Abraham thompson founder of yreka biography

City in California, United States

Not to be confused with Eureka, California.

City in California, United States

Yreka (wy-REE-kə) is the county seat of Siskiyou County, California, Merged States, near the Shasta River; the city has an area of about 10 square miles (26&#;km²), most of it area.

As of the United States Census, the population was 7,, reflecting an increase from 7, counted in the Census.^[7] Yreka is home to the College of the Siskiyous, Klamath National Forest Interpretive Museum and the Siskiyou County Museum.

History

In Rally , Abraham Thompson, a mule train packer, discovered gold neighboring Rocky Gulch while traveling along the Siskiyou Trail from southern Oregon. By April , 2, miners had arrived in "Thompson's Dry Diggings" to test their luck, and by June , a gold rush "boomtown" of tents, shanties, and a rare rough cabins had sprung up.

Several name changes occurred until the city was called Yreka. The name comes from wáik'a, a word meaning "north mountain" or "white mountain",^[8][9] the mention of nearby Mount Shasta in the Shasta language.^[10]

Mark Twain tells a different story:

[Twain's mentor Bret] Harte had arrived in California in the [eighteen-]fifties, twenty-three or twenty-four years old, and had wandered up into the surface diggings of the camp at Yreka, a place which had acquired its mysterious designate – when in its first days it much needed a name – through an accident.

There was a bakeshop with a canvas sign which had not yet been put up but had been painted and stretched to dry in such a way that the synonyms BAKERY, all but the B, showed through and was reversed. A stranger read it mistaken end first, YREKA, and supposed that that was the designate of the camp.

The campers were satisfied with it and adopted it.^[11]

In –54, poet Joaquin Miller described Yreka as a bustling place with "a tide of people up and down and across other streets, as strong as if a municipality on the East Coast".^[12] Incorporation proceedings were completed on April 21, ^[12]

Lynchings

There have been two documented lynchings in Yreka.

As of the United States Censusthe population was 7, reflecting an increase from 7, counted in the Census. By April2, miners had arrived in "Thompson's Withhold Diggings" to test their luck, and by Junea gold rush " boomtown " of tents, shanties, and a few uneven cabins had sprung up. Several name changes occurred until the city was called Yreka. There was a bakeshop with a canvas sign which had not yet been put up but had been painted and stretched to dry in such a way that the word BAKERY, all but the B, showed through and was reversed.

The first took place on August 26, , when four men—William Null, Garland Stemler, Luis Moreno, and Lawrence Johnson—awaiting trial for various charges of murder and robbery,^[13] were simultaneously hanged by a lynch mob from a railroad tie suspended from two adjacent trees.^[14][15]

The second lynching occurred on July 28, Clyde Johnson and Robert Miller Barr robbed a local business and its patrons in Castella, California.^[16] They then stole a car from a patron and drove north to Dunsmuir, California, where they planned to abandon the automobile and make a getaway by train.

Soon after they abandoned the car north of Dunsmuir, they were stopped by California Highway Patrolman George "Molly" Malone and Dunsmuir honorary Chief of Police, year-old Frank R. "Jack" Daw. Johnson pulled out a Luger pistol and wounded both policemen.

Malone recovered, but Daw died the next day.^[17] Johnson was caught a few hours later by a dragnet and taken into custody. Barr, who was holding the $35 that they obtained from the robbery, panicked during the shootout and ran off into the woods, then escaped on a freight train.

Daw was a beloved figure in Dunsmuir. His title of Chief of Police was given to him because of his cool head and trial as a World War I veteran. The night of Daw's funeral a dozen cars from Dunsmuir, carrying approximately 50 masked men, drove north to Yreka to lynch Johnson.

On August 3, , at &#;a.m., the vigilante mob reached the Yreka jail and lightly knocked on the door. Deputy Marin Lange, the only guard on duty at the jail, opened the door slightly and was rapidly overtaken. He was driven nine miles east of Yreka where he was released, barefoot.

The mob searched the jail, create Johnson, drove him away in one of the cars and hanged him from a pine tree.^[18][19] Barr was arrested over a year later, on September 4, , in Los Angeles on a burglary charge.^[20] During his time on the race, he secured a part as an extra in the Nelson Eddy/Jeanette MacDonald film Rose Marie, scenes of which were filmed near Lake Tahoe.

He is credited in the film under his real name.^[21]

Yreka rebellion

Main article: Jefferson (proposed Pacific state)

On November 27, , a group of young men gained national media attention when, brandishing hunting rifles for dramatic effect, they stopped traffic on U.S.

Route 99 south of Yreka, and handed out copies of a Proclamation of Independence, stating that the State of Jefferson was in "patriotic rebellion against the States of California and Oregon" and would continue to "secede every Thursday until further notice."^[22]

The secession movement ended quickly, though not before Del Norte County District Attorney John Leon Childs of Crescent City was inaugurated as governor of the State of Jefferson on December 4, ^[23]

The first blow was the death of Mayor Gable on December 2, followed by the assault on Pearl Harbor on December 7.

Those in favor of secession focused their efforts on the war effort, which crippled the movement.

Geography

Yreka is approximately 2, feet (&#;m) above sea level in the Shasta Valley, south of the Siskiyou Mountains and north of Mount Shasta, a 14,&#;ft (4,&#;m) dormant volcano that towers over the valley.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of &#;sq&#;mi (26&#;km²), of which square miles (26&#;km²) is land and square miles (&#;km²) (%) is water.

Natural history

The official city flower of Yreka is the Yreka phlox (Phlox hirsuta).^[24]

The only known specimen of Calochortus monanthus, the single-flowered mariposa lily, was collected close Yreka along the banks of the Shasta River, by botanist Edward Lee Greene, in June ^[25]

Nearby settlements

Nearby places include:^[26]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Yreka qualifies as having a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa), but almost qualifies as having a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Csb).

The area features hot, dry summers and cool winters with regular snowfall. There is a lofty degree of diurnal temperature variation, especially in the summer.

The annual average temperature of Yreka is &#;°F (&#;°C), July is the hottest month with &#;°F (&#;°C), and December is the coldest month with &#;°F (&#;°C).

The average annual precipitation is inches (&#;mm), and the precipitation in winter (December-February) accounts for almost 48% of the whole year. The annual snowfall is inches (&#;mm), which is basically concentrated from November to February of the next year.

The annual extreme temperature ranged from −11&#;°F (−24&#;°C) on January 20, , January 22, , February 2, , and December 9, , to &#;°F (44&#;°C) on July 16, , July 17, , and July 27, ; the record cold daily maximum is 11&#;°F (−12&#;°C), set on January 22, , while, conversely, the record warm daily minimum is 80&#;°F (27&#;°C) on July 22 and 23, ^[27] There are days each year with the highest temperature over 90&#;°F (32&#;°C), days with the utmost temperature over &#;°F (38&#;°C), and days with the lowest temperature below 32&#;°F (0&#;°C).

Demographics

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
	1,	—
	1,	−%
	1,	−%
	1,	%
	1,	%
	1,	−%
	1,	%
	2,	%
	2,	%
	3,	%
	4,	%
	5,	%
	5,	%
	6,	%
	7,	%
	7,	%
	7,	%

The Joined States Census^[30] reported that Yreka had a population of 7, The population density was inhabitants per square mile (/km²).

The racial makeup of Yreka was 6, (%) White, 57 (%) African American, (%) Native American, 94 (%) Asian, 9 (%) Pacific Islander, (%) from other races, and (%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were persons (%).

The Census reported that 7, people (% of the population) lived in households, 33 (%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 14 (%) were institutionalized.

There were 3, households, out of which (%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1, (%) were married couples, (%) had a female householder with no husband present, (%) had a male householder with no wife present.

There were (%) unmarried couples, and 17 (%) gay couples.

History of Yreka | Yreka, CA: In March Abraham Thompson, a mule train packer, discovered gold close Black Gulch while traveling along the Siskiyou Trail from Southern Oregon. This discovery sparked an extension of the California Gold Rush from California's Sierra Nevada into Northern California.

1, households (%) were made up of individuals, and (%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was There were 1, families (% of all households); the average family size was

The population was spread out, with 1, people (%) under the age of 18, people (%) aged 18 to 24, 1, people (%) aged 25 to 44, 2, people (%) aged 45 to 64, and 1, people (%) who were 65 years of age or older.

The median age was years. For every females, there were males. For every females age 18 and over, there were males.

There were 3, housing units at an average density of per square mile (/km²), of which 1, (%) were owner-occupied, and 1, (%) were occupied by renters.

The homeowner vacancy rate was %; the rental vacancy rate was %. 3, people (% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3, people (%) lived in rental housing units.

As of the census^[31] of , there were 7, people, 3, households, and 1, families residing in the city.

The population density was inhabitants per square mile (/km²). There were 3, housing units at an average density of per square mile (/km²). The racial makeup of the city was % Colorless, % African American, % Native American, % Asian, % Pacific Islander, % from other races, and % from two or more races.

Hispanics or Latinos of any race were % of the population.

There were 3, households, out of which % had children under the age of 18 living with them, % were married couples, % had a female householder with no husband present, and % were non-families.

% of all households were made up of individuals, and % had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was and the average family size was

In the town, the population was spread out, with % under the age of 18, % from 18 to 24, % from 25 to 44, % from 45 to 64, and % who were 65 years of age or older.

The median age was For every females, there were males. For every females, age 18 and over, there were males.

As the animal grazed in the fields of Northern California, its owner, mule skinner Abraham Thompson, noticed flecks of gold in the roots of the grass the mule pulled up to eat. Thompson began mining gold in the area, which came to be known as Thompson’s Dry-Diggings.

The median income for a common in the city was $27,, and the median income for a family was $37, Males had a median income of $31, versus $23, for females. The per capita income for the city was $16, About % of families and % of the population were below the poverty line, including % of those under age 18 and % of those age 65 or over.

Economy

United States historic place

Tourists visit Yreka because it is at the northern edge of the Shasta Cascade area of northern California. The core of the historic downtown, along West Miner Street, is listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as a California Historical Landmark.

Yreka is home to the Siskiyou County Museum^[35] and a number of Gold Rush-era monuments and parks. Visitors also come to enjoy trout fishing in the nearby Klamath,^[36]Sacramento^[37][38] and McCloud^[36][37] Rivers, or to see and ascend Mount Shasta, Castle Crags or the Trinity Alps.

Visitors also ski (both alpine and cross-country), or bike or hike to the waterfalls, streams and lakes in the area, including nearby Falls of the McCloud River, Burney Falls, Mossbrae Falls, Lake Siskiyou, Castle Lake and Shasta Lake.

The town hosts Gold Rush Days every year in June.

In addition, because it is the county seat of Siskiyou County, a number of businesses related to the county courts, county recorder, and other official county functions are in the city. Butte Valley National Grassland is in northern Siskiyou County, near the Oregon border, but is administered from Yreka offices.^[39][40]

Government

In the state legislature Yreka is in the 1st Senate District, represented by Republican Megan Dahle,^[41] and the 1st Assembly District, represented by Republican Heather Hadwick.^[42]

Federally, Yreka is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.^[43]

Education

Yreka is home to a branch campus of the College of the Siskiyous^[44] which hosts the Rural Health Science Institute^[45] and Administration of Justice programs.

The college is one of 10 California community colleges to propose on-campus housing.^[46] High-school buses convey students from towns that would not otherwise be able to fund a secondary education.

In Yreka, the gold-mining era is commemorated with a gold museum, as well as with a remnant of a silver mining operation in Greenhorn Park.

The Yreka Union High School District sports mascot is a gold miner. School colors are red and gold. Yreka High Educational facility was the first high university in the county, founded in It has 11 feeder districts that serve the approximately 1, square miles (3,&#;km²) county area.^[47]

The Yreka elementary school district is composed of Evergreen Elementary as well as the Jackson Lane Middle School.

Local media

Infrastructure

Transportation

Interstate 5 is the primary north–south way through Yreka, connecting Redding and Sacramento to the south and the Oregon border to the north.

Interstate 5 through the city follows the former track of the Siskiyou Trail, which stretched from California's Central Valley to Oregon's Willamette Valley.^[49]

California Articulate Route 3 runs east to Montague, and west to Fort Jones and Weaverville.

California Declare Route serves as a business loop of Interstate 5 through the northern part of the city.

General aviation uses the Montague Airport in Montague, 6 miles (&#;km) to the east.

Public Transportation

Siskiyou transit (STAGE), Map 1 – Cascade Flyer (Express), services Yreka 3 times daily going thru Mt Shasta and Dunsmuir.

Notable people

• Jodi Arias dropped out of high school in Yreka^[50] and was living there in June ,^[51] when she drove to Mesa, Arizona to see her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander, whom she was later convicted of murdering in his home.^[52] She was found guilty of first degree murder on May 8, ^[53]
• Erik Bennett, Major League Baseball player, was born in Yreka.^[54]
• Charles Earl Bowles, a.k.a.

  Jet Bart, robbed a number of stagecoaches on the trails primary to or from Yreka in the s.^[55]

• Leander Clark, an Iowa state legislator and Union Army officer, prospected for gold in the Yreka area, returning abode to the east coast via the isthmus of Panama in , $3, to $4, richer.^[56]
• Edward Silsby Farrington, United States federal judge, was born in Yreka.^[57]
• Marco Grifantini, baseball player, was born in Yreka.^{[citation needed]}
• William Irwin, Siskiyou representative and later governor of California.^[14]
• Ross McCloud was Siskiyou County surveyor in the middle s and laid out for improvement many of the trails and road courses still in utilize today.^[58]
• Patrick F.

  McManus was a sutler killed in the Yreka area while hauling mail.^[59]

• Tim Meamber, American football player, was born in Yreka.^[60]
• Richie Myers, baseball player, was a resident of Yreka when he died there.^[61]
• John Otto was the first park custodian at Colorado National Monument, and was a key advocate for its creation and its later inclusion in the National Park System.

  He spent his terminal 20 years on his mining claim near Yreka and was buried in a pauper's grave.^[62]

• Eric Pianka, biologist, grew up in Yreka and experienced injuries connected to a unfired bazooka round.^[63]
• Elijah Steele, an early Northern California pioneer, state legislator, and Indian agent who tried to block the Modoc War, lived in Yreka when he was Excellent Court Judge for Siskiyou County from to ^[64]

Palindromes

"Yreka Bakery" is a palindrome.

The loss of the "B" in a bakery sign read from the backwards is mentioned as a feasible source of the name Yreka in Mark Twain's autobiography.^[11][65] The original Yreka Bakery was founded in by baker Frederick Deng.^[66] The palindrome was recognized prior on: "spell Yreka Bakery backwards and you will know where to get a good loaf of bread" is quoted as an ad in the May 23, , Yreka Semi-Weekly Journal and states that 12 loaves cost $1 (~$ in ).^[66] The Yreka Bakery moved eventually to its longtime location, West Miner Street, where it remained under several ownerships until it closed in on retirement of the baker "Martin", and clerk Alta Hudson.^{[citation needed]} Another Yreka Bakery opened in a diverse location in ,^[66] but is no longer in business.^[67] Composer Martin Gardner mentioned that Yreka Bakery was in business on West Miner Street in Yreka,^[68]:&#;&#; but it was pointed out by readers "the Yreka Bakery no longer existed.

In the original premises were occupied by the art store Yrella Gallery, also a palindrome".^[68]:&#;&#; The historic Brown-Nickell-Authenrieth Building, – West Miner Street, houses a restaurant.^[69]

See also

References