Sheldon Grist Mill - Sloughhouse, California

DATE VISITED:  04/11/2015

HISTORICAL SITE:  Sheldon Grist Mill Site

LOCATION:  12700 Meiss Road, Sloughhouse, Sacramento Co., CA

MARKER #:  439

DEDICATED:  September 26, 1997

"Site of grist mill built by Jared Dixon (Joaquin) Sheldon 1846-47 on Omochumnes Rancho, granted to him by Mexican government 1843. Sheldon born Vermont January 8, 1813, came to California 1832. Sheldon shot July 11, 1851, by miners in quarrel over dam he built which flooded miners' claims."

**closer look below

MARKER PLACED BY:  California Centennials Commission. Base furnished by Liberty Parlor No. 213 NativeDaughters and Elk Grove Parlor No. 41 Native Sons of the Golden West. 

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:  This stop occurred quite by happenstance. Driving down Hwy 16, I had told Daniel to be on the watch out for any historical monuments. 

I had looked in my rear view mirror and the receding mountains were beautiful. I asked Daniel to get a picture and suggested he aim the camera into the mirror on his side. He took a great picture of the mirror! We have to try this again....I'm still not sure it wouldn't have worked but a curve in the Highway, and the view was gone.

After we passed one going about 75...ummm, I mean 65, I told Daniel I wasn't very impressed with his co-piloting. Within a few miles we saw a sign announcing another monument. With a quick check that Daniel was game, I pulled into the parking lot of the Sloughhouse Inn.

Interesting thing about Jared Dixon Joaquin Sheldon's name... Dixon is a town, Joaquin is a county and Sheldon is a Street. 

Sheldon came to the area after receiving a land grant from the Mexican Government. "Omochumnes Rancho" was about 14,000 acres encompassing Sloughhouse & Rancho Murieta.

In 1845, Sheldon built a grist mill to mill wheat for Captain John Sutter on the Consumnes River.

The grinding stones were originally cut from a place called Stony Creek, about 25 miles from Sutter Fort. Archaeologists and geologists suspect they probably came from the area of present day Rocklin.

Sheldon was known for getting along with the Indians, employing local Miwoks. True or not, it was said that Indians on the Great Plain nursed Sheldon back to health when his companions abandoned him and that he hid with American Indians after a dispute with Mexicans near present day Los Angeles.

In 1850 and 1851, the area had a problem with horse and cattle thieves. As was normal for the time, vigilante groups meted out justice and locals, including Sheldon, took law into their own hands. Sheldon was known to be involved in several cases of whippings and hangings.

In 1851, Sheldon purchased land above Sloughhouse in order to use the river to irrigate crops and built a dam. Miners who had unrecorded gold mining claims on Sheldon's land had a bit of a problem from the flooding caused by Sheldon's dam. On July 12, 1851, Sheldon and his workers were in a faceoff with about 150 miners. When the shooting stopped, Sheldon and 2 others were killed.

I had a great day with Daniel and hopefully there are plenty of other opportunities to spend an afternoon with my son. Thank you Daniel!