The Georgetown news., 1856-01-10
For the Georget0Wn News.
WHITE OAK FLAT, Dec. 25, 1885,


Editors Georgetown NeuS:-"A Merry
Christmas" to you Messrs. Editors, and if
you could look in upon US you would say
merry Christmas we were having, and |
think you would be tempted to leave your
Sanct11n and come and stop with US few
weeks, living an honest miners life. Just
take peep into our Cabin,-the large open
fireplace, the log burning within it, the
WaSsail Bowl filed to the bTim, smoking
upon the hearthstone, and q ALeerschaum
hanging over the fireplace, filled with chop
ped Cavendish. These are our conc0mi-
tants for Christmas Evening, and | really
wish you were here to enjoy them with Us.
The Farmers Of this vicinity are putting in
large crops this season; Esquire Hix in
tends putting in over 100 acres Of grain;
Mr. Every has large field Of wheat alrea-
dy up, and it looks thriving. Mining is not
as prosperous at this season as it will be in
a month or two hence, on account of scar
city water, although the notes of prepar-
alton can be heard in Ravines at Jay Hawk,
Pinchem Tight, and DustyvilIe The Mi
ners occasionally find a lump of the precious
metal, but there is not a suficiency of wa
ter as yet for practical mining; by the way,
haven't we a funny nomenclature? With
your permission will give you the deriya-
tion Of some Of the names in this vicinity
Weber Greek derived its name from Cap
tain Weber who was settler in the c0un-
try previous to the discovery of Gold, he
employed number of Indians and mined a.
long its bed, successfully using the Indian
Basket to work with, the Indians using
them deXterously in panning out. Jay
/ Hawk derived its name from miner by
the name Of j. Hawk who worked the Ra-
vines there at an early day. Pinchemtight
was derived from the fact that trader who
sold wares there at an early period retailed
his Liquors at the rate Of one glass Of whis-
key for one pinch Of Gold Dust, and the
miners used to say that when he took a
pinch Of the dust he pinched it tight
DustyviIle derived its name from the fact
that a company of miners lived there, who
instead Of washing THEN mining clothes let
the mud get dry and then beat them upon
the rocks, thereby raising o cloud of dust.
Dry Creek was suggested from the fact of
its being dry the greater part Of The year.
Somerset, the original settlers were from
Somerset, Ohio. Shingle Springs, from
the fact that shingle machine was in op-
Grafton there in the year Forty-nine-
Green Springs, from the numerous springs
that gush forth in the valley around it at
all seasons Of the year; it was called by
those employed in the construction of Sut-
ters Mill, Rancherie Valley, as there was
q number Of Indian Ranches in the vicinity
at that time. Mormon Tavern was so cal
led from the fact that Mr. Lathrop, Ia Nor
mon,) built the first Board House upon the
present site; it was called by Suffers men
Coyote Springs, very suggestive name Of
those days. Thename of White Oak Flats
was derived from the almost innumerable
quantity Of White Oaks upon its borders:
it was called at Suffers Mil, Cart Wheel
Valley, from the fact that one of their wa
gons broke down there, and the wheels re-
mained there for length Of time. I am
indebted to Mr.. VIM. Johnson of this place,
Tor the original names of these places; Mr..
johnson was employed by Sutter & Mar
shall, and drove the first team from the En-
barcadaro to Suffers Mill, and piloted
Capt Sutter upon his first visit to the Mill.
Humpy Bill, an Indian well known in the
vicinity of Coloma, first piloted Marshall
to the site Of the Mill. Yours, sc.
DOBE