Austin, Lander County

Early May 1862 at the Jacob’s Spring stage station, which was located on the transcontinental stage route, one William H. Talcott was gathering firewood on the nearby hillside. He found on that day a metal-bearing quartz ledge from which he collected a few samples and return to the station. After having it assayed, it was found to contain rich silver. The ledge was then located as a mining claim and the name Pony given to it. William had been a former Pony Express rider. On the 16^th day of May a mining district was formed, this would include an area 75 miles in length east and west, and 20 miles north and south and named Reese River mining district. At this time a code of laws were adopted, as this was the custom of miners, and Talcott was elected recorder. He then recorded all of the already discovered claims.[1]

The district was named after a local stream that flowed from south to north through the valley, which borders the western base of the mountains. The mountain range in which the silver was found on was then given the name of “Toiyabee,” this was an Indian name meaning a range of hills.

The news of this new discovery traveled fast. Situated on the Overland Stage and telegraph line access was made rather easy. Soon a large town site was surveyed and Austin was built. After the town was incorporated, it had a mayor, board of council members, city officers, sheriff, and a city hall. After a very short time the town supported a daily newspaper, saloons and a store, a national bank, private banks, assay office, costly churches, public and private schools, public halls and lecture rooms, gas works for lighting the city, water works and pipes to supply dwellings, stages running in all directions, and the telegraph connecting the city with all parts of the world. Those who advertised to the outside world gave a description in reference to the map of America which stated: usually marked the vacancy of the ‘unexplored region,’ in latitude 30 degrees 29’ 30”, and in longitude west from Washington 40 degrees 4’, or 117 degrees 5’ west from Greenwich, England, being almost precisely in the centre of Nevada. In 1867, they claimed that Austin could be easily reached from the east coast in 40 to 60 days journey.

It did not take long and Austin was one of the most important spots in Nevada. It was to supply freight goods and mail to a large area of Nevada for several years to come.

It is still a large community to this day, but I will say this, it does not have a grocery store they all drive to Tonopah.[2]