Humboldt State University Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University Susie Van Kirk Papers Special Collections 2001 Bald Hills Region and Lyons Family Susie Van Kirk Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/svk Part of the Forest Sciences Commons, and the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons Recommended Citation Van Kirk, Susie, "Bald Hills Region and Lyons Family" (2001). Susie Van Kirk Papers. 11. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/svk/11 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Collections at Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Susie Van Kirk Papers by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BALD HILLS REGION AND LYONS FAMILY Updating 2001 April 2005 Updating 8/06; 9/06 Updated 2012 Merged other files 2013 Consolidation of all references, summer 2014 More in 2015 NEWSPAPER REFERENCES HT (5 April 1856) Salmon Correspondent, Forks of Salmon, 26 March 1856—The “honest farmer,” alias Jonathan Lyons, has commenced farming in earnest. He has the first garden ever cultivated on the river, successfully, which now bids fair to yield an abundant harvest the coming season. HT (2 Aug. 1856) Grasshoppers—We learn that there are swarms of these destructive insects on the Bald Hills, toward the Klamath and that they make great havoc with the grass, cutting it off close to the ground wherever they go. HT (6 Sept. 1856) The New Trail from Trinidad—Snyder and Parker, contractors to build a trail from Trinidad to Bald Hills, have completed the job, we learn. The work was done mostly by Indians from Hoopa Valley…. Klamath Count Deeds A:539 (7 Oct. 1856) Jonathan Lyons to T.C. Wright for $3840, land together with the buildings and improvements thereon situated on and about the Forks of Salmon River, 160 acres, same land claimed by Geo. Wells, 20 Set. 1854. HT (28 Feb. 1857) Bridge over Redwood Creek on Trinidad trail built by Snyder gave way. HT (18 April 1857) Birth of twin girls to Wm. Morton at Elk Camp. HT (16 May 1857) Birth of daughter to John McConnaha at Bald Hills. HT (11 July 1857) Married at Elk Camp, Neal Hill and Nancy Baird on the 4th of July. NC (20 April 1859) Bald Hills—A resident of what is called the Bald Hills country, between Trinidad and Weitchpeck, speaking of the severity of the late winter, said that he 2 had resided there six years and had never before known snow to remain longer at one time than three days, but this winter they have had in many places three feet for the last three months. It is now fast disappearing with a good prospect for abundant grazing, as well as usual yield for early sown grain. Notwithstanding the hard winter, he says that horned stock are in good condition. The pioneers of that region commenced the stock business with small beginnings and if they do not have cattle upon a thousand hills, they will soon be able to reverse the maxim. NC (11 May 1859) The Board of Supervisors of Klamath County awarded the building of a bridge across Redwood Creek on the Trinidad Trail to Mr. James Campbell for the sum of eight hundred dollars. SBF 108:409 (1861 tax assessment Klamath County) Jos. Duffin, impts on ranch; 108:416 (1862 tax assessment Klamath County) Jos. Duffin, impts on ranch on Bald Hills; 108:408 (1866 assessment Klamath County) George Saunders, claim on Bald Hills known as J. Duffin Ranch. WHT (13 July 1861) Messrs. Fennessey Bros. are preparing to put in a ferry across the Klamath near the mouth of Trinity. HT (28 Sept. 1861) Mr. Martin has recently had constructed a wire suspension across the Klamath river at his place three miles below Weitchpeck…length of span 298 feet, width of bridge 8 feet, height of lowest point of cable above water 91 feet…. HT (14 Dec. 1861) The Flood—On the Klamath, the loss was also great. The new wire suspension bridge belonging to J.F. Martin—but recently completed at a cost of $5,000— was carried away, although it was over 90 feet from low water mark…. WHT (4 Jan. 1862) Mail route put up for bid. From Trinidad by Elk Camp, Martin’s Ferry, Weitchpec, Orleans, and Forks of Salmon to Sawyer’s Bar, 110 miles and back once a week from May 1 to Nov. 1 and once a fortnight the residue of the year. Other routes from Arcata to Weaverville, to Hoopa, and to Crescent City. HT (21 Feb. 1863) Mr. Minor informs us that all his buildings, together with such other improvements as could be burned, were destroyed by fire last week by Indians….From the head of Redwood to its mouth not a building is left. Mr. Minor’s place was the half way house between Fort Gaston and Arcata, where Fort Anderson was first established and where above all other places, troops enough should have been left for a post….Mr. Minor thinks the Indians killed much of his stock…. HT (8 Aug. 1863) Neely [from Fort Gaston]--….The war here among the Indians is still prosecuted with all vigor. Some few days since a battle was fought in the upper part of the valley, wherein one was killed and several badly scared. Soon after a band crawled into the wheat field of Mr. J. Lions, and opened fire upon a few of the opposite party, at the time binding wheat, and after a vast amount of shooting, one Indian’s arm was broken. 2 3 This morning early the conflict was renewed at the same place and under similar circumstances. The warriors from the lower part of the valley were led on by the noted Chief, Bill Hostler.” In the attack, he stationed about 45 warriors around the field and at once set the ball in motion. There were but six Indians to shoot at, and after firing about fifty shots and doing a tremendous amount of yelling, one poor unarmed Digger was killed, and three others wounded. HT (30 Jan. 1864) Letter from Fort Gaston, Jan. 22d 1864--….Private Mankins of Co. B was visiting Mr. Jonathan Lyons, farmer of the valley, yesterday and during his stay was called upon by Handsome Billy and Frank, who at once proceeded to give him a good sound cursing, ending by one taking him by the back of the neck and the other bringing his gun to bear. Mankins was only saved by the interference of Lyons…. HT (6 Feb. 1864) Letter from Fort Gaston, Jan. 28th 1864--….Early next morning a few Indians were found near Jonathan Lyons’ farm; several shots were exchanged in which one Indian was killed and two others mortally wounded. HT (6 May 1865) Congress has appropriated $60,000 for the purchase of the improvements in Hoopa Valley…. HT (2 Sept. 1865) List of improvement values for settler in Hoopa Valley, 18 on list, but Jonathan Lyons is not on list. Total valued $59,959.55. WHT (31 March 1866) Aid for Klamath County to enable the county to repair and improve the trail leading from Trinidad to Sawyer’s Bar. HT (2 Feb. 1867) Bridge Gone—We learn that the new bridge across Redwood Creek on the trail leading from Trinidad to Orleans Bar was swept away by the last freshet. This bridge was completed only last fall….It is said the bridge was placed full ten feet above the high water mark of the freshet of the winter of 1861 and 1862. WHT (16 July 1870) Items from Trinidad—A force of men are now at work opening the new trail from Trinidad to the Bald Hills. The route for this trail was looked out and located by authority of the Board of Supervisors of Klamath County last summer by Captain J.F. Martin, proprietor of the ferry across the Klamath below Weitchpeck, and crosses Redwood Creek near Norton’s ranch. The distance which it is estimated this trail will save over the one at present traveled past the Lagoon is from ten to twelve miles. WHT (27 Aug. 1870) Indian Dance—We learn that the Indians of the northern country have been holding a dance on the Klamath River near Weitchpeck during the present week. It was the largest gathering of Indians that has been witnessed for many years, delegations came from as far north as Rogue River. 3 4 WCS (6 Sept. 1871) Improved Stock—Humboldt County stock raisers are beginning to manifest an interest in the improvement of all heads of stock. Mr. Isaac Minor of Arcata took the initiatory in this movement and has, we are told, introduced some fine Durham stock. Lately, Jonathan Lyons of Bald Hills, has added a fine roan Durham bull, sired by Orions, to his herd. The Brother Brothers of Rohnerville, who have herds of sheep in the hills, some months since introduced twenty head of fine stock sheep at a cost of $100 a head, and they are already well distributed in the sheep raising portions of the county…. WCS (13 Dec. 1871) Klamath—Sheriff Brown informed the Record of the 2d that snow had fallen to a great depth on the Bald Hills and that three pack trains bound for points on the Salmon and Klamath had been obliged to store their cargos at Oak Camp…. WCS (4 Sept. 1872) Mr. Salmon Brown of Rohnerville is turning his attention to the introduction of fine blooded sheep into Humboldt County.