White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-24
lBy Il. r. M1LLER.)
PART TWENTY-THRGt

Fish Greek valley on the south, and
bounded ON the east by the Pancake
and Mokomoke mountains and on
the west by the Diamond range, was
one of the first settled valleys in
White Pine county. The valley,
about sixty-ive or seventy miles in
length and varying in width from
ten To fifteen miles, IS fairly well
watered and quite fertile. 80 that 1t
was a natural magnet To attract
stockraisers and farmers.
When the writer first visited The
valley IN 1875 he found that "A NUN
Der of settlers had already made
their homes here. On the west side
of the valley near its northern end
was the ranch of Allen A. Connover,
who had located at Cole creek and
was engaged In ranching and stock
raising Mr.. Connover Was staunch
democrat and for years represented
Cole Greek precinct in the democrat
ic county conventions. Adjoining the
connoyer ranch was that of Nick 81
monson, who was stalwart repub.
liean and represented the precinct in
4he 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 aud dairying. finding a
ready market for their products II
Eureka and Hamilton.
Adjoining the Hankins ranch vac
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 I'll" 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
being the famous Percheron Leo.
which was purchased for SO. 200. at
that time considered an exceptionally
high price. aud the other a dapple
gray Norman stallion. Aunt Mar
tha's and the Hankins ranches were
the only ones on the east side OF the
valley at this time
Farther south OF Simon's place oD
the west side OF the valley were
ranches owned by Billy Smith. Chris
beck. MIR McDougaIi and Herman
fdler. who owned the Do Drop In
Bation
Thomas Robinson. William Cur.
rem and John II. 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
wears enjoyed an enviable reputation
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 everyone
in the valley except Martha and
knew her only by reputation
A coal discovery along in the '10s.
lust 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 te inadequate transportation
facilities operations were abandoned
after year or 80
Just east OF Newark valley was
Long valley. bounded on the west by
the Huntington and Pancake ranges
OF mountains. or the east by The
Egan range. on the north by Ruby
valley and on the south by the north
end OF Mekomoke mountain. about
twelve miles north OF the Shakells
ranch. In illipah canyon.
While Long valley Is about fifty
miles In length and from six TO
twenty miles wide. II was not settled
owing to the fact that the only water
nf -.
entire length was n stagnant slough
\ located about the center of the val.
ley and some twenty-five or thirty
miles in length. Long valley was
situated at a higher altitude than the
rest OF the surrounding country. aud
In the winter was usually covered
with such deep snow as to make 1t
an unsafe range for stock. The only
sign OF civilization was an occasional
branding or stock corral The valley
was noted chiefly for two things
snow in the winter and mosquitoes
and morse flies in the summer
The Hunter mining district was
situated due east of Long valley. on
the west side OF Egan range, about
fifteen or eighteen miles south OF
Cherry Creek The district was To-
Gated in the early '70s. was noted
for its output of lead and silver and
produced considerable wealth at in
tervals for some years George Ken
nedy of Cherry Creek erected fur
mace In the district and at one time
shipped large quantities of high
grade bullion. After Mr.. Kennedy 3
death the district was virtually
abandoned
During the late '7Os and early sos
considerable free gold was mined in
Telegraph canyon, about ten or
twelve miles south OF Cherry Creek
on the western slope of the Egan
range. A mill was erected by Fred
Cutchet and George Judson. and this
mill. together with their gold claims
! believe. was later sold to Dick and
Hugh Frank. Virtually no MINING
operations were being carried on In
Telegraph canyon at the time the
writer left the county
Coeumonga district. between Tele
graph and Egan canyons. at one timt
gave promise of rivaling the famor,