Pioche, Lincoln County, Nevada Genealogy

United States Nevada Lincoln County  Pioche

History
Pioche is the county seat for Lincoln County, Nevada. A ghost town reborn, Pioche traces it roots back to discovery of silver that was shown to William Hamblin by the Indians in 1863. Originally started as an agricultural community with families from Santa Clara Utah lead by William Hamblin the area was called Panacker. Eventually the Meadow Valley Mining District was established. In 1868 the property was purchased by Francfois L.A. Pioche. By 1870 the town was booming and estimates of 10,000 residents by 1871. Disputes over mining claims brought in hired gunman and bribes in the sheriff's office were common. All of this gave the town a notorious reputation. Many a fortune hunter is buried in one of Pioche's cemeteries. William Hamblin was poisoned to keep him from testifying in a mining court case. A fire in 1871 quickly spread though the town eventually finding a structure containing 300 barrels of blasting powder causing an explosion that killed thirteen, injured forty-seven and left most of the population homeless. By 1876 them principle mines began to close leaving the town greatly reduced by 1880. Many of the residents, including the Catholic Priest moved to Silver Reef, Utah. A slight reprise of the town came during World War II when lead and zinc was mined.
 * Pioche History

County Courthouse

 * Courthouse 181 Main Street Pioche, Nevada Phone: (775) 728-4599

Boundary Changes
In 1864 the area was part of the Utah Territory. Nevada became a state and in 1866 the boundary was revised adding this area to the eastern border of Nevada. The boundary was changed again in 1865, 1867, and 1908. In 1871 the county seat of Lincoln County was changed from Hiko to Pioche.

Cemetery

 * Boot Hill Cemetery
 * Pioche Masonic Cemetery
 * Pioche Public Cemetery

Genealogy

 * Shumway, Corinne Fullerton. Treasure in the Hills: Families of Pioche, Nevada &amp; Nearby Mines, Ranches &amp; Valleys. Pioche, Nevada: Pioche Historical Society, [2006?].

History

 * Johnson, Sandra. Boomtown Pioche, 1869-1873. [Las Vegas (Nev.): University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Dept. of History], 1974.


 * Schafer, Leo. Boot Hill: The Pioche Cemetery and the Story of the Pioche Boom. Pioche, Nevada: Book Connection, ©2008.


 * Sumner, Charles Allen. A Trip to Pioche: Being a Sketch of Recent Frontier Travel...Delivered at Dashaway Hall, August 17th, 1873. San Francisco, California: Bacon & Company, 1873.

Obituaries

 * Obituaries Published in the Pioche Daily Record 1872-1878

Societies and Libraries

 * Lincoln County Library 63 Main Street Pioche, Nevada 89043 Phone: 775-962-5244 Hours: M,T,Th 10am-3pm; W 1pm-6pm

Birth
Many of the miners left Pioche and moved to Silver Reef, Utah when the mine closed. Births published in the Pioche Newspapers could be pared with those Silver Reef Residents.
 * Early Birth Records from Pioche

Marriages

 * Marriage information may be located at the Western States Marriage Database searchable by bride or groom.

Death

 * Who's Buried in Pioche Obituaries about murders.