Deadwood was, during its brief existence, one of the most important business centers in early Siskiyou County. In 1857 it had three stores, three saloons, two butcher shops, a bakery, a blacksmith shop, two stables, and a dairy. Its businessmen included William Davidson, who owned a general store and butcher shop; C.H. Pyle, who operated another butcher shop; William Pool, owner of a trading post; and Dr. Daniel Ream, who owned the drugstore, along with Caleb Gartrell, Nathaniel Sawyer, S.E. Stone, A.B. Carlock, and M. Rosenberg. Despite a large business section with two hotels, the town had few residences, and most miners lived in tents, log cabins, and other shelters scattered along the creeks and gulches. In 1856 Deadwood was second only to Yreka in population and cast 475 votes at the county convention of 1857, coming within a few votes of becoming the county seat. By 1858 its prosperity had begun to fade, and on December 26, 1861, a disastrous fire burned most of the town; soon after, other fires completely destroyed Deadwood.