Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1915-03-27
LYONS OLDEST
PIONEER GOES TO
HIS REWARD

Died March "a, 1915, at the hour
of IL a. m, at the John MCGOWAN
home. David Wilson, aged IS years,
9 months and 9 days. Was born in
Harrison county, Ohio, June 3, 1929.
The father of J. L., j. W., c. w. Will
son and Mrs. John G. MCGOWAN.
And thus has closed another life of
one of the very early pioneers and
settlers of the vast western part of our
nations domain His parents moved
from Ohio to Missouri in 1887, where
he lived until 1850, at which time he
made trip across the plains and des-
erts to California, placer mining on
Yuba River and at Mount City until
1883, when he returned to Missouri,
trip of several months duration, at
New Orleans. Going up the Missis-
sippi River to his old home In 1855
was married to Miss Abigail Jane But
ler, of Ohio. On the breaking out of
the war he entered the Union army
at Athens, Mo-, serving under Col
Moore, and was in the battle of Ath-
ems, but receiving a sunstroke he was
hoporably discharged, and in 1868 he
started on his return to the Golden
West with his family. Arriving near
Virginia City, his brother, who was
mining there, persuaded him to go to
Mason Valley and locate. At this time
there were only four ranches in this
valley-Snyder & Mcleod, Hook Ma
son, Billy Alcorn, Tom and Joe
Wheeler. Angus Mcleod being the
only one now alive He bought the
Wheeler ranch in the south end of
the valley-his wife being the first
white woman to settle in the valley
In 1866 his brother, VIM. Wilson, dis
covered the Pine Grove mine The
brothers owning it together and from
which they have production record
of about $5.0O0,000 At one time hav-.
ing enough gold bullion stored under
the house to have bought up the ems
tire issue OF State bonds. He accu-
mulated some 1000 acres OF land and
a big herd of cattle About this time
the Abbotts, Whitesides and Geo. H.
Plummer in land and cattle in the
STEMS Mountain section in Oregon.
In 1869. after the Central Pacific
and Union Pacific railroads were con-
nected, he took another trip east, re-
turning in 1870 with the first herd OF
dairy cows ever brought into the val
ley In 1872 he started to build what
is known as the Tunnel Ditch, which
has its headgate in Wilson Canyon.
This he completed i'll 1873, and was
one those days.
In the early days of the settlement
of this valley there were some very
strenuous times. During the COS there
were a great many Indian scares, at
which times most OF the settlers would
pack up and go to Fort Churchill for
protection. But David, after his ex-
perience in crossing the plains when
Indians were in crowds, always
thought that he could stand off the
whole Piute tribe, so that during these
troublesome times he never took his
family away from their home. He wa,
man who, built OF sturdy pioneer
stock, was beloved by all. Ever ready
to do justice or right wrong. He
lived to good ripe old age, leaving
his sons and daughter as monuments
of his life and to them, in this their
hour of bereavement, this paper ex
tends its heartfelt sympathy
"He who deserves we'll needs
not another's praise"
Funeral services were held at the
John MCGOWAN ranch at p. m yes
terday, interment taking place at The
Elm Tree cemetery in the south end
OF the valley.