Ruby Valley, Nevada by Zina Abbott

 

Located in south-central Elko and northern White Pines counties in the state of Nevada is a large basin known as Ruby Valley. As part of the Overland Trail, it played a significant role in the early western development of the United States. The valley starts at Secret Pass and runs south-southwest for about sixty mines to Overland Pass. To the south are the Ruby Mountains, which is a steep escarpment. To the north is the East Humboldt Range and Clover Valley.

Franklin Lake, Nevada

 

The east end of the valley near Franklin Lake is only ten miles wide at the most.

 

At the south end is the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, which includes the wetlands of Ruby Valley.

 

The first settlers of Ruby Valley were the nomadic Shoshone tribes which used the area as a winter home. They found it warmer than nearby locations.

Although the California Trail, heavily used after the 1840s, was located just to the north, other wagon trains traveled through this valley on their way west. 

 

The Donner Party passed through the southern end of the valley in 1846. As part of the Hastings Cutoff, they headed over the Overland Pass route across the Ruby Mountains.

In 1855, Howard Egan scouted a transportation route through central Nevada. Although both western Utah and most of Nevada were desolate regions, he found a series of water sources such as spring-fed lakes and springs. He also discovered many passes that made crossing the mostly steep north-south mountain ranges passable.

Interior Ruby Valley Station

 

In 1859, in an effort to find a better transportation route for supplying western forts, his same area was surveyed by Captain James H. Simpson for the U.S. Army. Simpson built a trading post at the south end of Ruby Valley near Overland Pass..

NPS Pony Express Route

Interior Ruby Valley Pony Express Station

In 1860, George Chorpenning built a way station at the same location as the trading post for his mail and stagecoach line. 

Ruby Valley Pony Express Station

The Pony Express and its successor, the Transcontinental Telegraph, also ran through Overland Pass.

Fort Ruby Archeological project

In September 1862, to protect the passage of settlers and these important communication connections with residents of California during the war years, the U.S. Government established Fort Ruby (also known as Camp Ruby) at the east entrance to the pass on the west side of Ruby Lake, which is south of Franklin Lake.

Western Shoshone

In 1863 the U.S. Government signed the Treaty of Ruby Valley with twelve chiefs of the Western Shoshone, who authorized access but did not cede any territory. The US also gained permission to conduct gold mining in this territory, as it needed gold in order to wage war against the Confederacy. The treaty included a promise to pay annuities in the form of goods and livestock of $5000 annually for twenty years to the Western Shoshone. As often happened, the government failed to make any payments after the first year.

Following the American Civil War, John Warren Butterfield and Wells Fargo & Co continued stagecoach and freight wagon service across the West using the Central Overland Trail, which included Ruby Valley and the passes on either end. This soon became more popular choice for many wagons trains headed for the southern gold fields of California.

About 1866, Wells Fargo began to develop agriculture in Ruby Valley to help support its way stations.

The situation changed in the late 1860s when the first transcontinental railroad was routed well to the north of the Overland Trail. The trail fell into disuse. Fort Ruby was closed in September 1869, seven years after it was built.

Lucy, my third book in the Prairie Roses Collection, includes scenes traveled along the Overland Trail, which would have included Ruby Valley. This book is available for sale as an ebook and in paperback, as well as at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE

 

 

My next book to be published is Wyatt’s New Bride. This book is available on pre-order and scheduled for release on September 26, 2024.

To find the book description and pre-order link, please CLICK HERE

 

 

 

Sources:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=Nevada+Pony+Express+stations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Valley_Pony_Express_Station

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Valley

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Lake_National_Wildlife_Refuge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Ruby