HOOVER-WILSON-On Oct. l2, l858
The United States government granted (320) acres to the state of California for the purpose of homesteading. This acreage was located east of Yager Creek and north of the Van Duzen River. It was unique mixture of pristine redwood forest and prime agricultural land. It wasn't to last long. On November 4, l958 Samuel Hoover and his wife Laura Mariah filed with the state of California Land Office at Sacramento for a 160 acre of this tract of land. It was approved on Nov. 24, l858 and fully paid for by May 8, l860. This tract of land was the site of the lst settlers of what would become known as Carlotta.
     S. Hoover and his wife spent the next years carving their niche in the valley and were the only settlers east of Yager Creek. They raised 2 children, Emila and Samuel L. As was the case with all the early settlers, times were hard and dangerous. On May of l86l, Samuel Hoover died and bequeathed one-half of his 160 estate which was at that time valued at $1500 and his personal property to his wife and the other half to his two children, Ameleia, age 6, and Samuel L., who was 3 years old. Laura Mariah Hoover became the administratrix of the Hoover estate as the children were too young to administer their own holdings.
     By June of l862, Laura M. married and friend and neighbor, Peter Donnelly. Donnelly was an early Hydesville settler who owned a homestead on Yager Creek, close to the Cooper Mill's Ranch. By law, women were not at this time, allowed to own property unless widowed. By reason of her intermarriage with Peter Donnelly, Laura M. (Hoover) Donnelly was rendered incompetent to complete the adminstration of her late husband's estate and petitioned to have her new husband, Peter, be appointed administrator on Feb. l0, l863.
For obscure reasons, in early l866, Peter Donnelly left the area for parts unknown, and he and Laura M. were divorced. In March of that year Laura applied with the State Land Office for a patent on the l60 acre Hoover Homestead. Because of the suspicious disappearance of Peter Donnelly, it would not be until l878, l2 years later, that the patent was issued. By April 3, l867, Laura M. (Hoover) Connellly has petitioned for and been ordered adminstartix of her late husband's estate, but on May 28. l867, Laura M. petitions the court to release her from the duties of administratix and to appoint Glock Hills, attorney for her two young children as adminstrator.
     During this process, the court with Judge J.E. Wyman, presiding, it is revealed that there is in excess of $700 of estate funds and property missing. On February l0, l868 the court issues a citation to Peter Donnelly directing him to appear in court March 2, l968 and to render all account of all money and property belonging to the estate of the late Samuel Hoover.
     During her lifetime, Laura deeded land to the California Midland Railroad and to Helen Reynolds. Laura donated a lot to First Baptist Church and the first church was built next to the present day Fischer's house. It was torn down in late 1960. Emil Paul Gundlach was a visiting preacher to this church back in the 1920's.
     By March of l868, the accounts of Peter Connelly were settled and John G. Wilson and Laura were married. John is named legal guardian of Laura's children, Emila and Samuel L. by the courts. John and Laura had another son named William S. Wilson John and Laura had another son named William S. Wilson.

1860- 
     On October 13 a county agricultural society formed in Hydesville. It was composed of citizens interested in the progress of agriculture, the mechanical arts and their development and material resources of Humboldt County. (Coy pg. 310). Its purposes were being developed by means of annual meetings and fairs.

1870-Yagerville
     Area we now know as Carlotta, primarily around the mouth of the Yager Creek. Three men had a shingle mill in the Yager Creek area. It is believed that as the number of employees grew at the mill, the collection of shacks became known first as Yager Camp, then as "Yagerville". In late years, the mill site grew as John M.Vance started developing his resort and hotel. Yagerville was then to become known as Carlotta, named after his daughter.
    From about l850 to l875 a road (trail) served the area and entry was gained by a grueling stage or wagon ride up the alluvial plain of the Van Duzen and Yager Creek drainages to the ridges of Bridgeville and beyond. As Eureka prospered in regards to outfitting of miners headed for the interior and by utilization of the redwood resource growing the in the "backyards" of Hydesville and Carlotta (the town had no name- it was just a wide spot on the trail at this time) slowly gained importance as a stopping point at the confluence of the Van Duzen and Yager Creek water courses. As the railroads grew up in the direction of John Vance in Eureka the tide of civilization slowly ebbed towards the area of Carlotta.

(Reported by C. Kellogg)