Ranching

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This information has not been verified as accurate for 2026.

Clarksville settles down

Clarksville’s Gold Rush period was as rowdy as “Old Hangtown” itself. After the gold fever receded, Clarksville and other mining camps evolved into quieter farming and ranching communities.

Agricultural endeavors

Agriculture dominated the western foothills from the end of the Gold Rush until suburban growth began in the 1960s. Ranching was most common—cattle for beef, local dairies for milk and other products, along with sheep, goats, and horses for work and travel.

Figure 1. Carson Creek ranch (photo courtesy of El Dorado County Historical Museum photographic collection)

Fertile areas supported orchards and vineyards around El Dorado Hills. Local efforts included the Clarksville Grange, founded in January 1874, which served as a hub for community events and agricultural improvement.

Pioneer families

Short sketches of prominent pioneer families:

Barton. T. G. Barton owned 720 acres in 1873; Hiram E. Barton married Daisy C. Russi in 1896 near Clarksville.

Figure 2. Portrait of Hiram and Daisy Barton (photo courtesy of El Dorado County Historical Museum photographic collection)

Figure 3. Barton family on their Clarksville ranch (photo courtesy of El Dorado County Historical Museum photographic collection)

Fitch. George Fitch was a farmer with 445 acres; Wilbur Fitch was a local laborer (1884-85 directory).

Joerger. George Joerger ran a dairy, Joseph Joerger farmed; their property was later purchased by Allan Lindsey, El Dorado Hills’ founder.

Kyburz. Samuel and Rebecca Kyburz came to California in 1846 with their family, traveling separately from the Donner party. Samuel ran an inn at Sutter’s Fort before the family settled near Clarksville; in 1869, they purchased land previously held by the railroad.

Murphy. The Murphy family first occupied ranchland later owned by the Kyburz and Joerger families.

Figure 4. Murphy family (photo courtesy of El Dorado County Historical Museum photographic collection)

Cemeteries in the El Dorado Hills area

Two notable cemeteries preserve the memory of pioneer families:

Clarksville Cemetery: South side of Highway 50, above Town Center.

Mormon Island Cemetery: End of Shadowfax Lane off Green Valley Road, relocated when the original cemetery was flooded by Folsom Lake.

Figure 5. Grave moved from the original Mormon Island Cemetery (2003, by creators)

For more information

El Dorado County Historical Museum (eldoradocountyhistoricalmuseum.org)
California Cattlemen’s Association (calcattlemen.org)
“I Remember . . .” by Betty Yohalem
Pioneer Families of the El Dorado Hills Area—El Dorado County Genealogical Society (edcgs.org)
Historic Clarksville Region (clarksvillehistoricsite.org)

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This topic was initially populated using source material published in 2003, supplemented with additional input from human contributors and AI assistants in 2025. The content reflects legacy information, partial updates, and newly created information.