History 1867 - 1900 (and a bit beyond)

1867 – THE FIRST EMIGRANT GAP HOTEL

A railroad hotel was built at Emigrant Gap by David Caffyn in 1867.  He and his wife, Susan ran the hotel and were the new postmasters for the town.  Mr Caffyn was involved in his community.  He was referenced in a newspaper article as one of the planners of the annual Summit Ball held at the Summit House Hotel.  

NOTE: County records show that the Emigrant Gap Hotel was built in 1874.   (This was probably one of the later versions of the hotel after the fires noted in Mr. Caffyn's obituary). 

Here is a picture of Emigrant Gap at the end of Tunnel 1 and the old snow sheds.  The snow sheds ran from Emigrant Gap to Truckee with little viewing of the great Sierra for the train passengers.  The hotel roof is barley visible in the lower right of the picture. The tall round building on the left is the old train turnaround.

And a early photo of tunnel 1 - Grizzly Hill, from the West side.  Tunnel 1 and Tunnel 2 were the first tunnels completed by the railroad in the Sierra.  

Here is a partial 1860s- 70s section map of Emigrant Gap:

A newspaper account of the first passenger train to cross the Sierras in 1868 calls out the town of Emigrant Gap.  Below is a brief excerpt from that article.

Among the Sierras.Eos. Press:—Built in a bend of the Sierra Nevada, the little town of Emigrant Gap in Placer Co. owes it's existence to the railroads.

On the line of the Southern Pacific R. R. easy transportation is available for the fine lumber turned out at the mills in this vicinity. A most delightful climate in the summer, the inhabitants are quite snowed in during the winter season. All animals are driven out of the country, and traveling save by the R. R. is reduced to snow-shoeing. In severe seasons when the stockmen have been late In getting started the horses themselves have been taken out on snowshoes. 

A quiet secluded life is led by the very few who remain here during the long dreary winter months. Much care is needed to keep the snow shoveled from the roofs which, from the weight of snow, would otherwise be crushed. Most of the one story houses have their roofs taken off and laid on the ground. Then, the snow that fills them during the winter, melts and runs out as summer approaches, and they are again needed for habitations.

The hotel and section house are kept open principally for the R. R. men. The daily mail, and the frequent rumble of passing trains serve to keep one alive to the great outside world and its interests. 

A few wood-choppers work on through the winter in secluded places, cutting down the trees for the summer's wood hauling. Then in the month of May, often when the snow still lies on the ground, the hauling of this wood to the landing begins. Men from the lower foothill country usually take contracts to deliver this wood at the R. R. landing, and, hiring men will bring their teams and families, make up the summer population of Emigrant Gap, and Tunnel Siding or "The Switch," at which place wood Is received by the Southern Pacific R. R. Co.
The past season has been a usually busy one, but a report has been afloat that the Co. will receive no more wood after this season. Another attempt, it seems, will be made to use coal on the engines, as being more economical. The objection has been that the coal burnt out the fire boxes.

There are a few fine lumber mills in the vicinity and an occasional mine. The flora is especially interesting, and embraces many different varieties, from the small scarlet Zauchncria, and the deltas de Miami as, to the tall, fragrant, white 81. Joseph's Lily and the gorgeous Tiger Lily. One of the most interesting plants in this section is the Snow Plant which is as effective with its flaming red against the dazzling white of the snow. Emigrant Gap.

Also in 1868, an article talked about a sink-hole in Emigrant Gap area:

Someday, maybe I will find out where Texas Diggings is.  Probably somewhere along the Texas Hill road area. 

In 1870, General Sherman visited Emigrant Gap and was serenaded by the local town folk. 

Also in 1870, Samuel Clemens took a train through Emigrant Gap.  Here is an excerpt from the article about his adventure:

The first train robbery on the Pacific Slope took place just west of Reno near what is today the River Inn," wrote Nevada Historian Phil Earl in his "This Was Nevada" series. Earlier the general area had been known as Hunter's Crossing, a Truckee River crossing on the emigrant trail, a post office from1867 to 1870, and a connecting point to and from Virginia City and the Comstock mines. Samuel Clemens (AKA "Mark Twain"), in traveling from San Francisco to Virginia City during his second and last Nevada lecture tour, switched from a Central Pacific train to a stagecoach at Hunter's Crossing (near today's Verdi) early on April 24, 1868. Later names included Mayberry's Crossing; nearby was Granite (Lawton's) Hot Springs. Today greater Reno encompasses this area. However when the train robbery was pulled off in the wee hours of November 5, 1870, the fledgling town of Reno was some six miles to the east. Contemporary newspaper accounts did not call the heist the Verdi train robbery, rather it was noted that the holdup was "between Reno and Verdi," or "near Verdi." So why has the train robbery been called the Verdi train robbery when Verdi is some four miles west of the actual robbery site?

Here is a woodcut picture of Emigrant Gap from 1871 (this seems to be the same area where people hike up to from the View exit to take photos today!):

Also in 1871,  Mr. Bolden (the telegraph operator) was involved in a search on the summit.  Here is the article:

In 1873, the Emigrant Gap School District was formed.  The original school was located across the street from our building.  

In 1874 there was a bit of a commotion at the hotel in Emigrant.  Here is the newspaper article reference for that.  Jim Culbertson mentioned below was the owner of a sawmill in the Emigrant Gap area:

Jim Culbertson. while quietly eating his breakfast at the hotel at Emigrant Gap, November lath, was hit on the head by an Irishman and severely stunned. There Is nothing to Indicate why the Irishman assaulted Culbertson. Perhaps he was acting on the rule of Donnybrook Fair, to hit a head whenever It presented itself ; perhaps he did not like the shape of the head, and wanted to belter It ; or perhaps the Irishman didn't like Culbertson say how. 

Jim Culbertson became one of the principals in one of the primary toll roads leading to Meadow Lake. 

In 1875 an article in the news depicted the wonders of Emigrant Gap as a place of travel and industry:  

The busy season is upon us, and Emigrant Gap is truly a bee hive of industry. The Monumental Mill Company will start up the middle of the week. The Texas Mill, recently purchased by Taylor & Pickens, have a large force of men fitting up, and will commence operations in a few days. Putnam will start up one of his mills to-morrow. The increase of business has made it necessary for our popular landlord, Mr. Caffyn, to purchase a new hotel register, as the old one—a mammoth one—was filled to overflowing. In the new one we already notice arrivals from all parts of the globe; and we say, surely Emigrant Gap, with her many virtues and advantages, is being appreciated. With our delightful climate, surrounded by numerous mountain peaks, whose heights are continually covered with snow, from which comes the gentle and invigorating winds which, if not meat and drink are health and long life to all the good people of which Emigrant Gap is blessed; and now we surely feel as though we were reaping at least some of the fruits we so justly deserve. Quartz mining has within the past few weeks received a new impetus, which will inspire the old and worn out prospectors with at least a hope of success. The South Yuba Company is running a ten stamp mill on $135 ore, which somewhat surpasses the expectations of the lucky owner. The South Fall Creek claim has recently changed hands at a price of $75,000, although it is affirmed that this is not half its real value. They have several tons of very rich ore on the dump, and are making preparations for the erection of a twenty stamp mill. The owners of a number of other claims also contemplate building mills this season. We wish to note the fact that we are not destitute of educational advantages, as we have a comfortable school house, with the efficient Miss Danforth, of Geld Run, as teacher. Last week Miss Danforth attended the Teachers’ Institute at Auburn, consequently there was no school, and J. B., (Chinn)  in company with his dog and gun, managed over mountain and stream. Whether in search of fish or ducks, I am unable to say, but think it was the latter. Although an old bachelor, he is quite a favorite among the ladies, and is always ready to make great sacrifices in order to secure the best of teachers for school. Occasional. Emigrant Gat, May 3, 1875.

In the 1875 California Teacher school funding book, Emigrant Gap had 17 students, Dutch Flat had 203 and Blue Canyon had 25.

There is an interesting reference to Mr Caffyn in the Oakland Tribune, MARCH 24 1876:

Dave Caffyn keeps a hotel at Emigrant Gap on the Railroad and is very hard of hearing.  He can hardly hear anything that is shouted in his ear.  Darn fond of hunting, and very often takes his gun and scouts about the mountains in search of grouse, quail and other game.   A snowbound passenger at Cisco for a day or two last week tells the following story about David.  He had been out hunting and was going home with a grouse he had killed.   As he came out of the wood and struck the railroad track.  He was overtaken by a stranger who asked him for directions.   "How far is it to Cisco?" and, said Dave holding up his grouse "I got one of em."  " I don't think you understand" said the stranger; "I asked how far it was to Cisco?".  "Pretty," said Dave, "He'll make a very good stew!"      

Also in 1875:

FROM EMIGRANT GAP MR CAFFYN HAD TO BUY A NEW HOTEL REGISTER

The busy season is upon us, and Emigrant Gap is truly a bee hive of industry. The Monumental Mill Company will start up the middle of the week. The Texas Mill, recently purchased by Taylor & Pickens, have a large force of men fitting up, and w : ll commence operations in a few days. Putnam will start up one of his mills to-morrow. The increase of business has made it necessary for our popular landlord, Mr. Caflyn, to purchase a new hotel register, as the old one—a mammoth one—was filled to overflowing. 

In the new one we already notice arrivals from all parts of the globe; and we say, surely Emigrant Gap, with her many virtues and advantages, is being appreciated. With our delightful climate, surrounded by numerous mountain peaks, whose heights are continually covered with snow, from which comes the gentle and invigorating winds which, if not meat and drink are health and long life to all the good people of which Emigrant Gap is blessed; and now we surely feel as though we were reaping at least some of the fruits we so justly deserve. 

Quartz mining has within the past few weeks received a new impetus, which will inspire tlie old and worn out prospectors with at least a hope of success. The South Yuba Company is running a ten stamp mill on $135 ore, which somewhat surpasses the expectations of the lucky owner. The South Fall Creek claim lias recently changed hands at a price of $75,000, although it is affirmed that this is not half its real value. They have several tons of very rich ore on the dump, and are making preparations for the erection of a twenty stamp mill. The owners of a number of other claims also contemplate building mills this season. 

We wish to note the fact that we are not destitute of educational advantages, as we have a comfortable school house, with tlie efficient Miss Danforth, of Geld Run, as teacher. Last week iss Danforth attended the Teachers’ Institute at Auburn, consequently there was no school, and J. 8., in compiny with his dog and gun, manic I over mountain and stream. Whether in search of fish or ducks, I am unable to say, but think it was the latter. Although au old bachelor, he is quite a favorite among the ladies, and is always ready to make great sacrifices in order to secure the best of teachers for school. Occasional. Emigrant Gat, May 3, 1875. 




By 1876, the town included the following business owners and businesses:

BOLDEN, Joseph, agent Vf U Telegraph Co    

CAFFYN, David, postmaster and hotel   

DUNN, Edward W, butcher    

OSBORN, Robert S, general merchandise and agent Wells, Fargo & Co    

PRICE, J F, agent C P R R and A & P Telegraph Co    

RABE, Louis, liquor saloon   SAYLOR, John, blacksmith 

In September 1878, a ball was scheduled at David Caffyn's hotel at Emigrant Gap:

A ball will be given at Emigrant Gap next Friday evening, in Caffyn's new hall, and it is expected that there will be a good representation present from Sacramento. W. H. H. Lee and W. E. Chesley, of this city, are members of the Committee of Arrangements. 

Here is a copy of the letterhead and some receipts from the Caffyn ownership of the hotel (courtesy of a descendant of Lewis Keeley):

1879 - CHINESE CAMP 

From the west, building the railroad required a lot of labor.  A lot of the young men in the west at that time has moved from the gold fields (which had been panned out) to the Silver Strike at Virginia City by the time railroad construction began.  As a result, much of the labor force for the railroads came from the Chinese population (who worked for cheaper wages and worked long hours).  

The China camps (camps that the working men lived in) we set up at each of the areas where tunnels had to be constructed.  The first tunnels (tunnel 1 and 2) were at Emigrant Gap,  and it is believed that there was a large camp there although, to my knowledge. nothing of the camp remains.  China camps were usually built close to the railroad, yet on some body of water (lake or creek).  These camps had better sanitation than the non-Chinese camps and usually had a Chinese cook who used vegetables and fish as a mainstay of the food they ate.  So it is likely that the China camp for Emigrant Gap was built on either Fulda Creek or the upper North Fork of the North Fork of the American River.  

Since much of the land in Emigrant Gap is private,  there is no way to go digging to try and locate the camp.  

In September 1879, the Chinese workers camp at Emigrant Gap burned to the ground. It was believe that the fire was started by a firecracker.   

This was not the end of the Chinese workers in Emigrant Gap, as a small force stayed on and became laborers to keep the track clear in winters.  

1880 and After

In 1880, Mr. Bolden (the telegraph operator) lost a baby at Emigrant Gap. He and his wife, Tillie also had a baby in 1876. Sadly, Tillie died in 1883 at the age of 26. Mr Bolden was also a trustee for the Emigrant Gap School.  Here is an 1881 block print of the Sierra with Emigrant Gap in the center.  

By 1880, the town had the Emigrant Gap hotel (Caffyn), 3 saloons, 2 merchandise stores (Hyatt)  a bookmaker, a hairdresser/miner, a few saw mills (Chinn) and a doctor.

In 1882, the citizens of Emigrant Gap drafted a letter to Congress regarding the Chinese workers and miners who had stayed on after the completion of the railroad.  It pretty much matches the "exclusion" feelings of the era.  Here is an excerpt from the paper.  

The publication of the following petition was submitted last. week for want of room. To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States Congress assembled: The petition of the subscribers citizens' of Emigrant Gap. County of Placer, Stats of California, respectfully showeth, that Whereas, On Tuesday, the 4th day of April, A. D , 1882, His Excellency, Mr. Arthur, President of the United States of America, did, in direct opposition to the expressed will and entreaties of nearly two-thirds (31 650 000) of the population of the United States return to the Senate the Senate bill familiarly known as the Chinese Bid, (hereby vetoing the same is justly deserving of the most severe criticisms and censure that an indignant people can possibly bestow upon him, and in consideration’ of the above showing of facts, we, your petitioners, most earnestly and respectfully petition your Honorable body to request his Excellency, Mr. Arthur, to resign biff official position as President of these United States, and your petitioners will ever pray, etc., etc. The above petition has forty four signers' thereto. Emigrant Gap. April 12. 1882

In 1882, Mr. Caffyn had repainted and refurnished the hotel (as noted in the Reno Gazette at the time). However, Caffyn also died in 1882 and is buried at the Old Auburn Cemetery (see obituary below).

Mr. Caffyn, a native of Brighton, England,  came to Placer County in 1851. When coming across the Isthmus to this country, he contracted a fever which left him very deaf, and he never seemed to recover any of his lost hearing faculty. He was engaged in mining until 1867 when he built a hotel at Emigrant Gap. Twice he lost all by fire, but thanks to his good reputation for honesty and to his industry and enterprise, he was enabled each time to regain his lost ground. He died in October of 1882, leaving the hotel to his wife (he had no children). 

Here is another article:

10-21-1882 - Death of David Caffyn—Last week's Argus mentioned the fact of the severe illness of Mr. David Caffyn, proprietor of the hotel at Emigrant Gap. On Sunday evening he breathed his last, and on Tuesday the remains were deposited in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Auburn. Mr. Caffyn was a native of Brighton, England, and at the time of his death was in his fifty-third year. The disease to which he fell a prey, pleura-pneumonia, had attacked him once or twice previously and had in some degree sapped his powers of resistance. His last illness dated from September 27, and we heard that Dr. Rooney, the physician who attended him, gave him up when he saw his condition two days later. Mr. Caffyn came to Placer County in 1851 and has resided in the county continuously ever since. When coming across the Isthmus to this country, he contracted a fever which left him very deaf, and he never seemed to recover any of his lost hearing faculty. He was engaged in mining until 1867 when he built a hotel at Emigrant Gap and has remained in that business ever since. Twice he lost all by fire, but thanks to his good reputation for honesty and to his industry and enterprise, he was enabled each time to regain his lost ground. He leaves a wife, but no children. His death will be a great blow, we fear, to the little town, the prosperity of which he had done so much to stimulate. [Placer Argus, Auburn

Caffyn's sister Susanna Martyn, followed him in death in 1885.  She is buried in his family plot. I am not sure if she lived at the hotel.  

His wife, Susan, then ran the hotel, post office and livery and by 1886-87, the following owners and businesses were located in Emigrant Gap:

EMIGRANT GAP - 1886-87 Placer County. 

A post, express and telegraph station on the S. P. Co.'s Sacramento Division, 16 miles from Dutch Flat. Population, about  250.  

AVERY, Ira, lumber 
CAFFYN, Susan E, postmistress, hotel and livery stable CHINN, J B, lumber 

CLARK, M M, saloon 

CLARK, M M Mrs, gen mdse 

DONOHUE, Peter, blacksmith 

HALL, J H, clerk 

HYATT M R, gen mdse 

MILLER, J, boarding house 

SLUSHER, G, agt S P Co 

TOWLE Bros, saw-mill 

WARNER, Chas A, bootmaker 

WILSON, A B, physician 

WOODBURY Brothers, lumber dealers


NOTE: Mr and Mrs Clark had a daughter born in Emigrant Gap in 1867.
JJ Woodbury had 4 children while in Emigrant Gap.  Ira Avery had 2 children born in Emigrant Gap (1876, 1884) and later a son born in Blue Canyon (1889).  In 1906 he won a silver medal for cherries.  

On January 11th of 1890, Susan E. Caffyn reported that the hall connected with her hotel collapsed from the weight of the snow. She resigned as Postmaster in 1890 and died February 13, 1892 at the age of 72. She was born in Catskill, New York.  She left behind an estate valued at $5,600.  Since she had no children, a trustee was set up and the estate was auctioned off. Mrs Caffyn died in Oakland, CA.  Her funeral was attended by her three nieces; Mrs. Higgins of Oroville, Mrs. Holt of Woodland, and Mrs. LO. Savage of Emigrant Gap.  She is buried with her husband in the Auburn Cemetery.

David's brother, Stephen died of consumption in Oakland as well (67 years old, March 1891).  It is possible that Susan retired to Oakland to care for her brother-in-law then died one year later.  Stephen was a long time resident of Placer County, though I am not sure if he lived with David and Susan. He is also buried in Auburn. 

We are not sure how long the hotel remained in the Caffyn family (or if she sold it prior to moving to Oakland or if it was auctioned off as part of the estate). It is possible Mrs. Savage ran the hotel for a bit.  But by 1899 the postmaster was Annie Duval and by 1900 the hotel changed ownership. 

1889 - A Wedding at Emigrant Gap

A very quiet wedding look place in Uie Emigrant Gap hotel parlor this morning between Mr. A. L. Stephenson of Roseville and Mias Anna Mclver lof Grass Valley. The groom is one of | Roseville's moat prosperous young men ' while the bride is urn* of Grass Valley’s fairest daughters. The ceremony was performed by Justice Leslie, bis first attempt, and he did exceedingly well. Emigrant Gap can now boast of having one wedding, the first oh record. Mr. ami Mrs. Stephenson departed on the 11:30 train for Roseville, their futire home, where Mr. Stephenson is engaged in cattle raising and ranching. Cake and wine were in abundance. Don. September 12, 1889.

1889 - 1890 NELLIE BLY AND THE ROUND THE WORLD TRIP

Nellie Bly of the New York World (the first women to travel around the world in about 90 days) was scheduled to travel on the Central Pacific through Emigrant Gap in 1890.  Unfortunately since mother nature stepped in with the snow blockade, she never reached Emigrant Gap. 

John J. Jennings, another representative of the New York World, was sent two days in advance became snowbound at Emigrant Gap. The World told him to spare no expense to reach Nellie's train. Jonathan W. Deuel guided him and two others out on snowshoes. At Blue Canyon, they met a rotary snowplow. After riding it one mile, it became stuck. The party again traveled on snowshoes to Alta, California. There, two locomotives had been hired to take them at Sacramento. Once there, they learned that the Nellie Bly special had already left following the southern route.  Mr Jennings stayed at the Emigrant Gap Hotel during his long ordeal. 

THE SNOW BLOCKADE

The winter of 1889 - 1890 was one of the worst in Summit History.  It was so bad, that they titled it - the Great Sierra Snow Blockade.  

A recent article in the Tahoe Weekly provides some insight into how bad that winter was and the role that the Emigrant Gap Hotel played during that time:

URL:

http://thetahoeweekly.com/2014/03/great-sierra-snow-blockade-part-ii/

Here is an excerpt about the hotel:

The gold-mining town of Nevada City was paralyzed as snow depths reached 15 feet. At Emigrant Gap, an avalanche trapped a train packed with passengers. Subsisting on crackers and coffee, the anxious victims were finally rescued after 50 hours of captivity. The famished travelers crowded into the nearby Emigrant Gap Hotel, stumbling through a 25-foot-long snow tunnel that led into the hotel’s second-story windows. Meanwhile, engineers and firemen continued their futile efforts to clear the rails, living in their engines for days on end. They wore the same clothes for up to a week, and caught occasional catnaps on beds of wooden boards. When they did return to the station house, these burly, bearded men plastered with snow and glistening with dangling icicles made quite an impression.

By January there was 169 inches of snow on the ground at Emigrant Gap. 

The snow was so heavy that railroad workers toiled round the clock shoveling off the snow sheds and shoring up the walls of the weakened wood snow sheds.   However, by March, the snow shed at Emigrant Gap collapsed.

In April, a passenger train coming from the east, ran up to an avalanche that had fallen right outside of one of the snow sheds.  They tried to head back and were met by another avalanche.  Though the people could hike through the snow drifts to get out of the tunnel, they remained in the train hoping for rescue.  This took about 1 week to occur.  Below is a couple of articles about the "Terror in the Mountains".  

As passengers finally made it to the town of Emigrant Gap, there were complaints that Mr Caffyn's hotel served overpriced food that was barely edible, coffee full of chicory and served on dirty plates (alas).  

Later, another article cleared the folks of Emigrant Gap of price gouging (though the quality of food was not corrected).  

Here is a picture of the amount of snow on the ground at Blue Canyon:

And a photo of a road to hotel snow tunnel entrance.  This photo is at the El Wanda Hotel at Blue Canyon.  (Note - the El Wanda is now a private residence):

1890 Snow at Emigrant Gap:

1890 Emigrant Gap the collapsed Snowsheds:

1890 Emigrant Gap Town Photo (from Railroad).  We believe the Emigrant Gap Hotel is on the left.  

1891 - SUMMER RETURNS

Emigrant Gap became quite newsworthy due to it's location on the railroad and it's fine summer weather.  Here is another 1891 newspaper article about the place:

 

Among the Sierras.Eos. Press:Ball in a bend of the meadow, the little town of Emigrant Gap in Plaoer Co. owes it's exletenoe to the railroads.On the line of the Southern Pacific R. R. easy transportation is available for the fine lumber turned out at the mills in this vicinity. A most delightful climate In the summer, the inhabitants are quite snowed in during the winter season. All animals are driven out of the oountry, and traveling save by the R. R. is reduced to snow-shoeing. In severe seasons when the stockmen have been late In getting started the horses themselves have been taken out on snowshoes.A quiet secluded life is led by the very few who remain here during the long dreary winter months. Much care is needed to keep the snow shoveled from the roofs which, from the weight of snow, would otherwise be crushed. Most of the one story houses have their roofs taken off and laid on the ground. Then, the snow that fills them during the winter, melts and runs out as summer approaches, and they are again needed for habitations. The hotel and section house are kept open principally for the R. R. men. The daily mail, and the frequent rumble of passing trains serve to keep one alive to the great outside world and its interests.A few wood-choppers work on through the winter in seoluded places, cutting down the trees for the summer's wood hauling. Then in the month of May, often when the snow still lies on the ground, the hauling of this wood to the landing begins. Men from the lower foothill oountry usually take contracts to deliver this wood at the R. R. landing, and, hiring men wbo bring their teams and families, make up the summer population of Emigrant Gap, and Tunnel Siding or "The Switch," at whioh plaoe wood Is received by the Southern Pacific R. R. Co.The past season has been a usually busy one, but a report has been afloat that the Co. will receive no more wood after this season. Another attempt, it seems, will be made to use coal on the engines, as being more economical. The objection has been that the coal burnt out the fire boxes.  There are a few fine lumber mills in the vicinity and an occasional mine. The flora is especially interesting, and embraces many different varieties, from the amall oar let Zauchncria, and the deltas te Miami as, to the tall, fragrant, white 81. Joseph's Lily and the gorgeous Tiger Lily. One of the most interesting plants in this section is the Snow Plant whioh is ao effective with its flaming red against the dazzling white of the snow. Emigrant Gap. March 8. 

1892 ODD SNOWFALL

Here is a news article about a "snowfall" in Emigrant Gap from 1892.  The snow - was actually a storm of cobwebs.  I have never seen this occurrence at the Gap - but I have not been there all that long!

THE CARPENTER FAMILY OF EMIGRANT GAP 

1892 - A MURDER MOST FOUL - GEORGE CARPENTER

In June of 1892, there was a murder at Emigrant Gap.  


Here is an excerpt from the news article about the murder:

A special to the Record-Union from Emigrant Gap gives the details of the murder of George Carpenter at that place Saturday. From all that can be learned it was a most cold-blooded murder, and the supposed murderer, Thomas Anderson, has fled.Several months ago while the two were in San Francisco Carpenter borrowed $60 from Anderson, and since then the latter has frequently dunned him for it, but Carpenter always declared that he was hard up. The day before the killing Anderson made another demand for the money, but met with no better success than before. He became quite angry and in the presence of several people around town threatened Carpenter. To a man named Chinn he said that he would have that money or stretch hemp for it.On Saturday morning Carpenter opened his saloon at 6 o'clock, and in half an hour the neighbors heard a shot. Carpenter was found dead in the rear room of the saloon. The murderer had fired a heavy charge of buckshot through the glass door of the saloon and the whole had entered Carpenter's left side, penetrating the heart and lung, breaking several ribs and tearing away the muscles of the left arm.Sheriff Conroy of Placer and a posse are scouring the country for Anderson, and they believe they will catch him before long.The murdered man was born in Sacramento and is well known here. His father is a well-to-do cattleman and a farmer of Folsom. His mother, sister and brother are also at the latter place. He was 30 years of age.The inquest was held and the jury found that he came to his death at the hands of some one  unknown to the jury."

A few days after this post, Thomas Anderson was found hung in his cabin.  An apparent suicide.  

1894 - ROBBERY OF ANNIE CARPENTER

In 1894, Annie Carpenter (George Carpenter's sister) was robbed of gold dust, gold coin jewelry and greenbacks at a local Hotel.  The robber was caught when his sister stated that the "Tootsie" was flush with money and have given her some 7 $2.50 gold coins.  He later confessed to the robbery.

Though the first newspaper article I found stated that the robbery was at the Emigrant Gap Hotel, another said it was at a hotel run by Carpenter (Carpenter Hotel  was 1 mile from the Emigrant Gap Hotel at Carpenter Flat - which is where both the Laing Pioneer Camp and the Sierra Woods Motel are located).  

THE CARPENTER'S HOTEL AND MORE 

The Carpenter Hotel was built by William Carpenter ,one mile up the road at Carpenter Flat (near where the Rancho Sierra is today).  William came to California 1852 and he had 740 acres of land in Emigrant Gap and 1700 acres near Truckee.  He was a rancher and also had a home in Folsom area.  

Here is a photo from 1915 of the Carpenter Hotel (it is small and hard to see since the photo was taken from the dashboard of a car for a travelers guide).  

Front of Carpenter Hotel (from a post by the Donner Summit Historical Society) and a map depicting it's location.  It is possible that the women near the water pump is Annie? The photo is featured in the book - Mining Camps of Placer County by Carmel Barry-Schwever and Alycia Alvarez (2004). The map is from a 1912 California Automobile Association travel guide. 

Carpenter died at his Folsom home in February 20, 1906 from a brain hemorrhage.  His daughter was Annie (see above article).  His sons were William Jr. and George (see article above).  William Jr. died of TB in Folsom in 1906.  

Annie married to Edward Schnerr of Sacramento on March 21 (or April 6), 1906,  just one month after the death of her father and shortly after the death of her brother.  Edward was 39 and Annie was 43 (a spinster).  They moved into 2515 H St, Sacramento.  None of William Carpenter's children had children of their own.  

Edward Schnerr lived in Sacramento and along with his brothers Antoine and Constant Jr, owned the Schnerr Bottling Company (inherited from their father in 1897).  The first reference I have to the Soda Works company was before it was renamed to Schnerr.  In 1890,  it was called the Capital Soda Works company owned by Constant Schnerr Sr. 

I recently received a copy of a receipt that shows that Schnerr and Company sold beer to the Emigrant Gap Hotel (see Caffyn's receipts).   It would be likely that his company could have been selling beer at the Carpenter Hotel as well.  This could explain how Annie met Edward.  

In 1907, Annie was awarded her father's estate with property in 3 counties as the sole heir.   She then deeded 1500 acres of land in Nevada County over to Mr. Cox, a friend and the administrator of her estate.  The land was deeded with the understanding that she could reverse the deed at any time.   She also purchased 4 additional pieces of property in Sacramento.  That same year, Edward and his 2 brothers (Antoine and Constant) had their sister committed as an incompetent with a guardian placed over her.  (Note:  She had been committed before by her mother in 1901).  

Annie died suddenly on October 29, 1908, just two years after she married and just 1 year after she inherited her father's estate.

DIED.SCHNERR —Passed away at her late residence, 2515 H street, in this city, October 29, 1908, Anna E. Carpenter Schnerr. beloved wife of Edward Schnerr, daughter of the late William and Julia Carpenter, a native of Folsom, Cal. Friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend the funeral from the family residence, 2515 H. Saturday morning at 9:30 o’clock, thence to the cathedral, where requiem high mass will be celebrated for the repose of her soul, at 10 o’clock.

Once Mr Schnerr inherited his dead wife's family fortune (1909), He sold the house on H st to C. N. Post in November 1909.  

He retired from his company (C. Schnerr and Company - Bottling Company and Soda Works) at about 43 years old in March of 1910.

Edward Schnerr remarried May 18, 1911 to a Mary Isabella Norton (19 or 20 years old to his 44), had 2 children (1912, 1913) and died in 1941.   Mary was the daughter of Thomas Norton of Sacramento.  

AND NOW IT GETS INTERESTING . . . .

While Annie was still alive, Edward was involved in a major scandal in February 1907 and his brother Antione involved in a divorce scandal in 1908.  

Below are some of the newspaper articles about the scandals:

February 2, 1907 - Sacramento

 ALLEGED BLACKMAILING SCHEME EXPOSED!

Miss Ethel Fair, Who Claims to be a Granddaughter of Late Senator, Tells Story. DR. F. STEELE UNDER ARREST

For the alleged threat to kill Miss Ethel Fair, who says she Is a granddaughter of the late Senator James G. Fair  [NOTE:  If she was she would have been an illegitimate daughter of Charles Lewis Fair - the senators scoundrel of a son], and who lives at 1016 'Twentyeighth street in this city, because she would not enter into his scheme to blackmail prominent business man of Sacramento and a respected woman, Dr. Fred Steele and his brother, Charles Steele, are in the city jail.

According to the story told by Miss Fair, Dr. Fred Steele, who has offices on K street, alone approached her with the blackmail proposition. Several months ago the brothers, Dr. Fred Steele and Charles Steele, according to the information gathered by the police and the city attorney, came to this city and represented themselves to be fortune-tellers and clairvoyants. They took office rooms and started out to forecast future events and made such good headway that they moved into the business section and started an office, the State Medical on K street, near Sixth.

Soon after the change in location, Miss Fair went to the offices to have her fortune told. Miss Fair, according to the story as told by her to the police, went to consult the doctor about certain litigation in the Fair estate, in which she Is  interested. Dr. Fred Steele "told her fortune,” but omitted any mention of the litigation, saying he would tell her some other time, as he wanted to consult the spirits again. Accordingly, Miss Fair departed and a few days later called again to hear what the spirits had revealed to the clairvoyant, but on this occasion and many others during succeeding weeks he put her off with the same old excuse, that the spirits refused to "come through."

Finally they received her answer, she says, but it was unsatisfactory, and to appease and placate her for the bad news, Dr. Steele told her be would secure for her a position In one of the local stores, where she would be able to earn her living and to live comfortably.

The same old story was handed out whenever she appeared in the office until last Sunday, when, she says, Dr. Steele made known to her the work he intended her to do. 

Alleged Blackmail Scheme, His first scheme, the girl says, was to secure $15,000 from Edward Schnerr, a wealthy merchant. According to the programme, Miss Fair was to play the part of Dr. Fred Steele’s wife and then attract Mr. Schnerr’s attention and make arrangements to inveigle him into a lodging-house. The dummy husband was to appear in the room and by bluffing, and with the aid of Constable Tim Hagerty, secure $15,000 from Schnerr in order to keep the scandal quiet. Incidentally Hagerty, who Is well known In this city, solemnly and it is believed truthfully declares that he never heard of such a thing.

The next turn in the blackmailing line. Miss Fair told the police, was to be directed against Mrs. Perkins of this city. It was proposed with the aid of Miss Fair and the officer to get Mrs. Perkins into a compromising or embarrassing position and demand $l8,000 to squelch the affair. Still Another Story. This was not all. After they should , have divided the proceeds equally in both cases, Dr. Steele and Miss Fair were to go to Los Angeles, where she said he knew a wealthy landowner. This time Miss Fair said she was booked to marry the millionaire, and Dr. Steele was to give her a slow poison to administer to the husband, and after his death, which would be accomplished within a few months with no evidence of the poison, the fortune was to be divided and Dr. Steele would disappear and Miss Fair could live on in the southern city in comfort and with a big fortune at her command. To all of these overtures couched, the woman says, in alluring language and with the temptation of positive security, she made emphatic refusal.

Then it was that Dr. Steele is alleged to have made the threat to kill her if she should tell of the schemes he had proposed. He took a revolver out of a side drawer, she said, and showing It to her said he would not only blow out her bralns, but kill Edward Schnerr as well. This all occurred, the woman explained, last Sunday in Dr. Steele’s office, and she left the place with his threat ringing in her ears. She told the police she worried about the threat and the blackmail scheme in which It was proposed to get the money from Mr. Schnerr. After two days' study over it she decided to tell Schnerr of the proposal Dr. Steele made to her, and to put him on his guard against any such attempt.

When Mr. Schnerr had heard the startling story of the scheme to fleece him out of a small fortune he went to Chief of Police Denny and reported. Detectives Pennish and Ryan were detailed on the case, and after an Investigation arrested the Steele brothers, but have placed a charge against only Dr. Fred Steele.

Deplores Publicity. Miss Fair deplores the fact that the case has been taken to the courts, as she. In telling Mr. Schnerr, only wished to put him on his guard. She tells the story straight and said yesterday to the police that Dr. Steele told her the game was easy to turn, as he, with the help of another woman, fleeced a certain young doctor of this city out of $5000. The woman, he said, left for the east soon after the fleecing operation and she had $2500 in her purse as her share in the job. He told her there was no trouble in doing the work and it was perfectly secure, as he is too foxy to be caught.  According to Miss Fair’s story, told to the police in the presence of Dr. Steele, he told her that Sacramento offered a fine field for such business and they could “skin*’ a large number here this winter. All she would have to do was to follow his instructions and then receive her portion of the spoils.

Steele’s Sweeping Denial. Dr. Fred Steele makes a sweeping denial of the whole affair, saying Miss Fair had been persecuting him for several months and when she left his office last Sunday she said she would have revenge for an insult he had offered her. His brother, Charles Steele, was released from custody yesterday, as Miss Fair said he was In no way, as far as she knows, connected in the proposed blackmailing scheme.  The case came up In the city Justice’s court yesterday morning and was I continued until today on account of j the desire of City Attorney Howe to make a further investigation and secure some witnesses. The case as it stands at present consists of the startling accusations of Miss Fair and the sweeping denial Dr. Fred Steele. It will be up in the city court again today when Miss Fair will tell her story. She promises to tell all she knows and will not mince any of the details of the alleged transaction. She did not take part in having the matter investigated, but says now that it has gone this far . She will stand by her story told to the police. On the other hand. Dr. Steele promises to make a few startling on the line that the whole affair is the result of a desire for revenge on the part of Miss Ethel Fair.

February 5, 1907

MISS FAIR MAKES MODEL WITNESS Tells Again the Story of Dr. Fred Steele’s Alleged Threats —Courtroom Crowded and Case Continued,  

The examination of Dr. Fred Steele was resumed in the city justice’s court yesterday. The courtroom was crowded to suffocation, and when the continuance for the day was taken at 5 o’clock the crowd had heard what it came to hear and went away satisfied, for Miss Ethel Fair told again and agrain under examination by the attorneys her story of how Dr. Steele made threats to take her life. The spectators did not come to the justice’s court to hear of the threats agalnst the life of Miss Fair, but did wanted to hear something about the proposal she alleges Dr. Steele made for blackmailing Edward Schnerr and Mrs. Perkins. Without a single hesitation or deviation from the story told by her as it appeared in The Union several days ago Miss Fair told her side of the case. At adjournment time the prosecution rested, having presented only one witness in support of its serious charges. Then the defendant, Dr. Steele, took the stand, but did not testify for the hour was growing late and he will be given a chance to place his version of the trouble before the court next Wednesday morning. The attorneys for the defense promise to place five witnesses on the stand. Some of these, It is said, will prove the good character of Dr. Fred Steele, while others, it Is said, will be put on for the purpose of discrediting the story told by Miss Ethel Fair. 

An effort was made yesterday by Dr. Steele’s attorney to wring from Miss Fair all that happened on the occasion when she alleges Dr. Steele asked her to take part in the blackmailing scheme to get $15,000 from Edward Schnerr and $l8,000 from Mrs. Charles Perkins, but she stuck to her text and refused telling anything other than what directly applied to the charges she makes. At the conclusion of the case, as presented by the prosecution. Dr. Steele, through his attorney, moved for dismissal of the charge. This was refused by City Justice March and the defense will place its witnesses on the stand tomorrow. Dr. Steele promises a sensation when he has a chance to tell his story and hints that the startling exposures made by Miss Fair will sink into insignificance.

February 7. 1907 

ETHEL FAIR NOT IN COURT   Examination of Dr, Steeie on Charge of Threats to Take Life Concluded and Taken Under Advisement, 

The preliminary examination of Dr. Fred Steele, who is charged by Miss Ethel Fair, who claims to be a granddaughter of the late Senator Fair, with threats against her life, was concluded in the clty justice’s court yesterday afternoon, and Justice March took the matter under advisement until next Monday morning at 10 o’clock. The principal witness yesterday was Charles Steele, clairvoyant and half-brother of the defendant. Charles Steele, under direct and cross-examination, told his version of the alleged threats against the life of Miss Fair, and also said that the charges that his brother had made proposals whereby Miss Fair was to enter into blackmailing schemes against Edward  Schnerr and Mrs. Charles Perkins were false. He claims he was In the adjoining office two weeks ago when Miss Fair alleges Dr. Steele made the proposals and threats, and that ho did not hear a word of such proposals or threats. He went even further and testified that had anything of the kind been broached to Miss Fair by his brother he would have heard it. The witness occupied the stand during a greater part of the forenoon and for an hour in the afternoon session. Thls testimony was to the same effect as that given last Monday by Dr. Fred Steele, and consisted of a sweeping denial of all the charges. Several character witnesses were called on behalf of the defendant, but in most of the cases they failed in that role and were led to admit that they did not know anything about Dr. Steele’s reputation. George Bock and James Shlnkle said they had known Dr. Steele for several months, and always found him to be a gentleman, but had never heard his reputation discussed. 

Constable Tim Hagerty was placed on the stand by the defense for the purpose of disproving that part of the story told by Miss Fair in which she said he was to enter into the blackmailing scheme to force Edward Schnerr to pay $15,000. Constable Hagerty said he had met Dr. Steele only a few times and all the reports that he and Dr. Steele had entered into an agreement to fleece Edward Schnerr were false. While his evidence was not material and had no hearing on the being held in the court, it was allowed for the purpose of clearing up the matter in connection with the alleged blackmailing program. As was the case in the first two days of the examination, the courtroom was crowded to overflowing, not even standing-room remaining.

Nothing of a sensational nature was adduced, and the complaining witness, Miss Fair, was not in the courtroom, although she was waiting In the city attorney’s office. She appeared at the. city court unattended and quietly went to the inside office to wait for a call if wanted to take the witness stand. Those in attendance at the trial were unaware of her presence, and at the conclusion of the examination she departed as quietly a.s she came. Before leaving .she stepped into the courtroom and asked if it would be necessary for her to appear next Monday, and said: ‘‘My, I am awful glad this is all over, and I do hope he will not bother me any more.” She seemed to be laboring under suppressed excitement, until assured that no harm would come to her.

February 9 1907 

DR STEELE HELD IN $500.00 BONDS City Justice March Felt the Story Told by Miss Ethel Fair That Her Life Was Threatened Was True. 

To protect Miss Ethel from the threats against her life made by Dr. Fred A. Steele, the latter was yesterday placed under $500 bonds to keep the  peace for six months, and in passing  the judgment City Justice March  warned Dr. Steele not to molest or  bother Miss Fair in any way on penalty of the forfeiture of the bonds. Yesterday afternoon Steele had not provided the bonds, but his cash bail of $500 was still In possession of the court clerk and will be so held until he provides bonds. 

The trial of Dr. Fred A. Steele was held in the city justice’s court last week, and Miss Ethel Fair alleged  that he had made threats to kill her  if she told anyone of several blackmail schemes he proposed to have enter with him. It will be remembered that at the hearing Miss Pair said that one I Sunday afternoon while In Dr. Steele’s office he proposed that she play the part of his wife and then go out and make arrangements to meet Edward Schnerr,  a wealthy merchant, in a lodging-house. The plan, she said, was to have Dr. Steele appear on the at the proper time. He was to represent a badly wronged man and to assuage his wounded feelings and the breaking up of his family the victim (Mr. Schnerr to be asked to provide salve to the tune of $15,000. (After this trick should have been  turned), the girl said Dr. Steele assured her they could weave a tangle about Mrs. Perkins and secure $18,000 from her in order to keep a bogus scandal quiet. To all of these proposals Miss Pair said she would not listen and refused to have anything to do with them. She left the office In a rage and subsequently told the story to Mr. Schnerr. She said she told Dr. Steele what she was going to do he took a pistol from a drawer and threatened to kill her, and said he would also kill Mr Schnerr if she told him. Mr. Schnerr took the matter to the police and Dr. Steele’s arrest followed. In passing judgment City Justice March said he believed every word the prosecuting witness (Miss Fair) had said on the stand, but he was not prepared to say whether Dr. Steele had made the threats in a jest or really meant them.

I have not been able to find out anything else about what happened with the scandal, Mr. Steele or  Ms. Fair except that if Miss Fair was the granddaughter of James G Fair, she would have been the illegitimate daughter of either James G Fair Jr who drank himself to death in 1892 or of Charles L Fair and Caroline Dexter Smith (aka Maud Nelson. Maud Ulman, Maud Thomas), a women of questionable repute who worked at a men's resort in San Francisco before her marriage   Charles and his wife were killed in a car accident in France in 1902.  

ANTOINE'S SCANDAL

October 18, 1908

S. SCHNERR’S SIDE OF STORY Says She Is Victim of Conspiracy, and That Charges Are False, October 18 1908 

Mrs. Alene Schnerr,  wife of Antoine Schnerr, gives out the following statement: I “The charges of infidelity in the complaint of my husband are absolutely untrue and unfounded, and no one knows this better than my husband, and, when the case comes to trial, I will prove beyond all doubt that the said charges are unfounded; and further, that they were brought as a result of conspiracy on the part of my husband and his relatives to obtain possession of my separate property, and force me into relinquishing all claim to the same.

“I have placed my case in the hands of Messrs. Devlin & Devlin, my attorneys, and they have brought for me a suit for divorce against my husband based upon extreme cruelty. Doubtless, my husband, anticipating such a suit, filed his complaint first, but that will not make any difference, as I will prosecute the case I have , brought, and defend the case he has brought. “I have also brought a suit against him and secured an injunction from ; the superior court preventing him from assigning, transferring, or collecting certain notes and mortgages which he obtained from me by misrepresentation and fraud. “I inherited certain money from my father’s estate, and loaned out the same in my separate name, and with the interest which accumulated on said I loans, and also from other moneys of my own, made other loans, all in my own separate name.

“Last December my husband took a trip to Honolulu, and. as he was to be gone several months, he suggested ' to me that it would be advisable to assign the notes and mortgages to him, so that if anything should happen to me while he was gone, he would be able to secure the same without administration on my estate. He said that they would be kept in the safe deposit box to which I have access, and having full confidence and faith in my husband, I executed the i assignments referred to, but with no I other intent or purpose than that if anything should happen to me while he was gone he would be able to succeed to them without administration. “A few days ago he came to me and said that he was about to have the  notes and mortgages renewed at a higher rate of interest, and that for this purpose it was necessary that I should indorse the notes over to him so as to facilitate the renewal thereof, and having faith and confidence in his statement, I endorsed the notes over to him. 

Since that time I have learned that he did not intend to have the notes renewed in my name, but through the fraud and artifice that he employed, desired to have them renewed in his own name, and prevent me from enjoying my separate estate and property. “As soon as he accomplished his purpose of having all my property In his hands, he brought the suit for divorce, endeavoring to intimidate me. so that I would not seek to have my property returned. 

“I do not intend to let him profit by the fraud and artifice which he has employed, but have brought suit to recover the possession of the notes and mortgages, and, as stated above, an injunction has been issued to prevent him from transferring or collecting the same, and all the parties who are indebted to me have been notified not to pay him. 

“The basis of my complaint in the divorce is extreme cruelty. 

“Last Thursday morning I was on Seventh street with a lady friend, when my husband and his brother,Edward Schnerr approached us and created a scene on the street in which I and my name were as viciously attacked by my husband and said Edward Schnerr, and they both threatened to drag me down; but I intend to have my good name sustained, get my legal rights, and have all my property restored.

Antoine's wife won her suit for divorce in December 9 1908.  I do not have her maiden name, so I do not know what happened to her after her divorce in October 1908. 

In 1911,  Antoine remarried Verda Simmons in Sacramento in 1911 (19 years old to his 37) and moved with her to Hawaii (he was bottling dairy cream at the time to ship from California to Hawaii). Antoine is buried in Hawaii though Verda does not have a death date on the gravestone. 

In February 1908, the Schnerr bottling company got in trouble with the law for labeling beer bottles as soda bottles and selling them to an unlicensed hall.  Here is the story:

BEER AT ART BOTTLED HERE Chief Sullivan Finds Dance Brand Is Put Up in Sacramento.The beer sold without a license over the bar at the Art dance hall bv Dick McCreadie and Joe Sullivan was bottled but not brewed in this city. Chief of Police Sullivan stated yesterday that he has information that the liquor was bottled at the Schnerr place, K street, Third and Fourth, and was put up by order of Dick McCreadie. The beer, he said. Was brewed by the Fredericksburg company. In order to deceive the police and the people the beer was bottled in soda water bottles, W'hlch were not labeled or marked In any way. The ice chest, in which the police found the beer, when they arrested McCreadie and Sullivan last Saturday night, also contained soda water bottled In the same kind of bottles. Chief of Police Sullivan has samples of both in his possession and he will use them as evidence when the case comes to trial in the city justice’s court.

After Edward Schnerr was awarded Annie' estate, he filed a claim against Mr Cox to regain the 1500 or 2300 acres of property.  He also sold off the property that Annie had purchased in Sacramento.  He put the Carpenter Hotel up for a long term lease (Offered 1910, leased in 1912).  Mr. Schnerr won the case against Mr. Cox in December of 1910.  

In June of 1911, Schnerr Bottling Company (under the management of Constant Schnerr Jr) went under and was sold by it's creditors.  

Here is an article about the lease of the Carpenter Hotel:  

So. . . . here is the short timeline:

1892 George Carpenter is murdered in Emigrant Gap (see murder most foul above) 

1897 The Schnerr Brothers take over their father Constant Sr bottling company business 

1903 The Schnerr Brothers mother dies  

1904 William Carpenter's wife dies of pneumonia 

1906 William Carpenter dies suddenly of a hemorrhage

1906 William Carpenter Jr.  dies suddenly of tuberculosis

1906 Annie Carpenter sole heir and spinster marries Edward Schnerr 

1907 Annie inherits her family estate, buys property in Sacramento, deeds large property to estate executor with the condition that she can recall the deed an any time.  The Carpenter Hotel is put up for lease.

1907 Edward gets involved in a major scandal where entrapment and non traceable poisoning is called out 

1907 Edward's sister committed as an incompetent

1908 Mid October - Antoine gets involved in a divorce scandal over wife's inherited property, Edward and Antione verbally attack Antione's wife and the wife wins case

1908 Late October - Annie dies suddenly of an apparent heart attack, Edward discovers body

1909 Edward inherits Carpenter estate

1909 Edward sells Sacramento property

1910 Edward files case against executor deed and wins

1910 Edward retires, stating he has no responsibility or claims for Schnerr Bottling 

1910 Edward again puts hotel up for long term lease

1911 Edward remarries  19+ year old in Sacramento

1911 Antione remarries 19 year old and moves to Hawaii

1911 Schnerr Bottling company gets sold by creditors

1912 Edward finds group to lease Carpenter Hotel at Emigrant Gap

1912 Edward has moved to San Francisco and Moss Beach and has first child

Wow! the stories from Emigrant Gap could make for a great Hollywood movie.  Anyway . . . all part of the rich and colorful history of early California I guess.  If I find anything else out about this . . . I will update.  

1896 - JAMES ROBINSON - EMIGRANT GAP DISCOVERER DIES

In 1896, the discoverer of Emigrant Gap (Really? - thought it was discovered during the westward movement and before that as a trail used by the native Americans] - James P Robinson, died.  On his obituary it stated that he was buried in San Francisco by strangers and that he lost his fortune to his brother, L H. [actually L.L.) Robinson in a contest of will.  

It is believed that James came to California on or after 1854 (around the horn) so he could not have discovered Emigrant Gap.  However, he may have played a role in the discovery of the path of the railroad through Emigrant Gap.  

He died at the California Hotel on February 28th at the age of 78 (born 1818) and there was an odd story about his death in the newspaper on March 1.  

J J Stewart Answers Rer Assertions About J P Robinsons Papers J J Stewart the friend who was at the bedside of James P Robinson when he died at the California Hotel Friday evening as described In yesterdays Chronicle says concerning Mrs Cutters published statement The lady was mistaken when she made the assertion that I handed her the letters from the private drawer of Mr Robinson I only left the bedside of her darling brother when I observed that she had opened the drawer containing letters and was examining them against which I protested Attracting her attention to a package of papers she then held In her hand I told her that they I concerned only a business matter between the Ptrrin Brothers and Mr Robinson and that I had assisted In preparing them She replaced then In the drawer and returned to the bed side After Mrs Cutter and her companion left the room the doctor re turned and I then noticed that the drawer had been reopened and most of tne letters and papers taken The package I referred to was still there and I had no manner either directly or Indirectly sanctioned the removal of any papers or letters by Mrs Cutter The remains of James P Robinson will be interred to - day at Mountain View Cemetery

During his life, he was a contractor and superintendent for the Sacramento Valley Railroad (supposed to be the first railroad in California).  

Additionally, his brother was Lester L. Robinson (who also contracted for building the Sacramento Valley Railroad).   Lester had a sister named Sophia Robinson Cutter (see mention above in article) and he is buried at Mountain View Cemetery II (guess James was buried in two places).   Though there is no mention of James connected to Lester at that cemetery.  Lester died a bachelor in 1892 (aged 68).  

Another brother (ASA) of the same family showed that he had 7 siblings, though only Lester and Sophia are connected to Asa's grave.  Sophia died in 1914 and is buried in Masonic Lawn cemetery in Sacramento.  John P. Robinson worked as a superintendent the Sacramento Valley RR was another sibling (I have not found his death information though). 

Lester was once the Chief Engineer over then young survey engineer Theodore Judah (Robinson, Seymour and Company).  Both worked on the building of the Sacramento Valley Railroad (a chief early competitor to the Central Pacific Railroad).  That railroad was building track to Auburn and per Lester, Judah was still under contract with the Robinson firm to locate a toll road from Dutch Flat through Bear Valley and the sierra when he identified the path the Central Pacific Railroad would take through Emigrant Gap (so the thought of James discovering Emigrant Gap could be a bit of a stretch unless he was with Judah at the time).  

There is a great article about the Sacramento Valley Railroad and Lester Robinson on The Mountain Democrat, Mtdemocrat.com.  The article is titled "The Sacramento Valley Railroad: The first railroad of the West".  A good read (and could make a great movie).  

Also a good book that references the dispute between Judah and Robinson is Empire Express: Building the First Transcontinental Railroad. But again no reference to James and his connection with Emigrant Gap. 

I found a testimony to the Supreme Court, County of New York,  by James that he was the Superintendent of the Sacramento Valley Railroad in 1855 and that the company had received inferior iron rails from a New York firm during that period. At that time, his testimony was on behalf of the company - so that would be no reason why he would have been disowned.  (Supreme Court, County of New York, 1857).   

Additionally, in 1883, James sued the Placer and Sacramento Valley Railroad (the case went to the California Supreme Court). There is a book at the Bancroft Library about the suit.  Robinson, James P. vs. the Placerville and Sacramento Valley Railroad Company.   This book could explain James' falling out with his brother Lester.  James also had some stock in the SVRR that was never dispersed (stored at the Bancroft or Getty special collections)   - but then the company went bankrupt after the Central Pacific took over the west - so maybe he just didn't cash them out in time.    

J.B. CHINN AND ORIGINAL EMIGRANT GAP SCHOOL 

The Emigrant Gap school was once located across the street from the Emigrant Gap Hotel.  The school was formed May 10, 1873.   John Blackwell (J.B.) Chinn (see lumberman above) was one of the Trustees. Miss Annette Greenleaf was the first teacher. 

In 1880 the district subscribed money and built a very nice school house. The furniture was all patent (meaning it was not hand made).  The library at the school was small.  By 1880 there were 21 students. 


J.B. Chinn also sent California Quail to New Zealand as part of plan to introduce game birds in that country. The New Zealand Quail had gone extinct.  Shipments of the California Quail to New Zealand were of great success, allowing for the re-population of quail in that country.  It is nice to know that someone in Emigrant Gap was partially responsible for re-populating a species 1/2 of the world away!

J.B. obtained a passport and traveled to Australia and probably on to New Zealand at some time in his life.  In 1882, Mr. Chinn posted a newspaper advertisement regarding the sale of his holdings at Emigrant Gap:

J. B. was interviewed as one of the California pioneers in 1905 (see source and interview below).  

Source:

History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time.Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905

Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 

J. B. CHINN was born in Kentucky November 29, 1830, a son of Joel H. and Caroline (Blackwell) Chinn. The grandfather, John Chinn, was a native of Virginia, of English descent. Later in life he removed to Kentucky, locating near Lexington, where he engaged in general farming. He married a Miss Higgins and became the father of eighteen children. Being a great believer in education he did much for his family in that direction. He was an ardent admirer of Henry Clay.  

The father of our subject was engaged in the manufacture of hemp, and also carried on farming. In 1852 he moved to Missouri and followed farming until his death, in 1874, being seventy-three years of age. He was the father of nine children, J. B. being the eldest of the family.  

J. B. Chinn was reared in Kentucky and at the age of sixteen began teaching, which vocation he followed for nearly four years, meanwhile spending some time in St. Louis and two winters in the Gulf states, returning from the south in the spring of 1850. In September following he matriculated as a student in Bethany College, in Virginia, of which Alexander Campbell was president, and pursued his collegiate studies until the beginning of 1854. On the first of May of that year he started across the plains in company with four other young men. bringing through some twenty-five head of selected horses.  

The trip was a long and trying one, each man in the party being compelled to stand guard every night two hours to protect the stock. Finally, having had one Indian fight on the Humboldt, they arrived at Sacramento September 15. After casting and Wharton M. Moore, a college chum, fitted up with provisions and mining outfit, rockers, long toms, etc., and leaving San Jose, passed through the Pacheco Pass into the then seemingly limitless San Joaquin valley. Crossing Kings river near Visalia, they passed on by where is now the beautiful village of Portersville, and down to Posey creek at the base of the Sierra, on which stream they mined for two days, getting from $1 to $2 per day. At this place the range was crossed to Kern river. Gold could be found in many places in small quantities, but not in quantities to justify working.  

After an interesting trip through an uninhabited region, abounding in wild horses, bear, elk, deer, antelope and Indians they arrived at San Jose May 1. On the third of the same month Mr. Chinn left for Iowa Hill, Placer county, where the summer was spent in adding flumes on the American river. The venture was unsuccessful and in February, 1856, he took charge of the school in Butte county and taught without cessation in Oroville and Yolo county until November, 1861, at which time he went to the famous Comstock silver lode. For several years he was engaged in the lumber business and subsequently carried on farming in Carson valley, and was among the first in the then territory to plant alfalfa.  

In 1867, when the Overland Railroad had penetrated the heart of the Sierra, he located on the same and engaged in the wood and lumber business for twenty-two consecutive years, a business which proved to be very lucrative. Meanwhile, in 1884, he interested himself in a fruit and cattle ranch near Vacaville, in which he beguiled himself during the winter months when lumbering could not be carried on. The railroad got the lion's share of the profits, and it is his belief it has continued to get it during the long intervening years. Much money was spent fruitlessly, as many another man in the same calling, fruit raising, would testify. Being tired of working for carriers and middlemen, and having heard of the resources of Tulare count)', he went to Portersville in 1887, and engaged in alfalfa and cattle raising and general farming. He has enjoyed life in the exploiting of the great resources of this county.  

Though verging on to seventy-five years Mr. Chinn is still active in the details of his business and alive to every move looking to the betterment of the community in which he lives. He is one of those who believe that employment is only another name of enjoyment. Religiously he is a believer in the fundamental principles set forth in the sacred oracles, and that the adherence to them builds up the best and highest type of civilization. Politically he thinks that all public utilities should be used for the benefit of the people, and not for a few persons.

Mr Chinn was a descendant of Esther Ball, the sister of George Washington's mother. She was related to William Ball who established Hope farm.   In the early 1900s Mr. Chinn and other family members from Missouri, filed a claim for the will of the descendants of Joseph Ball of Hope Farm.  Hope farm is a tract of large land around Philadelphia  and the estate was worth over 20,000,000 in 1900.  There is a book written about the claim and William Ball available on Google Ebooks:

A Pennsylvania Pioneer: Biographical Sketch with Report of the Executive Committee of the Ball Estate AssociationBy Emmett William Gans

I am not sure what happened with the settlement of the estate, but I do know that Mr. Chinn moved to Missouri around this time.     

Mr. Chinn died Sept 1923 (at 93 years old) and is buried in Independence, Missouri.  It is possible that John Blackwell Chinn had a brother or uncle who came to California (Marcus A Chinn and died in San Francisco in 1856.   

Here is a photo of Mr. Chinn.  There are others on either Ancestry or My heritage in case you want to look him up.

Miss Greenleaf may not have remained a teacher in Emigrant Gap for long as she was married to a Marcus S Chapman in 1875 and relocated to Fresno area. Both she and her husband originally hailed from Maine.  They had 5 children; Florence, Abbie, Ivan, Ina and Myrtle.  Mrs Chapman was born in 1852 and died in 1949.  Mr Chapman (her husband) died in 1916.  It is unknown if she stayed in contact with Mr. Chinn (they were basically in neighboring towns in Tulare County). 

A couple of years ago, Miss Greenleaf's descendants visited us at Emigrant Gap.  They were on a vacation and decided to stop by after reading the information on our website (though they had not made the connection to us at the time).  We took them on a tour of the lodge, then walked down to the current school building (the original school is long since gone).  We hope to hear form them again sometime in the future. 

Picture of Miss Greenleaf (first Emigrant Gap School Teacher):