excerpts from Placer County History 1882
Thompson and West pages 364-65
The region including Applegate was first settled upon in 1849 by Lisbon
Applegate, and a village grew which bore the name of Lisbon, in honor of the
pioneer settler. The locality was on the road from Auburn to Illinoistown. The
precinct was first designated as the Bear River House, but in 1855 received the
name of Lisbon, a post office being then established under that name, with G. W.
Applegate as postmaster. The voting population numbered from twenty-five to
fifty, through a series of years, the majority being anti-Democratic–Whig, Know
Nothing, and Republican, in their order–until the abolishing of the precinct, in
1871.
Here is one of the finest fruit regions of the State, as has been demonstrated
by the success of Mr. Geo. W. Applegate and others of the locality. At an early
day Mr. Applegate planted a nursery, and also cultivated hay and grain, fencing
in upwards of 1,100 acres of mountain land. From his nursery he has extended his
vineyards and orchards until his trees are numbered in thousands and his
grapevines in hundred thousands. Apple, pear, plum, peach, quince, fig, orange
and almond, are the principal trees; grapes of every variety and berry bushes
and vines in great number. In connection with this extensive vineyard are
cider-mills, wine-presses and tanks, stills for brandy-making, wine cellar and
store-houses, and all the appurtenances necessary to so extensive a business. .
.The land lies in United States survey, townships 13 and 14 north, range 9 east,
Mount Diablo Base and Meridian.
Applegate is the station on the Central Pacific Railroad contiguous to this
region. It is ten miles northeast of Auburn, at an elevation of 2,014 feet above
the sea, and is in Township No. 4, of the political divisions of Placer County.