HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY CALIFORNIA
by Thompson & West, 1879, with illustrations
Chapter XXIX - Parks Bar Township
By the first division of the county into fifteen townships made August 24, 1850, by the Court of Sessions, the territory now known as Parks Bar Township, was located in Long Bar Township. Again, after the segregation of Nevada county, the Court of Sessions, August 7, 1851, divided the county, and this time one of the eleven townships called Parks Bar was formed, but it embraced none of its present territory. It lay between the Yuba and Bear rivers, and from the Nevada county line, to a line running south from the mouth of Dry creek to Bear river. The land now called Parks Bar Township, was divided between Dry Creek and Foster Bar Townships. After Sierra county was taken from Yuba county, the Court of Sessions formed ten townships, October 7, 1852. Parks Bar then included about half of its present territory, being most of that portion lying east of Dry creek. The next change was made by the Board of Supervisors, October 10, 1856, by which Parks Bar was given nearly its present proportions. September 17, 1861, the present boundaries were declared by the Board of Supervisors, with the exception of a small tract around the California House, which was added August 19, 1862, being taken from Foster Bar. The present boundaries are: - Commencing on the Yuba river where it intersects with the east line of Township number sixteen north, range number five east; thence up said river to its intersection with the east line of Township number seventeen north, range five east; thence north to the northeast corner of said township; thence north eight degrees, east two miles; thence west to the northwest corner of section thirty, township eighteen north, range six east; thence south on township line to the place of beginning. August 19, 1862, the Board of Supervisors annexed the California House to Parks Bar Township, and changed the boundary line as follows: - Commencing where the California House creek crosses the east line of Parks Bar Township, south of the California House; thence up said creek fifty rods; thence due west to the old line.
The history of this township is probably best written by giving the histories of the various localities in the chronological order of their settlement. No development of this region was attempted prior to 1848, and the foot of the gold seeker was the first to find a permanent resting place in its soil.
PARKS BAR
This point on the northeast side of Yuba river, fifteen miles above Marysville, was one of the first spots where gold was found on that stream, and was probably the richest of all the many bars so thickly spread along its banks. A company of early gold hunters arrived on the river, June 6, 1848, and after a few days prospecting, settled at Parks Bar and commenced work. The company came from Benicia, and consisted of Major S. Cooper and his son Sarshel, now living at Colusa, Nicolaus Hunsacker, Dr. Marsh, and Dr. Long and brother. Major Cooper says that he and his son, with Hunsacker, worked together, and made fifty dollars per hour, and because they could not do better, left in disgust. David Parks, from whom the bar derived its name, came here September 8, 1848. He with his family, consisting of wife and several children, was on his way overland to Oregon, when he was met by a train of Mormons, who informed him of the discovery of gold. He at once altered his course and came to this place. Mrs. Parks was the first white woman in the township. Parks mined and kept a trading-post and store, his customers being the Indians and the many miners that now began to cluster about this spot. Goods brought enormously high prices, especially among the Indians, who knew little of the worth of gold dust, and set great value upon beads and sugar, which they used to buy from Mrs. Parks. They would give a tin cup even full of gold dust for the same quantity of beads, and buy sugar, weight for weight. The Parks family remained only about six months, and then returned to the States by the way of the Isthmus. They landed in New Orleans early in the summer of 1849, being among the first, if not the first, to return from the gold region. The excitement was great at that time, and hundreds were leaving on every steamer. When Parks went to the bank and exchanged eighty-five thousand dollars in gold dust for coin, the excitement knew no bounds, and he was looked upon as a living evidence of the reality of the gold discovery. So little was known of the value of this dust, that he could obtain but twelve dollars an ounce. His sons, David and John, remained here, and for some time were prominent men of Marysville. Early in 1849, the miners began to gather rapidly at this point, and the bar soon became a populous and thriving town. It was very rich, and many a hard working miner returned from here to his eastern home with a golden belt. In 1852, there were six stores, three hotels, two blacksmith shops, barber shop, post-office, and a number of saloons. That year six hundred votes were polled, which was at least three-fourths of the population. The construction of a bridge was commenced in 1851, but it was swept away by high water before it was completed. A low water bridge was built in 1853. In 1859, Matt Woods constructed a tubular bridge across the stream. This broke down the same year. About a year later, Woods & Vineyard built a suspension bridge here, which was carried away by the flood in the spring of 1862. A stage was on the bridge at the time, and barely succeeded in getting clear before it fell. The toll receiver was killed by one of the falling cables. Parks Bar began to decline in 1854-55, and each successive year saw it becoming more and more deserted. The muddy waters of the Yuba now flow over the old site of this once flourishing town, and but little is left to bear evidence of its former prosperity. One house and a skiff ferry are all that can be found there now.
SICARD BAR
This was a small bar on the river above Parks Bar. Work was commenced here in the spring of 1849. It derived its name from Theodore Sicard who kept a store here. The bar was really an extension of Parks Bar, being but a short distance above it. It was worked out in a short time, and nothing is left to mark the spot.
SICARD FLAT
This is a flat just back of Parks Bar and Sicard Bar. It derived its name also from Theodore Sicard, who opened the mines. Work was commenced here in 1850, in the ravine, where rich surface diggings were found. When the gravel mines were discovered Sicard Flat became a great hydraulic mining point, and is being worked by that process at the present time. It had a few stores, etc., and John Rose had a corral here where he slaughtered cattle to supply his markets in the mines. About fifty acres of ground have been washed away. The South Feather River Mining Company have been working this place since 1871. They have about fifty miles of ditch running to the flat from Feather river, two miles of flume, three thousand feet of pipe, and keep two nozzles working night and day. The town now has eight dwellings and one blacksmith shop, but no store. The population is about fifty.
BARTON'S BAR
About two miles from Parks Bar, up the windings of the stream, at the head of a large bend, is another of the old mining camps, Barton's Bar. This place was first settled upon in 1850 by P.Y. Harris, who took up the present Haworth Ranch. The bar was quite rich, though small, and for five or six years was a flourishing camp. Robert and George Barton had the only store there in 1850, and the bar was named after them. There were then over one hundred miners. Several saloons, stores, and hotels existed there later, and three hundred miners worked there during the season of its prosperity. W.M. Pearls, of Smartsville, says that Ferguson Brothers, who had a store here in 1850, sold out at auction, and that he saw in the store a sugar barrel full of gold retorts on the day of the sale. The Fergusons returned East with ninety thousand dollars. This place met the fate common to all the river camps, and was abandoned when it ceased to pay. The only resident there now is Thomas Haworth, who owns a fine ranch on the river.
MALAY CAMP
Opposite Landers Bar, near the mouth of Deer creek, a number of Malays were working in the early days, and the bar became known as Malay Camp.
UNION BAR
On the Yuba, near the mouth of Union creek, was a small mining place known as Union Bar. It was not very large, and became soon exhausted.
OREGON HOUSE
This house, situated twenty-four miles from Marysville, on the road to Camptonville, is one of the landmarks of Yuba county. It was first settled in 1850 by Larry Young, who built a log cabin in the valley, at the head of which the present house stands. The Oregon House was built in 1852, and in January, 1853, on the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans, a grand party was given. This was the first party in the hills, and two hundred and fifty tickets were sold. There were eighteen ladies present, which was a good showing for those days. There was a military company formed during the war, and the Oregon House was the rallying point. They were called the Yuba Mountaineers. The officers of the company in 1863, were: - John Brown, Captain; H. Camper, First Lieutenant; J.A. Clay, Second Lieutenant; J.A. Barnhart, Third Lieutenant; W. Moon, First Sergeant. There has been a postoffice at Oregon House over twenty-five years.
CLARK VALLEY RANCH
This ranch, situated about two miles above the Oregon House, was taken up by Clark & Clark, in 1850. It was kept as a hotel for some time, and is now owned by John Eich, who purchased it in 1855.
FRENCHTOWN
This once flourishing little town lies on Dry creek, one-half mile south of the New York Township line. Mining was first done in this vicinity in 1852 on Rich Gulch. The first permanent settlement on the site of the town was made in 1854 by Paul Vavasseur. He built a hotel, and kept store and bar. The town in a few years became quite a center, about five hundred men making this their headquarters. There were four stores, three saloons, three hotels, two blacksmith shops, one bakery, and one barber shop. Since 1870 the place has been virtually abandoned. There are now several dwelling-houses in the town, and a hotel and bar kept by Paul Vavasseur. Some good quartz ledges have been discovered at the head of Rich Gulch. Some mining is still being done there. In 1861, Vavasseur built a small arrastra, which still stands there. In 1878, he built a larger one, which is now in use. Vavasseur makes considerable wine every year. The town derived its name from the large number of French people who settled there.
MC QUEEN SAW-MILL
Judge McQueen took up a ranch in 1852, on Dry creek, five miles above its mouth. He built a saw-mill at a cost of four thousand dollars. The timber was not good, and the mill, after doing a little work, was abandoned in 1856.
GARDEN RANCH
Craft, Smelger & Williams built a hotel about 1852, one-half mile above the Oregon House. They sold it to Louis Long in 1855, who closed it as a hotel. It now belongs to James Gore.
STANFIELD HOUSE
This hotel is situated on the road from Marysville to Camptonville, one-half mile east of the east line of Long Bar Township. A man by the name of Stanfield settled here in 1852, and built a hotel. In 1858, it came into the hands of Charles Smith, the present proprietor.
DRY CREEK MILL
Williams & Fagan built a saw-mill on Dry creek, about two miles north of the Oregon House, in 1854. It was destroyed by fire in 1861, and after being rebuilt was again partially destroyed, in 1862, when it was abandoned. Williams & Fagan also built a flour-mill, in 1856, between the saw-mill and Frenchtown. They ran it two years, and then abandoned it, because the wheat being smutty those two seasons, they thought good wheat could not be raised here.
VIRGINIA RANCH
On Dry creek, one mile below the crossing of the Camtonville road, J.A. Paxton settled in 1850, and built a hotel and kept a trading-post. In 1859, the property came into the possession of Peter Rice, who ceased to keep hotel, and put fifty thousand dollars in improvements on the ranch. Fruit was set out as early as 1853, and now there are six thousand fruit trees and fifty thousand grape vines. L.B. Clark has owned the ranch since 1870, and makes a great deal of wine every year.
BELL VALLEY
This little valley lies on the line between Parks Bar and Foster Bar Township, where the Rice's Crossing road passes. It was named after Tom Bell, the noted highwayman, who used the valley as a retreat for stock and other booty. It was settled in 1854 by Arthur & Howard, at which time a trail led through the valley to Rice's Crossing. The road was made in 1859, and that year James Wood purchased the place and converted the house into a hotel. The valley now belongs to Peter Yore.
ENTERPRISE MILL
This mill was built by Captain Willey, about 1855. It stood on Dry creek, about two miles northwest of the Oregon House. It was abandoned about 1860, when the timber was used up.
MARTIN RANCH
This place, on the stage road, about one mile east of Dry creek, was settled by N. Martin in 1855. He built a hotel which was kept as a public house until 1872. It is now the property of P. Flannelley.
GOLDEN BALL
The Golden Ball was built in 1849-50, on the pack-mule trail from Marysville to Downieville. All travel and transportation of goods for the mountains went over these improvised roads. The Golden Ball is situated one mile from Oregon House and three miles from Frenchtown. It is owned at present by Mr. Trevitick as a ranch. The present owner has put up some fine and expensive buildings, and is noted for raising fine horses.
WILLOW GLEN HOUSE
The Willow Glen House was built in 1861, at the time the Knox road from Marysville to Laporte was made. It is still a hotel.
CALIFORNIA HOUSE
The California House is distant from Marysville about twenty-eight miles. It was built in 1849-50, on the pack-trail from Marysville to Downieville. This trail was, however, soon converted into a wagon road. It was once the great artery of travel from the valley to the mountains, and millions of treasure have been transported over it. At the present time it is only used for local travel. The property is owned at present by Mr. Robbins, Justice of the Peace, and is no longer kept as a hotel.
SCHOOLS
There are two schools in this vicinity; one situated at the Keystone Hills. This school was established at a very early time by subscription of the inhabitants. It is distant one and one-half miles from Frenchtown. At the present time it is very well attended, the number of pupils being about fifty. The second school was established in 1852, at the Oregon House. The location has often been changed, but at present the house stands near the original site. This school is attended by over forty pupils. It is two miles from Frenchtown. There are more schools in the vicinity, distant from three to four miles from Frenchtown. The people of this neighborhood have always manifested a highly commendable spirit in regard to the support of schools. The rising generation has no excuse for remaining in ignorance. These schools are generally supplied with excellent teachers.
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