White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-02-20
NEVADA STATE IN THE MAKING,
EARLY-DAY HISTORY OF HAMILTON
BY b. +. MIl4LER.)
PART TWO

earliest anu mOSl pfOuucLiNe OI w ulte
Pines camps, is perhaps as checkered
as that of any, with the difference that
it weathered the dull days following
several booms, due chiefly to the un-
tagging belief in the town held by a
number of the old-timers.
After the prosperous and exciting
days of '6S, SO and 10 the town slump
ed somewhat, but in 1874, when the
writer first visited it, the county seat
of White Pine county was still the
supply camp for such camps as Treas
ure City, Shermantown and Eberhardt
Its early population OF $4,000 had
dwindled. many of the treasure seek
ers being attracted by the finding of
ore at Phoebe In 1870, at Schellbourne
in 1871 and at Cherry Greek and
Eureka in 1872
Though her glory was somewhat
dimmed by the newer camps. Hamilton
never lost her commanding place as a
distributing point, stage and mail lines
radiating from here to feed the other
camps. The stage between Hamilton
and Phoebe at this time was operated
by Gilmore & Salsberry, the route be-
ing from Hamilton over the Shellback
range through White River valley to
Phoebe. This route was followed until
about 1872, at the time of the discov-
cry of the mines in the Robinson dis
trict, when Mineral City postoffice. now
Lane City, came into being. The Ham
| ilton-Pioche stage was then changed
and routed east from Hamilton through
Mokomok mountain, traversing the
Cleveland grade, established by the
late A. c. Cleveland. through Illipah
canyon. past the Mineral City post
Office, thence south by way of Willow
, creek and Bullwhack summit, through
Cave valley, Patterson and Bristol
mining districts TO Phoebe.
A branch stage line at this time left
Mineral City, going north by way OF
Hercules gap, where extremely rich
ore deposits had been uncovered, con-
tinuing through Steptoe valley to
Schellbourne and across the valley to
Cherry Creek.
Hamilton also received mail and pas
sengers from Elko by way of Hunting
| ton valley, the stage lines being oper-
ated by Woodruff & Eners until the
discovery of ore in Eureka in 1871,
when the Hamilton-Elko route was
discontinued and the Hamilton. Eureka
and Palisade route established by the
same firm and continuously operated
until the construction of the Eureka &
Palisades railroad in 1856. Stages
thereafter were operated between
Hamilton by Gilmore & Salsberry.
Stage drivers and Wells Fargo
guards In those days risked their lives
on every trip and tragedies of the road
were by no means infrequent. II was
while guarding a bullion shipment
from the Mayfiower Mining company
at Bristol in the early sos that Eugene
Blair, one of the brayest men who ever
climbed on a stage boot, lost his life,
being shot to death by stage robber
near Sidehill station, between Cave
valley and Bristol. Gene" at the time
of his death was credited with having
killed more bandits than any guard
in the employ OF the Wells Fargo COM
pany.
Mention OF Hamilton would be in
complete without calling to mind some
of the business men whose steadfast
belief in its future withstood the blow
sustained through ,he great fire and
the exodus of thousants TO the new
mining fields. Perhaps the best known
among these merchants W IRE sanes
Mathewson and p. Eyeits. engaged in
the general merchandise business un-
der the firm nameoi E,ertS n C.. until
! 1876. when the Duslless was taken
over by A. c. and :. >. Maihe sson
and operated under rho name cf
Mathewson Bros. Jim Mathewson. un-
Ill his death in 1876 or 1877. ranked as
one OF Neyada's most successful bust
ness men.
Mr.. Everts. after quitting the NOR
chandise business, assam I'd the man
,r.A n
of the Eureka & Palisade railway a
position which he Gled with grest
credit for many years.
c. A. Mathewson, better known as
Arthur. after closing out his business
interests In Nevada. emigrated to Mex
leo. where he amassed a comfortable
fortune during the presidency of Por-
firio Diaz. When the revolution against
Diaz broke out he moved to California.
making his home in Hollywood a su-
burb of Los Angeles.
Jerome b. Mathewson. like many of
the old-timers. remained at Hamilton.
backing his faith In the camp with his
money and spending thousands of dol
lars in unsuccessful pursuit of new ore
veins. He left Hamilton after suffer
ing breakdown In health and spent
his last days in Ely. The writer was
well acquainted with Jerome Mathew
son during twenty-eight years of his
business career and can conscientious
ly say that in all that time Jerome
never knowingly wronged single
man. He was citizen OF whom Ham
ilton may we'll be proud.
"a second instalment of the his
tory of Hamilton will be given In next
weeks issue of the News.)
To Celebrate the Birth of Washington
Baker will be a merry town ON