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A HISTORY OF WHITE PINE COUNTY, NEVADA
Jedediah Smith and his two companions are likely the first white men to enter what is now White Pine County in early summer of 1827. They possibly entered from northeast Nye County by way of Murray Summit and exited by way of Connors and Sacramento passes roughly following the present Highway 6.
Howard Egan explored our area in 1855 and followed a route along what is now Highway 50 while looking for a central route to California. In 1859, Captain Simpson surveyed Egan's route and an alternate route in this county. Egan's route was then called the Simpson - Egan route and became the main route used by the Pony Express and the Overland Stage Company in 1861.
October 10, 1865 saw prospectors form the White Pine Mining District encompassing the White Pine Mountains. The Monte Cristo Mining Company was organized at this time. Silver ore was discovered on Treasure Hill when an Indian named Napias Jim led A. J. Leathers to the site. This discovery became the Hidden Treasure Mine on November 3, 1867.
The miners came pouring into the area and on May 16, 1868, the town of Hamilton was established. Many lived in caves, tents and other make-shift shelters. The first frame structure was built in June 1868 and was the home of a saloon. Treasure City, Shermantown, Eberhardt and Swansea were established soon after.
In 1869, twelve counties existed in Nevada. These counties were: Elko, Esmeralda, Humboldt, Ormsby, Washoe, Storey, Douglas, Lincoln, Lyon, Churchill, Nye, and Lander. An act of the Legislature created White Pine County from part of Lander County and located the new county seat at the townsite of Hamilton on April 1, 1869.
The following men were named to serve as the first officers of White Pine County until the next general election:
County Commissioners: Frank Drake, Frank Wheeler, T. R. Crowley
Sheriff: Edward Irwin
County Clerk: H. M. Eddy
County Recorder: Warren T. Lockhart
County Assessor: Augustus Ash
County Treasurer: M. W. Kales
County Surveyor: E. F. Fitchell
District Attorney: F. H. Kennedy
Public Administrator: J. J. HenelyMineral City was established sometime in 1870 around the Robinson Mining District which had been established in 1868. Mineral City was across Highway 50 from the site of present day Lane City and the two towns merged into each other over the years.
Ore was discovered on Ward Mountain leading to the formation of the Ward Mining District on May 1, 1872. The Martin White Mining Company was the principal mining company of this area. The famous Charcoal Ovens were built to supply the company's smelters with fuel
The Osceola Mining District was formed in October 1872 after gold ore was discovered in August of that year.
Cherry Creek Mining District was organized in November 1872 and the town was surveyed the following year.
Ore was discovered at Taylor and the mining district was formed in 1873.
Fire destroyed the Courthouse in Hamilton in 1885 with the loss of almost all the records.
Centrally located at three crossroads, Ely became the county seat by the action of the State Legislature and the foundation for the original courthouse was laid September 3, 1887.
Dave Bartley and Edwin Gray rediscovered massive deposits of low grade copper in September of 1900 setting off the copper boom which was to affect White Pine County for many decades.
Three men were killed at Keystone during serious labor troubles December 17, 1902.
The White Pine Copper Company was formed by Mark Requa in 1903. The town of Ruth was established and named for Ruth McDonald (Marcotte), the daughter of the original discoverer of copper in the area. Requa merged with New York capitalists in 1904 forming the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company.
September 29, 1906 saw the entrance of the Nevada Northern Rail Road into Ely. A huge celebration took place. The Railroad had completed the tracks to the mines from Cobre to Ely.
In 1906, the town of McGill grew around construction camps building the reduction plant. The town was named after W. N. McGill who owned the ranch purchased by the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company on which to build the smelter. The town of East Ely was platted in November 1906.April 15, 1908 saw the first trainload of ore from the mines arrive at the McGill smelter. On August 7, 1908, the first shipment of blister copper was sent from McGill to a refinery in the East.
Between October 14 and 17, 1912, strike-breakers were brought in to quell serious labor disputes. Three striking men were shot and killed and Governor Oddie declared martial law on October 18. The strike was over soon after.
In 1917 men of the county began participating in World War I.
October 12, 1918 saw a county wide quarantine until December 28, 1918 to attempt to stop the spread of the Spanish Influenza.
July 29, 1919 saw a nonviolent labor strike by members of Western Federation of Miners and I. W. W. at McGill and Ruth. Commissaries were established by the Mining Company at Ruth and McGill.
The mines and smelter closed in March 1921 until August 25, 1922 because of the 1921 depression. This caused a serious depression in the entire county.
July 9, 1922 saw a fire burn down the Mill at McGill.
Layoffs of employees and production cuts were made by the mine company in January 1930 due to the stock market crash in 1929.
December 8, 1941 saw first generation Japanese residents of McGill and Ruth were taken into custody soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Tire, sugar and gasoline rationing commenced with other items following.
Nevada Northern Railroad's old Steam engine # 40 left Ely on July 31, 1941 making the last passenger run for the Railroad company. Buses operated between Ely and Wells to connect with the Western Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroad.
Kennecott began the sale of its private company townsites to the John Galbreath Company and in June 1956, the communities of McGill and Ruth became directly under County government. Employees of the copper company were given first rights of ownership of their homes.
By 1980, Kennecott had ceased mining operations in White Pine County. Other Mining companies including Alta Gold, Magma and BHP have rework the old tailings to present.
The County suffered its largest economic depression for many years after the loss of Kennecott's jobs. BHP closed the mine down not long after this was written in 1998. The Ely State Prison then became the largest employer in the county.
Tourism development and establishment is now considered a high priority for the survival of the area.
Researched by June Shaputis. 1998
White Pine Historical and Archaeological Society
P.O. Box 151725
Ely, NV 89315
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