The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1892-09-21
A few borrowed Historical Facts concern
ing the Old Town by the Rivsr-Op
to the Disastrous Fire In 1884.


to the Disastrous Fire In 1884.
Wadsworth, at an elevation OF 4,077
feet above the level of the sea, is situated
in the southeastern part of the county,
where the Centaal Pacific Railroad
crosses the Truckee River. The Big
Bend, or Lower Crossing, of the Truckee
River is familiar to our pioneers andto
all overland emigrants who came by this
route, as being the place where they OBJ
tanned the cold mountain water, more
precious than gold the fresh river trout
beyond price where their oxen cropped
the first green grass for many days; and
where wearied body, eyes and soul found
relief from the fatigue of the pelting sun
and scorch!ng sand Of the desert.
It was here that Fremont left the river
to journey south in 1874, and here that
the tired party of emigrants guided to
water 10 the same year by the faithful
Indian, Truckee, as a reward for a well
kept promise, gave his name to the
beautiful stream. Here the river turns
to the north to find repose in the bosom
of Pyramid and Winnemucca Lakes, aud
here many a wornout traveller bent his
knees to praise an all merciful God for
rich gifts.
In 1854 Bill Gregory established a trad
ing post, and he was followed in later
years by others, who cut grass and ped
died it and water to emigrants on the
desert. Not only this they secured the
plain in search of stock which had fallen
by the wayside, overcome with work and
left to die. When found they were given
grass and water and then driven to
Wadsworth where they were fattened
and sold again to other emigrar,ts.
Hither in 1851 anne T. G.. Herman, Joe
Fellnagle, George Alt and James Morrow
to find homes and settle. Tom Herman
and Joe Fellnagle formed a partnership
and took up land which now formes part
of the Herman ranch. Alt and Morrow
took up land adjoining on the south
and here the four lived together until
Alt and Morrow determined to go back
to the Truckee Meadows and disposed of
their property to Tom and Joe. In 1862
and for some succeeding years Belleville,
Grantsyille, Columbus, Ellsworth and
other places were in their prime,
and roads were dotted with freight
teams engaged in transporting merchan-
disc, machinery, lumber etc, at two and
one-half cents per pound, to the booming
camps. Quite a town sprang up across
from the present site OF WadswurIh,
named Drytown. The hotel man, the
saloon man, the keepers of feed corrals,
the barber, the wagen-maker and
the storekeeper, all f1ourished. Con-
temporaneous with, and succeeding
1852, times were lively and money
plenty. Seventy-fiye freight teams, prai-
RE schooners, with crews Of teamsters
and their swampers, sailed the high e a
OF the desert. The earliest business men
were: John Holloway Tom and Joe. Dan
Mechanic, Hugh Knox, E. Olinghouse,
William Patterson, Andy Russell, George
Frazier. p. Mcdonald, E. Fowler, D. NJ.
Geiger, John Lee, Len Savage, James
Ferguson Dave Ehler, William, Donald
son, M. Gilbert, M. Raphael; and as
rapchers, Tom and Joe, Hank Miller,
John Newman, Will Gates, and J. o.
Gregory. Many of these came with the