38.436978, -119.104522

Sonoma has been in three Nevada counties. It was originally in Esmeralda county. When Mineral County was formed out of Esmeralda in 1911, it found itself there. Finally, when Lyon County was enlarged and given a piece of Mineral County in 1933, it ended up there.

Sonoma came into being during Nevada's early 20th century mining boom.

Masonic is about to have a rival, or rather a sister city in Sonoma, a new town site contiguous to the rustling camp of Sunny Jim. It is situated on the ranch of P. J. Conway, at the mouth of the canyon leading to the camp, and has a most desirable location for a fine up to date town.
-Record Courier, January 17, 1908


It was strategically located on an established freight route with supporting mines nearby.

SONOMA A NEW ESMERALDA CAMP
A mining district that is just now beginning to attract considerable attention and has every earmark of making a producing camp is located in northwestern Esmeralda county, and known as Sunny Jim. The district is well within the Nevada state line and Masonic, which has been attracting considerable attention on account of some rich strikes there and the great Pittsburg-Liberty property, is only four miles from the new camp. The name of the district is derived from the claim where the first strike was made, Sunny Jim, and this claim along with others is now making good. Most of the new camps and districts were closed down during the last several months on account of the stringency in the money market in the east but sufficient funds have always been available to develop the properties at Sunny Jim and the work is steadily progressing. Five of the principal properties In the camp are now being thoroughly prospected and on one of the properties, the Sunny Jim claim, high grade ore has been caught. On the others the work has not developed far enough to ascertain just what the district does contain; before many days pass, however., the world will know and Carson City people will likely see a job lot of high grade ore coming through here from that direction. At the present time there are about forty men working in the camp and as soon as the weather begins to settle a rush is expected to the new district which promises so much. A townsite has already been laid out a short distance this side of the present working properties but well within the district and the town is named after one of the most promising properties of the district, Sonoma. The town is located just above the Walker river on the Conway ranch patented land, and the enterprise is being backed by Judge George P. Costigan, P. J. Conway and F. M. Duncan, all three well known throughout this section of the state. The townsite is located at the junction of the roads which lead to Hawthorne, Bridgeport, Aurora, Bodie, Masonic and other points. Owing to this fact and also that the Sunny Jim mines are less than a mile away there is little question but that the position will prove to be a winner from the start. The point where the townsite is located is well supplied with water, wood, etc. Yesterday Judge Costigan and F. M. Duncan were in the city from the camp and while here made an application with Congressman Bartlett for the establishment of a post office. A number of lots have already been sold n the new town of Sonoma and there is little question but that the lots will now be disposed of quickly. At the present time the people in the district are using Sweetwater as their mail address.
-Goldfield News and Weekly Tribune, February 8, 1908


SONOMA A NEW ESMERALDA CAMP
The new camp of Sonoma is located three miles from Sweetwater. The district is quite extensive, being a continuation of that known as Masonic over the line in California. T. J. Conway and Judge George P. Costigan are
interested in the development of this part of Esmeralda county. The district is about five miles in length by three miles in width. In close proximity to the Sonoma townsite and upon the banks of the Walker river at Sonoma, a very fine mill site has been selected and within the next 65 days a 10-stamp mill and cyanide plant will be built upon it. A few miles up Walker river T. J. Conway owns three miles of a valuable water right with a fall of several hundred feet. The intention is, eventually, to utilize this water power by the construction of an electric power plant to furnish electric power for mines and mills in all directions. In the same district is the Sunny Jim mine, having a reputation under the name of the Old Tyler. It is expected that important changes are to take place in ownership and that Sunny Jim will be developed.
-Goldfield News an Weekly Tribune, July 18, 1908

Don't know if this mill was ever actually built.

In close proximity to the Sonoma townsite and upon the banks of Walker River at Sonora, a very fine mill site has been selected and within the next 60 days a 10-stamp mill and cyaniding plant will be built upon it. A few miles up Walker river T. J. Conway owns three miles of valuable water right with a fall of several hundred feet. The intention is eventually to utilize this water power by the construction of an electric power plant to furnish electric power for the mines and mills in all directions. In this district is the Sunny Jim mine, having a reputation under the name of the Old Tyler. It is expected that important changes are to take place in ownership and that Sunny Jim will be developed.
-The Mining World, June 27, 1908

Sonoma is now officially in Mineral County, for a while anyway.

The division of Esmeralda county, which at the opening of the session promised to be the big fight of the present legislature, proved to be more of a love feast when it came up in both branches and when the vote was taken, there was practically no opposition to increasing the number of counties in the state. When the governor affixes his signature to the bill, Mineral county will be born and the old court-house at Hawthorn, that was the county seat of Esmeralda county for a great number of years, will again be put in use for the purpose that it was originally built.
-White Pine News & Weekly Mining Review, February 12, 1911

Then in 1933, the border was moved again, and Sonoma found itself in Lyon county.

NRS 243.250 Portion of Mineral County detached and attached to Lyon County—1933. All that portion of the County of Mineral, as now constituted, bounded and described as follows: Beginning at a point where the western most part of Mineral County intersects the Nevada-California boundary line; thence along the Nevada-California boundary line in a southeasterly direction until the Nevada-California boundary line intersects the south boundary line of T. 7 N., R. 25 E., M.D.B. & M.; thence easterly along the south boundary of T. 7 N., Ranges 25, 26 and 27 E., M.D.B. & M., to the southeast corner of T. 7 N., R. 27 E., M.D.B. & M.; thence northerly along range line on the east boundary of Townships 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 N., R. 27 E., M.D.B. & M., to the northeast corner of T. 11 N., R. 27 E., M.D.B. & M.; thence westerly along the north boundary of T. 11 N., R. 27 E., to the northwest corner of that township and range; thence northerly on line between Ranges 26 and 27 E., M.D.B. & M., to a point where the line intersects the present Mineral-Lyon County boundary line; thence along the present Lyon-Mineral County boundary line in a southwesterly direction to the point of beginning, is and the same is hereby severed and withdrawn from the County of Mineral, as now constituted, and the same is hereby added and annexed to the County of Lyon, as the same is now constituted.

Sunny Jim

Where was Sunny Jim? What was Sunny Jim? Who Was Sunny Jim? Why was Sunny Jim?

These questions are so far unknown to us, as there just isn't much information on this locale, although it is mentioned several times in various news articles. To add to the confusion, there are properties [and people] named "Sunny Jim" all over the State. Sometimes the articles talk about the Sonoma townsite as if they are talking about Sunny Jim, but they are rarely clear about if they are referring to mine, district, or camp. Some of the "facts" we've gathered thus far are:

• It was the name of a town, a mine, and a district
• It was within three miles of Sweetwater
• It came into being in 1906
• It's in Mineral county
• It's in Esmeralda county
• The Walker River is between one and one half and "a few" miles away
• It's 4 or 5 miles from Masonic
• It's 4 miles from the Pittsburgh-Liberty property
• It's contiguous to Sonoma
• It was Sonoma
• It's 4 miles east of the Conway Ranch
• It's fifty miles south of Gardnerville
• A townsite was supposedly laid out
• It's "near" the California state line

Since newspaper articles are often inaccurate and conflicting, we can take all these hints with a grain of salt.

This claims Sunny Jim and Sonoma are one and the same.

Messrs Castijan, Duncan, and Cowdy, capitalists and mining men, formerly of Colorado and now operating at Sunny Jim, were in town yesterday on their way to that camp from a business trip to the city. They informed a representative of this paper that arranagements had been completed to erect a ten stamp mill on the river at the new town of Sonoma, the Sunny Jim townsite.
-Record Courier, January 31, 1904

A NEW CAMP
A new strike has been made within five miles of Masonic in Esmeralda county, Nevada. It is said to be a daisy. The camp has been christened Sunny Jim.
-The Daily Appeal, May 21, 1906

"SUNNY JIM" COMES TO THE FRONT WITH A STRIKE
Masonic, Mono County, Cal.
A rich strike has been made about 4 miles from here in Esmeralda county at a place nearby named "Sunny Jim."There is an old wood road to the heart of the district. It is within 4 miles of the P.J. Conway ranch at Sweetwater.
-Goldfield News and Weekly Tribune, May 26, 1906

A BRAND NEW EXCITEMENT
Sunny Jim is the Scene of the Latest Stir.
Esmeralda county has become the mother of a brand new town to be known as "Sunny Jim"—a town of "force," we must infer from the name. This town is located about four miles east of the Conway ranch and about the same distance from Masonic, in the same range of mountains. Rock pans $50 to the ton and shows a large amount of concentrates. Over twenty-five claims have been staked at the present time and a big rush is on. Men from Bodie, Bridgeport, Buckskin and sur­rounding country are moving in. A townsite has been staked off. Prominent among theme already on the ground may be mentioned Charles Southworth of Goldfield and Bullfrog and Geo. A. Cockburn of Colorado Springs, who are well pleased with the outlook.
"A new find causing great excitement has been made in Esmeralda county and about four miles from Masonic, says the Pioneer. The discovery was made by J. W. Duval, a Los Angeles mining man and the prospects that he has found pan high in gold. About 25 claims have already been located. A townsite has been staked out and called Sunny Jim. The rush is on and people from all over that section are rushing there to stake claims."
-Tonopah Bonanza, May 26, 1906

Over a year later and they're still talking about how the town site is being laid out. Checking on the Esmeralda County Recorder site, however, doesn't show anything was ever filed under the name Sunny Jim. A townsite plat for Sonoma was filed in April of 1908.

Mr. Moody, once of the principal operators at the new mining camp of Sunny Jim near Sweetwater, was in Gardnerville this week. He reports that work on at least five different properties is under way and will continue during the remainder of the winter. A new town site has been laid out and in the spring things will be doing.
-Record Courier, December 20, 1907

According to this article, Sonoma and Sunny Jim are right next to each other, for some reason, if I understand the word "contiguous."

Masonic is about to have a rival, or rather a sister city in Sonoma, a new town site contiguous to the rustling camp of Sunny Jim. It is situated on the ranch of P. J. Conway, at the mouth of the canyon leading to the camp, and has a most desirable location for a fine up to date town.
-Record Courier, January 17, 1908

Usually, the term "discovered" is reserved for a mine, not a town or camp. Adding to our confusion.

J. Davaul, the discoverer of Sunny Jim, a mining camp near Masonic, passed through town this week for Reno for the purpose of meeting some capitalists who are interested in the new mining camp.
-Record Courier, Januay 31, 1908

For me, at least, this article blurs the line between Sonoma and Sunny Jim as a town. Are they different, or the same?

A mining district that is just now beginning to attract considerable attention and has every earmark of making a producing camp is located in northwestern Esmeralda county, and known as Sunny Jim. The district is well within the Nevada state line and Masonic, which has been attracting considerable attention on account of some rich strikes there and the great Pittsburg-Liberty property, is only four miles from the new camp. The name of the district is derived from the claim where the first strike was made, Sunny Jim, and this claim along with others is now making good. Most of the new camps and districts were closed down during the last several months on account of the stringency in the money market in the east but sufficient funds have always been available to develop the properties at Sunny Jim and the work is steadily progressing. Five of the principal properties in the camp are now being thoroughly prospected and on one of the properties, the Sunny Jim claim, high grade ore has been caught. On the others the work has not developed far enough to ascertain just what the district does contain; before many days pass, however, the world will know and Carson City people will likely see a job lot of high grade ore coming through here from that direction. At the present time there are about forty men working in the camp and as soon as the weather begins to settle a rush is expected to the new district which promises so much. A townsite has already been laid out a short distance this side of the present working properties but well within the district and the town is named after one of the most promising properties of the district, Sonoma. The town is located just above the Walker river on the Conway ranch patented land, and the enterprise is being backed by Judge George P. Costigan, P. J. Conway and F. M. Duncan, all three well known throughout this section of the state. The townsite is located at the junction of the roads which lead to Hawthorne, Bridgeport, Aurora, Bodie, Masonic and other points. Owing to this fact and also that Sunny Jim mines are less than a mile away there is little question but that the position will prove a winner from the start. With the development of the Sunny Jim mines Sonoma will hold the keynote and be the gateway not only to this camp but also the distribution point for the adjacent camps. The point where the townsite is located is well supplied with water, wood, etc. The formation at Sunny Jim is the kind that makes the mining men of experience enthusiastic in regard to the district.
-Goldfield News and Weekly Tribune, February 8, 1908

It would appear the Sunny Jim mine was renamed.

In this district is the Suny Jim mine, having a reputation under the name of the Old Tyler.
-The Mining World, January 4 - June 27, 1908

It's early 1908 and they're still babbling about the camp.

SUNNY JIM CAMP IS ONE OF PROMISE
FIVE COMPANIES ARE NOW GETTING PAY ORE
TOWNSITE IS LAID OUT AND $45,000 IS SUBSCRIBED FOR A MILL
RUSH TO NEW CAMP IS EXPECTED
The first locations were made in April, 1906, and active work began in September, 1907. Five companies are now running day and night shifts. George P. Costigan, the original locator of the famous Tomboy mine of Colorado, has charge of the Sonoma Nevada Mines company property. Associated with him are a number of well-known capitalists. George S. Cowdry, connected with the Michigan Lumber company of Denver, is developing four claims with a tunnel and in a crosscut has a body of ore twenty feet wide that will average $10 all the way across. Dr. Waxham, at the head of another Denver company owning a group of claims, is rushing the work on a 400-foot tunnel which has cut a large body of 'splendid milling ore, with indications of increased values as the work progresses. Other companies operating have equally good showings, among them being the Tyler Gold Mining company and the Sunny Jim Gold Mining and Milling company. A cross-cut tunnel is being driven on the Sunny Jim to explore a stratified dyke averaging more than 500 feet across, showing surface values from $1 to $4 Per ton, the face values from $1 to $4 Per ton, the first contact showing twelve feet of $20 ore, with rifs running up into the hundreds in value, the latter being carefully sacked for shipment. The Tyler company's property fa also being opened up with a tunnel with equally encouraging result.. J. W. Duval, the origins locator of the district, has charge of the two last named properties. Little stock can be had in properties. Little stock can be had in any of these companies, most of them being close corporations with unbounded confidence in the richness and permanency of the camp. Judge Cortigan. F. M. Duncan and others have purchased 400 acres of the Conway ranch and laid out a town, to be called Sonoma. A large number of lots have Sonoma. A large number of lots have been sold, together with a mill site, $405.000 having been subscribed for the mill, to be erected at once. A more ideal location for a great camp could not be found, the surrounding hills being covered with a heavy growth of nut pine, while the Walker river, flowing from 3,000 to 10.000 inches, according to season, is but one one-half miles away, affording plenty of water for mills and power.
A stampede to this camp to freely predicted when its richness becomes known. Minden is the nearest railway point.
-Los Angeles Herald, 10 February 1908

SUNNY JIM STRIKE
Another strike, and this one of a sensational nature, has been made in the Sunny Jim district, and now there is a steady rush to the camp. Recently on the Smith-Roach property a find of high grade was made which will run into the thousands.
-Los Angeles Herald, April 13, 1908

The proofreader at the Record Courier must have taken the day off, Along with not spelling Sunny Jim correctly, I believe they also referred to Sonoma as "Sonora."

SUNNY JIM WILL BE IT
Encouraging reports come from Sunny Jim, the new mining camp located some fifty miles south of here. The townsite of Sonora [sic] is beginning to take on an appearance of activity, a hotel and other buildings being under construction. Those interested at Junny [sic] Jim declare they have the makings of a great camp.
-Record Courier, March 20, 1908

Early 1909, now, and they are still working the claims.

Doing Much Work At Camp of Sunny Jim
Development work has been going on quite extensively since the first of the year in different parts of the camp. Judge Castigan, a Colorado capitalist, has run a tunnel over four hundred feet and has cut three different ledges, all showing good values, one of which shows good free milling rock. Everything is looking very promising now and it will without doubt become one of the leading mining camps in Nevada in the near future.
-Reno Evening Gazette, March 30, 1909

The mine, whever the hell it is, is sold.

SUNNY JIM MINE PURCHASED BY UNITED GOLD CORORATION
CAPITALIZED AT $2,000,000
The fact of the incorporation of the United gold Corporation, although the documents were issued by the secretary of state over a month ago, has just become known by its purchase of all the interests of the Sunny Jim Gold Mining and Milling Co., consisting of eight claims in the Sunny Jim Mining District, Esmeralda county, this state. The corporation's first acquisition lies four miles north of the Pittsburgh-Liberty group, one of the best dividend payers in the state, which has sent ore to the Selby smelter at San Francisco that netted better than a thousand dollars of gold to the ton. The Sunny Jim group is on this same dyke of rhyolite and porphyry formation.
-Reno Evening Gazette, July 20, 1909

Newspaper mentions of Sunny Jim appear to drop off to nothing after 1909, so one can assume that the mine had played out and the camp folded.

Here is a link to the Sunny Jim mining District map, provided by thediggings.com.

Here is a link to an advertisement that appeared in the United States Investor April 20, 1907

You'd never know Sonoma was here unless you were looking for it- not much remains except for some flattened cans, crockery, and a small, sad abandoned cemetery.

Was Sonoma actually Sunny Jim? We investigate here, and fail to come up with an answer.