Mohave County miner. [volume] (Mineral Park, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1882-1918, 1912-02-24
Historical
"reminiscences
Mohave County Since its
Organization to Date.
An Old Yet New Mining Field

An Old Yet New Mining Field
Upon the formation of the Territory
of Arizona it was divided into four
political divisions -Mohave. Yavapai,
Yuma and Pima. Mohave. among the
divisions, WAS considered the most iso-
lated, having the great California and
Nevada deserts on its westernmOst bor-
ders and situated among hostile tribes
of 10 lialS. Tlis first record filed in
March, 1865, nearly 4S years ago, al
though many had braved the sandy
wastes and the hostile Indians to reach
the rich quartz and gravel mines that
were believed TO exist in the mountains
and ravines Cf this terra incognito
RS before that time.
In and around the present great gold
camps of San Francisco district the
first troops to be stationed at old Fort
MOhave prospected for gold and some
of the most daring of them all ventur-
ed out TO the Cerbats, where afterward
Sacramento district was formed, em-
bracing the present Wallapai district.
Here the hardy prospector found veins
rIch in gold and silver, and the report
of the rich finds found its echo in big
rush from Nevada and California In
dian hOstilities breaking out many of
the first loc lUOrs deserted the mines
and returned to their former homes.
Ia 1871 there was another influx of
pr, sJectors and the town of Mineral
Park was founded, and there the cen
ter of population clustered around that
rich basin. 1t was an ideal place, the
hills and basin being covered by a
great growth of cedar and pines and
excellent water being found under the
towering mountain peak now known as
Sherum's Peak.
The first county seat had been estab-
llshed at Han dN willie, but only a few
terms of court were held there, the
l,t4 DeForest Porter being district
Judge at the time. After the seat of
government had been removed 10 Ger
bat that camp became a populous min
ing center, but within few years the
county seat Was removed TO Mineral
Park, where it remained until after
the building of the Atlantic q Pacific
railroad through the county, when it
was removed TO Kingman in 1885. Re-
garding the vote on the removal of the
county seat from Cerbat TO Mineral
t1at the old camp of Cedar polled
three votes in favor of Mineral Park
and the returns were sent to the county
seat in a Preston & Merrill yeast pow
der can. When they arrived at Cerbat
the vote had risen 10 forty, which gave
the Park the majority necessary TO re-
move the county's capital TO that place.
This was always referred to by the old
miner TO show the rising capacity of
this brand of yeast powder.
As the Indians became more peace
dDlt tue Whites lllIbN OuL IutlI COIuOu
of prospectors into the mountains and
soon rich discoveries were made in the
Wallapais and other sections of the
county. Owing TO the fact that all
ores had TO be hauled TO the Colorado
river, thence by boat TO San Francisco,
and around the Horn to Swansea,
Wales, the pioneer miner had a long
walt for returns and an expensive
charge against his ore. The surface
ores were found to be very rich, but
when water was encountered all the
mines had TO be either abandoned or
equipped with machinery. and as only
the small companies of men that came
in with the necessary means TO equip
the properties many of the best mines
we're allowed to lie idle many years.
During these early days ores were
shipped from the old Planet, now
owned by Kansas City company, and
situated on Bill Williams Fork, the
keystone, Metallic Accident, Rattle
snake. and Lone Star, at Mineral Park:
the Independence and Empire, at
Chloride, the American Flag and