Tag: Esmeralda County

Esmeralda County, located in Nevada, is a sparsely populated region known for its rugged desert landscapes and historical mining sites. It is situated in the southwestern part of the state, characterized by vast expanses of arid terrain dotted with sparse vegetation and mountain ranges. The county’s history is deeply intertwined with mining, particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it experienced a boom due to discoveries of gold, silver, and other minerals. Today, Esmeralda County remains one of the least populated counties in Nevada, maintaining a sense of isolation and tranquility amidst its stark natural beauty. It attracts visitors interested in exploring its mining heritage, stargazing under clear desert skies, and enjoying the solitude of its remote landscapes.

Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad

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The Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad was a standard gauge railroad which operated along 197 miles between the town of Las Vegas and Goldfield, NV. Despite the name of the route, service from Goldfield to Tonopah is complete on the Tonopah and Goldfield Railroad.

Rhyolite Train Depot is located at the north end of town in Rhyolite, Nye County, Nevada. - Photo by James L Rathbun
Rhyolite Train Depot for the Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad is located at the north end of town in Rhyolite, Nye County, Nevada. – Photo by James L Rathbun

History

Railroad logo from a 1910 Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad timetable.
Railroad logo from a 1910 Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad timetable.

Despite a verbal agreement with Francis Marion Smith in April, 1905, William A Clark incorporated the Las Vegas and Tonopah Railroad on September 22, 1905. By this time, Borax Smith graded about 12 miles of the track route for his operations in Lila C, or Ryan as it would later be known.

Following a no-trespassing order served to Smith, Clark initial started laying track up the valley from Las Vegas on the route graded by Borax Smith. Track reached Indian Springs from Las Vegas on March 1st, 1906. By June, 30th, 1906 rail is laid down all the way to Rose’s Well. The route to Rhyolite, Nevada is completed in December 1906. During the height of construction, the track gangs were pushing the track forward at a rate of about 1.5 miles per day and complete the route into Goldfield in November, 1907. A financial panic of 1907 caused the failure of the town of Rhyolite which served a major blow to the newly complete line.

The LV & T is merged with the Bullfrog Goldfield Railroad in 1914 when it operated some 15 locomotives. Between December 1906 and February 1st, 1917, daily train service hauled passengers, mail and freight between Las Vegas and Beatty. After February 1917, only three trains ran per week until 1919 when the railroad is closed and scrapped.

The Las Vegas & Tonopah Railroad laid one mile of track per day, then two miles of track per day, in its hurry to connect Rhyolite with the outside world. The first train from the Las Vegas & Tonopah entered Rhyolite at 7 p.m. on December 14, 1906, with about 100 passengers.

Rhyolite Train Depot Marker

Las Vegas to Goldfield Route

The Las Vegas and Tonapah Railroad was 197 miles long 23 stops along the way. The trip took about 8 hours to complete with food service only being offered at Rhyolite.

  • Goldfield ( Mile 0 )
  • T & G Crossing ( Mile 1)
  • Red Rock ( Mile 4)
  • Ralston ( Mile 17 )
  • Stonewall ( Mile 21 )
  • Wagner ( Mile 28 )
  • San Carlos ( Mile 34 )
  • Bonnie Claire ( Mile 41 )
  • Midway ( Mile 43 )
  • Petersgold ( Mile 59 )
  • Mud Spring (Mile 65
  • Original ( Mile 70 )
  • Rhyolite ( Mile 74 )
  • Beatty ( Mile 79 )
  • Gold Center (Mile 81 )
  • Chloride ( Mile 87 )
  • Rosewell ( Mile 97 )
  • Canyon ( Mile 109 )
  • Amaragosa (Mile 122 )
  • Charleston ( Mile 138 )
  • Indian Spring ( Mile153 )
  • Owens ( Mile 169 )
  • Corn Creek ( Mile 174 )
  • Tule ( Mile 182 )
  • Las Vegas ( Mile 197 )

Summary

NameLas Vegas and Tonopah Railroad
LocationClark County, Nevada
Nye County, Nevada
Esmeralda County, Nevada
GaugeStandard Gauge – 4 feet 8.5 inches (1,435 mm)
Length197 miles
Years of Operation1906–1918

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A train caboose as found in Rhyolite, Nevada - Photo by James L Rathbun
A train caboose as found in Rhyolite, Nevada – Photo by James L Rathbun
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References

Silver Peak Nevada

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Silver Peak Nevada is an unincorporated town located along State Route 265, 20 miles south of U.S. Route 6 and 30 miles west of Goldfield, in Esmeralda County, Nevada.

Silver Peak, Nevada
Silver Peak, Nevada

Silver Peak is a small unincorporated community located in the southwestern part of Nevada, in Esmeralda County. The town was founded in the late 1800s, during the height of the silver mining boom in Nevada.

Silver Peak’s history is tied to the mining industry, as it was initially established as a mining camp. In 1863, prospectors discovered silver in the area, and soon after, the town began to grow. The silver deposits were located in the Silver Peak Range, and the area quickly became known for its rich ore deposits.

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Photograph of Silver Peak, Nevada; Title taken from image; postcard - University of Nevada, Reno
Photograph of Silver Peak, Nevada; Title taken from image; postcard – University of Nevada, Reno

The town’s name comes from the nearby Silver Peak Mountain, which was named for the silver deposits found in the area. In the early days of the town, mining was the main industry, and the population grew rapidly as people came to work in the mines.

The town’s fortunes rose and fell with the fortunes of the mining industry. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the town experienced a boom as new silver deposits were discovered. During this time, the town had a population of over 2,000 people and boasted a variety of businesses, including saloons, stores, and hotels. In 1939, boxer Max Baer defeated “Big Ed” Murphy of Silver Peak in a one round fight at Silver Peak.

However, as the silver deposits began to run out, the town’s population began to decline. By the mid-1900s, the town had become a ghost town, with only a few people remaining. In the 1950s, a new industry emerged in Silver Peak – lithium mining. Lithium is a valuable mineral used in batteries, and Silver Peak had large deposits of it. The town experienced a small revival as a result, and a new processing plant was built to extract the lithium from the ore.

Today, Silver Peak is still a small town, with a population of around 100 people. The lithium mining industry is still the main industry in the area, and the town remains an important hub for the industry. Silver Peak’s history is one of boom and bust, tied closely to the fortunes of the mining industry. While the town has had its ups and downs, it has managed to survive for over a century and remains an important part of Nevada’s mining history.

Silver Peak Map

Town Summary

NameSilver Peak, Nevada
LocationEsmeralda County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude37.755, -117.635
GNIS845661
Elevation1317 meters / 4321 feet
Current Population@100

Resources

Millers Nevada

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Millers Nevada State Historic Marker 101 is located at a rest stop alone highway 6 a few miles west of Tonopah, in Esmeralda county, Nevada. Millers was a train station and watering stop for the Tonopah and Goldfield Railroad.

Millers Nevada about 1905 - Mrs. Harry Mighels Collection
Millers Nevada about 1905 – Mrs. Harry Mighels Collection

Following a mining boom in Tonopah in 1901 and construction of the Tonopah and Goldfield Railroad, Millers was first founded in 1904 as a station and watering stop.  The name honored Charles R. Miller, a director of the railroad and former governor of Delaware.  He also served as vice-president of the Tonopah Mining Company and instrumental in having its 100-stamp cyanide mill built here in 1906. 

Charles R. Miller - Millers Nevada State Historic Marker 101
Charles R. Miller

In 1907, the town boomed with the construction of the Tonopah and Goldfield Railroad’s repair shops and another large mill.  The population grew to 274 in 1910, when the town boasted a business district and post office.  Millers boasted a modest business district and despite its relatively small population layed claim to a large park with baseball diamond and grandstand.

By 1911, the railroad shops and a mill had been moved away, and Millers began to decline.  It was abandoned in 1947 when the railroad went out of business.

Nevada State Historic Marker Text

As a result of mining excitement at Tonopah in 1901 and subsequent construction of the Tonopah and Goldfield Railroad, Millers was first founded in 1904 as a station and watering stop on that line.  The name honored Charles R. Miller, a director of the railroad and former governor of Delaware.  He was also vice-president of the Tonopah Mining Company and was instrumental in having its 100-stamp cyanide mill built here in 1906.  In 1907, the town boomed with the construction of the T. & G. R.R.’s repair shops and another large mill.  The population grew to 274 in 1910, when the town boasted a business district and post office.  By 1911, the railroad shops and a mill had been moved away, and Millers began to decline.  It was abandoned in 1947 when the railroad went out of business.

STATE HISTORICAL MARKER No. 101
STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
AMERICAN LEGION, NEVADA DEPT.

Town Summary

NameMillers
LocationEsmeralda County, Nevada
Nevada State Historic Marker101
Latitude, Longitude38.1402, -117.4539
Elevation4,800 Feet
GNIS856083
Population275
Post Office1906 –

References

Jackson Lee Davis “Diamondfield Jack”

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Jackson Lee “Diamondfield Jack” Davis who was pardoned for murder in Idaho and moved to Nevada where he founded several mining camps. Davis was a hired gun who worked for the cattlemen “protecting” cattle herds and their grazing land from sheep famers.

Jackson Lee "Diamondfield Jack" Davis (12 Aug 1863–2 Jan 1949)
Jackson Lee “Diamondfield Jack” Davis (12 Aug 1863–2 Jan 1949)

In 1895, Davis is hired by the Sparks-Harrell cattle company to keep the sheepherders off of the grazing lands. After an altercation where Davis wounded Bill Tolman in a shooting. Following this incident, he fled south to Nevada to star or of sight. While in Nevada, Davis is known to brad about his exploits.

In February, 1896, Davis returned to Idaho and returned to work for Sparks-Harrell in Idaho. During this time, two sheepherders, Daniel Cummings and John Wilson, are shot and killed. Due to he previous bragging and his being in the area at the time, Davis became a suspect. Davis fled to Arizona and is eventually captured. Upon his capture, he is returned to Idaho, tried, found guilty and sentenced to death for of the shooting.

DiamondField Nevada - 1904 - Paher
DiamondField Nevada – 1904 – Paher

keep the sheep back. Don’t kill but shoot to wound if necessary. Use what measures you think best. If you have to kill, the company will stand behind you – regardless what happens.

While “Diamondfield Jack” is waiting his execution, two other men, James Bower and Jeff Gray, confess to the killing. During their trial, the two men are found not guilty. Regardless, this trial raised doubt as to the trial and Davis is reprieved one day before his scheduled execution.

Following a series of appeals, Davis is again scheduled for execution on July 3rd, 1901. At this point in time, public opinion no longer supported the death penalty. His execution is rescheduled until the Board of Pardons commutes his sentence to life in prisons. Davis is eventually pardoned on December 17th, 1902.

Following his release, Davis moved south into Nevada. In the spring of 1903, when news of promising gold strikes in Goldfield, Davis travelled to the town. After exploring and prospecting he uncovered promising ore ledges on McMahon Ridge northeast of town.

Within weeks of his discovery, prospectors flooded into the area. “Diamondfield Jack”, ever the opportunist plotted a townsite for the location and build a toll road to the new town from Goldfield. In the fall of 1904, the town reached its apex. At that time, it boasted a Post Office, three saloons, restaurants, general stores, schools, church, livery, butcher shop, blacksmith and union hall for the miners, which is impressive for a town just six months old. Public servants such as a sheriff, notary public and lawyer also maintained offices in the new formed district.

Nevada State Historic Marker #251 Text

This historical marker commemorates the lasting notoriety of flamboyant western gunman Jackson Lee Davis (1870-1949), who was better known by the colorful name, “Diamondfield Jack.” As a young man, after unsuccessfully prospecting for diamonds in the nearby hills, Davis was jokingly called “Diamondfield Jack,” a nickname that he carried the rest of his life.

In the late 1890’s, Davis gained a measure of fame as a gunman for the cattle interests, including rancher John Sparks, who would later become a Nevada governor, that were attempting to restrict sheep ranchers from southern Idaho and northeastern Nevada rangelands. Following a sensational trial in 1896, Davis was convicted of murdering two sheepherders. He was sentenced to be hanged, even after others confessed to the murders.

In 1902, Davis was finally pardoned for the crimes. He moved to the central Nevada mining towns of Tonopah and Goldfield, where he became a successful mine operator. He also helped found several mining camps, including one called Diamondfield. In later years, he drifted into obscurity and died in Las Vegas in 1949 after being struck by a car.

Nevada State Historic Marker #251 Summary

Nevada State Historic Marker251
NameDiamondfield Jack Davis
LocationElko County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude41.9847, -114.6720

Resources

Christian Brevoort Zabriskie

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Christian Brevoort Zabriskie was a vice president and general manager Pacific Coast Borax Company located in Death Valley National Park. Zabriske served teh Pacific Coast Borax Company for some thirty six years, and due to this activity is honored by the naming an Zabriske Point.

Christian Brevoort Zabriskie
Christian Brevoort Zabriskie

Christian Brevoort Zabriskie (1864–1936) was born at Fort Bridger in the Wyoming Territory. After schooling, he worked for the Virginia & Truckee Railroad located in Carson City, Nevada. For a time, he relocated to Candelaria, Nevada at work for the Esmeralda County Bank. He briefly venture into the mortuary business with a partnership formed with a local cabinet maker. His lack of knowledge in the art of embalming was not considered a liability as burial speed was a huge priority.

In 1885, at the age of twenty one, Zabriske was hired by Francis Marion “Borax” Smith to supervise the Chinese laborer’s. These men worked for the Pacific Coast Borax Company is the Columbus Marsh located near Candelaria. During his thirty six year tenure with the Pacific Coast Borax Company, the company closed up Candelaria operations and relocated to Death Valley to increase production. The company also expanded into the Calico Mountains and Trona, California

Zabriskie Point named for Christian Brevoort Zabriskie - Photo by James L Rathbun
Zabriskie Point named for Christian Brevoort Zabriskie – Photo by James L Rathbun

Zabriske retired from the Pacific Coast Borax Company in 1933 as Vice President and General Manager. All of his work in Death Valley took place before the area was designated National Monument. He passed away just three years later, on February 8thm 1936 at the age of 71. He is buried in Carson City, Nevada.

Zabriske Point is named to honor the man for his many years of service to the Pacific Coast Borax Company.

References