Laura Gentry interview, February 26, 1977: transcript

UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 1 An Interview with Laura Gentry An Oral History Conducted by Harold May Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas Special Collections and Archives Oral History Research Center University Libraries University of Nevada, Las Vegas UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 2 © Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2019 UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 3 The Oral History Research Center (OHRC) was formally established by the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada System in September 2003 as an entity of the UNLV University Libraries’ Special Collections Division. The OHRC conducts oral interviews with individuals who are selected for their ability to provide first-hand observations on a variety of historical topics in Las Vegas and Southern Nevada. The OHRC is also home to legacy oral history interviews conducted prior to its establishment including many conducted by UNLV History Professor Ralph Roske and his students. This legacy interview transcript received minimal editing, such as the elimination of fragments, false starts, and repetitions in order to enhance the reader's understanding of the material. All measures have been taken to preserve the style and language of the narrator. The interviewee/narrator was not involved in the editing process. UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 4 Abstract On February 26, 1977, collector Harold May interviewed Laura Gentry (born May 1897 in St. Thomas, Nevada) at her cabin in Gold Butte, Nevada. In this interview, Laura Gentry discusses living in St. Thomas and Overton, Nevada. She discusses the development of the Overton and Gold Butte areas of Nevada as well as the people involved in mining in these areas. UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 5 This is Harold May, student of History 117 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas conducting an oral interview of Nevada history with Laura Gentry of Overton, Nevada. Can you tell me a little bit about your family background Laura? (Unintelligible) Well, my parents Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gentry, came into St. Thomas as Mormon pioneers in ’81. What occupations did they have in Nevada? I remember they never had any occupation. My main interest, I might say, was in mining. What areas were involved in mining? First in the Gold Butte Mining District, which was situated twenty-five miles southeast of St. Thomas, Nevada. And again in the White Basin area, which is between, about halfway between St. Thomas and Las Vegas. What were the weather conditions in Southern Nevada at the time you were here? Well, living conditions were—when I was a girl at least—were somewhat rugged. There was no electricity in St. Thomas. It was very small—250 people. So that meant there was no refrigeration, no ice, not much ways of preserving food like we put in refrigerators today. They used what they called “desert coolers” for (unintelligible). These coolers were made of a frame, burlap wrapped around a wood frame. A water tank sat on top with little bottom holes perforated all around the perimeter. There was a small reservoir which formed the bottom of the tank that sat on top of the cooler. And this would drip, drip, drip onto the burlap and we would wait to come along and create the cooler. (Unintelligible) I don’t know the family, but they had maybe two in operation for water, drinking water that is. The last time it had systems, some of these systems might be fourteen to eighteen feet deep in cement walls. Water would be filtered into those systems from the irrigation ditch through gravel and charcoal, which did a pretty nice job of purifying the water. It took a lot of the alkali out of it, did very well. And we pulled water out UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 6 of the cistern and pull it out with a bucket for washing clothes and used an old Irish washboard or whatever they call it and we scrubbed the clothes on this board by hand. Later on, a few people got electric water—or not electric, but gasoline front-loaders like the Maytag and (unintelligible) washer and we thought we really had something when we’d get one of those washers. Life there must have been (unintelligible) No dryers. Clothes were hung on the clothesline and dried. No dryers, like we have today. What building materials did they use for the home? Some with adobe, others with (unintelligible), some were brick. There were eventually a few very nice homes in St. Thomas. Nice fields, where they grew alfalfa, barley, vegetables, melons, grapes. St. Thomas—they used to produce quite an acreage in Thompson, seedless grapes. In fact, there was a variety of grapes. I remember my father had a vineyard of seven acres where he raised a variety of grapes that was grown within that vineyard. Used to (unintelligible) real hard to go into the vineyard when the grapes are ripe and decide which ones he wanted to eat. He’d go to one side, and think another, (unintelligible) and he’d go try the other side, and think they’re better than those others. It went on and on like that. How did you sell ‘em? Well, he didn’t sell them. He just let them stay on the vine or give them away. I don’t know. But there was one, two commercial growers, I think. The Gibson family was one. I think that vineyard was say, fifteen acres, and he used to have pickers go in there and pick grapes, and put them on the trays and let them dry, and then, transfer them out or sell them. Asparagus was another good crop there. William Messing was one of the first growers of asparagus. I’d say his asparagus field maybe was a twenty acre field. He kept a lot of asparagus out there. UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 7 How was it shipped out? Well, before 1910, they were taking (unintelligible). I don’t think people ever came into St. Thomas before 1910. It was after that. So, it was shipped out by train. Was mining an important industry in St. Thomas? Not particularly, although it did provide the main payroll in St. Thomas, but it wasn’t (unintelligible) area. It was through two copper mines across the Nevada-Arizona line, which (unintelligible) east of the Nevada line. Those two properties produced quite a ton of your copper over a ten, twelve year period. And that copper was grated into machine posts by numerous (unintelligible). It took one week to make the round trip from St. Thomas to these properties, back into St. Thomas. A distance of forty-five miles from St. Thomas to the mines. The first year—no, until 1910, I think these mines started operating in 1909, (unintelligible) before the railroad came into St. Thomas. Frank (Unintelligible) from the Union Pacific at Moapa and St. Thomas, which was officially twenty-five miles. That year, (unintelligible) here into Moapa, which made a total distance of seventy miles. After the (unintelligible). Was St. Thomas kind of a supply place for the train (unintelligible)? Very much so, yes. It was the only supply place that was (unintelligible). I’d say there was in the neighborhood of sixteen different trade outlets on that (unintelligible). Of course, we used lots of ropes and (unintelligible) horses. Of course the drivers had to have their (unintelligible) and what not. And the trading was all done there at the copper store. What significance did the BLM have in coming into Southern Nevada with mining development? I think that particular area, Gold Butte area and the Mesquite area, which is north of Gold Butte, I’d say the main changes that were made significantly was a great deal of income. While the UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 8 range was all open range at that time, no particular fences, whatever. Cattle from one part of the range would drift over to the other part and vice versa. Back at the BLM (unintelligible) program, for individual allotments. So now we have gates to open, gates to close, wherever you go, but it didn’t used to be this way. Another significant change, maybe, was road building. And that was done largely from Riverside, Nevada out to Gold Butte. Up until that time I pushed a wagon trail, more or less. I remember one area with a distance of eleven miles, it took me an hour to cover in a car to get to get that last (unintelligible). From, oh, about 1938, maybe ’40, the BLM built this early grated road a distance of about forty-five miles to Riverside (unintelligible) because lots of fisherman, different areas out there. Fish is back on the lake so it helped them, it helped the ranchers, it helped the prospectors, miners, it helped the (unintelligible). What significance did the founding of Las Vegas have on the impact of St. Thomas? Did you lose any business because of the development of Las Vegas? Or did it help (unintelligible)? I don’t know that it increased the population of St. Thomas any, but people did benefit through the development of Las Vegas, because it made shopping in that city more available to them. In the earlier days, the closest shopping area, you might say, was Pioche, Nevada or Kingman, Arizona. So when Las Vegas was established, the stores went in there, why they, you might say (unintelligible) to the people in St. Thomas and Moapa Valley. It was quite a saving in time and business. Did a church have any significant part of your life? Oh yes. Certainly. Both in a religious way and in a social way. Church used to put on a lot of real nice parties and dances. ‘Course at that time, the LDS church was only just arrived in St. UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 9 Thomas. And that was the main source of our amusement. Speaking about dinner parties, dance parties, lunch parties, different functions. So basically your social life was built around the church at that time? Yes. Yes. It was church and school. How did politics enter in to the situation? Were there any significant political developments as the area became bigger? And any people that you can think of in politics that helped in the development of the area? Well, yes. My family was quite political minded, especially my mother. She was a very staunch democrat. My uncle, her brother Levi W. Cyprus served in the state senate. He was the main instigator of the Nevada State Water Law. In fact, I think he offered that law while he served in the senate. Robert O. Gibson was another man active in politics. I think he served on various county boards. John F. Perkins was another man that was active in politics. I remember (unintelligible) campaign for county and state offices, and they’d be entertained at my mother’s home. That really was the highlight in her life, because she had someone new to discuss politics with. And they were democrats, so she got in, worked real hard for them. And yes I’d say that there were several people in St. Thomas that made a name locally, you might say, or county wise for these fellows. Do you remember the beginning of the atomic testing in Nevada? Yes I do. I remember some of those early surface tests rattled the windows and made the building reverberate there in St. Thomas. I mean, in Overton—that was where I lived during those tests, St. Thomas was underwater at that time. I happened to be here at Gold Butte when one of the big tests was made. And two of us went up onto the mountain peak right close by here. We’re at Gold Butte now, what we call the Gold Butte Peak. We witnessed this test from that UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 10 elevation, which was really something, because we saw that mushroom start to form, right in the earliest stages of formation, and then we watched it drip, drip, drip into the atmosphere. We also heard the shot. We felt the reverberation. I believe that was along in the mid-fifties. That’s close enough to the date anyway, I think (unintelligible) What environmental changes have you noticed in Southern Nevada, since you were born? I would say the major change that came about was the formation of Lake Mead and the building of the big highways. We started with a two-lane on road to the freeways we have today. Another change is that there’s quite noticeable is connected with the formation of the Lake Mead, where the wildlife refuge was established in the Overton arm of Lake Mead. This brings a great many hunters into Overton for the duck, geese, and the wildlife available at that time. Fishing of course has increased greatly. Lots and lots of fisherman come into Overton. In the southern side of the Valley of Fire was the park (unintelligible). A nice visitor’s center has been built. And trams and roads have been built through the Valley of Fire, beautiful spot. Most people come back time and again to see it. Nice picnic area, most tourists and locals have to visit the picnic areas (unintelligible) each time we’re in there, gather around a table to socialize and eat (unintelligible) chicken. I’d get on a tram, very nice. Okay. What social changes have developed that influenced civilization becoming more complex in the area? Yes, there’ve been changes in the social life of people. Or style, rather. In earlier years, social functions or fun gathering things were all just spontaneous. Like, dances that would just start up with a chicken supper. Competitive basketball or football games. I mean baseball, not football. Foot races, horse races, that sort of thing came along just naturally. In other words, spontaneously. Today it’s all more or less standardized. Children are written up for months ahead UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 11 of time at school. In particular, the church parties aren’t what they used to be. They used to have beautiful basket gift raffles all at the dances. Music was provided locally. Today maybe an orchestra’s driving in from Las Vegas for the school dances. The church doesn’t have the dances it used to have. It doesn’t have the basket parties with raffles like it used to have. In other words, we’ve sort of channeled in, have driven in to a channel of some sort that you can’t seem to break out of. No more candy corns in the spirit of the moment, that sort of thing. Now they go to the stores and buy a box of chocolates or whatever, package of cookies, there’s nothing—very little homemade any more. Pops taken over in place of lemonade, and all that sort of thing. In fact, the people seem to be glad to get it over with and get back to home. It didn’t use to be the case. What were the educational opportunities for the people in the area at the time? Well up until the year, say, 1913, perhaps ’14, I’m not certain of the date, but the Overton High School was established. In third grade, graduates had to go away to high school. The majority went to Las Vegas or St. George, Utah. Approximately 1914, Overton High School was established. Then from high school on, there’s independent colleges, universities. Had to go either to Reno, or to Salt Lake City, or to Provo, Utah, where the majority of them went. After graduating from college or the universities, the majority didn’t return to the valley because there was no—nothing there in which to carry on with their careers. A number went into Las Vegas, where they made their homes. Others went elsewhere. I don’t know exactly where. Very few returned to St. Thomas or the Moapa Valley. On communications, can you tell me about changes in what you’ve had to do to communicate with people in other areas? UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 12 Well, earlier of course, it was by mail. Let’s see, 1908 0r ’10, there were telephone service for St. Thomas and the Moapa Valley. Along in the early or late teens rather, there was the radio. The late 40s or early 50s, television. Today, the communications system’s as good as it is elsewhere. (Tape one ends) Do you remember any important government officials coming to the area? The first prominent one I remember is Governor James Scrugham. He came in to St. Thomas practically every time he visited Southern Nevada. He stayed at my mother’s place. He had an intense interest in the development of Southern Nevada. In fact, had it not been but John F. Perkins called his attention to the possibility of a buried city of Indian origin, perhaps the buried city here in Moapa Valley might never have been discovered. Upon knowing of this possibility, the governor made available funds for the excavations there, which was carried out under a prominent archaeologist. The excavations went on for three or four years. Faye Perkins was very instrumental in help bringing many excavations. This later led to the building of the Overton Museum, which sits—its (unintelligible) construction, which happened to be an exact replica of the buried city itself. It has attracted thousands upon thousands of tourists. Still does today. The curator was always (unintelligible) Faye Perkins, the father of the present director, Faye Perkins Jr. I think Governor Scrugham himself was instrumental in setting aside the Valley of Fire park, state park, which I’ve mentioned before also attracts millions of tourists. I think Franklin D. Roosevelt was also—he had visited the area. In fact, he dedicated—arrived at the dedication of Hoover Dam in 1931, I think. You mentioned the Hoover Dam. The township of St. Thomas no longer is in existence because the dam site caused the back flood of the waters to cover the city. Were there UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 13 significant people that can come from there to areas such as Las Vegas that contributed to the development of Las Vegas? Well, just prior to the time, when the Lake Mead waters inundated St. Thomas, ‘course all the families left there. Remember these families went into Las Vegas. Prominently among these families was the Bunker family, which at the time, three of them lived in St. Thomas. The son of the Cyprus family, the Pearson family, and the Robert O. Gibson family. They all established homes and businesses in Las Vegas. Some others went to California, some resettled in nearby Overton and Logandale and the Moapa Valley. Others went into Utah. Some few went into Idaho, where they bought farms and established businesses. Mostly, they bought farms, ‘cause that’s what the majority of them were, farmers in their St. Thomas days. Could you tell me just a little bit about the tax structure changes which occurred, and why they occurred? I think the industry that contributed most of the tax structure near St. Thomas was the discovery of silica sand, found largely by John F. Perkins and Crayton Johnson, two of the original locators of the silica sand. Then again, the building that the Moapa branch into St. Thomas contributed a great deal to the tax structure. Mining, rather along with the silica, credit also has to go to John F. Perkins, because he was the discoverer of the American Borax along around the year about 1920. At this site, the American Borax produced a great deal of borax and they had their own refining plant right there. Now, the rest of—the American Borax situated about twenty-five or thirty miles east, southeast, no, eastern from Las Vegas. In other words, it’s about midway between Overton and Las Vegas. This property operated for five or six years. The oil was hot and from this site, did the Union Pacific railroad say, roughly fifteen miles north of Las Vegas. This UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 14 contributed a great deal to the tax structure of the Clark County during the years it was in operation. Referring to the Overton silica deposits, that had been—operation there has been the main payroll in the Moapa Valley since it came into operation. You might say a span of thirty, thirty-five years. They ship from ten to twenty pound loads of silica from the two plants that operate at Overton, Nevada. They ship that many carloads out each day. And I’d say the number on the payroll there might be twenty-five or thirty men. Now this is going on continuously for at least twenty years with this large payload. The operations have been under two or three different companies over this period of years, but at least twenty years it has been owned and operated by the Simplot Silica Company. It’s an Idaho based company. So, it has contributed in more ways than one I’d say to the tax structure of the Moapa Valley. (Unintelligible) In my day, they didn’t contribute in to the tax structure in Clark County. This same John F. Perkins was more or less instrumental in the discovery of the (unintelligible), which operated for about five years. They had a big (unintelligible). They would collect several men. I think nobody would have been interested in prospecting for Barrick in that area had it not been for Mr. Perkins. And I’d say he started the rush in his discovery of American borax twelve miles to the north of the (unintelligible). During the Depression, was there significant government work available for—like CC camps in the area? Yes. Very much so. I think there were two CC camps set up in the Moapa Valley. One was set up twenty miles east of the Moapa Valley, where they improved Nevada facilities, like building small reservoirs. I think that was the main contribution maybe, that the CC’s made, but they operated them for say, a couple of years. And they were brought in, established rather at the UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 15 insistence of, it was then I guess Senator Scrugham, US senator. A few of them stayed and established homes in the Moapa Valley. Can you give me any information considering the trade routes and transportation routes in the area? Prior to the building of the Union Pacific through Las Vegas, our transportation was (unintelligible). Then for a period of, say, eight to ten years, mostly by railroad. And around the year, maybe 1910, 11, and 12, somewhere along in there, the Arrowhead Trail was built, which was the main highway from Salt Lake City into Los Angles. Transportation was largely by automobile. This Arrowhead Trail that I’d mentioned came through St. Thomas, Nevada, out through the Valley of Fire, into Las Vegas. Can you provide any information concerning the Gold Butte area and its development in history? Well there’s not (unintelligible) that Daniel H. Banila was the first prospector and mine locator in the Gold Butte area. Mr. Banila came into St. Thomas in the mid-sixties as a Mormon pioneer. He lived there for about a period of six-seven years, or until ’71, when he moved on south, north of the Virgin River, rather the junction of the Colorado and Virgin Rivers, where he established a home. He built a very nice home. Mr. Banila was well versed in Geology. And he located two or three different properties in the Gold Butte area, namely the Banila Copper, or what is now known as the Aggie Ridge Mine. Also, there is a peak out here named Banila Peak. He must have begun his prospecting in this area in about the year ’80, maybe a little prior to that. So far as I know then, there is a gap of say, twenty years, where locating in this area wasn’t being done. Presently, on the site of the old Gold Butte Mining Camp. UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 16 I recently had had access to a bunch of records. All these recordings of nine locations (unintelligible). There’s documented, rather they were notarized. Mr. John F. Perkins was the recorder for this district. But there’s no date in there prior to 1907. I’m quite sure that the first locations in and around the Gold Butte Mining Camp must have been 1902 or ‘03. But the record shows a Mr. Varg as locator of what is now known as the Trent Mine. Mr. Varg was started by the Whitmore interest, notably Bridge Whitmore, a merchant at the time in Overton, Nevada. (Unintelligible) carloads of copper had been shipped. Another property located by Matt Gruse, he was a prospector (unintelligible) by my father Harry Gentry, of the Lincoln Copper. (Unintelligible). Then the Copper City Camp was established there. Seventy-five people were employed either at the Lincoln property or other prospects nearby. Harry Gentry later sold this bold prospect to the Whitmore Interest. The property is still held by the younger Whitmore’s. Right at the Gold Butte townsite, there were several tent houses. There was a general merchandise store owned and operated by Will and Steve (unintelligible), residents of St. George, Utah. There was a saloon or two, and a post office. The mail was coming from St. Thomas into Gold Butte, right near Bunker. He was the contractor for the mail delivery. Gold Butte came (unintelligible) not more than four years. During that period, eastern money came in. Some development work was done. The jobs at the town site, took the name Gold Butte, where there was far more copper than gold discovered nearby. Of all the many locations made in the years 1902 or ‘03, the only ones seemed worth holding onto were the two copper properties I mentioned, Trent and Lincoln are the rich property. But presently, one of the gold properties that was located is in operation. This property is seven miles to the south east of Gold Butte. (Unintelligible) in the building, having ever been there. The Copper City Camp near the Lincoln property is hard to recognize. It’s having—it’s been having four hundred people residing in it. UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 17 There’s evidence of a few old rock buildings left. It was at this place though that the one and only killing took place out here. And that was during a disagreement over a money trade where the big Whitmore prospector was shot and killed by a Fremont Cobb. He was very prominent in development for the Lincoln Mine and residing at Copper City nearby. Cobb was later exonerated of the crime. He was a merchant in Overton, Nevada. He continued on in business there for a short period after the killing. Albert Jones, a young man at the time, living, working in Copper City, walked the distance of twenty-five miles from St. Thomas to the (unintelligible). It is now thought in that period also, that the (unintelligible) from the area eighteen to twenty miles south east of Gold Butte has been prospected and locations made for gold. And many years prior to the establishment of Gold Butte as camp, two men (unintelligible) with Charles Cobb and W. L. Brooks. They held a number of plans. And where they mined must have been varied across the Colorado River at great (unintelligible) a distance maybe twenty-five miles south of the Colorado River. That area has quite an interesting history. In my memory, 250 ton mill was built there, (unintelligible) plant, financed by a Canadian woman. Mr. Fred Gibson of either Henderson or Boulder City was general manager and superintendent of the operations there. They put through several thousand pounds of gold buried in rock, but it was really too low grade to, otherwise it didn’t prove too worthwhile, and the operations ceased. However, there were two or three local men that took over and hauled gold from there into St. Thomas, where it was shipped on into Salt Lake. But it was a minor production, given (unintelligible) (Unintelligible) I think it’s of interest to note that the polygamist’s out of Utah that was going into old Mexico at the time the (unintelligible) came into Utah, made their own trail through this country. Signs of UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 18 the old road they made are still visible across (unintelligible) Valley, and across Arizona into well, Mexico. This trail is showing on the Gold Butte (unintelligible) on the map. Part of it is showing that the immigrants came in the little parts in the Cottonwood Canyon that leads into the Colorado River. To be continued on tape number two, side one. (Tape two ends) This is the continuation of the history of Gold Butte by Laura Gentry. This is her (unintelligible) for Nevada History 117. Developers that were active in here during the boom days starting with Philip Judicy, W. A. Crawford, and Mr. Temple, and Mr. J. A. Ingers, Charles and Fremont Cobb, Oli Rossum, Scott Allen, Matt Reeves, Willis Guerrera, Burt Mills, Eric Entry, Brigham McMarr, Levi W. Cyprus, and Joseph Hepforth. Eastern money was represented by a Mr. R. H. Corbett and Frank Talbertson, and Mr. W. C. Sharp, with their general manager on the Gold Butte Mines Company limited. It might be of little interest to some to note that this Mr. Sharp advertised for a wife, and a rather attractive youngish woman came out from Poughkeepsie, New York to meet and marry him. She lived here with Mr. Sharp, for say, two or three years and I guess she didn’t like the atmosphere of the country or something, but anyway, she left him. Also this Mr. Phil Judicy advertised for a wife and what he got was a real package. She was a grand farmer, grand opera star. At the time she came here and married—met, married Mr. Judicy, she had twin daughters studying music in Paris. She brought three or four huge trunks filled with operatic clothes. The woman was a beautiful singer. She played the piano UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 19 professionally. She only stayed with Phil for two or three years, and then she left and they were later divorced. Other names that I forgot to mention was the Fairbanks brothers: Art, Carl, and Frank. They were very active in here. Fine men. Stayed on for several years. Temple Bar might also be included in Gold Butte history. It was a Placer operation that was financed during the (unintelligible) operation by (unintelligible). The location was on the Colorado River, and the site is now known as the Temple Bar Fishing Area. They—after the story is, they expended a million dollars to set up for operations there. They couldn’t recover the gold because of the fineness of it, in the sands of the Colorado River. So, that camp was also abandoned, ‘cause it didn’t pay off. Relating back to the (unintelligible) area, where the 250 ton mill operated, a Mr. Vernon Cooper from Overton, Nevada worked there during the mills tenure. He provided me with some of the information I had given on it. Of the more recent prospectors in this area, I would say that Rock Whitmore of St. Thomas and Overton, Nevada spent more time out here than any other man I know. In fact, it was Rock that made the discovery of what is known as the Gold Butte (unintelligible). The property is still held by his heir, Sidney Whitmore. And Laura Gentry with Mr. Craig Goodman was associate owner. Rock did a great deal of prospecting out here. He rather combined cowboy with his prospecting. He spent lots of time out here and I think he enjoyed almost every minute of it. He had a rather keen mind on Geology, mineralogy. I have been asked to relate what I know about the running of cattle in this area. At times, this range has supported 2,000 head of cattle. Today it doesn’t support that many, due to many dry years. The first man to run cattle out here was Harry Gentry, Edward Cyprus, a brother in law of his, and a Frank Burgess. After that, Harry Gentry’s son Sam Gentry put cattle in here, UNLV University Libraries Laura Gentry 20 and for several years, ran about 1,000 head of cattle. Warren Cox of St. George, Utah, ran in about 400 head of cattle in here. Some of the local boys, mainly from St. Thomas, likely had among them 400 head. That was Alfred Cyprus, Jess O’Donnell, Marty Bunker, to name but a few. At the instance or invitation of Sam Gentry, a Johnny Nelson from Peach Springs, Arizona, ferried 400—or swam rather, 400 head of cattle across the Colorado River. Ran ‘em here for four or five, six years. He built a very nice home right on the old Gold Butte mining campsite, moved his family here, which consisted of ten children. Johnny was the first man to ever bring an automobile into this country. That was a Hupmobile. About 1924, Sam Gentry sold his range rights, water rights to George Hartman. George operated for three, four years, a bad drought hit, he went out of business, but he did—he did deed his water holdings over to me, Laura Gentry. I held ‘em for a few years, ran a few cattle out here in the meantime. I sold to a Mr. Dan Maron from Santa Ana, California. He operated here for about fourteen years rather successfully. Upon Mr. Maron’s death, his widow, Inez Maron, a lovely woman, sold the interest to Frank Taylor, residing then at the Warm Springs, the head of the Muddy River. Frank Taylor sold to Howard Hughes, who now owned the water rights here, which consists of twenty some off live springs. Covers an area of about say, sixteen to eighteen miles east and west, or rather from Overton arm of Lake Mead, over to the Arizona line. South and east—north and south rather, the distance, was right under twenty-five miles, so it’s rather