Lander County History
"History of Nevada," Angel Myron, Editor, Thompson & West, Oakland California, 1881:
The occupation and settlement of the various States, Territories and localities on the Pacific Coast have been in periods of excitement and by "rushes" of people. Possibly' in no other way could the development of the country, or at least many localities have been accomplished, and, however much an excitement and consequent rush may be deprecated the results have been, almost without exception, of great public benefit. Great indignation has at times prevailed against those who have told stories of rich prospects, and traditions are extant of the summary execution of men who have led others on a wild hunt for rich mines which they failed to find. But wherever the rushes have been some discoveries have been made, and settlements followed. California was thus settled in the excitement consequent on the gold discovery of 1848. British Columbia was overrun and brought to the knowledge of the world by the Fraser River excitement; the current of population was turned over the Sierra Nevada by the Washoe excitement, and at last the great interior of the wilderness was penetrated at a bound in consequence of the Reese River excitement. Perhaps without an excitement the distant Pacific Coast, with all its loveliness, would have remained unoccupied, and the sage-brush plains of Nevada would still have remained on the maps as "Unexplored Regions."
The Reese River excitement began in 1862. At that period the overland mail created all the civilized life of the central and eastern part of the Territory of Nevada. The route crossed the valley of Reese River at Jacobs Station, and from eight to twelve miles northeast crossed the Toiyabe range of mountains, by a pass called Telegraph Canyon. Nearly east of Jacobs Station was a pass, through which the Pony Express riders had often traveled as a cut-off on the overland road, and, as a consequence, received the name of Pony canyon. From this canyon, on the second of May, 1862, Mr. William M. Talcott, who had been a Pony Express rider before that institution was superseded by the telegraph, was hauling wood for the stage station, and discovered a vein of ore-bearing quartz. The ore was taken to the station, and some sent to Virginia for assay. Proving rich, the report of the new discovery soon got abroad, and the excitement soon followed.
The previous history of this section consisted in the laying out of the Simpson Route, the establishing of the overland mail, the construction of the telegraph, all of which are related elsewhere in this work. Talcott, the discoverer of the ledge which he named the Pony, and the first Recorder of the district, was a native of Maryland, to which State he afterwards returned and died.
Reese River Mining District was organized on the tenth of May, 1862. The first locators of mines were Wm. M. Talcott, Felix O'Neil, Augustus Clapp, James Farmer, G. W. Jacobs, J. R. Jacobs, A. P. Hawes, Joseph Town, Walter Cary, G. L. Turner, and T. L. Grubb. Their locations covered a total of of 2,500 feet. The first location was called the Pony Ledge, which is now owned by Charles R. Stebbins of Austin.
Organization and Boundaries.
The bill creating Lander County, out of portions of Humboldt and Churchill Counties, was framed by A. J. Simmons, and was approved December 19, 1862. The boundaries of the new county were defined in the statute as follows;
Beginning at the point of intersection of the fortieth meridian of longitude, west from Washington, with the forty-second parallel of north latitude, or northern boundary of Nevada Territory; thence, running south on the line of said fortieth meridian of longitude, through the counties of Humboldt and Churchill, to the thirty-ninth parallel of north latitude, or northern boundary line of Esmeralda County; thence east, along the said northern boundary line of Esmeralda County, to the eastern boundary line of the Territory; thence north, following the eastern boundary line of the Territory, to the northern boundary line of the Territory aforesaid; thence west, along said northern boundary line, to the place of beginning.
This included about one-third the area of Nevada, as its boundaries then existed. The region was a vast, unexplored wilderness, crossed by two overland routes of travel, the Humboldt Valley and the Simpson routes. The mines in Pony Canyon had been discovered, and the name of "Reese River" given to the district. Six miles west, near the stream called Reese River, was a station of the Overland Mail, and the only settlement near. This was then called Jacobs' Springs, afterward called Jacobsville, in honor of George Washington Jacobs, the division agent of the Overland Mail Company. Here was located the county seat, subject to a vote of the people at the next general election. In the midst of the mines in Pony Canyon, Austin had been built, and on the second of September, 1803, the people voted that Austin should become the county seat. By calculations subsequently made the fact was ascertained that the western boundary of the county, the fortieth meridian, was east of the county seat. This was rectified by an Act approved February 20, 1864, by removing that part of the western boundary between the fortieth and thirty-ninth parallels westward to the Mount Airey Station, a distance of about twenty miles. This line was subsequently made to conform to the summit of the Desatoya range of mountains.
By Act of Congress approved May 5, 1866, a strip of territory of one degree of longitude was taken from Utah and added to Nevada, ceding to the State at the same time all that part of Arizona north and west of the Colorado River. This added three square degrees of territory to Lander County, which then comprised about twenty-eight percent, of the entire State, and all the population of the region which soon became known as "The Great East." From this great area numerous counties were afterwards carved, giving Lander the title of "Mother of Counties."
By an Act approved March 5, 1869, the counties of Elko and White Pine were created, taking a little more than two degrees of the eastern part of Lander, and by an Act approved March 1, 1871, all that portion north of the forty-first parallel was ceded to Elko. By an Act approved March 1, 1873, the county was divided by a line drawn south from a point midway on its northern boundary, and the eastern portion was made the county of Eureka. Subsequently to the organization of Nye County, a strip of about ten miles in width was added to it from the southern part of Lander, and, in 1873, the line between Lander and Humboldt was adjusted to run from the northeast corner of Churchill direct to the center of township 32 north, range 42 east, Mount Diablo base and meridian, thence east to the fortieth meridian of longitude, taking quite a large area from Humboldt County, and with it all the lower portion of the Reese River Valley. The present area of the county is about 5,200 square miles.
The name was bestowed in honor of General Frederick W. Lander, previously mentioned in the history of the Indian War of 1860, who was in charge of the construction, by the United States Government, of a wagon road across Nevada. He subsequently became a Brigadier General in the Union Army during the war of the Rebellion, dying at the age of forty, at Paw Paw, Virginia, March 2, 1862, from wounds received in battle.
County Seat and Court House
By the provisions of the creative Act, Jacobsville was made the county seat of Lander until a census could be taken, and a permanent location could be fixed upon by a vote of the people. The Governor was authorized to appoint, prior to the next general election, such county and township officers as he might deem necessary. The County Commissioners, thus appointed, hold their first meeting March 3, 1863, approved the bonds of officers presented, and granted to J. Gooding a franchise for a toll-road across Warsaw Slough to Jacobsville. They also authorized the County Clerk to advertise for bids for a Court House. At a subsequent meeting held April 29th, they awarded the contract to J. A. McDonald. He was to have the building completed by the first of August following, and was to receive therefor the sum of 88,440. At the same meeting they divided the county into thirteen districts. The Court House was completed on time; and at the meeting, held August 5th, the Commissioners accepted the building, and issued scrip to the contractor for the amount agreed upon. They also re-divided the county into ten districts, each to be a voting precinct, and to have a Justice of the Peace. The census taken in July, 1863, showed the actual residents in these precincts to be 1,052 men and 110 women, also two "young children," which were credited to Austin. No attempt was made to enumerate the prospectors scattered among the hills of the various mining districts, but their number was estimated at 400. About 500 emigrants, not entitled to vote, were not included in the census. Counting all, the total population of Lander County on July 22, 1863, footed up 2,062; and the larger proportion consisted of persons under forty years of age. By a vote of the people at the election, hold September 2, 1863, Austin was made the county seat; and the new Board of Commissioners met on the twenty-first of September, at Jacobsville, and adjourned to meet at Austin in the afternoon of the same day.
court House and County Seat
The Court House which had been built at Jacobsville was removed to Austin immediately after, and additions made thereto. At a meeting of the Board, held in April, 1804, voting precincts in each of the four wards were established, and the nineteenth day of April fixed as Election Day. They also divided the county into nine townships for the purpose of revenue, issued scrip in payment of outstanding claims against the county, and entered upon what now would seem to be a system of useless as well as extravagant expenditure of public funds. Within two years after the organization of the county it was nearly $200,000 in debt, and its scrip sold for fifteen cents on the dollar.
Judicial District and Schools
By an Act, approved February 16, 1864, Lander County was attached to the Third Judicial District, that district being already composed of Lyon and Humboldt Counties.
In October, 1865, H. S. Herrick, Superintendent of Public Schools for the county, reported that there were five school districts, four school houses, and five schools in the county; that there had been expended for school purposes during the year 84,464.14, and that the number of children of school age was 444. The schools were carried on by the aid of the State School Fund and a direct property tax.
Officers Appointed and Elected
By the Act creating Lander County, the Governor was authorized to appoint, prior to the next general election, such county and township officers as ho may deem necessary. The appointments made by him, December 22, 1862, together with all subsequent appointments and elections to office in this county, are given hereafter with the title of the office, the name of the officer and date of election or appointment in each case.
Senators
D. E. Waldron, elected to Council September 2, 1863
A. B. Dibble and A. P. Hereford, elected Senators January 19, 1864, under the Constitution that was defeated M. D. Larrowe, elected November 8, 1864, became non-resident September 21, 1860
W. W. Hobart, elected November 8, 1864
W. W. Welty, and G. T. Terry, elected November 6, 1866. Terry was elected to fill the unexpired term of Larrowe. S. Wilson, elected November 3, 1868
W. W. McCoy, and John Spencer, elected November 8, 1870
Geo. W. Cassidy, elected November 5, 1872
M. J. Farrell, elected November 3, 1874, re-elected November 5, 1878.
Assemblymen
T. J. Tennant and R. S. Dixon, elected Representatives under Territorial Government September 2, 1863
C. S. Sherman, S. G. Sewell and D. H. Lemmon, elected Assemblymen January 19, 1864, under the Constitution that was defeated
E. A. Morse and D. P. Waters, elected Representatives under the Territorial Government, but were superseded by the adoption of the Constitution at the same election, September 7, 1864
D. P. Waters, J. L. Hinckley, E. P. Sine and M. A. Rosenblatt, elected Assemblymen November 8, 1864
J. M. Dorsey, J. R Jacobs, T. J. Tennant, and Robert Cullen, elected November 6 1866
T. J. Tennant, R. J. Moody, Geo. D. Coburn and Geo. F. Mills, elected November 3, 1868
S. L. Fuller, T. J. Jones, L. Murphy and H, A. Willard, elected November 8, 1870
E. J. Elzy, R. L. Horton, Frank V. Drake and James H. Burgess, elected Novembers, 1872
Geo. Watts and Andrew Nichols, elected November 3, 1874
James E. Rooker, Andrew Nichols and M. A. Sawtelle, elected November 7, 1876
Thomas E. Hagar, Geo. Watts and John Smyth, elected November 5, 1878
John Smyth, W. B. Newell and C. P. Soule, elected November 2, 1880
County Commissioners
J. A. Veatch, Wm. M. Talcott and Geo. W. Wilson, appointed January 26, 1863
Talcott resigned April 10th and Abraham Hopper was appointed April 20, 1863, to fill vacancy
Wilson resigned May 15th, and James P, Greaves was appointed July 17, 1863, to fill vacancy
T. H. Thompson, Wm. B. Morse, and J. P. Greaves, elected September 2, 1863
G. A. Swasey, appointed December 5, 1863, in place of Thompson
E. G. Lamb, appointed March 24, 1864, in place of Swasey
J. A. Mitchell, appointed August 17, 1864, in place of Lamb
Morse, left the county, and George May appointed to fill vacancy December 3, 1863
M. P. Haynes, appointed April 20, 1864, in place of May, resigned
AV. II. Anderson, appointed July 23, 1864, in place of Haynes, resigned
Greaves, resigned April 12, 1864, and R. H. Williams appointed June 16, 1864, to fill vacancy
F. C. Chase, appointed November 11, 1864, in place of Williams
A. H. Wilson, F. C. Chase and J. M. Jones, elected September 7, 1864
J. O. Mitchell, A. H. Wilson and John Gray, elected November 8, 1864
J. F. Hallock, J. A. Mitchell and John Gray, elected November 6, 1866
Gray resigned August 7, 1867
James Burgess, John Spencer and M. Sowers, elected November 3, 1868
M. Sowers, J. H. Burgess and Matt. Furth, elected November 8, 1870
W. S. Gage and Wm. Arrington, elected November 5, 1872
Arrington resigned March 11, 1873
Gage resigned September 15, 1876
A. M. Home and J. W. McWilliams, elected Novembers, 1874
Geo. L. Love, and J. N. Baker, elected November 7, 1876
J. H. Burgess, J. N. Baker and Henry Kling, elected November 5, 1878
Burgess died January 3rd, and T. W. Triplett appointed June 17, 1879, to fill vacancy
A. A. Curtis and J. P. Cope, elected November 2, 1880
PROBATE JUDGES.
Parish B. Ladd, appointed December 22, 1862, removed for disloyalty July 6, 1863, and J. H. Ralston appointed to fill vacancy.
E. A. Crane, elected September 2, 1863.
Geo. S. Hupp, elected County Judge January 19, 1864, but never served, the Constitution under which he was elected being defeated.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
John Carmichael, appointed December 22, 1862
Frank Jones, elected September 2, 1863
E. C. Brearly, elected November 8, 1864, resigned June 12, 1865, and B. P. Rankin, appointed to fill vacancy
H. Mayenbaum, elected November 6, 1866, re-elected November, 1868
F. H. Harmon, elected November 8, 1870
N. D. Anderson, elected November 5, 1872, re-elected November 3, 1874, re-elected November 7, 1870
George A. Douglass, elected November 5, 1878
H. T. Creswell, elected November 2, 1880
COUNTY SHERIFFS.
George W. Jacobs, appointed December 22, 1862
J. H. Tabor, elected September 2, 1863
J. Leffingwell, elected November 8, 1864
B. F. Sanborn, elected November 6, 1866
J. M. Dawley, elected November 3. 1868
C. D. Spiers, elected November 8, 1870
John Emory, elected November 5, 1872, re-elected November 3, 1874
J. C. Harper, elected November 7, 1876, re-elected November 5, 1878, died December 12, 1879, and B. C. Thomas appointed December 18th to fill vacancy
B. C. Thomas, elected November 2, 1880
COUNTY CLERKS.
Elisha A. Marsh, appointed December 22, 1862
S. E. Greeley, elected September 2, 1863
Richard Brown, elected November 8, 1864
C. D. Spier, elected November 6, 1866
D. C. McKenney, elected November 3, 1868
John H. Dennis, elected November 8, 1870
M. J. Farrell, elected November 5, 1872
W. A. Clifford, elected November 3, 1874
J. L. Brennan, elected November 7, 1876
J. A. Miller, elected November 5, 1878, re-elected November 2, 1880
COUNTY TREASURERS.
Augustus Clapp, appointed December 22, 1862
J. M. Dawly, elected September 2, 1863
Wm. Pardy, elected November 8, 1864
Jesse Beene, elected November 6, 1866, re-elected November 3, 1868
George F. Dinsmore, elected November 8, 1870
A. A. Curtis, elected November 5, 1872, re-elected November 3, 1874
J. Gilbert, elected November 7, 1876
J. A. Wright, elected November 5, 1878, reelected November 2, 1880
COUNTY ASSESSORS.
James R. Jacobs, appointed December 22, 1862
H. S. Herrick, elected September 2, 1863
C. O. Barker, elected November 8, 1864
A. E. Titus, elected November 6, 1866
T. W. Triplett, elected November 3, 1868
S. O. Clifford, elected November 8, 1870, re-elected November 5, 1872
L. Duncan, elected November 3, 1874
C. D. Spiers, elected November 7, 1876
J. C. Smyle, elected November 5, 1878
L. Duncan, elected November 2, 1880
COUNTY RECORDERS.
James L. Thompson, appointed December 22, 1862
E. S. Davis, elected September 2, 1863, reelected November 8, 1864
Richard Brown, elected November 6, 1866
C. D. Spier, elected November 3, 1868
H. J. Biddleman, November 8, 1870, reelected November 5. 1872
J. F. Roberts, elected November 3, 1874
Charles Lund, elected November 7, 1876
A. C. McCafferty, elected November 5, 1878, re-elected November 2, 1880
County Superintendents of Schools
W. J. Brown, elected September 2, 1863, resigned March 8, 1864, H. S. Herrick, appointed to fill vacancy
H. S. Herrick, elected November 8, 1864
T. Norwood, elected November 6, 1866, resigned and J. S. Slauson appointed April 2, 1867, to fill vacancy
T. H. Harmon, elected November 3, 1868
M. Dozier, elected November 8, 1870
J. R. Williamson, elected November 5, 1872, re-elected November 3, 1874, reelected November 7, 1876
C. A. Dyer, elected November 5, 1878
J. S. Hammond, elected November 2. 1880
County Surveyors
Francis Tagliabue, appointed December 22, 1862
M. J. Noyes, elected September 2, 1863, re-elected November 8, 1864
T. J. Read, elected November 6, 1866
David Kerr, elected November 3, 1868
T. J. Read, elected November 8, 1870
Wm. A. Edwards, elected November 5, 1872
C. Von Netzer, elected November 3, 1874
Melville Curtis, elected November 7, 1876
J. C. Smyle, elected November 5, 1878
Frank Duffy, elected November 2, 1880
Public Administrators
H. A. Barrows, elected November 8, 1864
W. W. Wixom, elected November 6, 1866
B. B. Stansbury, elected November 3, 1868
John Grove, elected November 8, 1870
W. B. Wilson, elected November 5, 1872, resigned March 28, 1873, and Richard Pierce appointed to fill vacancy J. Dreyfus, elected November 3, 1874
R. Y. Woodward, elected November 7, 1876
P. Laughlin, elected November 5, 1878, reelected November 2, 1880
Collectors
Samuel Gilson, appointed December 22, 1862. In accordance with the provisions of an additional Act approved December 19, 1862, the office of Sheriff and Collector of Lander County were consolidated.
In view of frosts, lack of rain, and the apparent sterility of the soil, the first settlers of Lander County entertained little hope of ever being successful in agricultural pursuits. In this they were not much mistaken, although experiments and intelligent operations have resulted in the production of sufficient grain and vegetables to meet the local demand, and at prices profitable to the producer and reasonable to the consumer. Stock-raising has also become an important industry. Still the leading industry of the county is and always has been that of mining.
The first bullion product was from Buell's five stamp mill, which was put in operation in August, 1863, and was the first mill started in the county. From this time forward the construction of mills kept pace with the discovery of mines. In the beginning of 1865 there were fifteen mills in operation in the county, with a total number of 110 stamps, and in the spring of 1866 there were twenty-nine mills, with an aggregate of 444 stamps. The cost of a twenty-stamp steam mill at the place of manufacture in San Francisco was, at that time, from $17,000 to 825,000. The cost of transportation to the Reese River District was from 64,000 to 87,000, and ground, grading, furnaces, buildings, etc. usually made the cost aggregate from $125,000 to $250,000 for a first-class mill. There were at that time nearly sixty mining districts in the Reese River region.
The yield of the mines increased steadily from 1863, when the product was 816,109, to 1868, when it was 82,574,810; and the total product to 1880 was 816,659,209. The revenue derived from the tax on bullion aided the county greatly in the reduction of its bonded and floating indebtedness, and in placing itself upon an easier financial footing.
Bonds, Property and Population
By an Act of the Legislature, approved January 23, 1877, the county was authorized to issue its bonds to the amount of $200,000 in aid of the Nevada Central Railroad, which was soon afterward completed, giving the county of Lander quicker communication with the outside world. The total population, as appears from the census of 1880, is 3,624. The assessed valuation of property for that year was $2,007,319; total debt, $200,000, and cash on hand in the treasury of the county, $17,348.03.
Principal Towns
Austin leads in age as it does alphabetically the towns of Lander, while Amador, once its rival, has passed to the list of "deserted towns and cities." The growth of Austin and its history will constitute the major part of the history of the county. Should one look for it on the map, it will be found in latitude 30° 29' W' and in longitude 40° 4' west from Washington, or almost exactly in the center of the State. Senator M. J. Farrell, in a lecture before the Reese River Pioneers, gave such a sketch of its history that it is reproduced in the following:
When I arrived in Austin in April, 1863, there was but one house, unfinished, and a few brush tents. Clifton was at that time a very lively mining camp, containing probably twenty or twenty-five houses, and was rapidly filling up with pilgrims from California, but the grand rush had not commenced. I made a trip to California, in September of that year, and the emigration was then at its zenith. I did not take the trouble to count, but others did, and one who traveled over the road on horseback, and was part of two days off the main track, reported 274 freight teams (carrying freight at fifteen to twenty cents per pound), nineteen passenger wagons, three pack trains, sixty-nine horsemen, and thirty-one footmen between Austin and Virginia. Another recorded 400 teams of all descriptions, counted in a stage ride between the same places, and it would be safe to say that there were one-third as many on the way from Salt Lake City and the East. At the same time two lines of stages from Virginia were booked for six or seven days ahead; and parties in Virginia who never intended to come to Austin made a good speculation by booking and selling their chances, at a good advance, to persons who were afraid the claims would all be located before they could get to the scene. In fact, the road was literally crowded with people in wagons, stages, carriages and carts, on horseback, on donkeys with saddles and without saddles, with hand-carts, wheelbarrows, on foot, and in every other conceivable mode of traveling, all rushing wildly to Reese River, the land of promise, the poor man's paradise, the Mecca of fortune's devotees. They seemed to have but one idea, with which they were perfectly saturated, and that was to get to Austin quick. It was impossible not to get excited when brought in contact with this eager crowd of people; and those who smiled at the recital when at a distance, in California or at the East, were the wildest of the wild when they reached here.
Houses were built, tents erected, and brush shanties thrown together and in an incredibly short space of time a town had sprung up as if by the touch of an enchanter's wand. Water was scarce, and an enterprising firm that retailed it in carts, cleared from $1,000 to $1,200 per week. The dust became unbearable, by reason of the immense amount of teaming and travel, and an Austin bath was described as composed of two inches of cold water in a big tub, a piece of brown soap, a napkin, and a dollar and a half. The whole surrounding section was laid off into lots, streets, blocks, mining claims and water rights. Even wet ground was made the subject of proprietary interest. City lots sold all the way from $100 to $8,000 apiece. During the summer of 1863, building operations were carried on with the greatest energy, and in addition to innumerable tents and shanties, 366 houses were built. Fortune-hunters from California brought their houses with them, having them all ready to put up on arrival at Austin.
New mining excitements occurred constantly, new districts were discovered and organized, new towns were laid off, and thousands who had hurried to Austin hurried off as eagerly elsewhere, and yet the Reese River metropolis contained 10,000 people. Money was abundant, chiefly in twenty-dollar gold pieces, which nobody could change, and provisions were correspondingly high. Flour, at one time, sold at fifty dollars per hundred weight. Every industrial avocation and every profession had representatives, and saloons and gambling dens were ample for all emergencies. Stages departed regularly to Watertown, Canyon City, Big Creek, Washington, Ione, Yandleville, Yankee Blade, Butte City, Geneva, Coral City, Jacobsville, Lander City, Pizarro, Clinton, Centerville, Augusta, Bolivia, Unionville, Star City and a multitude of places no longer heard of.
From California and Utah pack trains were constantly arriving, and even an air of oriental magnificence was imparted to the scene by the advent of a long train of camels, loaded to an astonishing extent. A duel occurred, a Young Men's Christian Association was formed, killings were common, six ore mills were put up, from ten to twenty mining organizations were incorporated daily, an enormous postal and express business was transacted and more than fifteen hundred offices were opened in San Francisco for the sale of the hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of stock of the thousands of Reese River mining companies."
Some additional accounts of early events have been furnished by John Frost, of the Manhattan Company. He says that Felix O'Neil, J. Q. C. Vandenbosch, George Buffet, and himself, arrived in Austin on the eighteenth day of December, 1862, and found a Mr. Marshall and William Cole living in a cabin at Clifton, and running what was known as the Highland Mary Tunnel, opposite the present site of the International Hotel, on the south side of the canyon, at a point which is now near the middle of the town of Austin. There was no one else there at the time, and as they wore the first to build a cabin, they could properly be called the first settlers, although the first discovery of the mines was made by the pony rider.
Mr. Frost and his partners located claims known as tho North Star, Oregon and Southern Light, and then returned to the Truckee River to spend the winter.
They returned in March, 1803, and built the first cabin in Austin, which was of logs. The claims they located formed the nucleus of the present Manhattan Company. The company was first known as O'Neil, Frost A: Co.; then as the Oregon Company, under which name a ten-stamp mill was built and operated for two years. In June, 1865, the property was sold to a New York Company, and the name changed to Manhattan. The Frost A. O'Neil survey was the first town location made, and its object was to secure the water and mill site. After that, Marshall, previously referred to, located a town site; and after him, D. E. Buell, W. C. Harrington, E. Welton, and I. C. Bateman made a location. The citizens, together with the town-site proprietors, built the grade which made Austin possible, as no teams could previously get up from the valley. This was in the spring and summer of 1863. Meantime, the town of Clifton, situated on the flat at the mouth of the canyon, had grown to respectable dimensions, but after the grade was built its inhabitants commenced moving up to Austin, which became the central town. The cost of the grade was $3,000. By the sixth of April, 1863, the town company had also completed the International Hotel, at Austin, a building, 37x90 feet in size; had donated $8,000 for the establishment of the Receille newspaper; and one of its members, Buell had started to San Francisco to secure the erection of an ore mill.On April 6th a post-office was in operation at Clifton, with John W. Clark as Postmaster. G. L. Turner also started a pony express for the carrying of letters to the various" mines, and to an office of Wells Fargo & Co., that was in charge of S. W. Langhorne. The Reveille of May 16th mentions that Clifton has hotels and stores of every description; that Austin promises to be a fine town; that flour is selling at seven dollars per hundred, whereas it commanded twenty-two dollars in January; that the overland stages pass regularly; that an extra line departs for Virginia City; and that Austin is within four days' travel of San Francisco, and three days travel of Salt Lake City. The same day it records the return of J. K. Jacobs from Carson City, bringing with him his daughter Nellie and Mrs. J. Steadman, who were just over from San Francisco. To meet these parties, "Wash" Jacobs and General Ford drove in a buggy to Mount Airey. Captain To-to-a, high chief of the Shoshones, also met them at New Pass Station, accompanied by a band of his chosen braves. His attachment to Mr. J. R. Jacobs was remarkable, whose life he several times saved by giving timely warning of impending peril, and by putting out of the way jealous or vicious members of the tribe. On one occasion To-to-a killed an Indian who designed to assassinate Mr. Jacobs for the reason that the latter had given the Indian some medicine which failed to effect a cure. On May 23rd it is recorded that ''that International Hotel is under the control of the firm of Bateman, Paul & Buell. George. W. Terrill has supervision of the restaurant in connection with the same, and presides with dignity." In June following, this hotel, which was but a lodging-house and saloon, was leased to Charles Stebbins.
In addition to these W. K. Logan, at present Justice of the Peace, kept a tobacco and stationery store. Jeff. Work, afterwards in the United States Land Office, kept the Hank Exchange Saloon, and Daniel E. Waldron, now of San Francisco, was attorney-at-law. Austin then contained about 450 citizens, and its business enterprise was represented by two hotels or lodging-houses, two stores, five saloons, one billiard room, two meat markets, one bakery, two stationery stores, three blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, one variety store, three laundries, one lodging-house and a new one in course of construction, one livery stable, one barber shop, one tailor shop, telegraph office. Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express Office, John Leach. Agent, Turner's Express Office, two adobe yards, one dairy, one printing office, two lawyers, four Notaries Public, one sign painter, four carpenters, four stone masons, one boot and shoe store, one physician.
In July of this year Miss Jennie B. Bauch started a school in a brush tent. The Receille of July 20th records the death of Annie McDonald, and alludes to it as ''the first from natural causes." The first child, a daughter, was born to Mrs. W, M. Middleton, of Upper Austin, in the latter part of June; and, on July 4th, the first marriage took place, C. Bryant to Mrs. J. E. Leet.Austin the County Seat
By a vote of the people at the election held September 2, 1863, Austin was declared the county seat of Lander County. It was here that prospectors, miners and men of means were congregating. It was thought to be the center of a series of mineral-bearing veins, which would be found to extend through the earth for miles around. These things, together with the fact that it occupied about the geographical center of the State from which parties in search of mines would take their departure, and to which they would return, raised great hopes concerning the future of Austin. The population increased rapidly, and the highest prices were paid for mechanics of all kinds. Food was scarce, and 8400 per thousand was paid for lumber. The cost of working ore was 8100 per ton, and, in January 1804, the mills reported a total production of ore to date of 8100,000.
On the second of January, 1864, a fire company was organized, which was called the Hook and Ladder Company of Austin, with ten charter members. Wm. J. Brown was elected President, and J. K. Fisher, Foreman. At a meeting held January 11th the name was changed to Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company, and under this name the organization exists at the present lime, with the following officers: George W. Dixon, President; W. Walton, Foreman; R. Y. Woodward, First Assistant; John Gray, Second Assistant; W. A. Clifford, Secretary, and W. P. Dyer, Treasurer. The company now consists of twenty-six active and four honorary members. The first outfit was obtained by donations from citizens, but the present one was purchased by the company itself. In July, 1880, the funds of the company on hand, derived from dues and fines, was $706.46. Since the organization of the first company two other companies have been organized, the Manhattan Hose and Eagle Hose. The regular officers of the Fire Department of the city at the present time are, Melville Curtis, Chief Engineer; A. Nicholls, First Assistant; A. Sower, Second Assistant. The Board of Delegates are C. P. Soule. Wm. Schwin, Geo. Alsop, J. B. Eddy, R. Y. Woodward, Joseph McGinness and Patrick Lynch, the first three named being respectively President, Treasurer and Secretary.
Incorporated As A City
In January, 1864, a petition was largely signed by the citizens of Austin, asking the legislature to incorporate Clifton, Austin and Upper Austin into one body politic, to be known as the "City of Austin." On the seventeenth of February, 1864, the Governor signed the bill which was passed in accordance with such petition, and the City of Austin was launched with high hopes and brilliant prospects. The first city election, which was held April 19, 1864, and at which there were 1428 votes cast, resulted in the choice of the following officers: Mayor, Charles Holbrook; Clerk, L. M. McKenney; Recorder, W. P. Harrington; Marshal, Louis M. Bodrow; Assessor, N. McLean; Aldermen, Wm. W. Hobart, Andrew Nichols, Thomas A. Waterman, Thomas W. Triplett, Dudley Sale, G. F. Dinsmore and S. O. Clifford.
On the day following this election, occurred the celebrated incident of the sale of Gridlej-'s sack of flour, the particulars of which will be found on pages 268, 269 and 270 of this work. By the terms of the Act of incorporation, the City Recorder was ex officio a Justice of the Peace; the City Marshal was also City Collector; and the City Clerk was Treasurer and Clerk of the Board of Aldermen. The City Attorney was elected by the Common Council, the choice falling on W. H. Beatty. Of the above-named officers, Bodrow was killed at Belmont, Dinsmore and Clifford died, and the remainder reside as follows: McKenney, in California; Harrington, in San Francisco; Harmon and Hobart, in Eureka County; Nichols, in Austin; Sale and Waterman, in Elko County; Triplett, in White Pine, and Beatty, late Supreme Judge, is now a resident of Sacramento.
Water Company and Stock Board
William C. Harrington, J. C. Bateman, John Frost, Felix O'Neil, J. Q. C. Vandenbosh and others organized a water company; and on the sixteenth of February, 1864, the Legislature gave them a charter, granting exclusive privileges in supplying the town of Austin with water, the same to extend over a period of fifteen years. By an amendatory Act, passed February 17, 1877, this charter was made to cover an additional period of four years. On the fourteenth of March, 1864, the "Pioneer Stock and Exchange Board" was organized for the purpose of dealing in mining stocks, but there was never very much business done, and the seats never commanded fabulous prices.
Reaction and Varying Fortunes
Alter such a period of wild excitement and feverish prosperity as accompanied the discovery of ore in Lander County, it was but natural that a reaction should follow. It came in the winter of 1864-65, and many who had been enormously rich in expectation were compelled to prospect again, or seek employment outside of the city. However, in the spring, speculators swarmed in from the East, claims were purchased, and a rage for building quartz mills ensued; and although the people sometimes overdid the business, and by the employment of incompetent superintendents, made partial failures in this line, yet Austin was destined to grow and become an important town. Wild speculation ceased, prudent ventures succeeded, and business flowed on smoother and in more enduring channels.
A fair estimate of the business transacted there may be formed from the simple statement of the passengers, produce, and building materials that were taken over the roads leading into the city during 1865. The Overland Mail Company carried between Virginia City and Austin 5,840 passengers, charging forty dollars each. The first part of the year the Reese River Fast Freight Company ran a tri-weekly line of stages, and carried several hundred passengers. Other occasional passenger wagons probably brought the number up to 6,000 for the year; 7,620 tons of freight, consisting of merchandise, machinery', and lumber were transported from San Francisco to Austin at a total cost, for freight alone, of $1,381,800. Lumber was brought from the Sierra at a cost of six cents per pound for freight. Besides the above, there were about 525 tons of freight hauled through this city to Salt Lake, Egan Canyon and other points east, making a total of over 8,000 tons arriving at Austin. The principal portion went through the care of the merchants of Austin, being established at this point. The rates of freight between Salt Lake and Austin ranged from six to nine cents per pound in coin; and from San Francisco to Austin from eight to twelve cents during ordinary weather; but in severe winters and springs they sometimes reached eighteen cents per pound. The charges on freights received at Austin during 1865 averaged over 84,000 daily.
The lumber at that time used at Austin and vicinity consisted of two varieties. The first-class article was brought from the Sierra Nevada. The second-class was manufactured from native pinion, and was known as Reese River lumber. The receipts for 1865 were as follows:
Sierra Nevada lumber 1,170.000 feet
Reese River lumber 1,200,000 feet
Total 2,370,000 feet.
This lumber cost, Sierra Nevada, $250 per thousand; Reese River lumber, $125 to 8150 per thousand. During that year, 1,600,000 shingles and shakes were received from the Sierra. The shingles cost 820 per thousand, and the shakes from $80 to $100 per thousand. The number of brick manufactured during the season was 2,500,000; price, 812 to $18 per thousand. A great quantity of brick was used during the year for the construction of mills, roasting furnaces, smoke stacks, stores, and dwellings; 250 tons of lime were also used at a cost of $45 per ton. Estimates and prices are always in coin, then at a great premium over the National, or Greenback, currency.
During 1865 the amount of treasure that passed through the office of Wells, Fargo & Co., at Austin, aggregated $6,000,000. A line of telegraph connected with every section of the Union, and a mail arrived daily both from the east and from the west, via the Overland Route. About 400 letters were received daily, and about the same number were dispatched. Letters, papers, and packages, were carried by express wherever stages went. Three banking houses were in operation (one of them a National bank) purchasing bullion, furnishing exchange, receiving deposits, loaning money, etc. The learned professions were represented by twelve physicians, five clergymen, and thirty-three lawyers. There were several private schools in addition to the public school, conducted by competent teachers, in which the English and foreign languages were taught, as well as vocal and instrumental music, drawing, dancing, and calisthenics.
Destructive Rain-Storms
Although business had settled into more conservative and legitimate channels, the White Pine excitement of 1868 attracted from Austin and vicinity large numbers of adventurous and enterprising men. Some who were doing moderately well where they were, were willing to change with even a remote prospect of doing better. In August of that year, also, great damage was done to the town by a destructive rain-storm. It occurred on the fifteenth day of the month. At half-past 2 o'clock in the afternoon a storm of rain and hail, accompanied by sharp lightning, swept over the city, and at four o'clock torrents of water poured down the canyon and through Cedar Street, destroying $80,000 worth of property.
The Reveille office, a one-story brick structure that stood above the Court House, was swept away and one life was lost, a man named Spernam was carried away in his saloon and drowned.
Six years afterwards a storm still more destructive to property visited the city. In August, 1874, a cloud burst occurred among the hills east of the town, and an immense volume of water poured down into Pony canyon, and rushed through the streets of Austin, dashing trees, boulders and drift of every description against the buildings, and creating great devastation. The inhabitants took the alarm in time, and fled to the hills. No lives were lost; but sidewalks, porches, roads, awnings and fences were demolished; goods and merchandise were swept away, and three feet of mud and debris filled the streets and houses when the waters had spent their force. The damage was estimated at $100,000, and the scene presented was deplorable. Resolute and undismayed, the people set to work to repair their loss, and within a few months no signs remained of the catastrophe.
Changes and Present Appearance
During the latter part of 1879 and the first part of 1880 the Nevada Central Railroad was built between Battle Mountain, on the Central Pacific Railroad, and Clifton, giving Austin railroad communication with San Francisco.
In the early part of 1881, Allen A. Curtis, one of the principal mine owners of Austin, constructed the Austin City Railroad to Clifton, to connect with the Nevada Central, It is a narrow-gauge road, and runs through the main street of the town.
There have been several changes in the organic Act which created the city of Austin, from time to time, and finally, the city was dis–incorporated by Act of the Legislature, and Austin is now a quiet, peaceful, and pleasant country town.
The present population, according to the census report of 1880, consists of 1,092 persons; in addition to which there are 320 Indians and 120 Chinamen.
Austin is situated in a canyon, running west into Reese River Valley, on the western slope of the Toiyabe Mountains, and at an elevation of about 7,000 feet.
Surrounding it on all sides are mountains and sage-brush valleys. Its streets are shaded, to some extent, principally with locust. Battle Mountain is ninety miles to the northward; Eureka, seventy-four miles to the eastward; Belmont, eighty-four miles to the southeastward; and Grantsville, seventy miles west of south. Fuel, chiefly nut pine, is brought by rail from the mountains to the north-ward. In the vicinity of the town are three cemeteries, which have been decorated and beautified to some extent. One hotel, seven or eight stores, two restaurants, fourteen saloons, three livery stables, three blacksmith shops, two assay offices, a printing office, a telegraph office, an express office, a foundry, and some railroad machine shops, comprise the leading industrial and business establishments. The buildings are constructed of wood, stone, brick, and adobe. The Catholic, Episcopal, and Methodist denominations are well organized, and have each a clergyman, and a fine brick edifice of worship, and have well-attended Sunday-schools. These churches are among the finest in the State.
Public educational facilities consist of one school held in a largo brick structure, capable of seating 400 pupils. Four teachers are employed, and the number of pupils in attendance is about 350, The County Hospital occupies a large brick building, and is under the management of the County Commissioners. The Court House, furniture, and the five lots surrounding the structure cost $30,000. The sidewalks of Austin are plank. In the vicinity of the town enough hay, barley, and vegetables are raised to supply the local demand. The Masons, Odd Fellows, Rebekah, Knights of Pythias, Red Men, Good Templars, Reese River Pioneers, and Ancient Order of Hibernians, all have lodges and societies. (See particulars elsewhere concerning the secret societies and benevolent associations of the State.)
The only mill now in operation at Austin is that of the Manhattan Company, which is a very complete establishment. It was built in 1863 as the Oregon Mill, and rebuilt in 1865 by a New York company, and transferred to the present company in 1875. Originally it consisted of ten stamps, and had a capacity of ten tons, but now contains twenty stamps, and has a capacity of twenty-two tons. Attached to it is a melting room and machine shop. The roasting is done in a Stetefeldt furnace, only salt being used in the process. The ore works to within ninety-three and one-half per cent, of its assay value, and has done so for the past two years. The engine is of 120 horse-power. Formerly from fourteen to eighteen cords of wood per day were required to run the mill, but since boilers, with upright tubes, have been put in, the same work is accomplished with six cords. The cost of wood, delivered at the mill, is twelve dollars per cord. The charge for working custom ore is thirty-five dollars per ton, and was formerly forty-five dollars. Previous to 1867 no record of the amount of bullion worked at the mill was kept. Since then the total amount has been to the value of $13,287,874.67. In and around the mill about forty men are employed who receive four dollars each per day. The present Manhattan Silver Mining Company is a San Francisco corporation, with the following officers: President, John A. Paxton; Vice-President, C. P. Hubbell; Secretary, John Crockett; Superintendent, Melville Curtis.
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