Ely, NV
(Murry Creek, Millerville, Ely Village, West Ely)
Brief history of the county seat of White Pine County, Nevada
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© January, 2000 Donna C. Frederick

Click here to see How Ely got its name

Ely is the name of the present county seat of White Pine County, having wrested that title from Hamilton in 1887. Ely is located in the Robinson Mining District at the edge of a very pleasant valley named for Col. Steptoe. Several names have been applied to the same location through the years. The first was Murry Creek when John T. Murry found a spot to his liking on the banks of a clear stream and built a small stage station in the mid-1860s. The post office and station were called Murry Creek until November 29, 1878 when it was officially designated Ely.

A report on the Robinson District by N. S. Hoffar, printed in the Daily Inland Empire Thursday September 2, 1869, refers to Millerville at the location of the present Ely. Millerville was described as three miles below Mineral City on Murry Creek. This was listed as an important point as a large saw mill was busy at work getting out timber for the construction of a quartz mill. This is the only reference found to Millerville. Ely Village is a name included in the Eleventh Census. West Ely is an early map listing with reference made to a Wells Fargo and Co. station located in West Ely in 1890.

Bancroft’s History of Nevada1540 - 1888 lists both Ely and West Ely as “a settlement of White Pine.” Theron Fox, Nevada Treasure Hunters Ghost Town Guide, confirms this and states Ely was the mailing address for West Ely. An 1881 map designates W. Ely. This was written with Hamilton as the county seat, Cherry Creek the principal town of White Pine, and Ward a growing mining town.

The 1870 Census enumerated July 27, 1870 included the entire Robinson District. There were 67 residents with 19 men listed as miners. Only three family units were listed. George W. Cummings, Mill Superintendent was listed with his wife Louisa and children George S. and Frances A. Andrew C. Little, Engineer and George S. Hendricks, machinist were listed in the same household. All residents were listed as white. Three persons could not read or write. One was a Milk-Rancher from France, one was a hostler from Ohio and one was a farm-laborer from Wisconsin. Sixteen males over the age of twenty-one were not eligible to vote.

A report on the Robinson District in the Hamilton White Pine News August 6, 1870 stated that the furnace, built by Cummings & Company was one of the most complete works in the county. Some changes were being made to it in order for it to run with perfect success. Cummings & Co. also owned several mines and were constantly hauling ore to the furnace.

Part of the machinery for Dr. McMeans’ furnace had arrived at Murry Creek and as soon as a suitable site was selected the erection of the furnace would commence. One hundred tons of good ore, rich in gold, silver, and a good percentage of lead was stockpiled waiting for the furnace to start up.

Harry Featherstone, who located the Keystone mine, kept the station, post office and a little eating house down on the creek. Mr. Featherstone appeared to be unpopular with the editor of the White Pine News in Taylor. They obviously did not approve the way he ran the post office. On December 25, 1886, the paper stated that the “Ely Post Office should either be discontinued or the Post Master made to attend to his business.” Ward subscribers had complained that they frequently did not receive the News or their mail. The threat was made that “Mr. Featherstone must either do his duty or we will endeavor to have the office discontinued.”

George Lamb acquired the land that the Ely townsite is located on in 1869. Lamb held the property until about 1875 or 1876 when he sold it to the late Senator H. A. Comins, who in turn disposed of it to a Mr. Aultman, head of the Aultman Mfg. Co. of Canton, Ohio. Aultman was one of the leading stockholders in the Canton Mining Company located near Ely.

John Murry put in a few crops, mostly grain. Murry’s Ranch was centrally located and had easy access in all directions. Gold and silver may have been found in the Ely area as early as 1864, but locations were not made until November 1867 when an Indian guide led prospectors from Egan Canyon to gold deposits near Murry Creek.

The Robinson District was organized on March 16, 1868, named after Thomas Robinson, a member of the party. A 10-ton lead blast furnace was erected in 1869 and a 10-stamp mill was built the same year. Subsequently a number of furnaces and mills were put up, but none met with marked success.

By March of the next year, the Robinson Mining District organized, a settlement was started at Mineral City. The Robinson Mining District is a very mineral-rich area. Copper, Gold, Silver, Zinc, Lead, Manganese, Barite, Phosphate Rock and Potash are among the minerals located here. Copper ore was prevalent in the district and was looked upon with disfavor because it interfered with gold and silver mining processes then in use. Ironically, the copper that was looked on with such disfavor has been the lifeblood of the Ely area for over a century! The area was no stranger to the boom and bust associated with the discovery of rare metals. Following the exhaustion of the rich deposits of the districts of White Pine, Ward, Cherry Creek, Osceola and others, the evolution of copper production was relatively slow and somewhat colorless. Also totally different from the other booms, the financial income from the Robinson District deposits was realized only after seven and one half years of exploration, planning, developing and building. In 1872, passing miners found John Murry inside his burning cabin dead from a gunshot. The mystery of his death remains unsolved.

Tales of the Robinson Mining District reached the east, and, in 1878, the Selby Copper Mining and Smelting Co. arrived on the scene. The first copper smelting plant was built at the junction of Robinson and Murry Canyons. The president of the Selby Company was a man named Smith Ely, and soon the few cabins built near the mill site took the name Ely City. The smelter was not successful, but it brought enough people in that in that the Post Office was established.

In 1885, Hamilton’s fortunes were on the downhill slide. Fire - The dread of all mining camps - struck. The courthouse at Hamilton was destroyed. Aaron Campton, the County Recorder, carried a book out of the Sheriff’s office in the burning courthouse. This was the only book saved from the two story brick building.

The chairman of the White Pine County Commissioners, William C. Gallagher, owned a ranch near the entrance to Duck Creek Valley. It was a long way to travel to Hamilton by buggy or stagecoach. He spearheaded the challenge to move the county seat from Hamilton to Ely. In the meantime, both Taylor and Cherry Creek’s economy was declining.

Not until 1887, after the state legislature designated Ely instead of Cherry Creek as the county seat was the real town started. The move from Hamilton to Ely, coupled with the agricultural development during these years, helped Ely find survival possible and kept it from joining the growing list of ghost towns in Nevada. Ely was given 16 acres of ground for that purpose by Mrs. George D. Harter, one of the heirs to the Aultman estate. This was done under the Robert Briggs Appropriation Act of 1885, in which $5,000 was provided for construction of the courthouse. Due to White Pine County’s financial problems, financiers were not anxious to invest in White Pine county bonds. Citizens of Ely got together to finance the building and most of the bond issue was taken by W. G. Lyons with other citizens subscribing for the small balance. As soon as the state and county accepted Mrs. Harter’s offer for the site of sixteen acres, Mr. Underhill at once laid out and staked off a small town site naming the town Ely. There were only four or five other buildings in Ely at the time the state legislature determined Ely would be the county seat. The stage station was among them. Since county offices require goods and services, businesses from throughout the county relocated here. One of these early men was W. B. Graham. Mr. Graham extended credit for supplies to prospectors, backing his faith in the camps with large sums of money.

Ely was a lively place and lots in the Ely townsite were in great demand. The population grew to 200 by the end of 1887. There was a mill located on Murry Creek to process gold from the Aultman mine. In 1889, a water-powered stamp mill began treating ore from near-by gold mines, but the yields were small.

Just a little over two years from the time the new courthouse was built, Hank Parish of Lincoln County had the dubious honor of being the first legal hanging in Ely.

Hank’s name first appears in reminisces by John L. Riggs. In February 1880, Mr. Riggs discovered the Lone Star mine on Knob Hill located in Eldorado Canyon,1about 22 miles from Searchlight, Nevada and established a camp there. A couple of weeks after Riggs established his camp Hank Parish and three others established a camp that they called simply the “1880 Camp”. There was no semblance of law in these camps except Winchester’s amendment to the Colt statute. While working as a miner in Eldorado Canyon, Hank shot a man by the name of Taylor. No reason has been given for the murder nor is there any record of punishment for this crime.

In 1881, Hank Parish shot two men at once over a poker game - Jim Greenwood and N. Clark. The latter was shot in the groin, but recovered. Thinking that he had killed Greenwood, Hank fled. Upon discovering that Greenwood was alive and was seeking medical attention, Hank returned to either finish the deed or recover the money Greenwood had won from him. A friend of Greenwood’s gave Hank $100 and Hank did not finish Greenwood off. Once again, Parish was not tried for any crime. Lincoln County was on the verge of bankruptcy due to a slow down in mining activities and sending a posse after Hank was expensive.

A few years later, still in Lincoln County, Hank headed a gang of Highway robbers. On July 13, 1884, this gang waylaid Mr. Archibald Stewart, a prosperous cattleman, at the Las Vegas Ranch and Hank Parish killed him; thus quickly accumulating a couple of thousand dollars of Mr. Stewart’s hard earned money. The Stewart family had formerly lived at Pony Springs, about thirty miles north of Pioche and two of their children were born there. Stewart’s widow claimed that a year and a half before Parish killed Stewart that Parish had stolen some cattle and horses from the Stewart ranch at Pony Springs. Stewart recovered the cattle and horses and it was never proven that Parish had stolen them but hatred was brewing between the two men and Parish wanted to settle the score.

After killing Stewart, one of the bandits stole a valuable bunch of horses to carry them out of the country. The band then separated and took flight, some into California, some into Arizona, and one of them into Utah, easily making their escape and eluding pursuit. Mrs. Stewart buried her husband with lumber from the outside doors of the ranch house. Her third child was born a few weeks after the murder of his father.

Time was running out for Hank Parish. Hank’s association with White Pine County began when he murdered P. G. Thompson at Royal City in Lincoln County. In the early morning of August 3, 1890, four men, amongst them P. G. Thompson, were playing poker at Jimmy Curtis’ saloon in Royal City, the last whiskey stop before reaching Pioche. Hank Parish was present, and having imbibed too much happy-juice, persisted on leaning on P. G. Thompson’s shoulder. Thompson protested he could not play poker with Parish hanging onto his shoulder. After leaning on Thompson’s shoulder several times, Parish had returned to the bar when laughter from the table caught his attention. Parish thought the players were laughing at him. The players later reported they were laughing at one of their group for passing a club flush. Advancing to the table, Parish spouted obscenities to the party, Thompson in particular. Thompson replied that he “did not give a damn for him”. Parish struck Thompson in the face with his right hand and when Thompson rose from the table, Parish struck out with his left hand and stabbed Thompson with a large pocket knife a little to right of the navel. Thompson, finding himself cut, ran out of the place, pursued by Parish. Failing to overtake Thompson, Parish returned to the saloon boasting “ that he had cut the S- - of B - - - - to the heart, and he would go off in the brush and die.”

Jimmy Curtis, the saloon owner, obtained a team and took the wounded Thompson the fourteen miles to McFadden’s Hotel in Pioche. Meanwhile, Sheriff Turner went to Royal City, arrested Parish and lost no time in jailing him. Despite two doctor’s best efforts, the 36-year-old Thompson died four days after being wounded. Thompson was a pleasant, agreeable miner, who had only been in the area four days before the stabbing and was a stranger to Parish. It was reported that “although a stranger to the community the citizens mourn him as an old resident from the fact of his pleasant presence and fortitude under great bodily pain.” With P. G. Thompson’s death, Hank’s final troubles began, and in just a little more than four months from the commission of his crime, Parish atoned for it as far as he could in the eyes of the law.

The PiocheRecord stated “Hank Parish, for the murder of P. G. Thompson, without bail, to await the action of the grand jury. The evidence showed Parish to be guilty of a dastardly cold-blooded murder.” In the early 1870’s, most such offenses went unpunished but this was 1890. The Union Pacific was talking of extending its line to Milford, Utah lawlessness had decreased and benevolent institutions were established. Pioche was seriously trying to clean up its reputation. For Hank Parish, it was too late to get by with committing another murder in Lincoln County.

In October 1890, the case of the State vs. Hank Parish was transferred to White Pine County on a Change of Venue after Parish alleged prejudice against him in Lincoln County. Hank was without doubt right about the prejudice. At the time he was born, and the three known, plus the suspected, crimes committed, the area he was in was all part of Lincoln County. The prisoner was brought in by the Sheriff of Lincoln County and put in White Pine County’s jail located next to the courthouse.

Hank’s trial began on October 13, 1890. O. H. Grey defended him. The prosecution was a joint effort by District Attorney Osborn of Lincoln County and District Attorney A. B. Treece of White Pine County. The evidence for the prosecution was strong and direct, but there was no defense for the case, no grounds for appeal, and none taken. October 16, 1890 Judge Wells pronounced the extreme sentence of the law on Parish, that “he be hanged by the neck until dead.” On November 4, 1890, Hank Parish’s defense lawyer was elected as Secretary of State while Hank was in White Pine County jail awaiting execution.

In the November 8, 1890 edition of the White Pine News , the major concern was the cost to White Pine County for the trial of Hank Parish. At this time, it was roughly estimated that the total expense to White Pine County would not exceed $500, and could be paid in cash. Presumably, Lincoln County had not yet paid for a similar case transferred to White Pine County when Hamilton was the county seat. Meanwhile, Hank’s major concern was not the cost to the county or who did or did not pay for the trial. Parish was an exceptionally disagreeable person who caused his guards a great deal of trouble. The Sheriff and guards are said to have done everything they could for his convenience and comfort, short of turning him loose. He was taken up town occasionally, “given drinks, and etc.” Sheriff Bassett reported on November 22 that in spite of his good treatment Hank Parish was suffering “great mental anguish.”

December 6, 1890, the White Pine News reported the carpenters were at work on the gallows upon which Hank Parish was to be hung. This had to be a cheerful sound to Hank, and it can be safely assumed caused more “great mental anguish.” The gallows was erected between the jail and the Courthouse, with an enclosure made of canvas to screen it from the public. In the meantime, the paper reported that Hank Parish was “having his life written and waiting for his doom.”

The night before his execution, Hank remained up until 1:30 laughing, smoking and talking incessantly. He called for Bob Ingersol’s Works, but a copy could not be found in Ely - it was considered to risqué for the good citizens of Ely! That one request could not be granted. In a conversation with Dr. Campbell this same night, Parish said he had only killed three men, but had shot three other S- - of B- - - -‘s. Evidently, Parish regarded the latter as of little consequence. December 13, 1890 White Pine News headlines read: THE GALLOWS -Hank Parish expiates the Penalty of the Law - He Walks to the Scaffold and Meets his Doom without Flinching. The Pioche Weekly Record headlines read: HANGED! Hank Parish Swung into Eternity for the Murder of P. G. Thompson Attorney F. X. Murphy finished writing for the condemned man at about 11:30 a.m. and the time was spent in general talk the morning of the execution. Sheriff Bassett read the death warrant in the jail and at two minutes to 12 o’clock, the solemn procession including the Sheriff, Deputy, condemned man and Dr. Campbell wended its way from the jail to the scaffold. Parish ascended the steps without the least apparent fear. Hank Parish had requested an hour and a half in which to address the public. He stepped to the railing and for approximately five minutes, calmly and with ordinary coolness, addressed a few rambling remarks to the approximately 50 spectators that were within the enclosure surrounding the gallows.

The gist of his address was that he had been accused of killing 8 to 20 men, but he had only killed three men and was “right in doing it.” He referred to stories saying he had a wife and family he had not treated right. Hank said his wife had been dead thirteen years and he had two daughters in Oregon, well fixed. He said he was an ignorant man, had always been persecuted, was innocent of crime and had a good heart in him. Hank felt men had been paid to swear away his life. “All this will appear in Mr. Murphy’s book of my life and I want you to believe it.” The last few words spoken by Hank referred to Thompson, the last man he killed. He stated that Thompson, with two others had hung him up three times by the neck. These final words made many of the spectators embarrassed for him as they had heard the testimony submitted at the trial that Thompson was a total stranger.

During his speech, Hank Parish made no reference to whatever “Unknown Realm” into which he was about to be launched or expressed any regret for anything he had done. Finishing his speech, Hank stepped back onto the trap door, shook hands with the Sheriff and his attendants. As his hands and feet were tied, Parish remarked, “tie them tight so they won’t slip”. When he asked Sheriff Bassett how much of a drop he had allowed, he was informed six and a half feet. The black cap was pulled over his neck - and - the White Pine News reporter hurriedly walked into the courthouse to escape witnessing the final act in this drama. The reporter for the Pioche Weekly Record felt no such trepidation. He reported that the trembling of Hank Parish’s lips was quite visible and Dr. Campbell afterward stated that the man could not have remained upon his feet one minute longer. The trap was sprung, and the resulting fall instantly broke the wretch’s neck. Half a minute later Doctor Campbell was at his side but life was already extinguished. Five minutes thereafter the Sheriff cut the body down and cut away the noose from the neck, using the same knife with which Parish had killed Thompson. The body was placed in the courtroom, where it lay for two hours before being buried. Where was Hank Parrish buried? Extensive research through records in both White Pine County and Lincoln County does not reveal the spot.

An interesting note in the news articles contained data on the condemned man’s pulse. When Dr. Campbell examined his pulse before he left the jail it was beating at 99, and Parish laughingly joked asking “well, Doc, how are they?” When the black cap was pulled over his head, it ran up to 142. It does not require a medical degree to guess that the last time Dr. Campbell examined Hank Parish the pulse registered zero.

On the day Hank was hung in White Pine County, the Pioche Weekly Record published a Thank You from the family of P. G. Thompson of Etra, New Jersey. The family expressed their gratitude for the prompt and energetic manner of the people in bringing the murderer to justice. They stated it was a great consolation to them to know that their son had fallen in the house of friends.

At least the hanging proved profitable for someone, as the Pioche Weekly Record reported that the edition containing the description of Hank’s execution “was soon exhausted and many called for copies, which however were not to be had.” Then began the nit picking between the Record and the News.

White Pine News reported the entire cost of the Parish trial and execution was $1,569. White Pine County paid $950 of this amount in cash and the rest in scrip. This cost was quite a concern for the county. Of course, Lincoln County would refund the cash paid out, and give White Pine County scrip in place of the scrip the county has issued. The News reported White Pine County felt it would be the loser, because White Pine County’s scrip was worth more than Lincoln County’s scrip.

Pioche Weekly Record reported a little different version of these costs. The Record reported the bill from White Pine County against Lincoln County for expenses incurred in the trial and execution of Hank Parish amounted to $1569.46. Of this amount $987.43 was payable in cash, the balance in certificates against the General County Fund. Variance in the amount payable in cash may account for the difference in the value of the two county’s scrip.

Of major concern to the Pioche Weekly Record was the $206 charged for the scaffold. The Record felt that if the scaffold was theirs to pay for, they ought to have it in Lincoln County for future use if required. White Pine News wanted them to take the barbarous thing away at once. Within two weeks, the Record changed its tune. They suggested the commissioners let it remain in White Pine County, because even if circumstances in Lincoln County should again justify the use of such a device, they would very likely have to ask their neighbors in White Pine County to do the work for them.

Both the White Pine News and the Pioche Weekly Record reported there was “no appeal to the governor and none given.”

Mining activity between 1887 and 1900 was sporadic at best; there was no recorded production in 1900. The White Pine News September 27, 1900 noted the arrival of two young miners from Shasta County, California, Edwin Gray and David Bartley. The News stated that both men had money and were looking for investment opportunities in Ely. Gray was to become the chief engineer of the local Chainman Mine and Bartley was to be its new foreman. Actually, their old boss, Sam Shepherd, the new superintendent of the Chainman Mine, had hired them to drive a team and wagon from Shasta County California to Ely, Nevada. They arrived in the community with seventy-five cents between them!

Gray and Bartley arrived in the district at a very opportune time. They had both determined somewhere along the long dusty road to Ely to break out on their own as soon as possible. No time was lost in investigating the various mining properties available. Increased demands for copper brought on by the rapid development of the electrical industry and technical developments that made mining and smelting of low-grade copper ore profitable for the first time reawakened interest in the copper belt. Although they were virtually penniless Gray and Bartley managed to take an option two claims, the Ruth and the Kearsage, from Daniel C. McDonald, Walter Rynearson, and George Marx for $3,000. They managed to find a grocer to grubstake them and test their theory. Enough work had been done on these claims to expose some copper outcroppings. These were what attracted Gray and Bartley. They both recognized the copper ore from their experiences in the Shasta County, California mine. Their boldness paid off, while that of most prospectors looking for gold or silver failed. Although there were no “bonanza” bodies of tremendously rich ore, this body of ore would be productive for many decades - into the indefinite future.

In the spring of 1891, former County Recorder from Hamilton, Aaron Campton, purchased the Ely town site. He later installed the first telephone system in the town. Up until that time, his life was characteristic of many young Nevada men. One season he was a cowboy, another a teamster, another a miner, bookkeeper, assayer, etc. When the excitement began at Treasure Hill, Aaron was one of the first to arrive. In 1905, Aaron Campton made his stake in Ely. When the boom came, the lots and the telephone system both sold for fabulous prices. There was more money changing hands in Ely than there had been in Hamilton during those incredibly rich days when men could be seen streaming up and down Treasure Hill. In the days of 1905, Aaron Campton reaped the reward of his perseverance in the deserts of the Sagebrush State.

The story of the exploration and development of the mines in the Robison District is one of the great success stories of the 20th century in Nevada mining. In 1902, Mark Requa bought the Star Pointer from Ed Gray and Dave Bartley and D.C. McDonald’s Ruth claim. The White Pine Copper Company was formed in 1903. The Giroux Consolidated Mining Company was organized that same year.

A new entity, Nevada Consolidated Copper Company, under Requa, acquired the properties of the White Pine Copper Company and other holdings in 1904. Although Requa was removed from his directing position by a power squeeze during the building period, his pioneering led to the construction of the mill, smelter and town of McGill, and the mining towns of Ruth and Kimberly. In 1905 over 26 million tons of ore was in reserve. Things began to happen. The Ely Record (Mining Record) began publishing in 1905 and would operate until the Ely Daily Times bought them out in 1946. Shafts were sunk by large and small operators, many showing promising copper ore bodies. A boom and rush from throughout the west started in the spring of 1906. Excitement was created. Hundreds of people came and went in 1906, attracted by stories of the wealth and great opportunities in Ely. Ely Mining Expositor began publication in 1906 and continued into 1915. Another newspaper, the Ely Post began operations in 1907 but it only lasted about a month. Competition is good, but how many newspapers can a small area handle?

Requa quickly interested eastern capital in an attempt to build a rail connection to the Eureka and Palisade Railroad. When this attempt failed, he started a new railroad from the north that was soon to be one of the most important of all the short-line railroads to be built in Nevada. This line connected with the Southern Pacific at Cobre 2 and extended south to Ely over a route so natural that not a bridge or a fill was needed. The initial survey for the railroad north from Ely to Cobre was started in October 1904. Actual construction began the following September, 1905. The magic name of Ely was heard in the financial centers of the East. On September 29, 1906, Mark Requa drove the copper spike that signified the completion of the Nevada Northern Railway. Special trains for the “first day” were made up at Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah and at Reno, Nevada. Much excitement was created, when in the midst of the organized program, the engineer of the locomotive standing at the end or the rails climbed into the cab, gave seeral short blasts from the whistle, then leaned out and shouted: “Lookout! I’m going to turn her around.” The crowd impulsively scattered, only to gather again, good-natured victims to the harmless hoax. All Ely was decorated. The old county courthouse was completely covered with sagebrush wreaths. Local committees went out to Cherry Creek and rode in with the first train, which was gay with flags, bunting and sagebrush wreaths. That first train3 was from Salt Lake City. When the Ogden and Reno trains arrived, Requa drove the last spike made of pure Ruth copper. The spike is now in the University of Nevada mining museum.

Completion of the road to Ely left the railhead ten miles from the mines. Building a grade through Robinson Canyon was the most difficult part of the 150 miles of construction work. On approaching the town of Ruth, the construction crew found a boarding house directly in the path surveyed for the rails. A quantity of dynamite was placed under the building, and without ceremony, the way was cleared for the road. A new boarding house was built elsewhere. It was not until January 1908 that the railroad was finally completed to the mines at Kimberly. To complete the railroad, a short-line was laid to carry the ore to the smelter at McGill. April 15, 1908, the first train load of copper ore from the mines rolled down Robinson Canyon and through Ely on its way to the concentrating mill at McGill. This road became important for passenger traffic between Ely and McGill. “School trains” were operated to carry McGill high school students to and from the county school. Typical of other short-lines, special trains were frequently chartered for the celebration of special events, for picnics and other excursions. It served in this capacity for several years until travel by automobile became popular.

The end of 1906 saw more than fifty mining companies organized. Many of them carried Ely-hyphenated names. Through the years, consolidations of mining companies have combined the principal mines in the district into a single holding. The Steptoe Valley Mining & Smelting Co.’s big smelting facilities were under construction at nearby McGill. Over 5,000 people were in town by the spring of 1907. The White Pine News had passed through a succession of people during the period from December 1900 until July 1907 when A. Valjean took over as editor. The News prospered with the copper boom at Ely. In November 1908, Valjean moved the News to East Ely.

The national financial panic in the fall of 1907 dampened the boom and most small companies failed. Completion of the smelter at McGill in May 1908 started a new era for the district. In 1914 the Consolidated Coppermines Co. took over the Giroux and other properties and remodeled the concentrating plant. Ely experienced a rapid growth. By 1914, it had electric lights, two banks, and stores of all kinds, a brewery, an ice plant, three newspapers, schools and churches. White Pine Suffragist came out and was a one-issue newspaper.

The year 1917 was unkind to the area. Advocates of prohibition won the fight to make the country dry. Dealers sold out of coal and large companies were unable to obtain any surplus. When local coal dealers received a load of coal, they divided it up among the most needy persons. The problem was not due to a lack of coal at the mines in Utah and Wyoming, but simply that the Rio Grande railroad was swamped with business. The lack of coal contributed to an early tragedy on the Nevada Northern Railroad. They were not able to accumulate any surplus coal and the trains were running on a very slim margin. The suburban trains had been discontinued due to this shortage. Men who were working at the smelter at McGill were taking the main line passenger train to Ely after works. Close to a hundred men rode the train to Ely when they came off the afternoon shift and accommodations on the main line were inadequate for this large number. Many were compelled to stand up during the ride to Ely. In order to get seats many of the men formed the habit of walking up the track a short distance and jumping on the train as it backed into the depot. January 12, 1917, twenty-five year old Frank Brown and several companions were standing near the scale house when the train backed in. Young Brown jumped for the step as the train went by him, but apparently did not get a sufficient grip on the handrail and was dashed under the train.

Consolidated Coppermines Company closed down operations in 1920 because of the low price of copper after World Ward I. The next year the Nevada Consolidated Copper Co. followed suit but resumed operations the next year. Ely Daily Times began publication in 1920 and has continued to the present time. White Pine News , which had seemed virtually indestructible and had been published in five successive camps during its 39 years of publication finally, died on December 30, 1923. Consolidated Coppermines Company reorganized as the Consolidated Coppermines Corporation and healthy development then followed.

In 1933, Nevada Consolidated Copper Corporation came into being when the Kennecott Copper Corporation acquired full ownership of the acquired full ownership. Ten years later Kennecott’s properties around Ely were named Nevada Mines Division of the Kennecott Copper Corporation. In 1958, that company acquired virtual control of all mines in the Robinson District. The mines are located at Ruth, six miles west of Ely via U.S. 50. Ore from Ruth went by Nevada Northern Railway train to the smelter at McGill, where it was processed into “blister copper.” In the late 1970’s, Kennecott started phasing the Nevada Mines Division out. The copper mines closed, the mill closed, the railroad closed, and most of Kennecott’s 1,500 local employees were laid off. Kennecott’s dominating presence in the community and the source of half the employment of White Pine County were gone.

As with the other mining camps, the rise and fall of newspapers heralded the economic conditions of the times. The first newspaper to arrive in Ely was the White Pine News. Taylor was declining and W. L. Davis moved the paper to Ely on September 15, 1888. Davis managed the News through some of its leanest years, selling to L. L. Elliott February 3, 1894 and retiring to Redwood City, California. Elliott ran the paper for four years before E. H. Decker purchased it under the name White Pine News Publishing Company. Decker was a recent graduate of the University of Michigan and this was Decker’s first attempt at publishing. Ill health forced him to sell the News December 27, 1900 and for the next six years it passed through a rapid succession of hands. Denver S. Dickerson and Charles A. Walker purchased the News November 24, 1904. Dickerson became sole editor and proprietor October 19, 1905. Houlden Hudgins took control May 8, 1906 when Dickerson ran for lieutenant governor; Roy W. Schenk briefly took the helm July 20, 1907. The News management began to stabilize November 4, 1907 when A. Valjean, who remained with the paper for many years, took over as editor. The News prospered with the copper mining boom. On November 24, 1908, Valjean moved the News to East Ely.

J. M. Lynch, who enjoyed a brief career with the White Pine News for three months in 1901, established the White Pine Miner in November of 1902. Lynch soon discovered that Ely could not support two papers and was forced to suspend the Miner in February of 1903. Lynch removed the paper to Cherry Creek where he revived it as the Cherry Creek Miner on March 25. John D. Crossette, another former editor of the White Pine News, commenced a rival paper, The Mining Record, in Ely on March 4, 1905. Crossette served as editor of The Mining Record and issued the paper as a Democratic weekly. Benjamin Dial bought a half interest in the paper June 3, 1905 but sold it back on September 16, 1905. Ely Publishing Company took over the paper, hiring William B. Root as editor and changing the politics to Republican July 7, 1906. W. A. Leonard became editor February 23, 1907 and trimmed the name to The Ely Record January 1, 1909. On September 28, 1909 Leonard became President of the publishing company, a position he held along with the editorship until February 6, 1925. Three editors followed in rapid succession until Charles H. Russell took the helm August 30, 1929. The paper was used to further Russell’s political career. Beginning in 1935, he won six consecutive terms in the Nevada legislature. When the Republican Russell retired as editor December 6, 1946, Democratic Governor Vail M. Pittman of the rival Times bought the Record. Management of the daily Times and weekly Record were officially combined in 1951.

Denver S. Dickerson sold his interest in the White Pine News in the fall of 1906 and formed the Expositor Printing and Publishing Company. The Ely Mining Expositor commenced October 11, 1906. Starting as a Silver-Democratic weekly paper, it was well received and by May 15, 1907, it was issued daily. Various editors took the helm during Dickerson’s reign as lieutenant governor. After his term of office expired February 15, 1911 Dickerson again took the helm, but turned it to L. G. Schwalenberg May 22, 1912. The Expositor’s career was declining and January 31, 1915 the paper was suspended.

Ely Daily Times , the paper that is in circulation at the time of this writing, began April 19, 1920. Nearly five years after the suspension of the Expositor , Vail M. Pittman bought the Expositor Printing and Publishing Company began the Ely Daily Times. Pittman held the editorial chair for over twenty-five years, but the Times Printing and Publishing Company became the owner on August 12, 1930. With the Times as a base, Pittman successfully ran for lieutenant governor in 1942. Pittman succeeded to the governorship in 1945 when Governor Carville resigned to take an U. S. Senate seat. Pittman was reelected as governor the following year and July 13, 1946 he hired an editor for the Times. December 6, 1956, Pittman bought his only rival, The Ely Record. He continued the Record as a weekly edition of the Times. Pittman retired from publishing in 1951. The Times and the Record were sold to Donald W. Reynolds (Donrey Media Group ) of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Reynolds consolidated the management of the Times and the Record but hired a new editor every few years. At the helm at the time of this writing is Ken Kliewer, publisher, and Kent Harper, editor.

Three short-lived papers were also introduced the early 1900’s. C. M. McDonald moved his little monthly Amateur Outlook to Ely from Reno in October of 1902. Two issues were printed before he returned to the university in the fall. The Ely Post began as a weekly February 15, 1907 but lasted just over a month. White Pine Suffragist was apparently a one-issue paper that was published in Ely on October 31, 1914. This paper supported the woman’s suffrage amendment that was approved in the election the following week.

The Complete Official Road Guide to the Lincoln Highway, published in 1916, lists Ely with a population of 3,500. In 1924, the Guidelisted the population at 2,090. Ely boasted six hotels, one garage, three banks, one railroad, 100 general business places, one express company, one telegraph company, three newspapers, three public schools, electric lights, water works, camp site and picnic grounds. The local speed limit was twelve miles per hour, but was not enforced.

White Piner’s are a resilient people. After the economic down turn, the new National Park was established, and after much lobbying, a new maximum-security prison was built. In 1983, Kennecott Copper Company gave the people of Ely a great departing gift: the last operating short line railroad in Nevada (and the best-preserved short line in North America.) The White Pine Historical Railroad Foundation was created to manage the gift, and in 1987 restored the train to service. The Nevada Northern Railway takes passengers from the old depot on excursions from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Restoration of the railroad’s facilities and rolling stock continues in the old shops. Even people too young to remember them, are overwhelmed by nostalgia for the 1930s after five minutes in the surroundings.

The gold prices of the 80’s spurred several gold mining operations in the county. This helped to stabilize the economic base. Unfortunately, a downturn in metals prices caused many of these operations to cease. The Robinson Mining District was back in full-scale operation until June 24, 1999. A state of the art processing plant was built on the site of Riepetown and concentrates were shipped out via rail. An old saying is “chicken today, feathers tomorrow.” Miners are an optimistic species. We remember how good the chicken is and forget the “fowl” taste of feathers! We have learned, however, that no area can rely completely on one industry.

Ely has stabilized out at approximately 4,000 people. This number includes those in the former East Ely. The early 20th century small-town architecture that dominates the down town area gives Ely a familiar look to those accustomed to small towns. Murals enhance many of these older buildings portraying the early years of White Pine County. New businesses, homes and fast food emporiums sprang up on the outskirts of town, while the downtown area retains the ambience of an earlier era. A new main post office opened at 2600 Bristlecone Ave on September 27, 1999.

Eldorado Canyon. Eldorado Canyon is located in Clark County, but at the time of Hank's escapades, it was part of Lincoln County. 2 Cobre. Cobre is the Spanish word for Copper. O. H. Hershey, who had recently returned from Mexico and was present at a meeting held by railroad officials for selecting a name, made the suggestion. 3 Train. Fortunately for Ely, the train is again running. The yards and freight depot were located as they are today (only it was called Ely City). A tour through the yards and depot is available. Friendly employees and dedicated volunteers work daily to preserve our heritage. A ride back in time on one of the operating old coal-fired steam engines, #40 or #93 can top off a perfect day.