Josephine
County History
The Oregonian's Handbook Of The Pacific Northwest
- 1894 by The Oregonian Publishing Co.
Oregon Business Directory and State
Gazetteer.
History of Southern Oregon
History of Southern Oregon -
Biographies
Oregon Business Directory and State
Gazetteer. Compiled by John
Mortimer Murphy. First Year
of Publication. Portland,
Oregon: S. J. McCormick,
Publisher. 1873.
Josephine County.
In the southern portion of the State, is bounded on the north by the
Rogue River Mountains, on the south by California, on the east by
Jackson, and on the west by Curry. It possesses an area of
2,500 square miles, a population of about 1,500, and assessable
property to the value of $260,000. It has a rugged aspect, but
there are some fine valleys possessing a rich alluial soil well
adapted to grains and fruits. The mountainous character of the
region, the luxuriance of the grasses, and the abundance of timber
make it well adapted to grazing. The most serious obstacle to
the increase of population is the want of transportation facilities,
hence the agricultural products cannot be sent to market, so all
raised must be used at home. The mineral resources of the
county are very large, but the most important is gold, which is
worked in several places. The mines embrace placer and quartz,
but the former is the only kind being developed. If the means
of communication were better, this county would furnish many
excellent farms which could be worked with profit.
COUNTY OFFICERS. -- Judge, J. B. Sifers;
Clerk, Chas. Hughes; Sheriff, Daniel Green; Treasurer,
Wm. Naucke; School Superintendent, A. Adams; Assessor,
Thos. G. Patterson; Surveyor, Alex. Watts; Commissioners,
B. F. Sloan, Geo. S. Mathewson.
TOWNS.
ALTHOUSE.
Situated on a creek of the same name, fifteen miles southeast of
Kirbyville. It is famed for its gold mines, which have been
worked steadily since 1852, and yet pay well. Copper mines
have been found in the vicinity, but they are not worked. The
number of persons working along the mines of the creek is estimated
at one hundred, a large proportion being Chinese; and the annual
yield of the district is about $40,000.
Gen'l Mdse. -- Delmater & Bro.; Evans, Wm.;
Leonard, Lawrence. Saloon.--
Brown, Jas. R.
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KIRBYVILLE.
The county seat, has a population of about one
hundred, including the persons working in the mines of the vicinity.
Thirty of these are Chinese. The yield of the camp is
estimated at $20,000 per annum. The scenery in the vicinity is
rugged but extremely picturesque, as the hills environ the town in
every direction, so much so as to isolate it to a great extent.
When population increases this town should become a good place for
the developement of minerals.
Gen'l Mdse -- Naueke, Wm. A.; Sawyer, S. M.
Saloon-- Mason, Jas.
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LELAND.
A post office forty miles north of Kirbyville,
contains a hotel; but it has no business importance.
Hote -- Harkness, Samuel
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SLATE CREEK.
A post office sixteen miles north of Kirbyville, is
in the midst of a mining region.
Blacksmith -- Simmons, Geo.
Cabinet Maker -- Hannah, S. P.
Gen'l Mdse -- Bentley, J. H.; Preslay, Wm. M.
Hotel -- Wilder, A. M.
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WALDO.
A post office ten miles south of Kirbyville, contains
a population including miners in the district, of about one hundred.
The yield of the mines is about $40,000 per annum.
Blacksmith -- Simmons, Geo.
Cabinet Maker -- Hannah, S. P.
Gen'l Mdse -- McIlwaine, A. B.; Thompson, J.
M.
------------------------------
WILLIAMSBURG.
A village twenty miles east of Kirbyville, is in the
midst of a large mining district, the yield of gold amounting to
about $50,000 per annum. The number of persons working in the
vicinity is about one hundred, forty-five of whom are Chinese.
Gen'l Mdse -- Layton, John T.
--------------------------------------------
WOLF CREEK.
Forty-five miles north of Kirbyville.
Genl Mdse -- Smith, Henry
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was last updated on -05/16/2009
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