The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1902-12-12

and an assay made of them, and the re-
suit was away up in the thousands.
These specimens came from Gold Can
yon, now Lower Gold Hill. This single
incident led to the great excitement
which followed. Up to this time this
ore, containing it's thousands of dol
lars IN silver, had been worked for the
gold alone which was contained in it,
and the silver allowed to go to waste.
The first settlement made in Genoa
was made by Colonel Reese. This
was stoekaded, as was usual with the
early Mormon settlements. The Col
onel also kept store inside the in
closure.
The first house which was built in
the valley where Franktown stands
was at the head of the valley. The
original builders were compelled to
fee from the country in 1854, because
boy L years of age killed an Indian,
and for them to have remained would
have been to have incurred certain
death. Franktown proper was not
settled till the Mormons came over in
1856.
The first house built at Dayton was
constructed by Spafford Hall. After
wards, James McMartin bought it of
him and resided there, and Hall put
up a hotel and store. On the lst of
January, 1854, there was a big ball
given at the house of McMartin. Ne
vada was great for balls even in those
early days; but few of the present day
can realize what risks were run for
little pleasure then. The early settlers
never had any difficulty with the
ally preying upon and fighting the
| Piutes, and were not always very
friendly to the whites, as the follow
ing incident in connection with the
ball will show. While the dance was
occupying the attention of the happy
pioneers, the Washoes bounced down
upon and stole their horses and ran
them off upon Chalk Hill, and killed
and ate several of them before they
were found and rescued. 1t may be
we'll tomention that the line of division
between the Piutes and Washoes ran
over Chalk hill, up American Flat and
the ridge west of Virginin City, and 50
on toward the Truckee. Dayton be-
longed to the Piutes and Carson to
the Washoes.
The section where Carson City now
stands was in those early days known
as eagle Ranchn It was a great
place for the early settlers to meet for
amusements. In 1854 a great Fourth
of-July ball was held there, and the
whole country gathered there to dance
and celebrate.
The first white couple ever married
in this section were married in the val
ley of the Carson on the 4th day of
July, 1854. There was no minister nor
legal officer. The parties names were
William Denver and Rachel Albright.
1t was emphatieally a civil contract
made in writing, like other contracts
There were three copies of this con-
tract made, each signed by the parties
and witnesses. One was given to the
bride, in lieu of certificate of mar
riage; one was sent to Placerville for
publication, and one given TO the
brother of the bride, who sent it to st.
Louis, Missouri, and had it there re-
corded. The parties, witnesses and all,
after the signing of the contract, went
to Carson, or Eagle Ranch, as it was
then called, and joined in the festivi-
ties of the occasion. There are two
features of this marriage which it were
well to remember; first, the great care
of the parties to have the contract
legal and binding; and second, that
the contract was drawn and the whole
matter superintendent by woman.
Christopher Carson Woodford
manned after the famous SCOUT now
residing in Oregon, was the first white
child born in this state. He was born
at the Dave Park ranch, near Sheridan,
March 2Sth, 1854. The second birth