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Some e-mail correspondence regarding Mound Valley
History
Sent: Monday, July 01, 2002 5:58 PM
Subject: Re: Oliver Riffe
Hi Judy, I
feel like I've known you for a long time through Ellen and Tony
Primeaux! Hope all is well with you. Thanks for writing!
The Riffe info was great! Yes, the Oliver Lane is
between the Odiago (Porch) Ranch and the Porter! I've
looked for signs of a homestead by ground. If possible, I will
look by air after haying. Mike & I have a small plane and
have searched for the old stage roads by air, much better than by
ground. Will get back to you. Our ranch was once the Sanguinette
Ranch. He and others from Canada settled on Smith Creek, calling it
the "Little St. Lawrence". Our brand is still the
Quarter Circle J O, which was originally registered by Jos.
Sanguinette. Will be in touch...
Claudia
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----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, July 01, 2002 5:08 PM
Subject: Oliver Riffe
Hello Claudia,
I've enjoyed reading more about Mound
Valley history and was interested to learn that there was
an "Oliver Lane". I too have wondered
just where the Riffe ranch was or if any sign of it still exists.
According to Edna Patterson's Book "Nevada's Northeast
Frontier", it was located on Huntington Creek, somewhere
between the ranches originally owned by Henry Porch and Frank
Porter. Is Oliver Lane in this area? I really
should go check the deed records at the courthouse.
Oliver Riffe (hubby Geo's great-grandfather) came to
Elko County in 1872, he was single and living in Mound Vly in 1880,
in 1881 he traveled back to WVa and married Sarah White,
bringing her west. They had 5 children ( 4 boys and a girl),
born, the family believes, at the Sadler Ranch.
Sarah died in March of 1889, 4 months after her youngest son (Joe)
was born. 4 days after Sarah's death their second youngest son
Gordon (age 2) wandered off in search of his mother or father
(who had gone to chop wood). There was much speculation in the
newspapers about Indians and mountain lions, but his body was found
several days later having died of exposure. Baby Joe went to
live with the Sanguinette Family (who moved to Oregon???).
I am not sure how long the Riffes lived in Mound Valley,
for sure by 1900 Oliver had moved to the northern part of the
County. I would love to hear any additional info and would be
especially thrilled to learn the location of the Riffe ranch.
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----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, June 30, 2002 12:54 PM
Subject: Re: Bellinger Ranch
Hi Dan, Jeez,
I can't even remember replying to you in October, what I had written
or even the subject! Why in the world would it take so long to
get to you? No, I don't mind if you use it. There are several
subjects I'd like to comment on here. I don't recall a reference of
the origin of McCutcheon Creek's name. If I come across
anything I'll pass it on. Oliver Riffe was a popular character in
this valley. He had a large family, was a widower and darned
if I can figure out where he lived. We trail our cattle
through a water gap called The Oliver Lane, between the Odiago and
Circle L Home Ranch lane. Would like to know if it's named after
him. Remember seeing a couple of articles in the old
newspapers about Oliver and his children cutting firewood for the
winter up on our ranch. His youngest, a girl of 5, became
separated from the rest. They searched for her for a week, if
I can remember the paper. Never did hear if they found her dead or
alive!
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To: Helen Buell (& Dan Turner)
From: Judy Swett
Date: 6/26/02
Hello Helen (& Dan),
Mound Valley is of special interest to me
since hubby George's Great grandfather Oliver Riffe first settled
there in 1872. I was fascinated by the journal entries
describing the McCutcheon life in Elko, which would have mirrored
the time the Riffe family was there. I would be interested in
any further details about their time in Mound Valley. Was
Riffe mentioned?
Edna Patterson's book "Nevada's Northeast
Frontier" pages 473-481 has a section on Mound Valley history
reportedly first settled in 1866 by W. M. Kennedy. There is a
map (source is listed as Edith Merkley Johnson and Ernst Merkley),
which roughly shows the ranch locations along the various creeks
that all seem to branch from Huntington Creek. It also lists
the ranchs' ownerships. The McCutcheon family owned a ranch on
McCutcheon Creek owned first by Weir, second by Spencer, then your
McCutcheon, who sold to Merkley. This was as of 1969 - I don't
know if it's changed hands since. The Sanguinette family was
one of J.M.'s closest neighbors (according to the map).
The Sanguinette's took in the youngest Riffe child (Joseph
"Joe") when Oliver's wife Sarah White Riffe died in March
1889 a few months after his birth in Nov 1888.
The Elko Co Recorders office would have the early
Land records. Reynolds office would also have marriage,
and early (1887-1917) birth and death records. We know
that many births and deaths were never recorded however.
From copies of the Chart & Quill (a now defunct
local Genealogical Society) I see the following birth listing:
Extracted from Elko Newspapers:
McCutcheon, J. M. - 1890 Nov 6, a daughter born
in Mound Valley.
I don't see a death or cemetery listing for the child
but the records are incomplete.
Do you have or need the 1880 census listing?
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----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2002 11:27 PM
Subject: Re: McCutcheon Ranch/Creek, Nevada
I'd be honored if you placed a link to
my site on yours. I also plan to put a link to yours on
my site, with your permission.
As for McCutcheon Creek, we don't really
know. We learned about the creek when my brother was driving
through there several years ago and a local person told him about
it. Two ideas on this: One, yes, it is because it is very
close to where we think James M. McCutchen had his ranch, and Two,
no, it was named for William McCutchen (J.M.'s uncle) who
passed through the area with the Donner Party about 20 years
earlier, (yes, I learned about this from your site!) and of course,
Three--neither of the above, it was some other McCutchen/eon all
together! I guess a lot would depend on when the creek got its
name. If you find that out, you can probably make a
pretty accurate guess. I have legal records of J.M's
name spelled both with and without the
"o" at the end, btw.
I will work on contacting the
courthouse and get back with you if I have any luck getting
coordinates. I'd love to have a photo of what we know was
my grandparent's ranch. BTW,
do you know if Jerry Reynolds is also the person I'd contact to find
out about a child born to J.M. in 1890, while he lived in Mound
Valley? This child died within it's first year, so I'd like to find
record of that especially.
Thanks, Helen
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Sent: Monday, June 24, 2002 11:43 AM
Subject: McCutcheon Ranch/Creek, Nevada
Helen (?),
Marsha at the Northeastern Nevada Museum relayed
your message to me - that you were interested in a ranch on
Huntington Creek or the South Fork of the Humboldt River or
McCutcheon Creek. Here is a map address showing the later
creek location.
I have traveled this beautiful part of
Nevada - in Mound Valley at the base of the Ruby Mountains.
The nearest town is Jiggs.
Here are some links that might be of interest:
The first photo has McCutcheon Creek in
it - just where I would have to figure it out.
Then there is the Mound Valley School
site:
Here is our museum's site address:
Hope this helps. Let me know if I
am on the wrong track or if you would like some more specific
information. Best wishes. Dan Turner
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