El Dorado County History Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County California with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominentmen and Pioneers. Oakland 1883. Paolo Sioli, Publisher. Compiled by P. Sioli. Transcribed by Peggy Hooper, Oct 2009. This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter. All persons donating to this site retain the rights to their own work. LOCAL HISTORY. PILOT HILL. Originally called Centreville, but now for Post office reason? known as Pilot Hill, has retained more of the character of a mining camp of old, than most places in the country. The town is located at the north- eastern base of Pilot Hill, from which it derives its name. The first mining was done in 1849, and the first little store was opened here the same year, in a common log building. Rich placers had been discovered, but as there was no water on hand, the mining work had to be delayed until the winter of 1850, when miners flocked in here from the river bars and a lively business began. Talcott & Rose started the first regular store in this mining camp, making this their head quarters for the winter, while they tended to their other places of business on the river during the summer season. Among the first ones, that came here to try their fortune at Centerville, was John Woods, of New York, he came up here from Salmon Falls in the fall of 1849, at which time there were plenty of grizzlies around here. The first house in town was built by Samuel Stevens in the earliest part of 1850. John Brown and Wilson kept one of the first boarding houses here, and did a splendid business. Another store was kept by Henry Stevens and Conrad Thompson, the latter known as "Topside," as he was an old sailor. Another board- ing house was opened by Charles Tudsberry. Of other old residents at Pilot Hill out of the year of 1850, we have to mention A. J. Bayley, F. B. Peacock, Gense Kirchan, Samuel Stevens, David Ferguson, Thomas Ferguson, C. S. Rogers, P. D. Brown. Robert E. Draper was the pioneer mail carrier for the village, he was the best walker in the State. Sometimes he would leave Pilot Hill at 6 A. M. , carrying the mail to Sacramento, got his mail and returned with it to Pilot Hill at 7:30 p. m., a distance of near 40 miles. He carried letters for one dollar each, and papers for 50 cents each. In the Spring of 1851, a number of people from Pittsfield, Illinois, arrived here and started a village of their own, consisting of 24 or 25 log cabins, which they called Pittsfield : Thus making it three different villages, but the whole publicly known as CENTERVILLE. The old town of Pilot Hill was located further north and nearer the base of Pilot Hill, the site is now owned by Dwight Burpee, and here the principal place of business was kept by James H. Rose. Of other early settlers in this district, who still live here we recall the names of Silas Hayes, who was first Post Master of Pilot Hill ; D. Burpee, A. A. Bayley, oldest son of A. J. Bayley, and the present incum- bent of the second Supervisor district of the county ; Wm. Buchan, at present Post Master, in office since 1870, John Bishop, C. F. Briff, Hiram Stoddard, M. W. Manning, of Cave valley. First school in Pilot Hill School District was taught by Mrs. Alice Galloway, it was a private school supported by Bayley and others, and was located near Bayley's present residence. John Bowman was the first blacksmith in this community, since the Spring of 1852. He moved around considerably and finally settled on Bayley's ranch, where D. Burpee built a shop for him. The first white woman, at Pilot Hill, was Mrs. Avery, who had been under the same circumstances at Oregon Bar The present hotel a two and a-half story frame structure was built in 1854, and occupied for some years by Mr. Creque. Mrs. Jane McLagan is the present proprietor. There are still three stores kept here, two in town and Mr. Bayley�s on Bayley's ranch, about a quarter of a mile northeast of town, where Mr. Bayley, in 1860, erected the present magnificent and roomy three story brick mansion of the Bayley family, without any doubt, the most exquisite building in the county. There is a good deal of general fanning done in the township, stock raising, however, is the principal farming business ; of late again some attrition has been given to fruit farming and vine culture. During the winter months some activity prevails while free water abounds, and familiar faces of old times are seen in the old ravines, hunting for their hidden chispas. The outlook for quartz mining is most encouraging but the total absence of machinery to reduce ore, and the isolated location of the district, precludes the regular prospecting for quartz by miners who have to look out for present returns. Pilot Hill has a Masonic Hall, the property of Pilot Hill Lodge, No. 16o, F. and A. M. The first Grange Lodge on the Pacific coast was organized here in 1870, by A. A. Bayley ; by reading a brief article on the objects and aims of the Patrons of Husbandry, he became so favorably impressed that he wrote for further information to the National Secretary; O. H. Kelly. Esq., at Itasca, Minn., from whom he received, with the sanction of the National Executive Committee, and in absence of a General Deputy, a special commission and the entire secret work. The Lodge was then organized on August 17th, 1870, with twenty-nine charter members, forming the Pioneer Grange of California.