White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-09-04
NEVADA STATE IN THE MAKING;
ELY, CAPITAL OF WHITE PINE
(By B. +. MILLER.)
PART TWENTY-NlNE

of the state capital, almost his en-
tire business interests were centered
in White Pine county, SO that the
county may rightfully claim him as
one OF her citizens. Governor Ad-
ans, at the age Of II, migrated from
Vermont TO California in 1852 and
first came to Nevada in 1864, being
engaged in the mining industry until
his election as lieutenant-goyernOr in
1874. Governor Adams in 1882
drove 5000 head Of cattle into White
Pine county and since that time was
actively identified with the business
life of the county.
Prior to his successful entry into
politics Governor Adams was en-
gagged in teaming and freighting and
hauled merchandise to the mines OF
the Comstock in the early stages OF
the development of those properties.
1t was Jewett w. Adams who first
conceived the idea of coupling on
trail wagons, a plan which when first
broached created a great deal of
mirth among teamsters generally,
who thought the idea foolish and i'm
practicable. Mr.. Adams, however,
paid no attention to the derisive
hoots of the scoffers and soon proved
that his plan was not only practical
but that 1t effected considerable
saving. Later he added third
wagon and more animals and made
considerable money before his rivals
woke up to the fact that the idea
was one which they had better adopt.
1t was Mr.. Adams who drove the first
team with trail wagon over the
yGeiger grade into Virginia City.
Mr.. Adams was first elected lieu
tenant-goyernor with L. r. Bradley
as his running mate for governor on
the democratic ticket in 1874. Four
years later he was reelected to the
same place and was chosen as gov
ernor in 1882. when he defeated
Enoch Strothers of Storey county
who made the race on the republican
ticket The election of Mr.. Adams to
the gubernatorial chair was a de-
served tribute to the ability he had
shown as acknowledgements and
president of the state senate for
eight years, during which time he
was the close advisor Of Governor
Bradley ard on many occasions took
the place Of the chief executive dur
ing the latter's absence from the
state Governor Adams was keen.
active politician and thoroughly
Ran, honest citizen.
Governor Adams was married in
Che late '70s to Miss Emma Lee, a
refined lady who was in every way
fitted to ornament the executive man
sion and whose widespread popular
ity throughout the state was only
matched by that of her husband.
Probably the greatest political up
set in the history of Nevada politics,
and certainly surprise to the entire
state, was the election of Mr.. Adams
as acknowledgements by an over
whelmingly large majority in 1878,
when he defeated Harry Meigle, re-
publican. and the only man on that
party's ticket who was defeated In
the state Meigle was considered a
strong candidate and appeared to be
popular with everybody. but when
the votes were counted he was found
to be the only man on the ticket who
was beaten.
Governor Adams was always what
is known as good mixer and was
equally at home when conversing
with mine owners, business men or
miners, and he had many friends
among all classes. In those early
days, when gambling was recognized
as q legitimate recreation. the gov
ernor was respected as good, clean
player and one of the best poker
face" judges in the state. However,
after his election as the states chief
executive Governor Adams consid-
cred it incompatible with the dignity
of his Office to be seen gambling. and
I believe he never played cards while
he was within the borders OF the
ntate.
However. the governor could not
always withstand the lure of the
pasteDoards, and this gave rise to
one game which is almost historic in
the annals OF the state. 1t was in
1888 that three former Carsonltes
who at thet time, having made mil
lions on the Comstock and moved to
San Francisco, had foregathered at
the state capital and proposed a quiet
little game to the governor. The
chief executive declined, but so per-
sistent were his friends that he final
1y told them that IL on certain day
they would meet him at the Palace
hotel. in the bay city, with $4,000
each he would play until one mar
had won all the money. The old
timers at once agreed to the sugges-
tion and the four met according to
arrangement. The game lasted less
than twenty-four hours, by which
time the governor had won the en-
tire $4,000 Of his friends. This. !
understand. was tho last time the
governor was known to play. With
part of his poker winnings the gov
ernor purchased and shipped into
White Pine county the first carload
OF blooded white-faced bulls ever
brought to the county, thus adding a
Number of fine animals to his herd
n Texas longhorns.
The governor at once began to ac-
0uire range lands and watering
places throughout White Pine, Lin
coin and Nye counties, and with the
exceptions of w. N. McGill and A. G.:
Cleveland was soon the largest single
taxpayer in White Pine county.
Probably one of the best proofs
that Governor Adams was an honest,
upright citizen IS the fact that he
was taken into partnership by W. N
McGill about 1898, I believe. This
partnership continued unbroken for
twenty years and was ended only re-
Gently by the death OF the governor,