39° 05' 22"N, 118° 41' 36"W - TERRILL MOUNTAINS quad

Discoveries in 1910 by J.V. (Judd) Terrill and George Pollingeron the Silver Star claim brought about the existance of Camp Terrill. Later joined and aided financiall by Craig Catterson, they sunk a 107 foot shaft and finally acquired a group of 24 claims. The camp was quite active in 1912, and by August of 1913 there were 30 cabins and tents, and ten tons of ore at $68 a ton had been shipped. The road from Fallon to Shurz once passed by Terrill, but after its decline it was re-routed. Several of the mines are equipped with air compressor drills and gasoline hoists. The water level appears to be about at the100' level , which is why most shafts were not sunk below that depth. In 1915 there was talk about putting in a mill but the ore was too low of a grade to make that profitable. The Silver Star mine and the Last Hope Mine seemed to be the most steady producers.
-Carson Sink Area by F.C. Schrader, 1911-1921, U.S.G.S.

Some articles from the Reno Evening Gazette:

Apparently Mr. Terrill was not one to be trifled with.

INJURED MAN AT HOSPITAL
George Flessa Riddled WIth No. 4 Shot From Gun Held by V. E. Terrill
George Flessa, who was shot by V. E. Terrill at the camp of Terrill on Monday afternoon, after Terrill had shot and killed Louis Carara, was brought into reno last night and is now at Sister's hospital. the physicians state that Flessa was shot four times with No. 4 shot and that a portion of his right side was riddled with the leaden missilies. Flessa states that Terrill shot at him five times and that a portion of four of the charges took effect in his body. He was concious when found but was in serious condition and until after the operation last night little hope held out for his recovery. Terrill has been taken to Fallon and will be given a preliminary examination later. An inquest is to be held over the remains of Carara at Schurz.
1912 May 29, Reno Evening Gazette

TERRILL CLAIMS HE SHOT IN SELF DEFENSE
Is Given Preliminary Examination at Fallon After Giving Himself Up
The killing of one man and the wounding of another by Bud Terrill at a camp of that name now has the other side of the story. At first it was reported that Terrill had ambushed the men. IT now appears that both were armed and that the failure of one of the guns to work saved Terrill's life. He used a double-barrel shotgun. Terrill went into Fallon and gave himself up. A preliminary hearing was held and it is reported that a verdict of justifiable homicide was rendered. One shot was fired at Terrill which missed. The guns of both men wre offered in evidence and one showed an empty chamber while the other was cocked but the safety failed to move at the right time. - Carson Appeal
1912 June 1, Reno Evening Gazette

OK, now that that bit of unpleasantness is out of the way.... Note the spelling of the camp name. Even news stories seem to swap Mr. Terrill's name back and forth with "Terrell." They also seem to disagree on his first name; sometimes abbreviated "V", sometimes "O" and sometimes "U."

GREAT VALUES ARE UNCOVERED
Scotia Consolidated Moves from Gregory to Terrell to Sink Shaft
W.L. Cook, manager of the Scotia Consolidated Mining company of Boston, with properties at Gregory, reports the moving of the camp to Terrill, having bought property there and started a shaft. It is the intention of hte company to put in a compressor to be in operation by next week. Thirty men are working. Water has been found in a shaft at 107 feet, but previous to that all water was hauled 17 miles from Rawhide.
1912 September 21, Rene Evening Gazette

TERRELL IS A COMER
New Camp In Churchill County Ships Ore From the Grassroots
It is several years since Nevada has had a real mining boom, insasmuch as the districts hitherto discovered have simple proceeded on their work of development and ore extraction without kicking up any dust of attracting any wild rushes such as characterized the game a decade ago, when towns were built in a day, sometimes overnight. THe intinerant mining men have been waiting for something out of the ordinary and they seem to have found it in Terrell, judging from the interest which the camp is attracting and the influx of mining men with capital to develop the properties which are so promising and spread over such a broad area. This new district is located twenty-eight miles south of Fallon, which is the supply point. It is also fourteen miles northeast of Schurz, but the road is more dofficult to negotiate. When the camp was first struck the rich croppings were sacked and shipped, the claim owners getting excellent returns. Later deep mining was attempted, notably by the Scotia Consollidated Mining company, which is sinkning a deep working shaft and is now approaching the sulphide zone, with the workings carrying most encouraging values. The camp of Terrell now consists of twenty-two cabins and tenst and there are twenty-zeven miners at work. Water is plentiful for domestic purposes and there is no fear that enough cannot be developed for milling purposes. The camp is situated in the lower foothils and there will be no difficlty in prosecuting work throughout the winter. -- Advertisement
1912 December 11, Reno Evening Gazette

TO PROSECUTE MAN WHO SHOT HIM IN BACK
George Flessa, Once Near Death, Lives To Appear Against Assailant
COMPANION WAS KILLED
Miner Who Worked WIth Him Slain By Enraged Claimant To Land
The untiring efforts of George Flessa, who nearly lost his life last May, when he was riddled with shot from a gun in the hands of U.B. Terrell, founder of teh camp of Terrell in Churchill, have resulted, it was reported today, in the indictment of Terrell on a charge of murder. Terrell killed Louis Carara, one of Flessa's employees, at the time he wounded Flessa. Though Terrell was arrested shortly after the shooting and made no attempt to deny that he had killed Carara, the grand jury ignored the case and failed to return an indictment. The justice of the peace before whom the case was called discharged Terrell when it was shown that the ownership of the land on which the shooting occurred was in dispute between Terrell and Flessa. Last week judge French of the district court in Fallon decided that the land rightfully belonged to Flessa, whoch was prospecting on it, and that it had been "jumped" as Terrell claimed. Flesa, who never ceased in his efforst to bring Terrell to trial, again laid his evidence before teh grand jury and an indictment was returned. According to Flessa's story of the affair, he and Carara were working on the property, on which he had staked out a claim, when Terrell, who had walked three miles with a shotgun over his shoulder to drive the men from the land, appeared and ordered them away. Flessa attempted to argue with Terrell and was shot in the back. Terrell then went to where the other man was at work and killed him. Flessa was in Sister's hospital in Reno for two months. One huundred and nicety six shot were found in his body, some of which had peirced the intestines and the kidneys. He now has entirely recoved and announces his intention of prosecuting Terrell.
1913 March 17, Reno Evening Gazette

Some more articles regarding this incident can be found in the photographs section since I loathe transcribing all that for you.

W.L. Cook a Boston mining man who owns large interests at Terrell, Nev., came in from that camp this morning. He says the camp looks good with many of the mines working full shifts. Mr. Cook is registered at the Golden.
1913 November 18, Reno Evening Gazette

TERRELL ROAD IS BAD
W. L. Cook of Terrell tells the Churchill Standard that the road from Fallon to Terrell is almost impassable at various points, owing to recent rains and that this is its usual condition whenever rain or ditch water accumulates.
1913 November 21, Reno Evening gazette

WILL IMPROVE HIGHWAY
In order to retain for Fallon the business of the camp of Terrell, the commisioners of Churchill county are being petitioned to make extensive improvements to the road between the two towns, which is now barely passable.
1913 December 23, Reno Evening Gazette

SCOTIA MINE AT TERRILL WILL RESUME WORK SOON
W. L. Cook, manager of the Scotia Mining Company, the property of whichis located at Terrill, between Schurz and Rawhide, announced this morning that it was probable that work would be resumed on the Scotia property soon. Advices from Boston, headquarters of the company, are to the effect that the directors of the company are planning the erection of a small mill at Terrill. The ore at Terrill is low grade, but well worth working if a mill is constructed at the mine. Small pockets of rich ore have been encountered, but the average is around $15 a ton. Work was stopped at the Scotia some months ago when the engine house burned to the ground.
1915 May 31, Reno Evening Gazette

RICH GOLD STRIKE REPORT IN FALLON
A sixteen inchvein of pre running $281 perton in gold has been found by V. E. Terrell of Camp Terrell, twenty-eight miles south of Falon, according to assays made here this week.If the findings are promising, Terrell will eqip the property with milling machinery. Camp Terrell has been a producer of gold and silver for a number of years, but the recent strik is beleived to be the riches in the history of mines in that section.
1922 February 17, Reno Evening Gazette

According to reports to Prohibition Director Donnelley, officers confiscated two stills at Fernley and found booze manufacturing equipment at Yerington and the mining camp of Terrell, near Schurz.
1922 August 8, Reno Evening Gazette

Must not be too busy at Terrill these days.....

WORK TO START AT GOLDBASIN
One fifteen horsepower hoist, compressor, and other power drilling equipment has been secured from a property near Camp Terrell, and work started this week moving it to the Hidden Treasure claim.
1925 October 20, Reno Eveining Gazette

Apparently the mining business income needed to be supplemented....

LIQUOR CASES OCCUPY COURT
V.V. Terrel of the Terrell mining camp near Fallon pleaded not guilty to selling liquor to the Indians and his trial was not set.
1929 March 11, Reno Evening Gazette

1930 Census shows a Kansas-born "Valney Terrill" 68 years of age "residing" at the Churchill County Jail. Cemetery records show a "Terrell, Volney Jud Brown" born 3/15/1862 and dying on 3/11/1938 and being buried in Section 39 Lot 22 Space 4 at Fallon. Since that's what's recorded on the grave stone, we're going to go with "Terrell."

None

The site now lies wholly within the boundaries of the Walker River Indian Reservation. To visit the site, get permission from the Tribal Council, which can be contacted by calling (775) 773-2306. They were pleasant and helpful when they learned what we wanted to do.

There's a lot of debris about, and various foundations and the remains of wood buildings slowly deteriorating. Some more contemporary mining activities - like the 1960's or '70's- was probably taking place here as well as what's mentioned above.