Mining and prospecting began here in the 1890's but it wasn't until 1904 that enough low grade ore was found to generate some excitment. Activity continued until around 1915 when mining rapidly declined.
The Tokop Mining District becomes a reality
W. J. Douglass and Rob't Stewart have returned from a mining trip in southern Esmeralda. Tokop is the name of the new district exploited by them, of which much more will shortly be heard. The ledges are small but permanent, as well as rich enough in gold to pay—$30 per ton.
-Tonopah Bonanza, October 4, 1902
The booster journalism and puffery begins.
Tokop District
R.Stewart has just returned from the Tokop Mining District, which is situated in Esmeralda county, about 60 miles south of Tonopah. There is considerable activity in the district and assessment work is being done on a large number of claims. Ledges from 18 to 24 inches in width carrying as high as $30 to the ton have been discovered. The lack of water, which has to be hauled nine miles, is a great drawback to the development of the mines. Mr. Stewart expresses a strong belief that the Tokop district will be heard from next year.—Miner.
The Daily Appeal, October 7,1902
And continues
Tokop Mining Camp.
E. L. Mims has returned to Tonopah from an investigation of Tokop Mining district and is very much enthusiastic over the possibilities of this much neglected camp. Tokop is in southern Esmeralda county, about eighty-five miles south of Tonopah. It was discovered about twenty-five years ago and at that time attracted considerable attention. Owing to distance from supply and transportation points in the past it has lain dormant until the late discovery of Tonopah. Messrs. A. S. Lochrie, W. J. Douglass and Robt. Stewart, well-known prospectors and mining men of Nevada are among the first to get in the camp. They have a group of some fourteen claims adjoining and in fact surrounding the first location made by A. P. Anderson over twenty-five years ago and are prospecting and developing the same. The geological formation is granite and lime interspersed by parallel veins of gold bearing quartz ranging from small to very large ledges. A great many of these ledges can be traced on the surface for several thousand feet, the general course being east and west. Where work has been done values are obtained as high as $200 per ton. The surface showing is unquestionably the most remarkable in the West. There are at the present time over fifty ledges exposed, ranging from one to a hundred feet in width. The principal value is gold. There is an abundance of wood for fuel, and water can easily be obtained in the immediate vicinity. If the projected railroad becomes an accomplished fact this will prove one of the best mineral sections of the state, and in any event when capital becomes interested Tokop will appear amongst the meritorious camps of the age.
-Tonopah Bonanza, June 27, 1903
Easy boys! There's enough gold for everyone!
Almost a Tragedy at Tokop.
News has just been received from Tokop of a serious cutting affray which occurred there last week. It seems that an old-timer known as “Buckley the Swede” got into an altercation with an Irishman called “Con,” over the ownership of a mining claim. Knives were used with great freedom and recklessness—especially by “Con.” At last accounts the Hibernian was in possession of the claim and the Scandanavian was in bed still bleeding.—Miner.
-The Daily Appeal, July 7, 1903
The camp of Tokop begins to take shape.
The Tokop Sale.
L. L. Patrick, on behalf of himself and Eastern associates, on Tuesday paid over to Messrs. Douglas, Stewart, Harrington, O'Keefe and Lochrie the sum of $5,500, the first payment on the purchase price of $150,000 for their property, which is located at Tokop, about seventy miles south of Tonopah, in Esmeralda county. On the same day, says the Bonanza, Mr. Patrick sent over $2,000 worth of supplies from Tonopah, besides a force of eight men. Ten thousand feet of lumber was sent out from Candelaria. The company will begin work at once and as soon as accommodations are ready will increase the force.
-Walker Lake Bulletin, August 7,1903
A Considerable Force of Men Now Employed in the New Camp.
L. L. Patrick returned Monday from the Tokop district, where he had been for two weeks inaugurating work for the Tokop Mining company. He states that active development has now begun, and that soon the value of the district as a producer of gold will be proven. The company has completed the building of an office, boarding and bunk house, black-smith shop, stables, etc., and all arrangements have been made to accommodate a working force of twenty-five men. Seventeen are now employed and more will be added as soon as room can be made for them.
-Tonopah Bonanza, August 22, 1903
Let's name some streets and sell some lots!
A new town is being laid out at Tokop, near Silver Peak, Esmeralda county.
-Yerington Times, September 9, 1903
Mining activity increases, including the building of mills.
Tokop with its large mineral territory is now being opened up by two strong companies. The Tokop group under management of L. L. Patrick, and the St. Louis under Case O,Donnell, both of which are working large forces of men with flattering results. The Rattlesnake group, owned by Louis Chiatovich, has a force of men working the mine and mill steadily.
-The Silver State, September 21,1903
Tokop is forging to the front, and now that the erection of stamp mills on the properties of the Tokop Consolidated and Tokop Gold Mining Companies is an assured fact, this section is coming into the lime light.
-The Goldfield News and Weekly Tribune, May 5, 1905
TOKOP-KEYSTONE
Six men, and a 10-horse outfit loaded with camp and mine supplies left Goldfield for the Tokop Keystone mine Wednesday. A. H. McKay, who recently returned from a business trip to Pittsburg, Pa., is in charge of the property. A new vertical shaft is to be sunk a distance of 300 feet and the vein system explored at each 50-foot level as it is lowered. At a depth of 50 feet in the old workings a 5-foot body of good mill ore is showing and values are increasing with depth.
-The Goldfield News and Weekly Tribune, March 9, 1906
Advertising appears in newspaper as far away as Alabama, where a Mr. W. is ensnared by dreams of riches.
Your paper is a marvel of beauty, information and skill, and it no doubt, with many others like myself, raises the general worth of Nevada's mineral wealth as well as her high standard of her business men
. I hope to come out during the spring and if I go your paper did it
. Send me bill for year's subscription to The News
. I will now ask a favor: Write me the name of the president or manager of the Tokop Gold Mining company and if they are working or have they consolidated with any other company
. Thanking you in advance and congratulate you on your magnificent paper, I am, yours truly, G. C. W., Birmingham, Ala
.
-The Goldfield News and Weekly Tribune, January 11, 1908
Some theorize that one of the mines in this general area could be the Lost Breyfogle Mine.
Royal Flush at Tokop Has Interesting History
The Royal Flush group at Tokop, in the Gold Mountain district. What delver into the legends of "lost mines" that form part of the romantic history of Nevada has not heard of this famous group of mines that only a few months ago burst into fame through the discovery of a glory hole of high grade, the like of which had never been seen before, or since, for wonderful richness. Many were the stories that had their birth through the discovery of this wonderful deposit of gold. And then it will be remembered, came a professor of the Nevada State University, Miss J. E. Weir, who was also the secretary of the State Historical society and after visiting the scene of the find declared that she was certain that one of the mysteries of the desert for over 50 years, was a mystery no longer. She declared that the lost mine of John Breyfogle, searched for since 1864, the cause of many a daring prospector leaving his bones to bleach on the desert, was none other than the present day Royal Flush mine. To substantiate this, she showed some ancient mining tools that she had found in an abandoned tunnel on the estate, among which was a iron tamping stick used in the "black powder days" long before the invention of dynamite. All the relics showed an extreme age, and they are now hanging in the museum of the Historical society. This has become the property of the Frances Gold Mountain Mining company, whose president was Dr. Frances Williams, one of the pioneer women of Goldfield and a woman who has owned some of the biggest producers in the state. As a shrewd judge of a good mine Dr. Williams had no peer and the Frances Mohawk and other Goldfield properties were named for her. Since her death the various properties have had at their head, her son, J. P. Williams of Chicago, a business man of many years experience in that city, and it is his intention to carry out the plans of his mother and vigorously push the work of making a mine out of the Royal Flush. Recent surveys have been made which show that at a depth of 200 feet the ore will be struck and immediate work will be begun to reach that depth and turn the Royal Flush into another record breaker to be added to the many that have made this state the greatest gold producer in the world.
-The Goldfield News and Weekly Tribune, April 10, 1909
The French move in and decide to build a mill.
MOUNT VERNON CO. TO BUILD MILL AT TOKOP
The claims of the Le Champ-D'or French Gold Mining company, Ltd., at Tokop, nine miles southeast of Hornsilver, have been taken over under a bond and lease by the Mount Vernon Mining and Milling company, which is sinking a shaft to develop water for a small mill it is planned to construct. Practically all work on the claims has been done by lessees, who with their limited facilities, never reached a greater depth than 75 feet. There is estimated to be 10,000 tons of low grade, free-milling gold-silver ore exposed on the lease dumps and in the mine and, according to reports, there is little doubt that the Mount Vernon company will be successful. As soon as water has been developed in sufficient quantity a mill will be erected to treat the ore now in sight and the claims will be explored at greater depth. The shaft being sunk for water is 40 feet deep and indications are that a good flow will be developed with but slight additional depth.
-The Goldfield News and Weekly Tribune, September 20, 1919
They didn't last very long.
Loses Valuable Mining Claims—
E. Carter Edwards, Goldfield attorney, states that he plans to take possession of the claims of the Le Champ d'Or French Gold Mining Company, 30 miles south of Goldfield and near Tokop, says the Nevada Mining Press. The company, he says, owes him for assessment and other work for which he has provided funds. The property includes 17 claims at an elevation of 7100 feet about midway between Hornsilver and Bonnie Clare.—Carson Appeal.
-The Silver State, March 22, 1923