HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE UPPER MOJAVE DESERT

Vol. 19 No. 9 November 2004
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NOVEMBER SPEAKER: FRED WEALS, HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES OF INDIAN WELLS VALLEY

Have you ever wondered why there are so many different types of churches in Ridgecrest? Fred Weals will give an answer in his presentation at the Society's November meeting. His talk will be based on his recent book published through the Society, "A History of Churches of Indian Wells Valley and Vicinity." The book and the presentation, both well-illustrated, start with a brief outline of the history of the major religions and the various branches of Christianity. This will be followed by the story of the various churches in the local area. One observation that emerged from Fred's study of local church history is the ecumenical spirit that prevailed in the IWV, as members of the various denominations helped each other establish their first churches. A prominent example is Ridgecrest pioneer Joe Fox, who gave land to the Roman Catholic and several Protestant churches to establish their first congregations.

Fred, who many will recognize as the society's long-time treasurer, started collecting information on the local churches in the 1990's, as many were then celebrating fiftieth anniversaries and he thought that their histories should be documented. Many church leaders felt the same need and compiled histories of their own churches, which Fred was able to condense and use in his own work. Other churches required more research efforts, but all eventually went into the book. This month's mystery photo, however, provided a bit more of a challenge. The building shown below is now a private residence in Inyokern, but was once a church. Reliable sources say that it originally served an Assembly of God congregation, but Fred was never able to find any documentation of this. If anyone can provide more background and especially documentation on this, please let Fred or the Society know. (Phone numbers and e-mail addresses on the officers page.).

The meeting will start at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, November 16 at the Maturango Museum. Everybody is welcome to attend the Society's meetings. For more information about this month's or future meetings, call President Bruce Wertenberger at 375-2369 or leave a message at 375-8456. Andrew Sound

CHRISTMAS IN RAND CAMP
Saturday, 11 December 2004

According to the eye-witness of one of the pupils at the Randsburg school, in 1897 Santa Claus was seen riding into Randsburg on a grey burro. We don't think that will happen this year but you are in for a fun, historically themed day at the fifth Christmas in Rand Camp on Saturday, December 11. Highlighting the day will be a Christmas Carol sing-a-long and concert led by Dr. Jim Vaskov ­ exercising briskly as he coaxes melodies from the old pump organ at the Santa Barbara Church.

Other historic buildings will be open for parts of the day including the Rand Communities Methodist Church. You will receive a map of the town with a schedule of activities when you register at Plum Cottage (the second house west of the Fire Station on Butte Avenue) at 10 am.

NEW this year will be a slide presentation of some of the families of turn of the twentieth century Randsburg.

10.00---Registration/Coffee--sign up for historical slide presentation (Plum Cottage--143 Butte Avenue)
10.30-11.00--1st slides (The Library-- 129 Butte Avenue) (Con't)
11.15-11.45--2nd slides (The Library--129 Butte Avenue)
12.05-12.45--Carols, Sing-a-Long, Historical Reading (Santa Barbara Church--Butte Avenue)
1.00---Lunch on your own
2.15---Hot Cider and Chatter (Rose Cottage--311 Highland Avenue)

This event is always a sell-out so advance reservations MUST be made! Please phone any of the following: Bruce Wertenberger ( Society President) (760) 375-2369, Beverly or Ron Atkins (760)446-6700. You may leave a message with name, phone number and number in your party. Cost of $6.00 per person may be paid at the door.

Look forward to a fun day in a living ghost town. And, just in case history really does come alive, don't forget to look for a grey burro with a rider dressed in red Lorraine Blair

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

Our membership year is the calendar year. Annual dues are $15.00 per year per family. Checks, payable to the HSUMD, may be sent to the HSUMD at P.O. Box 2001, Ridgecrest, CA, 93556. Do it now - avoid the rush!!

LOST VIDEO

The HSUMD cannot find its copy of a video tape entitled "Slow Fires," a video about the slow deterioration of books, newspapers, etc., because of the residual acid left in the paper during the process of manufacturing it. If you have borrowed it, or know where it is, please let us know by phoning or e-mailing one of our board members. Thanks.

BUSINESS MEMBERS

Please patronize our local business members: Heritage Inn, Farris' Diner & Italian Gardens, Indian Wells Valley Insurance Co., The News Review, BevLen Haus ­ Bed and Breakfast, Jack & Dana Lyons, The Swap Sheet, and Ridgecrest Moving & Storage.

HISTORICAL ARTICLE

(Following is an article prepared by our great local historian member, John C. Di Pol, drawn from his library of local history books. Ed.)

VIOLENCE AND HEROISM IN THE OWENS VALLEY

No, this is not about the Los Angeles-Owens Valley water "wars". Those came much later. This is a micro-picture of the broader panorama of American expansion into the western regions and the recurring conflicts with native inhabitants,

The first settlements in the Owens Valley were made in the summer of 1861 by stockmen who brought in cattle and sheep. The first cabins were built by van Fleet and Putnam. Other settlers followed in the autumn. The winter of 1861-62 was very severe, food was short for the Indians, who began to regularly pick off a cow or two. The settlers did not object until a stockman in the Bishop area shot and killed a native. The Indians retaliated by killing a settler; the conflict was on.

A January 1862 peace agreement reached with Chief George was short-lived and the conflict escalated by both sides. The settlers appealed to the U.S. Army for help. A scouting detachment of 40 soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry California Volunteers was dispatched from Los Angeles, arriving in April and joined by soldiers from Ft. Churchhill, NV. Settlers had just been defeated in a bloody battle in the Bishop Creek area. 2nd Cavalry detachment short on rations, supplies, ordered back to L.A. Many settlers, 4000 head of cattle, 2500 head sheep escorted to Aurora and Carson Valley by Ft. Churchill soldiers. By May Indians were in full control of valley.

On July 4, 1862, the 2nd Cavalry returned in force and established Camp Independence on Oak Creek. Some order restored in the central and southern valley, however a recalcitrant chief, Joaquin Jim, was in control in the north, including Long Valley in Mono County. Much fighting to the end of the year. Remember, the Civil War was going on full-force. California was a free state, but there were many pockets of secessionists, not only in California, but

throughout the western territories. The Federal volunteer forces had to deal with them, thus imposing added requirements on the 2nd Cavalry. Plus, they were very short of arms, ammo, rations, clothing, etc. for which the eastern armies had priority. Bureau of Interior Indian agents sent to help made many promises to the Indians, which they knew could not be kept, with added consequences for the soldiers.

General outbreak in early 1863. Hostile attacks in Owens Valley proper, number of whites and Indians killed, cabins looted. Valley not safe. Outsiders advised not to travel through. But some did.

One of the most reported event of the war was the escape of a party consisting of Alney McGee, his mother, a small girl (a niece of McGee), Mr. and Mrs. J. Summers and Negro, Charley Tyler. On March 7, 1863, they were on the way from Aurora to Visalia with a wagon loaded with possessions, $650 in gold and 22 horses. As they approached Fish Springs they saw smoke signals near Poverty Hills so they turned to the east around the hills and attempted to evade the Indians by crossing the river near a basalt butte. Their wagon became stuck. Abandoning the wagon, they scrambled onto the horses and headed for the east bank. By this time the Indians had reached the west bank and were firing bullets and arrows. The party managed to outrun the inferior ponies of the pursuing Indians and reached Camp Independence in the dark. Charley Tyler, however, was unable to catch one of the horses in mid-stream and made a stand at the butte, now known as "Charley's Butte," and was killed. His valiant and heroic efforts materially assisted the survivors in their escape.

The war continued on. Camp Independence reinforced. Aggressive campaign against the Indians who continued their attacks and pillaging against the settlers. A scorched earth policy ­ destruction of Indian food stores ­ no quarter given on both sides. Chief George sues for peace in May, 1863. Many of his tribe surrender. Total of 800-900 men, women and children transferred to the San Sebastian Reservation near Ft. Tejon. But, Joaquin Jim and tribe still active in the north. However, prospectors and settlers continue to arrive via southern approaches.

During late '63 and into '64, depredation commenced again. U.S. Army could not send troops. Settlers and prospectors organized themselves into a militia. Many bloody encounters with the Indians throughout 1864 and into 1865. Civil War winds down and secessionist activity only sporadic. Nevada Infantry Volunteers reoccupy Camp Independence in early 1865. Semi-quiet in the Valley during summer and autumn with only occasional depredations by roving bands. Infantry Volunteers at Camp independence replaced by hardened Civil War regular army veterans in Nov. 1865.

Last record of Valley hostilities was a brief fire-fight between soldiers and Indians in August, 1866. Joaquin Jim never submitted to white domination, He ceased marauding and stayed aloof to the end of his days. Camp Independence remained operational with regular army toops until 1877.

Chalfant's final paragraph at the end of his several chapters on the subject says it best:

"Perhaps it is not the business of a record of this character to philosophize on the Indian War subject. The facts have been set down as fully and impartially as they have been learned. That the Indian should resist trespass on his hereditary domain was but natural. Some white men proved themselves as savage and ruthless as those they fought. But the white domination, and its ability to make use of resources, ......were as inevitable here as they have been elsewhere as civilization advanced."
John Di Pol

References:
THE STORY OF INYO, W.A. Chalfant 1922,1933
THE BOYS IN THE SKY-BLUE PANTS, Dorthy Cragen, 1975