Big Bear, CA
I quiet mountain community full of back country adventure.
John Percival Jones
John Percival Jones (January 27, 1829 – November 27, 1912) was a prominent Anglo-American mining entrepreneur, capitalist, and long-serving politician whose career epitomized the intersection of Western mining booms, corporate investment, and national politics in the late 19th century. Known as one of the “Silver Senators,” Jones amassed significant wealth through silver mining in Nevada’s Comstock Lode before expanding his investments into California. His political influence as a U.S. Senator from Nevada for 30 years (1873–1903) amplified his role in promoting mining interests, free silver policies, and regional development.
Early Life and Arrival in the West
Born at “The Hay” in Herefordshire, England, Jones immigrated to the United States as an infant in 1829 with his family. He grew up in New York before heading west during the California Gold Rush. In 1849, at age 20, he arrived in California and settled in Trinity County in the northern part of the state. There, he engaged in placer mining, farming, and local affairs, serving as sheriff and justice of the peace in Weaverville. These early experiences in the Mother Lode region honed his skills in mining operations and frontier governance, though he did not achieve major wealth in California gold mining at this stage.
Rise in Nevada: The Comstock Lode and Crown Point Mine
Jones moved to Nevada in the mid-1860s amid the excitement of the Comstock Lode, the legendary silver discovery near Virginia City (then part of Utah Territory, later Nevada). In 1868, he became superintendent of the Crown Point Mine in Gold Hill, a key producer on the Comstock Lode. Under his management, the mine struck a rich ore body, propelling Jones to millionaire status and earning him the reputation as the Comstock’s first millionaire mine superintendent.
His heroism during a deadly 1869 fire on the Comstock further enhanced his stature. Jones was credited with brave actions that saved lives and property. This success, combined with his operational expertise, positioned him as a leading figure in Nevada’s mining industry. The Comstock’s deep, hardrock silver mining required substantial capital, corporate organization, and technological innovation—areas where Jones excelled as both manager and investor.
Political Career and the “Silver Senator” Era
In 1873, Jones was elected as a Republican U.S. Senator from the new state of Nevada, serving continuously until 1903—a remarkable 30-year tenure. He joined fellow mining magnate William Morris Stewart (another Comstock lawyer-turned-senator) in representing Nevada’s interests in Washington. Both became staunch advocates for free silver (bimetallism), opposing the gold standard and pushing policies favorable to Western mining states. Jones’s wealth and influence made him a powerful voice for silver producers nationwide.
Mining Investments in Nevada and California
Jones’s mining career extended beyond the Comstock. In Nevada, his Crown Point success provided the capital for further ventures. He invested in various Comstock properties and remained active as a capitalist even after entering the Senate.
His most notable California investment came in the mid-1870s with the Panamint silver district in the Panamint Range (now part of Death Valley National Park). In 1873–1874, rich silver outcrops were discovered in Surprise Canyon by prospectors (including former outlaws). Hearing of the excitement, Jones—fresh from Comstock riches—partnered with Senator Stewart to form the Panamint Mining Company. They invested heavily (reports vary from $250,000–$350,000 personally, plus millions raised from investors) to acquire controlling interests in key claims like the Wyoming and Wonder mines. They organized the district, built infrastructure (including a 20-stamp mill), and promoted the camp aggressively.
Panamint City boomed briefly to 1,500–2,000 residents in 1874–1875, becoming infamous for lawlessness (dozens of murders reported). Jones and Stewart floated stocks on the San Francisco Mining Exchange and cast bullion into heavy cubes to deter theft. However, the high-grade ore depleted quickly, and a devastating flash flood in 1876 destroyed much of the town. By 1877, operations collapsed amid a market panic, yielding little return despite massive investment. This bust highlighted the speculative risks of remote desert mining.
Jones also pursued broader California ventures tied to his mining interests. In 1874, he partnered with Colonel Robert S. Baker to develop Santa Monica as a seaside resort and potential port. He purchased a three-fourths interest in Baker’s Rancho Boca de Santa Monica ranch for $162,500 and built the Los Angeles and Independence Railroad (a narrow-gauge line from Los Angeles to Santa Monica, completed in 1875 without subsidies). Originally intended to connect to Inyo County silver mines (including Panamint) via Independence, financial strains from failing mines forced Jones to sell the railroad to Collis P. Huntington’s Southern Pacific in 1877. Santa Monica’s founding and early growth remain his most enduring California legacy.
Later Life and Legacy
After retiring from the Senate in 1903, Jones lived in comfort, dividing time between Washington, D.C., New York (where he owned a hotel), San Francisco (with a Turkish bath investment), and California properties. He pursued other interests, including early water reclamation ideas linked to what became Hoover Dam. He died in Santa Monica on November 27, 1912.
John P. Jones embodied the transition from individual prospecting to corporate mining capitalism in the American West. His Comstock fortune funded ambitious but often risky ventures like Panamint, while his Senate role shaped national mining and monetary policy. Though some investments (notably Panamint) ended in disappointment, his role in founding Santa Monica and promoting Western resource development left a lasting mark on California and Nevada history.
William Morris Stewart
William Morris Stewart (August 9, 1827 – April 23, 1909), often called the “Silver Senator,” was a prominent American lawyer, politician, and mining investor whose career intertwined deeply with the mining booms of California and Nevada. Known for his aggressive legal tactics, advocacy for free silver and mining rights, and involvement in high-profile (and sometimes controversial) ventures, Stewart amassed significant wealth through prospecting, litigation, and speculation before and during his long political tenure.
Early Life and Arrival in the West
Born in Galen, near Lyons, Wayne County, New York, Stewart was the oldest son of Frederick A. and Miranda Morris Stewart. His family moved to a farm in Trumbull County, Ohio, during his childhood, but he returned to Lyons for high school. In 1848, he entered Yale University but left after three semesters to join the California Gold Rush. Traveling via the Isthmus of Panama, he arrived in San Francisco in spring 1850 and headed to the gold fields near Nevada City, California. There, he prospected successfully, discovering the famed Eureka diggings and profiting enough to sell his interests at a substantial gain. This early success funded his shift from mining to law.
Legal Career and California Mining Ties (1850s)
Stewart studied law under John R. McConnell in Nevada City and was admitted to the bar in 1852. He served as district attorney of Nevada County in 1853 and briefly as acting attorney general of California in 1854. In 1855, he married Annie Elizabeth Foote (daughter of former Mississippi Senator Henry S. Foote) and moved to Downieville, California, in 1856, continuing his legal practice amid the region’s placer and quartz mining operations. His expertise in mining law—gained through litigation over claims, water rights, and ore disputes—laid the foundation for his later prominence.
Move to Nevada and the Comstock Lode (1859–1875)
The 1859 discovery of the Comstock Lode—one of the richest silver deposits in history—in what was then Utah Territory (soon Nevada) drew Stewart to Virginia City in 1860. He became the most prominent lawyer on the Comstock, specializing in mining litigation. He championed the “single ledge” theory (arguing the Comstock was one continuous vein), which influenced massive stakes in control of the lode. Stewart estimated earning $500,000 from four years of such cases, amid litigation costing up to $10 million overall. His aggressive style—sometimes described as not always strictly ethical—earned him a fearsome reputation.
Politically, Stewart helped shape Nevada: he served on the territorial council (1861), attended the 1863 constitutional convention, and became one of Nevada’s first U.S. Senators upon statehood in 1864 (serving until 1875). He drafted key national mining laws (1866 and 1872) formalizing Western practices like claim location and free access to public lands. He also contributed to the Fifteenth Amendment and supported railroad interests.
Investments and Controversies in Mining
Beyond law and politics, Stewart invested directly in mining:
- Comstock Lode: He participated as a capitalist after his legal work, profiting from the silver boom.
- Emma Mine (Utah, 1870s): Stewart promoted this silver mine in Little Cottonwood Canyon to British investors, raising millions. Accusations of fraud arose when the mine proved depleted or overvalued; he and partners sold shares profitably, tarnishing his reputation.
- Panamint City (California, 1873–1877): In late 1872/early 1873, prospectors (including outlaws) discovered rich silver in Surprise Canyon, Panamint Range (near Death Valley), while searching for the legendary Lost Gunsight Mine. Stewart partnered with fellow Nevada Senator John P. Jones (both dubbed “Silver Senators” for their mining ties) to form the Panamint Mining Company (capitalized at $2 million). They invested heavily—over $250,000–$350,000—buying claims (e.g., Wyoming, Wonder, Challenge), arranging amnesty for bandit discoverers (with restitution to Wells Fargo), and promoting the boom. Panamint City swelled to 1,500–2,000 residents with mills and infrastructure, but ore depleted quickly, and a 1876 flash flood devastated the town. The venture collapsed by 1877, adding to Stewart’s controversial legacy.
Stewart’s mining pursuits often blended speculation, promotion, and politics, drawing criticism for prioritizing profit and development over restraint.
Later Career and Legacy
After leaving the Senate in 1875 (due to financial pressures against rival William Sharon), Stewart practiced law in San Francisco and pursued unsuccessful mining schemes. He represented clients in scandals (e.g., William Sharon’s divorce) and briefly joined the Silver Party (1892–1899) to advocate remonetizing silver, editing the Silver Knight newspaper. Rejoining Republicans in 1900, he returned to the Senate (1887–1905), championing Western irrigation, mining safety, and opposing figures like John Wesley Powell on land policy.
In 1905, at nearly 80, Stewart moved to the Bullfrog mining district in southern Nevada, opening a law firm and dabbling in ventures. He died in Washington, D.C., in 1909, leaving a fortune from mining and law (estimated at millions earlier). Inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners (1964), Stewart embodied the rugged, opportunistic spirit of the mining West—shaping laws that enabled its development while embodying its excesses and controversies. His investments in California (early gold fields, Panamint) and Nevada (Comstock, later camps) helped fuel booms that transformed the region, for better and worse.
Keane Wonder Mine
The Keane Wonder Mine (also known as Keane Wonder Mine and Mill) stands as one of the most significant and best-preserved historic gold mining sites in Death Valley National Park, California. Located in the Funeral Mountains on the eastern side of Death Valley, it represents a rare success story amid the region’s typically short-lived and unprofitable mining ventures during the early 20th-century gold rushes.
Discovery and Early Development (1903–1906)
Prospecting in the Funeral Mountains dated back to the 1860s, but no major strikes occurred until the early 1900s. In December 1903, two prospectors from the nearby supply camp of Ballarat—Jack Keane, an Irish immigrant who had been struggling in the desert for years, and Domingo Etcharren, a one-eyed Basque butcher—explored an area known as Chloride Cliffs, initially targeting silver deposits.
After months of unsuccessful work on a ledge, Etcharren grew discouraged and left. Keane persisted and, by chance (some accounts credit Etcharren noticing a quartz outcropping as he departed), discovered a rich vein of free-milling gold ore—high-quality ore that could be processed relatively easily. This was Keane’s first major find after nearly a decade of hardship, leading him to name it the “Keane Wonder” (or “Keane’s Wonder”) in astonishment and optimism.
The pair quickly staked and patented eighteen claims to secure the site. They sold options on the property to investors, including a New Yorker named Joseph DeLamar, but initial deals fell through—partly due to competing discoveries elsewhere in the region (like the Bullfrog boom to the north). It wasn’t until 1906 that serious development began when investors, including John F. Campbell and later Homer Wilson (an experienced miner from California’s Mother Lode), purchased the claims for sums reportedly ranging from $150,000 to $250,000 before significant extraction.
As part of the agreements, Keane and Etcharren retained stakes: Keane became president of the Keane Wonder Mining Company, and Etcharren served as secretary.
Peak Operations and Infrastructure (1907–1912)
Under new ownership, the mine rapidly expanded into a full-scale operation. By 1907, it featured:
- A 20-stamp mill at the lower site to crush and process ore.
- An ice plant to combat the extreme desert heat.
- Support facilities for a mining camp, including worker housing.
The site’s steep, rugged location high on the mountainside posed major logistical challenges for transporting ore downhill to the mill. To address this, the company constructed a remarkable mile-long aerial tramway (approximately 1 to 1.5 miles, with about 1,000–1,500 feet of vertical drop) in 1907. This gravity-powered system used wooden towers, cables, and metal ore buckets to move material efficiently from the upper mine workings to the lower mill.
At peak production (roughly 1908–1911), the tramway transported up to 70 tons of ore per day (some sources note higher daily figures in short bursts). The ingenious design reduced costs dramatically compared to pack mules or manual labor on the treacherous slopes, making the operation profitable despite Death Valley’s harsh conditions (extreme heat, water scarcity, and isolation). The Keane Wonder became known as the “King of the Desert” in local papers like the Rhyolite Herald, and it was the most productive and longest-operating mine in the Funeral Mountains region—outlasting many flash-in-the-pan camps.
The mine yielded substantial gold (with some silver), with total output estimates ranging from $750,000 to over $1.1 million (equivalent to tens of millions in modern dollars) between 1904 and 1917, with the bulk from 1907–1912. It was one of the few truly profitable gold mines in Death Valley during this era.
Decline and Closure (1912–1942)
By 1912, easily accessible high-grade ore was largely depleted, leading to financial struggles and reduced activity. The mine was sold amid speculation that it was “played out.” Intermittent small-scale operations continued, but major production ended around 1916–1917. A final revival attempt ceased by 1942.
Post-Mining History and Preservation in Death Valley National Park
The National Park Service acquired the claims in the 1970s as part of Death Valley’s expansion and protection (Death Valley became a national monument in 1933 and a national park in 1994). The site preserves over 18,000 mining features park-wide, with Keane Wonder exemplifying early 20th-century engineering and hardship.
The area closed from 2008 to 2017 for safety reasons, including structural stabilization of unstable mine workings, hazard mitigation (e.g., after a fatal fall into a shaft in 1984), and soil sampling for contamination. Restoration focused on the aerial tramway towers, upper and lower terminals, and other structures. It reopened in November 2017 and is now a popular hiking destination via the Keane Wonder Mine Trail (a strenuous 3+ mile round-trip with significant elevation gain).
Keane Wonder Mine Trail Map
Today, visitors can view remnants including:
- Foundations of the stamp mill.
- Mine adits and shafts (do not enter—unsafe and illegal).
- The iconic line of wooden tramway towers and terminals stretching up the mountainside, with some ore buckets still in place.
The aerial tramway remains a highlight: a testament to innovative engineering that overcame the site’s extreme topography and enabled the mine’s success. It symbolizes how infrastructure could turn marginal deposits profitable in one of Earth’s harshest environments.
The Keane Wonder Mine offers a tangible link to Death Valley’s mining heritage—boom-and-bust cycles, perseverance, and the fleeting allure of gold in the desert.
Rochester Nevada – Pershing County Ghost Town
Rochester, Nevada, is a historic ghost town and former mining camp located in Rochester Canyon within the southern Humboldt Range in Pershing County, Nevada. Situated roughly 10-15 miles southeast of Interstate 80 (near the Oreana exit) and about 110 miles east of Reno, it lies in a narrow, steep canyon that once supported a booming silver and gold mining community.
Early Discovery and Initial Development (1860s–Early 1900s)
The Rochester district was first discovered in the early 1860s by prospectors from Rochester, New York, who found gold and silver deposits in the canyon. They named the area after their hometown. Small-scale mining occurred during this period, including work at sites like the Relief Mine in the southern part of the range. However, these early efforts yielded limited success, and the district remained relatively insignificant for decades, with only sporadic activity through the 1870s and into the early 20th century.
In 1905, Charles E. Stevens located claims on Nenzel Hill at the head of Rochester Canyon. These claims later passed to Joseph F. Nenzel.
The Boom Period (1912–1920s)
The true transformation came in 1912, when Joseph Nenzel shipped a small lot of float ore that assayed surprisingly high values. This led to the discovery of rich silver-bearing veins, sparking a major boom. Word spread quickly, and by 1913, the canyon’s population swelled to around 2,000 people.
The town developed in sections due to the steep terrain:
- Upper Rochester (also called Old Town or Rochester Heights) sat higher up the canyon.
- Lower Rochester was laid out on November 20, 1912, lower in the canyon and became the main hub, hosting the original post office.
Additional settlements included East Rochester and areas like Packard.
Two major companies drove operations:
- The Rochester Mines Co. built an all-slime cyanidation mill starting at 100 tons per day (later expanded to 160 tons).
- The Nevada-Packard Mines Co. constructed a 120-ton mill. In 1917, the Rochester Combined Mines Co. erected a $300,000 mill at Packard, though it operated briefly before shutting down (equipment later moved to Candelaria in 1922).
The district produced valuable silver, gold, copper, and lead, with estimates of total output ranging from $6 million to $10 million (primarily silver) during the main boom years from 1912 to 1928. Peak activity occurred in the mid-1910s, with the Rochester Mines Co. as a principal producer (facing but avoiding major apex litigation through compromise and consolidation into the Rochester Silver Corporation in 1920).
Decline and Ghost Town Status
Operations declined sharply in the late 1920s. The Rochester Silver Corporation ceased major work by 1929, and equipment was sold. Limited activity continued into the 1930s (e.g., the Buck and Charley Mine under the Rochester Plymouth Mines Co. in 1936), but the town faded as ore values dropped and the boom ended.
By the mid-20th century, Rochester had become a ghost town, with scattered ruins, mill foundations, and remnants stretching over two miles through the canyon.
Role in Pershing County History
Rochester played a significant role in the mining heritage of Pershing County, one of Nevada’s key mining regions. Pershing County—formed on March 18, 1919 (the newest county in Nevada, carved from Humboldt County and named after General John J. Pershing of World War I fame)—has long relied on mining and ranching. The area was part of early westward expansion routes like the Humboldt Trail.
Rochester’s 1912–1920s boom stood out as one of north-central Nevada’s most successful mining camps during a period when many districts struggled. Its production contributed to the region’s economy and highlighted Pershing County’s silver and gold potential in the Humboldt Range.
While the historic Rochester town is abandoned, modern mining revived in the district. The Coeur Rochester Mine (an open-pit heap-leach silver-gold operation) began in 1986, paused from 2007–2010, and resumed in 2011. It remains the largest employer in Pershing County today, building on the legacy of the early 20th-century discoveries.
Rochester exemplifies Nevada’s classic boom-and-bust mining cycle: modest beginnings, a dramatic silver rush, rapid growth, and eventual decline—leaving behind a poignant ghost town that attracts historians, explorers, and off-road enthusiasts.
Rochester Nevada Trail Map
Futher Reading
Lost Burro Mine
The Lost Burro Mine is one of the best-preserved historic gold mining sites in Death Valley National Park, California. Located in a remote draw at the northern end of the mountain range separating Hidden Valley from Racetrack Valley (near Teakettle Junction in the Ubehebe Mining District), the mine sits in rugged terrain accessible only by high-clearance 4WD vehicles via a rough 1-mile dirt track off the Hidden Valley road. Its isolation has helped protect the site from vandalism, making it a fascinating glimpse into early 20th-century prospecting life.
Discovery (1907)
The story of the Lost Burro Mine began on April 18, 1907, with a classic tale of serendipity. Prospector Bert Shively, while searching for his stray burros in a remote canyon, picked up a rock intending to throw it at the animals to get their attention. Instead of tossing it, he noticed the rock was laced with visible free gold. Surface assays from the outcroppings reportedly ran from $40 to $1,000 per ton — incredibly rich values for the era.
Shively quickly filed six claims and partnered with others, securing options worth around $45,000. The accidental discovery turned the site into one of the most promising gold properties in the Ubehebe District (an area otherwise known more for lead, silver, and copper).
Early Development and Peak Years (1907–1910s)
Despite the financial panic of 1907, work continued at the Lost Burro, regarded as one of the richest claims in the district. Ore samples averaged high gold values (some reports cite up to $80–$1,450 per ton in early assays), and the mine attracted multiple ownership changes and optimistic plans.
By the 1910s, development included short tunnels along the vein, with ore intersections averaging $25 per ton in later reports. Foundations were laid for a five-stamp mill and cyanide plant, intended to process ore on-site, with water piped in from Burro Spring (about 7.5 miles northeast on Tin Mountain) via a 2-inch pipeline. Remnants of this pipeline — along with rusted oil drums, tin cans, old chairs, and other debris — still litter the site.
The mine’s greatest production likely occurred between 1912 and 1917, though official records are sparse. It stands out as the only exclusively gold-bearing property in the Ubehebe District.
Later Operations and Decline (1920s–1970s)
The mine changed hands several times over the decades and was worked intermittently. In 1942, claims were relocated, and further amendments occurred in 1948 and 1970. A small amount of recorded production (about 255 ounces of gold between 1935 and 1942) exists, but unofficial estimates suggest the total lifetime output may have approached $100,000 in gold value.
Operations wound down by the 1970s, and the site was eventually incorporated into Death Valley National Park, where all mining claims became inactive.
Modern Legacy
Today, the Lost Burro Mine features a remarkably intact wooden cabin (in good condition, with stories of a “curse” leading some visitors to return removed artifacts), an outhouse, multiple adits (some used for storage), a one-chute ore bin, mill foundations stairstepping down the hillside, scattered machinery (including a small retort/smeltor and sluice box remnants), and tailings piles.
The site’s remoteness — requiring a challenging 4WD journey often combined with trips to the nearby Racetrack Playa — has kept it well-preserved and largely free of modern vandalism. Visitors are reminded to leave everything as found, as the area is protected wilderness.
The Lost Burro Mine remains a testament to the tenacity of Death Valley prospectors — turning a frustrated burro chase into a legendary gold story in one of the harshest environments on Earth. Always check current road conditions and permits with the National Park Service before visiting!