Goldfield Archives - Page 2 of 2

Virgil Walter Earp

Posted on March 14, 2024 by Destination4x4

Virgil Walter Earp ( July 18, 1843 – October 19, 1905) was born in Lincoln County, Kentucky, was a prominent lawman and frontier figure known for his role in the American Old West. As the eldest of the Earp siblings, Virgil took on a leadership role within the family, guiding his younger brothers Wyatt, Morgan, and James. A seasoned law enforcement officer, Virgil served as a deputy U.S. marshal and, later, as the town marshal of Tombstone, Arizona. His most notable moment came during the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881, where he, alongside Wyatt and Doc Holliday, confronted a group of outlaws known as the Cowboys. Despite surviving the gunfight, Virgil’s tenure in Tombstone was marred by violence and personal loss, including the assassination attempt that severely injured him and ultimately led to the death of his brother Morgan. Virgil’s resilience and sense of justice left a lasting imprint on the lore of the Old West.

Early Life and Family

Virgil Walter Earp was born on July 18, 1843, in Hartford, Kentucky. He was the second of Nicholas and Virginia Ann Cooksey Earp’s five sons. The Earp family moved frequently during Virgil’s childhood, eventually settling in Pella, Iowa. Growing up in a large and adventurous family, Virgil, along with his brothers James, Wyatt, Morgan, and Warren, developed a strong sense of camaraderie and loyalty that would shape their future endeavors.

Civil War Service

In 1861, at the age of 18, Virgil enlisted in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He served with the 83rd Illinois Infantry Regiment and later transferred to the 17th Illinois Cavalry. His service was marked by bravery and resilience, traits that would later define his career as a lawman. After the war, Virgil returned to civilian life, married his first wife, Ellen, and started a family. Unfortunately, Ellen died shortly after the birth of their daughter.

Life as a Lawman

Virgil’s career as a lawman began in the 1870s. He held various positions across different towns, working as a constable in Prescott, Arizona, and as a deputy U.S. marshal. His reputation for enforcing the law with determination and fairness quickly spread. In 1879, Virgil moved to Tombstone, Arizona, where he would play a crucial role in one of the most famous events in Western history.

The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

Virgil Earp’s most notable moment came on October 26, 1881, in Tombstone. As the city marshal of Tombstone, Virgil, along with his brothers Wyatt and Morgan, and their friend Doc Holliday, faced off against the Clanton and McLaury brothers in what became known as the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. The confrontation, which lasted only about 30 seconds, resulted in the deaths of three outlaws and left Virgil seriously wounded. Despite his injuries, Virgil’s leadership and bravery during the gunfight cemented his place in the annals of the American West.

Later Years and Legacy

Following the gunfight, Virgil is held for a preliminary trail for his role in the gunfight which led to the death of three men. On November 19th, 1881, Virgil Earp, still seriously injured from the gunfight, testified from his bedside at the Cosmopolitan Hotel. He is exonerated on November 30, 1881 with the finding on Judge Wells Spicer.

Virgil’s troubles were far from over. In December 1881, he was ambushed and shot by unknown assailants, leaving him with a permanently crippled left arm. Despite this setback, Virgil continued to serve as a lawman, moving to California, where he worked as a law enforcement officer in various capacities, including city marshal of Colton and constable in Vanderbilt.

Virgil Earp passed away on October 19, 1905, in Goldfield, Nevada, at the age of 62. He was buried in the Riverview Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. His life, marked by courage, resilience, and a commitment to justice, left a lasting legacy in the history of the American West. Virgil Earp’s story, along with those of his brothers, continues to captivate the imaginations of those fascinated by the era of the Old West.

Virgil Earp in the news

Los Angeles Daily Herald – December 30, 1882

On December 30, 1881 the Los Angles Daily Herald broke the news of the Assassination attempt on Marshall Virgil Earp The Los Angles Daily Herald…

The Arizona Historical Newspaper, the Tombstone Epitaph announces the gunfight at the O K Coral.

The Tombstone Epitaph, October 27, 1881

The following is the original transcript of The Tombstone Epitaph published on October 27, 1881 on the infamous gun fight at the O K Corral…

Tombstone Daily Nugget, October 27, 1881

The Tombstone Daily Nugget, October 27, 1881 described the the infamous Gunfight at the O K Corral between the Earps and the Clanton faction in…

Earp Family Members

James Cooksey Earp

James Cooksey Earp ( June 28, 1841 - January 25, 1926 ) James Cooksey Earp ( June 28, 1841 - January 25, 1926 ) was…

Morgan Earp historical photo, 1881. Probably taken by C.S. Fly.

Morgan Seth Earp

Morgan Seth Earp, born on April 24, 1851, in Pella, Iowa, was a notable figure of the American Old West, primarily recognized for his association…

Virgil Walter Earp

Virgil Walter Earp ( July 18, 1843 – October 19, 1905) was born in Lincoln County, Kentucky, was a prominent lawman and frontier figure known for his…

Warren Baster Earp ( March 9, 1855 - July 6, 1900 )

Warren Baxter Earp

Warren Baxter Earp ( March 9, 1855 - July 6, 1900 ), the youngest of the Earp brothers, was born into a family that would…

Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp

Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (March 19, 1848 – January 13, 1929) was an American lawman and gambler who became a legendary figure of the Old…

John S Cook

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Destination4x4

John S Cook is the founder and builder of the Cook Bank Building which is located in Rhyolite, Nye County, Nevada. He is an example of many men, who followed the gold miners from town to town and profited off of mining operations. Today, the three story Cook Bank Building is the iconic visual representation of the town of Rhyolite.

He started his career in Tonopah, Nevada working as a cashier for George Nixon. Nixon and his partner George Wingfield invested in various mining operations in Goldfield

John Cook and his brother started the John S. Cook & Company Bank in Goldfield, Nevada in January 1905. His original bank was located in a wooden structure next to the Palace Saloon before relocating to the Nixon Block Building.

Later that same year he opened a new branch in Rhyolite. The Rhyolite banks first location was in a rented building on Main Street. After buying a lot on Golden Street in Rhyolite construction of the Cook Bank Building in the spring of 1907.

The panic of October 1907 caused Mr Cook to suffer his worst month as miners withdrew this money from his banks. Many miners considered saloons to be more trustworthy can banks, and saloons such as Richard Northern Saloon benefitted from the panic. Oddly enough, the saloon would then deposit the funds bank into the bank, undoubtably, keeping a small profit for themselves.

Cook Bank Building, Rhyolite Nevada, Photo marked 1908 and "Courtesy of the Nevada Historical Society" — Cook Bank Building, Rhyolite Nevada, Photo marked 1908 and “Courtesy of the Nevada Historical Society”

The John S. Cook bank was the only bank in Goldfield to survive and remain open. In 1909, George Wingfield purchase control of the Cook Bank from investing and bought out Cooks shares as well. John Cook next moved to North and worked in the Cook Bank located in Reno. In 1929 the stock market crashed caused the Great Depression and Wingfield’s banks failed and the John S. Cook banks were closed into history. John S. Cook later moved to Los Angeles, California and died on July 22, 1945.

References

Goldfield Historical Society

Pete Aguereberry – A Panamint Valley Miner

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Destination4x4

Jean Pierre “Pete” Aguereberry (1874–1945), universally known as Pete Aguereberry, was a Basque-born prospector and miner whose four-decade solitary vigil at the Eureka Mine in the Panamint Mountains of California’s Death Valley region exemplified the quiet persistence of the post-boom desert prospector. Though the 1905 Harrisburg gold strike never yielded the riches of earlier rushes, Aguereberry’s unyielding labor, self-built cabin, and hand-constructed scenic overlook—now officially Aguereberry Point—made him a legendary figure in Death Valley mining lore and left a lasting geographic legacy within what is today Death Valley National Park.

Early Life and Immigration

Born on October 18, 1874, into a hardworking Basque family in the village of Mauleon in the French Pyrenees, young Jean Pierre grew up hearing tales of the California Gold Rush. As a boy he devoured stories of western American gold discoveries and begged his father to let him emigrate. At age sixteen, in 1890, his father finally consented, and Pete sailed alone for the United States.

Language and culture barriers made the early years difficult. He took whatever work he could find: professional handball player, sheepherder, cattle driver, milk-truck driver, ice-delivery man, ranch hand, and stage driver. By about 1902 he had reached the booming mining town of Goldfield, Nevada, where the desert’s call fully took hold.

Arrival in Death Valley and the 1905 Strike

In June 1905 Pete ventured into Death Valley during the brutal summer heat and nearly died of dehydration and exposure. He was rescued and nursed back to health by Oscar Denton, caretaker at Greenland Ranch (later Furnace Creek Ranch). Within a month he had recovered enough to join forces with the already-legendary desert prospector Frank “Shorty” Harris. The pair set out across the Panamint Range toward Ballarat for the Fourth of July celebration.

On July 1, 1905, while crossing what is now known as Harrisburg Flats, Pete spotted a promising ledge of quartz. The two men worked the outcrop and quickly found free gold. Pete staked claims on the north side of the hill; Shorty took the south. Word spread rapidly. By August, more than twenty parties were prospecting the area, ore samples assayed as high as $500 per ton, and a makeshift camp of roughly three hundred people sprang up. Originally the partners jokingly called the settlement “Harrisberry,” but Shorty later popularized “Harrisburg,” and the name stuck.

Pete’s northern claims became the Eureka Mine. The strike briefly revived interest in the Panamint region, which had already seen earlier silver booms at Panamint City in the 1870s.

The Eureka Mine and Litigation

The Eureka Mine soon became entangled in a complex legal dispute that lasted from 1907 until 1909. When the dust settled, Pete emerged as sole owner. He immediately began serious development work, driving tunnels and stopes almost entirely by himself. Except for occasional help from a nephew in his later years, Aguereberry worked the property single-handedly for the next three decades.

Though high-grade ore was present, the remote location, limited water, and modest scale of operations prevented him from ever becoming wealthy. He often grubstaked other prospectors or took odd jobs to sustain himself, yet he never abandoned the claim. The Eureka remained his life’s work and home.

Life at Aguereberry Camp

In 1907 Pete built a modest two-room cabin at the mine site—now preserved as Aguereberry Camp along the road to Aguereberry Point. The simple wood-frame structure, later equipped with a gas stove and refrigerator, served as his residence until his death. Two additional cabins were added later (a 1941 guest house and another of uncertain purpose around 1946), but Pete lived frugally amid the stark Panamint landscape.

In his later years he delighted in guiding visitors up the road he had laboriously constructed to a spectacular overlook 6,433 feet above the valley floor. He proudly called it “The Great View.” From there visitors could see Mount Charleston 80 miles east in Nevada, Furnace Creek’s green oasis, and the white salt flats of Badwater Basin. That viewpoint is now officially named Aguereberry Point in his honor.

Final Years, Death, and Burial

By the early 1930s Pete’s health was failing, yet he continued to live at the mine. He died on November 23, 1945, at age 71, at Tecopa Hot Springs. Though he had expressed a wish to be buried at his beloved “Great View,” federal officials—citing the area’s status as part of Death Valley National Monument (established 1933)—denied the request. Father Frank Crowley officiated his burial at Mount Whitney Cemetery in Lone Pine, California. A plaque there honors him as “a modest, hardworking, and honorable man.”

Legacy

Pete Aguereberry never struck it rich, but his remarkable persistence in one of the harshest environments on Earth made him a symbol of the twentieth-century desert prospector. The Eureka Mine tunnels (now safely gated for bat habitat) and the surviving cabins at Aguereberry Camp remain accessible along the dirt road off Highway 190. The panoramic vista he built and loved continues to draw thousands of visitors each year. In the tradition of fellow Panamint Valley figures such as Shorty Harris and “Seldom Seen Slim,” Pete Aguereberry proved that a man could carve out a meaningful life amid isolation, heat, and hardship—leaving behind not only a mine but a viewpoint that still bears his name and offers future generations the same “Great View” he cherished.

References

Goldfield Nevada

Posted on March 7, 2022 by Destination4x4

Goldfield is Nevada State Historical Marker number fourteen and is located in Esmeralda County, Nevada. Goldfield was a boomtown between 1903 and 1940. Goldfield’s mines produced more than $86 million at then-current prices. Much of the town was destroyed by a fire in 1923, although several buildings survived and remain today, notably the Goldfield Hotel, the Consolidated Mines Building, the schoolhouse.

Photograph of half-tone print of a busy main street in Goldfield, Nevada, ca.1905. The dirt street is crowded with horse-drawn wagons, and pedestrians. Stores and other commercial ventures front most of the small buildings lining the street. A hill is in the background at the end of the street. - Photo Credit “University of Southern California. Libraries” and “California Historical Society” as the source. Digitally reproduced by the USC Digital Library. — Photograph of half-tone print of a busy main street in Goldfield, Nevada, ca.1905. The dirt street is crowded with horse-drawn wagons, and pedestrians. Stores and other commercial ventures front most of the small buildings lining the street. A hill is in the background at the end of the street. – Photo Credit “University of Southern California. Libraries” and “California Historical Society” as the source. Digitally reproduced by the USC Digital Library.

Goldfield was established in 1902 when gold was discovered in the surrounding hills. This discovery ignited a rush of prospectors, investors, and opportunists eager to capitalize on the newfound wealth. Unlike other mining towns in Nevada, which primarily focused on silver, Goldfield was notable for its rich gold deposits.

The town’s boom truly began in 1904 when the Consolidated Goldfield Company was formed, consolidating smaller claims and turning mining operations into a large-scale enterprise. By 1906, Goldfield’s population had swelled to over 20,000, making it Nevada’s largest city at the time.

During its heyday, Goldfield was a hub of wealth and activity. The mines produced an estimated $86 million in gold, a staggering amount for the era. The town boasted modern amenities, including electricity, telephones, and luxurious buildings such as the Goldfield Hotel, completed in 1908, which remains an iconic structure to this day.

The town also became a cultural center, hosting boxing matches, theatrical performances, and other events that attracted notable figures, including heavyweight champion Jack Johnson.

Goldfield’s prosperity was not without challenges. In 1907, the Panic of 1907 and declining ore quality began to affect mining profits. Labor disputes further disrupted operations, with a notable miners’ strike in 1907 escalating tensions between workers and mine owners.

A devastating fire in 1923 destroyed much of the town, including many of its iconic buildings. By this time, mining activity had significantly declined, and the town’s population dwindled as residents sought opportunities elsewhere.

Nevada State Historic Marker Text

Nevada State Historical Markers identify significant places of interest in Nevada’s history. The Nevada State Legislature started the program in 1967 to bring the state’s heritage to the public’s attention with on-site markers. Budget cuts to the program caused the program to become dormant in 2009. Many of the markers are lost of damaged.

For a 20-year period prior to 1900 the mining in Nevada fell into a slump that cast the entire state into a bleak depression and caused the loss of one-third of the population.

The picture brightened overnight following the spectacular strikes in Tonopah and, shortly afterwards, in Goldfield. Gold ore was discovered here in December, 1902, by two Nevada-born prospectors, Harry Stimler and Billy Marsh. From 1904 to 1918 Goldfield boomed furiously. The city had a railroad that connected into Las Vegas and a peak population of 20,000. Between 1903- 40 a total of $86,765,044 in metals was produced here.
Neada State Historic Marker #14

Summary

ID	14
Name	Goldfield Nevada State Historic Marker
Location	Esmeralda County, Nevada
Latitude, Longitude	37.7076, -117.2335

The Southern Nevada Consolidated Telephone- Telegraph Company Building is located in Goldfield, Nevada and Nevada State Historic Marker #242. Photo by James L Rathbun — The Southern Nevada Consolidated Telephone-
Telegraph Company Building is located in Goldfield, Nevada and Nevada State Historic Marker #242. Photo by James L Rathbun

The Goldfield Hotel located in Goldfield Nevada. Photo by James L Rathbun — The Southern Nevada Consolidated Telephone-
Telegraph Company Building is located in Goldfield, Nevada and Nevada State Historic Marker #242. Photo by James L Rathbun

Points of Interest

Bullfrog Goldfield Railroad

The Bullfrog and Goldfield Railroad, often referred to as the B&G Railroad, played a significant role in the late 19th and early 20th-century mining boom…

Esmeralda County Courthouse

The court house in Goldfield, Nevada is the Esmeralda County Courthouse and Nevada State Historic Marker #80. Photo by James L Rathbun The Esmeralda County…

The historic Goldfield Firehouse. Photo by James L Rathbun

Goldfield Fire Station

The Goldfield Historic Fire Station, located in Goldfield, Nevada, is a significant historical structure that stands as a testament to the town's vibrant past during…

Goldfield Nevada

Goldfield is Nevada State Historical Marker number fourteen and is located in Esmeralda County, Nevada. Goldfield was a boomtown between 1903 and 1940. Goldfield's mines produced…

The Goldfield Hotel

The Goldfield Hotel located in Goldfield Nevada. Photo by James L Rathbun The Goldfield Hotel, located at the southeast corner of Crook Avenue (U.S. Route…

References

NV-Landmarks.com

George Graham Rice

Posted on April 4, 2020 by Destination4x4

George Graham Rice, born Jacob Simon Herzig on June 18, 1870, in Manhattan, New York, to furrier Simon Herzig and his wife Anna, rose from a background of petty crime to become one of America’s most notorious stock promoters and swindlers of the early 20th century. Dubbed the “Jackal of Wall Street” by regulators and the press, Rice specialized in hyping worthless mining stocks—particularly in Nevada’s boom-and-bust camps—through aggressive advertising, celebrity endorsements, and mail-order schemes. He parlayed early gambling and forgery convictions into a career that defrauded investors of millions during the Goldfield, Bullfrog, and Rawhide mining rushes, while authoring a candid autobiography that detailed his exploits. His life exemplified the golden age of American con artistry, blending audacity, publicity stunts, and political maneuvering until repeated imprisonments and declining health ended his schemes. He died on October 24, 1943.

Early Life and Criminal Beginnings (1870–1903)

Rice grew up in a middle-class New York family but developed a gambling habit that led to his first conviction in 1890: stealing from his father’s business to fund betting. He served two years at Elmira Reformatory. Released, he reoffended; in 1895, he was convicted of forgery for further thefts from his father and sentenced to four years at Sing Sing Prison. While incarcerated, he adopted the name “George Graham Rice,” borrowing it from fellow inmate Willie Graham Rice (or a similar alias). After release, he briefly worked as a reporter for the New Orleans Times-Democrat before returning to New York. There, he founded the Maxim & Gay Company, a racetrack tip sheet and bet-by-mail operation that attracted thousands of subscribers. The U.S. Post Office Department shut it down for mail fraud, leaving Rice broke once again.

Nevada Mining Boom and Rise as Promoter (1904–1910)

In 1904, Rice relocated to the booming Goldfield, Nevada, gold camp, where he established the Nevada Mining News Bureau—an advertising service that promoted mining stocks in which he held personal stakes. He quickly immersed himself in the frenzy of Nevada’s mining excitement. In 1906, he co-sponsored (with promoter Tex Rickard) the legendary 42-round world lightweight boxing championship between Joe Gans and Battling Nelson in Goldfield, one of the most publicized fights of the era.

Partnering with saloon owner and politician Larry Sullivan, Rice launched the L.M. Sullivan Trust Company, a brokerage that sold shares in numerous Nevada and California mining ventures. He aggressively promoted properties in towns including Rhyolite, Bullfrog, Wonder, and Greenwater (California), many of which proved nearly worthless. The company collapsed in the Panic of 1907. Rice then moved to Reno, publishing the Nevada Mining News and forming Nat C. Goodwin & Company with vaudeville star Nathaniel Carl Goodwin. Together they promoted the Rawhide, Nevada, mining district. As a publicity stunt, Rice arranged for best-selling novelist Elinor Glyn to visit Rawhide, generating national headlines. Through B.H. Scheftels & Company, he also manipulated shares of the Ely Central Copper Company.

Legal Troubles, Autobiography, and Continued Schemes (1911–1920s)

In 1911, Rice pleaded guilty to mail fraud charges related to his stock promotions and served one year in prison. During his incarceration, he wrote his autobiography, My Adventures with Your Money (1913), which was serialized in Adventure magazine. The book offered a colorful, unapologetic account of his life as a promoter, candidly describing how he catered to the public’s speculative instincts during the great Nevada mining booms of 1905–1908. Upon release, he resumed operations through a series of newsletters—including Industrial and Mining Age, Mining Financial News, Wall Street Iconoclast, and Financial Watchtower—pushing mining and oil stocks to a national audience.

One of his later promotions involved Broken Hills, Nevada. In 1920, English prospectors Joseph Arthur and James Stratford sold their modest silver-lead claims (which had produced about $68,000 over six years) to Rice. Using his Reno-based Fidelity Finance & Funding Company, he formed the Broken Hills Silver Corporation (capitalized at 3 million shares) and stacked its board with prominent Nevadans, including State Treasurer Ed Malley and State Bank Examiner Gilbert C. Ross. Rice ran lavish newspaper advertisements claiming endorsements from Governor Emmet D. Boyle and mining experts, hyping rich ore discoveries and even floating bids to host a Jack Dempsey heavyweight title fight. He sold roughly $162,000 in stock and invested some funds in camp infrastructure, but the corporation owed $380,000 to Rice’s own finance company. It soon collapsed under debt, triggering investigations that contributed to further legal woes. By the mid-1920s, Broken Hills—once briefly bustling—faded back into the desert.

In 1920, Rice was convicted of grand larceny. His most infamous later scheme targeted the Idaho Copper Company; in 1928 he was sentenced to four years in the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta for using the mails to defraud investors (some accounts place final sentencing proceedings into 1929). While imprisoned, he reportedly shared a cell with Al Capone. In 1931, he was tried for tax evasion but acquitted.

Later Years and Legacy

Even after repeated convictions, Rice continued issuing promotional newsletters into the 1930s and early 1940s, though his influence waned. He occasionally capitalized on his notoriety by naming companies after himself (such as Rice Oil) and using front men in earlier years before operating more openly. Contemporary accounts and later historians portray him as a flamboyant yet ruthless figure who perfected high-pressure stock-tipping tactics that foreshadowed modern pump-and-dump schemes. A 2015 biography by T.D. Thornton, My Adventures with Your Money: George Graham Rice and the Golden Age of the Con Artist, revived interest in his life, comparing his scale and nerve to later fraudsters like Bernie Madoff.

Rice’s promotions contributed to the speculative frenzy that enriched a few but bankrupted thousands of small investors during Nevada’s early 20th-century mining booms. His story remains a cautionary tale of greed, gullibility, and the wildcat capitalism of the American West. No major monuments or museums commemorate him; his legacy survives primarily in ghost-town histories, court records, and the pages of his own unrepentant memoir.

Sources: This biography is drawn primarily from contemporary newspaper accounts, Rice’s autobiography My Adventures with Your Money (1913), and secondary sources including Wikipedia summaries cross-referenced with mining histories, the book by T.D. Thornton (2015), and specialized sites such as MiningSwindles.com and BackyardTraveler blog posts on Broken Hills. For further reading, consult Nevada’s Twentieth-Century Mining Boom by Russell R. Elliott or Thornton’s biography.

Early Life and Family

Civil War Service

Life as a Lawman

The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

Later Years and Legacy

Virgil Earp in the news

Earp Family Members

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References

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Early Life and Immigration

Arrival in Death Valley and the 1905 Strike

The Eureka Mine and Litigation

Life at Aguereberry Camp

Final Years, Death, and Burial

Legacy

References

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Nevada State Historic Marker Text

Summary

Points of Interest

References

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Early Life and Criminal Beginnings (1870–1903)

Nevada Mining Boom and Rise as Promoter (1904–1910)

Legal Troubles, Autobiography, and Continued Schemes (1911–1920s)

Later Years and Legacy

Locations Associated with George Graham Rice

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