Belcher’s 1921 map, “Lost Coast”

Please see this introduction for info about these three 1921 maps.

Gee! Too bad we didn’t quite make it to Shelter Cove… well another trip back to the DNR and i may get that, too.

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Belcher’s 1921 map, upriver

See previous post,the first in this series of three, for a little info about these 1921 maps.

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1921 Belcher’s map, north

This is one of the most complete and accurate property-ownership maps we have. They are especially interesting for the I.A. notation, meaning “Indian Allotment,” on several of the parcels on Prosper Ridge. I got the map sections from the Department of Natural Resources in Eureka, on two different occasions. The first set (downriver near Petrolia) i had copied years ago. Over the years i realized i should have the whole watershed on hand, so i went back… but this time i took photos of the map. These are the more blue-toned pictures. Anyway, a big thank-you to the DNR and its caretakers (in this recent case, Andrew Bundschuh) for keeping these maps on-hand, organized, and available to serious researchers.

As always, for explanations as to how to use the maps (if you have the description of a piece of property and are looking for it, for instance), go to this earlier post.

Note: This map is so big, i am splitting it into three sections… the lower Mattole Valley, and its coast; upriver (Upper Mattole to the Briceland area), and the “Lost Coast.” All sequences will travel north to south. Click on the map to open and enlarge; use control and the + sign to enlarge further.

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1916 Army Corps of Engineers maps

I found these maps at the Humboldt County Department of Natural Resources, a division of the Public Works Dept., at 2nd and L Streets in Eureka. Years ago i had been in there and had some of the downriver maps photocopied; since then John Isom has given us the remaining Mattole sections. I am grateful to the staff at the DNR for allowing me to copy these materials.

Sections of four maps are presented here: the Cape Mendocino, Glynn, Pt. Delgada, and Briceland quadrangles. There is a lot of detail, and unfortunately, the file sizes are unwieldy. Still, if you blow them up too much, they will be pixelly. I tried to find a compromise. If you would personally like a better-resolution copy of any particular section, please ask me and i will email it to you.

These Corps of Engineers maps, made from surveys done in 1916 and printed by “Engineer Reproduction Plant, U.S. Army, Fort Humphreys, D.C., 1921,” don’t use the same township-and-range, 36-square-mile-block system as the other historical maps here. They are on a scale of 1/62,500. Since we can’t rely on your computer screen to represent inches fairly, please understand that one of the smaller, darker-lined squares measures about 2 and 7/8 miles, or 5000 yards, across. Unfortunately, those squares are only outlined on the Briceland and Cape Mendocino quadrangles, which also show the larger 5-minute (a minute being a 60th of a degree) squares. These big 5-minute boxes measure about 4 and ½ miles across and are represented by the only lines on the Glynn and Pt. Delgada maps.

On the original, an inch=a mile, so if you can adjust the size of your image until the smaller boxes are 2 and 7/8 true inches wide, and the larger, lightly-lined squares 4 and ½ inches, you can use that one-to-one scale: inches on your screen will equal miles.

As usual, the map sequence is NW progressing to the SE, upriver; then back to the Cooskie-King Range coast, north to south. Click on each image to enlarge it; click again for more magnification; and your own computer’s zoom function (usually control and +) will bring you in even further.

Cape Mendocino, north section

Cape Mendocino, southern section

Glynn, SW section

Pt. Delgada, NE section

Briceland, north section

Briceland, southern section

Pt. Delgada, NW section

Pt. Delgada, SE section

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1911 Denny’s map

I have had these map copies around for a while. I believe i originally copied them from the Dept. of Natural Resources office on L Street in Eureka– they have a nice collection of maps and photos there, sorted into drawers by community. Denny’s is a great map because it’s so detailed, and as far as i can find, quite reliable.

The usual instructions: Find any general map-use guidelines you might need from this previous post. Also, as in all these map series i will put up, the areas overlap as they travel upstream, then back to the King Range coastline. Click and enlarge for detail, or use your control/+ function to go in until the pixels become annoying.

More maps to come, in the coming weeks or months… stay tuned!

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1898 J. N. Lentell map

Phil Franklin of Petrolia gave us this wonderful map. It is very similar in form to the 1911 Denny’s map, so i had assumed that the clippings of it that i’d seen came from an earlier Denny’s; but no, Phil’s intact map showed the publishing information, definitely J.N. Lentell, 1898.

The usual instructions: Find any general map-use guidelines you might need from this previous post. Also, as in all these map series i will put up, the areas overlap as they travel upstream, then back to the King Range coastline. Click and enlarge for detail, or use your control/+ function to go in until the pixels become annoying.

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1886 Forbes map

The Stanley N. Forbes map, published in 1886. I would like to thanks Richard “Rob” Roberts, known through the Ferndale Museum and Ann Roberts (his wife), not to mention his exhaustive work republishing the Seth Kinman material, for sharing this with us. The 1880s were a mystery period to me, mapwise. This fills in a lot of gaps!

Find any general map-use guidelines you might need from this previous post. Also, as in all these map series i will put up, the areas overlap as they travel upstream, then back to the King Range coastline. Click and enlarge for detail, or use your control/+ function to go in until the pixels become annoying.

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1865 Doolittle map

A.J. Doolittle made this Humboldt County map in 1865, just as our oil boom was reaching full stride. There is all sorts of interesting information printed on the map, as well as the invaluable road, town, and property ownership representations.

This particular map doesn’t outline the blocks very well, so i enhanced them in green. Nor does it show the Section numbers, so you will have to count in the prescribed pattern (see previous post or go here) up from 36 to find your Section.

It’s not easy to keep the file size down so that the maps load quickly, while keeping them big enough to allow zooming in to see the detail. Let me know if you have any suggestions. I broke down this map, and the following, into areas starting near the mouth of the river and north, and proceeding to the southeast, or upstream, with a last map of the coast section off the King Range.

(Remember that you can double-click on the image to enlarge it; if you want it even bigger, use your own computer’s zoom system, usually control and the + sign)

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Simple map tutorial

Although cartography is a real science and an immense amount of information about mapmaking exists, much of it online for the Googling, i want to make it easy for you to locate properties on the historical maps of the Mattole Valley i am going to put up, in a few easy steps. Nothing new here for history, real estate, or map enthusiasts.

If you have either the legal description of a certain parcel, or if you can locate it on a recent USGS topo map, you will be able to find the same spot on these maps once you understand a couple of basic things.

First, know that 36 single-square-mile Sections (each 640 acres) are lined up within squares or blocks designated Township (relating to north-south location) and Range (east-west location). The 36 Sections are counted up from the upper right of the Township-Range squares and loop back and forth to the lower right in an unusual configuration, like this:

(You are looking at the bare graph of a 36-square-mile area.) Now, each of these squares is located as Township (T) and Range (R) as in, i live in Section 25 of T2S,R2W– read that Township 2 South, Range 2 West. In the case of our Mattole squares, we happen to be south of the Humboldt Baseline which runs east-west through Mt. Pierce– the Monument– up near Rio Dell. Our west or east is in reference to the Humboldt Meridian which runs vertically on the map through Mt. Pierce and Honeydew. Thus, most Lower Valley locations are Range_(whatever)_West, and Wilder Ridge or Bull Creek are Range_East; and all are Township_South.

Then, the 640-acre square-mile Sections are further broken down into (4) 160-acre quarter-sections: the NE, SE, SW, and NW. Next, quarters of quarters, which are 40-acre or 1/16th sections– though parts of Sections can be described in halves, also. Here is an example of A.W. Way County Park, easy to recognize inside the east hoop of the “W” in the river about 5 miles upstream from Petrolia. The bulk of its location might be described as:
The south 1/2 of the NW qtr. of Sec. 30, T2S, R1W (sometimes you see “HB & HM” after this, to locate the Township and Range relative to Humboldt Baseline and Humboldt Meridian– but i generally don’t bother, once we know where we are in the lower Mattole Valley).

From the 1898 Lentell map. Notice that since Sec. 30 is on the west end of the T2S, R1W block, there is a harder line delineating its west edge, because another block-- T2S, R2W (Sec. 25 thereof) is next west.

(Actually, A.W. Way Park probably extends into the north 1/2 of the NW qtr. of Sec. 30– it’s hard to say with much accuracy on the older maps.)

On most maps, you will find the number (1-36) of the square-mile Section smack in the middle of the square. It’s an easy-to-use system once you have the basics.

Have fun!

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1880 Diary of George Hindley, Part 1

The eldest man in the picture from my last post on here (Jan. 29, 2011) is George Hindley. His direct descendant, Laurence Hindley of Fortuna, donated to the MVHS a typed and xeroxed copy of this solid year of daily entries.

Bob Stansberry, who is most knowledgeable about Southern Humboldt and upriver history, made the notes to these journal entries. I have italicized his statements and questions. Anything you see in brackets is my own comment. Please keep in mind that these words were transcribed to typewriter from Geo. Hindley’s own hand, and that the transcriber did not necessarily know the locals or the spellings of their names and the places. I am adding only enough punctuation and spelling correction to make for ease and clarity; otherwise I will try to keep the original style.

So here you go, 131 years ago (to the week), above the Mattole Valley…

George Hindley kept this diary while living on the original home place approximately one mile northwest of Windy Nip [between Honeydew and Panther Gap].

THURSDAY, JAN. 1, 1880—Came home from Bull Creek danc [?] throo the Rain with Gilespie and Wife. It fogged and rained all Day. Found Wm Cathey and the children all well.
Gillespie was Allen Gillespie’s grandfather; his wife was Eliza (Hunter), daughter of John Hunter, Sr., whose ranch was downstream one and a half miles from Honeydew.

JAN. 2—Rained in the morning. Cloudy all day. Gilespie and wife went home with two pack mules. Gave Wm Cathey an order to Rudolph for $4 dolars. Started to write a letter to Wm Sloss.
Did Gillespie live at his in-laws? Where did Wm Cathey live? Rudolph had the store in Petrolia?
[It almost seems the Wm. Cathey family lived on the Hindley property, he is mentioned so often as being right there. John Rudolph did have the Petrolia Store until 1881. His brother Morgan was an early postmaster at Upper Mattole.]

JAN. 3—Cloudy all day. Stayed at home all day, poterd round and finished letter to Wm Sloss. Rained a little after noon. No body came or went today.

JAN. 4—Sun shown in the fore part of the day. Cloudy the rest and raining at night. Fixed the woodshed and cleaned it out. Wm Cathey came from Petrolia.

JAN. 5—Rained all day. Put ax handle in and grained calf skin. Stay at home all day. CC Fitzgerld was hear and we settled our accounts for which I took his Note.
[Cyrus Calvin Fitzgerald, 1846-1894, who later shot Hindley in the face.]

JAN. 6—Rained all day and blew hard, wind from south east. Stayed in the house all day and cut out rawhide and Braded on Reins for a riding bridal. Wind blowing very hard.

JAN. 7—Blowed down all the fences and rained hard all day and snowed in the evening. Earth quake last night about eleven oclock. Staid in the house and Braded Bridle rains.

JAN. 8—Cloudy all day with hale, rain and snow. Stayed in the house all day and tinkerd at Bridal rains till eavning and then got in wood for fire in the morning.

JAN. 9—Raind hard all day and blew a hericane. Stayed in the house and traded my watch boots and vest to Wm Cathey for his yellow mare. Went out in the eavning and kild a spike Buck.

JAN. 10—Sun shined at times with snowing thro the day at times. Stayed at home and cleand out woodshed. Wm Singley and Wm Weeks was heare to dinner. Cathey went for flour.

JAN. 11—A clear day with the exception of a few flying clouds. Went out to bring in a deer and kild three more. Brought them home and drest them. I [or T?] Amens was heare and we seen the Eclips of the sun.
Tom Amen lived at what later became the Mann Ranch in the Panther Gap area. Tom had at least one brother; this could be a brother or still another of that large family (see Bull Creek cemetery).

JAN. 12—Cloudy and rainy. Our darling Berty got scalded at qtr. Past ten and died half past nine pm. Parkhurst, Hurlbutt and Cathey, Gillespie and wife, Florence and Minnie Hunter and Millsap were heare. Wm Cathey went for relief.
Florence (age 19) was a cousin and Minnie (age 15) was a sister to Mrs. Gillespie. Millsap was probably William Millsap.

JAN. 13—Cloudy with a light rain or mist. Our friends were heare with our little pet. Mr. and Mrs. Singley, T Cathey, Bill (?) and Mrs. Millsap and two sons of Singley. The men dug a grave. The above friends in addition to yesterday.
William Millsap lived in the Panther Gap area at one time. He was the father of Henry Millsap and the great-grandfather of John Hower and Ross Millsap of Pepperwood. He was buried at Bull Creek.

JAN. 14—Clear all day. Buried our little Bertie. All the friends of the two preceding days were hear, also Netty (?) and Carry Parkhurst. To the buriul at twelve oclock. Alsow Hurlbutt’s two sons were heare. Willie Cathey got back.
Bertie was buried on a ridge northwest of Windy Nip. A place known as “The Graves.”

JAN. 15—Clear all day. Wm Singley stayed heare last night and left This morning. Fayet brought some flour up from Hurlbutts. I fixed up the corall gates and the Graves railings and etc.
Hurlbutt’s field is just west of Honeydew by the county road (Etter Ranch). Where was Hurlbutt’s house? Did he have a flour mill?

JAN. 16—Clear all day. Went to Petrolia and paid off Russ and stayed at AA Godwin’s. Seen Lemdale and Frost. Bought a bill of Goods from Macy [Mackey?] and a bill from Rudolph, got some pick irons from Leary.
Was Leary the blacksmith in Petrolia—Patrick O’Leary?
[Probably. Absalom Godwin had a place on the northwest corner of the Petrolia Square, later spot of the K of P hall and Johnson’s store. Not the old Petrolia Hotel, on the southwest corner. Ab Ridge in Honeydew is named for Ab Godwin. Russ was paid off; hmmm, Albert Russ was running the Petrolia Hotel in 1882 for sure, and perhaps he was already doing so in 1880.]

JAN. 17—Clear all day. Came up home from Petrolia with Gillespie. Minnie Huntyer came up with us from their place to stay on a visit. I lent Gillespie one dollar and fifty cts. Wm Weeks past heare today.

JAN. 18—Clear all day. Gillespie went down to Hurlbutts and got 500 lbs. of flour up. Fronia Hunter came up with Fayet(?) to stay on a visit. I doctord sheep all day and fixed up the Barn.
Fronia or Frona Hunter was another sister of Eliza Gillespie’s. Also known as Sophronia.
[Fayet is likely Fayette, or Lafayette, Titus of Petrolia.]

JAN. 19—Clear all day. Gillispie packed up thirteen sacks of flour from Hurlbutt. Minnie Hunter went home. Wm Cathey brought up my horse I traded for. I doctored sheep all day. Miss Hunter is here.

JAN. 20—Clear all day with a few flying clouds, some indication of a storm in the atsmerfear. Gillespie felt sick and laid over. Docterd sheep all day. Phronia, Cathey, and Gillespie & I corralled all the sheep.

JAN. 21—Clear all day with considerable wind and turned hazy with signs of a storm. I ran throo my sheep and counted 575 head and finished doctoring. Wm Millsap is with us.

JAN. 22—Cloudy with cold wind blowing from the north west and misting in the eavning. Liddy Hunter came up with Gillespie. Mrs. Johnson and Miss Hanlon came over on a visit. Worked at home.
Liddy or Lidia Hunter (age 17) was yet another sister, also spelled as Lydia.

JAN. 23—Clear all day with indications of a storm. Started to Rhonervill. Mrs. Johnston went to Fitzgerlds place with me. Fits came and we staid at Howards all knight.

JAN. 24—Cloudy all day with rain at night. We left Howards and went to Rhonerville by 4 oclock. Went to the lodge at night, bought $3 worth of Fagumbaum and stayed at Hotell.
[Mr. Feigenbaum was a prominent Jewish merchant of the Rohnerville area. For more info on the subject of the few but noteworthy Jews in early Humboldt history, see Nan Abrams’ article in the blog http://jewsofthegoldrush.blogspot.com/ ]

JAN. 25—Stormy with snow. Gave Mr. Rob Shearer 20 days to close a bargain at Rhonerville. I start home today with CC Fitsjarld and we stay at Oscar Hindley’s all night.

JAN. 26—Stormy all day with snow and frost. We crossed Eel river and ate dinner at Painters and we came on home. Ate supper at Fits and I came on home in the night.
Fits or C.C. Fitzgerald lived in the Rainbow Ridge area near the overland trail between the Eel and Mattole valleys.

JAN. 27—Snowing all day with wind and frost. Stayed in the house all day with Gillespie and Cathey and Leiddie Hunter who are with us at night. The wind is blowing and freesing hard.

JAN. 28—Clear all day with a thaw of snow which was four inches deep. Hauled wood all day. W Cathey helping me. Liddie Hunter went home. Gillespie going with her. Freesing.

JAN. 29—Clear all day and clouding up in the eavning. Hauled up wood in the forenoon and hauled posts for garden fence. Phronia Hunter came up with the mail and horse load of salt.

JAN. 30—Clear all day. Frose hard last night. Hauled fence posts and wood most all day. Cathey setting them around garden. Toards eavning I fined [fixed?] up the fence or started it so.

JAN. 31—Clear all day and very warm. Worked on garden fence most all day. Gillespie and wife came up alsow Minnie Hunter came with them. I alsow fixed the front door.

SUNDAY, FEB. 1, 1880—Clear all day and very pleasant. Worked on porch and fixed up fence around garden. Gillespie and wife Minnie Hunter with them. Went to Bull creek. A. Cathey came up on a visit.
Where did A. Cathey live? Andrew Cathey lived where Hindley Ranch is now [at bottom of hill, in Honeydew].

FEB. 2—Clear all day and very pleasant. Worked on fence till noon. Millsap came over and went to plowing. I Howard and Mrs. Fitsgerld came over and Howard and me came over to Merifields.
Where did the Merifields live? [In the 1880 census, Daniel Merrifield and family are listed amongst these neighbors: George Hindley and family; William Millsap and family; then come Daniel Merrifield with two children and boarder Thomas Cathey; next Siras Fitzgerald and wife plus adopted child and boarders; next the Paschal Hunter family.]

FEB. 3—Clear all day and pleasant. Howard and I left Merifields, came over to home and ate dinner then started and came over to Howard’s. There we found Lawson and young Toliday. Sold steer to Howard for fifteen dollars.

FEB. 4—Clear all day and very pleasant. Still at Howard. We went out Hunting but did not Kill anything. Charlet Young is at Howard’s, and young Tolladay.

FEB. 5—Clear all day and very pleasant warm and sunny. Went out with Howard on a hunt after varments but could not find anything. Came home after dinner my horse fell over and hirt me.

* * * * * * * * * *

[….stay tuned for more in a few weeks… will try to keep up with Hindley’s seasons.]

Postscript: Here is the map section from the Stanley N. Forbes 1886 map, mentioned by olmanriver in the Comments, below.

There it is in 2S, 1E-- the Hindley house! Thanks to Richard "Rob" Roberts for making this, and other, maps available to the MVHS.

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