| California (Mariposa County), Bear Valley — Bear Valley | | | Headquarters of Col. John C. Fremont, world-famous American, who, in 1847, purchased a floating Mexican grant of 44,000 acres for $3000. After gold was discovered, he floated his grant to include the Mother Lode gold belt from Mariposa to Merced River. After costly litigation, his title was confirmed by Supreme Court in 1859.
He worked his rich placers by grubstaking experienced Mexican miners before the influx of Americans and subsequently he opened up rich quartz mines, in 1851. He built . . . — Map (db m5958) | | California (Mariposa County), Bear Valley — 5999 — Fremont’s Fort | | | General John C. Fremont, 1813-1890. A noted military man, explorer, topographer, senator & businessman, Fremont was also a miner. He settled in Mariposa County living just outside Bear Valley. He operated the Josephine, Pine Tree & Princeton mines and other claims. In 1858 he returned from his travels to operate his mines and found many had been “jumped.” In taking them back a feud developed with several groups, one being the “Hornitas League” which tried to seize one . . . — Map (db m5783) | | California (Mariposa County), Coulterville — 6011 — Bagby | | | From a vista point near the 1,156 long, 130 foot high bridge, completed in 1966, the site of Bagby lies east under, and sometimes exposed beside, the back waters of Lake McClure. Bagby's history passed through three definite development eras. From 1850 to 1859 it was the site for Thomas E. Ridley's ferry. Then a dam and Fremont's water-powered stamp mills were built there, and the place renamed Benton Mills for his father-in-law. Later Benjamin A, Bagby built a hotel, store, saloon, and . . . — Map (db m5957) | | California (Mariposa County), Coulterville — Coulterville | | | George W. Coulter started a Tent Store here, early in 1850 to supply hundreds of miners working the rich placers of Maxwell, Boneyard and Black Creeks. The settlement was called Banderita, from the flag flying over Coulters store. A postoffice established in 1853 was called Maxwell Creek, but changed the following year to honor Coulter. The first stamp mill for crushing quartz ore was built by Andrew Goss. Quartz mines, nearby, under crude methods, with wood for fuel, operated for years . . . — Map (db m5955) | | California (Mariposa County), Coulterville — Whistling Billy | | | This eight-ton, short-wheel base, wood burning locomotive, built by the H. K. Porter Co. of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, was delivered to the Merced Mining Company of Coulterville in 1897. All of "Billy’s" active life was spent hauling gold-bearing quartz ore over the narrow-guage tracks from the Mary Harrison mine, south of town, to the Potosi stamp mill, west of town – a distance of about four miles. Abandoned in 1904, it was resurrected in the mid 1930's, and placed here for all to see and . . . — Map (db m5956) | | California (Mariposa County), El Portal — Site of Savage’s Trading Post | | | Here in 1849, James D. Savage, established a store built of logs. He engaged in trading and mining and married several squaws for protection and influence. In spring of 1850, fearing Indian depredations, he moved to Mariposa Creek. In December, his store and others were pillaged and burned and a real war began. A volunteer battalion was formed and Savage elected Major. In pursuit of the most warlike tribe their secret hide-out, Yosemite Valley, was discovered, and the war brought to a quick . . . — Map (db m904) |
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