The Nevada journal., 1855-12-28
NEVADA DIRECTORY.

The Nevada Directory will be ready for
delivery in about ten days. 1t has been
compiled with care and at great deal of e1-
pense. 1t contains history of Nevada county
by A. A. SARGENT, Esq. whose name alone
is sufficient TO insure good sale, and meet the
appreciation of the public. The principal
events that have transpired from the year ls49
down to the present time are well arranged.
1t also contains an Almanac for 1856, the
names of all the citizens, the officers and the
time Of the organization Of the various churches,
lodges and other institutions OF Nevada Grass
Valley and Rough & Ready.
The History of Nevada county which opens
the Directory, occupies forty.f five pages, and
is instructive and amusing. 1t embodies In
succinct from the history of every town and min,
ing camp of considerable size in the county.
We propose giving few extracts to show the
quality of the work. The author modestly in
troduces his subject in the following manner ::
"The following unpretending sketch of Ne
vada county is designed simply as record of
some of the prominent events that have occurr-
ed in this region : to take from the tongue of
tradition q few of the curiosities of circum,
stance that lse may be lost in the lapse of
time rather as an aid to the future historian
than aspiring to the dignity of history. If the
incidents are familiar, or some of them trivial
let it be remembered, first, that we write of
things that have been observed by thousands.
many of them with better opportunities for
observation than those of the author and,
second, that our theme involves none of those
grander subjects that employ the pen of the
historian when revolutions and wars darken in
every page, and the sympathies or preudices
of the reader are carried by storm. Ours is
an unvarnished tale, of revolution, indeed
one that has changed wilderness to popu-
lous, prosperous community; but one noiseless
in its progress, and more remarkable in its re-.
suits than in the manner of its accomplish
ment.
The origin of the name of Nevada is thus
Fgiven
"The name Of Nevada" was given to this
settlement In March, $780, on the occasion of
an election Of Alcalde. A murder committed
in the neighborhood, and several other depre-
dations, excited public attention, and the resi-
dents concluded that, to prevent such occur
ish crime should be lodged in the hands OF an
officer. Early in March, therefore an impromptu
election was held, at which about $50 votes
were cast. Capt. Woods, Col. Lamb and Ol
T. Blackman were judges of the election, and
Mr.. Stamps was declared duly elected. He
held the office for two months, until the election
OF OlDey as Justice of the Peace, ut an election
in May appointed by the county, and dispensed
in DIV nd II
regard to equity than jurisdiction or precedent.
At noon the judges of election and others ad-
jourDed to dinner at Womack & Kenzies cloth
hotel at the present corner of Commercial and
Main streets, and champagne being freely cir.
culated, it was proposed that the names by
which these diggings had heretofore been
known viz "Caldwell's Upper Store" and
Deer Creek Dry Diggings," be dropped, and o
new cnd more euphoneous name adopted. 1t
was finali,' agreed that each person present
should write IN slip of paper the name he
would suggest, ant, tie collected names be re.
ferred to a committee IT the whole for selec
tion of the best. A great many names were
written, and among others Nevada, by y. +.
Blackman, which was Immediately, on being
read, adopted by the meeting mem. con. Thus
| Nevada was named. ...iaz.
A most amusing account is given of the
quartz excitement of1S5l, which for want of
space, is not transferred to our columns
A few incidents in the early history of our
sister town, Grass Valley are thus graphically
described
early in November, 1919, Samuel and
George Holt and James Walsh came with
wagons, tools, machinery, &C., to place about
four miles. .belowiGrass Valley for the purpose of
erecting two saw mills-the ore by the Messrs.
Holt, water mill, and Judge Walsh's, q steam
mill. MIR. Zenas Wheeler was one of the party
and two others. The Holts finished the mill
in March, 1850. and were saving lumber on
the Sd of May. While working in the mill
they were attacked by Indians Of whom there
were great many in the vicinity. We are
informed that as many as seven hundred men
and as many women attended their annual
meetings. or dances The elder Holt fSamuen
was pierced and at once killed by their arrows.
George Holt escaped with life, fighting eight
or ten Indians up the hill between the two
mills, with only small pocket knife in his
hands, and fell into the arms of Judge Walsh
covered with blood and wounded in thirteen
places with arrows. Only three of the com.
pany were at home at the time the attack,
was made, Mr.. 2. Wheeler having gone
below for the engine, and two others to the
Yuba: The property was plundered and burnt
the night after the attack on the Holts, and
the camp of Judge Walsh was threatened
The Indians kept up an indescribable bowling
all night, and raised fires all over the bills
But the tenants of the camp were well armed
with old U. ). mnskets, and with the help OF
fine dog named ''Brutus" of which the In
dians were peculiarly shy, kept them at bay
"Brutus,' for his courage and watchfuieess
was worth live. soldiers he would seize an
Indian by the throat who was too obtrusive,
and in divers ways evinced that he was a dog
for the occasion. We will not dismiss him
without renarking that he. is still resident Of
Grass Valley, is a mixture of Newfoundland
and terrier, and, resting upon his early well.
earned laurels, is of very pacific disposition.
A few friendly Indians gave their assistance
during the night, and Capt. Jno. Day, (present
County Surveyor,) and another man came in
on noticing the fires and disorder. Old chief
Wemeh behaved very well in the matter, gave