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Pahruntp ValleyGazette, Thursday, September 18,
1997 25
Nye County Historical Markers (Part H)
by Ed Tomchin
A visit to Nye County's historical markers throughout
Nevada continues. Tonopah (Marker No. 15), Big Smoky
Valley (Marker No. 42) and The Old Boundary (Marker No.
58) were featured in the September 11, 1997 issue of the PV
Gazette.
OPHIR (MARKER NO. 64)
Located on S.R. 376, 35 miles South of the junction with
U.S. Highway 50, this marker is situated at the foot of a canyon
to the west which leads to the ghost town of Ophir, midway up
into the Toiyabe range.
Ore was discovered in Ophir in 1863 by S. Boulerond and
his companions. In 1964, the Murphy mine was discovered
and became a leading producer, which created the mining
district.
In 1865, a 20 stamp mill was built at a cost of over $200,000,
which was outrageous for its day.
The first experimental Stetefeldt furnace was built next to
the mill. This project started the town and it grew to a
population of 400. In the 1870s, the mines declined and Ophir
became almost deserted. In the 1880s, the mines were reacti-
vated and the town had another period of prosperity, but by the
1890s, Ophir was again deserted. However, some mining
activity continued into the 20th century. You can still see the
massive stone foundations of the gigantic and costly stamp
mill, as well as the stone walls of a very elegant office and
mansion.
Over $2 million in gold and silver were mined from the
Murphy vein and surrounding properties.
Iron, copper and arsenic were also found. In its heyday,
Ophir sported all the accoutrements of a large community,
including a school, church, various lodges, and of course,
several saloons.
The discovery of the outcrop of Ophir bonanza has been
linked to the original discovery of the Cgmstock Lode and
leads to the conflicting stories regarding the identity of the
original locator, or locators, and the date of the discovery and
the naming. The problem remains largely unresolved.
Among the possible original discoverers were Hosea Ballou
and Ethan Allen Grosch, brothers who were engaged in placer
mining in Gold Canyon as early as 1853.
According to an old directory of Storey County, in 1853,
Allen and I-losea Grosch relxirtedthey had discovered silver
ledges, staked a claim and called it the Pioneer. This first
location, where the Virginia now stands, was the very claim
afterward jumped by Comstock, and which has since given his
name to the lode.
When the Grosch Consolidated Gold and Silver Mining
Company filed against the Ophir and the Gould and Curry,
claiming the original rights of the brothers, the company was
unsuccessful in establishing its claim. Although the consensus
today is that the Grosch brothers did not discovex the Comstock
Lode, the following account asserts their prior claim and
explains away other contenders for the honor of the original
discovery of the lode.
"The claim was afterwards enlarged by the addition of other
claims, and had several owners, among whom were Penrod,
Comstock, Finny (Old Virginia), Reilly and McLaughlin, and
was at one time run by Penrod, Comstock & Co. The name was
several times changed, until at last the name 'Ophir' was given.
This is the claim which gave the name of Comstockto the lode...
If the lode had been called after the first discoverer, it should
have been named the 'Grosch Lode' for the brothers located
claims for themselves and others thereon long before the days
of Virginia and Gold Hill were known."
Unfortunately, the Grosch brothers were unable to do anyo
thing abut their discovery, for Hoseadied in the fall of 1857, and
Allen died the following winter. On October 21, 1859, the first
indictment for murder on the Comstock was handed down
against William Sides, the brother of Richard Sides for whom
the Sides Claim was named, for a homicide committed at Gold
Hill a short time after the discovery. The victim was John
Jessup, reported to have been the original locator of the Ophir.
"After the death of Jessup, and while the majority of the
inhabitants of Gold Hill were over in Eagle Valley with his
murderer, Reilly and McLaughlin jumped his claim, and have
received the credit of first discovering the Comstock." In 1864,
the Ophir gave John Jessup's mother $30,000 for his claim.
Peter O'Reilly and Patrick McLaughlin are usually credited
with having discovered the Ophir. According to Smith, in 1859
they "dug into a layer of rich black sand that proved to be a
concentrate from the hidden Ophir bonanza."
A historian named Lincoln mentions Henry Comstock's
connection with it. "In June, 1859, two Irish miners named
Peter O'Reilly and Patrick McLaughlin, were working at the
head of Six-Mile Canyon to the North of Gold Hill. In digging
a water hole, they uncovered the top of the Ophir bonanza,
located it, and washed gold from it. Henry Comstock happened
along that evening, and by putting up a bluff, secured a place for
himself and a friend on the location notice."
Dan DeQuille's account of the naming of the mining camp
seems to confirm the 1859 date, insofar as the application of the
name Ophir is concerned. The camp has been spoken of and
placed upon the records as Pleasant Hill and Mount Pleasant
Point. In August, 1859, it was designated as Ophir, in Septem-
ber as Ophir Diggings. p ag"ick McLaughlin sold ut, and it was
his one-sixth interest that started the Hearst fortune Peter
O'Reilly sold his interest in the Ophir in the fall of 1859 to John
O. Earl and Judge James Walsh.
Henry Comstock is accused of having secured a place for
himself on the Ophir either by out nmneuvering O'Reilly and
McLaughlin, or by trading a horse and bottle of whisky for"Old
Virginia's" stake in the Ophir, after which trade he immediately
formed the firm of Penrod, Comstock and Company. He
wanted to call the property the Comstock, but compromised on
the Ophir.
The traditional and prevalent name Ophir derives from the
Judaic tradition andrefers to abiblicalregion famous forits gold.
Wildlife Commission to meet in Henderson
Geoff Schneider
Nevada division of Wildlife
The NevadaBoard of Wildlife Commissioners is scheduled
to meet Friday, September 26 and Saturday, Sept. 27 at Valley
View Recreation Center, 500 Harris Street in Henderson.
Friday's meeting will get underway at 3 p.m. with a report
on planning for the state's wildlife management areas. There
will also be a req.uest from waterfowlers to expend $8,000 to
develop a field at Overton Wildlife Management Area.
Saturday's session begins at 8:30 a.m. with discussion on
allocation of up to five auction tags for wild turkey. This will be
followed by the setting of 1998 and 1999 fishing seasons and
limits.
Other agenda items include the final reading of the 1997-99
big game release plan, discussion on a petition to allow scopes
on muzzleloaders, discussion on conflicts between mountain
bikers and hunters, a report on mule deer task force activities
and a report on mountain lion predation on bighorn sheep.
Fishing Report
by Cnroff Schneider
Nevada Division of Wikage
LAKE MEAD - Despite the recent storm and windy weather,
anglers are finding excellent fishing for largemouth bass and striped
bass.
Some of the better action for stripers is being found by boaters
who are downrigging in the mouth of Government Wash. Fish up to
six pounds have been caught in that area during the past week.
Anglers report the action for stripers has been good at Rogers Bay
in the Overtou Arm. Some success is also being found by trollers in
the Muddy River area.
Largemouth bass are being taken along ledges with artificial
worms and tube lures. One of tim beRer areas for bass has been Indian
Canyon, which is located across the lake from Callville Bay.
LAKE MOHAVE. Striped bass ranging from one and a half to
three and a half pounds are being caught by trollers from Owl's Point
to the north power lines. Boaters are using lead line and trolling
whole anchovies to take the fish.
A Southern Nevada Bassmasters tournament held Saturday Sep-
tember 13, resulted in 14 competitors catching 20 largernouth bass.
The two anglers on the winning team caught six bass for a combined
weight of nearly 21 pounds.
Rainbow trout are still being caught by boaters above Willow
Beach. The action for channel catfish has been good in shallow coves,
EAGLE VALLEY RESERVOIR- Water conditions continue
to be murky. Trout fishing is poor.
ECHO CANYON RESERVOIR - Fishing has been fair for
small largemouth bass and rainbow trout. The action for crappie is
slow.
SCHROEDER RESERVOIR- Rainbow trout fishing is poor in
the reservoir, but excellent for small fish in the stream below the lake.
Flies and small spinners are the tickets for catching fish in the stream.
WAYNE E. KIRCH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA -
Rainbow trout fishing is showing signs of life while the action for
largemouth bass has been slowing. Trout fishing is reported to be fair
from the dam at Haymeedow Reservoir.
The Nevada Division of Wildlife reports the area has received
three inches of rain during the past month. This has led to good water
levels at the lakes.
