L. A. Norton, Captain; A. W. Bee, 1st Lieutenant; Bell generously came to its assistance, by advancing Frank S. Roff, 2d Lieutenant; T. M. White, 3d Lieutenant; J. W. Shields, 1st Sergeant; E. Church, 2d Sergeant Wm. Walker, 3d Sergeant; T. S. Wilcox, 4th Sergeant; A. Coleman, 1st Corporal; S. S. Lewis, 2d Corporal; James Carson, 3d Corporal; T. G. Douglas, 4th Corporal; J. W. Shields, Secretary.

This company of figure-heads made a failure before the year, when they had organized, came to an end, and in a meeting on November 28th, 1855, the Placerville Guards were re-organized. The following gentlemen who had belonged to similar companies, prior to their arrival here, and who thoroughly understood the business, were elected officers:

Alex. Hunter, Captain; Wm. Jones, 1st Lieutenant; I. S. Titus, 2d Lieutenant; Mr. Dorsey, Brevet 2d Lieutenant; Sam. Lion, Orderly Sergeant.

COMPANY A, PLACERVILLE VOLUNTEERS.

Organized January 23d, 1858. The following is a list of the first officers; Wm. Jones, Captain; O. A. Crandall, 1st Lieutenant; George T. Cromwell, 2d Lieutenant; Benjamin F. Harrover, 3d Lieutenant; E. Nickerson, Ist Sergeant; Wm. Reynolds, 2d Sergeant; S. W. B. Wilson, 3d Sergeant; S. H. M. Bonnell, 4th Sergeant; Wm. Justice, 1st Corporal; J, H. Naper, 2d Corporal; J. W, Redman, 3d Corporal; Calvin Van Eaton, 4th Corporal. The Company numbered 102 rank and file.

the necessary means. Mes rs. Lee & Marshal, of the Pioneer Circus, on a visit to Placerville tendered the company a benefit, which realized $900.00, and this generous act enabled the company to pay off all its indebtedness, and free itself from liabilities.

The first hose house of the company was situated on Maiden Lane, now Center street, which location involved great inconveniences; and when the city was incorporated the company applied for an appropria tion to purchase a house and lot in some more convenient locality with. After the preliminary instances were passed and the means raised, the city authorities went on to purchase a house and lot for the use and benefit of the department on Main street, where afterwards Dorsey's block has been built up. The fire of July 6th, 1856, that swept everything before it, rendered the company homeless, not only losing all their furniture, hose and fixtures; the Council, a few days after the fire, sold the lot upon which the house had stood to Mr. Dorsey. For a full year the Neptunes. without a home, destitute of enough means to provide a house for their carriage or accommodations for themselves, they kept their regular meetings at any place they could obtain the privilege for doing so, and more than one time the idea of disbandment turned up; but they went through the struggle victorously and about a year after the big fire they again came in the possession of house and lot situated on Coloma street, Prior to the spring of 1853, there existed no such purchased from Mr. Conrad. Here the Neptunes thing as a regularly organized fire company in Placer- found their home, and have kept it there ever since, ville, although a number of unwieldy hooks had and from here this body of courageous men, an honor been purchased by contribution some time previous, to the town, started out to their obliging and effective A which had for their depository the backyards or the work in all kind of danger, or when called for. allies of the embryo town. subscription was made up in January, 1858, towards purchasing an engine for the Neptune Hose Co. No. 1. whose name then was changed into Neptune Engine Co. No. 2. A new fire engine was ordered from the celebrated manufacturing place of Messrs. Hunneman & Co., of Boston, which arrived by the ship Hesperus, about the first of February at San Francisco. The engine bears the following inscriptions: "Neptune No. 2." "We're Ready," the motto of the company. The engine house of the Neptunes was built in the fall of 1860, the stone for the beautiful front was quarried by county prisoners at Stony Point.

PLACERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

On the evening of June 23d, 1853, a number of the young men of the town met together at White's Hall, with the intention to form a band that had for its purpose the protection of life and property from the ravages by fire. The meeting was called to order, Alex. Hunter called to the Chair, and Robert Cummings appointed Secretary; the object of the meeting having been stated, those present proceeded to organize the Neptune Hose Company No. 1., and adopted as their motto: "We're ready!" Of this company Alex. Hunter was elected Foreman, Joseph H. Fisher, Assistant Foreman. But now it became necessary The "Hope Hook and Ladder Company" of the to have a carriage, hose, etc., and a committee was appointed to obtain them. Mr. Frank Allerton under took to build a carriage, and the hose was ordered from San Francisco. The company thus becoming James C. Pinney, Foreman; Peter Quinlin, Assisinvolved in expenses, that nearly caused an embarass- tant Foreman; Alfred Bell, Secretary and D. Newing pecuniary situation; but just then Mr. Alfred bauer, Treasurer.

Fire Department was re-organized in March 1855, and the following gentlemen elected officers of the company:

The great damages by fire of the year of 1856 had on their buildings. Thus, Confidence Engine Comshown the citizens of Placerville that even the best pany No. 1 was reorganized on July 9, 1869, and organized fire company will be lost confronting a great with their new Jeffrey's Engine, they have been taking fire without a fire engine; and thereupon a meeting active part, when called for assistance, ever since. was held on the 13th of April, 1857, for the purpose Confidence Engine house, after the old building had of organizing an engine company, Charles Gowan, been partially destroyed by fire, on September 1860, was called to the chair, and A. Hoffmeister appointed was erected at the present site in the fall of 1860, the Secretary. expenses were covered to a certain part by subscription.

On motion, a committee of five were appointed to solicit subscriptions to purchase an engine, hose Young America Engine Company No. 3, organized etc., Messrs. E. B. Carson, John O'Donnel, Charles at Placerville on the 1st of June, 1860, and on the Gowan, T. Hogsett and A. Hoffmeister were ap- 28th of June the following officers were elected: Wm. pointed such committee. Thomas Hogsett was McCormick, Foreman; Solon L. McFarlin, First Aselected Treasurer, pro-tem., and J. H. Vanderbilt Cor-sistant; John McCone, Second Assistant; Jas. W. Edresponding Secretary. wards, Rec. Secretary; W. S. Lowell, Financial Secre

The company was organized as "Mountaineer En-tary; D. W. Lewan, Treasurer; Jas. Todd and O. A. gine Co. No. 1", at a meeting held at Concert Hall, Crandall, Delegates.

on May, 22, 1857, and the following officers elected:

Placerville, as we have stated before, never was laid Foreman, J. H. Vanderbilt; Assistant Foreman, John out after a certain plan, but built up answering the sitO'Donnel; Secretary, Wm. Jones; Treasurer, Wm. uation, and in full accord with the name of the "RavLacey; Delegates, Chas. Gowan and Gus. Hoffmeis-ine City," spreading all along the creek and from there

ter.

A committee was appointed to purchase an engine, which was bought from Engine Co. No. 1 of Sacramento, together with 250 feet of hose, for the sum of $2,500.

At a meeting of the company in the first part of June, 1857, the name was changed from "Mountaineer" to "Confidence Engine Company No. 1." On account of the latter name, being so deeply carved into the engine that its removal was considered quite an impossibility; and therefore the members agreed to rather adopt the name than to deface the engine, which was built by John Agnew, of Philadelphia.

This Confidence Engine Company No. 1, after having kept up their organization for twelve years, with only very little assistance from the city, withdrew as an active company in the Placerville Fire Department, on June, 19, 1869, stating that the company had been forced to succumb on account of indebtedness on their building, and pretty heavy taxation to themselves in order to keep their property.

branching off the different ravines; and however often

the town property might have changed hands, none of the purchasers was looking after, that his title was correct and good. The ground where Placerville stands was neither a grant, nor had it ever been taken up ac

cording to the pre-emption law, and those who sold the first town lots were nothing else than frauds, because they had not more right to them than any one of the purchasers, but such was life in California in early times. This state of affairs, in after years, caused much trouble in the transaction of property and the to take steps to settle this disagreeable situation; and city authorities, pushed from all sides, were compelled after much tedious and vexatious delays, finally in 1872, the negotiations arrived at a point when the people of Placerville could prove up and acquire titles to their homes, etc.

The Sacramento Union of August 9, 1872, published the following: "The United States Land office of this city is in receipt of information from the Commissioner of the General Land Office, that cash entry No. 582, made July 7, 1871, by John R. Patton, City The citizens of Placerville, however, were not satis- Clerk, in trust for the inhabitants of Placerville, and fied with the withdrawing of the engine company, and covering the south 1⁄2 of northeast 14, southeast 14, opened a subscription list; the ladies of Placerville east 1⁄2 of southwest 14, southeast 14 of northwest 14 also willing to participate in the interest and welfare of section 7; west 1⁄2 and southwest 1⁄2 of northeast 4 of the city, gave a festival on July 13th, at the Pavil-southeast 4 of northeast 14, west 1⁄2 of southeast 14, ion, for the benefit of Confidence Engine Company and northeast 14 of southeast 1/4 of section 8; southNo. 1, which proved a fine affair and financially an west of northwest 14, northwest 4 of southwest 14 entire success. The receipts were $396.35, this, to- of section 9; north 1⁄2 of northwest 14 of section 17; gether with the amount subscribed by the citizens, ag- north 1⁄2 of northeast 14 and northeast 4 of northgregated a sufficient sum to pay off all the indebtedness west of section 18; township 10 north, range 11 of the company, and to make all the necessary repairs east, containing 1,160 acres, has been approved and

filed for patenting. The patent will issue to the corporate authorities of the city of Placerville, in trust for the inhabitants thereof, and will recite that no title shall be hereby acquired to any mine of gold, silver, cinnabar or copper, or to any valid mining claim or possession held under existing laws of Congress."

PLACERVILLE INDUSTRY.

The first foundry was built and set up in the fall of 1855, by Messrs. Hinds & Lundstrom; the first casting was done there on February 18, 1856, a second iron foundry was established some time in the Spring of 1858, by Mr. A. T. Melvin; this was located on the lower end of Main Street, on the north side of Hangtown creek and christened "Placerville Foundry." Mr. Morey is the owner and proprietor of the present

Mr. Louis Landecker was the first man to start in this new industry.

Messrs. Rogers, Greely & Co., of Placerville, in the midsummer of 1855, were erecting a large flouring mill on Weber creek, about three-fourths of a mile below the crossing of the Sacramento road and the creek. This mill was designed for waterpower, and a great business was done here for years. After its destruction, however, the city of Placerville, just as well as the whole county of El Dorado, for years were dependent on the neighboring country for their sup ply of flour and other mill-products; until in June, 1873, Mr. James Creighton's new flour mill was started. This mill is run by water power, fed with water brought down from Sacramento hill in iron pipes, giving a pressure of three hundred and fifty feet, discharged by means of a Craig nuzzle against A circular sawmill was put up in the spring of 1853, an eight foot hurdy gurdy wheel. an eight foot hurdy gurdy wheel. The mill as originby H. Hollister, near Upper Placerville. Mr. D. ally started contained two sets of stones, one for Phelps, the agent of Mr. Hollister in the fall of 1853, flour, the other for corn meal and ground barley. advertised the following prices for lumber: Scantling The first 100 pounds of flour that were produced at $35.00 per M feet; Mercantable boards $35.00 per M this mill were put up into four twenty-five pound feet; flooring six to eight inches wide, $44.00 per M sacks, and offered at public auction at the Ladies' feet; selected sluice lumber $40.00 per M feet; clear Festival at Sierra Hall, on the 4th of July 1873, the lumber $50.00 per M feet. Mr. J. H. Predmore & Co., in the spring of 1854, established the "Excelsior Mills," grist and saw mill, a 4-stamp mill of the Pacific Quartz Co. was connected.

foundry.

Brick had been manufactured at Placerville in quantities to sell, at Mr. M. R. Elstner's brickyard since spring of 1852.

Mr. S. Randall, in 1856 to '58, manufactured brick on an extensive scale at the old yard near the cemetery.

proceeds to be paid into the fund for building the new school house. The mill property, Mr. Creighton tried to change in a stock company, a few years afterwards, but failing in this he finally sold it to Mr. Charles Sibeck, who after another year took Mr. Cook, late from Illinois, as a partner in the business ; doing business since under the firm of Cook & Sibeck.

As an industry that was flourishing for a short time, being of high importance then, we have to mention

Another industry of Placerville is the slate quarry the Hydraulic Hose factory of "Old Joe,” at Coon at Chili Bar, and the manufacturing of roofing slate, which business had been started by Placerville business men in 1875, in which year the first roofs in California had been covered with this domestic article. The roof of Mr. Louis Landecker's store is a sample of this roofing slate that recommends itself.

hill. In 1854 and '55, when the hydraulic mining was introduced in the gravel mines of the surrounding country, a great amount of leather or double canvas hose was always demanded, until replaced by the iron pipes, and their advantage over all other means in the line of supplying water to the hydraulic mines was such a great one, that the former industry had to take its departure.

The northern and southwestern part of El Dorado county abounds in what is generally known as soap weed or soap root. Some ingenious fellow, only a few The introduction of gas light with which the city years ago got an idea that this root, which resembles of Placerville was supplied in the fall of 1858, conso much the coarser variety of horse hair, could be sidered the time in which this improvement was exeused instead of horse hair in the upholstering business; cuted, amidst the Frazer river excitement, could be a trial was made and the result of it is, that two called a great achievement of her citizens. The gas Placerville firms have about a hundred Chinamen en- being generated by burning pitch pine wood in a vast gaged in the fall of the year gathering the soap root. furnace; the gasometer was made for a capacity of Tons of it are being bailed and shipped to Sacra- 8,000 cubic feet of gas; and cast iron pipes distributed mento, where it is undergoing a steaming process, the gas from here to every part of the city, and it is after which it is sold and used for upholstering of gratifying to state that the entire work, comprising matresses, etc., under the name of "Excelsior hair." many contrivances of ingenuity and skilled labor,

had been done in Placerville. This enterprise was created by a Stock Company, Messrs. James Ellis and Darwin DeGolia were the first trustees of the com pany. Instead of pitch pine wood, this factory a few years later, substituted hard coal from Buckeye canyon, Amador county, for the production of gas.

Of other industries there are two breweries here, both have been established in early days and since then have always done a good business. A large fruit drying establishment has been started of later years in Upper Placerville, working on the Alden principal. A soap factory was started in 1861 by Messrs. Holmes & Van Tine.

FIRES AT PLACERVILLE.

As a

injured; just as the burning building fell in. memorial of his heroic deed he keeps a slight mark where his arm got burnt.

Another fire broke out on July 6th, the same year, and what had been feared only, on April 15th, became reality for this time; the town was literally swept by the flames; the fire evidently of incendiary origin, spread with such an immense rapidity that all efforts to stop its progress proved fruitless and hopeless. The hungry flames devoured as well the houses rebuilt since the fire in April, as the remainder of the town, and hardly any of the shanties of old Hangtown had been spared, they all had to make space for more stately brick and stone buildings, better answering the character of the city of Placerville. And still for a third time in the same year, Placerville was visited by the hungry flames on October 7, 1856, a fire broke out in the Pittsburg House of Upper Placerville, destroying the greater part of that flourishing village. The fire was supposed to have been caused accidentally by a man John Murdock, who occupying a room in said hotel, went to bed in a state of intoxication only a short time before the fire was observed, and who was burned to death. The following were the losses of the fire: J. W. Foster, $5,500; S. W. Wilcox, $8,ooo; W. Flagg, $5,000; A. C. Crosby, $3,000; N. Wonderly, (Pittsburg House), $3,009; Mr. Monroe, $3,500; E. Brewster & Co., $2,000; Dr. S. Baldwin, $3,000; J. M. Dorsey, $3,000; Mr. Gilbert, $500; Mr. Fleischmann, $250; Alden & Stout, $1,750; Joe Acker, $750; Mr. Morrison, $2,000; M. Livingston, $1,000; Mr. Spencer, $1,000; Wm. Christian, $1,500; Jacob Wirt, $1,000.

Up to the year of 1856, from the time of the first settlement, Placerville, contrary to most other mining places, had been spared from the fiend; but on April 15, 1856, while a great part of the population were assembled in the Placerville theater, to greet McKean Buchanan in the character of "Richelieu,” a fire broke out in the Iowa House on Sacramento street, spreading with rapidity over the neighboring buildings, which, with the exception of the Post Office and Hooke.'s store, were all built of the most combustible material. Dr. Rankin's office and adjoining dwelling, the Placer Hotel opposite, the Orleans Hotel and a number of smaller buildings, were all devoured by the flames. Stevens' new livery stable then caught fire and had it not been for the changing of the wind, the town might have been swept notwithstanding the greatest exertions of the fire department, assisted by many citizens and the members of the theater company. The losses were quite considerable, most of the losers Twice after that Placerville has been visited by lost in one hour all their savings of five long years. great and destructive fires; first on Sunday, November Mr. Cary's loss was $15,000: Mr. Levan's $12,000; 6, 1864, between 3 and 4 o'clock A. M., an unoccupied and the others, some twenty in number, ranged from house on Benham place was discovered on fire, and $4,000 to $100; the whole amount being estimated at owing to the combustible material of the surrounding about $60,000. An incident of bravery occurred in buildings it spread with fearful rapidity along Benham connection with this fire, that deserves to be mentioned place, Quartz, Pacific and Sacramento streets, threatin history. After the inmates of the Iowa House had ening at one time the whole town. A large amount of rushed out of this building in utmost confusion and property was destroyed; W. Cooper lost 15 houses, J. haste, and just when the firemen repaired to the burn- Brindley 4, J. Patton 10 houses, J. Wray 6, Howard ing building, they were appalled at hearing Mrs. Rock- 4, H. Olis 9, Henry Louis 3, J. Jeffree 2, L. Landwell, in the extreme of agony, crying that her youngest ecker 3 and Simmons one house; and on August 10, child had been left, lying asleep in one of the rooms 1865, a fire came out in a building of Mr. Seely on of the burning building. The danger was imminent; Quartz street, the principal losses were as follows: but Master Jackson L. Ober, a son of Dr. Ober, and Thos. Alderson, $10,000, Wm. Thatcher $5,000; an attache of the Neptunes, a youth of 14 years, took Thos. Hogsett, $2,000; Mr. Phipps, $1,000; Mr. the fearful risk, and boldly pushed his way through Seely, $3,000; R. H. Black, $1,600; John Marcovich, flame and smoke to the room where the child lay 1,500; Woodland $1,000; L. Landecker, Howard, sleeping, unconscious of its danger. He took up the Espanna, H. H. Thal, R. White and J. B. Jenkins, child in his arms and cautiously wending his way from $500 to $1,000 each. back, escaped, and placed it in its mother's arms un

Before leaving the city of Placerville, may it be

built in the year of 1848, stood undisturbed just above O'Keefe's toll-house until lately when it was torn down to be converted into firewood. Mr. Ben. Post bought it in 1849, from the man who built it, and occupied it for several years, it was then one of the most comfortable and nobby residences in town. This last survivor of the '49 er period gone, reminds one how fast the time disappears, and that it may not be so far hence, when all and every living witness of that period will be gone also.

allowed to take a retrospective view far back into the time of old "Hangtown," passing a review of old faces: The very first store kept here in the fall of 1848, was by one Beaner; the following winter season there were, after a rough estimate, between four and five hundred Oregonians engaged here in mining; the spring of 1849 bringing the first Eastern people, and a lively business commenced. Col. A. W. Bee and brother were the leading storekeepers then, dealing in general provisions, etc. George Roth and James Bailey forming partnership kept a grocery store until In those times came to the courts, of Judges Ross, 1854, when the partnership was dissolved and George Howell, Farwell, Ben Myers, and Jimmy Johnson, Roth continued storekeeping alone. Alex. Hunter and attorneys, S. W. Sanderson, D. K. Newell, Gen. Tom opened the first Banking House and Express Office Williams, John Hume, Thomas H. Hewes, Perkins, in connection with Wells, Fargo & Co's office at Gabe Hall, G. J. Carpenter, J. Thomas, Jim Green, Sacramento. Mr. R. G. Noyes was the resident Joe Douglas, Melancholy McCallum, Tom. Robertson, agent of Adams & Co's Express Co., until July, Major Ward, Harmon, Geo. G. Blanchard, Mose 1855, when after the failure of Adams & Co., he be- Tebbs, Old Talmadge, Chas. Meredith, Chas. Irwin, came President of the Pacific Express Company. H. Patterson, Vince Geiger, P. C. Johnson, Col. Hook. C. Hooker kept the first hardware store. Drs. Childs There was Benj. R. Nickerson, who threw the only and Worthen opened the first drug store. Livery stable law book, which there was in Hangtown at the Judge's business was first started by George Condee & Co. head, because he decided a case against him, foreand William Stevens & Co. M. R. Elstner kept the swore the practice of law, and got up a bull and bear first hay yard, as well as brick yard. William M. fight on Sunday shortly afterwards, to get even on his Cary kept the Placer hotel, and after 1856, built the client's fee, which was due but unpaid. Thos. Robpresent structure of the Cary House, on Main street, ertson, S. W. Sanderson and John Hume formed a corner of Quartz avenue, which was finished about partnership firm; but after a few years Sanderson deAugust 1857. B. Herrick kept the Union Hotel, parted this concern and formed a partnership with Mr. Levan kept the Orleans Hotel. Dud Humphreys Thos. H. Hewes; while Robertson & Hume remained was appointed first Alcalde of the district; when a copartners. One day during the busy times of the Post office was first established; J. Q. A. Ballard was 11th District Court, a case was on trial in which J. appointed first Postmaster, his place was at the round Hume and Silas W. Sanderson were engaged as attortent. J. B. Buker & Co. opened a banking house neys on opposite sides. An angry controversy arose in Upper Placerville, and were succeeded some time between these gentlemen, commencing with words, later by Read & Co. D. G. Weston, of Upper Placer- but ending in a clinch, each seizing the other by the ville, started the first dairy on a larger scale, milking throat, with many wild demonstrations. Before the from 40 to 140 COWS. The first white woman of Placerville was Mrs. Anna Cook, who died here on January 4th, 1879, at the advanced age of eighty-four years; she had been the first white person of her sex to arrive at Hangtown she was married to her husband, whose death antedated her own just eleven months, on the 4th of June, 1815; they consequently had lived together in wedlock nearly sixty-three years. The first marriage that was recorded at Placerville was that of W. H. Cooper, who was married by Rev. Dr. Platt, in November, 1850, to Miss Amy Swift. He not only raised a large family, but became grandfather to over twenty, and great-grandfather to some great-grandchildren.

mild calm face of Hume or the more pugnacious countenance of Sanderson was marred, or first blood claimed for either, the Sheriff, however, sprang between and parted them; each evidently pleased at this sudden cessation of hostilities, but ashamed of their display of temper. The cause proceeded as if nothing had occurred. In the evening, as was then custom, many attorneys were at the Clerk's office looking over papers or filing cost bills, the belligerents of the morning being both present, when the silence was broken by the quick but mild voice of Hume saying, "Sanderson, didn't you think the Sheriff was a d-d long time coming this morning?" A moment's silence, But all the old land marks, then a loud and boisterous laugh, and all was harmonthe witnesses of those gone-by romantic days of early ious. Hume, who had a bright legal mind, surpassed California life, of the ups and downs of the first by few, has died since. Sanderson has since been settlers here, are gone one after another; the last one, Chief Justice of the State, and is now attorney for the a kind of a relic in the shape of an old log-cabin, C. P. R. R. Co.