White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-08-28
(By Is. Il. MILLER.)
PART TWENTY-ElGHT

w y. MeGill, who is probably one
of the best and most fayorably known
men in the entire state Of Nevada,
came To White Pine county in the
early '70s and had just abont reached
the voting age when the writer first
met him at Mineral City in 1874. At
that tine Mr.. McGill was engaged
with two men named Bateman and
Monroe i'll making surveys for the
United States government. The trio,
1 believe, at that time were making
their headquarters on ranch owned
by Mr. Bateman at Duck creek while
making a survey of the surrounding
country and were accustomed to drive
ITO Mineral City with a span of mules
and blackboard fer the purpose of
purchasing supplies.
These mules, by the way. were fond
of running away and never lost an
opportunity 10 do so. The first meet
Ing of the writer with Mr.. McGill
was on one of these Sunday trips to
town when he. Mr.. Bateman and a
man whose name was ciasooek, | be-
'lieve. came in for some grub and
stayed until dark before starting back
for home On this occasion the buck
board was loaded, as we'll as part OF
the crowd. This. however. does not
apply to Mr.. McGill, be IL understood,
as he WIS never, To the writer's
knowledge. known to indulge While
the blackboard was on its way down
the narrows. the night being particu-
larly dark, Mr. Glascock decided he
wanted to smoke and unthinkingly
struck a match.
The flare scared the mules and
they at once took the bits in their
teeth and broke away. scattering the
men aud supplies along the road.
BatemGn was senseless for awhile
and when he awoke to his surround
ings his first remark was. y told
CLASSY not to strike that match"
This was in the fall or winter OF
1874 ard shortly thereafter Mr.. Nc
Gill quit the service of the govern
inent ard started up an engineering
and surveying office On his own ao-
count. being employed by the Mar
tin White company and having en-
tire charge of their affairs during
their operations at Ward. as men
toned In a previous article lie later
engaged In various mining and mill
ing operations, sometimes being in
partnership with others. but he was
always considered III. brains OF any
undertaking in which he was en-
gagged. Mr.. Lyons aud Mr. McGill
1ANtly purchased the Cowger ranch
IN 1885. stocking 1t with cattle and
horses.
This partnership was dissolved ,
short time later. Mr. McGill buying
cut the interest of Mr. Lyons and in
vesting almost his entire fortune in
the venture Later, when Mr.. Nc
Gill sold out his interests in the
Chairman mine and mill for a copsid-
erable sum he alsc invested this
money in the upbnilding OF White
Pine county II is doubtful IL any
other man has ever been so loyal 10
The state in which he made his wealth
as W. y MeGill. who has never in.
vested any or his money outside OF
the state where he made 1t
During the dark. dull days OF
White Pine county Mr. McGill always
employed n large crew of men. either
on the ranges .on his ranch or i'm
the mines and mills. and was note
worthy from the fact that his ranch
and range hands We're paid 25 per
cent more than the usual rate Of
wages. and the men always received
their wages In cash at n time when
other ranehers were finding II hard
TO get money enough to pay their
taxes
While Mr.. MeGill's chief interest
vas IN his country home. where the
town of McGill, believe. IS now To-
Gated, he also maintained home in
Ely. where he spent part OF his
time, which was divided between bis
farming, stockraising. mining and
milling operations for several years
MI. McGilI was lover of fine stock
and was constantly building up hir
lHrds bv the purchase OF bloojed
sWck and the addition to his farm
CT the latest dairy and creamery
equipment. brocdcrs and incubators.
He made FREQUENT purchases of ped
igreed fowl. pigs, stations. bulls and
sheep. so that his ranch was easily
the best stocked in TIM entire county
THIS was at a time when every cent
In taxes was badly needed by the
county. and the levy paid by Mr.. Nc
Oil was a godsend to the depleted
county treasury. AS an example OF
Mr.. McGiifs character It may be said
that at this time he could have sold
his beef cattle for high cash price
on the market but refused TO do so
until the people of Ely, who had to
be given credit. were first supplied.
Mr.. McGill about 1877, l think,
married Miss Mollie Fouts, the
charming daughter of Mrs. Fanny 4.
Yates of Ward. Mrs. McGill. like
her husband. was always ready to
help the needy and those in distress
hut was always careful to hide her
charitable acts. Perhaps no other
man was so we'll able to learn of her
many kind deeds as the writer. as II
was the custom of Mrs McGli to
drive to Ely with her carriage heavily
loaded with butter from her dairy.
vegetables from her garden, eggs and
fresh meats, all tied In labeled pack
ages, which were left at the stable OF
the writer to he delivered to the vari-
ous needy families in Ely At the
same time people who had the cash
with which to purchase these sup.
plies we're refused owing to the fact
that they were able to buy at other
psces.
Not only were the poor working
nj hxgM