The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1921-07-30
NEWARK VALLEY
IN OLDEN TIMES

B. r. Miller, a former old-time
resident of White Pine County, has
been writing a series of articles for
the White Pine News telling of early
day history OF the different sections
of the county. In his last article he
has the following regarding the early
settlement Of Newark valley:
Newark valley. situated between
Huntington valley on the north and
Fish Creek valley on the south. and
bounded on the east by the Pancake
and Mokomoke mountains and on the
west by Diamond range. was one of
the first settled valleys in White Pine
County. The valley, about SIS or 20
miles in length and varying in width
from 10 to Is miles, is fairly well
watered and quite fertile. so that it
was a natural magnet to attract stock
raisers and farmers.
When the writer first visited the
valley in 1875 he found that a num-
Der of settlers had already made their
homes there. On the west side of the
valley near it's northern end was the
ranch of Allen A. Connover, who had
located at Cole Creek and was en-
gagged in ranching and stockraising.
Mr.. Connover was staunch Demo-
crat and for years represented Cole
Creek precinct in the Democratic
county conventions. Adjoining the
Connover ranch was that of Nick
Simonsen. who was stalwart Repub-
lican and represented the precinct In
the conventions of that party.
On the east side of the valley. near
the north end, were some warm
springs which were located by the
Hankins boys. who were engaged in
stockraising and dairying, finding a
ready market for their products at
Eureka and Hamilton.
Adjoining the Hankins ranch was
that of a woman who was, believe,
called Aunt Martha, who had built
up prosperous horse and cattle
ranch. She had purchased the old
Mormon church al" brand, the first
iron ever used by white men in what
is now the State of Nevada and which
was the property OF the Mormon
church when Nevada was still part
of Utah. She was one of the best
judges In the State of both horses
and cattle and in 1875 imported two
blooded stations from France, one be-
ing the famous Percheron Leo. which
was purchased for $4,000, at that
time considered an exceptionally
high price, and the other dapple
gray Norman stallion. Aunt Mar
tha's and the Hankin's ranches were
the only ones on the east side of the
valley at this time.
Farther south of Simonsen's place
on the west side of the valley were
ranches owned by Billy Smith, Chris
Beck, Mr.. McDougall and Herman
Sadler, who owned the Do Drop Inn
station.
Thomas Robinson, William Cur
rem and John H. DAILY were engaged
in mining and milling, operating the
Bay State properties for many years
at Newark. Mr.. Robinson and Mr..
DAILY were married to sisters of Mr..
Curren, and the three families for
years enjoyed an enviable reputa-
tion for hospitality. Roger McMinomy
was another highly respected citizen
who at this time resided just north
of the Newark mill. The writer was
personally acquainted with every one
in the valley except Martha, and
knew her only by reputation.
A coal discovery along in the '7Os.
Just east of the Newark mill. on Pan
cake mountain. created considerable
stir at the time and a great deal of
development work was done. the
property being most promising, but
owing to inadequate transportation
facilities operations were abandoned
after a year or so.