The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-06-18
ne Agricultural Valleys Of Elko county-Ths
odd Rieneers-camp Ruby and Fort Halleck-
ekstches Of Prominent Characters-The Ruby


ing to your readers to know something about
the agricultural interests Of our young and
growing county. Travellers along the Central
Pacific Railroad would naturally suppose that
our county was barren and sagebrush waste,
that we have no productive soil, and that our
county is inhabited only along the line of the
niIroad. Such rs not the case. -.a
We have as fine agricultural lands in this
county as can be found ON the coast and per-
haps IA larger number of acres of farming lands
than any other three counties in the State of
Nevada. The valleys Of Ruby, Clover, Star,
Halleck, Humboldt, Lamoille. South Fork,
Mound, Huntington, Dixie and Pine all lie
south of the railroad; north, we find indie
pendence, Maggie Greek, Soldier and Thou
sand Spring valleys, and many others which
not inhabited, and therefore bear no
names. The valleys north of the railroad,
above mentioned, have not been cultivated,
and very few of them are inhabited by whites
unless by stock men, who have herds of cattle
and sheep grazing on clover, red-top, blue
joint and bunch-gmsses. which grow luxuri-
antly on valleys and hills. The clover, blue
join. and top are fonnd in the valleys, and
the hills are covered with bunch-grass.
RUBY VALLEY
was the first inhabited, and is ninety miles in
length by fifteen in width; all, with the excep-
lOn Oh uNe mlleS SOuln Oh tne Olu
Camp Ruby, lying in our county. The old
overland rond runs through the southern end
of the valley, and the first house was built ut
| that place for n pony station in 1853, by Ma
jor Egan, who now resides near Deep Creek.
The same year Old Uncle Billy Rodgers, an
| old pioneer, who will be remembered by all
old Californians, settled forty miles below the
| overland road, and built a cabin on the ranch
| now owned by the Wines brothers.
At that period there were no white men in
| the country, except mt the station. Uncle
| Billy was Indian agent, loved by all the ludi-
ans, who looked upon him, rs they do at the
present time, father. He had been liv-
| ing there more than year when the overland
coaches were put on. Hearing that there
| would be n stage i'll n short time, accompanied
] by band of Indians, he went 10 the road or
| station, and waited several days for the stage
| to come along, so that he could see the face
| of "A white man. One night it came along
about dark, and had three passengers prom
| inent men from Wisconsin. One of them was
| an editor of paper, and an old friend of
Uncle Billy. Uncle Billy waited for them to
| get out for some time, bnt they, not thinking
| of finding any person they knew, preferred to
! remain inside. Uncle Billy at last got impa-
| tent and shouted mt the top of his voice ::
Get out of that coach d you! Here
| have been waiting ten days to see the face of
| n white man, with all my Indians! / know i
| am rough, unshaved, and unwashed, but d
you, won't eat you'll so get out, stand up
before us like men, and let me see youT'
The editor at once recognized his voice,
| jumped ont, and Grasped him by the hand;
was astonished at seeing him clothed in skins
and so far ont from civilization. He naturally
asked him how he came to be there. Uncle
! Billy replied thus: Poverty drove me, like
| n hungry wolf, TO the mountains. The roof
Of my house IL the canopy Of heaven: my
bed and clothing, the SKINS of wild animals;
my companions. the unnamed and unwaShel
Shoshones. ] nm king of the valley, and big
chief of the tribe Bat am happy, for it is
better to he king amongst hogs, than 4 hoS
among kings"
CAN'T RUBY.
Camp Ruby was huilt by General ConDor' :
troops III 1862, under the supervision of Colo
! mel j. Ii. Moore, who was in command of the
camp until the Summer Of 1861, when
he was ordered to Camp Douglas i'll Ut Ill
| Territory, and was in command of that camp
for some time. He started the first ranch in
the valley, fifty miles north of the camp, and
was mustered ont in 1860, and since has been
| farming with great success; although he was
not acquainted with farming, will be seen
| by the following joke. l hate to tell it on the
| Colonel, but must. He had man hired at
that time, who was good farmer, and the
| Colonel left him. in great manner, to say
| what should he planted. The man sowed and
planted all kinds OF vegetables and thought be
was through seeding; but the Colonel having
some hominy Thought it would be nice to raise
II little crop of that article just for home con-
sumption, and ordered his man to plant it.
The man tried to argue the case. but the Col
onel wonld not listen. SO it was planted, bnt
/ think the frost killed it; ut any rate / be-
lieve it didn't grow. His ranch now is one Of
the finest in the valley. He has about 800
acres under cultivation, sown with barley,
which looks well. Amongst
THE OLD SETTLERS OF RUBY.
Who yet remain and have all got fine ranches,
we could mention in addition to Col. J. Il.
Moore Mr.. Gedney, who has 800 acres i'm.
proved; A. J. Thompson, $50 acres; Mr.. Bax.
ter, 200 acres; Syres brothers, 200 acres; Mr..
Head, $50; G. a Griswoh, one OF the old set
tiers, formerly Of the firm of Griswold and
Woodward, has about 700 acres sOwn in
barley. Chess, as he is Familiarity called. il q
. good jolly fellow, and now runs his ranch in
good style. Hc was once a-ligh.ning singer
Telegraph operator; l think followed the DC.
cupa.ion until 1864. Before that time. how.
ever he and Woodward went into part nership
which lasted Until about eighteen months ago
Sam W his partner, remember Ms being
n handsome man who usually run the store.
while Chess superintended The farming, freight
ing, &c. Sam was always coinbn8 his hair
and curling his moustache. and Chess nsed to
ofien remark TINT he was too heightened Tor q
sngebrush country. Next, we might mention
, the farm Of the Wines brothers.; 800 acres i'm.
proved, superintenf VA Wines. one OF
the brothers. Js sed to call him
when no WIS poor auu run with the boys) !,
has made himself wealthy. We were once
acquainted with him when he was in com.
mnnd of n bull tenn, running between Salt
| Lake City md Carson He waa noted af that