McCutcheon Creek, Mound Valley, Elko County, Nevada

Merkley Ranch

Mound Valley, Jiggs, Elko County, Nevada

In late June, 2002 , Marsha at the Northeastern Nevada Museum called me to see if I knew anything about a ranch in Mound Valley possibly along McCutcheon Creek. The person making the enquiry was Helen McCutchen Buell. Helen was working on the McCutchen family history and had begun a web page entitled "McCutchen Family Northwest". Her grandparents James Monroe McCutchen and Mary Mirinda Landon McCutchen, resided in the Elko area from 1880 - 1892. During this time they owned a ranch in Mound Valley, 35 miles south of Elko. They came and left but they left their family name on one of the pristine creeks that originates in the western side of the Ruby Mountains. From here the creek flows through Mound Valley, past Jiggs, Nevada, becoming a tributary of Smith Creek, then Huntington Creek then the South Fork of the Humboldt River to Hunter, Nevada were it flows into the Humboldt River. This page provides photos of McCutcheon Creek, then some photos around the Merkley Ranch (110 years ago the McCutchen Ranch). If you wish to add more ... just let me know.

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USGS Topographic Map of McCutcheon Creek (1934)

(ranch name not noted)

USGS Topographic Map of Merkley Ranch (1985)

USGS Aerial Photograph of Merkley Ranch (1994)

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- click on photos to enlarge -

Just south of Jiggs, Nevada. Looking east, the green line of trees and willows crossing the hay field is McCutcheon Creek. Just over the hay stacks, in the distance, is the Merkley Ranch. The Ruby Mountains are in the distance.

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Aspen grove along McCutcheon Creek just east of the Merkley Ranch.

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Wild roses (Rosa woodsii (?)) by gate at above aspen grove.

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McCutcheon Creek just east of the Merkley Ranch.

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Horses grazing above McCutcheon Creek just east of the Merkley Ranch.

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McCutcheon Creek canyon just east of the Merkley Ranch, looking east toward the Ruby Mountains.

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McCutcheon Creek, just east of the Merkley Ranch, looking west at Mound Valley. The haze is from western wildfires (in Oregon - I think - photo taken August 11, 2002). The Merkley Ranch house is at the tree line.

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Photo taken looking south from the Smith Creek Road (north of Merkley Ranch). The first tree line is Smith Creek (by cows). The second tree line crossing Mound Valley is McCutcheon Creek. The green patch in the center of the photo past McCutcheon Creek is the Zunino Ranch. The Merkley Ranch house is just left (east) of the photo and Jiggs is just right (west) of the photo.

Merkley Ranch at base of bench in the center of the photo. The first line of trees by the cows is Smith Creek. The second line of trees marks the location of McCutcheon Creek. Ranch photographs were taken with permission.

Merkley Ranch. Previously (1892) the McCutchen Ranch.

Ranch House. Original house has been added onto and remodeled through time. I don't know its original age.

Buildings adjacent to the main house. On left is an old garage, center is an old log cabin and on right is a white older house. McCutcheon Creek is in the trees beyond these buildings.