El Dorado County, California
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

El Dorado County is one of the original 27 counties Created on February 18, 1850. Territory which at one time was in El Dorado County is now in Alpine County, Amador County, and Placer County. The County has had two Boundary Changes:

Most of its territory has been in El Dorado County since 1850.
Territory was in Placer County from 1850 to 1863 when it was added to El Dorado County.

The County was named for the far-famed fabulous region of genial clime and never-fading verdure, where gold and precious stones are as common as rocks and pebbles, where wines gently flow from fountains. The name, meaning "the gilded one" in Spanish, appears at the beginning of the 16th century as that of a mythical Indian chief who was said to have been covered with gold dust during the performance of religious rites. When the discovery of gold by James W. Marshall at Coloma in January 1848 became known to the world, California, and particularly that section where gold was discovered, was called "El Dorado." From this fact the county received its name. The County Seat is Placerville . See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to El Dorado County are Alpine County (southeast), Amador County (south), Sacramento County (west), Placer County (north), Douglas County, Nevada (northeast).

El Dorado County Cities Include Placerville, South Lake Tahoe. CDPs (A census-designated place (CDP) is a type of place or area identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes) Include Cameron Park, Diamond Springs, El Dorado Hills, Georgetown, Pollock Pines, Shingle Springs. Unincorporated Communities Include Camino, Coloma, Cool, El Dorado

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Extended History

El Dorado County Courthouse
Completed 1861

After several unsuccessful electoral efforts to move the county seat from Coloma to their town, citizens of Placerville in 1857 successfully lobbied the state Legislature to order the move. This two-story building was constructed in Placerville, which prior to 1853 was known as Hangtown because of its reputation for lynchings. The building and its additions burned in 1910, and a new concrete-and-steel courthouse was built on the site.

Travel to Northern California by sea and your dreams begin in San Francisco with the beauty of its Bay continuing on through a wondrous land of fields, rivers, forest, and mountain lakes. The area was first settled by Native Americans who came through Alaska from Asia long ago. The Bay was undiscovered by Europeans until 1770 when Gaspar de Portola's expedition moved north from Mexico and San Diego to find San Francisco Bay by land. By sea there is often fog, so Mariner Juan Cabrillo exploring Alta California missed it in 1542. San Francisco always had a mystic attraction, but the adventurous followed the rivers inland and into the Sierra Nevada Mountains to explore or prospect for gold.

Many from the East made a tedious overland trip to Northern California through deserts and mountains and sometimes snow. Jedediah Smith was the first to do so leading a fur trapping party from Santa Fe in 1826. He followed the Humbolt River and Truckee River to the Sacramento River.

WaterPeople began to settle the valleys and foothills. John Sutter established New Helvetia at the confluence of the American and Sacramento River in 1839. There were few trees since Sacramento is located in a flood plain. Before they erect levees the settlement was flooded in 1849 and 1850.

By 1841, emigrants to the West arrived overland in significant numbers, although most went to Oregon. The Bartleson-Bidwell party that included Charles Weber followed the Humbolt River and found a pass thru the Sierra and down the Stanislaus River to the San Joaquin Valley.

John C. Fremont and Kit Carson crossed the Sierra up the Carson River and into El Dorado County to followed the South Fork of the American River to Sutter's Fort in March 1844. Indians had advised the party to follow the crest of ridges to avoid the deep snow in the ravines.

Brigam Young's Mormon settlers escaping from the midwest, headed for California and crossed the Missouri River for winter quarters at Omaha in 1846. Five hundred volunteered for the Mexican War and they trained at Fort Leavenworth. The Mormon Battalion arrived at the San Diego Mission January 29, 1847. In July the Battalion was mustered out of service; part went to Fort Sutter and part to Salt Lake. When Brigam Young reached Salt Lake in July 1847, the emigrants settled there.

StudebakerAugust 13, 1846 James Marshall becomes chief carpenter for American military in Los Angeles. He sets out for Sutter's Fort May 6, 1847 to look for a sawmill site for John Sutter. On August 28th work commenced at Coloma on the South Fork of the American River (El Dorado County). On September 6th, Mormons at Fort Sutter are hired to work at the sawmill.

The story of gold became reality at Coloma when James Marshall made an observation at the saw mill. On January 24, 1848, Marshall found gold in the sawmill tailrace on the banks of the South Fork. When the word spread in California and the rest of the West, it was a gold rush to the empire county. News was slow to reach the east, but in 1849 the migration continued by overland trail or ship. In November 1849 alone, 600 vessels entered San Francisco Bay. The influx into California by the end of 1849 was 39,000 by sea and 42,000 overland. Up the river they came, the first river steamship "George Washington" arrived at Sacramento August 12, 1849

Weber CreekThat summer of 1848, under Captain Weber's direction, indians labored with crude tools to wash gold from Weber Creek. Two miles away just over the ridge while herding cattle, vaqueros stumbled across the rich dry diggings of present day Placerville. Prospectors from Oregon soon join them.

At Dry Diggings in October 1849, 10,000 men were camped in narrow ravines and hundreds from all over the world had already left with enough gold for a lifetime -10 thousand dollars. The nickname "Hangtown" got started after five outlaws of the Owls Gang robbed a French Trading Post located in Log Cabin Ravine (Bedford Avenue) in the Mother Lode mining district. They didn't get away with that and were flogged 39 times (40 often was fatal). Three were recognized as fugitives wanted for murder on the Stanislaus River and were tried and hung by 2000 miners at an Oak Tree at Elsner's Hay Yard beside Hangtown Creek.

The United States Congress on September 9, 1850 approved California as the 31st State. Coloma was voted as first county seat, but four years later it moved to Placerville.

Death penalty. The first two men convicted of murder in District Court of El Dorado County were executed November 3, 1854 by hanging in Coloma and it was witnessed by 6,000 people.

Wells FargoCounty roads were developed. Old Emigrant Road entered the California Territory from Utah Territory at Genoa in Carson Valley, Nevada. The road went south of Silver Lake to Sly Park 14 miles east of Placerville, and on to Diamond Springs, Shingle Springs, Clarksville and White Rock into Sacramento County. This is the Mormon Carson Emigrant Trail and can be driven via Highway 88 near Genoa through Hope Valley (Junction Highway 89) past Silver Lake to Mormon Emigrant Trail road at Iron Mountain Ski Resort turnoff and on to Sly Park and Sly Park Road to Pleasant Valley Road to the town of El Dorado, the junction with Highway 49 South.

Also, heavily traveled was the old Coloma Road from Sacramento to Folsom, Mormon Island, Green Valley, Uniontown, and Coloma. A ferry across the South Fork of the American River was replaced by a truss bridge in 1851, although there were earlier bridges in 1849 washed away in floods. By 1852, 22 road districts were established and supervisors were appointed to care for each of the specific roads.

Hwy 50Crossing Highway 49 in El Dorado County, Highway 50 is a special story. John C. Johnson blazed a trail from Dry Diggings over Echo Summit to Lake Valley at South Lake Tahoe in 1848. Johnson's Cutoff was the most direct and quickest way over the Sierra. Stagecoaches crossed in 1857. Improved in 1858, Hawley Grade was built by the County down Echo Summit to Luther Pass Road. Just in time too, because discovery of silver in Nevada's Comstock in 1859 led to a head-to-tailgate stream east into the valley. Cargo traffic eased after the Central Pacific Railroad (Union Pacific) crossed Donner Pass in 1867. But in the winter snow closed the road, except for Snowshoe Thompson who hiked and used homemade snow skates to carry the US Mail back and forth between Placerville and Genoa, Nevada. Pony Express rider galloped over the route in 1860-61. In 1860 private operators completed the road as a tollway. The State Bureau of Highways was created in 1895 and purchased the road making it the first state highway. Paving was done in 1923.

Lake Tahoe was initially named Mountain Lake (some say Bonpland) by Fremont and renamed Lake Bigler (after the governor) in 1853. Tahooee is Washoe for big water and "Lake Tahoe" was the popular name since 1859 and became official in 1945. By 1865 schooner sailing craft were used by tourist. A side-wheeler Gov. Stanford connected Central Pacific Railroad at the north to Benton's Stage in the south.

Typical RoomEl Dorado County has the finest water supply in the country. Clear cold water from snow melt in the mountains and ample rain at lower elevations provide year round streams and springs. Water ditches were first used in Coloma in 1850. By 1856 other ditches and canals followed: including Cedar and Indianville Canal, Cosumnes and Michigan Bar Canal, Cosumnes and Prairie Canal, El Dorado and Georgetown Ditch, Eureka Canal, Mosquito Canal, Negro Hill Ditch, Natoma Ditch, Pilot and Rock Hill Canal, and South Fork Canal. Also; Chilean Bar Canal, Coray & Co. Canal, Coloma Canal, Deer Creek Canal, El Dorado Canal, Gold Hill Canal, Iowa Canal, Union Flume, and Weber Creek and Coon Hollow Canal provided water.

Average annual rainfall in Placerville is 39.52 inches. Driest year is 1976 with 15.86 inches and the wettest year is 1980 with 78.13 inches. The most rain falls in January and averages 7.47 inches.

Farming. The Hodge Brothers began farming in 1849 with potatoes and vegetables near Coloma and Union Bar on Greenwood creek. Statistics for El Dorado County by 1855: wheat 450 acres, barley 340 acres, oats 387 acres, and hay 1,750 acres. Fruit: apple 1,608 trees, pear 34 trees, peach 1,159 trees, plum 40 trees, cherry 40 trees, fig 12 trees, apricots 15 trees, quince 25 trees, and grape 3,000 vines. Stock 9,889 animals.

First hospital. The Broadway Hotel in Upper Placerville was rented for use as a County hospital. During the Quarter ending December 1856, 36 were treated and four died; Dropsy of the Chest -1, Bronchitis -1, Phthisis -1, and one unknown cause. In 1862 a new facility was built on Quartz Hill.

SchoolSchools. The first schools were private and Mrs. Day was first in 1852 and Miss Parlow's was next in 1853. By 1857 there were 1,812 public school students in twelve townships.

Railroad. The Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad extended from Folsom to Shingle Springs in June 1865.

A Memorial and Biographical History of EL DORADO COUNTY. - Chicago, Lewis Publ. Co., 1891

In this county is the spot now called Coloma, where Marshall made the discovery that immediately excited the whole world. For a full account of this, the great gold discovery, see a previous chapter.

The word "El Dorado" is Spanish for golden, or the gilt.

In 1541, so tradition goes, Gonzalo Pizarro, brother of the conqueror of Peru, marched from Quito to seek the fabled kingdom of gold, which, according to the traditions of the aborigines, existed some place east of the Andes. The monarch of this fabulous kingdom was said, in order to wear a more magnificent attire than any other king in the world, to be adorned with a daily coating of gold. His body was anointed every morning with rare and fragrant gums, and gold dust blown over him through a tube.

Thus attired, the Spaniards called him El Dorado. He was said to reside generally in the superb city of Manos, in one street of which there were said to be not less than 3,000 silversmiths or silver-workers. The columns of his palace were affirmed to be porphyry and alabaster, his throne ivory, and its steps gold; the body of the palace was of white stone, ornamented with gold suns and silver moons; and living lions fastened with chains of gold guarded its entrance. The county was so named from the fact that gold was first discovered within its limits.

About the middle of the summer of 1850 some Indians were killed in the neighborhood of Johnson's ranch, about six miles above Placerville, on the immigrant road. It was rumored at the time that no provocation for this had been given by the Indians, and that it was done to stir up a war of extermination. If this was the scheme it worked well, for the Indians killed some of the miners and then the citizens aroused and organized companies, placed Sheriff William Rogers at the head and marched to the county line without finding any Indians. After they disbanded Indians came from their hiding places and again began committing outrages. A subsequent attempt was made by the whites to exterminate the savages, with doubtful results, and this was the last.

Into this county entered the old immigrant road by way of Carsonville. This side of the State line was an old Mormon station or trading post; next, the road crossed the summits of the mountains, then turned around the southern end of Silver Lake, passed down the head waters of the American and Cosumnes rivers, followed the divide between these rivers through Sly Park, Pleasant Valley, Diamond Spring, Mud Springs, Shingle Springs and White Rock Springs into Sacramento County. A branch struck off at Grizzly Flat to Brownsville, Indian Diggings and Fiddletown; and from Diamond Spring by way of Placerville to Coloma, Kelsey's, Spanish Flat, Georgetown, Grenada, Centerville, Salmon Falls,—all points in the northern part of El Dorado County; from Mud Springs was a branch to Logtown, Saratoga and Drytown; and from Clarksville to Folsom. This route was first "hunted" out by a Mormon named Hunt, in the spring of 1849, as advance agent for the Mormons. He made the journey with wagons and a party of fifteen or sixteen men. He afterward settled in San Bernardino County, where he was elected to the Legislature in 1853, but later returned to Salt. Lake, when Brigham Young called all the Mormons home. But, older than this road, was one of nearly equal importance, namely, the road from Sacramento to Coloma, by way of Folsom, Mormon Island, Green Valley, Rose Springs and Uniontown.

Several local organizations were effected, and some, with aid from the Legislature, made surveys far various wagon roads across the Sierra Nevada mountains. Notably in 1855 a wagon road convention was held at Placerville and at Sacramento, to devise plans for the construction of the road during the next two years; and, after a great deal of trouble, contracts were let and work commenced, and nearly half the worst portion of the route was done, when the contractors failed.

The American South Fork, as nearest the point of distribution, at Sacramento, and carrying with it the prestige of the gold discovery, long attracted the widest current of immigration. A just tribute to fame was awarded to the sawmill site at Coloma, the first spot occupied in the county, in 1847, by making it a main station for travel and the county-seat for El Dorado, and so remaining until 1857, after which, the mines failing, it declined into a small yet neat horticultural town. The sawmill, transferred to other hands by Marshall and Sutter, supplied in 1849 the demand for lumber. The first ferry on the fork was conducted here by J. T. Little, a flourishing trader; and E. P. Rann constructed there the first bridge in the county early in 1850, for $20,000, yielding a return of $250 a day. In October, 1850, the population was estimated at 2,000.

The early miners drifted mainly along Weber Creek toward Placerville, which became the most promising of El Dorado's towns, its final county-seat and center of attraction. Southward rose Diamond Spring, which strove for the county-seat in 1854. It was almost destroyed by fire in August, 1856. Mud Springs, later named El Dorado, was incorporated in 1855, with great flourish, but disincorporated in 1857. Several small towns arose on the divide. Above the South Fork sprang up notably Pilot Hill, or Centerville, which claimed the first grange in the State. Greenwood and Georgetown also aspired at one time to become the county-seat.

To Colonel J. B. Crandall is due the honor of having first made a stage line across the mountains, in the summer of 1857, with six-horse Concord stages. In May, 1858, a semiweekly line was established upon this route. Passenger fare from Placerville to Salt Lake City was $125. The first overland through mail coach from the East successfully arrived at Placerville July 19, 1858, and was continued regularly for ten years, when the Central Pacific Railroad was completed to Cisco and the stages were then run from that point. The oldest express line in the county was established by Alexander Hunter, the agent of the California State line. It was run in connection with Stevens, Placerville and Sacramento stages, and connected with Wells and Fargo's express at Sacramento; and this was kept up for years.

El Dorado is one of the original counties of February 18, 1850; and Coloma, the only town in the county, was designated as the seat of government; but the population was changeable and evanescent, and no substantial public buildings could be erected there. In 1854 a fight for the county-seat began, which lasted three years and ended in a victory for Placerville. This place, the most historic town in the gold region, was first known as Old Dry Diggings. In 1849 a Frenchman and a Spaniard were hung there to a tree by a mob for highway robbery on the Georgetown road, and this gave the name of "Hangtown " to the place, by which it was known throughout the early mining days, when it was the most thronged point in California, the headquarters of the gold excitement. In 1854 the place was incorporated under the name of Placerville, the municipal election being held June 5 that year. Alexander Hunter, previously mentioned, was elected the first mayor.

The altitude of Placerville is 1,895 feet; and the summit at Johnson's Pass, 7,266 feet; and the height of Genoa above sea level is 4,794 feet.

In 1857 an effort was made in vain to form Eureka County from the northern half of El Dorado. Nearly every surviving town in the county owes its beginning to mining, although so large a proportion now depends solely on agriculture and trade; but with the decline of mining the vitality of the larger places also declined, so that by 1880 less than 11,000 remained of the population which during the '50s exceeded 20,000. Farming, however, and notably horticulture, stepped in to turn the current into a channel of slow though steady revival. The census of 1880 assigned to the county 542 farms, with an improved acreage of only 69,000. Farming had its beginning in this region in 1849–'50, when potatoes were first planted by the Hodges Bros., on Greenwood Creek, near Coloma. By the year 1855 forty saw-mills and one flour-mill had been erected; also five tanneries and three breweries, fifteen toll-bridges, etc.

There are a number of splendid caves in this county, the principal being near the Cosumnes copper mine, and the alabaster cave, or Coral cave, on the road from Pilot Hill to Rattlesnake Bridge. This has unusually fine stalactites. A large quantity of copper exists in El Dorado County, some silver, cinnabar, iron, asbestos, and large quantities of lime-stone, marble, roofing slate, etc.

No similar area of country in the world can boast of a finer water supply than El Dorado County.

Thomas A. Springler introduced the first newspaper into this county, namely, the El Dorado Republican, at Placerville, in the summer of 1851, and it was the first paper in the interior of California outside of Sacramento. It was continued regularly until February 18, 1854, when he sold out to D. W. Gelwicks & Co., who replaced the Republican with the Mountain Democrat, which paper was well managed. The Miners' Advocate was first issued also in the summer of 1851, at Coloma. James R. Pile & Co. were the proprietors, D. W. Gelwicks editor, and. D. G. Waldron business agent. This was the second paper in the whole mining district of the State. It was Whig in politics. In 1853 the material was sold to a party who changed its name to the Empire County Argus. The Miners' Advocate

was transferred to Diamond Spring, and afterward had a varied history.

Up to 1855 the people were taxed heavily for the care of the indigent sick, who had to be removed to the Marine hospital at San Francisco. This institution was abolished by the Legislature in 1855, and county infirmaries provided for. The county then awarded the contract to Drs. Asa Clark and Obed Harvey for taking care of those who were dependent upon the public. They erected a building, to which the county made an appropriation of $3,500, and entered upon their duties. Both these gentlemen are still living and are holding responsible situations.

The members of the State Assembly from El Dorado County have been: S. A. Ballou, 1854, 1858; Wm. Barklage, 1871–'72; A. J. Bayley, 1871–'72, 1883; John C. Bell, 1860; A. B. Bird, 1867–'68; Edgar Bogardus, 1855; John L. Boles, 1855; John Borland, 1856; James E. Bowe, 1856; Alfred Briggs, 1854, 1859; D. E. Buel, 1858; James Burr, 1863; J. S. Campbell, 1863–'66; G. J. Carpenter, 1875 –'76; J. Carpenter, 1857; Samuel H. Center, 1871–'72; Robert Chalmers, 1871–'72; J, R. Clark, 1863; William Coleman, 1859, 1861; C. W. Coltrin, 1861; George M. Condee, 1859; John Conness, 1853–'54, 1860–'61; W. F. Cunningham, 1855; John Cutler, 1852; Seneca Dean, 1862; John H. Dennis, 1862; G. A, Douglass, 1859; G. N. Douglass, 1859; F. A. Dow, 1863–'64; Elon Dunlap, 1860; David Fairchild, 1860; Thomas Fitch, 1863; Theron Foster. 1855, 1861; Thomas Fraser, 1863'64, 1880–'81; John Frasier, 1862; Stephen T. Gage, 1856; J. D. Galbraith, 1859; S. Garfield, 1853; Charles Gildea, 1867–'70; N. Gilmore, 1873-14; A. J. Graham, 1858; James J. Green, 1861; Gaven D. Hall, 1851, 1857; S. F. Ham, 1857; Asa H. Hawley, 1860; T. D. Heiskell, 1856; Robert Henderson, 1861; Samuel Hill, 1861; H. Hollister, 1854; William K. Hopkins, 1852; John Hume, 1857; Alexander Hunter, 1861; G. H. Ingham, 1873–'74; Charles F. Irwin, 1883; J. C. Johnson, 1855; J. J. Kendrick, 1851; J. F. Kidder, 1865–'66; Harvey Lee, 1858; D. T. Loofborrow, 1858; Henry Mahler, 1887; H. McConnell, 1855; George McDonald, 1854, 1857; S. A. McMeans, 1852– '53; J. D. McMurray, 1869–'70; James H. Miller, 1869-10, 1877-18; M. N. Mitchell, 1857; H. A. Moses, 1858; H. B. Newell, 1867–'70; J. W. Oliver, 1856; Charles Orvis, 1857; H. G. Parker, 1862; D. C. Patton, 1860; C. W. Pearis, 1858; Thomas B. Rowland, 1883; S. W. Sanderson, 1863; G. W. Simpers, 1873–'74; H. C. Sloss, 1859; E. L. Smith, 1865–'66; N. T. Smith, 1855; E. C. Springer, 1854; Ogden Squires, 1859; E. A. Stephenson, 1854–'55; W. H. Stone, 1860; D. P. Tallmadge, 1854; Edward F. Taylor, 1865–'66; W. H. Taylor, 1856; P. Teare, 1863-64; J. S. Tipton, 1858–'59; J. Turner, 1857; E. H. Watson, 1885; J. H. Watson, 1860; L. S. Welsh, 1856; James D. White, 1856; Stephen Willets, 1867–'68; George E. Williams, 1873-14; Austin Wing, 1852–'53.

MODERN TIMES.

This county has kept up pretty fully its importance as a producer of the precious metal, while at the same time making a genuine advance towards the position of a great fruit region. As is the case elsewhere along the foothills, it has been discovered that the county possesses a citrus belt, and numbers of orange and lemon trees have been set out. Fruits of other kinds, deciduous, nut-bearing trees, etc., and also grapes, both for table use and for wine-making, have been grown extensively in different parts, El Dorado indeed being one of the first counties to undertake on a large scale the growth of grapes and fruits. Some of the vineyards and orchards about Coloma, for instance, date far back near to the beginning of things in California; in other words, to the early '50s, and even '49. No county distances El Dorado in the extent and richness of her natural resources, which include mining for more than gold alone, quarries of slate and stone, lime-burning, lumbering, stock and sheep raising, and especially her fruit and grapes.

El Dorado has had a varied, not to say unfortunate history, of late years. The elusive hope of becoming a link on the transcontinental system of railways was long a source of great trouble to the people, liberal bonuses being voted more than once, which somehow always reached the hands of the companies and yet the promised roads were never built. A mill-stone of debt was thus hung about the neck of the county, which only of late years has been removed, and the county permitted to step forward into the prominence nature intended for her. Until lately there was no railroad in this county, and the agricultural and dairying element of the population had to depend upon the miners here for their market.

The railroad reached Shingle Springs, twelve miles from Placerville, as long ago as 1865, but it only reached the latter point in 1888, bickerings, lawsuits and misunderstandings being the cause of the hitch, and the county seeming to lose every time. Indeed, in 1881 the road suspended operations altogether, and it was not resumed till the following year. With the completion of the railroad, however, to Placerville, things have taken on a new aspect, and lost ground will probably be recovered.

The county roads are unusually good, the gradients as a general thing being light and the road-bed smooth. This is probably due to the fact that until the completion of the Central Pacific, the main turnpike thoroughfare over the Sierra Nevada passed through the county. Even yet the idea is occasionally put forth that the main line of the Central Pacific is to run up the Placerville cañon and by a long tunnel under the crest of the Sierras.

PLACERVILLE,

the old-time "Hangtown," the name being changed by the Legislature in 1850,—is one of the most picturesque towns in the State, the main street following for over a mile the meanderings of a ravine, once exceedingly rich in gold. On the hillside and tops are the finer residences and some large buildings that present a fine appearance. The town, too, has the reputation of being the wealthiest of its size in California. It has at any rate an old and "settled" appearance, with its rows of large brick stores and public buildings that impresses strongly the visitor. The county court-house, hall of records and jail is a massive pile of red brick standing flush with the main street, erected in the early days.

Near Placerville are the hospital and county farm, second to none in the interior of the State and well kept. There are two large public school buildings, and the Placerville Academy, long one of the most prosperous private schools of the interior. There are four churches, well supported, a good fire department and an ample water supply, the town being lighted by gas. A few miles east of the town are the three large lumber mills of Messrs. J. & J. Blair, one of the most enterprising firms of the place. They have also a mill in the mountains over thirty miles above town. Placerville has also flouring mills, a planing mill and box factory, and a foundry and machine shop. One of the characteristic sights is that of the Pacific quartz mine on the top of one of the hills in town, the sound of the stamps being plainly heard on the main street. Placerville has a fine opera-house. District fairs are also held here annually, there being here a fine race track.

OTHER TOWNS.

Georgetown, always one of the prettiest towns in the mountains, is 2,700 feet above sea-level, and is still pre-eminently a mining town, but surrounded on every side by gardens, vines and fruit-trees. It is a prosperous business point, with churches, schools and lively merchants. Three saw-mills are running within a few miles of the place. Georgetown is connected by stage with Placerville and Auburn.

Coloma holds the honor of having been the scene of the first discovery of gold. A handsome bronze monument to Marshall, the discoverer, was erected by the State Legislature in 1888 on the fortieth anniversary of the event, on the summit of an elevation overlooking the spot. Some notoriety attaches to one of its first citizens and his wife, namely Mr. and Mrs. Peter L. Wimmer, as they were so intimately connected with Marshall in the gold discovery.

Mr. Wimmer, a native of Ohio, came overland with his wife in 1846; worked for Sutter as a millwright in 1847—'48, and was one of the men employed at the Coloma mill when gold was discovered, being perhaps with Marshall on the eventful morning when "they" picked up the first nugget. It was Mrs. Wimmer who at

the request of Marshall tested the nugget by boiling it in a kettle of lye, with which she was making soap. In 1885 she still had the nugget in her possession. After the gold discovery the family kept a boarding-house, having also a choice assortment of pigs, and finally they removed to Southern California.

The first business places in Coloma were those of Captain Shannon and Cady's, the New York Store, S. S. Brooks' store and John Little's Emporium on the north side of the river. Warner, Sherman and Bestor, of the United States army, kept a store here during the winter of 1848'49, Bestor being the business man of the company. The first hotel was the Winters Hotel, Messrs. Winters & Cromwell proprietors. Sutter's saw-mill was finished and did good work, under the management of Winters, Marshall. and Bayley. Captain Shannon was also alcalde of the township and John T. Little the first postmaster. In 1852 a large two-story building was erected for a theater. One of Sutter's iron howitzers is still—or was recently—decorating the Meyers Hotel.

Nearly all the first experiments in agriculture were naturally made at Coloma, at first the most populous center. The place is now noted for her excellent peaches, as well as other fruits, Bartlett pears and grapes being also favorites. Fruit is shipped out both by way of Placerville and Auburn. At Coloma is an extensive winery and a popular summer hotel. The place is surrounded by orchards.

Shingle Springs was an important point while the terminus of the railroad, but now is quiet. There is considerable quartz mining near by.

Diamond Spring, on the railroad, has a saw-mill. Near by is El Dorado, a growing town. There is much quartz-mining in this vicinity. Latrobe, a point lower down on the railroad, has attained considerable reputation as a resort for consumptives.

Grizzly Flat is an important mining town, with two saw-mills and many flourishing orchards. Greenwood is another mining camp with large fruit orchards in the vicinity. It makes some boast as a health resort, and, in case of a division of the county, hopes to become a county-seat.

El Dorado County possesses a most abundant water supply, and many large ditches have been taken out for mining and irrigating supplies. Originally these ditches were probably taken out with no thought other than a supply of water for mining purposes, bat they have proved of immense value to the county in fertilizing its lands. Among the larger is the El Dorado Water and Deep Gravel Mining Company's ditch, drawn from stores of water collected in Silver and Echo Lakes. To utilize this water a tunnel is run through the Sierras, as they lie east of its summit. The California Water Company's ditch is also of inexhaustible supply.

A wealthy company, called the American Lumber Company, has recently been formed and is now constructing two very large sawmills in the great body of pine timber situated in the mountains. The product will be flumed to the railways.

In Lake Tahoe, which fronts a portion of the eastern border of the county, El Dorado, in common with Placer County, possesses an attraction of great value. Here are situated Tallac, with its beautiful summer hotels, the property of E. J. ("Lucky") Baldwin, the millionaire. Near by are also the great Rowland saw-mills, with large annual cut.

The slate quarries at Chili Bar are the most extensive in the West, the slate of good quality, and an increasing amount being taken out. A good quality of lime is burned at a point on the Auburn and Placerville Stage Road, there existing a strong ledge of limestone.

In Placerville is published the Mountain Democrat, a leading paper of the mountains, established in 1852. The Observer, formerly published there, has lately been absorbed by it. The Gazette, a lively weekly, begun in 1880, is issued in Georgetown, while at Shingle Springs appears the Independent, dating from 1885.

The El Dorado County Republican was founded at Placerville in 1869 by B. F. Davis. As its name indicates, this paper has been Republican in politics since its inception. It led a prosperous career from the beginning and in July, 1883, the paper was sold to C. E. Richardson and G. A. Richardson, who conducted it in partnership for three years, when G. A. Richardson purchased his brother's interests and has since conducted the paper, as editor and sole proprietor. Mr. Richardson is thirty-four years of age, is a native son, born in El Dorado County, and was a teacher in the public schools of the State before taking up the editorial pen. His parents were intelligent people, but quite poor in this world's goods, and whatever success their son has achieved has been due to his own energy.

El Dorado County, California
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

County Court Courthouse Records

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County Vital Records

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County Census Records

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County Maps & Atlases

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County Military Records

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County Tax Records

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County Genealogical Addresses

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County Church & Cemeteries

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

Extended History

El Dorado County, California History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

County Court Courthouse Records

See Also California Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in California

County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for California

County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

County Military Records

See Also Military Records in California

County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other California Genealogical Addresses

County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in California

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

Extended History

El Dorado County, California
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy