Pioche, Lincoln County, Nevada Genealogy

This is a Genealogy page for Lincoln County Seat in the State of Nevada.

Nevada

Lincoln

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
• The City of Pioche

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.

Resources

Cemetery

• Boot Hill Cemetery
• Pioche Masonic Cemetery
• Pioche Public Cemetery

Genealogy

• Shumway, Corinne Fullerton. Treasure in the Hills: Families of Pioche, Nevada & Nearby Mines, Ranches & Valleys Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library. 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

Vital Records

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.