Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-01
THIRTY YEARS ago.
HOW FOREST CITY, SIERRA COUNTY,
GOT ITS NAME.
More About the Indian War In Carson
valley-Folsom Was Lively
Burg in Those Days.

More About the Indian War In Carson
valley-Folsom Was a Lively
Burg in Those Days.
There are probably few persons living to-
day, even at Forest City itself, who know
or can recall the circumstances under
which the town got its name. The first
store started at the forks of Oregon creek,
Sierra county, where Forest City now
stands, was erected by Samuel Hammond,
and was called the "Yomana" store, from
the cliff above the town being called by the
Indians Omaha or Sacred Hill. The Indians
are said to have considered it the most
sacred spot in all that section, but
on what ground is not known. In
1858. after the village had grown
to fair size, the people wanted
a name for it, and held an election to de.
termine what it should be, which resulted
in tie vote between Forks of Oregon
and ' Yomana." The matter was COM
promised by agreeing to call it after the
first woman who might come there to live.
This proved to be Mrs. Mary Davis, the
wife of baker, but the citizens did not
unite on the name, some still calling the
place Forks of Oregon and others Marietta.
Davis soon sold his business to Captain
Mooney and wife, and now comes the his
tory of the final name:
Mrs. MONEYS first name was Forest.
She had a literary turn of mind, and was
in the habit of writing local sketches for
the Marysville papers. These she dated at
Forest City, and as the editors did not
know where that was, the articles were so
published. Mrs. MONEYS next move was
to call together Recorder Jones and num-
Der of prominent citizens, and she asked
them if Forest City" was not more ap-
propriate name than Marietta" There
was more or less of womans jealousy at
the bottom of it, but that didn't matter.
Mrs. Davis was gone, and Mrs. Mooney
was the queen of the town, and so the
leading citizens gave in to her request.
Beside, the new name was really an ap-
propriate one, and by sort of common
usage il became established.
........ H. N. II. Brown, of this city, has Just
receiy ed from ex United States Senator John
Conness, who resides at Mattapan, Mass, a
short distance from the suburbs of Boston,
the receipt of a cane sent by the hand of
one of the visiting New England Pioneers
of California who were recently in this
State. Mr.. CONFESS remarks will be of in
terest to old Californians:
MY DEAR SIR: By the hand of Hon. B F.
Whittemore, Secretary of the Society of Califor-
MIA Pioneers of New England, l have the mama
nita cane you SO kindly sent me.
The more wonder that it comes from q gentle.
man never knew, but still the more in accord
with my life ideal-to regard all men frater-
nally. But the days OF 40 and those succeeding
them in the following decade made heartfelt
friends of all good men. In the spirit of that
glorious period this memento has been sent me,
and in that spirit / receive it, and return you
also my profound thanks. souvenir, too, OF
old FL Doradoi My best memories are of its
hills and homes, and of its people.
My life has but one sorrow to me-that its end
is not 10 be in California. Many circumstances
which could not control but by. an act of will
turn to the land and the friends of my youth
and early manhood.
Finally settling here l took some rough New
England land, and with my own hands have
wrought it into beautiful home, yet my family
consenting / would leave it at any hour for
California. l regretted that it was impossible
for me to accompany the visiting Pioneers last
month, and the more that it was attempted by
a former malcontent member of our society TO
make the impression that those New England
gentlemen were not '49rs. One single gangr ned
spirit sought to render the pilgrimage OF those
devoted men less blessed, but il failed, and they
came home laden with the recollection of wei.
comes extended to them everywhere in Califor-
mia. At this house from which l write, the
atch-string hangs out inviting Californians to
.sIli Id enter, and we extend to you and to
every Californian coming hither an urgent in
yitation to come, and promise hearty well
come.
$1,000. Colonel Jack Hays was then in
camp on the Carson river with 600 volun-
teers, including Sacramento company of
fifty-two men, under Captain Curtis, await
ing the arrival of some Government troops
to attack the hostile Indians. These were
1900 in number, and were camped at Pyra-
mid lake. A few days later the volunteers
met 300 Indians at Willow Station and q
fight ensued, in which the savages were
Nav two detachments of the Sacramento
volunteers returned from the war. Among
them were D. Morgan, A. J. Rhoads, L. I
Grant, James w. Moore, F. Rooney, w
Magee, Henry johnson, B. Sours, h
Karhardt, S. Decker, J. Strobsch, George
Maserve, George Whitlock, L. T. Brant, J
Crowell, L. Granger, Gray Tucker and J
Lanyard. Some of them bad to walk from
Placerville to this city. When nearly
home Tucker was thrown from his mule
and had leg broken.
mon Sunday, the 9th of May, 6
shocking accident occurred at the Tivol
House, Just outside the city, during prizs
shooting match between members of the
Sacramento Rifles. The rule was TO oper
and close the matches by signal guns. The
shooting had Just been concluded and The
signal shot fired, when August Klaebe (ir
charge of the gum concluded 3tire an
other shot, having one cartridge left. HI
int tho ON without hhtnu
the piece or thumbing the vent, and wa:
Just in the act of ramming it home wher
the charge exploded and blew off his righ
arm below the elbow. His face was also
badly burned, and mis- clothing on the righ
side torn into shreds. The force of the ex
piosion carried him off his feet and landed
him on bis head some yards away. The
fragment of his arm was found severa
rods from the cannon. Klaebe was sad
dler, in the employ of f. Gottholdt, on
street, between Tenth and Eleventh.
John B. Harmon was then one OF
the leading lawyers of this city; William
Reynolds had a livery stable on Seventh
street. between K and l. Cook. Mott & Co
were in the hardware business on J street
between Fifth and Sixth, and Joseph &c
nella, Joseph Loryea and Alphonse Den
merry had crockery stores in the same block
JULES VI Oidl N W. Wcic Tue
business on Fourth street Sheath & Ar
mold were selling hardware at Seventh anc
J streets II. Van Every was in the match
making mot matrimoniaD business l. &
S. Wormser had large clothing house a
Second aud ] streets. These and many
others then in business have long since de
parted.
.........A lady at Grass Valley had move
experience during a thunderstorm. Sh,
was wearing a hooped garment of the
kind then in fashion, and the steel band
that surrounded the lower portion of he
body attracted the lightning. The weare
was thoroughly electrified, and danced
around quite lively. She said it was thu
funniest sensation she had ever expert
enced Hoops became quite the rage il
Grass Valley that season, as her friends
were DESTROYS of being electrified likewise
.........one night as Mr.. Craig, OF thu
Court Exchange, was going home. he fount
a man lying on the sidewalk, whom b.
supposed to be drunk, helpless and home
less and undertook TO get him up. Th'
man sprang to his feet, yanked out muir
derous- looking knife and told his disturb
er that he had carefully selected his lodg
ing place. and if the latter did not leav'
him alone be would be laid out there him
self Mr. Craig prudently went alons
about his business.
.... Ex. Governor Alvarado deliberately
expressed his belief that the whites has
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