Alva Gould – Discoverer of the Famous Gould and Curry Mine – Legends of America
The dusty streets of Reno, Nevada, in the late 19th century, held a familiar figure: an elderly man with a weathered face and a basket overflowing with fruit. Unbeknownst to the hurried passengers buying his wares at the depot, they were supporting a man whose name was once synonymous with one of the most lucrative silver strikes in American history: Alva Gould, the original locator of the legendary Gould & Curry Mine on the Comstock Lode.
This article, originally penned by William Daugherty for the Reno Evening Gazette in 1891, delves into the life of this unsung hero, a man who tasted both the thrill of discovery and the bitterness of betrayal in the tumultuous world of Western mining.
A Life Forged in the West
Alva Gould’s story began on June 15, 1815. Like many ambitious souls of his era, he was drawn westward by the promise of fortune. In 1849, he embarked on the arduous journey across the plains, arriving in Sacramento, California, in 1850. For eight years, he toiled as a placer miner, sifting through riverbeds in search of gold.
However, the lure of silver eventually proved too strong to resist. In 1858, Gould ventured into the Nevada Territory, a land ripe with opportunity and rife with danger. It was here, on January 6, 1859, that fate intervened. Gould stumbled upon a significant silver deposit on the ground that would become the world-renowned Gould & Curry Mine.
The Discovery and the Deception
On January 22nd, Gould officially staked his claim, marking the beginning of what should have been a life-altering success story. However, the narrative took a dark turn with the arrival of a man named Curry. Described as a "mine jumper" or "floater," Curry brazenly encroached upon Gould’s claim, forcing him into a partnership.
Gould, eager to develop the mine, gathered a group of prospectors. But as the richness of the find became apparent, the partners conspired to swindle Gould out of his rightful share. He was left with nothing, a victim of greed and treachery.
Curry, on the other hand, sold his interest to Henry Meredith, who would later meet a tragic end in a battle with Native Americans at Pyramid Lake in April 1860.
Intrigue and Betrayal: The Saga Continues
The story of the Gould & Curry Mine is intertwined with the machinations of prominent figures like George Hearst, a name synonymous with mining and media empires. Hearst, privy to information from a Dutchman named Charles Dennis, who had traced "float" (loose ore) to a high ledge on the Gould & Curry location, saw an opportunity.
Hearst proposed to General Orlando Evans that he take a rock sample to Nevada City and interest Henry Meredith, John H. Bostwick, and Sam Curtis in the enterprise, with the four men agreeing to pay $4,000 for 200 feet of the claim.
Evans set off for Nevada City via the Carson Canyon Route in early December 1859. Around the same time, Meredith traveled via the Henness Pass Route for the Comstock, nearly perishing in a snowstorm. Evans had the sample assayed, revealing an astonishing $9,000 per ton. He promptly presented the proposition to Bostwick and Curtis, who agreed and sent $4,000 back to Hearst.
The following March, Evans, Curtis, and Bostwick met Hearst and Meredith in Virginia City. Hearst informed them that the price had doubled to $8,000. They paid the additional amount, but Hearst had already formed a partnership with Bill Lent and others from San Francisco. These individuals ultimately squeezed out Evans, Curtis, and Bostwick, and with Meredith’s death, he was no longer in the way.
General Evans managed to salvage $21,000 from the property, a pittance compared to its true value. Bostwick sold his interest for a mere $1,500, and Curtis received even less. Hearst and his San Francisco partners acquired the mine and subsequently bought out Len Savage and Charley Chase’s interest in the Savage Mine.
A Life of Hardship and Resilience
Alva Gould, the man who had been so unjustly wronged, remained on the Comstock until 1865. He then embarked on a nomadic existence, seeking his fortune in Montana, Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Eventually, he returned to Colfax, California, where he spent years peddling fruit. Fifteen years before the 1891 article was written, he arrived in Reno and continued his fruit business.
During the harsh winter of 1859, Gould traveled to Placerville, California, for supplies. He was snowed in, and upon his return, he found the miners on the lode on the brink of starvation and contemplating robbing Dutch Jake’s store in Johnstown. Gould immediately set out for Honey Lake to procure more supplies, showcasing his selflessness and commitment to his fellow miners.
Gould was undeniably one of the first men on the Comstock, followed by Henry Comstock and James Finney. He provided the funds to send Comstock to San Francisco with the first batch of ore for assaying. Despite his pivotal role in the Comstock’s history, Gould’s life was marked by financial hardship. As Daugherty noted, Gould was contemplating a new beginning in New Mexico, a living embodiment of Alexander Pope’s words: "Man never is, but always to be, blest."
A Legacy of Discovery and Dispossession
Alva Gould’s story is a poignant reminder of the complex and often brutal realities of the American West. He was a pioneer, a discoverer, and a victim of circumstance. While his name may not be as widely recognized as those who profited from his discovery, his contribution to the Comstock Lode’s history remains significant.
The Reno Evening Gazette’s 1891 article serves as a valuable historical document, shedding light on the life of a man who, despite his misfortunes, embodied the spirit of perseverance and resilience that defined the era.
Also See:
- Mining on the American Frontier
- Nevada Mining Tales
- Nevada – The Silver State
- Pioneers on the Nevada Frontier (Reno Evening Gazette)
About the Author: This article was written by William Daugherty for the Reno Evening Gazette in 1891. The Reno Evening Gazette was first published on October 12, 1876, and continued for 107 years. In 1977, it was merged with the Nevada State Journal and continues to exist today as the Reno Gazette-Journal. Note: The article is not verbatim, as spelling errors, minor grammatical changes, and editing have occurred for the ease of the modern reader.