W.J.D, and the 'Annals of Lincoln'

75 years ago Population 2,410 (U.S. Census 1940 and 1950) At the turn of the century, a visitor to Lincoln simply signing his articles W.J.D., wrote the "Annals of Lincoln" which were published in the News Messenger while H.W. Bessac was editor and publisher. W.J.D. left Lincoln in 1869 and returned in 1900. I am quoting from the three issues we are lucky enough to salvage. We are indebted to Mrs. Etta Leavell for these. Along the Auburn Ravine the land was occupied at an early date. Daniel Sickles had a farm above Virginia Town. In that area John Bosquit had quite an orchard. Joseph Walker had a place just below the town and raised fruit and vegetables for the miners. (Virginia Town was one of the mining sites in Lincoln. The area is now Virginiatown Road.) Below him was the ranch of Walker and Wyman and there was a racetrack, about a mile and a half above Lincoln. Day had a ranch below that, which he sold to Fred Hartford, who afterward ran a stable in Lincoln that stood on the site of the Odd Fellows Hall building. M. Bowen owned the farm near Walker and Wyman, and below him were the places of Charles Preble and Samuel Dodd. To the south of Dodd, Charles S. Rice had 160 acres. "Rice was a peculiar character. I had much opportunity to observe him," says W.J.D., "as I worked for him as a farm laborer for two years." Rice was born in Cooperstown, New York, and was particularly proud of the fact that he had been an acquaintance of the novelist Cooper. He had a team of oxen with which he used to go to town, and he never failed to return with a No. 6 jug – in fact, Rip Van Winkle was not in it with him as a drunkard. He was the most eloquent swearer I ever had met with." (still quoting W.J.D.) "He could roll out oaths in a way that appall a private and he had a voice that could be readily heard fully a mile. "The objects of his wrath were generally the unfortunate oxen, but they had come to take his paroxysms of rage and vituperations as a matter of course. At times, they would get out of the corral at night and go to the furthermost part of the field where they would feed on the new growing grain. Rice was badly crippled with rheumatism and when he would discover the situation he would break out with a torrent of profanity, gather up his blacksnake and start on a run for the truant beasts. With his rheumatism and the embarrassment of traversing over the plowed ground, his progress was all out of speed. He would keep up his imprecations and his announcement of punishment that would be inflicted when he reached the objects of his wrath. Meanwhile, the oxen would preserve the most aggravating indifference and that served to intensify his anger and excitement. But it was fortunate for the oxen for when he would reach them, he would be too much exhausted to use his whip with any particular effect. "Rice suddenly announced a determination to quit drinking and put his name into the lodge of Good Templars. It was a surprise to the community and no one believed that he would stand by his resolution, but he did and never afterwards took a drink." Note: This article was written by Mrs. Mabel Ahart. 50 years ago Population 3,179 (U.S. Census 1960 and 1970) City Council: Growing pains were treated in several different ways by the city council during its adjourned meeting Monday evening. Council members voted to withdraw an earlier resolution that called for the Local Area Formation Commission to consider a request to allow the city to annex some 671 acres of land along the existing westerly boundaries of the city. The council action involved property between Nelson Lane and the city limits that had a northern boundary of Nicolaus Road and a southern boundary of Moore Road. The vote to halt the annexation process involves the proposed site for the new sewage treatment plant. The vote was 3-1 with Nello Stefani abstaining. Sharon White, who is assisting with the bonding on the project, told council that a four-fifths vote of the body was not legally required in this case as the proposed site was outside the city limits, but a four-fifths vote would carry more weight in court. Ms. White was asked to return to Tuesday's meeting of the council when another attempt will be made to obtain the four-fifths vote. In other business, the council accepted a modified subdivision map for unit two of Valley View Estates. Unit two includes lots for some 45 homes. Note: Valley View Estates are located at 6th Street, near O Street. During discussion on the subdivision, the council focused its attention on the problem of water pressure in the western part of town. The possibility of requiring the implementation of a 12" north-south main for water on Q Street, in the future, was discussed. The 45-pound pressure in the area during the summer was well below the expected 90-pound pressure level. The council also instructed the city attorney to devise a charge for sewage line users in the area that would require the use of the lift station to be installed. The customers would be levied an additional charge with their sewer bill to help pay for maintenance on the lift station. 100 years ago Population 1,324 (U.S. Census 1900, 1910, and 1920) Ordinance: The Board of Trustees of the Town of Lincoln are now preparing for passage an Ordinance making it mandatory for each property owner to clean all rubbish and burn all grass which is a fire hazard to property. If the city has to clean or burn same, the cost of same will be charged against the property. Don't wait for the city – do it yourself and save yourself the cost which you will have to pay. Mt. Pleasant: A celebration to mark the completion of the new Mt. Pleasant electric power extension will be held at the Mt. Pleasant Hall on Saturday evening, according to the announcement made by C.W. Jewell, Director of the Mt. Pleasant Center. The completion of this line is a victory for the progressive spirit of the Mt. Pleasant Center, and is a result of the persistent effort on the part of the farmers in this district who have been working for six years to put this line through. Representatives from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company have been invited to participate in the celebration. A very fine program has been arranged. This includes a talk by Captain George Baldwin, first mayor of Nome, Alaska; a talk by Jack Douglas on operation of the electric stove; demonstration on the use of an electric range by one of the electric range demonstrators, and refreshments. Mr. H.M. Cooper, manager of the Drum Division, will turn on the current. The new electric extension will serve 21 people and will place 10 electric ranges in the homes in this district. The completion of this extension places electric power in every Farm Bureau Center in Placer County.