History of Nevada, 1881, Thompson and West. [Pages iii-vi]
Publisher’s Introductory.
THE publishers herewith present to their patron-, and the public the
ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF NEVADA, with the satisfaction of a great labor
completed, with pride in its appearance and with confidence in its approval.
The publication - has been delayed through the great difficulty of
obtaining, compiling, writing and revising the matter requisite for an
authentic and complete History. For this purpose every source of information
has been sought-the archives of the State, counties and towns; the
newspapers of Nevada and California; directories, diaries, letters and
scrap-books, wherever obtainable, have been searched; the old pioneers have
been interviewed and their stories recorded; the Indians have been visited
and their version of incidents related; the historic grounds have been
examined with great care in order that statements might be made to accord
with physical features; extensive correspondence has been carried on in
pursuit of historical events and corrections of data, and the skill and
memory of the best writers conversant with the history of the State and the
various subjects connected therewith have been employed to perfect the work.
All of this has taken much more time and labor than was contemplated at the
outset, and the great mass of material gathered has swelled the book beyond
the dimensions designed when the work was undertaken.
Nevada, the “Battle Born,” young as she is, has made more
history then usual for States of many times her age, and for communities
many times her number, and, bulky as our book has grown, much of interest
and instruction could be added. The period since the discovery of silver in
the Territory has been filled with most stirring events, crowding within the
short space of time the occurrences of a century in the older and quieter
countries of the East. Revolutions in finance, society and politics have
followed her development and connect her intimately with the great progress
of the age. Her second decade has passed; her pioneers are rapidly passing
away; many records are fading and in danger of destruction; old landmarks
are becoming obliterated; great changes are constantly going on, and no
longer should be delayed the writing of the first installment of her
history. This labor we have undertaken, and although imperfections,
undoubtedly many, exist, we are confident, with the unwearying care taken,
that the main facts related are substantial and incontrovertable, that we
have herein preserved from oblivion much important and essential matter, and
that for all time our History of Nevada will be the standard and basis of
all succeeding works.
We have attempted, in addition to the History, to give a review of the
resources of the State, which appear far grander to the careful investigator
than seems possible to I be entertained by the reader of newspaper reports,
or from the observation of the country in rapidly and carelessly passing
over it. The broad desert plains are often found rich in many of the most
valuable elements of commerce, arts, manufactures and the necessaries of
life; and the bare and sombre hills are veined with precious and useful ores
to a degree that in the densely peopled countries of the old world would
make nearly every mountain range now neglected another Cornwall or
Devonshire. The reviews of the mining districts are necessarily brief, but
the information given has been obtained in most cases from actual visits,
close inspection and careful inquiry. The aggregate and conclusion shows a
very substantial basis for future prosperity. The agricultural resources, so
generally condemned as nil, are shown by statements of existing
facts, from which comparisons may be drawn for possibilities.
Of the railroad monopolies, their operations, avoidance of public duties and
disregard of public interests, their corruption of public officers and
oppression and ruin of those who disobey their mandates, we have written for
what we deemed the public good, believing in the justice of our course and
having faith in the approval of the public.
We have endeavored in all things to be just, and while recording the past as
fully and accurately as possible, to report upon the present condition and
to advance the interests of the future as far as lay in our power.
The design of the work has been to group events and subjects under
appropriate headings, thereby abbreviating the matter as much as possible,
and by index and full table of contents enable the reader to at once find
the subject desired. In this we have followed the chronological sequence of
events as far as their proper treatment would permit, beginning with the
earliest known history, when the trappers, voyageurs and explorers
first penetrated the “Great Basin;” following with the trials of
the early emigrants -who crossed it on their way to the Pacific Coast; the
early efforts to organize governments and the administration thereof; the
discovery of silver and its effects; the Indians and their wars; the
creation of the Territory and the u9tablisbing of a substantial government;
the contests with corporations and moneyed powers; the rise and progress of
society as exemplified in its churches and schools, and events of interest,
all of which are comprised in a general history anterior to, or independent
of, the organization of the counties. In the histories of counties we have,
in addition to the record of events, given succinct description of their
geography and topography, with a slight reference to their geological
formation, though without pretense to scientific accuracy; and such an
account of the mining districts and valleys as will give an insight into
their resources and capabilities to such as wish to invest in or study them.
Our illustrations, which number ---- are from photographs and sketches by
competent artists, approved by those intrusted and conversant with the
subject, and engraved in the most skillful manner known to the art,
constituting a valuable and most interesting feature of the book. With the
portraits and biographical sketches we have preserved the features and the
histories of many of the principal citizens and worthy persons and business
men of the State who have labored for its advancement, maintained its honor
and stability, and have taken a laudable pride in the preservation and
publication of its history.
Much encouragement and assistance have been rendered us, for which we are
extremely grateful; but on the other hand some capitalists and monopolists,
having only their selfish ends in view, have either placed obstacles in our
way or expressed disapprobation of our enterprise. To the latter class we
are indifferent.
While engaged in compilation and gathering together of the material for this
work we have employed many assistants. Some have proved themselves true to
the trust reposed in them. Such, we, as publishers, and the general public,
as readers, will hold in kindly remembrance. Of those of our employees who
proved themselves incompetent or recreant to the trust, and whose work
required entire revision and rewriting, the less said the better. The
arduous task of revision, compiling and writing the History has been under
the editorial charge of Mr. Myron Angel, assisted by Mr. J. D, Mason, Mr. M.
D. Fairchild, Mr. C. K. Robinson and other writers. Special articles have
been furnished by William Wright (“Dan De Quille”), on Early
Journalism in Virginia City; Col. H. G. Shaw, on the Churches; Hon. D. R.
Sessions, on the Schools, and Judge C. N. Harris, on the Bar of Nevada, We
cannot at this time mention all who have kindly furnished information and
rendered assistance in this work. The State officers have shown a deep
interest in our enterprise, and kindly placed at our disposal the public
documents in their possession and rendered such assistance as was in their
power; the State Library has furnished much from its valuable stores; the
county officers and mining recorders have responded with alacrity and great
politeness to every request, and the journalists of the State have
universally given their aid; and to all we express our unqualified thanks.
Of the many citizens of the State we desire to thank for information given,
we may mention Jackson Ferguson, of Churchill; S. A. Kinsey, Judge J. S.
Child and Walter Cosser, of Douglas; Hon. John S. Mayhugh, Leonard Wines and
Col. J. B. Moore, of Elko; T. B. Smith, of Esmeralda; W. W. Hobart, E. R.
Dodge and Lambert Molinelli, of Eureka; S. B. P. Pierce and E. D. Kelly, of
Humboldt; Hon. M, J. Farrell, Joseph F. Triplett and A. A. Curtis, of
Lander; Judge Mortimer Fuller and D. Bonelli, of Lincoln; S. S. Buckland,
John Lothrop and C. W. Davis, of Lyon; Hon. J. T. Williams, of Nye; Col.
Warren Wasson, Judge William M. Cary and C. N. Noteware, of Ormsby; Dr. E.
B. Harris and Mrs, C. M.. Dittenrider, of Storey; Hon. H. A. Comins, of
White Pine; and to Capt. Robert Lyon, of San Buenaventura, Capt. R. G.
Watkins, of Humboldt, and Mr. J. M. Hunter, of Montecito, California. The
publishers of Nevada have extended many courtesies, furnishing files of
their papers and promptly responding to our inquiries, and we hope they will
approve the sketches we have given of their papers and themselves. The files
of the Territorial Enterprise, Virginia Union, Carson
Appeal, Tribune and Index, Reno State Journal, Reno
Gazette, Esmeralda Star, Reese River Reveille, Silver Bend
Reporter, and Register, have aided us in our history, and
particularly are we under obligations to Daniel W. Gelwicks, Esq., of
Oakland, for files of the Mountain Democrat, of Placerville, through
many years of the publication of that journal, when Placerville was the
entrepot of the overland immigration, and his paper and the Semi-Weekly
Observer, of which Myron Angel was editor, and has preserved files,
recorded all the events transpiring on the route, and of the early
settlement of the Territory. These old papers are a diary of events,
recording them as they occur, and remain uncolored by changes of sentiments,
politics, interests, or opinions to which the memory is subject, and by
which men are often influenced.
Of the authorities consulted we may mention the “Life of Kit
Carson,” by De Witt C. Peters; the “ Rivers of the West,”
by Mrs. F. F. Victor; “ Bonneville in the Rocky Mountains,“ by
Washington Irving; “ Explorations,” by Fremont, in various
years; J. Wells Kelly’s Directories of Nevada; J. Ross Browne; R. W.
Raymond’s “Mineral Re-sources ”; John A. Church, on the
Comstock Lode; the various statutes, and Reports of State officers,
directories, gazeteers, and other publications, many of which are referred
to when used in the book.
With these authorities and the assistance given us, and from the memory and
study of our writers, we have made the HISTORY OF NEVADA, and submit it to
the world. There is in it much to instruct, and something, we hope much, to
please. We have related facts as we have obtained them; animadverted on men
and measures as conscience dictated, and extolled where, merit approved.
To our patrons we owe a double acknowledgment, as without their aid no such
history could have been written, and without their patronage no such book
could have been published. Their liberality and their desire to advance and
perfect so important a publication, is an evidence of their enlightenment
and refined taste. Nevada, classed as she is among the frontier States,
where the rough and semi-civilized elements are supposed most to congregate,
contains comparatively few of the characteristic features imputed, but
instead is noted for the high civilization and refinement of the
inhabitants. Being a mining State, the nature of her business necessitates
an intimate relationship with the world, introducing the purest culture into
the most secluded and remote places, forming a metropolitan and cosmopolitan
society of the highest order. Instead of being settled by a rabble it was
men of enterprise, energy, education, honor, law and order, who first
occupied her mines and farms; who created a State in the wilderness;
established substantial and just government, and carried on the work of
development as never before witnessed or equaled on the globe. Such a people
rank among the foremost in the social fabric of the Union. The many
illustrations given, the portraits of her prominent citizens, the elegant
homes and tasteful surroundings, the public buildings and public works,
substantiate the claim we have made.
In conclusion we wish to refer with gratitude to the excellent artistic and
mechanical work displayed in this publication, and which has been
contributed to by the business firms of Louis Evarts, of Philadelphia;
Pacific Press, of Oakland, and D. Hicks & Co., of San Francisco. Among the
many distinguished engravers whose skill is shown in these pages, will be
found the names of Samuel Sartain, of Philadelphia; A. H. Ritchie and R. B.
Hall & Sons, of New York, and Britton & Rey, of San Francisco.
Without further comment, we leave it in your hands.
THOMPSON & WEST, Publishers.
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