Oregon Gulch Gold-mining company of Butte County, California, 1852

Introduction: This record book is 13 1/4" x 8" and is 144 pages in length, 101 pages of which have been used. Pages are ruled, with writing in ink of several colors. Various signatures appear at the bottoms of entries, usually those of the chairman and the secretary. Leather backed boards have corners and spine extremities rubbed. The inner hinges are loose. The Oregon Gulch Gold Mining Company was established under the provisions of an act of the Indiana state legislature entitled "An act for the incorporation of manufacturing and mining companies, and companies for mechanical, chemical, and building purposes" (May 20, 1852). The area in which the Company did business was Butte County, California, from Oregon Gulch round the point of Table Mountain to Morrison Ravine; the Company had claims to all water privileges and easements connected therewith. They also had possession of the gold mining claim known as "Old Berry Hydraulic Claim", adjacent to the so-called "North Claims" at the head of Morrison Ravine, on the southern side of Table Mountain. The objectives, according to the certificate of organization, were the mining of gold and the sale or leasing of water power not required for the Company's operations. Major stockholders were William C. and Thomas P. Hendricks. Numerous meetings were held in the office of Thomas A. Hendricks, a member of the Board of Directors. Thomas A. Hendricks was elected governor of Indiana in 1872 and served as Vice President of the United States under Grover Cleveland during the latter's first term. The original manuscript of this work is in Special Collections, California State University, Northridge Libraries. Norman E. Tanis