Johntown, Nevada, holds the distinction of being the state’s first mining town and its first ghost town. Situated in Gold Canyon, between Dayton and Silver City in Lyon County, Johntown emerged in 1853 as a key settlement during Nevada’s early mining era. Its brief existence laid the foundation for the discovery of the Comstock Lode, a monumental event in American mining history. Though no physical remnants of the town survive today, its legacy endures through historical markers and its role in shaping Nevada’s identity.
Founding and Early Development
Johntown was established in 1853 by James Fenemore, a teamster who created a mining camp along the Gold Canyon road. The region had seen minor gold discoveries as early as 1849, when emigrants passing through to California found traces of gold near Dayton. By the early 1850s, the area attracted a growing number of miners, including a significant population of Chinese prospectors. Their presence inspired the town’s name, “Johntown,” derived from “John Chinaman,” a term commonly used to refer to Chinese immigrants during that period.
The town’s early economy relied on placer mining, with miners using rudimentary tools like rockers and long toms to extract gold from the canyon’s deposits. Mining was seasonal, constrained by water availability, which limited operations to the wetter months of winter and spring. Despite these challenges, Johntown grew into a thriving camp and became the largest mining settlement in what was then the western Utah Territory.
Role in the Mining Industry
Johntown’s miners focused on gold, though the yields were modest and labor-intensive due to the scarcity of water. The town’s significance, however, lies in its connection to the Comstock Lode. Several individuals who would later become central figures in that silver discovery resided in Johntown during its peak, including the Grosh Brothers, Peter O’Riley, Patrick McLaughlin, H.T.P. Comstock, and James Finney (“Old Virginny”). Their presence in Johntown positioned the town as a launching point for one of the richest mining booms in the American West.
Cultural and Social Life
Life in Johntown reflected the rugged nature of a frontier mining camp. One notable resident, Eilley Orrum (later Mrs. Sandy Bowers), ran a boarding house that served as a social hub for miners. She provided lodging and meals, later leveraging her earnings to become a prominent figure in the Comstock era. Nearby, “Dutch Nick’s” saloon hosted weekly “grand balls” every Saturday night, featuring music, dancing, and gambling. With only three women in town, local stories claim that Sarah Winnemucca, a Paiute Indian princess, occasionally attended to even out the dance floor.
Johntown also made history with the Gold Canyon Switch, Nevada’s first newspaper. Handwritten by editor Joe Webb from 1854 to 1858, this unique publication circulated among miners, offering news and entertainment. No copies of the Switch have survived, but its existence underscores Johntown’s cultural vitality.
Decline and Legacy
The discovery of silver in the Comstock Lode in 1859 triggered Johntown’s rapid decline. As miners abandoned Gold Canyon for the richer deposits near Virginia City, Johntown emptied out, earning its status as Nevada’s first ghost town by the early 1860s. Key establishments, including Dutch Nick’s saloon and Eilley Orrum’s boarding house, relocated to Gold Hill, leaving Johntown behind.
Today, the site of Johntown is private property, marked only by a historical plaque on Nevada State Route 341, south of Silver City. Erected in 1967 by the E Clampus Vitus organization, the marker commemorates Johntown’s pioneering role in Nevada’s mining history.
Conclusion
Johntown, Nevada, was a short-lived but influential settlement that bridged the gap between small-scale gold prospecting and the massive silver boom of the Comstock Lode. Its early miners, diverse population, and cultural contributions highlight the tenacity of those who shaped Nevada’s frontier. Though it stands today only as a memory, Johntown’s story remains a vital chapter in the history of the American West.
Nevada’s first mining town established in 1853. A boarding house was operated here by Eilley Orrum (Mrs. Sandy Bowers). Other prominent residents, discoverers of the fantastic Comstock Lode, included the Grosh Brothers, Peter O’Riley, Patrick McLaughlin, H.T.P. Comstock, and James Finney (Old Virginny).
Nevada Historical Marker No. 39
Johntown Trail Map
Town Summary
| Name | Johntown | ||
| Location | Lyon County, Nevada | ||
| Latitude, Longitude | 39.251944, -119.623611 | ||
| GNIS | 858442 | ||
| Elevation | 4,720 feet | ||
| Population | 180 | ||
| Newspaper | The Gold Canyon Switch (handwritten) |
