Family Life in Douglas County, Nevada, 1859 – 1869
Most of Isaac’s trading activites during this period were in Carson Valley, running north – south between two mountain ranges east of Lake Tahoe and the Nevada/California state line. Carson Valley, also called Long Valley or Dutch Valley, consisted of a number of villages e.g. Sheridan, Mottsville and Douglas County seat Genoa. Carson City is about 15-20 miles further north. At this time Carson City was part of the Territory of Utah. It later became part of the State of Nevada.
The map below, courtesy Christine Craigo, shows Carson Valley including Sheridan where Luther Olds’ ranch was located.
Isaac and Hattie lived in Carson Valley for some years, at least between their marriage in 1859 and the birth of their two youngest, surviving daughters, Mary Ann and Emma Jean. Mary Ann was born on the 11th of July 1862 and Emma Jean on the 9th of June 1863.
An older daughter called Marguine (Margene) was registered in the 1860 Census, age 3 months. In the 1862 Territorial Census for Douglas County, Nevada, Isaac was given as 27 years old, Harriet 18 and Mary (as written) 3 years old. They were recorded in Long Valy and Wades Valy. In the same census, Luther Olds age 32 was recorded on the Olds Ranch, with wife Mary age 23. The population of Douglas County in 1862 was 995 in all.
Harriet was only 15 years old when she became a mother, a tough situation in Carson Valley in those days but probably not unusual. And it appears that the baby girl Marguine did not survive, as there are no further records of her – no birth certificate or record of her burial. Perhaps this is not so strange – I have found no birth certificates for Mary Ann or Emma Jean either.
Isaac becomes a Landowner
In 1870 Isaac filed a land patent with the county recorder of Douglas County, Nevada, to register ownership of a plot of land. Douglas County, Nevada, is due south of Carson City and Lake Tahoe. The plot comprised 80 acres and lies right next to the Nevada/California stateline, almost opposite the townships of Markleeville and Woodfords in Alpine County on the California side of the border. See map below.
Read a transcript of Isaac’s Land Patent Carson City and more details about his real estate holdings here: IG Real Estate.