Category: Destination4x4

Colonel Sherman Stevens

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Colonel Sherman Stevens (1810–1887) was a prominent 19th-century American entrepreneur, miner, and businessman whose ventures significantly supported the booming silver mining operations at Cerro Gordo, one of California’s most productive silver-lead mining districts in the Inyo Mountains during the 1870s.

Sherman Stevens - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/236034222/sherman-stevens/
Sherman Stevens –
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/236034222/sherman-stevens/

Born in New York and raised in Michigan, Stevens initially built wealth through banking, mining, and other enterprises in the Midwest. He later ventured westward, drawn by opportunities in California’s mining frontiers. Often addressed as “Colonel” (a title likely honorary or militia-related, common in the era for prominent figures), he became known for his resourceful and ambitious character.

In the early 1870s, the Cerro Gordo Mines—discovered in 1865 and peaking in production after 1869 under figures like Victor Beaudry and Mortimer Belshaw—faced a critical challenge. The surrounding region had been stripped of local timber and wood resources, which were essential for two main purposes: structural timbers to shore up mine shafts and tunnels, and charcoal to fuel smelters that refined silver-lead ores. Without affordable fuel and supports, operations risked slowing or halting, threatening the prosperity of Cerro Gordo, nearby Swansea, and Darwin.

Recognizing a lucrative niche, Stevens saw greater profit in supplying the mines rather than mining silver directly. In June 1873, he founded the Inyo Lumber & Coal Company and established a major operation in Cottonwood Canyon (Creek) high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains (around 9,500 feet elevation), west of Owens Lake. He constructed a sawmill there to harvest pine timber. A sophisticated flume system transported the cut lumber down to the valley floor, connecting to the Los Angeles bullion road.

The wood served dual roles:

  • Much became mine timbers and building materials hauled to Cerro Gordo.
  • The remainder was processed into charcoal in large adobe Cottonwood Charcoal Kilns (near present-day Cartago, California). These kilns, now a California Historical Landmark (#537), converted the wood efficiently for smelter use.

The charcoal was transported to Stevens’ Wharf on Owens Lake, loaded onto the steamer Bessie Brady (one of the lake’s iconic vessels), ferried across the water, and then wagon-freighted up the steep haul road to Cerro Gordo. This supply chain kept the mines operational during their peak years, when Cerro Gordo produced immense wealth (contributing to the growth of Los Angeles as a shipping and commercial hub).

1950 Painting by William McKeever of the Bessie Brady is on display at the Eastern California Museum in Independence, CA. This image probably does not resemble the actual appearance of the vessel.
1950 Painting by William McKeever of the Bessie Brady is on display at the Eastern California Museum in Independence, CA. This image probably does not resemble the actual appearance of the vessel.

Stevens invested heavily—by 1877, he had spent around $64,500 (a substantial sum)—building infrastructure including the mill, flume, kilns, and transport network. His enterprise supplied fuel and timber to Cerro Gordo’s smelters and shafts, sustaining production when local resources were exhausted.

His success was tied to the mining boom’s duration. When Cerro Gordo and Darwin declined sharply by around 1878 (due to falling ore grades, water issues, and market shifts), demand collapsed. Stevens lost nearly his entire fortune in the bust.

He passed away in 1887. Today, remnants like the Cottonwood Charcoal Kilns preserve his legacy, commemorating how entrepreneurs like Stevens enabled remote mining camps to thrive in the harsh desert environment of the Owens Valley and Inyo Mountains.

Stevens exemplified the opportunistic spirit of the American West—shifting from direct mining to infrastructure support for greater stability and profit, while ultimately sharing the risks of boom-and-bust cycles.

Bodie Fire June 23, 1932

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The Fire of June 23, 1932, stands as one of the most devastating events in the history of Bodie, California, the once-thriving gold-mining boomtown in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. By the early 1930s, Bodie had long passed its peak; what had been a bustling community of nearly 10,000 people in the late 1870s had dwindled to just a few hundred residents amid declining mining operations, economic hardship during the Great Depression, and earlier damage from a major fire in 1892. The town retained only a fraction of its original approximately 2,000 structures, but it still featured a Main Street lined with wooden buildings, saloons, hotels, stores, a bank, and a schoolhouse.

The Outbreak of the Fire

"Bodie Bill" - Age 2 1/2 years - Firebug of the Bodie Fire, June 23, 1932
“Bodie Bill” – Age 2 1/2 years – Firebug of the Bodie Fire, June 23, 1932

On June 23, 1932—the last day of school for the remaining children in Bodie—a small but fateful act ignited catastrophe. Nearly 3-year-old Bill Godward (often called “Billy” or later nicknamed “Bodie Bill”), the son of local residents, was disappointed after a school party served only red Jell-O instead of the ice cream he craved. In a moment of childish frustration and mischief, he left the school, went home (while his parents were away at work), obtained matches, and proceeded to a vacant wooden building or shed behind the Sawdust Corner saloon.

There, Bill started a small fire—likely out of boredom or play—that quickly spread due to the dry conditions, high winds typical of the high-desert environment, and the abundance of wooden structures packed closely together. The blaze erupted in the afternoon, with the camp fire bell soon ringing out an alarm across the town.

Resident accounts, such as one from Margaret Bennett in a surviving letter, describe the chaos: she had just hosted a birthday party for her daughter at the schoolhouse when the alarm sounded. She rushed to help salvage valuables (including moving important papers to a bank vault), loaded cars with belongings, and drove them to safety along Main Street as flames raged. Firefighting efforts were severely hampered; water pipes from the reservoir on Bodie Bluff were clogged with sediment, forcing residents to form bucket brigades from a nearby creek. Assistance arrived from about 40 men of the Bridgeport fire department, but the wind-driven fire spread rapidly.

Destruction and Immediate Aftermath

The fire consumed a massive portion of what remained of Bodie—estimates range from about 70 percent to as high as 95 percent of the standing buildings. It destroyed most of Main Street, including key commercial structures such as the bank, hotels, stores, and saloons. Only a small core of buildings survived, largely because the wind eventually shifted direction, sparing sections on the outskirts.

The loss was catastrophic for the already struggling community. With mining long in decline (and officially ending a decade later in 1942), the fire removed much of the remaining infrastructure and economic viability. Few residents stayed long-term afterward; many left, accelerating Bodie’s transition into a near-ghost town. Salvage efforts focused on saving personal belongings and whatever could be carried away, but the town never rebuilt significantly.

Long-Term Consequences and Legacy

The 1932 fire was the final major blow that defined Bodie’s appearance today. It left roughly 5–10 percent of the original structures standing—about 100 or so buildings, including the schoolhouse, Methodist church, firehouse, and various homes and businesses—frozen in a state of abandonment.

By the 1940s, Bodie was essentially deserted. In 1962, the California State Parks system acquired the site, designating it a State Historic Park and National Historic Landmark. It is preserved in a policy of “arrested decay,” meaning structures are stabilized but not restored, maintaining the authentic, weathered look left by the fire and decades of exposure. Today, Bodie attracts visitors as one of America’s best-preserved ghost towns, with the ruins serving as a poignant reminder of the boom-and-bust cycles of the American West.

The 1932 fire, sparked by a toddler’s innocent (if reckless) play, sealed the fate of a town already fading into history, ensuring that what visitors see now is a direct legacy of that June day.

Panamint City California – Inyo County Ghost Town

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Panamint City is one of the most legendary ghost towns in the Panamint Range of Death Valley National Park, California. Perched high in Surprise Canyon at an elevation of around 6,000–6,500 feet (about 1,800–2,000 m), it was once a notorious silver boomtown known for its lawlessness, rapid rise, and swift decline. Today, the site lies in a remote, rugged wilderness area within the park (though some remnants are on private inholdings or patented claims).

Panamint City California - 1875
Panamint City California – 1875

Historical Background and Founding (1872–1873)

The story of Panamint City begins in late 1872 amid the chaotic aftermath of earlier California gold and silver rushes. Prospectors William L. Kennedy, Robert Polk Stewart, and Richard C. Jacobs (some accounts name them as William Ledlie Kennedy et al.) were searching for the fabled Lost Gunsight Mine (a legendary lost gold deposit tied to early Death Valley lore) when they stumbled upon rich silver outcrops in Surprise Canyon. The canyon’s isolation had long made it a favorite hideout for outlaws evading law enforcement after stagecoach robberies and other crimes.

When the prospectors returned to stake formal claims, a gang of six bandits (who had followed them) forced a partnership to share in the profits—despite the outlaws being wanted for crimes like robbing a Wells Fargo stage of $12,000. This unlikely alliance marked the birth of the Panamint Mining District, officially formed in February 1873. Ore samples sent to Los Angeles attracted attention, and word spread quickly.

Senator John Percival Jones
Senator John Percival Jones

Boom Period (1873–1875)

The real boom ignited when Nevada’s “Silver Senators”—John P. Jones and William M. Stewart (prominent Comstock Lode investors)—learned of the discoveries. They organized the Panamint Mining Company with $2 million in capital stock and bought up major claims, injecting serious investment. By late 1874, Panamint City exploded into a full-fledged town:

  • Population peaked at around 1,500–2,000 residents, including miners, merchants, saloonkeepers, prostitutes, gamblers, and outlaws.
  • The main street stretched nearly one mile up the narrow canyon, lined with wooden buildings: hotels, restaurants, stores, assay offices, two banks, a post office, and the Panamint News newspaper.
  • Saloons and a red-light district thrived, contributing to the town’s reputation as one of the “toughest, rawest, most hard-boiled little hellholes” in the West.
  • Lawlessness was rampant—reports claim over 50 murders in the first few years, with shootouts, claim-jumping, and vigilante justice common. Wells Fargo refused to operate a stage line due to the banditry; instead, bullion was cast into heavy 400-pound cubes to deter theft during transport.
  • Key mines included the Wyoming Mine, Wonder Mine, and others producing high-grade silver ore (some assays showed values in the thousands of dollars per ton), along with copper and lesser gold.

The town even inspired ambitious infrastructure plans, such as Senator Jones’ short-lived railroad project from Santa Monica (which never fully materialized beyond initial segments).

William M. Stewart. Photo by Matthew Brady
William M. Stewart. Photo by Matthew Brady

Decline and Abandonment (1875–1877)

The bust came as quickly as the boom. By late 1875, the richest surface and near-surface ore bodies in the major mines began depleting rapidly. Veins pinched out or became too low-grade to process profitably with 1870s technology. Investors pulled out, and production plummeted.

A catastrophic flash flood in 1876 roared down Surprise Canyon, washing away much of the lower town, destroying buildings, roads, and equipment. This disaster accelerated the exodus. By 1877, major operations shut down entirely, and Panamint City was largely abandoned. Scavengers and a few holdouts lingered briefly, but the population evaporated within months.

Later History and Remnants

The site is protected; visitors must hike and plan trips carefully (flash flood risk remains high). Sporadic small-scale prospecting occurred in the early 20th century, but nothing revived the town. The area saw renewed minor activity during later Panamint Range booms (e.g., gold at nearby Skidoo in 1905–1917), but Panamint City itself remained a ghost town.

In the mid-20th century, some structures were salvaged or burned; flash floods continued to erode the site.

Today, within Death Valley National Park (established 1994, expanded to include the Panamint Range), remnants include:

  • Foundation stones and walls of former buildings.
  • Mine adits, shafts, and tailings piles.
  • The old smelter stack base and scattered artifacts.
Panamint City Stamp Mill
Panamint City Stamp Mill

Panamint City exemplifies the classic Western mining boom-bust cycle: fueled by rich silver discoveries, hyped by big investors, plagued by lawlessness and isolation, and doomed by ore depletion and natural disaster. Its brief, violent heyday left an enduring legend in Death Valley lore—one of outlaws turning prospectors, senators chasing silver, and a canyon that swallowed a town almost as fast as it rose.

Panamint Town Summary

NamePanamint
LocationInyo County
Latitude, Longitude36.1182827, -117.0953327
GNIS1661185
Elevation6,300 Feet
NewspaperPanamint News ( 1874-1875 )

Panamint Map

References

John Percival Jones

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John Percival Jones (January 27, 1829 – November 27, 1912) was a prominent Anglo-American mining entrepreneur, capitalist, and long-serving politician whose career epitomized the intersection of Western mining booms, corporate investment, and national politics in the late 19th century. Known as one of the “Silver Senators,” Jones amassed significant wealth through silver mining in Nevada’s Comstock Lode before expanding his investments into California. His political influence as a U.S. Senator from Nevada for 30 years (1873–1903) amplified his role in promoting mining interests, free silver policies, and regional development.

Senator John Percival Jones
Senator John Percival Jones

Early Life and Arrival in the West

Born at “The Hay” in Herefordshire, England, Jones immigrated to the United States as an infant in 1829 with his family. He grew up in New York before heading west during the California Gold Rush. In 1849, at age 20, he arrived in California and settled in Trinity County in the northern part of the state. There, he engaged in placer mining, farming, and local affairs, serving as sheriff and justice of the peace in Weaverville. These early experiences in the Mother Lode region honed his skills in mining operations and frontier governance, though he did not achieve major wealth in California gold mining at this stage.

Rise in Nevada: The Comstock Lode and Crown Point Mine

Jones moved to Nevada in the mid-1860s amid the excitement of the Comstock Lode, the legendary silver discovery near Virginia City (then part of Utah Territory, later Nevada). In 1868, he became superintendent of the Crown Point Mine in Gold Hill, a key producer on the Comstock Lode. Under his management, the mine struck a rich ore body, propelling Jones to millionaire status and earning him the reputation as the Comstock’s first millionaire mine superintendent.

His heroism during a deadly 1869 fire on the Comstock further enhanced his stature. Jones was credited with brave actions that saved lives and property. This success, combined with his operational expertise, positioned him as a leading figure in Nevada’s mining industry. The Comstock’s deep, hardrock silver mining required substantial capital, corporate organization, and technological innovation—areas where Jones excelled as both manager and investor.

Political Career and the “Silver Senator” Era

In 1873, Jones was elected as a Republican U.S. Senator from the new state of Nevada, serving continuously until 1903—a remarkable 30-year tenure. He joined fellow mining magnate William Morris Stewart (another Comstock lawyer-turned-senator) in representing Nevada’s interests in Washington. Both became staunch advocates for free silver (bimetallism), opposing the gold standard and pushing policies favorable to Western mining states. Jones’s wealth and influence made him a powerful voice for silver producers nationwide.

Mining Investments in Nevada and California

Jones’s mining career extended beyond the Comstock. In Nevada, his Crown Point success provided the capital for further ventures. He invested in various Comstock properties and remained active as a capitalist even after entering the Senate.

Panamint City Stamp Mill
Panamint City Stamp Mill

His most notable California investment came in the mid-1870s with the Panamint silver district in the Panamint Range (now part of Death Valley National Park). In 1873–1874, rich silver outcrops were discovered in Surprise Canyon by prospectors (including former outlaws). Hearing of the excitement, Jones—fresh from Comstock riches—partnered with Senator Stewart to form the Panamint Mining Company. They invested heavily (reports vary from $250,000–$350,000 personally, plus millions raised from investors) to acquire controlling interests in key claims like the Wyoming and Wonder mines. They organized the district, built infrastructure (including a 20-stamp mill), and promoted the camp aggressively.

Panamint City boomed briefly to 1,500–2,000 residents in 1874–1875, becoming infamous for lawlessness (dozens of murders reported). Jones and Stewart floated stocks on the San Francisco Mining Exchange and cast bullion into heavy cubes to deter theft. However, the high-grade ore depleted quickly, and a devastating flash flood in 1876 destroyed much of the town. By 1877, operations collapsed amid a market panic, yielding little return despite massive investment. This bust highlighted the speculative risks of remote desert mining.

Jones also pursued broader California ventures tied to his mining interests. In 1874, he partnered with Colonel Robert S. Baker to develop Santa Monica as a seaside resort and potential port. He purchased a three-fourths interest in Baker’s Rancho Boca de Santa Monica ranch for $162,500 and built the Los Angeles and Independence Railroad (a narrow-gauge line from Los Angeles to Santa Monica, completed in 1875 without subsidies). Originally intended to connect to Inyo County silver mines (including Panamint) via Independence, financial strains from failing mines forced Jones to sell the railroad to Collis P. Huntington’s Southern Pacific in 1877. Santa Monica’s founding and early growth remain his most enduring California legacy.

Later Life and Legacy

After retiring from the Senate in 1903, Jones lived in comfort, dividing time between Washington, D.C., New York (where he owned a hotel), San Francisco (with a Turkish bath investment), and California properties. He pursued other interests, including early water reclamation ideas linked to what became Hoover Dam. He died in Santa Monica on November 27, 1912.

John P. Jones embodied the transition from individual prospecting to corporate mining capitalism in the American West. His Comstock fortune funded ambitious but often risky ventures like Panamint, while his Senate role shaped national mining and monetary policy. Though some investments (notably Panamint) ended in disappointment, his role in founding Santa Monica and promoting Western resource development left a lasting mark on California and Nevada history.

William Morris Stewart

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William Morris Stewart (August 9, 1827 – April 23, 1909), often called the “Silver Senator,” was a prominent American lawyer, politician, and mining investor whose career intertwined deeply with the mining booms of California and Nevada. Known for his aggressive legal tactics, advocacy for free silver and mining rights, and involvement in high-profile (and sometimes controversial) ventures, Stewart amassed significant wealth through prospecting, litigation, and speculation before and during his long political tenure.

William M. Stewart. Photo by Matthew Brady
William M. Stewart. Photo by Matthew Brady

Early Life and Arrival in the West

Born in Galen, near Lyons, Wayne County, New York, Stewart was the oldest son of Frederick A. and Miranda Morris Stewart. His family moved to a farm in Trumbull County, Ohio, during his childhood, but he returned to Lyons for high school. In 1848, he entered Yale University but left after three semesters to join the California Gold Rush. Traveling via the Isthmus of Panama, he arrived in San Francisco in spring 1850 and headed to the gold fields near Nevada City, California. There, he prospected successfully, discovering the famed Eureka diggings and profiting enough to sell his interests at a substantial gain. This early success funded his shift from mining to law.

Legal Career and California Mining Ties (1850s)

Stewart studied law under John R. McConnell in Nevada City and was admitted to the bar in 1852. He served as district attorney of Nevada County in 1853 and briefly as acting attorney general of California in 1854. In 1855, he married Annie Elizabeth Foote (daughter of former Mississippi Senator Henry S. Foote) and moved to Downieville, California, in 1856, continuing his legal practice amid the region’s placer and quartz mining operations. His expertise in mining law—gained through litigation over claims, water rights, and ore disputes—laid the foundation for his later prominence.

Move to Nevada and the Comstock Lode (1859–1875)

The 1859 discovery of the Comstock Lode—one of the richest silver deposits in history—in what was then Utah Territory (soon Nevada) drew Stewart to Virginia City in 1860. He became the most prominent lawyer on the Comstock, specializing in mining litigation. He championed the “single ledge” theory (arguing the Comstock was one continuous vein), which influenced massive stakes in control of the lode. Stewart estimated earning $500,000 from four years of such cases, amid litigation costing up to $10 million overall. His aggressive style—sometimes described as not always strictly ethical—earned him a fearsome reputation.

Politically, Stewart helped shape Nevada: he served on the territorial council (1861), attended the 1863 constitutional convention, and became one of Nevada’s first U.S. Senators upon statehood in 1864 (serving until 1875). He drafted key national mining laws (1866 and 1872) formalizing Western practices like claim location and free access to public lands. He also contributed to the Fifteenth Amendment and supported railroad interests.

Investments and Controversies in Mining

Beyond law and politics, Stewart invested directly in mining:

  • Comstock Lode: He participated as a capitalist after his legal work, profiting from the silver boom.
  • Emma Mine (Utah, 1870s): Stewart promoted this silver mine in Little Cottonwood Canyon to British investors, raising millions. Accusations of fraud arose when the mine proved depleted or overvalued; he and partners sold shares profitably, tarnishing his reputation.
  • Panamint City (California, 1873–1877): In late 1872/early 1873, prospectors (including outlaws) discovered rich silver in Surprise Canyon, Panamint Range (near Death Valley), while searching for the legendary Lost Gunsight Mine. Stewart partnered with fellow Nevada Senator John P. Jones (both dubbed “Silver Senators” for their mining ties) to form the Panamint Mining Company (capitalized at $2 million). They invested heavily—over $250,000–$350,000—buying claims (e.g., Wyoming, Wonder, Challenge), arranging amnesty for bandit discoverers (with restitution to Wells Fargo), and promoting the boom. Panamint City swelled to 1,500–2,000 residents with mills and infrastructure, but ore depleted quickly, and a 1876 flash flood devastated the town. The venture collapsed by 1877, adding to Stewart’s controversial legacy.

Stewart’s mining pursuits often blended speculation, promotion, and politics, drawing criticism for prioritizing profit and development over restraint.

Later Career and Legacy

After leaving the Senate in 1875 (due to financial pressures against rival William Sharon), Stewart practiced law in San Francisco and pursued unsuccessful mining schemes. He represented clients in scandals (e.g., William Sharon’s divorce) and briefly joined the Silver Party (1892–1899) to advocate remonetizing silver, editing the Silver Knight newspaper. Rejoining Republicans in 1900, he returned to the Senate (1887–1905), championing Western irrigation, mining safety, and opposing figures like John Wesley Powell on land policy.

In 1905, at nearly 80, Stewart moved to the Bullfrog mining district in southern Nevada, opening a law firm and dabbling in ventures. He died in Washington, D.C., in 1909, leaving a fortune from mining and law (estimated at millions earlier). Inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners (1964), Stewart embodied the rugged, opportunistic spirit of the mining West—shaping laws that enabled its development while embodying its excesses and controversies. His investments in California (early gold fields, Panamint) and Nevada (Comstock, later camps) helped fuel booms that transformed the region, for better and worse.