Skip to main content

Search the Special Collections and Archives Portal

page 15

Image

File
Download snv002186-017.tif (image/tiff; 22.27 MB)

Information

Digital ID

snv002186-017
Details

Publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Libraries

OLE ELLIOTTTHE history of W. S. Elliott, better known as "Ole," the popular secretary of the Goldfield Athletic Club, is one of interesting adventure. He was born in Carlin, Nevada, in the year 1870. He followed the occupation of vacquero for several years, until reaching the age of 21, when he entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad. In 1894 he succumbed to the allurements of mining, and went to the Southern mines, where he remained until the Klondyke rush began. Being of an adventurous spirit, he joined the thousands of gold-seekers, who then made their way to Alaska. |In the year 1901 news of "Jim" Butler's strike in the Tonopah District reached the Klondyke. Elliott was so impressed with the reports of the new gold camp that he immediately came south to Nevada. He came to Goldfield August 20, 1903, attracted by the good showing of what was then known as the "Grandpa District" now Goldfield. Being one of the first comers on the ground, he was able to locate some very desirable claims. Thus he laid the foundation of a fortune, which is estimated now as being close to the million mark.From the beginning, his faith in the Goldfield District has remained unshaken. He bought a one-tenth interest in the Great Combination mine for $300, but pawned a diamond ring in order to raise the money. The wisdom of the sacrifice was apparent some months later, when the Combination began to produce ore worth thousands of dollars a ton. The first two-story building in Goldfield was erected by "Ole" Elliott. In many other ways, he instilled confidence into the minds of the early pioneers at a time when confidence was confined to the few. "Ole" Elliott