Josephine County

Josephine County History

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.

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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.

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WOLF CREEK.

Forty-five miles north of Kirbyville.

Genl Mdse -- Smith, Henry

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