Posted on: Yuba County, California Query Forum Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ca/Yuba/10453 Surname: McCay, Gunning ------------------------- Scott, I came across your inquiry about Timbuctoo and noticed that you had listed Gunning in your surname inquiry list. I don't know if I can shed much light on the history of Timbuctoo, but we may have something in common here. I am a descendant of Irish immigrant Samuel Owen Gunning who owned most of the Timbuctoo Bend on the Yuba River just north of the historical gold rush town of Timbuctoo around the turn of the Century. He was the County tax assessor in Yuba County for many years and the Timbuctoo bend property covered over 400 acres northwest of the Parks Bar bridge. The property remained with his heirs until very recently when most of it was sold to developers from Yuba City. The McCay branch of the Gunning heirs still owns about 50 acres of riverfront just northwest of the bend. The dirt road entrance to the property is very near the crumbling Wells Fargo station near Smartville. As for history, my knowledge is very limited. If you are familiar with the Timbuctoo area you may know that there is 49er's gravesite near the western part of the bend. I hope it still there, the last time I saw it the headstone was in pieces due to cows bumping against it. In my youth in the 60's and 70's I toured or at least peered down several old mine shafts that dot the property. As I understand it there was never a productive mining operation on the interior of the property, at least while owned by the Gunnings. One curious note, S.O. Gunning was a history buff and named many of these mineshafts after Marc Antony, Cleopatra, Archimedes, etc. I don't think he arrived in the area until after Timbuctoo was established, so it's doubtful he had any say in the naming of it. The US Government had once planned to build a dam on the northwest part of the bend that if ever built would flood much of the bend, although as I understand it this is unlikely due to environmental concerns. They still have the rights, though, and every now and then I hear talk that it will happen, probably destroying a prime Salmon fishing run. Given your association with the Gunning surname, you may be interested in the following. S.O. Gunning had five children, one of whom was also named Sam, who I was named after and got to know while growing up. He was a former Northern California Golden Gloves boxing champ and WWI veteran who lived alone on the property with no electricity or modern conveniences until he died of cancer in the early 80's. He was a real character who was often recruited as a Gold Rush tour guide due to his extensive knowledge of the history of the Nevada City/Grass Valley mining operations. Both he and his father are buried in a Smartville cemetery not far from Timbuctoo. Despite my family connection to Timbuctoo, I was not raised in the Yuba area and my knowledge of its history is limited to bits and pieces gleaned from family visits, but like you I am curious about it . I would be very interested in any information you might have on Timbuctoo or Smartville, and also I can try to gather more info from relatives who may be able to shed some light. Unfortunately the generation that knew the most has passed on, but there are those still around who know more than I. Hope this was in some way helpful. Sam McCay [email protected] [email protected]