White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-17
lBy B. +. MII.IER.)
PART TEN

mine began operations on fairly
large scale. Cherry Creek was a
thriving mining village. but had not
attained the growth which IL reached
about six years later, when the Ex'
chequer and Tea Cup mines were
added to the camps list OF producers
The early-day business men were pro.
gressive and loyal TO the camp ana
no story of Cherry Creek. be 1t ever
so sketchily brief, would be complete
without mention of ut least few OF
the men VINO we're largely responsible
for the growth and progress OF the
community,
One of the first general merchan.
disc stores to open business In the
early '7Os was that of F. A. McDermid
and Gilbert Darling. operating under
the firm name of McDermid & Co
Roth men were OF the rugged and
honest poineer type and their bust
ness grew with the camp until along
IN the latter '70s, when they sold out
to A. J. Spencer and X. A. Frank
who conducted the store under the
name OF Spencer & Frank.
One of the earliest and best known
restaurants in the camp was that oil
Mrs. Homison, who was for years sue
successfully engaged in the business.
George Thatcher 4 Co. the firm be-
ing composed of Ed Raun, A. Nj, van.
derlip and Mr.. Thatcher. owned and
operated a large general mercantile
business for years. Ed Raun, VINO
was one of the most popular men In
White Pine county, was elected sher'
iff in 1874 on the republican ticket
and held the office for four successive
terms A NJ Nanderiip was also an
excellent business nan and an expert
accountant. After the firm disposed
OF its business In 1894 Mr.. Wander
lfp moved 10 Ventura county, Cali.
fornia, where he soon made host OF
rev friends. who, realizing his ability
as an accountant, prevailed upon MIN
TO make the race for county auditor
The election resulted in tie and Mr.
yanderlip, anxious to avoid the ex'
repse of a special election, onered tc
shake the dice with his opponent 10
decide the honor. This, however, the
other candidate was unwilling TO do
and In the resulting special election
Mr.. yanderlip won by an oyerwhelm'
ing majority
George Kennedy was another of the
old-timers who operated grocery
store from the early '70s up until the
saOs. q. II. Gray was associated with
Daniel II. Collins in the mercantile
business, the postofiice being located
in their store. Both were we'll and
fayorably known. Mr. Gray having
represented White Pine county in the
lower branch of the legislature In
1873 and again in 1882. He was
elected secretary of state on the re-
publican ticket in 1883. serving with
credit TO the county and state dur
ing the eight years of his public life
Along in the '9es he accepted place
in the patent office in Washington, ID
c. and | understand died quite re-
Gently In that city. Uncle Dan Col
Inns held the postoiflee in Cherry
Creek almost continuously from lS7i
until the time of his death only few
years ago.
The lean years just preceding 1851
had proven a hard strain on the bust
ness men OF the camp. but when the
writer visited Cherry In the latter
year he found many OF the old busi.
ness men aud a considerable number
of new ones who had come with the
gradual growth Of the town follow
ing the discovery and opening of new
mines. Among the old-timers who
had stayed with the camp was John
Wearne. who had q feed stable and
who was engaged In supplying the
mines and mills during the quiet
days of the camp.
George +. Parker. another old
time resident. for years owned the
waterworks which supplied the town
MIR. Parker was elected to the lower
house of the legislature in 1880 and
I understand died quite recently. Pete
Weber. another of the early-day bust
ness men, owned more business and
residence property than any man In
came Mr.. Weber moved to Idaho.
Uncle Jake" Weber and his two
sons, Z. C. (Boss) and Johnnie. were
for years successful business men OF
the community and numbered their
friends by the hundred. Boss" We
Der was for years one of the leaders
of the democratic party In the county
and his name carried more weight
with the voters than that of any 9th
er man. with the possible exception
of A. G. Cleveland While Boss
Weber played the political game
shrewdly at all times. he had the rep.
utation of never having double-cross.
cd or betrayed n friend, and every
man who ran on the democratic ticket
was at all times ready to swear by
Boss" Weber. whose public services
entitle him to high place in the his
tory of White Pine county and of the
state.
The public services of Jonnie We.
ber also speak for his rugged honesty
and the writer. who has known him
well for the span OF an ordinary
mans lifetime. can honestly say that
IL Jonnie Weber ever makes n mis-.
take In public or private life his
error will be one of the head and
not OF the heart
The two Weber boys are flt sons
OF their father. old Uncle Jake
who ranked with the cleanest. most
honest and upright citizens OF Cherry
Creek. Uncle Jake was, of course,
an extremely partisan democrat and
the writer remembers one instance
which showed how Mr.. Weber be-
lieved In purity In politics. At the
primary election In 1882 man
named Hancock, republican from