
The lessors expect to begin development work at an early date.
Fresno Bee, Feb 22, 1925 page 32
Miners
Seek For Gold Nuggest After Storm
MariposaCo.- Feb 21- Since the heavy rainstorm of last week, many
of the residents of the hills have been out in the gulches looking for
the gold nuggests which are always found after such a storm.
Although no large finds have been reported to date, it is expected that
the mining districts have, as usual, yielded much of the precious
metal- transcribed by c feroben
JASPER Production
Merced Express, July 31, 1925
JASPER PRODUCTION IN
MARIPOSA COUNTY
Little has been said and little is generally known locally of one of Mariposa county's most important industries jasper production at Jasper Point, located a little distance below Horsehoe Bend on the Merced river.
In October, 1923, there appeared an article in the Los Angeles Examiner, from the Pioneer Paper Company, largest producers of roofing paper on the Pacific coast, in which it was stated that all of the roofing rock that was used in the manufacture of their product was being shipped form
the slate quarries of Vermont and complaining about the excessive freight rates as well as the inferior grade of rock.
This led hundreds of people of the West to investigate and search for slates in California. Among these was a man from Mariposa county and through his effort, the attention of the paper company was drawn to Jasper Point. The research department of the company made a thorough study of the rock as to quality, quantity and shipping facilities. The rock was pronounced superior in every respect to the Vermont product and as there was an unlimited quantity to be had. Immediate shipments being
over the Yosemite Valley Railroad.
T. H. Wilkins, a wealthy mining man of New York City, operating extensive limestone quarries in the East, drew up papers closing a 99 year lease on the quarries from H. J. Kelm of Bagby, later on account of poor health transferring his interest to the Pioneer Paper Company of Los Angeles. This latter named company is working the quarry on an extensive scale, shipping the ore to Los Angeles for treatment and in this same city it is being used in the manufacture of roofing paper.
An average of 250 tons per month is being shipped. This is an amount sufficient to cover 4,000 bungalows and it is being used extensively in the Pacific Coast States as well as Canada and Orient.
Through the publicity of the roofing company, much advertisement is being given to Mariposa county and it may be naturally expected that further development of the county will result form the paper company becoming financially interested here.
Lemuel White, formerly of Bagby, is foreman at the quarries.
It might be well to mention that the company is shipping at this time only green jasper, but development work is proceeding on red jasper deposits which are found in the same locality. Also a deposit of Manganese ore is being prospected on the same property.- Mariposa Gazette. transcribed by Tom Hilk
AGED PROSPECTORS FOUND DEAD IN MARIPOSA HOMES
Fresno Bee, May 6, 1926
Mariposa(Mariposa Co) April 5- G Frank 87 of Mt. Bullion, and R Alberti, 76, of Hornitos were both found dead at their homes yesterday. Both aged men were old-time miners of this county. The bodies were brougth here for inquest by Coroner D E Johnson- c feroben
Fresno Bee- November, 1929
Jewelry Ore Struck in Old Mariposa Mine
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Nov. 29-A rich strike of rich jewelry ore has
been made in the Cherokee Mine by Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Ellis and Chris
Hauck of Yosemite Valley.
The Cherokee Mine was a valuable producer during early days, being
owned and operated by the late James Shimer, a 49'er who first located
at Coulterville. The mine has been inactive for many years but has
remained in the family of the pioneer, title being preserved by the
annual assessment work.
It was whale this annual assessment work was being done several days
ago that the Mrs. Ellis, the granddaughter of Shimer, picked up a
fragment of ore which showed heavy streakings of gold. More of
the rich ore has been blocked out and the old mine once more is in a
fair way of being actively operated.
Fresno Bee- April 5. 1925
CASTAGNETTO MINE IN MARIPOSA SOLD
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) April 5 - It is reported that the Castagnetto
Mine at Huners's Valley has been sold to ? Allen of San
Francisco. The purchase price is said to be $15,000.
This was one of the gold mines that made Hunter's Valley so prominent
in gold mining years ago.There is every reason to believe that this is
still a valuable property and that it will be placed on a paying basis
under proper development and management- cferoben
RED CLOUD MINES SOLD FOR $12,500; WORK TO START
Fresno Bee, Oct 17, 1926
Mariposa (Mariposa Co), Oct 16- a minind deal of considerable imporance
has just been transacted by the transfer of the Scanlan group of gold
mines in the Red Clourd district from Mrs. Annie Scanlon of San
Francisco to Marguerite A Hannan and Eleanor A Dow of the same city.
The consideration mentioned in the agreement is $12,5000, with a cast
payment of $3,500.
The purchasors are to take immediate possession and must begin actual
development work on the property within thirthy days.
MARIPOSA MINES SOLD FOR $50,000 TO NEVADA FIRM
Fresno Bee, Oct 17, 1926
Masriposa (Mariposa Co) Oct 16- Papers filed for record in the office
of the county recorder here the past week show the transfer of interest
of the Marble Springs Gold Mines to the California Gold Mines, Inc., a
Nevada corporation.
The consideration mentioned in the deal is $50,000 and the property
transerred in the Compromise and Marble Springs quartz mines and the
mining and milling properties connected with the name
Marble Springs quartz mines and the mining and milling properties
connected with the same name.
The Marble Springs Mine hs been undervelopment for several months with
D G Kidder as superintendant. It is understood that a body of
fine milling ore has been developed and that this is being taken out to
run through the new mill recently installed upon the
(article cut off)-
Mariposa Miner Heads State Association
Fresno Bee- November, 1929
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Nov. 29- J C Kemp Van Ee, who operates the
Colorado quartz mine in Mariposa County, was elected president of the
California Mining Association at a meeting recently at Stockton.
Kemp Van Ee is also president of the Mariposa County chapter of the
association.
Operations Resumed at Original Mine
Fresno Bee-Nov, 1929
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Nov. 29-1929 Mining and Milling
operations at the original Mine , a gold property, on the Merced River
midway between mariposa and Yosemite Valley, have been resumed by a
group of five local men who have taken the workings under lease.
The twenty stamps are are now crushing ore taken from the 1, 100 foot
level of the mine.
The mine had been shut down for two months.
Fresno Bee, September 2, 1931
GOLD-HUNTING FEVER REVIVED AT COULTERVILLE
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Sept 2- The days of 49 are being re-enacted at
the old town of Coulterville on the Motehr Lode in Mariposa County.
About twenty placer miners are at work on Maxwell Creek between the
back watera at Horsehoe Bend and Coulterville. SOme are making good and
nearly all are making a living. SOme of these miners are using sluice
boxes, some rockers and all along the line the rattle of mining pans
can be heard.
A. Jacobs of Sonora has a small force of men prospecting the
Barrett Mine. Later Jacobs expects to start sinking a shaft
on this property. This mine is about nine miles north of
Coulterville.
At the Texas Hill Mine, about fourteen miles east of Coulterville,
there are fifteen men employed and drifting on the vein has
conmenced. Within the next fre weeks they will have enough ore to
keep the mill in steady operation.
The work of sinking a shaft at the Argo Mine, about ten and half miles
northeast of Coulterville, is said to be progressing rapidly.
New machiner has been installed at the Champion Mine in COulterville
and much development work is being done. This property is
considered one of the most promising on the north side of the river-
HITE MINE- Los Angeles
Times, Nov. 9, 1931
Noted Old Hite Mine Acquired-Famous Gold Property of Mariposa County in
Angeleno Control
Mariposa, Nov. 8 (exclusive) Echoes of pioneer days along the
rich
Mother Lode of California were heard with the announcement of the
acquisition of the famous Hite Mine in Mariposa county by the Hite Gold
mining Company, headed by Rush T. Hill of Los Angeles.
During 1862 John R Hite prospected on the south fork of the Merced
River about eight milesfrom the gateway of Yosemite Valley. Here
he discovered that large outcroppings on the ridge north of the river
continued gold.
Working alone, he succeeded in pounding out enough gold by hand to
carry the development down an incline depth of 1200 feet and build a
mill, producting during a period of twenty years' operation over
$3,000,000 in bullion.
The Hite vein yielded a large tonnage of ore, that according to
available records, averaged $35 a ton, with some of the richer ores
assaying as high as $150 per ton in gold.
The new owners report that at large tonnage of commercial grade ore
was developed by the early operators and con now be mined and milled at
low cost.
-----------------------------------------------------------
MINE AT COULTERVILLE DISCOVERS NEW DRIFT
Fresno Bee, March 26, 1932
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) March 26- A good showing is being madce in the
Barrett Mine in the Red Cloud District mine miles northeast of
Culterville. At the fifty-foot level some high grade ore has been
encountered and drifts both ways on the vein for 150 feet show that the
shoot of pay ore continues.
It is the plan of those in charge of the property to put the shaft down
another fifty feet at onece an dif the good ore continues a mill will
be ereced on the property.
The mine was discovered in the early days but, due to the heavy flow of
water, deep develo9pment work was great interefered with.
------------------------------------------------------
Fresno Bee Republican, August 28, 1932
WHO KNOWS GOLD MINE IN MARIPOSA BEING WORKED
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Aug 27- The Who Knows mine on the Merced River,
adjoining the Original, is being operated by J C McGARRY of Los
Angeles. six men are now employed at the property and contract has been
let to tink the shaft 100 feet. Equipment is on the property to
go down 300 feet. An Ellis rotary mill is operating on good ore which
is being taken from the shaft. Several new buildings have been
erected.
McGarry is also operating the Golden Eagle property of six
clamins, which is on-half mile east of Incline, on the north side of
the river.
McGARRY says that money was scarce for many years for gold mining, but
that there is plenty available now.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Fresno Bee Republican, August 28, 1932
MARIPOSA BOARD SEEKS US FUNDS FOR MINE OPENING
Employment of Many Idle to Result If Federal Aid is Obtained
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Aug - The board of subervisors, in consideration
of the plans recently submitted by J W Warford, superintendent of
the Original Mine, in connection with securing unemployment relief
funds from the Reconstruction Finance Coprporation, is to-day making
application to Governor Rolph for endoresement of the plan.
This plan contemplated the reopening of several Mariposa County gold
mines, the past history of which shos large gold prodcutions. The
plan is one of the relief of unemployment. Ultimately the development
of these mines would result in the production of gol, thereby making
the mine oeprations self-supporting.
The plan discussed by the board of supervisors would provide for a
board of dierctors for the project.
The legal phases of the proposed project are being passsed upon by
District Attorney Louis T Milburn.
If the plan is approed, it will result in the employment of a large
number of men.
----------------------------------------------
Fresno Bee Republican, August 28, 1932
MINING EXPERT TO BEGIN SURVEY OF MARIPOSA REGION
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Aug 27- A communication from Dr. A. A. Fitch of
the Royal school of Mine, at presnt with the University of California
at Berkeley, reveals that he expects to be here this week to begin his
geological survey of the east belt of the Mother Lode in Mariposa
County. His work will centre on that area extending from El
Portal to Devil Mountain and westward down the Merced River Canyon.
Dr. Fitch is much interested in this area from a scientific standpoing
and he has already made extensive examinations of the Barium deposits
at El Portal as well as of the gold mines at Clearinghouse. His
conclusions with respect to the gold deposits of these belts are that
they extend to great depths.
He expect to be in the locality for two or three months.- cferoben
------------------------------
Modesto News-Herald- Feb. 9-10, 1933
MINER PROSPECTOR FOUND FROZEN TO DEATH IN HILLS
Body of Merced Man Located in Small Stream By Two Miners
MERCED- Feb. 9- the body of Berdel Foran, 34, Merced man who went into
the mountains above Mariposa several months ago to operate a small
mine, was found frozen in a small stream in the Whitlock country, about
five and a half miles north of Mariposa, Wednesday afternoon. His
body was brought to Merced, where funeral services will be held later
at the Welch and Griffin funeral parlors.
Foran was last seen on January 21, when he hiked into Mariposa, a
distance of seven miles, for supplies. He left late in the
afternoon and about four miles out of Mariposa topped at the cabin
of Pete Dailey and there had supper.
Warned Against Trip
He left Dailey's at about 6 o'clock in a blinding snow storm against
the advice of his nearest neighbor, Dailey. Foran was carrying a
pack, containing his supplies, on his back.
Wednesday Dailey and a friend, WIlliam Starling of Merced, were
prospecting in the hills in the vicinity, and on a little creek far off
the traveled trail from Dailey's home to Foran's cabin, they found
Foran's pack hanging in a tree. About a hundred yards farther on
they found the man's body, half covered by the icy waters of the creek.
He had frozen to death.
Lost in Blizzard
It is believed that foran lost his way in the snow storm, and upon
arriving at the creek, started to follow its course in an attempt to
return to the trail which he knew it crossed farther upstream. He
is believed to have become exhausted and stumbled into the creek, where
his body broke through the ice and froze.
Foran was well known in Merced, having spent the greater part of his
life here. He was formerly employed by the San Joaquin Light and Power
Company here, but for the last few months had been operating his little
mine in Mariposa County. He leaves his mother and a brother in
Merced.== c feroben
----------------------------------------------------------------
Fresno Bee, November 16, 1934
COURT ASKED TO HALT HORNITOS MINING PROJECTS
County, Pioneer Family Plan Suits as New Claimants Start Gold Search
Mariposa- Mariposa Co Nov. 16- Two legal moves today sought to impose
obstacles in the way of an exploration for gold beneath the historic
mining town of Hornitos.
The new Hornitos gold boom started when several persons discovered that
the original titles granted to Hornitos land assertedly did not
include the mineral rights. These persons at once filed on the
mineral rights and commenced to seek the gold which tradition has booth
asserted and denied exists beneath the old town.
the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors at its meeting here
authorized District Attorney Louis T Milburn to file suit against
various mining claimants to prevent their blocking the old road
into Hornitos from Stockton
Stock Man Protests
The suit was decided upon by the supervisors after Joseph L Hamilton,
Hornitos stock raiser, told the board the road is being cut off and a
tunnel is being dug under a Hornitos street.
A suit is on file in the superior court here today in which the pioneer
Gagliardo family of Hornitos asks the law to defend its land holdings
of
half century from the invasion of prosperity under claims filed
in
the last three months.
The suit was filed by Eugenia Gagliardo, Rosalinda Riccomi and
Josephine Hamilton against F M Doughterty, H B Daugherty, A E
Daugherty,
Rosa May Daugherty, C M Cartwright , Clarence A Bauer, Joe Merrino, C L
Manley and seven Does.
The Gagliardos' parents settled at Hornitos in the 1860's and have
operated a store there ever since.
Old Us Patent Cited
The suits sets forth that the Gagliardos' title to the Hornitos land
involved dates back to a patent issued July 1, 1874, by the United
States of America to Andrew Olcese as trustee of the tract of land
which is now the township of Hornitos.
The plaintiffs ask that the defendants be required to set forth the
nature of their claims, that the court adjudge the the defendants have
no
interest in the lads and that the title of the plaintiffs is good and
valid.
They further ask that the defendants be enjoined from asserting any
claim whatever to the land involved.
During the last three months practically every piece of available land
at Hornitos has been located for mining purposes, and the locators
claim
title to the property by virtue of the location notices.
Hornitos was incorporated at one time as a city and has never
disincorporated, although the citizens have elected no city officers
for many years. cdf
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARIPOSA CREEK LAND LEASED FOR GOLD DREDGING
Fresno Bee, Dec 9, 1934
Le Grand (Merced Co) Dec. 8- Mrs Lottie Pate, who owns the land along
Mariposa Creek, known as the Bennett Ranch, has leased 500 acres to a
San Francisco concern for gold dredging.
A. Nesbit San Francisco geologist, has been making tests on the land
for three weeks.
The dredging will extend over the creek bed and bottom lands in both
Mariposa and Merced counties.
The site of the operations is historic. The rock house on the
property is so old its origin is not known. It is of the Spanish
type and old timers can recall it was considered an old house more than
eighty years ago. It was built already when General Fremont
camped here with his troops. It stands in Merced County and the
barn is in Mariposa County.
Mrs. Pate also owns what is known as the old Stone House place,
laying seven miles due east of here. The house is Merced County and the
barn in Mariposa County. This was the first site of the Union
Post Office. (can it be possible that both properties had a house
in one county and the barn in the other?)-= c feroben
FAMOUS BUNCE MINE IS ACTIVE
Modesto Bee and News-Herald, December 9, 1934
Mariposa-Dec 8- The famous old Bunce Mine in the Bull Creek district,
about twenty miles east of Coulterville, has started milling.
This property has been under development for several month by R N Bunce
and associates. Bunce reports they are milling a fine grade of
ore.
This proeprty was quite extensively developed several years ago by
members of the Bunce family, who were the original locators.
The property was a producer in the early history of mining in the
Bull Creek district.
TEXAS HILL MINES STARTS OPERATION-
Modesto Bee and News-Herald, December 9, 1934
Mariposa- Dec 8 The Texas Hill Mine in the Red Cloud district, north of
here, has started oeprations and has a large force of men at work.
The property is now to be developed on a large scale. A large
amount of excellent mining ore has been blocked out, and the mill is
being operated on two shifts, it is announced.
-------------------------------------------
Modesto Bee and News-Herald Tuesday, April 13, 1937
MARIPOSA MINER IS KILLED BY GAS
Mariposa- April 12- William E Caine, 74, last survivor of the
colorful six Caine brothers mentioned by Bret Harte in his stories of
the Mother Lode country, was asphyxiated and a fellow worker, Joe
Mullarkey, 29, was overcome by black damp while they were working in
the old Craine Mine on Arkansas Flat, five miles from here today.
Mullarkey was revived in a few minutes.
Miners worked for more than an hour to resuscitate Caine while a
pulmotor was being brought to Merced The pulmotor also proved
unavailing.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Fresno Bee, Saturday, July 16, 1938
MRECED MAN BUYS MARIPOSA ACREAGE FOR GOLD DREDGING
MARIPOSA (Maripsoa Co.) July 16- Eighty acreas of land in the Buckeye
district on Mariposa Creek has been purchased by Willford C. Brown of
Merced from Mr. and Mrs. J A Armour. Smith plans to dredge for gold in
the creek bed on the property. Mr. and Mrs. Armour still retain a
160 acre tract and plan to continue to make their home on it.
Fresno Bee, Saturday July 16, 1938
----------------
Lease Taken Upon Mariposa
Mine
Oakland Tribune, Monday Dec 4, 1939
Mariposa, Dec 4, A 99 year lease on five mines, two mill
sites and two water rights in the Whitlock mining district of Mariposa
County was revealed today when the lease and agreement was filed with
the Mariposa County recorder.
The lease was granted by the Golden Key Mining Company, of Oakland, to
Hartley Russell and J B Zimmerman on a 10 per cent royalty basis with
an option to purchase the property from royalties.
The leased property includes the Golden Gate mine, the Hayseed mine,
the Regan mine, the Dusenbarry mine, the Hawyire Fraction mine, the
Regan mill site, the Colorado mill site, water rights on Sherlock Creek
and water rights on Whitlock Creek.
The agreement provided for continuous mining operations and employment
of at least 100 men for a minimum of eighty hours each month during the
term of the lease.- cferoben
---------------------------------------------------
Modesto Bee and News-Herald, Modesto, December 19, 1935
$40,000 Is Paid For Mine At Mariposa
MARIPOSA, Dec 28- The Diltz mine and equipment was sold at public
auction from the steps of the Mariposa County Courthouse yesterday for
$40,000. The property was bought by the Diltz Mines, a trust
estate.
The mine was sold as the resut of a partition suit brought by G E
Mudgett, who owned one-tenth interest. The Diltz is acclaimed as
one of the richest mines in this county. c feroben
Fresno Bee, October 16, 1937
MARIPOSANS LAY THIRD MINERALS CONFERENCE PLAN
MARIPOSA(Mariposa Co) Oct 16- President Charles F McElligott of the
Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce has just announced the program
arranged for the third annual mining conference to be held in the
courthouse November 3rd. On the program appear some of the most
scientific and influential men of California and it is believed that it
will be one of the largest gatherings of its kind ever held on the
Mother Lode.
The Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce is hopeful of securing
legislation at the next meeting of the state legislature whereby the
southern extremity of the Mother Lode Highway will be at
Mariposa, :rather than at Sonora as it now is.
PROGRAM PLANNED
The following program will be observed:
Short chamber of commerce meeting.
Address by Fred G Stevenot, director of department of natural
resources, on the State Department of Natural Resources.
Address by C. S. Knight, California Development Association, on
Co-operation of Business and Industry in the Development of California
Mineral Resources.
Address by G L Fox, of the Stockton Chamber of Commerce, on Activities
of Stockton Chamber of Commerce.
Address by R. L. Kimmel, manager of Sacramento Chamber of
Commerce on activities of Sacramento Chamber of Commerce Towards
Mineral Development.
Address by Lloyd L. Root, state mineralogist, on Developing The Mineral
Resources of the Mother Lode Counties.
Address by G F Slelaff, geologist for the Southern Pacific
Company, on Markets for California Minerals.
Address by Al C Joy of Fresno, on The Mother Lode Highway.
Address by Belle McCord Roberts of Long beach, on the Third
>>>?
Address by H J Kelm, on nonmetals of Mariposa County.
Address by J M Graham of San Jose on Minerals of Mariposa County.
Short talks.- cferoben
Fresno Bee, October 16, 1937
FAMOUS PRODUCER OF GOLD LEASED NEAR MARIPOSA
Son of Pioneer To Open Up Old Property Upon Mother Lode
MARIPOSA (Mariposa Co) Oct. 16- Papers were filed for record with the
county recorder at Mariposa this week showing a six year lease and bond
o the famous Mariposa Mine. The lease was made in the favor of
Richard Jeffery by the Mariposa Commercial and Mining Company.
Jeffery stated that the agreement called for actual development work to
begin within a period of ninety days. He also stated that
unlimited capital was backing the venture and that some surprisingly
new economic methods of development would be undertaken. The Mariposa
Mine is located just half a mile east of the town of Mariposa on the
southern end of the famous Mother Lode. It was one of the first quartz
mines worked in early days and upon this claim was erected one of the
first quartz mills in California.
The Mariposa was fabulously rich from the grass roots down to the 1,200
foot level. At this level it is stated by those who were employed
in the shaft that the mine was lost doe to poor management.
For many years the monthly clean-up reached over $30,000, while much
rich float being found on the surface and in the gulches and ravines
leading from the mine down to Mariposa Creek. The Mariposa lode has
shown values on the surface as far as it has been _______ in its
eastward and westward course. The tailing from the mills that had
operated upon the property were worked with a considerable profit after
the first values had been taken.
MORE THAN $2,000,000
More than $2,000,000 from this mine is the record it bears. This,
of course, is a very conservative estimate as, during the early days of
the Mariposa mine, much high- grading was the custom, and if the actual
production of the mine was known, it perhaps would reach above
$3,000,000.
Jeffery is the son of a Mother Lodge pioneer miner and knows the games
as well as any min in this section, it is said.- c feroben
Fresno Bee Republican, Feb. 9,
1939
SEARCHERS FIND FRESNAN DEAD IN MARIPOSA SNOW
Kay Krup, 28, Succumbs While Returning to Mine During Heavy Storm
The body of Raymond Krup, 28, former Clovis and Fresno resident who
disappeared Monday afternoon while returning with supplies from
Mariposa to the Early Mine, was found shortly before noon today by
Forest Ranger J K Munhall on Sweet Water Ridge, thirteen miles
northeast of Mariposa. It was partially hidden in five feet of
snow.
Word of the discovery of the body was brought to Mariposa by one of the
searchers who went out this morning with Undersheriff Kenneth Arndke.
The body is expected to arrive in Mariposa late this afternoon, after
whit it will be taken in charge by Corner Walter NcNally.
First word from the sent of the discovery was that Krup apparently had
died of exposure, probably Monday night.
Krup, an employee of the Goodyear Company in Fresno until three months
ago, when he went to work at the mine, went to Mariposa Monday
afternoon for supplies, accompanied by James T Gillum, a fellow
miner. It was showing heavily at the time and Gillum and
Mariposa residents advised against an attempt to return to the mine
while the storm was in progress, there being more than three feet of
snow on the trail at the time.
Letter Admits Peril
While in town Krup wrote a letter to his father in law, S C Leister,
printer on the Clovis Tribute, telling him the storm was severe and
travel difficult. Nevertheless, he started out for the mine
alone, carrying a forty pound pack. Gillum refusing to attempt
the trip.
Since then nothing had been heard of the young miner. His wife,
Mrs. Susan Krup, who lies at the mine with their 5 year old daughter,
becoming alarmed when he failed to return by yesterday morning,
sent a messenger to ask the help of the Mariposa County sheriff.
Search is Started
Yesterday afternoon Arndke, accompanied by Gillum and two forest
rangers, made a cain search for the missing man and renewed their quest
this morning in snow that now covers the rugged trail to a depth of
nearly five feet.
Krup's parents live in Klamath Falls, Ore., and as yet have not been
notified of their son's tragic death. He ahd lived in Clovis before
moving to Fresno. Leister arrived in Mariposa from Clovis late
this morning to aid in the search.- c feroben
------------------------------------------------------------
Reno Evening Gazette , July 1, 1944
Mariposa Mine Region Active
Hornitos Claims Producing Zinc
Mining of war minerals is active in the Hornitos, White Rock and other
Mariposa county districts formerly noted for their gold properties is
protected, with operators planning to employ elderly miners unfitted
for war work, the Sacramento Bee reports.
The Permanente company has resumed operations on the Helm silica
deposits in the White Rock region, purchased two years ago from James
Helm. Materials is mined in quarries by power shovel and shipped
to the magnesium plant operated by the corporation, soon to close down.
Use of the high-grade silica is said to facilitate production of
metallic magnesium. The Permanente company is controlled by Henry
Kaiser.
In the historic Hornitos area the Blue Moon zinc property has been
operated on a substantial scale by Red Cloud Mines since early
last
January. The ore contains gold, silver and copper, in addition to
zinc. Development of the Blue Moon was conducted about three
years by the present management before production began. R H Dunn
is the superintendent.
Robert O Greeves is reported preparing to resume mining operations on
the upper levels of the Garibaldi gold property in the Bull Creek
district. cdf
-----------------------------------------
1949- Los Angeles Times-November 28
Roomer Wills Gold Mine to His Landlady
San Jose-Nov. (Exclusive) One way to develop a gold mine is to
operate a rooming-house that pleases its patrons. For several
years Eugene A. Carroll, formerly a court reporter in
Mariposa County, roomed at the lodging house operated by Mr. Ada
Stewart, in this city.
Later he opened the Carroll Lode mine in Mariposa County and operated
it for several years. When he died a few weeks ago he left a
will, bequeathing everything to Mrs. Stewart. Her
attorney had made known that the American Gold Mining Corp. which
includes Angelenos, has contracted to buy the mine for $130,000 on a
10% royalty basis.
The property embraces an even dozen claims, including the Governor and
Like Oak.
------------------------------------------------
Fresno Bee Republican, November 17, 1952
MARIPOSA GOLD, TUNGSTEN MINES STILL ARE ACTIVE
Mariposa (Mariposa Co)- Numerous gold mines still are active in
Mariposa County despite discouraging factors affecting the industry,
but tungsten is commanding growin attention.
Several promising deposits are under sxploratin and development.
The Mariposa Gold Mine at Mariposa is operating with George Adams in
charge. Lee Rowland is reopeing the Gold Key, J C Turnlan of Burbank
has leased teh Avers Merrill property in the Whitlock district from
Hazel E Avers and Herbert Merrill of Mariposa, and few small mines are
producting old ore.
The Midlands Mining Company has developed scheelite reported assaying 4
per cent tungsten in the Blue Star near El Portal leased from Ayers
& Merill. Midland Mining formerly was engaged in gold mining.
Exploration of a scheelite deposit in Dry Canyon, between Moss Canyon
and Turnbull Peak has disclosed an ore body about 150 feet long and 40
feet wide, according to reports. Ore is said to assay from abobe 1 per
cent to mre tha 5 per cent tungsten. The deposit was
discovered last Spring by W J Burnett and John Milanovich of El Portal.
Located on the southeast end of the Mother Lode, Mariposa County
once
was high among Califonria's gold producers.
----------------------------------
MISSING
from the Mariposa
Gazette, Jan 2, 1857
.......
DEATH---One
of those terrible death tragedies which falls within our province to
record, but too often in
this
county, took place
at Whitlock's on Sunday evening.
It appears that two men, one
of whom
was a Mr. Rose, the name of the other we do not know, were playing cards for a small
amount at the store
in that place. While so engaged, a Mrs. Lucas approached the
table and picked up the money
belonging to
Mr. Rose, amounting to about three dollars. Mr. Lucas was
intoxicated and no notice was
taken
of it.
Later, Mr. Rose demanded the money, and Mr. Lucas refused to give it
up. No harsh language,
however, was used, and
on the repeated refusal of Mr. Lucas to the demand, Rose plunged a large knife into his
breast, cutting
through the heart and killing him instantly. The blade of the
knife used was about nine
inches in
length, and was
buried in the body of the unfortunate man to the hilt. Rose is a
large, powerful man, and Mr.
Lucas was much
his inferior in physical ability, and besides, was under the influence
of liquor. Rose was soon
arrested by under-Sheriff Moore, and brought to Mariposa, where he,
waiving an examination,
was
fully committed
without bail, to answer for the crime of murder, at the
next term of the District
Court, to be
holden in
February next.
We learn that Mr. Lucas was a
native
of Kentucky, and came here from Placerville about two weeks
since. No papers were
found
upon him to
denote his length of residence in California, or whether he has
relatives here.
(note, checked
subsequent issues
of the Gazette, for a month, and could not find any followup to the
story.) Steve Miller October 22, 2003
MURDERS/KILLINGS
Mariposa Chronicle, April
21, 1854
GRAY SHOT BY BROWN-
not expected to live MAN SHOT--We are sorry to inform our readers,
that we have only one murder case to present this week.
A man named Gray was shot by a man known as "Long Haired Brown," at
Carsons' and is not expected to recover. The difficulty
originated over a game of cards
(both are gamblers) and Brown struck Gray with his revolver and
then shot him, the ball striking him
in the forehead, and passing
under the skin, came out behind. Brown has fled.
---------------------
Tiercy and Beaumont- Killed at
Sherlocks, 1855
Choiser Kills Biegler- Bear
Valley, 1857
Friday, 30 Oct. 1857
Stockton Daily Argus
MURDER in BEAR VALLEY -- Mariposa 'Gazette'
On Monday morning at about 1 o'clock a [damaged line -- looks like "German, by the name of Joseph BIEGLER"], was shot by Lafayette CHOISER familiarly known as "Punch." The deceased kept a Lager Beer Saloon and CHOISER, in company with another person entered his bar-room and called for liquor.
After drinking, as they were about leaving the house, the proprietor asked them who would pay for the drinks -- CHOISER replied that he would, and at the same time asked if his credit was not good. Some words passed, and CHOISER drew a pistol and struck BIEGLER on the head. BIEGLER was behind the bar and picked up a gun. CHOISER stood by the door with his pistol draw, when someone present told him not to shoot. He replied that he would not, if BIEGLER would put up his gun. BIEGLER immediately set his gun aside, when CHOISER ran in and clenched him, striking him another blow with his pistol, and then shooting him through the breast. He immediately left
the camp, and at last accounts had not been arrested.transcribed by Dee S.
CHOISER FOUND AND CONVICTED...........
Daily Evening Bulletin, (San Francisco, CA)
Saturday, February 20, 1858; Issue 114; col D
MURDERER SENTENCED AT MARIPOSA- Choiser, alias "Punch", charged with the murder, some months ago, of one Biegler, in the notorious Bear Valley, Mariposa county, has been convicted in the District Court, at the town of Mariposa, of the crime, and sentenced by Judge Burke to confinement in the State Prison for twenty years.
-----------------------
Stockton Daily Argus
Stockton Daily Argus/ Monday, 15 June 1857
MARIPOSA
-- The 'Gazette' says that Girard JONES, the
murderer of OGG,
at Quartzburg, has delivered himself up to the authorities and stands
indicted by the Grand Jury for murder. Transcribed by Dee S.
---------------------------------------------
-Rose
murders Lucas- 1857
---------------------------------------------------
Howards Ranch-Burns Creek- 1857
Bear Valley has given another proof of its title to
a bad reputation, by the murder of a Mexican, which took place there on
the 13th instant. The weapon used, says the 'Gazette,' being a billet
of wood with a nail in it -- the nail entering the skull near the
temple. The murderer was arrested by some of the citizens, but escaped
soon afterwards.
-Weekly Stockton Democrat- Jan. 31, 1858
-----------------------------------------------
MURDER AT BURNS' CREEK, MARIPOSA 1859
Stockton Daily Argus,Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA
Friday, 9 Dec 1859
FROM MARIPOSA -- 'Star' -- A Frenchman by the name of De LAUNAY was
killedby his partner in a cabin where they were residing, on Burns'
Creek, about4 miles from Indian Gulch. They had been drinking and got
into a quarrel,when the deceased drew a knife, and CHAILLON, his
partner, picked up a shotgun and shot him through the neck. CHAILLON
left and has not since been heard of. transcribed by Dee S.
--------------------
Weekly Stockton Democrat
Sunday, 31 July 1859
SENTENCED -- George LEE, a Kanaka, was sentenced in Mariposa, on
Saturday last, to 20 years' imprisonment in the State Prison, upon
conviction of murder in the 2nd degree. AH FONG, a Chinaman, was
sentenced to 12 years upon a similar conviction.
DR
COWAN- FOUND DEAD, 1859
Stockton Daily Argus
Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA
Thursday, 19 Apr 1860
A SLUICE ROBBER SHOT -- Mariposa ‘Star’
A man by the name of George STACKHOUSE was shot near Coulterville, on
Saturday last, while robbing sluices. The particulars as related to us
are these: A party of miners working above the town having had reason
to believe that they had lost gold in this manner, have recently kept
guard over their claim for the purpose of detecting the thieves. Near
daybreak on Saturday morning, the man who was on the watch saw 3 men
with a candle searching the sluices. He fired at the light and supposed
that he had only frightened them off. On going to the claim, after
daylight, the party found STACKHOUSE shot through the neck. He died
shortly after. The other 2 have not been heard of since. The deceased
formerly lived at Colorado, and of late has borne a bad
reputation. transcribed by Dee
Rose
murders Lucas- 1857
Stockton Daily Argus
December 1860
December 24-31
A MURDERER in TRANSITU -- Deputy Sheriff HOWELL, of Mariposa, arrived in this city yesterday, having in charge a man named William FRAZER, whom he arrested at Long Bar, in Yuba county, upon the charge of aiding in the murder of a man named OGG, in Mariposa county in May, 1857. FRAZER had, since his residence at Long Bar, passed under the name of Bill Scotty,� and stoutly denied any knowledge of the murder or any recognition of the Sheriff HOWELL. He will be taken to Mariposa on the stage that leaves this morning. transcribed by Dee S.
Friday, 8 Nov. 1861-Stockton Daily Independent
CONFIRMED -- The Mariposa ‘Gazette’ of Tuesday
has the following in reference to the body of
Charley WILLIAMS, a notorious highwayman:
A further examination of the body found near Hunter’s Valley leaves no doubt that it is, as at
first supposed to be, the body of Charley WILLIAMS, the highwayman. The ball with which he
was wounded by Under Sheriff THORN, was found between the shoulder blade and backbone. His hair has also been identified by Doctor GRANDVOINET, who was his attending physician last winter, while his was in jail. The articles of jewelry found upon his person have been clearly
identified by Liebman & Co., from whom they were stolen.-transcribed by Dee S
Stockton Daily Independent
TUESDAY, 22 JULY 1862
SHOT DEAD -- A man named MOORE had a difficulty with a neighbor at Princeton, Mariposa county, on Saturday last, and on Sunday the 2
again meeting, MOORE made an attack upon the other, and was shot through the head, the wound killing him instantly. transcribed by Dee
Stockton Daily Independent
August 8, 1862
CONVICTED -- We learn by the Mariposa ‘Gazette’ of yesterday, that HARRON, indicted for the
homicide of STEDUM, near Millerton, last autumn, was found guilty of murder in the 2nd degree on
Saturday last. SMITH, who killed SHOEMAKER in Mariposa county some 3 months ago, was also found guilty of murder in the 2nd degree. In the latter case, if our memory serves us correctly, SMITH in the most outrageous language provoked SHOEMAKER to an assault, and then, being prepared to kill him, did so. The case looks like a clear one of murder in the 1st degree; and it is hardly possible that SMITH in any other country than this could have escaped hanging.
Chandler
kills Connor-1862
Colorado
Jack- 1862
WEDNESDAY, 17 DEC 1862
Stockton Daily Independent
FATAL RECONTRE at MARIPOSA -- On Saturday night 2 men named Thos. HOWELL and Thos. CONDON, entered Mr. BACHMAN's saloon at Mariposa, while B. was engaged quietly in playing a game of billiards with Mr. Alex. DEERING. They at once began to severely abuse Mr. BACHMAN, applying to him the most opprobrious epithets; and at length, failing to excite his anger by words, they broke his glasses and one of them threw a billiard ball at his head. BACHMAN, after expostulating with them, went into another room, and the 2 rioters went off. In a short time they returned and repeated the abuse offered, aggravating their wretched conduct by presenting cocked pistols and calling on B., who was still in the other room, to come out, as they were prepared to receive him -- HOWELL, meantime standing guard and watching, pistol in hand, at the open door, for BACHMAN's appearance. At length Mr. B. made his appearance, a double-barreled shot-gun in hand. As he saw himself covered by the pistols of the 2 men, he naturally addressed himself to HOWELL, who was nearest him, and fired the contents of 1 of the barrels into his body, causing death in 15 minutes. The other barrel was fired at CONDON, who ran, but it missed him. It is reported that CONDON fired 1 shot, but not stated whether it was before or after Mr. B. shot HOWELL. We are informed that the circumstances of this joint assault were most aggravated and unjustifiable, and that it was a repetition of conduct of like nature by the same parties on many different occasions. HOWELL was once a
deputy-Sheriff of Mariposa county. Mr. BACHMAN is postmaster, and a person of very quiet, forbearing and reputable character. transcribed by Dee S
==============================
DATES MURDER
FRIDAY, 23 JAN 1863
Stockton Daily Independent
The same paper(Mariposa Gazette) gives the following particulars of the murder of the man named DATES, who resided at Gentry’s Gulch; DATES was seen in his house Sunday evening, Dec. 21st, and from that time to Jan. 8th it remained closed and no evidence of any one occupying the premises. Several friends of the deceased, who were passing by, concluded to examine the house, and upon pushing the window curtain aside, discovered the body lying on the floor. The party returned to town immediately and gave the alarm. Justice N.R. HUBBLE, with several citizens of Coulterville, went to the place of murder, and upon examination into circumstances, came to the conclusion that the murderer was in the room along with Mr. DATES at the time the murder was committed. Deceased was shot in the head, the ball entering the back part and coming out through the left eye, while was setting at table eating. The murderer then struck him with the sharp edge of an ax, cutting the neck bone clean and clear, and leaving but a small portion of flesh to hold them together. The house was
then rifled, trunk broken open, blood upon the axe partly wiped off, door closed and remained so until the dead body was found. Suspicion was immediately fixed upon an Indian who was seen, the day the murder was committed, going towards the house with a carbine, with which he undoubtedly was shot, as is evidenced from the size of the ball. Constable McKENZIE of Coulterville, and other officers, are scouring the county in search of him.
Stockton Daily Independetn- Feb 6, 1863
INDIAN DESPERADO KILLED -- The Mariposa ‘Gazette’ says a Yaqui Indian desperado, named Colorado Jack, was killed on the 25th of January, near the town of Colorado, Mariposa county, in the following manner: “A party of men from the latter place heard that he was concealed in an old tunnel and on arriving at the place a dog was sent in. Jack, who dreaded a dog more than he did a rifle or 6-shooter, immediately came out and opened upon the party with a double barreled shot gun. The fire was returned and about 16 bullets put into him, killing him instantly. A Yaqui Indian, known to have murdered his partner some time ago, was also arrested in the neighborhood, on suspicion of being engaged in the murder of DATES, brought to town and lodged in jail. Tuesday he was handed over to the authorities at Coulterville. transcribed by Dee
Stockton Daily Independent- Feb 17, 1863
IGNORED -- A friend writes us from Mariposa that the Grand Jury of that county have ignored the bill of indictment against B.F. BACHMAN, for the killing of HOWELL, some weeks since. The killing was in self defense.
------------------
TUESDAY, 27 JAN 1863
Stockton Daily Independent
MARIPOSA ITEMS -- We clip the following items from the Mariposa 'Gazette' of Saturday last:-A very sad and unfortunate affair took place at Princeton last Wednesday night, resulting in the serious, if not mortal, wounding of Mr. N.B. DICKINSON. As near as we have been able to ascertain the facts, Mr. DICKINSON, with Mr. John A. SMITH and J.Y. JOHNSON went into a saloon at Princeton, between 9 & 10 o'clock in the evening. They were drinking considerable. After a few moments some words passed between SMITH and the proprietor of the saloon -- a Frenchman -- and a fight took place and in the fight SMITH drew a pistol. The parties were separated, DICKINSON taking the part of SMITH. Afterwards, as SMITH was putting his pistol up, it went off, inflicting a serious wound in DICKINSON's right breast. The ball entered new the collar bone and ranged down. The case is a critical one. We hope this may prove a lesson to persons who are in the habit
of carelessly using deadly weapons.-One of the murderers of DATES is now well known to be an Indian named "Jack," a desperate fellow and besides an accomplished thief. He it was who shot old man WINDSOR a year or 2 ago, in the mountains.
The manner in which the body of DATES was mutilated after he was killed, would lead a person to believe that the same individual was engaged in the murder of Mr. GIBBS and his partner last fall. The officers should see that he is arrested and brought to justice.
Stockton Daily Independent- April 6, 1864
The Mariposa 'Gazette' of the 2d instant has the following items from the court proceedings:
-The case of BORNEO, indicted for murdering Juan BARBAGALETTA, near Hornitos last August, was tried in the District Court last week, and resulted in a verdict of acquittal.
Stockton Daily Independent- Aug. 2, 1864
FOUND AFTER 2 YEARS – The skeleton of a named GOULD, who was supposed to have been murdered near Yo Semite in the Spring of 1862, while on his way home from Aurora to Mariposa, has just been found and identified by the hair and other marks. transcribed by Dee S.
HUGHES GUILTY OF MURDER OF LOWE
M.C. HUGHES was on Tuesday last tried in the District Court for manslaughter, for killing James LOWE in Mariposa last November. He was found guilty.
transcribed by Dee S
Stockton Daily Independent- April 6, 1864
REBELLION at SAN QUENTIN – Fifty-seven convicts made an attempt to escape from the State Prison last Saturday. The guard brought the artillery to bear upon them and checked the adventure. Four were killed on the spot, viz.:
Jesus ALVAREZ, from Calaveras county, sentenced for 5 years for grand larceny
Anastacio HERRERA, from Solano, sentenced for 8 years, for grand larceny
Reuben SMITH of Mariposa, sentenced for 14 years, for murder in the 2nd degree
Augustine TRUHIO, from Amador, sentenced for life, for murder in the 2nd degree.
transcribed by Dee S
Stockton Daily Independent
July 6, 1864
KILLED by MEXICANS – The Mariposa 'Gazette' of the 2d instant says: After the Mexican celebration of St. John's Day at Princeton, a grand ball was given at night. At a late hour some Americans went to the house – got considerably intoxicated – had a row outside with some Mexicans. Next morning the body of one of them, Willis HERVAL, was found in the street near Justice Gillner's office. He had been shot through the body and died immediately. The Princeton people seem to think he deserved what he got for going where he had no business and getting into a quarrel. He was evidently shot by a Mexican, and there is said to be some proof against the guilty party. transcribed by Dee S
Stockton Daily Independent- Tuesday, Aug 16, 1864
FATAL AFFRAY – Angeny COULTER, son of [newspaper cut – line or lines missing]… county, was shot and killed with a shot gun on Saturday a week, by one S.A. SCOTT. The 'Free Press' thus relates the circumstances of the killing: "The particulars as we have them are, that for some time past an ill feeling had existed between the parties, and that on Saturday, COULTER publicly threatened that he would kill S.A. SCOTT. Shortly after making this threat he was taken in charge by an officer – though not formally arrested – to whom he gave up his pistol, and accompanied to the hotel. While going through the hall of the house in the custody of the officer, SCOTT (S.A.) entered with a double-barreled shot gun and thrusting the muzzle between the officer and COULTER, fired; the charge entering COULTER's right side, producing a frightful wound. He staggered against a post and was again shot; this time with a 6-shooter and in the back. COLTER stated before his death that the last shot was fired by Thos. SCOTT. The difficulty occurred about 5 o'clock in the evening and Mr. COULTER died at 10 o'clock the next morning." transcribed by Dee S
Sacramento Daily Union
,Tuesday Morning
,January 1, 1867
STATISTICS
OF
CALIFORNIA -
1866
THE STATE
William W. AKE found dead near Princeton, Mariposa
county, with a load of buckshot in his body. Aug. 15-James M. HALEY
shot and killed by George W. HANNA, at Princeton,
Mariposa county. transcribed by Betty Loose
Stockton Daily
Independent
MONDAY, 4 NOV 1867
ON BAIL - A private letter from Mariposa states that Mrs. SEALES, one
of the parties charged with poisoning James W. SEALES, has been
released on bail. Mr. SWANEY still remains in confinement. transcribed
by Dee S
Sacramento Daily Union
Friday Morning, January 1, 1869
STATISTICS OF CALIFORNIA - 1868 TATE RECORD
Noticeable Events During the Year
May 6th, 1868
The second trial of A.M. SWANEY for the murder of J.W. SEALE in Mariposa, commenced in the Fifth District Court at Stockton, a change of venue having been granted. The trial lasted twenty days, and resulted in a disagreement of the jury. Subsequently (on the 6th of August) a nolie prosequi was entered, on motion of the District Attorney, and the case dismissed. transcribed by Betty Loose
May 31st., 1868
A stabbing affray occurred at Hornitos, Mariposa county, in which Daniel HUNT was killed by Ned REVERDY.
Stockton Daily Independent, MONDAY, 19 APR 1869
MARIPOSA -- From the 'Mail' of April 15th -- The man found dead a short time
since about a mile from Hildreth's ranch, San Joaquin river, with his throat
cut, was named James HARRIS, an employee of J.R. JONES, at Converse's Ferry.
transcribed by Dee S
C.W.SMITH---killed Joseph SHUMATE
Transcribed from the Mariposa Free Pree, March 10, 1871
(submitted by Steve Miller)
Sentenced.--C. W. Smith was sentenced by Judge Bradford yesterday
to be imprisoned in the state Prison for the term of six years.
He was
found guilty of manslaughter at the last term of the District Court,
and
a motion made for a new trial by his counsel R. H. Daly, who made an
able argument when the case was called up. The motion was
overruled
and sentence passed, as above stated.
( This was a result of C. W. Smith stabbing and killing Joseph Shumate
in front of the Schlageter's Hotel in October 1870. C. W. Smith,
also known
as "Artesian" Smith was characterized as "being generally worthless,
intemperate
and a dreadful bore")
David Paterson killed by Frank Clow- 1877
======================
BRANSON/SIMMONS TRAGEDY-
HORNITOS, 1882
A DOUBLE TRAGEDY-1882
Los Angeles Times
A Mariposa Man Murders His Son-In-Law
Merced, Cal., Jan 18- Yesterday afternnon a terrible double-tragedy
took place at No.9. Quartz mine, near Hornitos, Mariposa
county. Albert Branson, aged about 22 years, was shot by
his father -in law, William B. Simmons. The ball took effect in
the left breast, inflicting what is pronounced a fatal wound.
Immediately after the shooting Simmons turned the revolver upon
himself. The bullet passed through the brain, producing instant
death. Branson married the daughter of Simmons about a year ago,
since which time the men have been partners in the ranching buisness ,
the young married couple living inthe house with the old people.
The trouble is supposed to have originated about their business
mattes. Simmons is about 70 years of age, and has generally
been considered a quarrelsome and dangerous man. by his neighbors, and
has in the past years had trouble with his
family.-----------transcribed by Carolyn Feroben
TRANSCRIBERS NOTE: It turns
out that Albert Branson did survive this event- see this site
for an expanded account of this event:
http://home.comcast.net/~davesmeds/alvinshooting.htm
================
Egide Bauer Killed by D. K. Pitzer-
Hornitos, 1881
==========
Mariposa
Gazette, June 6, 1885
A
homicide occurred on May 31st, near Coulterville, Louis CASTAGNETTO
killing
Stephen LONGO a brother in law. The particulars will probably be
brought
out in trial, when they will be given to the public. transcribed by
Bill
Disbro
------------------------
DAILY EVENING POST, SAN FRANCSICO,
CA THURS JUL 28,1881 P4 COL D
PATRICIDE
IN MARIPOSA
WILLIAM HART SHOTS DAVIT HART
Wednesday afternoon, at Parks Saloon, in the
town of Mariposa,
William HART shot three bullets into the body of his father, David
HART. The wounds will probably prove fatal. Ill feelings
had existed
Between the parties for years.Transcribed by Steve Miller
-----------------------------
FRATRICIDE AT MARIPOSA
Los Angeles Times- 1885
Charles Hart kills brother William
Merced, Cala., Jan 8.- News was brought here today that William
Hart was shot by his brother
Charles while riding along the Mariposa
road, near Mariposa yesterday afternoon.
Death resulted in a few
minutes. A quarrel of over a year's standing was the cause of the
fratricide.
The murderer fled, and up to the present time has not
been captured.
------------------------------
J. B. Lambert- Bugologist- 1896
Halloran
killed by Shehady- 1909 (off site article)
------------------------------------------
Mariposa Gazette, November 14, 1908
TOM BAXTER KILLED.
A Quarrel Between Baxter and Trabucco Ends Fatally
Tuesday morning last, Mariposa people were all excited by the news from
Mt. Bullion, by telephone, that Frank Trabucco, Jr. had killed Tom
Baxter at that place.
Sheriff Prouty, District Attorney Adair, Coroner Johnson and others
went to the scene of the killing at once and on their arrival found
that the report was too true.
The trouble was over family affairs in which the public is not
concerned.
Baxter and Trabucco were cousins by marriage and bad blood had existed
between them for some time.
Tuesday morning Trabucco, who resides with his grand-mother at Bear
Valley where he is engaged in the cattle business, came to Mt. Bullion
on business and met Baxter, who was a resident of the place, engaged in
blacksmithing there. A quarrel was the result of the
meeting, but mutual friends interfered and trouble was averted for the
time being, but not for long as the two met soon after in front of the
hotel. Hot words passed and it is claimed Baxter struck Trabucco
and a shot was fired, the bullet passing through Trabucco's left hand
and entered Baxter's body just below the heart, killing him instantly.
The wound in Trabucco's hand is a painful one though not dangerous. It
was dressed by Dr. Gallison and Trabucco was taken in charge by Sheriff
Prouty and in the afternoon lodged in the Mariposa jail, where he will
remain until after the preliminary examination.
Tom Baxter, the dead man, was a native of Ireland and had been a
resident of Mt. Bullion for a number of years, where he conducted a
blacksmith shop and was well liked. About two years ago the deceased
was married to Miss Ellen Trabucco, daughter of John B. Trabucco of Mt.
Bullion, and a cousin of the prisoner.
Coroner Johnson and a jury held an inquest Wednesday, the verdict
being, "Death caused by a gunshot wound inflected by the hands of Frank
Trabucco, Jr."
The funeral of Baxter took place from the home of his father-in-law,
John B. Trabucco, Thursday, and the remains were buried in the cemetery
at Bear Valley. The funeral was largely attended and the floral
offerings were profuse.
NOTE: More can be found on the Baxter shooting in the Gazette of
November 28th ,1908.
The article is:
TRABUCCO DISCHARGED Evidence Insufficient to Warrant Being
Held.
--------------------------------------------
BAXTER, Thomas
Merced Express, November 14, 1908
HOMICIDE AT MT. BULLION.
Tuesday morning of this week Frank Trabucco shot and killed his cousin,
Thomas Baxter. The tragedy was the result of family altercations. The
two men were cousins by marriage. Baxter about two years ago married
Miss Ellen Trabucco, daughter of John Trabucco, and a cousin of the man
who did the shooting, and it was owing to quarrels between the families
that the trouble ensued that ended in the tragedy.
The two men met in front of the Mt. Bullion hotel and clinched and
Trabucco fired a shot form his pistol, which, after penetrating his own
left hand, crushed into the body of his cousin, who after reeling a
moment, fell dead.
Frank Trabucco is about 32 years old and is a son of Frank Trabucco the
Mt Bullion merchant. He made his home with his grandmother in Bear
Valley, where he followed the cattle business. Tom Baxter, the dead
man, was 38 years old and a blacksmith by trade. He conducted a
blacksmith shop in Mt. Bullion, which is owned by his father-in-law,
John Trabucco.
Contributed by Tom Hilk
-------------------------------------------------
-Whitener
kills
Mindez- 1918
Two Students Slain-over mining
claim 1926
Nevada State Journal, Reno Nevada -Tuesday Aug. 17, 1926
BARAN RIDDLES BODIES OF VICTIMS IN BATTLE
Merced, Cal- Aug. 16- Two men were found dead and another was found
dying, his body riddled with bullets, in the sparsely settled and rough
country, after Paul Baran, 51, a miner, had surrendered to the sheriff
here today, saying that he had killed three men in a quarrel over a
mining claim.
The miner claimed that the trio threatened to kill him if he did not
leave and give them the mining property. He shot it out with them he
said, as they approached his cabin this morning.
The victims of his rifle were Victor Shinoniass, T. Shastin and H
Clark, all of Oakland, Cal. The later was still alive when found
by a party of searchers from Briceburg, but it was stated that he has
virtually no chance for recovery. The bodies of the other two men
were taken tonight to Mariposa.
Baran also mentioned a longstanding quarrel with Louis Milburn,
district attorney of mariposa county, but connected it only vaguely
with the triple slaying. Although the shootings occurred in
Mariposa county, the miner walked to Merced to surrender, saying that
he could not get a square deal in Mariposa. He will be returned
to the latter county to face charges tomorrow.
The three men had been working for Baran on his claim for a little more
than a month. Until today it was not known that any trouble had existed
on the claim. transcribed by cferoben
Tragic Deaths of Indian and Wife- 1930
MARIPOSA GOLD PANNERS' QUARREL ENDS IN KILLING
Fresno Bee Republican, April 25, 1935
John Catlett, 55, Is Killed by Bullet Fired From Revolver of Tom
Steinberg
SLAYER SURRENDERS< CLAIMS SELF-DEFENSE
Aqua Fria, Scene of Tragedy, Once was County Seat For Third of State
AGUA FRIA- Mariposa Co- April 25, A miner's revolver spat
death to-day, ending in true forty-niner fashion a gold panners'
quarrel in this historic settlement, once the county seat of a county
which included one-third of the area of the present state of California.
Miners, who left their gold pans on hearing the shot, arrived to find
John Catlett, 55, dying, a bullet through his head just above one eye.
Tom Steinberg, 45, a neighbor of Catlett in the little community of
miners; cabins that has sprung up here as a result of the revival of
placer activities, walked to the dwelling of C H Grollier, near his
own, and asked Grollier to take him by automobile to Mount
Bullion.
Surrenders To Sheriff
There Steinberg telephoned Sheriff J J Castagnetto he had killed
Catlett and would await the arrival of officers. He was taken to
the county jail at Mariposa.
Steinberg told the officials he and Catlett had been at odds for some
time over a deal in which Catlett had purchased a cabin.
Steinberg said both men went to the same part of Agua Fria Creek early
to-day to pan for gold and became engaged in a dispute over their
findings.\
"He came at me with pick." the prisoner told the officials. "I
shot to protect myself.."
The .38 caliber bullet dropped Catlett beside the creek, a stone's
throw from the site where the Agua Fria Courthouse stood in 1850.
Miners Try First Aid
Miners who attempted to render first aid said Catlett died within an
hour of the shooting.
His body still lay beside the creek when Coroner W D McNally of
Mariposa County arrived to take charge.
Catlett had been a resident of Mariposa County intermittently for many
years. With his brother Charles Catlett, a part-time employee of
a Merced newspaper, he had been engaged in mining operations here.
Charles Catlett was one of the group that fathered around his brother
after hearing the fatal shot.
Two other brothers, G. T. Catlett of Los Angeles and U S Catlett of San
Francisco also survive, as do two sisters, Mrs. M. Green of San Mateo
and Mrs. Bessie Cates of Grub Gulch, Madera County.
Catlett was a native of Tennessee.
Steinberg has resided in Mariposa County five or six years, coming here
from the Palo Verde Valley. Although he has been known by no
other name during his residence here, he volunteered to officers the
information that his real name is B. D. Garvin.
Steinberg is well known in the Mariposa District as a collector
of curiosities. Acquaintances say his conservation
indicates he has traveled widely in all parts of the world.
In 1850 Agua Fria was the county seat of the vast Mariposa
County which extended from the Mother Lode south to the northern
boundaries of Los Angeles and San Diego Counties, including all of the
San Joaquin valley in its area.
The county seat later was moved to Mariposa and the county's area
reduced as new counties were formed.
SLAYER OF MINER GETS PRISON TERM
Modesto Bee, May 7, 1935 Mariposa - May 6- B. D. Garvin,
confessed slayer of John F Catlett during a prospectors; quarrel April
25th, was sentenced to one to ten years in San Quentin by Superior
Judge J. J. Trabucco today.
Garvin pleaded guilty and the charge was reduced to manslaughter.
Catlett, pioneer Mariposa County miner, became involved in a dispute
with Garvin over prospecting rights in Agua Fria Creek. Garvin
said he shot Catlett after the latter threatened him with a pick.
transcribed by c feroben
The Times, San Mateo, California, Tuesday , Dec. 04,
1941-page 8
SHARPSHOOTER SLAYS 2 MINERS
HORNITOS, Feb. 4- Authorities searched the mother lode gold
country of Mariposa county today for the marksman who killed two
aged
miners in their cabin near Hornitos.
The bodies of Joseph Enos, 72 and Jacob A Young, 68, were found
yesterday in Young's cabin on a claim the two men had been working. The
murders were discovered late yesterday after the Hornitos postmistress,
Jennie Gagliardo, reported that the men had not made their weekly call
for mail from the cabin on Cotton creek seven miles away.
Both men had been shot in the head, Sheriff John J. Castagnetto said.
The sheriff said trampled grass on the bank of a ravine below the cabin
indicated the slayer had waited there until both men sat down on a
bench near a window of the cabin.
Castagnetto said the men had been dead at least tow or three
days. The bodies were guarded by miner's dog, Spot.
The sheriff said the only apparent motive for the slaying was robbery
since billfolds carried by the men were empty and the door was locked
from the outside. Enos and Young had engaged in trapping and hunting in
recent years, in addition to their mining activities. transcribed by
cferoben
Fresno Bee Republican- Feb. 11, 1945, page 11
Sheriff Returns 1921 Slayer to Mariposa Jail
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Feb. 10- James J Beck, 71, who last
week in
Oroville, Butte County, confessed the slaying 24 years ago of Frank Garrett
at Bagby in Mariposa County, has been
returned to the county
jail here by Sheriff O S Whitley, to face whatever charge District
Attorney Louis Milburn chooses to lodge against him.
Beck confessed the killing to Sheriff W H Forward of Butte County,
declaring that on the night of February 21, 1921 Garrett attacked him
with an ax at his ranch near Bagby during a quarrel over a neighbor's
daughter. He said he hid for several days after the killing and
then went to Merced and later to Sacramento.
He lived in the vicinity of Oroville for the last 12 years,
working as a prospector and doing odd jobs. When he approached
the
Butte County sheriff he said he "didn't care what they do to me."
Sheriff Whitley said local county records showed a search had been
undertaken for Beck some time after Garrett's body was recovered.
Whitley said today Beck appears to be a tired old man who wants to
clear his conscience.
Milburn is in San Francisco and is expected to return to Mariposa this
weekend. It is expected he will be given his preliminary hearing
before Justice of the Peace Tom Reese in Coulterville and that, if he
is held for trial, he will be tried in the historic courthouse before
Superior Judge Andrew R Schottky.
------------
AGED MARIPOSAN FACES CHARGE OF MURDERING SON
Fresno Bee, Friday, Jan 9, 1942
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Jan 9-District Attorney Louis T. Milburn of
Mariposa County announced today Thomas Conley, 69, a Mount Bullion
prospector, will be tried in the superior cout here for the alleged
murder of his forty year old son, James Conley, last Christmas Eve.
Conley was arraigned before Justice of the Peace J T Norman at Cathey
Valley on the murder complaint, which was signed by Sheriff J J
Castagnetto of Mariposa County.
The aged prospector allegedly stabbed his son with a butcher knife in
their Mount Bullion cabin Christmas Eve, two deed wounds on the left
side of the chest proving fatal ten day later in a Merced Hospital.
Milburn said Conley claimed he stabbed his sone in self defense.
He told the district attorney that during a scuffle in the kitchen his
son hit him on the head with a piece of wood. The two men went
outside, the district attorney said, and shortly afterwards the father
returned to the house. James entered a few moments later and lay down
on a couch. Another son, Joseph, noticed his brother was bleeding
on his left side and immediately called Mariposa for aid.
The prospector is in the Mariposa County Jail.
P
IONEER STORIES
1880 A Pioneer Anniversary
POLITICS
Mariposa Gazette, Aug 13, 1861
CANDIDATES
Richard Folsey is a candidate for the office of CONSTABLE, in Township
No. 3, at the election in September next.
Alexander McElroy is a candidate for re- election for SUPERVISOR in
District No. 1, or Hornitos District.
Caleb Goodman is a candidate for the office of SUPERVISOR, in Township
No. 4, District No. 3, at the ensuing election in September next.
S. B. Thompson is a candidate for ASSESSOR of Mariposa County, at the
ensuing election.
W. C. Hill is a candidate for ASSESOR of Mariposa county at the
election, September next.
J. W. Simmons is a Candidate for the office of COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, at the ensuing election, September
next.
S. B. Thomas is a Candidate for COUNTY CLERK of Mariposa County at the
ensuing election, to be held September 7th 1861.
transcribed by Steve Miller
Stockton Daily Independent- March 18, 1864
MARIPOSA DELEGATES – The following is a list of the Union delegates from Mariposa to the State Convention:
Samuel C. BATES
J.W. SMITH
S.A. SCOTT
J.B. CONDON
J.D. CRIPPEN
Wm. SNEDIKER
transcribed by Dee S
REAL
ESTATE
BONDSVILLE-on the Merced River,
1859
FOR SALE
The premises of Stephen Bond, on the Merced
River, at the place known as Bondsville.
The property consists of an Adobe Store, two
Stories in heighth, with suitable out buildings.
160 Acres of land belong to the
premises, a portion
Of which is well fenced. The location is
Excellent for a store, for which purpose the main
Building has been used for a long time.
For particulars and price, inquire of P. Hussey,
Hornitos, or on this premises.
From the Mariposa Gazette April 29, 1859
MARIPOSA RANCH CHANGES HANDS
Fresno Bee, Saturday Sept. 18, 1926
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Sept 18- A deed recorded inthe office of
the county recorder of Mariposa County shos the transfer of the 7,613-
acre ranch of Frank H Crane in Cathey Valley to Harry W. Chase.
This ranch was foremerly known as the PATE Ranch and was sold a
few years ago by pate to crane. It is one of the very fine stock
ranches of Mariposa County and is located on the Yosemite Highway near
the line between Mariposa and Merced Counties.
It is reported tha the purchase price was in excess of $100,000.
WILL SELL RANCH TO SATISFY BANK
November 24, 1925 or 1925 (hard to read)
Modesto News -Herald
Mariposa- Nov. (Special) The L. E. Rosebery ranch, located about eight
miles east of Mariposa, in the Usona district is advertised to be sold
under a foreclosure of deed of trust at the Simonsen-Farrell abstract
office in Merced of December 15th.
The Mariposa county ranch is to be sold to satisfy a lien on the
property, held by the Security Savings Bank of Merced- cferoben
------------------
AHWAHNEE Hotel
Merced Express, June 24, 1927
NEW HOTEL IN YOSEMITE
TO OPEN SOON
A press report form Yosemite says:
The finest monumental structure ever erected in any national park in the United States will soon be open to the public with the completion of the Ahwahnee, Yosemite's new million dollar hotel. This is the opinion of James McLaughlin, considered one of the foremost builders in the west and a national figure in construction circles of the country.
"A monumental structure usually means a building that stands out apart from its setting, but with the Ahwahnee the order has been reversed, for the hotel seems almost an integral part of its surroundings against the gray granite walls of the cliff, and McLaughlin.
The hotel exterior blends with the natural picture formed by Royal Arches, Half Dome and Washington Column, through the use of the weather carved rocks from the adjacent talus slopes as trimming for the new hotel exterior. transcribed by T Hilk
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mariposa Gazette, March 20, 1941
PHENAS W. ASHWORTH
SELLS INDIAN PEAK
RANCH
TO LULU B. VALETTE
The 400-acre ranch of Phenas W. Ashworth
located in the Indian Peak district was sold on March 13th to Lulu B. Valette.
The purchase price, as indicated by the documentary stamps was approximately
$5,000. The Ashworth ranch has always been considered a valuable piece of
property both from the standpoint of the farmer and the stockmen. transcribed by T Hilk
Fresno Bee, September 24, 1967
Ranch In Foothill Area is Sold
Mr. And Mrs. Robert BARRETT have sold the remaining 202 acres of the
historic WESTFALL Ranch located near Darrah in Mariposa County to Mr.
And Mrs. John R HAMMOND of Orange County.
The BARRETT family settled the ranch in the mid 1890's and built a home
that still remains on the property.
The new owners plan to develop the property for a private recreation
club and camp. The transaction included an exchange of trust
deeds and notes on four-plexes in Orange County.
Anthony Investment Properties, Inc., handled the negotiations.
transcribed by cdf
ROADS/TRAILS
of Mariposa
Fresno Daily Republican, December, 8
1891
RAYMOND-MARIPOSA ROAD
Mr. Asbrook Has Something to Say on the Subject
At this time there is a strong interest felt in this community in the
construction of a road between this place and the town of
Mariposa. To further the enterprise as much as possible, the
undersigned has consented to act as viewer, and as the citizens are
divided in opinion as to which of two proposed routes the available
county funds ought to be expended, both routes were traveled by my
associate, Mr. Foster, and myself. Notes were carefully taken,
and upon comparison we differed in conclusions My co-laborer
thinks the expenditures ought to be put upon the eastern or Martin
route, while I think it ought to be put upon the western or Oakdale
route; hence these lines to explain some things that could not well be
embodied in a report to the supervisors of Fresno county.
The difference in cost of constructing the one road and bridge is
slight, as is also the difference in the length of the proposed
routes so that benefits ought to control.
Mr. Foster says that if the eastern road is built it will open up a new
and valuable country to settlement and development, all of which is and
will be tributary to Raymond. In also affords a way for the fruit
men to reach the railroad, and be the means of diverting more travel to
this county than the other route. That Mariposa will make connections
of the road to her county seat, however much she (unreadable)
disinclined so to do now. I reply, your population on the eastern
line is mostly prospective. The county has to be made populous
while the western route is already peopled. We ought to make
roads to meet present needs more than for prospective ones.
The travel that would come to this county by the eastern route would
certainly be caught by the western one. If this county should
make a road over the Martin way I have grave doubts about the
willingness or ability of Mariposa to make the other end. In that
event we would be at the end of traveling ground at the county line,
with a barrier between us and the town of Mariposa.
As the Mariposa people are favorable to the western route, it is our
interest not to antagonize that feeling when we even gain travel by
being fraternal-
Mr. F. Ashbrook, Raymond transcribed by c feroben
From the Mariposa Gazette, 1894 , no
specific date.
"A walk down Bullion Street last Wednesday was enough to impress
upon even the most careless observer the fact that work on our streets
is absolutely necessary. Fromm Eight to Ninth Streets, or to make
it intelligible, from Judge Jones' residence to Farnsworth's corner,
the sidewalk was covered to a depth of about four inches, with a
deposite of sand of the constistency of thin mush, and very wet mush at
that. It would have been much deeper had not bedrock cropped up
so close to the surface that the sand could not go further down.
A dozen wagon loads of gravel from the creek, put on that part of
the street, would dispose of the mud question and isure a clean, dry
sidealk..Pride in our town should be one stong incentive to keep our
streets neat and fit to travel over, and the comfort of being able to
walk downtown without having one's clothing thoroughly saturated with
slime should be another motive. If someone who has the
right to manage the work will please take hint, and, before the big
Christmas rains come, have a thick coating of gravel laid over the
sidewalk, his name shall ever be called blessed."
"The Mariposa Post Office, always one of the most attractive places in
town is undergoing a thorough renovating and house-cleaning. A
skylight has been let into the roof, making the rooms light even on the
darkest days; the walls and ceilings have been freshly calsomined, and
the woodwork newly painted. As for the other adjuncts of the office,
well, they are perfect."
CATHEY VALLEY ROUTE
Merced Express, January 25, 1913
Suggest Cathey Valley Route.
Charles I. Mosteller and J. F. Lambert, members of a committee appointed by the Planada Chamber of Commerce to advocate the selection of the Cathey Valley route for the branch of the State Highway from Merced to Mariposa, were in town Tuesday. They point out that the Cathey Valley route is much shorter and far better than the proposed route by way of Merced Falls and Hornitos and will be of greater benefit to Merced and Mariposa. It has been suggested that the Chambers of Commerce of Merced, Planada and Mariposa hold a joint meeting to consider the matter and recommend a route to the Highway Commission. submitted by Tom Hilk
SHINGLE HILL GRADE EASED
Fresno Bee, Monday October 13, 1930
MARIPOSA (Mariposa Co) Oct 13- Supervisor C I Mentzer and a crew of men, recently completed the new grade down Shingle Hill between the Dudley ranch and Bower Cave.
This grade was started two or three years ago but was not completed on account of insufficient funds.
This year Mentzer had funds set aside in the budget for this road and with the financial support of the Stanislaus National Forest officials, completed a 6 1/2 per cent grade of 1 1/2 miles to take the place of the dangerous road that has not been in use since the fifities and which, in some places, reached as high as a 20 per cent grade.
SHORTER ROUTE PROPOSED FOR YOSEMITE ROAD
Fresno Bee, October 22, 1930
MERCED (Merced CO) Oct 22- Highway engineers , roadside resort owners, Chamber of Commerce representatives and officals of Merced and Mariposa Counties were present at a hearing here yesterday afternoon on the proposed relocation of fourteen miles of the Merced-Yosemte All-Year Highway.
M. B. Harris of Fresno, chairman, and George Mansfield, secretary of the California State Highway Commission, announced after the meting that poins discussed at the hearing would be considered an dfinaly highway plans announced later.
Edward Wallace, division highway engineer, explained the new routing between Orange Hill school house in the lower Cathey Valley and Mariposa.
Instead of the present route to the right of guadalupe Mountain, passing through Bridgeport at Agua Fria Creek, the road would run northward toward Mt. Bullion, swing to the right through the old locations of Agua Fria and Carson and follow through Arkansas Flat and over Carson pass in to Mariposa.
THe new route would be 1.9 (hard to read) mles shorter than the present road and would eliminate much curvature and grade. It would touch an elevation of 2,400 feet, about 500 feet higher than the present road.
The improvement wouldl cost $700,000, which , according to Wallace, would be $10,000 less than the cost of improving the present road. Several resort owners along the present higheay protested against the proposed relocation. c feroben
Fresno
Bee
Republican, Sunday March 12, 1933
Two
Admit
Theft of Gasoline, Pay $500 Fine Each-
Mariposa (Mariposa
Co.)
March 31- Chester C Verley of Mt. Bullion and Allen Kneckteh of Bear
Creek pleaded quietly before Justice Jay T Norman of Cathey Valley to
stealing fifty gallons of gasoline from Charles Harlowe, contractor on
the Carson Cutoff between Cathey Valley and Mariposa. They paid fines
of $500 each.
PETITION SEEKS SHORTER ROAD TO MINING AREA
Fresno Bee , November 25, 1934
Mariposa (Mariposa CO) Nove 24- A petition addressed to the Mariposa
County Board of Supervisors is being circulated seeking the
construction of a road from Mariposa to the Colorado-Sherlock mining
district, fifteen miles north-east of here, reducing the traveling
distance approximately four miles and traveling time by more than a
half-hours.
C. A. APPERSON, who is circulating the petition, says the new road
would be two miles in length. He declared it is understood
the United States Postoffice Deparment would establish a postal route
from Mariposa through the Colorado-Sherlock district if the road should
be built. The presend roads are impassable during the winter
season.
RANCHERS ASSAIL MARIPOSA COUNTY
ROAD CLOSING
Fresno Bee, August 25, 1946
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Aug. 24- Cattlemen and lumbermen of the Miami
district in Mariposa COunty today are up in arms because a culvert
assertedly has been removed from the Miami Creek crossing on the old
stage road to Wawona via Miami. They say this deprives them of
their regular means of access to the location of their habitations and
activities in the mountains.
The dispute started last Spring when the Oakland branch of the Girl
Scouts of America purchased the Miami Lodge. In June
representatives of the organization started a movement to have the
road, a county thoroughfare used by the cattlemen and lumbermen for
more than 70 years., closed to insure privacy for the projected
establishment.
PETITION IS DENIED
A hearing was held here before the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors
on July 5th, with 40 interested persons registering a vigorous protest.
Only Supervisor Sam Milton and a representative of the Girl Scouts
favored the closing.
The supervisors denied the petition to close the road and the Girl
Scout representative at that time accepted the decision declaring, "we
did not know the situation."
Early this month, A C Shaw. Jr., of Raymond and Merced, while riding
line on the Miami Range, said he noticed another road was being built
paralleling the old state road. He declared today:
"I went at once to the Scouts' supervisor in charge at Miami
Creek. She insisted the Girl Scouts were not going to tolerate a
public road that ran through the end of their property where it was
their intention at some future date to build their camp and
cabins. She declared the new road was being built with the county
equipment."
UNWILLING TO TALK
Shaw said the next day Charles Brous of Fresno and Charles Higgins of
Merced and Raymond, the former representing the SUmmer residents and
the latter, the agricultural and lumber interests of the area, called
on Milton at his home. Shaw asserted Milton at first refused to
talk to them, declaring it was Sunday and his day off.
Higgins, however, insisted, and asked:
"What kind of road are you building on Miami Creek? What is it
and what do you intend to do with it?"
"Well," Milton is said to have replied, "if you insist on knowing, the
Girl Scouts have paid $5,000 cash ahead of time to build that
road. You are going to use it instead of the old road and like
it."
FRESNAN CRITICIZES ROAD
"I may have to use it," rejoined Brous, "certainly I will have to if
you take the culvert out of Miami Creek; but I won't like it, not
unless it is very different from the way it is now. I presume
this new one is a Mariposa County road with a Mariposa County right of
way?"
"Mariposa County has no right of way on this one," Milton is quoted as
replying. "It is the Girl Scouts' road. They are paying for
it."
QUESTION OF UPKEEP
"If this road isn't a county road, how is it going to be kept up,?
countered Borous. "What is going to happen when the Orr and Wolf
Lumber Company of Sanger build their sawmill and start working on Miami
Creek next Spring?" Milton is said to have replied:
"I am not keeping up any road for any lumber company."
Today, the culvert still is out and the ranchers, Summer campers and
lumbermen use the new private road, which they declare is much more
difficult to negotiate, even in good weather. Their leaders are
debating what legal action they can take, especially in view of the
fact Mariposa County is still minus the services of a district
attorney. Higgins summed up the situation this way:
"We must first clear up some of the legal aspects of the case. We shall
insist that the Girl Scouts give Mariposa County a legal right of
way. We also want to determine under what particular
circumstances a private party can transfer public property in public
use to private property and, in so doing, make the public property
useless, which is exactly what was done when the Miami Creek culvert
was removed."
Milton could not be reached for comment.
ROAD MUCH IN USE
When the All Year Highway and the Wawona Road from Fresno to
Yosemite were opened. Miami Lodge was closed and the stages
took the more modern routes. The old road was no longer the state
highway, but it was still the main artery of traffic for the cattlemen,
lumbermen, Summer residents, campers, hunters and trappers in that area.
It is considered the best road connecting Mariposa and Raymond and the
areas in between them with the new Wawona road to Yosemite.
c feroben
-----------
BIRTHDAY DOLLARS WILL AID HIGHWAY
The Modesto Bee, Wed, Aug 5, 1959
Guest at the recent surprise birthday party given for 76 year old Mrs.
Clara Greeley of Bower Cave in Greeley Community Hall donated dollars
toward the new Highway 132 project as their gifts to the honoree.
The highway is of particular significance to Mrs. Greeley, as it passes
along property once owned by her parents, the late Mr., and Mrs.
Frederick Wenger. The original road was the only route for many
years into Yosemite Valley by way of Coulterville and was known
as the Coulterville-Yosemite Turnpike. It was a toll road with
the toll gate located on the old Frederick Wenger Ranch, now the John
McCauley Ranch. McCauley is a nephew of the Wengers.
Three hundred fifty dollars were donated by the guests in Mrs.
Greeley's name.
Mrs. Irene Lucas of South Gate gave the party for her aunt. Assisting
her were Mmes. Earl Matson and Lloyd Isaacs, the honoree;s nieces frm
Oakland; Mrs. Greeley's sisters, Mmes, Emma Trubull of Vallejo; Julia
Kinney and Estel Paty of Sonora and a sister in law, Mrs. Ben Wenger of
Jamestown.
A great niece, Shirly Matson of Lafayette baked and decorated a
cake fashioned in the form of a book to comvey birthday greets to Mrs.
Greeley.
Pink and white color themed the party. A special cake completed with 76
candles and a large punch bowl centered the table which was vovered
with an imported Chinese linen cloth belonging to Mrs. Matson.
Mrs. Greeley was ushered into the hall by her brother and sister in
law, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Wenger of Jamestown, and presented with an
orchid. Close to 70 guests attended.
MODESTO
BEE AND NEWS-HERALD, NOV 3, 1961
BIG OAK FLAT ROAD CONTRACT IS AWARDED
McClatchy Newspaper Services
WASHINGTON DC- Congressman Harold T (Bizz) Johnson of the second, Lode and Valley, district today announced the award of a contract by the federal government for the granding of resurfacing of 3.8 miles of big Oak Flat Road in Mariposa County
A. J. Biani of Santa Maria, Calif., was announced as low bidder and won the contract on his $369, 066.50 offer.
The section of Hishway 120 to be improved is between Crane Flat and Hazel Green Creek, all in Yosemite National Park.
This is another phase of the Mission 66 program which is designed to provide a reconstructed Big Oak Flat-Ioga Road frm the western Yosemite boundary to cross the summit into Inyo County by 1966.
Modesto Bee and News-Herald, Sunday Dec 4, 1966
YOSEMITE ROAD PLAN IS OFFERED
A Yosemite National Park official thinks the old Coulterville Toll Road
into Yosemite might become a one-way motor nature trail offering
an
"intimate" view of nature.
David Del Condon, assistant superintendent, made the suggestion Friday
at the 11th annual meeting of the Northern California-Yosemite Highway
Association in Modesto.
Condon said one-way nature trails have been successful in the
Great Smoky National Park, where systems of old logging, railroad
grades and roads have been converted.
ONE LANE WIDE
He said the road-trails are paved but kept to one lane in width.
Speeds are set at 10 miles per hour and motorists are given a printed
guide to find their way.
The forest comes right up to the side of your car," Condon said. "Here
is an opportunity for motorists to have an intimate contact with
nature."
condon said the Old Coulterville Toll Road might be developed as such
a
road outside the national park by the Highway 132 Association/
The association has worked 10 years and raised $50,000 to promote
Highway 132 and the old toll road as an entrance to Yosemite.
The road extends beyond Coulterville, where 132 ends, through Greeley
Hill and past Bower Cave, an possible future state park, into Yosemite.
Condon said the original toll road is still open into the park through
Merced Grove, Big Meadow, Forest and to Elephant Rock on the Yosemite
valley floor. However, the Highway 132 Association road is closed
just
north of Merced Grove where it leaves the old toll road to short-cut
into Yosemite.
What Condon suggested would be a one-way park exit from Elephant Rock
to Merced Grove, joining the Highway 132 road at that point.
He said the Old Tuolumne Grove road out of the park at Crane Flat is
one a one-way motor nature trail which loops back on the new Highway
120 park entrance.
TIMBER SALES
District Ranger John Rusk of the Stanislaus National Forest , said
timber sales in the national forest will hamper any development of the
Old Coulterville Toll Road south of Merced Grove.
Logging trails will weave over and across the old toll road in the near
future, making it difficult to follow, he said.
The logging will take place at Crocker Ridge, Big grizzly Flat, Ned
Gulch, Moss Canyon and Little Nellie Falls, Rusk said.
Condon said the park as already developed portions of the old toll road
west of Elephant Rock, but would not develop any of the road outside
park boundaries.
He reiterated the statement of Park Superintendent John Davis to the
association that the park will not provide a new entrance for the old
toll road.
Highway association members have not promoted the toll road sough of
Merced Grove, which adds about 20 extra miles to the trip into the park
and is extremely rugged terrain. As it stands now, however, their
road
is blocked by a gate just north of Merced Grove , forcing them to
backtrack or to take the extra 20 miles.
Condon and Ruck suggested the association promote a connection between
the old roll road and Highway 120 between Bower Cave and Buck
Meadow.
This is a federal aid secondary road and is well maintained, Rusk
said. If the route were chosen it would by-pass most of the
roadwork
the association has already done and eliminate much of the most scenic
portions of the old toll road.
Condon said construction of a nature trail is a minimal cost, involving
drainage, paving and some bridges but little straightening or
detouring. Numerous turnouts must be provided for viewing and
resting,
and the motor trail must have access for emergency assistance vehicles,
he said.
The entire one-way road suggestion is made difficult because of
differing regulations in the national park and the Stanislaus Nation
Forest.
In other action Supervisor Harry Hurlbert, Mariposa County board
chairman, said the drive is continuing to persuade the state to acquire
Bower Cave on the old Coulterville Toll Road and develop it as a park.
He reported the State Park Commission passed over it recently because
of limited funds and more pressing projects elsewhere but said state
officials never the less remain enthusiastic about its potential.
He disclosed State Sen Stephen P Teale, D 3rd District , will be asked
to push the project.
WAWONA ROAD CLOSURE STIRS IRE OF MARIPOSANS
Modesto Bee, July 30, 1970
Mariposa- A winding country road believed to have been used at one time
as a stage route to Yosemite National Park has been closed, chained and
padlocked at the park boundary , launching bitter protests from
Mariposa County residents.
The old road, some of it paved and some graveled, meanders from
Highway 49 south of Mariposa across the Chowchilla Mountains and into
Yosemite at wawona, just north of the park ranger station where
visitors are supposed to pay fees.
But because it bypasses the entrance station, the park has closed the
road at the park boundary, causing Mariposans who have depended on the
road to reach Wawona and Fish Camp to take Highway 41, adding about
one-third more distance to the trip.
The Mariposa County Board of Supervisors this week voiced its
displeasure by instructing District Atty. Richard Gimblin to write a
letter to Yosemite officials demanding that the Wawona road be reopened.
INVITED OFFICER
Supervisors invited Russel Olson, acting Yosemite superintendent to
attend this week's meeting and explain the closure. However, he
sent word he was too busy until perhaps next Monday.
In the meantime, Olson said he will do some research on the status of
the road and contact his superior, Lawrence Hadley, former Yosemite
superintendent who has been transferred to Washington, D. C.
Mariposa supervisors contend the road was closed illegally, that the
county, which owns the road, has never given its permission to close
the road and that, furthermore, Yosemite did not advise Mariposa of its
action.
One of the immediate reactions to the closure of the road was a
petition campaign, which so far has the signatures of more than 200
persons.
Back Drive
Lee Berlin, one of the campaign leaders who lives in the Chowchilla
Mountain area told the supervisors all the county's organizations are
backing the move to reopen the road.
Also closed was Big Creek campground, located on the Wawona Road within
the park boundary. Park officials said the camp is unimproved and
that if it is reopened camp fees would have to be charged, as is the
rule in other campgrounds in Yosemite.
County Supervisor Tom Richardson said he recalled the road was used
much of the time in the 1920's. Yosemite Park & Curry buses
once used it and before that it was possibly used by stage coaches.
It is 37 miles from Mariposa to Wawona over the route. Those who now
have to go to Wawona via Highway 41 must travel about one-third more in
distance.
In Yosemite, park officials said the road was closed at the park
boundary the weekend of July 4 to make sure that motorists no longer
would be able ot enter the park free. Because the road bypasses
the entrance station, no fees have been collected in the past f rom
users of that road.
Hippie Trouble
The park closed the road on the weekend it had hippie trouble, when 500
or so "hippie types" there rocks and bottles at rangers and fought law
officer, Park officials, said that since that time park management has
moved to close the gates to "freeloaders."
In other action at the board meeting this week, the supervisors were
requested by Superior Court Judge Dean Lauritzen to hire a full-time
chief probation officer and full-time deputy.
In other matters , James Owings and Gimblin were named to succeed
Lauritzen and Lowell Bondshu on the Comprehensive Health Planning
Council. The board named Lauritzen and Cleo Adelsbach to succeed
Judge Thomas Coakley and Richard Feister on the Mental Health Advisory
Board. cferoben
Modesto Bee and News-Herald, Thrusday, Dec 17, 1970
COUNTY SAYS WAWONA IS "OUR ROAD"
Mariposa- a search of half century old records has given Mariposa
County supervisors ammunition with which to renew their fight with
Yosemite Nationa Park officals over their closure four months ago on
the Old Wawona Road accessto the park.
When park officals ordered a chain placed across the unmaned Wawona
entrance, they pointed out the closure was necessary to control entry
of undesirable elemnts into the park, and they said the closure was
perfectly within their power.
DEEDED TO COUNTY
Hower, Mariposa supervisors contended the park officials had no such
right. And now the supervisors feel they have the facts to back up
their contention.
County records show that Wawona Road into Yosemite was deeded to the
county in November 1917 by the Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Co, the
former owner, say the supervisors.- transcribed by cferoben
OLD YOSEMITE ROAD WILL BE IMPROVED
by Thorne Gray- Modesto Bee and News Herald, July 25, 1972
An all but impassable segment of the old coulterville stagecoach toll
road to Yosemite National Park will be improved this year by the
Stanislaus National Forest.
It will take a brave motorist to dare the trip, willing to breathe
thick clouds of dust and dodge heavily laden logging trucks.
The reward would be free admission to the park near Big Meadow and
Foresta, where the future park headquarters and visitor facilities are
planned for the day when automobiles are totally banned from Yosemite
Valley.
GROVE OF SEQUOIAS
Those who brave the old road may walk into the seldom visited Merced
Grove of giant sequoias. A portion of the Coulterville Road
winding through the grove will be converted into a trail
William Baker, Stanislaus National Forest timber manager, explained the
road improvement is related to the sale last month of 19.5 million
board feet of timber to the Yuba River Lumber Co of Grass Valley.
The trees had an estimated value of $870,0 00 but sold in bidding for
$2,015,000, Baker said.
The sale involves 2,700 acres of the forest near the western border of
the national park, north of El Portal and south of the Highway 120 park
entrance at Hodgdon Ranch. Within the area, Baker said 779 acres
will be selectively logged to leave the young growth and 60 acres will
be clear cut. The clear cutting serves a number of purposes, such as
the creation of fire breaks and road links.
"OASIS" LIKE BEAUTY
The Yuba Co. will construct a portion of the road improvements near
Little Nellie Falls on Little Crane Creek. Baker said the falls is
being carefully skirted to preserve its "oasis"-like beauty.
Most of the road improvement, 5.3 miles, will be completed under a
separate contract for $768, 030 awarded to the W Saxon Baker Co. of
Redding. The road is to be one lane wide with a 15-mile-per-hour speed
limit.
Baker, who is not related to the Baker Co., said there are 15 places
where the original toll road was supported by stone revetments.
At least 10 of the stone walls will be preserved although in places the
improved road will pass just below them.
98 YEARS AGO
Just 98 years ago, on June 17, Dr. John McLean pushed the Coulterville
toll road through to Big Meadow, the first formal road in Yosemite
Valley. A month later the Big Oak Flat Road to Crane Flat and the
valley, today's northern entrance, was completed.
McLean's Coulterville and Yosemite Turnpike Road Co. spent $71,000
building the twisting route. He originally intended to use the
Crane Flat route but detoured through the Merced Grove of big trees
when he discovered them Over the years, the Big Oak Flat Road
became more used and eventually became State highway 120.
State Highway 132 linked Modesto to Coulterville, as it does today, but
there the state route ends. In Modesto and Mariposa COunty, A
Northern California Yosemite Highway Association was organized
and raised $50,000 to improve the toll road to the park.
BLOCKED BY GATE
The hope was enough traffic could be lured onto the old road to justify
its paving, and the eventual extension of Highway 132 to the park
border. For years there was an entrance to the park near Crane Flat,
but in 1966 the association member, on their last annual outing up the
road, found their way blocked by a gate.
Had they continued down the actual historic Coulterville Road that day,
they still would have reached the park at Big Meadow. But they
might have broken axles or had accidents on the steep, cliff clinging
toll road. Instead , they doubled back to Highway 120, express
their disappointment to the park authorities, and gave up their
cause. Modesto is on no highway to Yosemite.
-------------------------------------------------
HAZEL GREEN COURT CASE -
Mariposa County Board of
Supervisors Statement Regarding Hazel Green Litigation- March 18, 2008
MARIPOSA COUNTY RESOLUTION NO. 07-414 Declaruing the County of
Mariposa's Interst in The Coulterville Road August 21, 2007
ROBBERY
Stockton Daily Democrat- Jan. 31, 1858-
The store of Mark WYATT, opposite the Red Banks, Merced
river, was entered on Tuesday night and robbed of a small amount of
money and diverse articles of clothing. On the same night, a robbery
was also committed in the store of Mr. COHN at Coulterville. The thief
succeeded in carrying off $400 in coin and a 6-shooter.
transcribed by Dee
S.
Weekly Stockton Democrat
Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA
Sunday, 25 July 1858
HEAVY ROBBERY -- W.A. KING, Treasurer of Mariposa, had $7600 of the county
funds in his possession to pay into the State Treasury. He got as far as
Sacramento with it, in the steamer Queen City from San Francisco, when he
woke up and found his carpet bag stolen which contained the money.
transcribed by Dee S.
Stockton Daily Independent=July 12, 1864
ATTACKED by ROBBERS – On Thursday night last Mr. MILLER, of Coulterville, was attacked by a robber on the Merced river, opposite Red Bank. The fellow jumped out of the bushes about 12 feet ahead of mr. MILLER, and fired his pistol, frightening the horse and causing him to be thrown headforemost into a pile of rocks. Mr. MILLER gathered himself as soon as he could and fired at the robber, who took to the hills and escaped. transcribed by Dee S
HORNITOS- 1862
Stockton Daily Independent
MONDAY, 30 JUNE 1862
BURGLARY in HORNITOS -- We learn from Mr. CROCKETT, who arrived in this city yesterday from Hornitos, that the house of Mr. John IRISH at that place, was entered by burglars on Thursday
evening last, while the family was in attendance upon the circus. The burglars succeeded only in
destroying and scattering about the clothing of the family, obtaining no money. A package of gold
dust containing about $70, they overlooked, and with the clothing, threw it into the middle of
the room, where it was found by its owner on returning to the house. Suspicion rests upon some
Mexicans as the burglars -- they having been prowling about the town and on one occasion
attempted the robbery of a company of miners.transcribed by Dee S
Stockton Daily Independent
THURSDAY, 4 SEPT. 1862
MARIPOSA ITEMS -- The 'Gazette' of the 2d inst., has the following:-Mr. John CLARK, of Smith's Ferry, was stopped last week by a highwayman, between that place and Bear Valley, and his money
demanded, by having a pistol stuck at his head. A scuffle ensued, in which Mr. C., who had no weapons about him, was knocked down several times by blows over the head with a 6-shooter. Upon rising to his feet, he pulled out a sack of gold dust, containing 56 ounces, and dealt the thief such a blow in the face as to knock him down. Mr. C. then started and made good his escape with all the dust; the robber firing at him until his pistol was emptied. The same party robbed a boy, on the road from Coulterville to Don Pedro's Bar, of $15.
transcribed by Dee S
-Mr. James CRAYEN was pretty severely injured about the face by the
premature explosion of a blast last week in the Princeton vein.
Stockton Daily Independent
Wednesday, March 30, 1864
MEXICAN ROBBERS – 3 Mexicans entered the public house of Mr. GARRITY, at Colorado, Mariposa county, on the evening of the 24th of March, and after playing a friendly little game of cards among themselves, presented their pistols at GARRITY's head and demanded his loose change. They obtained $50 in cash and 2 6-shooters, and after helping themselves to drinks all round, went their way rejoicing. transcribed by Dee S
Stage
Robber-
Wm Early, 1864
Stockton Daily
Independent
WEDNESDAY, 6 NOV 1867
MARIPOSA ITEMS - The 'Gazette' of Saturday 2d instant, has the
following -
-On Monday night last some person or persons entered the Mariposa Hotel
and proceeded to the room where Mr. STONEROAD, of Merced county, and a
Mr. INGRAM, from Mite's Cove, were sleeping, and relieved one of them
of their spare cash. The pocket of the former contained about $30 and
was cut entirely from the pants. They took the 2 last "bits" that
INGRAM had for his morning cocktail. transcribed by Dee S
Yosemite Stage Hold up- 1905
Yosemite States Robbed- 1920
SICK
LIST
December 15 1862-Sacramento Daily Union-
SICKNESS IN MARIPOSA - The Gazette says there has been more sickness and more deaths in this section the past season than for the five years previous. In many cases the disease is sudden and malignant - something almost unknown there in previous years.
-------------
Sacramento Daily Union
Tuesday, March 24, 1863
INSANE - A man named Thomas McGUIRE made his appearance at the station house last evening, and desired to be protected form a large number of persons who were, as he thought, trying to murder him. As he was evidently insane, he was placed in a cell and locked up. He states that he recently came from Mariposa county. transcribed by Betty
March 7, 1865
Stockton Daily Independent
INSANE – Deputy Sheriff C. NELSON, of Mariposa, arrived last evening, having in charge an insane man named Angelo ARRATTA, an Italian, and took the latter to the State Insane Asylum. The officer returns home this morning. transcribed by Dee S
Stockton Daily Independent
Friday, 12 July 1872
transcribed by Dee S.
BABY BARNES
DELICATE SURGICAL OPERATION -- The Mariposa 'Gazette' of July 5th says:
Dr. J.T. TURNER last week extracted a needle from the back of the infant child of Mr.&Mrs. W.W. BARNES. BARNES is our foreman, and that baby has had "bad spells" for 2 or 3 moths, from some cause not precisely understood,
though several days ago it was suspected that a needle was traveling about in its body. The Doctor attempted to extract it once before, but was fearful of injuring the little patient by cutting too deep. Meantime the needle traveled, and when extracted appeared to be working its way upward alongside the spinal column. It was considerably corroded. Whether it was
swallowed or "pin-cushioned" is unknown to anybody except BARNES' baby, and as it isn't old enough to talk, interviewing is useless.
Fresno Weekly Republican, February 19, 1892
HELM NEEDS HEMP for Attempting Wholesale Poisoning
Almost Caught In The Act
He Steals Merchandise From His Father-in-Law and is Arrested
Merced, February 15- Jacob Lewis, a well to do merchant in White Rock, Mariposa county, and wife were poisoned some time ago. Later members of Richard Helm's family were poisoned. Helm is Lewis's son-in-law. During the intervening time between the formers poisoning and the latters, Lewis missed merchandise from his store. A search revealed the goods in Helm's barn. After the latter poisoning officers had been at work ferreting out the author of the crime, which resulted in complaints being issued charging Helm, his wife and son with the poisoning of Lewis and his wife. The parties are now under arrest. transcribed by C feroben
RUDOLPH
STOCK
Merced Express,
December 2, 1893
Rudolph Stock, who had
the misfortune to lose his right hand in a gunning accident near
Oakdale on the 19 instant, has been at the county hospital for the past
week. Yesterday he was seized with a violent fit of vomiting during
which time he emitted a tape worm measuring six feet long. Stock had no
known ledge of the worm's presence in his stomach
– Stanislaus News.
Contributed by Tom Hilk
ARTRU-Feb
10, 1910- Mariposa Gazette-
Mrs. H. Artru has been
quite ill the past week with la grippe.
CAIN- Feb.
10, 1910- Mariposa Gazette
George W. Cain, Sr, 87 years of age was adjudged insane by the Lunacy
Commission last Monday and was committed to the Stockton State hospital
by Judge Trabucco.
CAMIN-
Feb. 10, 1910- Mariposa Gazette
Mrs. E.
Camin had the misfortune to step on a nail Friday of last week,
that caused a painful and dangerous would. She was under the care
of
Dr. Kylberg several days.
COUNTS-Feb
10, 1910-Mariposa Gazette
Mrs. S. Alanson and Mrs. K. Duncan of Ukiah, sisters of S.P.O.Counts
are in Mariposa and at the bedside of their sick brother.
R. L. Obarr is attending to the duties of the County Treasure's office
during the illness of County Treasurer.
R.L. Obarr came up from Los Angels last Saturday evening, being called
here by the illness of his uncle, S. P. O. Counts.
Mrs. W. S. Zeller of Palo Alto, arrived in Mariposa Tuesday
evening. Mrs. Zeller is a sister of Mrs. S.P.O. Counts was was
called here by the serious illness of the latter's husband.
EARLY-
Stockton Daily Independent
Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA Monday, 25 Nov. 1872
The ‘Gazette’ of the 22d instant says that Thomas EARLY,
formerly Sheriff of Mariposa county, has been pronounced insane and
placed in the Insane Asylum. For several years he has resided in Linn
valley, Kern county, where his family are now living.
LOWRIE-
Feb. 10, 1910- Mariposa Gazette
The four younger children of Mr. and mrs. W. H Lowrie of Mariposa are
down with the measles.
THORN-
Feb. 10,1910-
Mariposa Gazette
J. F. Thorn of this town is on the sick list.
DALTON, Walter
Fresno Bee, Thursday, March 6, 1930
Mariposa-Walter Dalton, a schoolboy of the Exchequer School District,
is reported to be suffering from infantile paralysis at his home there.
SHOOTINGS/STABBINGS
-not
resulting in death!
Stockton
Daily Argus
/Monday, 15 June 1857
MARIPOSA -- Shocking Causality -- Mariposa 'Gazette'
On Sunday last, at the Oak Spring House, a German by the name of Frank
SPEILMAN, in showing how an accident had occurred to a friend of his
from the discharge of a shot gun, placed himself in a position for
illustrating the causality by leaning over his gun and placing his foot
upon the cock, received the contents of 1 barrel, the charge going
through his left hand and right arm, fracturing the larger bone of the
forearm and tearing off the flesh in a shocking manner. Several shot
also struck the unfortunate man in the head, over the right eye,
penetrating the skull. The wounds will probably prove fatal.
Weekly Stockton Democrat
Sunday, 20 June 1858
SHOOTING in HORNITOS -- On Thursday last, says the Mariposa ‘Gazette,’
a quarrel took place in Hornitos between George HARDIN and James
STROOPS. The latter commenced the fight by firing 2 shots, when HARDIN
drew a revolver and fired several times at STROOPS, 1 of the shots
taking effect in his left side. The wound will not probably
prove fatal. HARDIN has since had an examination before a
magistrate, and was honorably acquitted.
transcribed by Dee S
Weekly Stockton Democrat February 6 1859
FROM MARIPOSA -- A fight came off last week, says the ‘Star,’ in STIRLING’s saloon, Mariposa, in which a pistol was “accidentally” discharged, the ball passing through the thigh of Wm. JOHNSON, and causing a severe wound. transcribed by Dee S.
Sunday, 27 Mar 1859-
Weekly Stockton Democrat
SHOOTING AFFAIR -- We are informed that a shooting affair took place at Hornitos on Monday last, between a man known as Bob CARTER and another whose name we were unable to ascertain. 6-shooters were emptied of their contents but no harm done. The cause of the difficulty grew out a personal abuse on the part of CARTER.
Sunday, 27 Mar 1859-
Weekly Stockton Democrat
MORE SHOOTING -- A shooting affray occurred on Wednesday last, says the ‘Star,’ in the neighborhood of Bull’s Creek, in which 2 men by name of LAMB and EWBANK were wounded -- the latter mortally. The affair grew out of a suit concerning a water ditch.
Stockton Daily Independent
Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA
Thursday, 17 Apr 1862
MARIPOSA NEWS --
-Shooting Affray -- Another of these affrays which occur so frequently between whites and Indians, occurred on the Chowchilla last week.
The cause of the trouble as usual, was on account a difficulty between the squaws. It appears that a man by the name of WINDSOR, living at the place
mentioned, endeavored to secure a child or 2, to which he laid claim; the Indians resisted it, and 2 of them visited his camp. Shooting shortly
commenced; WINDSOR firing at the Indians with a double-barreled shot gun, and they at him with a rifle, wounding him mortally, as was thought. One
Indian was shot dead, the other was thought to be unhurt, but since was found dead -- so report says. The wound of WINDSOR proves not a mortal one, as matters have turned out. transcribed by Dee
Stockton Daily Independent
August 1, 1862
INJURED by CARELESSNESS -- The Mariposa 'Gazette' says: "Mr. WATERS, of Princeton, was seriously injured by the explosion of a Derringer
which he was carelessly handling, on Wednesday last. One finger was entirely blown away, and 2 others badly injured as well as the middle
of the hand, through which the charge passed." transcribed by Dee
Stockton Daily Independent
Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA
THURSDAY, 24 ,OCT 1867
NARROW ESCAPE – A shooting affair took place at Mormon Bar, Wednesday evening last, says the Mariposa 'Gazette,' in which 3 shots were
fired at Charley SMITHERS. One shot slightly grazed the left arm; another struck the left breast, and glancing carried away a small portion of
flesh; the 3rd missed entirely. None of the wounds are of a serious character.Transcribed by Dee Sardoch
Robert Preston------1875
JEALOUSY THE CAUSE.
San Joaquin Valley Argus
June 7, 1884
Elijah Scott, in a fit of jealousy, shot Archie Cook on Sunday last.Both parties were residents of Hornitos where the shooting took place.It appears that the wife of Scott, who is a member of one of the mostrespectable families in Hornitos, was setting up with a sick neighborand about two o'clock in the morning she became weary and wished to go home. Mr. Cook offered to accompany her and she accepted his proposition and as they were walking along the road, Scott, who was just going homesaw them and without waiting for an explanation fired at Cook, wounding
him seriously but not necessarily fatal. This is another case of which Shakespear says:
Beware of Jealousy My, Lord,
It is the green-eyed monster which makes the meat it feeds upon.
Mr. Cook was at last counts rapidly improving from the wound. We make the above explanation just as we heard it from one who is familiar with the facts, and in justice to the lady, whose reputation Madam Rumor
seems inclined to smirch.
Additional information------------January 24, 2003
Warren Carah (wcarah@livingonline.com) writes:
I am distantly related to the Scotts
through their intermarriage with my Marshall clan.
Elijah Scott, the protagonist in Tom's newspaper article, was a brother
to Charlotte
Scott who married Thomas Edwin Marshall in 1877 in Hornitos.
Another
sibling of Elijah's was a brother, William W. Scott, who was born on 22
Dec 1864
and died at Hornitos on 12 Nov 1892.
Additional material on the Scotts
can be found in the George
A. Marshall
Memoir
in the Family Chronicles
Elijah Scott, the hothead in this
article, was born in Missouri on 9
Mar 1856 to William Wiley Scott and Irene Branson. Elijah's
father,
William, was killed by a lightning strike during a wagon train journey
to
California in 1865. Irene Branson Scott continued on to
California and
eventually developed a sizable ranch outside Hornitos.
Elijah Scott died on 1 Mar 1893 and
is buried at the IOOF cemetery as
is his mother Irene. I have no information on how the shooting
incident
of Mr. Cook ever turned out.
E. O. Darling- Supervisor, 1872
Fresno Republican, The *
1885-02-14
Joe Barcroft, at Hornitos, Mariposa county, wasn't aware that it was
loaded. The doctor cut the bullet out of his hip.
Frank TRABUCCO stabs George Long- 1900
SHOOTING
- SCHLAGETER/BERTKEN
Merced Express, March 29, 1901
Sunday Evenings Shooting.
Last Sunday night about eight o’clock C. A. Schlageter, of the Mariposa
Hotel took three shots at his brother-in-law, Ben Bertken. None of the
shots took effect although one of them must have come within a few
inches of Bertken’s neck. Schlageter was standing on the sidewalk in
front of Trabucco’s store when Bertken came out of the hotel going
toward Schlageter when he applied an epithet to Bertken and immediately
commenced firing. Bertken, who is a deputy Constable, rushed at
Schlageter and after a struggle succeeded in wresting the pistol from
him, and then proceeded to give him a thrashing after which he looked
Schlageter in jail where he remained until Thursday last. No warrant
has been sworn out.
Such pleasantries as this may be well enough in some places, but in a
public street of the county seat, at an hour when men, women and
children are passing by, a stray bullet is likely to make a corpse of
some innocent person.
– Mariposa Gazette.
NORA
GORDON- SHOOTING ACCIDENT, 1909
Mariposa Gazette, August 3, 1909
Accidentally Shot
Miss Nora Gordon, the fifteen year old daughter of Thomas Gordon, who resided near Mariposa, was the victim of a peculiar and
painful accident last Saturday.
The young lady, it seems, was resting her left hand which wasclosed on the end or muzzle of a 22-caliber rifle when the gun
was accidentally discharged with the result that the bulletentered the palm of the hand and penetrated the flesh at the ends
of all four fingers and out through the thumb. No bones werestruck by the bullet. Miss Gordon was brought to town immediately
after the accident and had the wound dressed. While painful,f ortunately the wound is not serious, and but a short time will
have elapsed before a complete recovery is effected.
transcribd by Tom Hilk
SMITHERS,
CHARLEY Jr.
Modesto Bee and News-Herald, Wednesday, September 19, 1934
MARIPOSA HUNTER IS ACCIDENTALLY SHOT
Merced- Sept. 18, Mariposa's first deer hunting gun casualty of the
season was reported to-day. While a hunting party was successful
in bringing back a four-point buck Charles Smithers, Jr., of Mariposa
was forced to receive treatment in a Merced hospital after a steel
shell casing had lodged in his shoulder.
The party included William F Joerg, J J McNamara, Dr. James Hayes and
Earl Reike of Merced; Louis T. Milburn, George Lovinggouth, Charles
Smithers, Charles Smithers, Jr., and Robert Elliot of Mariposa and E.
R. Carter of Exchequer.- cferoben
SUICIDE
Charles
Read-Sherlock's miner-1857
Stockton Daily Independent
SATURDAY, 20 DEC 1862
SUICIDE of a CHINAMAN -- A Chinaman, named AH HEE, under sentence for
1 year to the State's Prison, committed suicide by hanging himself in
the jail at Mariposa, on Monday last. It is thought he was impelled
to the deed by the neglect and contempt of [illeg] countrymen.transcribed by Dee S
Stockton Daily Independet, Monday, Oct 26, 1868
MARIPOSA - We clip the following from the 'Gazette' of Oct. 23d: A man named
Charles ERRICKSON committed suicide at Hite's Cove on Friday last by cutting his
throat. Seemingly he had made several attempts before accomplishing his purpose.
He had been drinking freely for some time previous and it is supposed committed
the rash act while laboring under the effects of intemperance. The deceased was
a native of Norway and between 40 & 50 years of age.
transcribed by Dee S
Sacramento Daily Union -Friday Morning, January 1, 1869
Page 1
STATISTICS OF CALIFORNIA - 1868 STATE RECORD
Noticeable Events During the Year
Sept. 10th - A E. WARNER of Hornitos, Mariposa county, committed suicide by
shooting himself with a double-barreled shotgun. transcribed by Betty Loose
Samuel Ransome- grief
stricken- 1891
Charles A. Schlageter- 1925
CONVERSE, Albert
MAN ORDERED JAILED BY DIVORCED WIFE, KILLS SELF ON WAY TO HER HOME
Oakland Tribune,
Oct. 28, 1926
Stockton , Oct 28- Albert Converse, 27, ended his life with a rifle
bullet late yesterday afternoon on a lonely road near Groveland,
Tuolumne county. Officers believe that he was on his way to kill
his recently divorced wife, changed his mind and sent a bullet into his
brain . He brooded over the divorce and also annoyed his former wife,
who yesterday swore to a complaint charging him with disturbing her
peace. He heard of it and then borrowed a rifle and started
toward her home. He will be buried tomorrow afternoon near
Coulterville, where his father, Frank Converse, lives.
TRABUCCO, Ralph
Fresno Bee, Friday, July 19, 1946
RALPH TRABUCCO COMMITS SUICIDE
MARIPOSA (Mariposa Co.) July 19- Funeral servies will be held tomorrow
morning at 10:30 o'clock in the Ivers & Alcorn Chapel in Merced for
Ralph E. Trabucco, 36, Bear Valley stockman and member of one of
Mariposa County's most prominent families, who committed suicide
Wednesday morning by firing a .38 caliber bullet into his head.
Burial will be in the Merced Cemetery.
Trabucco ended his lifve in a small store room building near his
travern , the Pioneer Bar, in Bear Valley. The body was not found
until two hours later when members of his family instituted a search
after becoming alarmed because of his long absense.
Mrs Trabucco, the former Loretta Barcroft of Merced, could give no
reason for her husband's suicide. She and her sister in law, Mrs.
Harold Trabucco, found the body. Both said he had appeared in
excellent spirits earlier Wednesday morning.
Deputy Coroner James McElligott, who investigated said death was
instantateous.
Trabucco, a native of Bear Valley was a member of Osa Lodge No.
110, Odd Fellows, in bear Valley.
Surviving him besides his widow are two small children, Donna, 7, and
David T Trabusso (sic), 4; his mother, Mrs. Nancy Trabucco; four
sisters, Mrs. Ella Simpson and Mrs. Adeline Udell, Bear Valley; Mrs
Jane Meagher, Ahwahnee, and Mrs. Minnie Roller, Tulare, and two
brothers, Harold and Jospeh Trabucco, Bear Valley- c feroben
STAGE
COACH
TROUBLES
Stockton Daily Independent
TUESDAY, 20 JAN 1863
RUNAWAY -- As the stage from Mariposa was approaching town, near the Race Track, it was met by a party driving 2 slow mustangs whose driver took occasion to snap his whip just as the leading horses of the stage were opposite him, which had the effect of starting them off at full gallop and made them almost unmanageable. Mr.
I.D. MORLEY was riding beside the driver -- Mr. FISHER, one of the proprietors -- at the time, and by his assistance Mr. FISHER succeeded in controlling the horses so that no danger was done. A party who noticed the affair informed us of it, and stated it as his belief that the man
who cracked his whip at the moment of meeting the leading horses, did it for the purpose and with the design of making the stage horses run. There were 6 high spirited horses attached to the stage.
transcribed by Dee S
---------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Daily Independent
TUESDAY, 28 JUNE 1864
ESCAPE of a STAGE ROBBER – The Mariposa 'Gazette' of last Saturday gives an account of the recent escape from the custody of an officer, of Wm. EARLY, one of the Coulterville stage robbers, who got the Wells, Fargo & Co. treasure. The 'Gazette' says he "seems to have made his escape very easily and had no trouble in keeping clear of those who were in search of him. He was at Colorado on the night of Monday, June 20th." transcribed by Dee S
----------------
June 25, 1910,
Mariposa Gazette
Thos KINMAN, a
teamster for the Yosemite Turnpike Company,
was seriously injured yesterday afternoon, and will be laid up for some
time.
The accident in which
he was injured occurred just this
side of the Summit House, where, at the top of the hill, he turned out
to allow a buggy to pass. A dog accompanying the buggy ran up to
the freight team and frightened them.
When they started to
run KINMAN attempted to jump from
the from the horse he was riding but was caught by the brake strap and
was thrown under the wagon which passed over him.
The injured man was
taken to the Summit House and a messenger
dispatched for a physician. Dr BURCH of Raymond responded.
He found KINMAN suffering from a broken leg, the bone being fractured
in
two places, and a broken arm. It was also feared that he had
sustained
internal injuries.
cferoben
----------------------------------
Stage Over the Embankment- July
1910
____________________________________________________________________________________
WEATHER
RELATED
PEACH
CROP IN
MARIPOSA DESTROYED
Daily Evening Bulletin,
(San
Francisco,
CA)
Monday,
March 29, 1858; Issue 145; col. B
PEACH CROP IN MARIPOSA, DESTROYED- Wednesday and Thursday nights of the
past week, were the coldest of the season. Ice formed and the
ground froze considerable. The prospect of the peaches was
entirely destroyed, which one week ago was good for a large crop.
There are no other fruit trees about here sufficiently matured to
bear yet to any extent, but the loss of the peach prospect is
sufficiently grievous to those who have carefully raised trees, and who
were rejoiced to see them full of blossoms a short time ago.
Mariposa Gazette
-------------------------------------------------
The
Mariposa Gazette says the water in the Merced river has become so hot
that it has caused all the salmon fish to die. Tons upon tons of
dead fish are daily drifting down the river, which is creating a
terrible stench , and the like was never known before. Much
uneasiness is felt among people along the river, who fear it will cause
sickness.
from
the Los Angeles Times-August 31, 1882
-----------------------------------------
Fresno
Bee,
Dec 31, 1931
Mariposa County Bridges
Damaged During Storm
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Dec
31- The center pier of the bridge over
Chowchilla Creek near the Walter McNally place was undermined and
topped
over, closing the road to travel during the heavy story early in the
week.
The middle pier of the
bridge over the creek near the Magnedon ranch
also was washed out. Considerable damage was done to the roads,
culverts and bridges all over the county.
Fresso
Bee Republican
Dec 13, 1937
WASHOUTS CLOSE ALL YEAR ROAD TO YOSEMITE
BRICEURG- (Mariposa Co) Dec 13- State highway crews began the gigantic
task of repairing and rebuilding seventeen miles of the All Year
Yosemite Highway between here and El Portal. The road was damaged
in many places by the rushong waters of the Merced River, swollen
by heavy rains in the high Sierra Friday and Saturday.
All motor traffic has been stopped near the top of the Briceburg Grade
and only offical cars, or those belonging to residents between here and
a point six mile east along the highway , are permitted to pass the
barricade.
TWO WASHOUTS OCCUR
There are two washouts on the Briceburg Grade below the barrier where
rater running down the steep cuts of the mountain side undermined the
road and caused the outside half of the pavement to break. The
few cars permitted to passs the barrier must do so at the driver's rish
because of the dangerous condition of the road.
There is no communication between here and El Portal or Yosemite
Valley. Telephone lines are in working order as far as emery, six miles
below El Portal, and crews were unable to state when they expect to
complete the communications repairs.
ROAD IS UNDERMINED
A F. Jeffries, Mariposa County foreman of the highway maintenance
division, drove as far as he could yesterday and walked the remaining
distance to El Portal. He said landslides did not damage the road
but that it had been undermined and washed out in several places.
He reported particularly bad stretches at points six miles eash of here
and in the vicinity of the South Fork Crossing.
It was unoffically stated by one highway worker that it would require
day and night work for five days before one way emergency traffic could
be carried by the raod. It was unoffically reported here that El
Portal residens said they had food for about five days only.
OLD RECORD BROKEN
The river reached an all time high in the flood of Saturday and
exceeded the 1861 high water line by an estimated seven feet.
Markus Schinsky, a miner who resided in a cabin one mile below here
before it was swept way at daybreak Saturday, said a pioneer resident
of the vicinity marked the 1861 line some time back. He estimates
the water line after the waters receded Saturday evening and today is
seven feet about the old timer's mark.
The river, in its mad dash down the canyon, washed out the Shell
Oil Company station at El Portal, swirled its muddy waters around the
El Portal Hotel and the Yosemite Valley Railroad Depot, but did no
appreciable damage to either structure, swept on down, carrying several
cabins and trees with it, washed out every footbridge bewteen
Baggy and El Portal; wrecked several miles of track and grade of the
Yosemite Valley Railroad; washed away the railroad bridge at Bagby,
below here, and almost took one life.
YOUTH SAVES MAN
Charles Johnson, section foreman of the Yosemite Portland Cement
Company quarry, six miles above here, ws rescued by Martin Dukes, 18,
Mariposa High School student, Saturday morning. Johnson was
awakened by the barking of his dog. He stepped from his bed into
the water which covered the floor of his cabin. Before he could
dress, the water carried the cabin down stream. Johnson clutched the
dog as both were hurled into the water.
Young Dukes and other saw the cabin carried away and Johnson in the
water. Dukes ran to the river, plunged in and grabbed
Johnson. Both were being swept along with the stream, but Dukes
managed to grab a rope tossed to the pair by those on the bank------cdf
WPA /SERA NEWS
MT. OPHIR
MINT MAY BE RESTORED WITH SERA FUNDS
Fresno Bee, Nov. 18, 1934
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Nov. 17- The ruins of the famous old Mt. Ophir
Mint, the first United State mint in California, are to become the
property of Mariposa County. This was decided at a recent meeting
of the county board of supervisors. If the recommendations of the
board are carried out the mint will be restored to its original
appearance and the surrounding grounds will be beautified by SERA
workers- the whole to become a public park and shrine.
The offer to donate the old mint and the grounds surrounding it
was
made by Frank MAGUIRE on behalf of the Mariposa Commercial
Mining Company; of which he is the manger. Maguire announced his
company was willing to deed the property to the county or to any other
responsible organization that would undertake its restoration.
The members of the board voted unanimously to accept a deed to the
property.
The board also passed a resolution directed to the county SERA
recommending that it undertake the work of restoration of the buildings
and its beautification of the proposed park.
The plan is to restore the old mint just as it was when it was turning
out the famous gold slugs from gold mined at the Mt. Ophir Mine. Old
photographs still in existence will be material aid in the word
of restoration and old records will help in the rebuilding.
If the SERA adopts the recommendations of the board of supervisors,
work will begin at once, the board said.
--------------------------------------
WORK
TO START MONDAY ON SERA MARIPOSA AIRPORT
Fresno Bee, November 25, 1934
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Nov 24- Construction of the Mariposa County
Airport near Mt. Bullion , five miles north of here, will commence
Monday. A crew of 150 members is to be employed as soon as the
work is fully underway.
Frank
EWING of Yosemite, Maripos County SERA director, announces the airport
is the first of nine proposed SERA projects in this county.
It is estimated it will take three months co complete the riport, which
will have two runways.
Other projects approved by the board of supervisors and submitted to
the federal authorites include the construction of a high school
athletic field, the resorantion of the Mt. Ophir Mint an addition to the county courthouse,
which has been in constant use since 1854, and the construction of a
jail at Coulterville, thirty miles north of here.- c feroben
MARIPOSANS
FIGHT ALTERATIONS IN OLD COURTHOUSE
SERA Plan to Make
Changes in Historic Building Hits Snag
Fresno Bee Republican,
Sunday March 3, 1935 (see article above under COURTHOUSE NEWS section)
MARIPOSA COUNTY HAS EIGHT SERA
PROJECTS
Fresno Bee Republican, July 15, 1935
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) July 15 - Eight SERA projects are now in
progress in Mariposa County, according to Charles E GREENAMYER, field
engineer in charge of the work division. They are the Mariposa
Grammar School, the courthouse, the Boneyard Road to Coulterville, the
Oakvale-Raymond road, Mount Buckingham School, Colorado Grammar School,
Pea Ridge Grammar School and the Hornitos restoration project. - c
feroben
-----------------------------------
MARIPOSA PLANS TO RENEW PLEA FOR WPA SCHOOL
Modesto Bee and News-Heralrd, thursday, Sept. 12, 1935
Mariposa, Sept 11.- The Mariposa High School trustees application for
$67,909 school project under the Works Progress Administration will be
revised and again submitted following its rejection by the WPA.
The reason given for the rejection was that the cost per man employed
was too high.
The board has decided to send one or more of the trustees to San
Francisco to confer with WPA officials. Members of the board also have
communicated with the state senators and congressmen to see what can
be done.
As no projects under the WPA have yet been granted in Mariposa County,
the trustees believe the application will be approved as soon as the
employment feature has been revised. c feroben
----------------------------------------
Modesto
Bee and
News-Herald Oct 1, 1935
WPA Force in Mariposa is
Reduced to Six
Mariposa- Sept 10- The
Mariposa Works Progress Adminstration office
force has been reduced from six persons to three, no projects having
been approved for Mariposa County.
Charles Greenamyer, project
engineer; Mrs. Pearl Greenamyer,
stenographer, and Raymond English, welfare investigator, are those who
have been released. Alan F Reynolds, director; Miss Ruthe Ellis,
stenographer, and Carroll Thomas, welfare worker, remain.-
transcribed by cferoben
----------------------
SERA To Modernize
Mariposa County School
Fresno Bee Republican, Wed May 29, 1935
MARIPOSA-(Mariposa
Co)
May 20- The State Emergency Relief Administration hsa approved a
project for the employment of six men at an expenditure of $828
to improve and modernize the Mount Buckingham School.
Application for the project
was made by Mrs. Irene Gerrier, Mrs. Ella
Lewis and Lester N Philiips, the school trustees.- c feroben
Fresno
Bee Republican, Aug 28, 1935
SERA PROJET CONTINUED
Masriposa (Mariposa Co) Aug 28- Word was received at the Mariposa SERA
office yesterday by Alan REYNOLDS, director, that a continuation of the
Bear Creek School project had been granted.
Two
shifts of men will work for six-hour period. At the time of the shut
down on all projects, the building was being dismantled preparatory to
remodeling operations.- c feroben
MARIPOSA
SCHOOL WILL BE COMPLETED
Modesto Bee and News-Herald, Friday November 22, 1935
Mariposa. Nov 21- Work on the completion of Mariposa's new elementary
school has bengun here under the WPA. The operations consist mostly of
plastering and finishing the three-room building which was begun as an
SERA project.
An appropriation of $10,614 ws recentty made by the WPA for the
project, which was the first WPA job approved in the Mariposa County- c
feroben
-------------------------------------------
Fresno Bee, August 4, 1938
AIR FIELD AT MT. BULLION WILL BE IMPROVED
Mariposa-(Mariposa Co) Aug. 4- Improvement of the Mt. Bullion Airport,
completion of the forest service road from Acorn Inn to Darrah and work
on the part of the route already existing is foreseen as a result of
action taken by the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors.
The work will be done with the assistance of the Works Progress
Administration. Four hangars will be constructed at the airport, with
foundations and floors of concrete. The runway will be fenced and
oiled and sanitary facilities constructed.
The total cost is set at $15, 754, of which the county will
supply
$2,637. Material for the hangars will be purchased by the
Yosemite
Park and Curry Company, which plans to use the field in its
transportation system.
The estimated cost of the road project is $19,000, with district No 5,
in which the road is located, to supply $5,000, mainly in equipment.
M. A Benedict of Northfork, supervisor of the Sierra National Forest,
designated the triangle road to Wawona, the subject of much controversy
, as something for the future. He estimated the cost of
completion
at between one and one and a half million dollars. c feroben
MARIPOSA
STREETS PAVED WITH GOLD
Fresno Bee Republican, April 7, 1940
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) April 6- Sections of Mariposa streets were paved
with gold tonight.
Paving gravel was scooped from the Mariposa Creek bed by WPA workers as
part of a street improvement project. An analysis showed the gravel
contained gold assaying 40 cents a yard.
Mining experts hold that gold bearing gravel can be worked profitably
if the gravel assays as los as 7 cents a yard.- c feroben
MISCELLANEOUS
MONDAY, 4 MAY
1868
Stockton Daily Independent
(transcribed by Dee S)
THE YO SEMITE
FALLS DISCOVERY - In a late number of the S.F. 'Examiner,' a
correspondent makes claims for the discovery of the Yo Semite Falls to
a
company of soldiers commanded by Major James D. SAVAGE, who entered the
Yo
Semite Valley in March, 1851, in pursuit of a party of Indians. This is
an
inadvertent error on the part of the writer, for the falls had been
visited
as early as August, 1849, by a prospecting party, 1 of whom is at
present an
old and prominent resident of this city. It is doubtful who was the
white
man that first looked upon these stupendous falls, but the first of
whom we
have any account were Major James BIRNEY, Dr. PAYIN, Thomas DALL, Mr.
COTTON, Mr. SHIRLOCK (the discoverer of Shirlock's Creek), Mr.
CRAWFORD, Don
Juan JOHNSON, B.F. PAU and a number of others.
The manner in which the discovery was made is related as follows: In
August,
1849, Mr. MILLER, a trader in the Mariposa mining district, started out
on a
prospecting tour. He had been gone but a few days when a party of a
dozen
more was made up to follow MILLER's party. The night before they got
off,
HENDERSON, one of the 1st party, returned for assistance for his
comrades,
who were surrounded by Indians in Yo Semite Valley. The 2nd party
immediately proceeded to his aid and found him surrounded as reported,
by
the savages, having succeeded in building a corral of cottonwood timber
for
protection. The party of relief soon dispersed the Indians and camped
in the
valley, where they found fine grass. They visited the falls and
prospected
the stream for gold. This expedition was out altogether about 3 weeks.
The
falls, so late in the season, were merely diminutive streams, not
appearing
in the sublime magnificence they display when the Merced river has been
filled by the Winter !
snows.
It was in March, at the period of the highest stage of water,
that Major
SAVAGE and party first saw these might cataracts, and the huge volumes
of
water, pouring down the precipitous mountain sides, must have more
forcibly
impressed his mind than the mere threads that dribbled down at the time
Mr.
MILLER discovered them in August, 1849. It is doubtful what white man
first
invaded these wild and sublime regions, but this is the first authentic
account of their knowledge by Americans.
Stockton Daily Independent- Aug. 23, 1864
FRED. LOW OLMSTED, of Bear Valley, in this state, has received the degree of Master of Arts from
Harvard University. It was conferred July 20th. transcribed by Dee S
------------------------------------
Stockton Daily Independent
TUESDAY, 27 AUG 1867
SAMUEL CLEAVELAND, a resident of Lovejoy's mille, is the oldest gentleman whose name appears
upon the Great Register of Mariposa county. He is 75 years of age, a native of Vermont. transcribed by Dee S
Stockton Daily Independent
WEDNESDAY 14 APR 1869
INFORMATION WANTED -- Marion B. HIGGINS, of New Vienna, Ohio, wishes information
in regard to Samuel A. MERRITT, formerly of Mariposa county, and once a member
of the Legislature of this State. transcribed by Dee S
San Joaquin Valley Argus July
27, 1878
To make sweet pickle figs – take one cup full sugar to one quart of good
vinegar, boil ten minutes; add one teaspoon full of each of the ground
spices in common use; put the figs into a jar and pour the liquid on
while hot. They will keep all the year, and are delicious. submitted by Tom Hilk
----------------------
Mariposa Gazette, September 23, 1899
At Bear Valley
While at Bear Valley one day this week the unmistakable signs of industry were apparent, not only by the Grant people but by others. Several new structures are about to be erected. The old Castagnetto store, lately purchased by Mrs. Deadman is being completely renovated, a large cellar occupying about one half of the ground space inside the house has been dug, and the new roof almost completed. The inside is being fitted up for store purposes. John de Silva is doing the carpenter work.
L. B. Chenowith has the contract from Mrs. Trabucco to rebuild the old Castle building adjoining the Odd Fellow's Hall. The building has been dismantled for a great number of years. The building when completed will be quite an addition to the business part of town. The
building will be two stories high, the walls of the lower story are stone, the upper story will be of wood. The building will be twenty-four feet wide and seventy feet long. The lower story has already been rented to Geo. A. Long of Mariposa for a meat market, and will be fitted up accordingly. The upper story will be divided into eight
rooms, with a hallway through the center. These rooms will be let for offices, etc. Mr. Chenowith, the contractor, expects to have the building completed in thirty days. He was in Merced during the first of the week getting material for the building.
A party from Angels Camp are talking of leasing the lot across the street from the Odd Fellow's Hall to erect a business place on, but this is merely in its incipiency and has assumed no definite shape.
While in town we noticed several strange faces, drawn hither in the search of employment. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Barrett of Merced Falls visited Bear Valley Wednesday on business.
Mrs. Newman of San Francisco who spent the greater part
of her life in the old town, spent several days there visiting old friends and looking after her various pieces of property. submitted by Tom Hilk
----------------------------
Merced Express, January 4, 1913
Two postoffices in Mariposa county, Bear Valley and Indian Gulch have recently been discontinued by the department. Bear Valley people now receive their mail at Bagby While Indian Gulch people may be addressed at Hornitos
--------------------
Fresno
Bee, Feb. 5, 1923
Mariposa Cattlemen Meet on Saturday
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Feb. 5- The Mariposa branch of the Cattlemen's
Association held a very spirited and interesting meeting at Mariposa on
Saturday, Feb. 3rd.
The question of thoroughbred bulls and feed questions in reference to
the reserve was discussed at length. S.M. Pate of Le Grande,
William McPherson of Raymond, James A. Ward and William Gann of Lewis,
Irwin T. Cornett, George Givens, Thrift Givens and Marvin Willa (could this be Wills?) of
Cathay were a few of the outsiders present.
----------------------------
OLD
RECORDS ARE IN SAFE VAULTS
Fresno Bee, July 31, 1924
Mariposa Takes Care to Protect Books From Fire Hazards
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) July 31- A steel and asbestos door weighing
about 450 pounds has been placed in the vault of the Mariposa
Courthouse to protect the valuable records, should the courthouse take
fire.
Other improvements will be made to the vault, among which will be the
making of a door for exit from the vault should a fire occur in the
main building, while anyone was in the vault. The walls of the
vault are two to four feet thick and the ceiling is said to be fully
four feet in thickness.
The records contained in the Mariposa Courthouse vault are the most
valuable in the state, many of them dating as far back as 1849.
--------------
NO BIDDERS FOR DISTRICT BONDS
November 24, 1925 or 1925 (hard to read)
Modesto News -Herald
Mariposa- Nov. 23- (Special) When County Treasurer Charles B. Cavagnaro
offered Ten thousand dollars worth of Williams Irrigation District bond
of Colusa county for sale at public auction yesterday morning at 11
o'clock, there was not a single bidder present to make an offer on the
valuable securities.
These bonds, of which there are ten in number of the par value of $1000
each, have been held as security by the Mariposa county treasurer the
past three years for cash that was deposited in the defunct Livingston
bank. The bonds are acknowledge to be sound securities and Mariposa
county will realize full returns on the amount of the deposit, it is
claimed, but it appears that no one , at this time , is in the market
for Williams Irrigation District bonds.- c feroben
----------------------------
Fresno
Bee, October 23, 1927
WALKERS DODGE, DOG KILLED AS WIRE FALLS
Mariposa(Mariposa Co) Oct. 22- When one of the main wires of the San
Joaquin Light and Power Corporation's high power line near Bagby broke
the other day, several things happened within a few seconds.
The wire broke a few hundred yards up Merced River above the Bagby
Hotel. As it was on a steep hillside the wire, still a "hot one,"
began to coil up and roll down the hill, setting fires in a dozen
places. As it rolled onto the railroad grade it barely missed two
section hands, who saved their lives by dodging.
Another part of the wire dropped over the corner of a wire fence 300
yards away from a house close to which a dog was chained to the
fence. The dog was killed instantly, and an iron wheel barrow
standing by the fence had one of its legs entirely burned off.
Mariposa and other town in the county were without light or power for
sixteen hours.
------------------------------------
EXCHEQUER
WORK IS BEING STARTED
Fresno Bee, July 28, 1924
Representatives of S F Contractor Arrive to Pick Camp Sites
MERCED- Merced CO. July 28- Representatives of R Roland arrived here
yesterday on their way to Exchequer, where they will choose sites for
the camps of the construction crews to be used by the contractor in the
relocation of the Yosemite Valley Railroad.
This work which will change the route of the railroad over seventeen
miles is being done by the Merced Irrigation District, in order to get
the railroad out of the way of the Exchequer Dam, giant structure upon
which work will start soon.
----------------------------------
Fresno
Bee- October 29, 1925
VALUABLE GROUP OF RELICS IS GATHERED
LE GRAND (Merced Co)= Mrs. Stephen M. Pate of Le Grand owns one of the
most interesting and most valuable collections of curious and relics of
pioneer days that is to be found in California. The larger part
of the collection is made up from articles gathered in Mariposa and
Merced Counties and consists of Indian relics, firearms and various
articles brought to California in the days of '49. In Mrs. Pate's
collection there are almost 200 Indian mortars and pestles said to be
the largest private collection of this kind in the state.
Insurance companies place a value of no less that $10,000 upon the
collection. C Feroben
NEW STATE BANK
DEPOSIT LAW HAS MARIPOSA EFFECT
Fresno Bee, Sept. 1, 1923
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Sept. 1,- A new law, enacted by the
last legislature of California, and which becomes effective this month,
provides that not more than 20 percent of a county's money may be
deposited in any one bank.
The law affects Mariposa County in, that up to the present time the
total amount which was deposited in the Merced Security Savings Bank at
Merced will have to be divided among five banks.
The banks to be selected by County Treasurer S. P. O. Counts will
probably be all Merced County banks, namely: Merced Security
Bank, Farmers and Merchants' Bank, Bank of Italy, Le Grand and Bank of
Livingston. cferoben
------------------------------------------------------
J J
TRABUCCO builds
new
home
Fresno Bee, July 22, 1934
Mariposa Merchant to Build $10,000 Home
Mariposa (Mariposa Co.) July 21
John Trabucco, local merchant, has awarded a contract to C R Cameron
& Son of Merced for the construction of a home here which will cost
$10,000. c feroben
--------------------------------------------
U.S. SEEKS
TO QUIET TITLE TO LAND IN MADERA
Fresno Bee, Dec 9, 1934
Supenas have been served by Deputy United States Marshal Sidney J
Shannon of Fresno on four residents of Mariposa and Madera Counties in
actions brought by the United States Department of the Interior to
quiet title to land allegedly allotted to Indians.
Justice of the Peace and Mrs. Robert Ellis of Northfork are named in
one of the actions and Robert and Lorriane Boronda of the Mariposa
district are named in another.
The government alleges that these named in the two actions have taken
possession of the land which is the real property of the Indians. The
acreage involved is grazing land.
PUBLISHER
BEQUEATHS TEXTBOOK LIBRARY TO MARIPOSA COUNTY
Fresno Bee, Sunday, November 27, 1938
Mariposa (Mariposa Co) Nov. 26- Young people employed under the
National Youth Administration's Mariposa County project are engaged in
pocketing and preparing for use in the county school library a
collection of approximately 1,500 textbooks bequeathed to the school
system by the late Casper W. Hodgson, eastern book publisher.
The volumes, which cover practically every elementary school subject
and include a set of encyclopedias, are valued at several thousand
dollars.
Hodgson, who owned considerable property in this county, provided in
his will that the books which were stored in a house on a ranch which
he owned in the Pea Ridge district, should be received by the school
system.
The publisher, who founded the World Book Company in the attic of his
home in Yonkers, N. Y. in 1905, at one time lived in the Pea Ridge
district and after reestablishing his home in Yonkers spent the Summer
months on his ranch here. He died in a Yonkers hospital in March of
this year.= c feroben
------------------------------------------------
Fresno Bee, Sunday May 20, 1956
Poultry Takes to Mariposa
Hills
Mariposa-
Poultry
raising is becoming an increasingly important farming industry in the
Mariposa County mountains.
Perry
Brumbagh has 5,00
three months old turkey poults on the Giddings ranch south of Mormon
Bar and plans to start 1,000 more in June.
Located
near the
Triangle Store, John Desmond hs 8,000 month old poults, and Bill Turner
of Bridgeport has received 1,000 poults, and Marvin Worley of the
Colorado road has started 5,000.
In
the Usona district
the Reimans of Planada have started several of their giant brooders J B
Hill has started 40,000 poults in Cathey valley, and Ed Robertson is
feeding 10,000 breeders, and Chet Guenthart, 30,000.
Large
chicken raisers
are Herman Freyschlag on Highway 49, S A Rawson, B A Rippon, with
layers on the Top Top ( I am sure they meant to say Tip Top ) road;
Lyle Curtis of Midpines and Harvey Bonnell of Mormon Bar.
Fryers
are being raised
on the Cleo Smith ranch and Wallace Heyne also has started a large
flock- cferoben
----------------------------------
MARIPOSA COUNTY
REJECTS MID OFFER AS TOO SMALL Modesto Bee, Monday, May 25, 1959
Mariposa,
Mariposa Co- an offer by the Merced Irrigation District to help pay for
a Mariposa County water project on Merced River tributaries has been
rejected as offering too little an amount.
The county supervisors Thursday rejected the MID's offer of the first
$2,000,000 above its own financing needs of any federal flood control
allocation it might receive.
The MID's offer was a compromise arrangement to help Mariposa County
carry on its own development of local streams and clear the way for the
$83,000,000 tri dam development the MID is attempting to launch.
FILE PETITIONS
The supervisors also authorized the county's water counsel, Adolph
Moskowitz of Sacramento, to make preparations for filing petitions of
interventions with the federal power commission and the state water
rights board on the MID's proposed river project.
After making the offer of the first $2,000,000 at a May 14th meeting,
the MID promises that any remaing flood control funds would be divided
on the basis of 75 per cent to the MID, 25 per cent to Mariposa County.
The MID will ask the federal government for at least $13,000,000 in
flood control funds to help pay for its three dam project.
Mariposa County contends it will cost between $7,590,000 to
$15,470,000, depending on construction dates, to build 10 reservoirs on
local streams.
A Mariposa County spokesman said his county does not wish to interfere
with the MID project but "as a county of origin, we are entitled to a
reasonable amount of water, either from the local streams or the south
fork."
---------------------------------------------
Modesto Bee and
News-Herald, Sunday, September 25, 1966-page 26
WARNE POINTS UP IMPORTANCE OF AGUA FRIA DAM PROJECT
by Bryce White
Mariposa- Construction of the proposed $4.65 million Agua Fria Dam five
miles southwest of here would not only provide domestic water and
answer recreation needs but also would ease some of the overcrowding at
Yosemite Nation Park.
This was forecast by William Warne, state director of water resources,
when he toured the proposed dam site Friday in company with about 40
state and count officials and local residents.
"This is an exceptionally qualified area for recreation and the
reservoir will do much to relieve tourist saturation at Yosemite,"
Warned declared while standing on a mountain overlooking the spot where
the dam would be built.
STATE GRANT
Warne urged the Mariposa County Water Agency, which is planning the dam
project, to go ahead with submission of an application for state grant
under the Davis-Grunsky Act. which could provide 38 per cent of
construction moneys.
The county water agency, which is composed of the county supervisors,
last month submitted an application for a federal grant under Economic
Development Act. Public Law 136 (hard to read) which would provide 50
percent of construction funds.
This leaves 12 per cent to be raised by the county. Warne said
the county water agency could apply for a state loan for this amount
under the Davis-Grunsky Act.
But before the county could apply for the $558,000 loan , voters of
Mariposa County would have to approve the action.
The board of Supervisors, awaiting word on the application for federal
funds, is prepared to call an election and this could be in the spring.
Warne offered his complete moral support to the venture.
"We're all for you. You can do it," he said, offering the
technical aid of his staff. The state in 1964 decided the dam project
would be economically justified and financially feasible.
He declared that now is the time for mountain counties like Mariposa to
develop future water supplies before prime water areas are taken over
by other communities in the state.
The county has hired the firm of McCreary & Koretsky of San
Francisco to make engineering studies for the dam and results of it
could be ready soon. The reports will be needed by the federal
and state governments before action is taken on requests for
funds. Sanford Koretsky, of the engineering firm, said it may
take from six weeks to six months for state and federal engineers to
check results of the study, depending on how much time they have
available.
Warne also said Agua Fria is the prototype of a series of small dams
which may be built in the mountain counties in the years to come. One
dam of a similar size is in the final planning statges at Box Canyon in
Siskiyou County on the Sacramento River and other dams are suggested in
Placer and El Dorado Counties, he said.
178 FEET HIGH
Under the plan proposed by the Mariposa County Water Agency, Agua Fria
dam would be constructed at the confluence of Mariposa and Agua Fria
Creeks. The earth or rock fill dam would rise 178 feet from
the creek bed and would back up water over 1,280 acres. The
reservoir formed would hold a maximum of 50,000 acre feet of water.
Drinking water would be provvided for the communities of Mariposa,
Catheys Valley and Mormon Bar and there wuld be a small amount
allocated to irrigate about 700 acres of orchard land.
Recreation facilities initially would include 27 camping areas, 200
picnic units, a boat launching ramp and a bathing beach.
-----------------------------------------
(The Lake That
Never Happened)
Modesto
Bee- May 20, 1967
Mariposa Acts on Agua Fria Project
Mariposa-
The Mariposa County Board of Supervisors, acting as
the County Water Agency, has authorized applications for 54,500
acre feet of water rights for Agua Fria Project.
The $4.5 million project, whose 54, 500 -acre foot lake would cover
1,280 surface acres along a 24 mile shoreline, is expected to ease some
of the overcrowding at Yosemite National Park with its recreation
facilities as well as providing domestic and irrigation water.
The supervisors also authorized seeking a grant of $33,000 from the
Department of Housing and Urban Development for the preparation of
preliminary and final plans for the project.
They also okayed payment of $12,600 to the firm of McCreary and
Koretsky of San Francisco for engineering services in the preparation
of
a formal application for construction funds under the Davis-Grunsky Act.
Ask More Funds
They also noted that a request has been made to the state to up the
Davis Grunsky contribution to the projects from $2 million to $2.5
million. Davis-Grunsky would furnish 38 per cent and the federal
government, under the Economic Development Act, 50 per cent.
Plans call for a rock fill dam 178 feet high at the confluence of
Mariposa and Agua Fria Creeks. Recreation facilities initially
would include 27 camping areas, 200 picnic units, bathing beach and
boat launch.
At their recent meeting, the supervisors also took under consideration
feasibility reports on the expansion of the Mariposa County Airport and
approved the housing of the Hornitos fire truck in the Gagliardo
Building on a lease.
They also continued the contract with the State Department of Public
Health for county service from July 1, 1967 to June 20, 1968.
-----------------------------------------
ASSEMBLY
WILL VIEW AGUA FRIA PROJECT
Modest Bee and News-Herald, June 25, 1967
Mariposa- The Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce is urging its
membership to attend 1:30 pm hearing tomorrow on the Agua Fria Project.
The $4.8 million project will be discussed by the Assembly Ways and
Means Committee in a special room reserved for a large audience.
The chamber membership was urged to back the project at its latest
meeting. Leroy Radanovich was elected president; Perel Barnes, first
vice president; Jack Ritter, second vice president, and Ruth Robinson,
secretary-treasurer.
24 Mile Shoreline
The Agua Fria Project, whose 54,500- acre foot lake would cover 1.280
surface acres along a 34 mile shoreline is expected to ease some of the
overcrowding at Yosemite National Park with its recreational facilites
as well as providing domestic and irrigation water.
A request has been made to the state to increase the Davis-Grunsky Act
contribution to the project from $2 million to $2.5 million.
Davis-Grunsky would provide 38 per cent of the cost, the county 12 per
cent and the federal governament, under the Economic Development Act,
50 per cent.
ROCKFILL DAM
Plans call for a rockfill dam 178 feet high at the confluence of the
Mariposa and Agua Fria Creeks. Recreation facilities would include 27
camping areas,200 picnic units, bathing beach and boat launch.
At its meeting , the chamber approved the idea of a retirement
community in Mariposa as presented by Enos Cotton.
He showed a plat with the location of one and two-bedroom units, aloing
with recreation and restaurant facilities on property at the north end
of Mariposa where Highways 140 and 49 join.
A resolution was approved opposing raising of the hourly wage to $1.65
as being injurious to the industry and recreaton of Mariposa County.
---------------------------------
MARIPOSANS
CONTINUE ZONE LAWS
Modest Bee and News-Herald, November 2, 1970
Mariposa-
Interim zoning ordinances for Mariposa County, first adopted to cover a
90 day period and then extended for a year, hare been extended for
still another year by Mariposa County supervisors to enable county
planners time to complete a master zoning plan.
The interim ordinances establish all the county except Yosemite
National Park and portion of the community of Mariposa an unclassified
zone, requiring property owners to obtain a use permit before changing
their land from its present to a different use.
Also under the ordinances, developers of mobile home parks are required
not only to obtain county use permits, but to install access roads
which conform to county standards. Still another provision of the
ordinances sets controls and restrictions on wild-animal parks.
NONE PREVIOUSLY- sparsely populated Mariposa County had no zoning
legislation prior to adoption of the interim ordinances, and its
ranchers, miners and woodsmen have tended to look with a hostile eye
upon any restriction of absolute control of their property.
However, with the California population surge sweeping into the
mountains, pressure has begun to mount among county residents for
zoning protection.
In another matter at their latest meeting, supervisors voted to support
Proposition 1, which would enable the state to sell $250 million
in bonds to help finance construction of sewage disposal plants and
water pollution control projects. The proposition could provide funds
for projects in northern Mariposa County, according to
supervisors.
Supervisors learned during the meeting that the local office of the
State Department of Human Resources will be closed this winter for
economy reasons.
Mariposa claims will be handled by mail through the Merced office
following an initial visit by applicants to the Merced facility.
------------------------------------------
GRANDMOTHER, 68, PACKS MAIL, HUNTS, TUNES CARS
Modest Bee and News-Herald, November 26, 1972
by Bill Donnelly
Mariposa= Most people at the age of 68 are ready to slow down, sit back
and lead the quiet life. Not so Mrs. Pearl Cabezut of Mariposa,
who puts in a 60-hour week delivering mail and on Sunday hunts goes
fishing or drives to Nevada to "try her luck"
Mrs. Cabezut, a
grandmother, also finds time to tune up her small station wagon,
including putting in new spark plugs and points, and installs new brake
drums.
"I've never missed a day of work because of sickness," says Mrs.
Cabezut who started delivering mail in 1947". "The only time I've
taken off is for funerals in my own immediate family," she adds.
She started her postal career in Coulterville and worked out of five
different post offices before taking over under a contract the route to
Midpines and other rural areas near Mariposa. She also had the
Coulterville route, but lost out on bidding when two routes were
combined in 1963.
MISSED A DAY
She then subleased the Mariposa area route and had only one day when
she could not deliver the mail. That was in 1967 and she tried
but her tire chains broke in heavy snow and it was late afternoon
before she could get her car moving.
Mrs. Cabezut has experienced other "trying" days during her career,
including the time she opened a rural box and found a coiled snake.
The snake was dead and Mrs. Cabezut says "it was some new kids in the
area who had just put up a mailbox". The reptile turned out to be
a bull snake which had been coiled by the kids.
She has received only one dog bite during the long career delivering
mail in the rugged, mountain country east and north of Mariposa.
SOLD COWS
Mrs. Cabezut does not let down a bit on her day off although she sold
some cos she had about three years ago after having to do milking
chores twice daily before then.
She still has a horse, owns her own home and is proud of her
ability as a hunter and fisherman.
Her husband died in 1947 and a son was killed in World War II. A
daughter also died and only one of the remaining children, a
daughter, lives in Mariposa.
She has 297 stops, 597 boxes and 670 people on her route, which she
says has more than doubled in size the past five years.
LOTS OF PEOPLE
"There are a lot of new people back in the hills," she explains,
nothing that many of them are retired couple.
She admits to a penchant for gambling and likes to go with two or
three other Mariposa women to Lake Tahoe or Reno on a gambling trip on
some of her days off.
Mrs. Cabezut feels she thrives on the long work week and apparently
will continue to deliver the mail as long as she has the
contract. She is not under Civil Service and there is no
mandatory retirement.
"I could draw Social Security and I have some insurance coming in," she
point out but she says she like the work and, "it's a lot better than
being on welfare."
----------------------------------
MARIPOSA
COUNTY MULLS START OF BUILDING DEPARTMENT
Modesto Bee, Monday July 19, 1976
Mariposa- The Mariposa County Board of Supervisors is considering a
request from members of the building industry that a county building
department be established.
Bob Rader, spokesman for the industry, recalled that a committee had
been set up to consider the matter two years ago when the county was
faced with the elimination of a state building inspector in Mariposa
County.
Rader pointed out that Mariposa is the only county in the state that
has not established a building department. He said gees generated
by inspections would support such a department.
The supervisors have appointed a committee to study the proposal.
Members are Rader, Robert Chivers, Supervisors Tom Richardson and Gene
Dalton and Planners Bruce Jacobs, Tom Higgins, George Greenamyer and
Darrel Deal.
The committee findings will be submitted before budget hearings.
Rader stated the building industry has an annual payroll of $1,200,000
and that the present time there are $4,500,000 in finished projects or
programs under contract.
The boad accepted Conflict of Interest Codes from the Assessment Appeal
Board , the John C. Fremont Hospital Board, parks and recreation
department, road department, county engineer and surveyor,
superintendent of schools , sheriff's department, county assessor ,
Local Agency Formation Committee, county counsel, district
attorney and welfare department.
It again will request that codes be submitted from the treasuer-tax
collector, Mariposa Resources Convservation District, Mariposa
Public Utility District, parks and recreation commission, planning
commission, constable and Yosemite Alpine Community Services District.
The people had felt the code was not applicable to them, but the
supervisors say that it is, and will hold the necessary public
hearings on the matter on Aug 3 at 2.p.m.
-----------------
OLD DUMP DAYS ARE NUMBERED
January 24, 1974, Modesto Bee
COULTERVILLE- Since early Gold Rush days, each family on the north side
of Mariposa County has disposed of its own trash and garbage.
Most ranches and mines had their own private camping places, now happy
hunting grounds for relic and bottle collectors.
As the population increased and towns sprang up, central dumping
grounds were established and finally the County of Mariposa provided
two dumps, one on Greeley Hill and the other in Coulterville. The
two dumps were burned off regularly.
Now the dumps must go. The Greeley Hill dump being on National
Forest land, already has been closed down , and Coulterville's will be
following 90-day extension of its scheduled closing date.
On the job here as volunteer overseer of the Coulterville dam is Guy
Carrico, a favorite town character who for years panned gold from
Mariposa streams.
County officials have not yet decided on how to handle solid waste
disposal here when the Coulterville dump closes; several alternatives
are being disused.
According to action by Mariposa County Supervisors this week, the
Greeley Hill dump will be covered by the county at a cost of
about $600, with the State Division of Forestry then expending $5,00 to
return the site to its natural state with the help of prison labor.
RETURN
TO MARIPOSA COUNTY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY
November
4, 2002
cferoben
updated Feb 2009
California