Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1875-06-29
SKETCHES OF EARLY DAYS IN
VIRGINIA CITY.

instituted series OF sketches illustrative
Of early days and descriptive OF early
discoveries, and the men that first opened
up to the world the now famous Com
stock lode and the district which is
known as Virginia City and Gold Hill.
Without intending to dispsrage these
statements in the least, but rather with
the desire to aid in casting some light on
the dimness OF the early records, We
have instituted series of inquiries, and
from one of our leading citizens him
self an old '49er-we gather the follow
ing facts, which, though slightly at
variance with tho Enterprises account,
are nevertheless reliable and authentic.
Anything relating to early days in Nevada
is naturally Of interest to all, and for
this reason We have compiled few state
ments OF occurrences which will, no
doubt, be recollected by many.
The first definite record Of surface
claims being worked in that country was
in the Spring of 1850, in Gold Canyon,
at place afterward known as Johntown,
and about four miles from the present
town of Gold Hill. Jim Fenniuore
(better known as "Finney," and after
ward as "old virsinny"), Fl. P. Com.
stock, Captain Galphin and noted
character named Burns (who afterward
killed a comrade and was run out), were
the first men to work in tho district.
The Grosch Bros, who came there
in the Fall Of sc. deserve more than
a passing notice, They were men
of considerable education, had a
good practical knowledge of mineralogy.
and were well liked by everybody. They
worked principally in the American ra-
vine on a claim known as the Rosa Lee,
and due west of what is now Silver City.
Hosea died in the Summer of '65 from
the effects Of wound in his foot, and
Allen the other brother persisted in the
snow on the California trail tho follow
ing Winter. Considerable prospecting
had been done by two parties from Cali
fornia. One of these (called the John
son party came from Placerville, and
was composed of A. L. johnson, John
A. Osborn, Kentuck," who afterward
gave his name to the Kentuck mine, W.
Il. Dolman, the first mining recorder
ever appointed in the district, V. A.
Housewife, the second mining recorder
who held the Office at the time when all
the Comstock lode was located and now
living in Bordensvile, Va, A. Losh-
baugh, Major Ormsby, Capt. Galphin
and another man named Bretts. In
January 1858 the miners held a meeting
at Johntown, at which W. Fl. Dolman
was elected recorder and Columbia
Quartz District was formed. This was
the first district formed, and the first
laws made to govern quartz mining were
enacted at this meeting. The Pioneer
Quartz Company was formed immedi-
ately after, and as its name indicates
was the first in the Great Basin. They
located several claims but worked mostly
on one, the Moselle, on Pioneer Hill,
which was about 600 feet due east of
DEVILS Gate. This company made a
road and built an arastra down in the
ravine. They hauled down five or six
tons OF rock, dumped it in and ground
away on it for nearly three weeks, but
didn't pulverize the eighth part of it.
They got some gold out of it which as
sayed ten or eleven dollars to the ounce.
This was in February 1868 and
was the first metal obtained
from quartz in that district.
The other party (known as the Cald-
welD came from Trinity county, Cali
fornia. Among them was Jos. Caldwell,
Francis Board and two other mon. They
established the workings that afterwards
led to the discovery of silver in Six-mile
Canyon. The water failing in the spring
OF '5S, the two companies separated, and
one went over on the East Fork of Car.
son River, about q mile above where
that stream spreads out over the country
they done some prospecting there. TIL,
remainder of the company, headed b,
John Mankins, went south, and foun,
diypinu mt the head of the East Rrancb n
Walkers River. They came back, re
ported discoveries, and about one hun
bred men went down there; from there
part of the company went back to John
town, and the remainder separated. W
now come 10 the original discovery O
the Comstock,