Chapter IV
ESMERALDA LODGE NO. 6
Aurora NVForward
Today the old mining town of Aurora, Nevada, which at the peak of its productivity had a population estimated from six to nine thousand people, and was one of the large producing silver camps of Nevada, is one of the ranking ghost towns of the west.
Its streets which once echoed to the din of industry and commercial activity, its nearby canyons which resounded to the clatter of almost a score of quartz mills in noisy operation, are hushed and still; the quiet of a deserted camp hang over it, as with decaying tottering walls and sagging roofs, its one time sightly building and comfortable homes reminds of "the remorseless hand of Time, and the fickle tide of fortune."
Gone are its halcyon days, when the richness of its mines might challenge the wealth of a Croesus. Gone are the excitement, the romance and glamour which lured the reckless and adventurous to its site, enticing them with all the siren voices of a western mining camp in full action.
Gone too, are those who contributed to its notoriety, as well as those who brought it glory and luster by reason of their humanity, their deeds of kindness and forbearance, charity, and outstanding accomplishments.
And yet, as in fancy we linger over the records of those often tense, lawless, yet sometimes mellow days, we are reminded that "The good men do live after them; good deeds we carve upon the rock, their faults we write upon the sand."
At the peak of Aurora's prosperity, it distributed into the channels of industry, many millions of dollars, and gave to the world men of genius, and financial and professional ability. Among its fine fraternal organizations, Masonry stood firm, fast and foremost, and during the 38 years of its existence in the town was a forceful factor in the promotion of Morality, Truth and Justice.
For thirty years it triumphantly carried on, and even after the ore supplies of the district were depleted, and one by one the residents of the town departed for other scenes, until there were less than a dozen people left, yet of that number seven were members of the Craft, and bravely held the charter of their lodge for several years longer, but finally some of that number crossed to that bourne from which no traveler has ever returned, and unable to assemble a constitutional quorum to carry on the work of the lodge, the inevitable happened, its charter was surrendered, and that once thriving, influential unit of Masonry passed out of existence.
ESMERALDA LODGE NO. 6
Aurora, NevadaThe period embraced between the late fifties and middle sixties in Nevada, witnessed the uncovering and development of many treasure chests of nature, precipitating in most instances, a stampede of gold mad, frenzied mobs to the mineral laden gulches and ledges of those districts.
The romance and excitement attendant upon the discovery of these treasure troves, and the development of the communities which gave them birth, furnished material for books and manuscripts, emanating from the fertile brain and gifted pen of skilled and accomplished writers, and brought prestige and fame, as well as notoriety, to the localities in which these treasures were found.
The wealth of such a locality was brought to light in the year 1858, although the district was not exploited nor developed, and the possible extent of its unusual wealth was not generally known until many months later.
The excitement on the Comstock was at fever heat, when J. M. Vorey, who was prospecting south of where the mining camp of Aurora was later located, on a torrid day in July, 1858, picked up a mineralized rock, decked with particles of virgin silver, and of manifest richness; with Vorey was a companion, James M. Braly, for whom Braly mountain was afterwards named; the twain proceeded at once to search for the ledge from which the piece of rock had been dislodged. Days numbered into weeks, and weeks passed into months, but the location of the mother lode could not be found. With provisions about exhausted and with winter close at hand, the prospectors were forced to give up the search and started across the country for Virginia City, there to recuperate their diminished exchequer, or to seek a grub stake from among the venturesome, who were engaged in the promotion of mining activities on the Comstock.
The distance to be covered between the two points was nearly one hundred and twenty-five miles, and the course lay over a rough forbidding terrain, where sagebrush, greasewood and occasional mesquite blocked the way out from the gulch where they had pursued their unsuccessful search for the elusive mineral; of a sudden as they forged ahead, all vegetation ceased, as if its advance had suddenly been stopped, and all growing forms had looked over into the boulder bristling and rock strewn area ahead, and crouched in fear.
But they kept on, firm in their resolve to seek financial aid, and return to find and develop the rich metal deposit which they believed lay hidden somewhere within the area they had left behind. And so, over the rock ribbed hills and mountains whose tracery on the maps of that section of Nevada resembles a caterpillar crawling across the land, the two continued their weary journey; with provisions and water nearly gone, their strength almost exhausted, and their spirits at low ebb. On the morning of Dec. 1st, 1858, they fought their way up a steep canyon, from the summit of which they beheld below them,smoke belching from a hundred smoke-stacks, and heard the din of a mining camp in full operation. It was the mecca towards which for many weary days they had bent their sagging footsteps, the promised land wherein lay for them success or failure to finance plans which might lead to the finding and development of a new El Dorado, many miles to the southeast.
With their arrival in Virginia City, they at once set about contacting those who might be interested in their story. The quest was long, but eventually financial backing was found, and with plenty of provisions and implements and accessories necessary to continue their search in the mountains, and with a companion, a man by the name of Hicks, to help them in their quest, they began the trek back.
The remainder of the story involves a hazardous return journey across the mountains, battling blizzards and intense cold, until they at last arrived at the gulch where Vorey had picked up the specimen of rich ore. Here a camp was established, a crude shelter erected, and with the coming of Spring, search was resumed for the parent ledge. On a day in May, the find was made; the first location was on a high outcrop at the base of Mt. Braly, and was named The Montauk, later renamed the Old Esmeralda.
As news of the strike spread over the country, the dim trails leading into the district were darkened by hordes of miners, prospectors, and an aggregation, the outscouring of vice ridden districts of blase mining camps of the west; soon the open spaces surrounding the retreat of Vorey and his companions were overrun with this motley assemblage, and a shanty town sprung up at the base of the mineral bearing ledge.
The fleeting weeks witnessed the passing of the shanty town, and out of chaos and confusion order was evolved; irregular lanes were straightened into well laid out streets flanked by commodious business houses and sightly homes, and the new camp was christened Aurora. At the peak of its prosperity, there were in the town some twenty stores, two daily newspapers, a dozen hotels, large and small, and about the same number of boarding houses. It also supported two companies of National Guard housed in their own well equipped commodious Armory Hall; there were also two rival fire companies, whose fire equipment was brought over the mountains, but was of the best obtainable. Of interest also, is the information that there were in the district some sixteen quartz mills to care for the output of the mines, and at the peak of its productivity, the town contained a population estimated from six to nine thousand people.
With the incoming tide of migration, lured by the promise of excitement, adventure and fortune, and hailing from every state in the Union, were many Masons, who when finally established as residents of the camp, soon became acquainted, and as they became better known to one another, and more familiar with prevailing conditions and practices of the town, were appalled by the immorality and impropriety of the rougher element of the town, for this element was already beginning to dominate the camp. Moved to drastic action by these conditions, a meeting of the brethren was held at which the formation of a Masonic Association was urged; first, for the purpose of fraternal contact; second, to attempt to uphold and build up the moral fabric of the community, and to stand as champions of law and order, and right living.
On August 23, 1863, this association framed a petition to the Grand Lodge of California, asking permission to organize a Masonic lodge under dispensation in Aurora. It is said that this petition did not reach the Grand Lodge of Calif. until September, but did receive early attention, and a dispensation was issued to the brethren of Aurora by Grand Master Wm. C. Belcher on September 28, 1863, authorizing the establishment of a lodge to be known as Esmeralda Lodge U. D. and naming James Stark worshipful master; Henry W. Leech. senior warden, and Joseph H. Richardson, junior warden.
The Masons organizing Esmeralda lodge, as reflected in the old official roll of the lodge were: James Stark, Henry W. Leech, Jos. H. Richardson, Albert Mack, James Waiters, Isaac S. Rowman, E. E. L. Meek, A. C. Morse, Hiram Huster, Wm. P. Jones, Wm. Tyler, E. M. Bacon, Clinton H. Patchin, J. W. Deering, A. D. Allen, G. Kaufman, W. S. Stanley, John R. White, E. J. Mathews, Rudolph Shibler, D. H. Haskell, Isaac Harris, Thos. I. Wilbur, George Hacker, Geo. W. Bailey, Joseph P. McCoy, J. M. Barlow, Lewis Hanscomb, Peter Ingrehem, and John Carter.
With the receipt of the dispensation, and the convening of the first Masonic lodge in Aurora on October 10, 1863, Worshipful Master Stark appointed G. Kaufman as treasurer; Geo. W. Bailey as secretary; C. H. Dodds, senior steward; A. C. Morse, junior steward. These officers were installed the same evening.
The records also show that at this meeting, Brother Stark presented to the lodge as a gift from brother John W. Tucker, a manufacturing jeweler of San Francisco, and well known to the brethren of Aurora lodge, a complete set of officers jewels, made from solid silver taken from the Aurora mines.
Under the above dispensation, Esmeralda lodge continued to perform Masonic work for nearly fourteen months, when, at the fifteenth Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of California, on October 13, 1864, a charter was issued to Joseph H. Richardson, as Worshipful Master; John S. Carter, Senior Warden; Arthur A. Green, Junior Warden; Gabriel Kaufman, Treasurer; Geo. W. Bailey, Secretary; Chas. H. Dodd, Senior Deacon; A. C. Morse, Junior Deacon; M. Y. Stewart, Marshal; Thos. J. Wilburn and Isaac Harris, Stewards; M. A. Murphy, Tyler; and in addition, fifty-two Master Masons. This charter was registered, and the lodge named and numbered, Esmeralda Lodge No. 170, on California registry.
On the 15th of January, 1865, at the organization of the Grand Lodge of Nevada at Virginia City, Esmeralda lodge withdrew from the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of California, and became Esmeralda Lodge No. Six on Nevada Grand Lodge Registry. At this Communication also, George W. Bailey, a delegate from Esmeralda lodge, was elected Grand Master of Nevada Masons.
The story of Aurora abounds in unique and startling situations; unique, in that for a long pried after it was settled, there was uncertainty as to its geographic situation, California claiming it by within its boundaries and Nevada insisting that it was situated within the confines of Esmeralda County. As a result of this uncertainty and contention, two sets of officers were elected, one to serve under California regime, the other placed in office by their Nevada constituents. Two different district judges held court in two different parts of the town, and assemblymen, elected by the voters, attended the legislature at the same time, both in Sacramento, California, and in Carson City, Nevada; and it is claimed that an Aurora man was elected Lieutenant Governor of California, but was never seated, for two weeks after his election, a joint party of surveyors from both states came into Aurora with the information that the boundary line between the two states had been surveyed, and settled, and Aurora was four miles over from the California line, in Nevada.
The boundary contention had always given rise to both sectional and industrial complications, was the agent by which dishonesty and unfair practices were employed by the political parties, especially when the residents of Aurora went to the polls to vote, at which time bribery and coercion as well as force were dominant factors in determining the result of the vote.
The overwhelming number of both social and moral perverts who had flocked to the district following the new strike on Braly Mountain, made this situation possible; vice and lawlessness ruled the town; dens of iniquity housed both men and women of the lowest type, every other door in the business district was either a saloon, a house of prostitution, or a gambling den, where the simplest forms of law and order were violated, except when in rare moments the sheriff and his deputies would make a raid. But these occasions were rare, and with only a nominal fine imposed upon the offenders, or the lightest of sentences pronounced upon the guilty, the offenders returned to carry on their lawless or unholy practices, and the better element of Aurora groaned at another miscarriage of justice. Law and order soon became a travesty, and with the decadent element in control of the town, a reign of terror ensued; men were openly waylaid and robbed, women were kidnapped and outraged, and murders were of almost nightly occurrence. This situation however was climaxed with the brutal murder of one of the most highly respected citizens of the town, a man by the name of Johnson. Four men known to be implicated in this murder were taken into custody and lodged in the local jail. Among the best citizens righteous indignation was aroused, resulting in the calling of a mass meeting, at which more than six hundred outstanding men of the town gathered, formed themselves into a Vigilante Committee, and under competent leadership, marched to the jail, and without any violence demanded, and received, from the sheriff the keys to the jail, took the four murderers from their cells, and hung them on a gallows they had erected on North Silver Street. This Vigilante Committee is said to have been housed in a building owned by a man by the name of Wingate, and used by the Masonic brethren of Aurora as a meeting place.
There is an incident related in connection with this hanging, which involves Governor Nye, of Nevada, and County Commissioner Samuel Young of Aurora. On the day of the hanging February 9, 1861, Governor Nye, who was in Carson, wired Commissioner Young, "There must be no violence," to which the commissioner replied, "All quiet and orderly, four men will be hanged in half an hour." It is of interest to note that not only was justice meted out to the guilty murderers, but all the undesirables in the town were rounded up and required to leave town.
It is likewise of interest to know that the Wingate Hall, in which the Vigilante Committee had assembled and planned their work, was later acquired and occupied by Esmeralda Lodge No. 170. Pending favorable action upon their petition to the Grand Lodge of California to organize a Masonic lodge in Aurora, the petitioners had arranged with the owner of the building to occupy it as their meeting place, should the prayer of their petition be granted. This building was one of the outstanding structures erected in Aurora, the second story containing a large door space, admirably adapted to the requirements of a dance hall, or with but slight alterations might be made into a commodious lodge room, with necessary ante-rooms at the rear.
These alterations having been made, the hall was rented to the Masonic brethren, and used by them for housing the lodge; they also were given the privilege of purchasing it at a later date, should their finances permit.
It is of interest to record that this purchase was made possible at a much later date, the building being taken over jointly by the Masonic and Oddfellow fraternities. No expense was spared to make the new quarters comfortable; the latest in lodge furniture was installed, and a beautiful carpet, in which was interwoven Masonic emblems, covered the floor. This carpet is said to have had a somewhat eventful history. During the life of the lodge it remained as a covering of the lodge room floor, but with the abandonment of the camp after ore reserves had become exhausted, evil days came upon the lodge, until by 1888 there were only five members living in the town, and it was impossible to hold meetings and it became necessary to surrender the charter. The regalia, furniture and records were passed into the keeping of the Grand Lodge F. & A. M. of Nevada. When Humboldt lodge No. 27 of Lovelock, Nevada, was organized, the paraphernalia and jewels of Esmeralda lodge were sold to that lodge, and brother Thomas C. Sharpe of Esmeralda lodge was authorized to ship them to the Secretary of Humboldt lodge; the old carpet however, was not included in the purchase, it having passed, together with the interest of Esmeralda lodge in the building, to the Grand Lodge, I. O. O. F. of Nevada, and was sometime later removed to the old hall of Reno lodge No. 13, F. & A. M. in Reno.
With the completion of the new Masonic Temple, Reno lodge No. 13 leased the old hall on Sierra Street to the Knights of Columbus, and as that order could not use a carpet covered with Masonic emblems as a floor covering, it was removed, and eventually was restored to the care of the Masonic brethren in Reno, was taken to the Temple and stored in one of the upper chambers, where it remained forgotten for years, but was eventually discovered and brought to light, and is now a cherished historical memento of the once flourishing lodge at Aurora.
A review of the history of Esmeralda lodge discloses a membership roster of unusual interest and importance, but some of its members not only served with distinction in their own lodge, but became prominently identified with the destinies and affairs of the Grand Lodge of Nevada, F. & A. M. Others were drawn into State activities, and were elected to important official positions. Among them was A. N. Wingate, elected to the Assembly in 1866, as was also Brothers John S. Mayhugh, Charles P. Shakespeare, and D. H. Haskell, the latter afterwards moving to California, where he became prominently identified with Masonry; when Reno was founded in 1869, it was Brother Haskell who, as superintendent of the land department of the Central Pacific Railroad Company, laid out the city into streets and conducted the first sale of city lots; he also named the town for General Reno, then a prominent resident of San Francisco.
F. K. Bechtel was another active member of Esmeralda lodge who attained distinction, he joined the lodge in Feb. 1864 and was its secretary for years. He was a member of the first Nevada Constitutional Convention and was County Clerk of Esmeralda County from 1868 to 1871. It was he who fed and housed Samuel Clemens, (Mark Twain) for weeks during his eight months residence in Aurora.
E. W. McKinstry, an attorney, who in later years moved to California and was for twelve years Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of that State, was made an Entered Apprentice in Esmeralda lodge shortly before he left Aurora for California, where he completed his Masonic degrees. Among other prominent members of Esmeralda lodge was M. K. Harkness, brother of Doctor Harkness of the Academy of Science, of San Francisco. Charles C. Dodd, who left Aurora and for many years was a leading merchant of Portland, Oregon. M. Y. Stewart, a well known citizen of Aurora, who moved to Oakland and became prominent in Masonic circles in that city, he demitted from Esmeralda lodge to become a member of Brooklyn lodge No. 225 of Oakland.
Robert M. Howland, protege of ex-Governor, and U. S. Senator Jas. W. Nye, Hon. William Van Vorhies, first Senior Warden of California lodge No. 1, who came with the charter for that lodge from Washington, D. C.
James Stark, the first Master of Esmeralda lodge, was a man of great genius, and unusual mental attainments. The early years of his life were devoted to the Stage, in which profession he took rank among the great tragedians of his day. Following a professional engagement in the old Piper's theatre in Virginia City, he fell a victim to the lure of the mines, and abandoned the stage to engage in mining activities and promotion. In 1862 he moved to Aurora, took up some mining claims and built and operated a quartz mill while developing his mining property; in addition to these activities, he became very active in the civic, social and fraternal activities of the town. He served as a member of the first Constitutional Convention of Nevada, at which he was a candidate for Delegate to Congress. The last meeting at which Bro. Stark presided as worshipful master, was held on April 24th, 1864. He died soon afterwards.
Joseph H. Richardson, the first Junior Warden of Esmeralda lodge, is known to have acted as Senior Warden in the place of Henry W. Leech from the organization of the lodge until he was advanced to become Master, upon receipt of the charter, Oct. 30th, 1864. He was always a leader, and prominent in the affairs of his town and county. Later in his career, he became County Assessor of Esmeralda County.
Among the residents of Aurora for several months was Samuel Clemens, known in American literature under the nom de plume of "Mark Twain". He was a member of Polar Star lodge No. 99 of Missouri, and is said to have been upon occasions, a visitor to Esmeralda Lodge No. 6; after he left Aurora and moved to Virginia City, he is known to have taken a keen interest in Masonic affairs frequently visiting the lodges at Canon City, Washoe City and in Virginia City district.
Brother R. K. Colcord, a past master of Silver Star lodge No. 5 of Gold Hill,Nevada, and ex-Governor of Nevada, and over one hundred years of age when he died, was, during the best days of Aurora, and the prosperous era of Esmeralda lodge, actively engaged in mining activities in the camp, principally in the erection and management of quartz mills. For many years he was the only living Mason who had visited Esmeralda lodge and sat with the pioneer embers of that body in session.
The history of Esmeralda lodge would be glaringly incomplete without reference to the outstanding activities of one who held a high place in the fraternal, civic and political life of Nevada. This distinction belongs to Brother Michael A. Murphy, who at the time of his coming to Nevada had attained the degree of Fellowcraft in Clinton Lodge 119 of California. He was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Esmeralda lodge, June 4th, 1864, and in 1868 was elected worshipful master of that lodge. In 1871 he became junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Nevada, Senior Grand Warden in 1872, Deputy Grand Master in 1881, and Grand Master in 1885. It is said his early education was neglected, but by application, perseverance and determination, he accumulated a vast store of practical knowledge, studied law, was admitted to practice, and was elected District judge, State Senator, Attorney General of the State, and finally became Associate justice of the Supreme Court. It was through his efforts that Esmeralda lodge continued to function, even when the old camp was doomed to oblivion, and when the lodge lost its charter through the scattering of its membership, and the decadence of the camp, it was Brother Murphy who had the mortal remains of two members of the defunct lodge: Brothers John Neidy, and Franklin Neal brought over to Carson City, and interred with Masonic honors, Brother Murphy paying for all the cost of burial.
We have recorded the names, and made slight mention of but a few of the men and Masons who brought renown to Esmeralda lodge, surrounded it with a halo of luster and glory and were instrumental in placing it on a footing which endured as long as the mining industry continued to thrive in that section, and, with the depletion of ore supplies and the final abandonment of the mines, departed to other sections of the land, where they became valued citizens, respected for their sterling worth and integrity, and admired for those qualifications acquired in the study and exemplification of those Masonic Virtues, Friendship, Morality, and Brotherly Love.
It is now more than four score years since the first dating prospectors uncovered virgin riches in that far off section of Nevada where the ghost town of Aurora stands; four score years since among the crowds of humanity which crossed the verdureless, rock strewn hills and boulder bristling areas that flank the approach to that desolate, dreary district, since the torch bearers of Masonry treked their way into Aurora, to find lodgement and to eventually establish another unit of Masonry in that portion of the Sagebrush State.
That early chapter in Masonic development, somewhat fragmentary, it is true, has in more or less disintegrated form been forgotten, for it covered a period of some five years before Masonry took organic form in the embryonic camp, and some of the bright jewels which flashed in the Masonic diadem have been omitted for want of a proper setting. However, there were preserved jewels of rare worth, whose concentrated rays set the fraternal coals in flame in the hearts of those pioneer Masons,causing them to glow with joy and pride for Masonry, "the grandest institution ever devised, inspired and framed for mankind," and finding full fruition and development in that far off section of the state. When Freemasonry was planted in that district, it came barefooted and poorly shed, with suffering, sorrow and woe in its wake, passing through summers of torrid heat, and winters of bitter cold, through hardships and privations, but with ever before it the promise of Light, and yet more light, it was rocked in the cradle of Reason, and fed by Truth.
