Hi listers- just received a new query to post on the Mariposa Web site- running it by you folks first- Maybe you have something to help=? Thanks, Carolyn Roberta Richards Peeples- rpeeples@mother.com 6 Feb 2001 THOMAS, JOSE Researching family of Richard W.THOMAS, born Feb 1849 in Sithney Parish, Cornwall, England and wife Eveline JOSE, born Oct 1869 in New Jersey. They lived many years in Hornitos & ran a restaurant & saloon on Main Street, after Richard was crippled in a mining accident. Eveline died in 1902 of TB & Richard died soon after. Their children were raised by Richard's brothers. Children: Richard THOMAS b.Oct 1887 Merle THOMAS b.Mar 1891 William J.THOMAS b.Sep 1892 Ruth Bernice THOMAS (LINDVALL) b.Jun 1896 Arthur C.THOMAS b.Feb 1900 Richard W. THOMAS was nephew of William THOMAS of Sierra & Nevada Co. and Joseph Henry THOMAS (my gr-grandfather) of Amador Co.

Leslie, This is what is shown on the USGS map through TopoZone.com. It looks like it could also have been the cemetery of Whiskey Flat, which I'm sure was probably an early village of the area. You're lucky it's shown. 95% our El Dorado County's cemeteries aren't! Here's a USGS topographic map from the TopoZone! http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=10 Most people don't realize that California law provided that title to these old cemeteries vested in the public by way of the codified statutes of 1872. If your county is not claiming it as public land, they're saying it's privately owned and this is not so. If anyone would like further information about these early laws, please contact me direct. Sue Silver EDC Pioneer Cemeteries Commission ssilver1951@jps.net

Greetings, If you aren't aware, the California Historic Cemetery Alliance (CHCA) was formed in January of 1999. Last year we sponsored AB 1779 which would have created the California Historic Cemetery Commission to locate and catalogue all historic cemeteries in the State. Gov. Davis vetoed it even though it had almost unanimous support in both legislative houses. Leslie Devlin's message about the obscure Granite Springs Cemetery brings to light that there must be others out there that those in Mariposa County know about. We would appreciate your sharing your information so we can add them to the cemetery registry we are compiling in advance of the creation of the State commission. Assemblyman Anthony Pescetti (Sacramento) is going to re-introduce AB 1779 and we are planning to work with the Governor's office to see what it is exactly he objected to in the previous session's bill. If you support such an idea, please go to the California State Assembly website, look up Assemblyman Pescetti's email address and send a supporting statement. For more information about the CHCA, please contact Dr. Bob LaPerriere at chca@inreach.com. Our web page (still under construction) is located at www.califhistcemeteries.org. We hope some of you will join us in our efforts to protect and preserve these historic and cultural resources. Sue Silver, President El Dorado County Pioneer Cemeteries Commission (a Calif. Non-Profit Corporation) Member, California Historic Cemetery Alliance ssilver1951@jps.net

I found a message in the archives from about a month ago (just signed up for the list today :) asking about the location of Granite Springs Cemetery. I have directions to what I believe is this same cemetery, dated March 1970 and written as an addendum to a family memoir about my great-great-great-grandparents, Maurice Murray and Sarah Reed Murray. If anyone actually follows these directions and finds that the cemetery is still there, please let me know! MARCH, 1970 Granite Springs, which is completely gone now, was on the old highway between Coulterville and La Grange. After two trips, we were able to locate the lovely gravestone of Maurice and Sarah. Drive East from Coulterville about six and one-half miles. Turn right off the main highway on the first paved road (Old highway 132). Go 1.9 miles, then look for an old cemetery down the hill about 100 feet to your right. Mildred Ellen (Ellen's granddaughter) and Jack Shropshire Leslie Devlin * Putting the "there" in Oakland since 1999 * mizd@tsoft.com

I love the net- I asked a friend for some help here , he posted to OCTA and the term Indian Depredations comes back as the term used for these court fillings- SO, then I began net searching- There is much on the net about this subject. I liked this one because it tells you how to proceed to order a copy from NARA, and a fellow who has the index to the cases---! Note he mentions how long it took his family to have their case settled. http://shell.rmi.net/~pacarter/depredations.html Good Hunting- Carolyn -----Original Message----- From: Carolyn Feroben <Sweetwater@Sierratel.com> To: Paulette Hilk <paulette@elite.net>; CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com <CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Monday, February 05, 2001 10:16 AM Subject: Re: [CAMARIPO] A slow government >I am curious- did the government guarantee safe passage to the CAPTAIN-and >others crossing the plains at that time?? >thus the lawsuit- ? > >I need a history lesson here- > > >Thanks, Curious Carolyn > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Paulette Hilk <paulette@elite.net> >To: CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com <CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com> >Date: Monday, February 05, 2001 9:49 AM >Subject: [CAMARIPO] A slow government > > >>Our government was even slow back then. >> >>Le Grand Advocate, Saturday, August 16, 1913 >> >>About 60 years ago when Capt. Nicholas Turner and Party were crossing >>the plains for California, they were attacked by Indians somewhere in >>Utah and nearly all there stock was killed or stolen. Capt. Turner >>during his life time pressed his claims upon the government for damages, >>after his death M. F. Turner, his son, continued the fight for damages >>and after his death Chas. Cunningham was appointed by the heirs to press >>their claims, Now after 60 years the claims have been allowed and >>damages paid. After all expenses and lawyer’s fees have been paid there >>remains $300 to be divided among the heirs of 7 children. >> >>P. Y. Welch (deceased) who was one of the party, presented his claims >>separately, to the government and received $900 damages a couple of >>years ago. >> >>-- >>Thomas and Paulette Hilk >>1725 Wildwood Ct. >>Merced, CA. 95340 >> >>E-mail address: paulette@elite.net >> >> >> >>==== CAMARIPO Mailing List ==== >>NEW LIST MEMBERS- Post your query so we can start helping you!! >> >> >

I am curious- did the government guarantee safe passage to the CAPTAIN-and others crossing the plains at that time?? thus the lawsuit- ? I need a history lesson here- Thanks, Curious Carolyn -----Original Message----- From: Paulette Hilk <paulette@elite.net> To: CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com <CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Monday, February 05, 2001 9:49 AM Subject: [CAMARIPO] A slow government >Our government was even slow back then. > >Le Grand Advocate, Saturday, August 16, 1913 > >About 60 years ago when Capt. Nicholas Turner and Party were crossing >the plains for California, they were attacked by Indians somewhere in >Utah and nearly all there stock was killed or stolen. Capt. Turner >during his life time pressed his claims upon the government for damages, >after his death M. F. Turner, his son, continued the fight for damages >and after his death Chas. Cunningham was appointed by the heirs to press >their claims, Now after 60 years the claims have been allowed and >damages paid. After all expenses and lawyer’s fees have been paid there >remains $300 to be divided among the heirs of 7 children. > >P. Y. Welch (deceased) who was one of the party, presented his claims >separately, to the government and received $900 damages a couple of >years ago. > >-- >Thomas and Paulette Hilk >1725 Wildwood Ct. >Merced, CA. 95340 > >E-mail address: paulette@elite.net > > > >==== CAMARIPO Mailing List ==== >NEW LIST MEMBERS- Post your query so we can start helping you!! > >

Our government was even slow back then. Le Grand Advocate, Saturday, August 16, 1913 About 60 years ago when Capt. Nicholas Turner and Party were crossing the plains for California, they were attacked by Indians somewhere in Utah and nearly all there stock was killed or stolen. Capt. Turner during his life time pressed his claims upon the government for damages, after his death M. F. Turner, his son, continued the fight for damages and after his death Chas. Cunningham was appointed by the heirs to press their claims, Now after 60 years the claims have been allowed and damages paid. After all expenses and lawyer’s fees have been paid there remains $300 to be divided among the heirs of 7 children. P. Y. Welch (deceased) who was one of the party, presented his claims separately, to the government and received $900 damages a couple of years ago. -- Thomas and Paulette Hilk 1725 Wildwood Ct. Merced, CA. 95340 E-mail address: paulette@elite.net

Brill wasn't here very long- but just in case someone is looking for him....... http://ag.arizona.edu/azaqua/extension/ALFP98.htm A German Immigrant - Frederick L. Brill was born in Bilstein, Westphalia, Prussia (Germany) on April 4, 1833. He attended public schools and took a college course at Lippstadt, Germany before leaving for the United States in 1849 at the age of 16. His ship put in at New Orleans, where he got work as a cigar maker. A year later, the young Brill moved to San Antonio, Texas and, having learned the trade, opened his own cigar factory. He was only 17, but extremely industrious and knowledgeable of business. He ran his cigar factory for two years, built up the business, and sold it in 1852. Now, with the money in his pocket, he decided to head for California. He arrived in San Francisco and headed into the placer fields of Mariposa County. He opened a boarding house, taking advantage of the heavy influx of miners into the area. He sold that business in 1855 and moved to San Diego. There Brill went into the cattle business and made a name for himself in the community. Within five years, he became an American citizen.

BIG OAK FLAT the town in the heyday of its life, when it was said to be the liveliest community in the Southern Mines. It was originally known as Savage Diggings, after early pioneer James Savage, who came to California with John C. FrŽmont in the summer of 1846. Savage, a man familiar with Indians and their cultures from his boyhood days - he spoke five Indian languages fluently- went off to prospect on a tributary of the Tuolumne River shortly after Marshall's discovery. In the summer of 1849, he struck out for the hills on his own and made camp on a large isolated flat covered with ancient oaks, where he discovered rich gold deposits. He worked those placers with the help of local Miwok Indians he befriended, while keeping a side-business of cattle rustling and setting up a makeshift trading post. Savage was reported to earn a thousand dollars a day from his various activities, and to have once lost $35,000 on one card of three-card monte. The energetic frontiersman might have remained at the rich flat had it not been for the tensions which soon arose between freshly arrived miners and his Indian wives. He was said to have had as many as thirty-thrce of them, all between the ages of ten and twenty-two. Savage later led the Mariposa Battalion organized to crush belligerent Indians of the Yosemite Valley. He was killed in a fight with a ranger he had accused of attacking peaceable Indians in 1852. By the time Savage left, in the fall of 1850, scores of gold diggers wore heading toward the flat in spite of its isolation. The gold-bearing gravel bed there was from two to twenty feet deep and the claims so rich that they were first limited to ten square feet by local miners' law. A camp of tents, brush huts, and shanties quickly sprouted, and the diggings wore renamed Big Oak Flat, after a giant ancient oak tree on the flat which cast a shade over a hundred yards wide, so the old timers said. Six thousand miners were working their cradles on Rattlesnake Creek by the mid-50s. l he settlement grew to a town with enough permanent residents to become incorporated and to foster desires to be county seat of a new Yosemite County. By 1860, 200 buildings, many made of local slate rock, crowded the crooked main street: hotels, stores, saloons, smithies, livery stables, a Wells Fargo office, and even a theater with 800 seats. A Chinatown grew at the outskirts. The treacherous Grizzly Gulch Wagon road, now called Old Priest grade, reached all the way up to the flat; man, mule, or stagecoach had to climb 1,575 feet in a matter of two miles. An incredible ditch brought water into town. "Yesterday, I walked across the 'high Flume,"' Dudley Cornell, who regulated the water sold to miners, informed his parents on February 12, 1860. "It is 264 feet high, 2,300 feet long. There are wooden towers every 200 fact, and across the tops of the towers, there are two wire cables stretched, from which the flume itself is suspended. The space to walk on is 26 inches wide, & no railing to hold on by." Available water prolonged placer mining and made quartz mines possible: The smoke stacks in the engraving are those of the town's quartz mills. One lucky miner found a piece of quartz worth five hundred dollars [about twenty-five ounces of pure gold]. Then came 1863, the driest year in the history of the state. Big Oak Flat was a tinder box by the end of the summer. A fire all but wiped out the town in October of that year; the glow of the flames could be seen as far as Sonora. The town namesake, that venerable oak, was charred to its core. This deadly fire marked the beginning of a long, steady decline. Big Oak Flat was disincorporated in August of 1864, and because of its isolation, the high cost of upkeep of the ditch system, and the decline of quartz mining, the town never recovered. Today's Big Oak Flat has a population of zero(?) souls. Because of the miners' picks, Rattlesnake Creek no longer runs straight, and the once-flat valley depicted in this engraving is now a gully, sloping off toward the creek. There are many more trees and far fewer buildings; only two still front Main Street with any authority, both built in the 1850s of slate rock. As for the Big Oak, its charred, diminutive remnants are enclosed in a rock shrine behind an iron fence, its fortune and that of the town forever entwined. MARY GRACE PAQUETTE DR. MARY GRACE PAQUETTE was the author of several books on the French in California, most notably her latest, Then Came the French: The History of the French in Tuolumne County, California (1996). She passed away on JULY 31, 1997,and CLAUDINE CHALMERS finished her contribution in grateful tribute. Posted on 08.12.1998 by Christian Steimel. (the website is no longer accessable- Carolyn)

Le Grand Advocate, Saturday, March 22, 1913 COPPER MINES Four copper mines are now being worked in the vicinity of White Rock, all shipping their ore from Le Grand. The Pocahontas mine, David Ross Manager, is the greatest producer. It has kept two 6 ton trucks busy for the past nine months hauling the ore to Le Grand During the month of February. 11 carloads of ore were shipped form Le Grand to the smelter at Selba [sic], by the Pocahontas Mine. This month it has already shipped 8 car loads and if the weather permits will ship 8 more. The White Rock mine, Jim Helm manager, will ship its first carload this month. A. E. Moutrey, running two trucks, is hauling the ore from both the Pocahontas and the Wite Rock mines. The Calhoun mine will also ship a carload of ore this month. A. W. Laudes is hauling the ore from this mine with a 6 horse team and wagon. The Dickinson mine is being worked by so far has not shipped any ore. There is another mine, the Green Mountain mine about 7 miles south of White Rock which is being worked. It hauls its ore to Raymond for shipment. -- Thomas and Paulette Hilk 1725 Wildwood Ct. Merced, CA. 95340 E-mail address: paulette@elite.net

I haven't been able to access the Mariposa site now for 2 days. Is it down and when will it be back up?

I was in the site yesterday, in fact many of the California sites- but you are right- I cannot get in now-And It is not just Mariposa is the whole California GenWeb server- www.cagenweb.com Thanks for the tip=- Will be in touch with the State Coordinator and let you know what I hear. Carolyn -----Original Message----- From: Sharon <syvonne@earthlink.net> To: CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com <CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Saturday, February 03, 2001 6:55 AM Subject: [CAMARIPO] website >I haven't been able to access the Mariposa site now for 2 days. Is it down >and when will it be back up? > > >==== CAMARIPO Mailing List ==== >If you have any good California History or Genealogy Links let us know! > >

Hi Folks- I really like this site- use the main site for links to all states- http://www.topowest.com/ The California Place Names are set for "click and go" to the maps I use the really big 200 - it takes awhile to load, but you can see everything! http://www.topowest.com/California/index.html Carolyn

This is hard to believe. Tape worm Le Grand Advocate, Saturday, September 21, 1912 Dr. W. C. Pendergrass success fully treated Jacob Pretzer Jr. for tape worm last week. The worm measured 23 ft. -- Thomas and Paulette Hilk 1725 Wildwood Ct. Merced, CA. 95340 E-mail address: paulette@elite.net

Here is a photo gallery of the Yosemite Lumber Co- Merced Falls Operation- http://yosemitevalleyrailroad.gamestats.com/YLumber.Cards3.html The size of those drying yards is incredible- hard to imagine so much activity there- Carolyn -----Original Message----- From: Paulette Hilk <paulette@elite.net> To: CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com <CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Thursday, February 01, 2001 8:59 AM Subject: [CAMARIPO] A little history >I found this article about Merced Falls and some information about the >incline. I sure wish I could have seen the incline when it was being >used. It is hard to believe that there was anything at Merced Falls. >Sure is not much left today. I like things about the YVRR I wish it >was still running It stopped just about the year I was born. I hope you >enjoy this article. > >Le Grand Advocate, Saturday, August 10, 1912 >BIG SAW MILL > >The first trainload of logs over the Yosemite Lumber Company’s incline >railroad to El Portal came down to the saw mills at Merced Falls Monday, >negotiating the wonderful grades of the incline with ease. Fifteen cars >were in the train, each containing in the neighborhood of 6,000 feet of >timber. From that time on thirty-car trains will be brought down daily. >This incline is 8000 feet long, the top being 3000 feet higher than the >bottom. One grade on the incline system reaches 86 per cent. The rail >road is of standard gage. The mill at Merced Falls has a daily capacity >of 150, 000 feet of lumber. It is modern in equipment and is considered >one of the finest plants on the coast. > >The logging camps in the mountains will employ 350 men and the mill at >the falls 400 men. The lumber company is building a modern town about >the sawmill, installing electric lights, a water system and sewer. >Modern cottages for employees are under construction. Merced Falls a >village of fifty people a year ago, is now a town of 800. It is >twenty-five miles north-east of Merced city. > –Livingston Chronicle > >-- >Thomas and Paulette Hilk >1725 Wildwood Ct. >Merced, CA. 95340 > >E-mail address: paulette@elite.net > > > >==== CAMARIPO Mailing List ==== >Mariposa County, California GenWeb Project Page: >http://www.cagenweb.com/mariposa/ > >

To all, I've bid on this photo as I have Gallardo and Qurez connections in Hornitos in the late 1800's. If I win the auction I will provide a high quality scan to anyone who would like one, no charge. Chris /---------------------------------------------------/ Christopher Mangus Arizona State University College of Business IT Database Administrator, Senior SQL Server DBA / Vis Basic / Access / Baby Oracle DBA Office hours - 7 am to 4 pm Monday thru Friday M.S.T. Office Phone 480.965.3553 -----Original Message----- From: Don Fitchett [mailto:fitchett1@home.com] Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2001 7:00 PM To: CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [CAMARIPO] ebay photo Hi List, Here is a foto card on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=550394378 It says the "CASRETTO STORE" in Hornitos. Does any of that ring a bell? Don ==== CAMARIPO Mailing List ==== If you have a family chronicle let Carolyn add it to the Mariposa County GenWeb Page. Send it to: sweetwater@sierratel.com

Hi folks, as you may know Mariposa only publishes it newspapers once a week, The Mariposa Gazette and The Tribune . The Tribune is online at http://mariposa.yosemite.net/tribune/- Obituaries , and Sheriffs reports included! Last week the front page headline was about the energy crisis-(it is still on the website) The full article below should appear on the net when they change the edition- And It sure has to be a slow news week when our headlines in the Mariposa Tribune of Wed, January 31, 2001 reads: HISTORY CENTER TO RECEIVE NEW CARPETING <g> The article tells that the library has moved out- (wonderful new facilities!!) and the Board of Supervisors has approved the History Center's request for new carpeting- $5,000. Kerry Lee Self, is quoted as saying"We are taking things out of storage for the first time". The history center will expand into an additional 1,600 feet of space the library was occupied. The fundraising continues for the temperature-controlled , climatized vault. The article reports that "the sensitive documents and artifacts are sitting in the basement of the history Center, which is not an ideal place for items of such historical importance. The physical properties of paper can be easily ravaged by time and climate conditions if not taken care of . The loss of such documents would be lamentable for Mariposa County , and no one is more dedicated to this project that Weston (ed note- Don Weston is President of the History Center). The vault will be 1,500 square feet in size and cost between $300,000- $350,000. There is no date for starting this project.. Best, Carolyn

Hi List, Here is a foto card on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=550394378 It says the "CASRETTO STORE" in Hornitos. Does any of that ring a bell? Don

Could it be that the recent election and closing of the saloons had anything to do with the fact that women were now voting! <g>! California was one of the earlier states to grant (!) women the vote- 1911- the sixth state to do so..... Carolyn -----Original Message----- From: Paulette Hilk <paulette@elite.net> To: CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com <CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Thursday, February 01, 2001 1:48 PM Subject: [CAMARIPO] Mariposa Saloons >Le Grand Advocate, Saturday, August 31, 1912 > >For the first time in its history Mariposa is without saloons, the 90 >days given by the Wylie law after an election, having expired last >Tuesday. W. W. Gann, who for some time has conducted the only saloon in >Mariposa, closed his place of business Monday night. Other saloons in >this district closed the following day. Nothing unusual marked the >stopping of the sale of intoxicating liquors in Mariposa. > –Mariposa Gazette > >In the same paper Merced arrested the first bootlegger. You would not >believe the number of arrests for bootlegging in latter issues of the >Mariposa Gazette. > >-- >Thomas and Paulette Hilk >1725 Wildwood Ct. >Merced, CA. 95340 > >E-mail address: paulette@elite.net > > > >==== CAMARIPO Mailing List ==== >Thanks for sharing and helping each other!! > >

Le Grand Advocate, Saturday, August 31, 1912 For the first time in its history Mariposa is without saloons, the 90 days given by the Wylie law after an election, having expired last Tuesday. W. W. Gann, who for some time has conducted the only saloon in Mariposa, closed his place of business Monday night. Other saloons in this district closed the following day. Nothing unusual marked the stopping of the sale of intoxicating liquors in Mariposa. –Mariposa Gazette In the same paper Merced arrested the first bootlegger. You would not believe the number of arrests for bootlegging in latter issues of the Mariposa Gazette. -- Thomas and Paulette Hilk 1725 Wildwood Ct. Merced, CA. 95340 E-mail address: paulette@elite.net