evangelical denominations, and known as the Union church. In the next few years the place grew rapidly and carried on a heavy trade with the surrounding country. A great many wooden buildings were erected, which served as convenient fire-traps in the dry season of 1878.

The Butte county Register was started at this place in 1877, by William Sharkey, an old resident of the county. It was a live paper, and supplied the news-loving people of Biggs with local and general intelligence of passing events for the space of two years, when it was removed to Oroville. Shortly after, F. F. Carnduff started the Biggs' Recorder, issuing the first number on the fifth of March, 1880. On the fourth of March, 1881, T. J. McFarland became associated with Mr. Carnduff in the paper, and since that time has been its most active worker. It is an enterprising journal, and ably edited.

Biggs had suffered twice by fire, the two conflagrations occurring within a month of each other. At 11:30 o'clock on the night of July 2, 1878, a fire broke out on B street and raged for three hours, consuming seven residences, Jones' residence, Doty's tin-shop, Titus' agricultural-implement depot, Flint & Gurnsey's grocery-store, Michael's carpenter-shop, Britton's furniture-store, and the Register building. The total loss at this burning was $29,000. On the eighteenth of August, 1878, another fierce conflagration ensued, in which a hotel, livery-stable, blacksmith-shop, five saloons, general store, candy-store, drug-store, barber-shop, and two residences were destroyed. Nearly the whole town was obliterated, and a considerable check was given to its growth. Many of the young men employed as laborers and clerks went away. The wooden buildings were replaced with substantial brick structures, which can the more readily defy the contagious effect of heat. The old railroad depot was removed in 1880, and a fine new one erected in its place. A two-story school-house of brick was built by the district in 1879, and the regular attendance at the institution of learning is two hundred and thirty. Biggs has a good system of water-works. C. T. Topping & Co. removed their apparatus from Oroville in 1878, and laid pipes on the principal streets. Water is pumped into a large tank by an engine, and supplied to the business houses and a few residences. Effective measures have been taken to protect the town against fire.

Biggs precinct has a voting population of 280, and the town itself about 600 inhabitants. There are a number of stores, warehouses, a livery-stable, and a hotel; and many fine residences in the village and its vicinity. In 1874, it received seventy-four votes for the county-seat, and, it is said, has some aspirations that way at the present time. Its fortunate location will always secure it prosperity, supported as it is by the hundreds of beautiful farms in Hamilton township. It is connected with Oroville by a daily stage, in addition to its railroad facilities.

Bidwell Lodge, No. 47, I. O. O. F., the first Lodge of Odd Fellows in Butte county, is now at Biggs. It was organized October 23, 1855, at Bidwell's bar, but was removed to Oroville October 22, 1859, and on the twenty-first day of July, 1875, it was removed to Biggs. The charter members were: Joseph Block, James C. Bierce, George W. Drake, William Lattimore, George McBride, Gardner Lamp, Henry Rhodes, and Newton DeWitt. The number of members at present is forty-two; the total membership to date, three hundred and five; the value of the lodge property is $1,000. The present officers are: F. F. Carnduff, N.G.; Thad. J. McFarland, V.G.: C. F. Butler, S.; Phil Grein, T.

CANBY POST, No. 18, G. A. R., was organized by Grand Commander C. Mason Kinne, February 28, 1881, with the following charter members: Frank F. Carnduff, Commander; P. G. Brown, V.C.; M. La Point, J.V.C.; D. L. Cecil, A.; D. L. Butler, Q.; S. B. Colvin, S.; Wm. H. Sutton, C.; J. L. Hicks, H. Eggleston, and Aaron Bayles. The above comrades are still members, excepting Wm. H. Sutton, who has gone east. The membership is at present twelve. The present officers are: P. G. Brown, Commander; M. La Point, S.V.C.; H. Eggleston, J.V.C.; F. F. Carnduff, Adj't; J. L. Hicks, Q.;

S. B. Colvin, S.; F. Marshall, C.; D. L. Butler, O. of the D.; A. Bayles, O. of the G.; F. F. Carnduff, Representative to Department Encampment.

BIGGS LODGE, No. 102, A. O. U. W., was organized May 28, 1879, by the following charter members: Wm. A. Walker, P.M. W.; Samuel Titus, M.W.; Ed. H. Gale, F.; Phil. Grein, O.; Charles C. Spence, Recorder; Daniel Cecil, Financier; F. Charles Kemper, R.; William J. W. Fleming, G.; George Isbell, I. W.; H. Cohn, O. W.; Phil. Grein, James C. Flint, Wm. S. Riddle, trustees; Alex. Dick, W. W. Webb, H. L. Lasell and Dr. O. C. Hawkins. The above gentlemen are still active members, except Wm. J. W. Fleming, who died December 31, 1881. The lodge membership is thirty-three. It is in good financial condition, and owns property to the value of $200. Frank F. Carnduff of this lodge was Grand Lecturer of the Order in California during the year 1879, and is now District Deputy-GrandMaster of Butte county, and Grand Representative to Grand Lodge for Biggs Lodge. The present officers are: Ed. D. Smith, P.M.W.; P. G. Brown, M.W.; J. C. Flint, F.; T. R. Fleming, O.; C. C. Spence, Recorder; Samuel Titus, F.; F. C. Kemper, R.; James C. Burner, G.; J. M. Proctor, I.W.; Philip Grein, O. W.; Dr. O. C. Hawkins, Medical Examiner.

A lodge of Chosen Friends was organized at Biggs, September 30, 1881, with G. W. Oman as Past Chief Councilor, and T. J. McFarland, Chief Councilor. On the eighth of December it affiliated with

the Pacific branch, when it was disconnected from the Indianapolis supreme council, and took the name of the Independent Order Chosen Friends. The membership is twenty-four, and the officers are: T. J. McFarland, P.C.C.; D. L. Butler, C.C.; F. L. LaBonta, V.C.; G. W. Oman, S.; J. F. Coffman, F.; N. B. Lapoint, T.; John D. Stanley, M.; L. B. Carson, W.; Rev. W. S. Corwin, P.; J. L. Hicks, G.; Dr. B. Bussey, Medical Examiner. Meetings are held weekly in Odd Fellows' hall.

GRIDLEY.

Three miles south of Biggs, on the C. & O. railroad, is the town of Gridley. It occupies a portion of section 1, in township 17, range 2, and a portion of section 36 in township 18. Nestling pleasantly in the midst of a grove of live-oak timber, surrounded by productive farms and elegant farm-houses, and enjoying the quiet prosperity of an agricultural neighborhood, Gridley is, without doubt, one of the most attractive spots in Butte county. The town was laid out in 1870, at the time the railroad was completed. The first dwelling and store were erected by L. C. Stone, who became, also, the first agent at this point for the postal department, for the railroad company, and for the express company. Wells, Fargo & Co. opened their office here in 1874. The town perpetuates the name of George W. Gridley, on whose ground it was located, and who was one of the first to discover the real value of the adobe lands for agriculture. Shortly after Mr. Stone, came James Price and W. R. Rogers, the former of whom opened a saloon, and the latter a blacksmith-shop. John Mumby built the Gridley hotel in 1872, the first in the town. It is now owned by Mrs. Amelia Taylor, and kept by Messrs. Sweezy & Price. The first physician to locate in Gridley was Dr. France. The second store opened in the town was kept by Messrs. Henshaw & Davis, and situated north of the Gridley hotel. It was afterwards burned. In 1875, the Gridley Steam Flouring Mills were erected by a joint-stock company; they are now owned by Stone & Gridley. These mills are among the finest in the valley, costing over $40,000. They have five run of stone, with a grinding capacity of 250 barrels of flour per day.

In 1877, Mr. Stone built the two-story brick building occupied by George H. Norman. The first school was kept in an old store building of L. C. Stone's, where Miss Calhoun planted the seeds of knowledge in the minds of juvenile Gridleyans. A good school building is now the pride of the place. Gridley has three churches-Methodist, Catholic and United Brethren. Her business is transacted by two general stores, two drug-stores, one grocery, two blacksmith-shops, two wagon-shops, two lumberyards, one hotel, the usual complement of saloons, a furniture-store, a tin and stove store, and a livery