White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-02-27
lBy B. r. MILLER.)
PART TWO

managed 10 pull through all OF thenl'
due to the steadfast faith In the city
held by the old-timers. Early IN the
'90s. after the city had been ineor-
porated. Mr. Harper, believe, was
elected mayor. He later defaulted
and about the same time the pecula-
lions OF Treasurer Tim Granly we're
discovered These two disasters conf
pietely bankrupted the city as well
az crippling the county TO marked
degree.
The city was just struggling back
TO normal conditions when 1t received
another crushing blow In the fire OF
1872. The next decade proved n
hard. uphill struggle and the city and
county were again beginning to see
the light when. in 1882. the embez-
element OF over 81 1000 by George =.
MeConkey. county treasurer from
1874 TO 1882. was discovered. Aud
ilors found that the money had been
taken ten years before. being skill
fully covered up, and for this reason
he county vas unable 10 recover
from his bondsmen
Only a few years later the court
house was destroyed by fire, and at
this time Hamilton passed through
her darkest days. The total gross
revenue of the county at that time
was from s3l 900 to s33 900. seldom
exceeding S35.00O. but her citizens.
with undiminished confidence In the
future of the city and county, put
their shoulders 10 the wheel and sue
eeeded In weathering the storm.
With the passing OF years ones
perspective naturally changes. and in
chronicling early White Pine county
days memory recalls first OF all the
number of unique characters gath
cred in Hamilton over forty years
ago. These men. who at that time
seemed a natural part OF their en-
vironment, glimpsed back through
the passage of years, are now re-
called as of type that made the
west famous and, having tanned the
wilderness and accomplished their
purpose In life. Is now almost extinct.
To every early-day resident of the
White Pine district the name OF
Colonel Joseph Grandelmeyer is ia
niliar. This colonel stood out as a
real character In those times. when
TO be merely unique was no distinc-
iion Colonel Grandelmeyer. who
posed as an authority on metallurgy
and lexirography. was always on
hand when the stages arrived to ex-
plain TO newcomers the unparalleled
dyantages OF the district.
Tho colonel for many years was
employed rs a watchman OF all the
cid mills in the district abandoned
for years but on which taxes and in
surance was kept up by their San
Francisco owners At the time the
great fire was raging the colonel sent
a rush message 10 San Francisco in
forming the mill owners that he was
saving the mills but losing his ward
robe. of which he was inordinately
tI..
back asking the colonel TO save his
wardrobe II possible. hut by I'll
means To let the mills burn.
Though scarcely to be olassed as "A
resident 6f Hamilton, Mrs Alice
Shekells. owner OF Shekell's ranch. |
at Shekelfs station. twelve miles
east of Hamilton. and who for years
conducted a hotel at that point. Is
closely bound up with the history OF
the district She was one of the
earliest settlers in the White Pine
country and for score OF years
every stage coming into the district
passed her door. Her hospitality was
universally known throughout the
district. and stage drivers made II
rule TO stop In order to enjoy meal
and comfortable bed at Shekells sta
tion. Mrs Shekells was never known |
10 let hungry man pass her door. |
She spent most OF her four-score |
years In Nevada and only recently
was laid 10 rest I'm the Sacramento |
cemetery.
James II. Weatherington was an
other settler who was n familiar fig |
dre In the early history OF Hamilton |
and TO whom the camp owes much. |
Mr.. Weatherington erected the |
Weatherington hotel in Hamilton. at |
hA ai.
structure of the Kind In the state !
Tic at one time had extensive land |
holdings and stock interests In the |
White River valley until along In |
the '10s. whom he opened up a whole |
sale meat supply business in San /
Francisco In competition with Lux
q Miller. shipping thousands of cat |
tie from Nevada to the bay city How
ever, the California cattle kings made T
short work of "Jeems.' as he was /
falniliarly known
In condensed account Of early +
hamilton DAYS space forbids the men, /
tion OF hundreds OF well-known char +
aeters who have left their imprint ON +
the city's history. but mention of n /
Few may be permissible. Among :
these were \. Skillman who. after |
selling the White Pine News I'm the |
latter '7es. moved TO Eureka, where |
he edited the Sentinel for many |
years: DeForest. one-tlme owner of |
The News and county clerk in the |
latter 7os: Sam Woodin, one-time |
county commissioner of White Pine
county; j. II Lockwood for years
county commissioner and also county
treasurer: b. X. Davis and Charles
Taxton. both of whom served as dis
trict attorney: William Timson,
county recorder. and Samuel Little. |
county treasurer and who also served
In the state assembly
Other mon who stood out In early
day history include n. Saddler. who
moved to Eureka in 1874; was elect
ed iieutenant-governor in 1890 and |
succeeded to the governorship In /
lss2 on the death of Governor Jones.