Person:James Fenimore (3)

James was a Miner in 1850 in Utah Territory. He was an Indian Trader in 1851 in Nevada. In 1851 Nevada was part of the Utah Territory. He died in Jul 1861 in Gold Canyon, Nevada. He was buried in Dayton, Nevada. James was operating a trading station in Genoa, Nevada which was part of the Utah Territory in 1851. It was later called Mormon Station. James was named "Old Virginia/Virginny by the settlers of the Washoe because of his pride for Virginia. The town of Virginia, Nevada is named after James. William Wright who was the editor of the Virginia City "Enterprise" newspaper wrote about a meeting with a Piute Indian in Virginia City who knew James. The Indian knew James quite well and stated he had visited James to purchase some blankets and other staples. The Indian stated "Although fond of the bottle, Old Virginia was by no means a loafer. He had his sprees, but these were generally followed by seasons of great activity. He was very fond of hunting and when not engaged in mining or prospecting he was ranging the mountains and valleys in search of deer, antelope and mountain sheep. He was interested in nearly all the enterprises of the early Johnstown and Gold Hill mines, but missed being in the Ophir at the time of the discovery of silver, having sold his interest in the Six-mile Canyon digging the previous season." In July of 1861 he died by being thrown from a horse in Gold Canyon, Nevada. He had $3000 at the time of his death and had been talking of returning to Virginia.

James is credited with four other men for discovering the Comstock Lode Gold discovery which is one of the largest finds in America. (Henry Comstock, James Fenimore, Patrick Mclauglin, Peter O'Reily and Emanuel Penrod)

Grave Monumnet - Dayton NV