Early Days of Cherry Creek

MCDERMID, F. A. - Opened one of the first general merchandise stores in the early '70s, with Gilbert DARLING, under the firm name of McDermid and Company. Both men were of the rugged and honest pioneer type.

SPENCER, A.J. and FRANK, R.A. - bought the McDermid business in the latter '70s, and conducted business under the name of Spencer & Frank.

THATCHER, George and Company with Ed RAUM and A. M. VANDERLIP owned and operated a large mercantile business for years.

RAUM, Ed - One of the most popular men in White Pine, County, he was elected Sheriff in 1874 on the Republican ticket and held the office for four successive terms.

VANDERLIP, A. M. - He was an excellent business man and expert accountant. After the firm disposed of its business in 1884, he went to Ventura County, California. He ran for county auditor. The election ended in a tie, but in a special election he won by an overwhelming majority.

KENNEDY, George - He operated a general store from the '70s to his death in the '90s.

GRAY, O. H. - He was in the mercantile business with Daniel R. COLLINS. The postoffice was in the store. Mr. GRAY represented White Pine County in the lower branch of the legislature in 1877, and in 1883. Elected secretary of state as a republican in 1890. Later in the'90s he was in the patent office in Washington. he died in Washington.

COLLINS, Uncle Dan - He held the postoffice in Cherry Creek 1874 to his death.

WEARNE, John - He had a feed stable and engaged in supplying the mines.

PARKER, George F. - Another old-time resident, he owned the waterworks which supplied the town. He was elected to the lower house of the legislature in 1880.

WEBER, Pete - Another early-day business man, owned more business and residential property than any other man in the town. When the crash of 1883 came Mr. Weber moved to Idaho.

WEBER, Uncle Jake - and his two sons, P.C. (Boss), and Johnnie, were for years successful business men to the community and numbered their friends by the hundred. "Boss" Weber was for years one of the leaders of the democratic party in the county. "Boss" played the political game and had the reputation of never havng betrayed a friend and every man who ran on the Democratic ticket were ready to swear by him. The public service of Johnnie WEBER, speaks for his honesty. Uncle Jake was extremely partisan in politics.

HANCOCK, Mr. - A republican from Aurum, attempted to vote at the democratic primary and aroused the wrath of Uncle Jake, who drove away the visitor with a cane and with several good blows.

SISSON, J. F. - He was engaged in blacksmithing and wagon business, very successful until the crash of 1883, when he left for Chamberlain, SD where he had a flour milling business for many years.

FILMORE, William - Another old-timer was engaged in the same business and later went to San Francisco to make his future home.

MCDONALD, Alex - (Little Alex) one of the earliest settlers, was in the blacksmithing business. After making a stake he returned to his old home in Nova Scotia.

HENRY, James - He was the town officer for years during the early days, and owned and ran a saloon in Cherry Creek for many years.

CORCORAN, Michael - He owned the only brewery in town, in connection with his saloon.

STEWART, James - Another popular saloon-keeper, with the reputation of being the best and most courteous saloonman in the county.

TAYLOR, Uncle Joe - He did a sort of brokerage and check-cashing business in connection with his saloon, there being no bank in the town he was depended on to provide cash and handle all mine checks. He was very popular due to his jovial personality.

ROBERTS, J. H. - He was superintendent and general manager of the Exchequer mine.

SMITH, Ed - He held the same position at the Tea Cup mine.

WEBER, Pete and Ed CROWLEY, and a dozen others at the time of the 1883 crash went to the Coeur d'Alenes in Idaho.

QUINN, John - Went to Needles, California.

WARD, Mr. - He was a partner of Wilson BROUGHER in business went to Salt Lake City.

BROUGHER, Wilson - He went to Belmont, Nevada, where he was later elected county clerk, and later county recorder, until the discovery of Tonopah, where he went with his brother, and managed to amass a comfortable fortune. Leaving Tonopah he purchased the Arlington hotel at Carson City, the chief hotel.

MACAULEY, A. - Another of Cherry Creek's business men, bought out the business of George KENNEDY in the early '90s. He was a good friend and honest competitor in business.

FILLMORE, Rufus - An old settler was a resident of Cherry Creek for over 40 years, one of White Pine's most honored citizens.

FRANK, Hughie - With other old-timers, listed next, stayed continuously.

NUCKELS, A. R. - at the old camp, until the death of Mr. Pierce several years ago.

CANNON, Pete - One of the town's earlies settlers, was in business and was postmaster awhile during Grover Cleveland's administration.

SUNBERG, Adolph - A popular business man, who was once a miner, and had many friends.

MOORE, Joseph L. - One of the earliest settlers and best known residents of Cherry Creek and Egan Canyon, was engaged in business in Egan as early as 1874. Later moved to Cherry Creek,engaging in the butcher business.

BOYLE, Michael F. - He came to Cherry Creek in the early '80s from Eberhardt. He had been in the dairy business, and owned a ranch in the foothills south of Schellbourne until in the '90s. He served two terms as county commissioner, and worked hand in hand with Crane GALLAGHER, M. B. GARAGHAN and John b. WILLIAMS, for many years in the interest of the taxpayers. His health broke down in the latter '90s and he moved to Salt Lake City where he died.

SNINE, Timothy - He came to Cherry Creek in 1880 and engaged in the saloon business. He had a large following and was to be reckoned with in politics.

EGAN Canyon Boys - made Shine's saloon their headquarters while in Cherry.

CLEVELAND, A. C. - He used to say that the hardest factions he had to contend with in county politics were the Boss WEBER corner and Tim SHINE'S Irish reservation at Cherry Creek.

CARLSON, John A. - A beardless boy of 18 reached Cherry Creek in 1881 or 1882, coming from Sweded with John MAGNUSON. Neither could speak English but they had an old country friend named JOHNSON, who owned an ox team and was engaged in hauling wood. The two boys got a job driving the oxen, and as soon as the animals learned Swedish cusswords the country looked better to Mr.Carlson. He later came to be one of the fore- most citizens of the county.

YELLAND, John - Also a young boy, came to Cherry in 1880. Josh, as he was best known thought there was one thing lacking in America, the girl he had left behind in England. He sent for her and they were married in Salt Lake City, and raised a family of two boys and two girls, who proved a credit to their parents. When the world war broke out one of the Yellland boys left the state with the first contingent and was one of the first Nevada boys to give his life for his country.

FOPPIANO, A. - Another early resident to Cherry Creek in 1880, Tony sent back to his native land for his sweetheart as soon as possible and raised a family who, like himself are 100% American.

MCDONALD, A. - Began business in Cherry Creek in the early'80s, when he bought out the blacksmith shop of J. F. SISSON. He sent to Nova Scotia for his sweetheart and they married at Cherry Creek.

WAH, Charles - One of the first to settle in Cherry Creek, he started the first eatinghouse, and for 50 years has been identified with the community. He grubstaked out many prospectors, fed more penniless men, and done much to built up Cherry Creek. The writer is proud to call the well-known China- his friend.

CROWLEY, Ed and Jim CUMMINGHAM - under the firm name Cunningham & Crowley were in the contracting, livery stable and teaming business in the early '70s to early '80s when they dissolved partnership. Mr. CUNNINGHAM took the freight teams to Mountain Home,. Idaho, during the Wood River excitement. Mr.CROWLEY kept the livery stable and business at Cherry Creek.

CROWLEY, Ed - ran for county commissioner in 1882, defeating John HENRY, of Ward for the long term.

GREEN, Charles - The Honorable Charles Green opposed moving the County seat to Cherry Creek. He was one of the oldest voters in the county.

DAVIS, Tom - Dolph SUNBERG, A. McAULEY, and Pete CANNON could get up to 150 people to attend the dances. On Feb. 14, 1899 prize at the dance was a cake several feet in diameter and several feet tall, which came by express from Salt Lake city.

CAMPBELL, W. D. - He resided in Steptoe Valley always brought his family and friends to social occasions. Bill, as he was known, married Miss Laura MILES, of Steptoe Valley. Mr. and Mrs. CAMPBELL later bought and located at the PERLEY ranch.

DAVIS, Thomas - Well-known and popular came to Cherry Creek in the late '90s. He and his wife were one of the best liked couple in the county.

HOWLETT, Johnny - was shot and killed by Ed CRUTCHLEY, who owned a claim about 12 miles south of Egan Canyon. The two men had gotten into a fight in Cherry Creek. Johnny was young and muscular, and got the best of CRUTCHLEY who was about 30 years old. HOWLETT would put his stock in Crutchley's corrals and use his water even after Crutchley said he would kill him if he did. Howlett did it again and was shot by Crowley through the breast with heavy slugs from a shotgun. Crutchely went to town and claimed Howlett has been killed by other stockmen. He was arrested however, got W. C. LOVE at attorney, and was held for the grand jury at Hamilton, in the summer of 1883. The jury found him guilty of murder and Crutchley went to the gallows. Supposedly he was the first man hanged in White Pine county.

PARISH, Hank - Was the second and last hanged in White Pine County, for the killing of a man named THOMPSON, possibly in Pioche in 1894. PARISH got a change of venue from Lincoln County to White Pine County. He was convicted of first degree murder and hanged at Ely.

BASSETT, Billy - He was sheriff at the time of the hanging.

DOLAN, Patrick - He shot and killed Pat GREEN the day after the election in 1894. They were close neighbors, ranching in Steptoe Valley north of Cherry Creek. DOLAN living twelve miles from town and GREEN's ranch about two miles farther north. On the fatal day both men were supposedly under the influence of liquor when a long standing quarrel was renewed. DOLAN went to his ranch and got a shotgun and returned to town. He found GREEN, raised his gun and shot GREEN through the head. The trouble was over school matters about where the school was located. GREEN was a small man of about 130 pounds, while DOLAN weighed about 240 pounds and was of a powerful bulild. DOLAN was tried and convicted in Ely. He had a wife and small children who were present at the trial.

RIVERS, Henry - Dolan's attorney made a strong plea, which saved DOLAN from the gallows.