White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-03
ilSy II. r. MILI4ER.)
PART EIGHT


important part in Nevada history, In |
the early '7Os was considered by far
the best watered grazing land in the
state. In the valley north of the |
Cleveland ranch the chief settlers /,
were Thomas and Charles Odgers, !
Manton Bassett. II. &. O'Neill. Jake
Cameron, James Mccurdy and Pat
Elannigan and Michael keelan, who
had what was known as the keelan
and Flanagan ranch. South OF
Cleveland's ranch were Lou Olmstead
"a Mr.. Rutherford and George Swal.
low. These men were the earliest
settlers in Spring Valley and engaged
in raising horses and cattle, cutting
sufficient hay in the summer to tide
them over the winter
The constant increase in stock.
coupled with several consecutive dry
seasons, finally reduced the valley &c
"A state bordering on barrenness, and
only those who could afford TO fence
in their ranges were able TO stay, I'm
ally only Cleveland. Olmstead and
Swallow remaining. While the valley
afforded poor grazing for cattle the
range proved sufficient for sheep and
soon 1t was invaded by the sheepmen
the first TO locate in the valley being
Jim Sampson. Josh Yelland. Pat
keegan, Doutre Brothers, Pierce and
Quick, the Bewes Brothers. jim. Tom
and Harry: Mr.. Tippetts and BIZ
McCurdy, all OF whom grew rich In
the sheep business.
Before going in for sheep in the
valley Jim Sampson and the three
Bewes boys were employed in the
Star mine at Cherry Creek in the late
seventies and early eighties. Jim
Sampson was the first To engage in
the business. While ne was working
in the mine he acquired a few sheer
and his wife herded them around
Star Hill CHERRY Creek. Starting
in with less than fifty head. by 1883
SIMPSONS holdings had increased sc
that In the latter year he shipped
100000 pounds of wool TO the boston
market as his seasons clip. Jim
Bewes was a close second while
Harry Bewes and Pierce a Quick all
made large shipments. The taxes In
those days from the sheep industry
proved a godsend TO the county
treasury. which was sadly depleted
In the wcli-watered canyon leading
from Spring Valley TO Centsrville,
about midway between the valley and
The beautiful little cove near the TOP
of the Schell Creek range. was a
ranch owned by Dan Simonson
another of tho old-time settlers OF the
northern part OF the valley This
spot Is OF historical importance owing
To It's connection with the celebrated
government star route mail fraud
cases OF early days, for 1t was here
that L. S. Senator Spencer OF Ala
hama sought refuge in 1852 when he
was eluding federal agents who
hi hi I'm n
Senator Dorsey.
After giving the government the
first accurate information concerning
the mail frauds which had been in
progress for years. Senator Spencer
experienced change of heart and,
not wishing TO appear as witness
for the prosecution, disappeared. Ac.
companied by his wife, he went into
hiding at Centerville where he felt
certain of safe asylum. II was
while eamped in this lonely place
that Mrs. Spencer, who was south
ern authoress. contributed great
deal of the literary effort which went
into the book called Ann Eliza. :"
written by one OF Brigham Young's
ex-wiyes and which purported 10 be
an expose OF Mormonism.
While many readers of the News
doubtless know that the ramifca.
lions of the star route mail frauds
we're widespread. few perhaps know
that these frauds were practiced
as boldly In White Pine county as in
any other section OF the country II
is an uudisputed fact that Gilmore
and Salsberry under the Dorsey
regime for years collected $4,000 a
year for carrying the mail six times
week between Hamilton and Phoebe
George Washturn and George Ellison
were what is known as straw bonds
men. each being on the Gilmore and
Salsberry bond for 100000. Wash.
burns total assets at that time con.
sisted OF two yoke of oxen and
small vegetable garden In the north
enc of White River valley, while
George Ellison, who was holding
oown squatter's homestead, had not
dollars worth OF tangible property
In the extreme southern part of
Nevada there we're several dummy
routes which never had an actual
existence but which were paid for
during period of years, the state.
ment of arrival and departure OF
imaginary mails being certified by
the duly commissioned postmasters
These frauds were. however, scarcely
itss Uoiu tHdil tnOSe perpeIrate0 AT
Hamilton where Jim Riley was post.
master.
Harvey Carpenter and Riley. who
was his brother-in-law. believe.
were in business at Hamilton when
the writer arrived there In 1875. op.
Grating under the firm name OF
Carpenter and Riley. The Western
Union telegraph Office was located In
their store and they handled stock
reports In connection with Homer
King and Company, San Francisco
brokerage house. during the Com. |
stock boom. During the exciting
days OF 1910 Hamilton was made
second class postoffice, the salary
being fixed at $4,000 a year. but the |
greatest surprise In years to the
writer, as well rs all other residents
OF the district, was to learn that
Riley had kept the Office In the second
class until 1884, when the democrats
went into power.
Salaries in those days were com.