Park History article
This article was in the park files. The author's name is unknown, but it provides insight into the early homesteading days in the Bull Creek area of the park. The article was copied word for word and may contain outdated word usages.

A Lost Bull Gave a Creek a Name

Bull Creek got its name in an unusual way.

Over a hundred years ago, the only white settler in the area lived on Rainbow Ridge. A band of Indians took a bull belonging to him and drove it down the hill to what is today known as Bull Creek. The settler and a few of his friends tracked the Indians. When they found them, they were feasting on the stolen animal.

A battle followed. Who ran, we don’t know. From then on, the small stream was known as Bull Creek. In later years, the community that was built alongside it adopted the same name.

The first family to settle in Bull Creek were the Whitlows. Tosaldo Johnson followed. He homesteaded 160 acres and built a cabin on his claim in 1872-73. During this time, he left his wife, Addie, who was expecting her first child, in Rio Dell. In 1874, Tosaldo moved his wife and their little daughter to their new home on Bull Creek.

According to historian and antique collector, Fred Elliott of Scotia, the first year or so, he raised sheep and cattle, but panthers were too numerous, and they were death on sheep. He raised cattle and hogs, along with a few sheep. The ground was fertile and he was able to produce a fine garden.

In 1880, Tosaldo’s wife, Addie, who was pregnant with her third child, went out to find a lost lamb. She found the lamb on a pretty point of ground overlooking the homestead. On returning to the house with the lamb, she told her husband, “If anything happens to me, that’s where I want to be buried.”

A short time later, Addie had her child prematurely. Tosaldo had to ride to Rainbow Ridge to get a woman to stay with his wife and two children so he could ride on to Rohnerville for a doctor. By the time Tosaldo and the doctor returned to her bedside, it was too late. Addie is buried on the point of ground where she found the lamb. She was the first white woman to be buried at Bull Creek.

Six years later, Tosaldo remarried, this time to a woman by the name of Roxanna Jane Hanlon. She planted four cypress trees, one at each corner of Addie’s gave. Today, two of the trees still mark the lonely grave. A few years ago, the Department of Parks and Recreation placed a monument on the grave.

Since the nearest doctor was located at Rohnerville, Johnson was always called upon to set broken bones of valley residents. His wife, Roxanna, who was known as Jennie, served as a midwife. Neither charged for their services, but when harvest time came around, the new father, along with the person who had suffered the broken bones, came to help the Johnsons with their harvest.

The second Mrs. Johnson was the mother of Mrs. Grace Baxter, who is one of the last of the old time Bull Creek residents. Today, she lives in Weott, for she has sold her home to the state park system.

A short time after the Johnsons settled in Bull Creek, the Howe and Oeting families homesteaded. They were followed by the Millsaps. In 1878, the Hamiltons moved to Bull Creek. They bought the Whitlow homestead of 160 acres. The Albees, the Looks, the Crismans, and the Turners, along with the well-known Lewis family, and many others, took up land.

The first schoolhouse was built in the 1870’s. It was located just across the creek from the Albee home. Today, the site can be easily found since the Albee Creek state campground is now located just across the creek from the old school.

Some of the children who attended the school were Libby, Gabler, Birdie Johnson; Rose, Jim, Lou and Frank Howe; Annie Oeting; Levicy, John, Mary, Gus, and Hugh Hamilton; Nell, Aze, Bill, Anne, and Ida Turner; Mamie, Ella, Ida, and Billy Millsap; Hugh and Nellis Johnson; Truman and Rhoda Mayfield; Charlie and Maud Butler; Elehugh, Walter, Arthur, and Harry Lindley.

Some of the teachers who taught at the old school on Albee Creek were Mrs. Littlefield, Dora Newman, Lillie McCann, Omer Johnson, and Georgia Knapp. One of the teachers, Oscar Bryan, had the misfortune of drowning while fording Bull Creek. The place where he was drowned for many years was known as Bryan’s Ford.

Before the turn of the century, Turner gave about an acre and a half of land on which to build a new schoolhouse. The school served Bull Creek until it burned in 1907. During the time the new school was being built, classes were held in one of the homes.

The new school opened in 1909. It was used until its condemnation in the mid-1950’s. In 1957, a new school was built and the old school was removed to a different site. It was then used as a community center until the state park system bought it and the new school. Today, neither building remains.

In 1883, when Arthur Millsap died, he was buried across the creek from the Millsap home. This area later became the graveyard for Bull Creek. Today, there is nothing there but a gravel bar. All of the stately maple trees are gone. During the 1955 flood, about two thirds of the burial ground was washed away, taking with it most of the bodies. Many of the dead were found along the creek bed, with some hanging in trees. They were reburied in a row of unknown graves in the new cemetery. The remaining bodies were moved later to the new ground.

The site for the new cemetery is located on a hill above Bull Creek, given to the people of the community by Abner Bruce Lewis Sr. He died a short time later and was one of the first persons to be buried in the new area.

On Memorial Day in 1957, a plaque listing all of the dead lost in the old cemetery was dedicated. The Rev. Ronald Triebal gave the invocation and benediction. The dedication speech was made by Mrs. Baxter. A wreath was placed on the plaque from the community. The list of names was compiled by Mrs. Baxter and Mrs. Ruby Hamilton.

Today, many tourists visiting the redwoods stop at the little Bull Creek Pioneer
Memorial Cemetery to view the plaque. A few years ago, the state park system assumed care of the burying ground.

Until 1904, all the coffins used were homemade. The men of the community split the specially set aside boards and shaved them for their use. After the coffin was ready, the women would line it with a black material. It took about two or three days to complete a coffin.

When a person died, either Mrs. Tosaldo Johnson or Mrs. James Hamilton Jr. would be called to take care of the body.

The body had to be rubbed with alcohol to keep it from discoloring. Before the coffin was completed, the body would be laid on a plank between two chairs with a sheet on the bottom and one over the body. During the time before the burial, several people would stay with the deceased, rubbing the body with alcohol and at the same time making sure the cats did not get near the remains.

The funeral services were held in the home of the deceased. After the rites, the coffin was hauled to the cemetery in a farm wagon. Since there wasn’t a church in Bull Creek, the school bell tolled for all funerals. The bell would mournfully ring until the funeral procession reached the graveyard.

The services in the early days were conducted by the Rev. James “Father” Hamilton Sr., one of the early settlers. After his death, Howard Lewis would read a few passages from the Bible. Sometimes two of the ladies of the valley would sing hymns, or they would be sung by the whole group. In those days mourning was carried on to a greater extent than now. It was remembered at one time a woman fainted and had to be laid out under one of the trees while the funeral proceeded.

Around the turn of the century, Bull Creek got a post office. Mrs. Rose Taylor, the daughter of Mr. Howe, thought it would help the residents of the valley to have their won post office. The nearest was located at Dyerville. She applied for a post office under the name of “Helper.” She was the first and only woman postmaster Bull Creek ever had. The post office lasted for a few years and was closed due to the lack of business.

On June 10, 1909, Hugh Hamilton of Bull Creek married Ruby Butler of Burlington. They were to be married in the house, but they invited more guests than the house could hold. So they decided to hold their wedding outside. A large hollow log was selected. The tree is no longer standing, for it was removed when the old Redwood Highway was constructed many years ago. The tree hollow for the occasion was lined with ferns, roses and redwood lilies, serving as a chapel.

Standing inside the tree were the minister, E. P. Shires; the bride, Ruby Butler; the groom, Hugh Hamilton; the bridesmaid, Edna Bliven, who was a cousin of the bride; and the best man, John Hamilton, a brother of the groom. The guests stood before the tree while the minister performed the ceremony.

Mr. Hamilton took his bride to home at Bull Creek, where all of the people in the community turned out to greet them. For many years, they lived in the little valley where Mr. Hamilton was born. He died some years ago and was buried in the old Bull Creek Cemetery.

Mrs. Hamilton lives in Rio Dell. She had resided in Bull Creek for 54 years before selling
her home to the state park system.

Between Mrs. Grace Baxter and Mrs. Ruby Hamilton, this story – this history – was made possible. It was compiled and prepared originally by Fred and Helen Elliott of Scotia.

As we all know, nothing today remains of the old community of Bull Creek. The site is now the property of the California State Park System.