People of the Bullfrog District
"The land of sand and sagebrush is a land of real men. There was just as much gold in Nevada’s craggy brown hills at the beginning of time as there is today. It was men she needed – men of the pick and pan to wrest from her secret treasure vaults the yellow dust for which the world is clamoring; men of brain, men of brawn, men of courage, real argonauts."
– Bessie Beatty, Who’s Who in Nevada, 1907
The allure of gold, the promise of striking it rich, and the untamed spirit of the American West drew a diverse cast of characters to the rugged landscape of Nevada’s Bullfrog District in the early 20th century. This district, a harsh yet beautiful expanse of desert, became a stage for ambition, fortune, and sometimes, misfortune. These are the People of the Bullfrog District, individuals who left their mark on this corner of the Silver State, their stories echoing through the abandoned mines and ghost towns that remain.
This article delves into the lives of some of the key figures who shaped the People of the Bullfrog District. From the town namesake to the colorful prospectors and shrewd businessmen, each individual played a role in the district’s brief but intense boom and subsequent decline. Their tales are a testament to the enduring appeal of the American dream, the resilience of the human spirit, and the often-unpredictable nature of fortune in the Wild West.
Montillus Murray “Old Man” Beatty (??-1908): The Patriarch of Oasis Valley
Montillus Murray Beatty, affectionately known as "Old Man" Beatty, was more than just a name on a town sign. He was a pioneer, a veteran, and a family man who carved out a life in the harsh Nevada landscape. Born in Iowa, Beatty answered the call to duty in May 1861, enlisting in the Union Army’s Second Iowa Infantry Regiment. After serving with Company I, he received a discharge due to a disability, prompting a westward journey that would forever alter the course of his life.
In a bold step that defied societal norms of the time, Beatty married a full-blooded Paiute Indian woman, with whom he would raise three children. In 1896, he established a ranch in the Oasis Valley, laying the foundation for what would eventually become the town of Beatty. When the town was officially established, "Old Man" Beatty was honored by becoming its first postmaster in January 1905. Ironically, unable to read or write, his tenure was short-lived, lasting only a year. He then turned his attention to the lure of the mines. His life took a tragic turn in December 1908 when he fell from a wagon, succumbing to his injuries and leaving behind a legacy as one of the most notable People of the Bullfrog District.
Ernest L. Cross: The Quiet Partner
The discovery of the Bullfrog Mining District is inextricably linked to the partnership of Ernest L. Cross and Frank "Shorty" Harris. Cross, a newlywed described as quiet and sober, seemed an unlikely match for the flamboyant and often inebriated Harris. Yet, circumstance threw them together in the summer of 1904, and their collaboration yielded remarkable results.
On August 9, 1904, the pair struck gold, quite literally, discovering the first ore of the Bullfrog District. While Harris was busy celebrating his good fortune in the local saloons, Cross, demonstrating a more business-minded approach, partnered with J.W. McGaliard to form the Original Bullfrog Mine. He later sold his share for a substantial $25,000, allowing him and his wife to purchase a large ranch in Escondido, California. He lived a long life there, passing away in 1958, a testament to the lasting impact of his brief but significant involvement in the People of the Bullfrog District saga.
James R. Davis: The Mining Magnate with a Shady Side
James R. Davis, born in Columbus, Indiana, in 1872, embodied the entrepreneurial spirit of the mining boom. He was educated in the public schools of Indiana and Kansas. He ventured west at the young age of 17, immersing himself in the world of mining. After spending years prospecting in Arizona, California, Oregon, and Alaska, he arrived in Goldfield, Nevada, in 1904. It was there that he made his mark, discovering the Sandstorm Mine, which earned him the moniker "Sandstorm Davis."
Davis quickly forged a partnership with J.P. Loftus, and together they built a formidable empire in the mining industry. Their ventures extended beyond the Sandstorm Mine to include the Round Mountain Mining Company in Goldfield, the Great Bend Mining Company near Diamondfield, the Gold Bar Mine in the Bullfrog District, and the Nevada Hills Mining Company in Fairview. Davis also held an eighth interest in the prestigious Goldfield Hotel. However, Davis’s legacy is tarnished by his involvement in the Gold Bar Swindle, a reminder that not all those who sought fortune in the West were driven by honest means. He remains one of the more controversial People of the Bullfrog District.
Frank "Shorty" Harris (1856-1934): The Talkative Prospector
Frank "Shorty" Harris is perhaps the most recognizable name associated with the Bullfrog District. A legendary figure in Death Valley and beyond, Harris was known for his prospecting skills, his colorful personality, and his penchant for spinning tall tales. While he discovered valuable ore in both the Bullfrog District of Nevada and Harrisburg, California, named in his honor, he never quite managed to capitalize on his finds.
Instead of diligently working his claims, Harris preferred the company of fellow prospectors in the saloons, where he would regale them with stories of his exploits, often exaggerated for dramatic effect. Despite his lack of business acumen, Shorty Harris was a beloved character, a symbol of the independent spirit and the enduring allure of the Wild West. He prospected for the rest of his life and died in 1934 at the age of 78, forever etched in the annals of the People of the Bullfrog District.
J.P. Loftus (1856-??): The Partner in Crime
J.P. Loftus, born in Clinton, New York, in 1856, was the less flamboyant but equally ambitious partner of James R. Davis. After attending Amherst College, Loftus found his way to the Nevada mining camps, where he joined forces with Davis. Together, they controlled a vast network of mining operations, including those in Goldfield and the Bullfrog District.
Loftus also demonstrated an interest in other ventures, including controlling the News Publishing Company and founding the Montezuma Club in Goldfield. Like Davis, however, Loftus’s reputation is marred by his involvement in the Gold Bar Swindle, a stark reminder that the pursuit of wealth in the West often came at a price. He remains a somewhat enigmatic figure among the People of the Bullfrog District.
Andrew Jackson “Jack” Longstreet (1834-1928): The Desert Frontiersman
Andrew Jackson "Jack" Longstreet, dubbed the "Last of the Desert Frontiersmen," was a true embodiment of the rugged individualism that defined the American West. Born in Tennessee in 1834, Longstreet’s early life remains shrouded in mystery. He claimed to be a relative of Confederate General James Longstreet, to have ridden with Moseby’s Raiders during the Civil War, and even to have worked as a Pony Express rider. While the veracity of these claims remains uncertain, they contribute to the legend that surrounded him.
Longstreet arrived in Arizona and Nevada around 1880, and at the age of 40, he married a Paiute Indian woman named Fannie, learning her language and immersing himself in her culture. He ran a saloon and drug store in Sylvania in 1882. The next year, he was homesteading a tract of land a few miles south of the Moapa Indian Reservation. In 1895, Longstreet settled in Ash Meadows, building a cabin and pursuing mining and ranching. His cabin has been rebuilt and stands today within the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. He sold the cabin in 1906 and moved to the Monitor Range. There, he developed a close friendship with a rancher named Breen.
Longstreet’s life was marked by both adventure and violence. He was involved in a dispute with a neighbor that resulted in the neighbor’s death, though Longstreet was acquitted on grounds of self-defense. Later, he was implicated in the deaths of the Clifford family, though the details remain murky. Despite these controversies, Longstreet was revered in his later years as a gruff but kind old man, a living testament to the bygone era of gunslingers and pioneers. He died at the age of 94, having outlived most of his friends and enemies, and is buried in Belmont, Nevada, alongside his wife, Fannie.
Ernest Alexander “Bob” Montgomery (1863-1955): The Mining Capitalist
Ernest Alexander "Bob" Montgomery represented a different facet of the Bullfrog District’s allure: the capitalist who sought to build an empire from the ground up. A self-made man, Montgomery amassed his fortune through years of prospecting, making significant discoveries at Johnnie and Bullfrog, Nevada. He expanded his mining interests to Goldfield, Nevada, and Skidoo, California, continuing to invest in and develop mines throughout his life.
Montgomery’s success story exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit that drove the mining boom. He was a man of vision and determination, willing to take risks in pursuit of his goals. His contributions to the development of the Bullfrog District solidify his place among the People of the Bullfrog District.
The People of the Bullfrog District, a collection of dreamers, schemers, and survivors, played a vital role in shaping the history of this unique corner of Nevada. Their stories, filled with ambition, adventure, and sometimes, tragedy, continue to resonate today, reminding us of the enduring power of the American West and the human spirit.