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The Infamous Black Bird Southern Oregon History, Revised


Jackson County News: 1875


OREGON ITEMS.
    A goat thief tried to carry off an Angora from Mace's flock, in Jackson County, the other night, but was caught and had to drop the kid.
    Further assays from Marysville of the "Yank" ledge, Jackson County, give from $80 to $400 per ton in gold and silver. An expert from that place is now examining the mines.
    Speaking of the new quartz mines in Southern Oregon, the Times, of Jacksonville, says: A late dispatch from Rock Point says J. L. Colvig and James Birdseye have just arrived at that place from the new quartz mines. They say the road is lined with men and pack trains going to the land of gold and silver. The great Mammoth ledge is about 130 feet in width at the point where Rogue River has worn its way through to the depth of 500 feet. About 200 claims are now taken up. It has been traced for about twenty miles through a very rough country. Guides get from $10 to $20 per day to trace the lead. Colvig says he crushed a few pounds of the ore, and it averaged ten cents per pound in gold. A town has sprung up in a few weeks. It is to be known as Mammoth City. Hotels, feed stables, shops and other buildings are going up.

Sacramento Daily Union, January 7, 1875, page 1


    Dr. Belt lately amputated the left arm of John Blattner, of Jackson County, above the elbow joint. A cancer had been formed on it and was so dangerous as to render amputation necessary.
    The quartz mill of Klippel, Beekman & Johnson, on their ledges on Rogue River, is now in working order and running constantly. Mr. Klippel, who arrived at Jacksonville from the ledge, informs the Times that they have 125 tons of quartz taken out already and that the mill is pounding it up at the rate of three tons per day.
    John Bilger, of Jacksonville, says the Times, has received from his brother, William Bilger, who is in San Francisco, another test of Galice Creek quartz. The result is obtained from fifty pounds of rock taken from the Yank ledge, and subjected to the milling process, which is a more thorough way in getting at the true value. The quartz was run through in lots of twenty-five pounds each, and the inferior quality brought $38 per ton, while the better assayed as high as $78. There is a presence of both gold and silver, as also copper, which the assayers say is a sign of good silver-bearing rock.
"Oregon News," Sacramento Daily Record-Union, March 2, 1875, page 1


    Half a town site in Jackson County sold lately for $600.
    E. G. Browning & Co. are extracting quartz from their mines on Grave Creek, and have a fine lot already taken out.
    Panthers are numerous and troublesome near Leland, Josephine County. Three of these animals attacked a mare and yearling colt belonging to F. A. Davis, and killed the latter. The mare reached home, but is so badly injured that she will probably die.
    Scarlet rash and chicken pox have been prevailing among the children of Jacksonville for some time. No cases have ended seriously as yet, as the diseases are only of a mild type.
"Oregon Items," Sacramento Daily Union, March 9, 1875, page 2


    The spelling mania has reached Jackson County.
    The new county jail in Jacksonville has been completed and the prisoners transferred thereto.
    A little son of Bentz, of Jacksonville, had his arm broken by falling from a tree, one day last week. Dr. Matthias was called and rendered such medical aid as the case required and he is getting along as well as could be expected.
    The Jacksonville Sentinel gives the following particulars of a suicide which occurred in that vicinity recently: Last Sunday morning week a man named Fredelin Ruch, and who was a resident of Humbug Creek, cut short the length of his days by taking strychnine. From the testimony of his wife and son, who were witnesses of the affair, it appears that he had on previous occasions attempted to take his life, which were frustrated by them, but that he finally succeeded in accomplishing his purpose. The usual antidotes were administered, but to no effect, and he died in about an hour after taking the poison. He had some difficulty with his partner a few days previous, and it is supposed that while laboring under a fit of mental aberration he concluded to put an end to his life.
"Oregon Items," Sacramento Daily Union, May 28, 1875, page 1


    A band of Angora goats, numbering 2,000, passed through Chico last week, bound for Jackson County, Oregon.
"Pacific Coast Brevities," Stockton Daily Independent, Stockton, California, July 1, 1875, page 2


OREGON ITEMS.
    The people of Jacksonville are feeling the heat very much. The Times states that the thermometer during the past week has gone above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade.
    The Jacksonville Sentinel says: A bloodless affray occurred in Sams Valley last week between Robert Wood and Austin Morrison, over some money in dispute. Sheriff Manning arrested Morrison on a charge of an assault with a dangerous weapon, and brought him to town. However, after an examination before Justice Stinson, he was discharged.
    The residence of John Newcomb, in Applegate, Jackson County, together with all its contents, was totally destroyed by fire on Saturday, the 3rd instant. Newcomb and family had started that morning for the Fourth of July celebration at Williamsburg, and during their absence the casualty occurred. It is supposed the fire originated from the stove. There was no insurance on the property, and the loss falls heavy on the loser.
    The Jacksonville Times says: The Brown brothers, who some time ago were indicted for the killing of Oliver M. Hunt, in Sprague River Valley, last year, were acquitted. But little trouble was experienced in selecting a jury, eight having been procured out of the regular panel. Messrs. James D. Fay, Kahler & Watson, and J. R. Neil represented the defense while H. K. Hanna, Esq., appeared for the prosecution.
    A petition asking the Executive to pardon Mrs. Caroline Briggs, who was convicted in Jackson County of the crime of manslaughter and sentenced to five years imprisonment in the Penitentiary, is being very generally signed in Jackson County, and it is thought that the object sought will be accomplished. The woman is 57 years of age and has a large family of children and grandchildren, and being one of the earliest pioneers of Southern Oregon, she is widely known and respected.
    Some professional horse trainers have been exhibiting their powers of training and controlling horses at Jacksonville recently. Their performances on the street, which included the driving of a single horse to a buggy by Professor Rockwell, and a double team by Professor Cole, without reins or bridle, was excellent. The horse Mazeppa, which doubtless is the best trained animal ever brought through this section, was also exhibited under a tent, and was the wonder of everybody who witnessed his performances. They wended their way northward on Monday last, and may without doubt be expected at Portland ere long.

Sacramento Daily Union, July 19, 1875, page 2


    The Jacksonville Times, in giving the county court proceedings, says: "Road declared a public highway and road supervisors through which the road passes ordered to open the same and keep it in good repair." To which the Sentinel adds: "Them just be 'whopping' big supervisors and must have a good stomach if they can keep the road in good condition without 'spewing' her up."
    It is said that the English-American Company on Galice Creek are making all necessary arrangements toward pushing work forward rapidly, and that they are hiring about one hundred hands to make ditches, flumes &c., and do work generally in their gravel claims. Nicholas Thoss will superintend the work. He is also an owner in the Yank ledge and says that he has more confidence in it than ever.
    The Jacksonville Sentinel of last Saturday says: On Monday last an affray took place on Bear Creek near Deskins, and it appears that Mr. A. Humphrey, an old man, was seized by one Charles Parker and forcibly dragged some 30 or 40 yards to the creek very badly bruised and hurt. All this was done in the presence of several bystanders who, when appealed to by Mr. Humphrey for their aid and interference, did not stir a finger in his behalf. The cause for all this it seems was for words, such as "liar," between the parties. Mr. Humphrey is now at Dr. Danforth's hospital.
    The Jacksonville Sentinel says: Messrs. Wm. Bybee and John Bilger returned from Galice Creek last Sunday evening, where they have been attending to business in connection with their quartz leads--Mr. Bilger's on the Yank ledge, and Mr. Bybee's some two miles below. We understand that Mr. Bilger effected a consolidation of his and the river claim, and will commence taking out ore immediately, to have [it] worked in San Francisco. They intend running a cut across the ledge to see how it looks at a certain point. This we think is the inaugural step towards opening the Oregon bonanza, and the parties comprising this company have every confidence in the richness of the mines.
"Oregon," Morning Oregonian, Portland, July 20, 1875, page 1


OREGON ITEMS.
    Two hundred trout were caught by Mr. Rose, of Roseburg, one night last week.
    The Southern Oregon wagon road, under the supervision of Hon. E. C. Mason, is being greatly improved.
    A severe frost a few nights since in Alkali Valley, Southern Oregon, and other localities in proximity, injured gardens to a considerable extent.
    From the Jacksonville Times: "Montague, Chief Engineer for the Central Pacific, says that a railroad route crossing the Cascades from Rogue River Valley is impracticable."
    F. Landrum, of the firm of Landrum & Rogers, of Watsonville, Cal., is at present in Jackson County with a band of some 2,000 Angora goats, bound for the Willamette.
    The man Henderson, who stole some horses near Roseburg last week, eluded the officers, but the animals were found in possession of another party and restored to the owner.
    A heavy wind storm prevailed in Southern Oregon, Wednesday afternoon, last week, which blew several trees down along Rogue River and other localities. Little if any further damage was done.
    About 150,000 feet of sugar pine lumber, owned by Beeson, Slosson & Co , of the Rogue River mills, was totally destroyed by fire on the 2nd. The loss is estimated at $3,000, which falls very heavy on the losers.
    Indications of a good paying cinnabar mine have been found by Wilson & Kubli. on Beaver Creek, in Jackson County. They can take a wheelbarrow-full of loose dirt from anywhere in the vicinity and obtain therefrom at least a pound of pure stuff.
    While engaged in digging a cellar for M. Hanley, near Jacksonville, last week, Sargent Dunlap and some others came across the remains of two human beings. They were about five feet apart, and are supposed to be the remains of Indians who had been buried there prior to its settlement by the whites, as some flint arrowheads were found along with them.
Sacramento Daily Union, August 24, 1875, page 1


    The Eagle mills, in Jacksonville, have been thoroughly renovated and put in the best order by an experienced miller, and are now turning out a superior quality of flour.
    F. Landrum, of the firm of Landrum & Rogers, of Watsonville, California, is at present in Jackson County with a band of about 2,000 Angora goats, bound for the Willamette Valley.
"Oregon Items," San Diego Union, August 31, 1875, page 1


    A young man named William Allison was arrested a few days ago in Jackson County for insanity, and examined before the proper authorities.
    John Bolt, who lives on Applegate, Jackson County, came near losing his life from the rupture of an artery in his leg a few days since, while engaged at work in his store.
    Says the Sentinel: "Some of the rock taken from the Yank ledge, near the river, from the north side, which was recently tested by Mr. Campbell, of this place, assayed $480 to the ton."
    The Indians of Klamath Lake, Yainax and Warm Springs have been for the past month in the Scician [sic] Valley, horse racing, gambling and hunting. They broke camp a short time ago and started for their homes. According to the story of a Warm Springs Indian there is a chance for some trouble between the Warm Springs and the Klamaths. He says the Klamaths accuse the Warm Springs of stealing their horses, and they were going to resent the insult; they would take their squaws out of the way, and, returning, will give the Klamaths a sound thrashing.
    Wilbur F. Cornell has just arrived at Jacksonville from Beaver Creek. The Sentinel says: While here he showed us some very fine specimens of cinnabar, which he says will yield handsome returns, and from the appearance of the ore, in which could be plainly seen the small mercurial particles, we have not the least doubt but what they will reap a rich reward for their labors, and that their most sanguine expectations will be realized. He informed us that their ledge is about two feet wide at present, and is increasing in width the further they proceed into the mountainside. It is the intention of this company to get out about 100 tons of rock, when they will put up a furnace in the vicinity of the ledge. Wood and water is abundant in the vicinity, and all that is necessary for the proper development of that country now is a good wagon road from some point either in Siskiyou or Jackson County to the mines.
"Oregon Items," Sacramento Daily Union, September 7, 1875, page 1



    Mrs. W. C. M. [William Cortez Myer], Ashland: Your card containing the information relative to the authorship of "A Name in the Sands," is at hand. Miss Hannah F. Gould is duly credited with another gem in our memory. Please accept thanks for your kindness.
"Answers to Correspondents," The New Northwest, Portland, September 10, 1875, page 3


A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
    The Times, published in Jacksonville, Oregon, says:
    "James M. Sutton, who for a short time past has been ascertaining the practicability of starting a foundry at Ashland, returned from Portland this week, and from him we learn that it has been determined to commence erecting it immediately. He is accompanied by Messrs. Zimmerman and Frazer, of Portland, the proprietors of the machinery which will be used in the enterprise, and is now at Roseburg awaiting shipment. Mr. Sutton believes the foundry will be in running order in about a month. This establishment will manufacture articles in brass and iron, besides repairing anything in this line. Large quantities of scrap iron, broken castings, etc. have accumulated in this section, which will doubtless be sufficient to run the foundry some time. Thus we are to secure another important enterprise in our midst, and we trust the citizens of Southern Oregon will lose no opportunity in aiding it and thus placing it on a paying basis and retaining it there."
Oregon Statesman, Salem, September 25, 1875, page 2


    According to the assessor's report, the people of Jackson County are in debt $384,739, or about $71 for each man, woman and child in the county.

"News Items," New Northwest, Portland, October 22, 1875, page 4


    Jackson County contains 264 Chinamen and 24 Chinese women.
"Oregon Items," Sacramento Daily Union, October 23, 1875, page 8


    William Bybee, of Jackson County, bought 1,000 lambs from Frank Herr, of Siskiyou County, paying $700 for them.
    Deputy Sheriff Kent, of Jackson County, last Sunday captured John W. Filbert, who is charged with stealing a horse on the other side of Yreka, on Evans Creek, and took him to Jacksonville. He was shortly afterwards taken to the state line and handed over to the sheriff of Siskiyou County.
"Oregon Items," Sacramento Daily Union, November 13, 1875, page 5



    The jury in the case of Daniel Doty, tried at Jacksonville during the present week for assault with intent to kill Brooks Johnson, after four days' deliberation, returned a verdict of guilty. This Doty will be remembered as the man who attacked Mrs. Johnson in his [sic] field with a club some months ago, and seriously wounded both the woman and her son, who attempted to interfere.
"Recent Events," New Northwest, Portland, December 10, 1875, page 3


    No house in Jacksonville to rent for love or money.
    An alleged case of crooked whiskey making has been found at Vannoy's ferry, m Jackson County.
"Oregon Items," Sacramento Daily Union, December 23, 1875, page 4


    Carey, the accomplice of Bardon, sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary, from Jackson County, for the crime of larceny, was taken to that institution on Wednesday week.
"Oregon Items," Sacramento Daily Union, December 27, 1875, page 6


    The Times says Rogue River, Bear Creek and other streams in Jackson County have risen so high as to overflow their banks. A considerable portion of the ground along Rogue River is submerged, so that there would be imminent danger of Hen Owen squatting upon it as swamp land, were he in the state. Several small bridges have been swept away, and the larger ones are not altogether free from danger.
    The epizootic is again prevalent in Jackson County, and a large number of horses have it, though in a very mild form.
    The Jacksonville public schools have 210 pupils enrolled.
"Oregon Items," Sacramento Daily Union, December 24, 1875, page 4





Last revised May 30, 2023