Grubbs Wells Nevada

Grubbs Wells Nevada

Grubbs Wells Nevada Overview

Known as Camp Station for the Overland Mail Company and as Grubbs Wells for the Pony Express stop located in Eureka County, Nevada. Although I find no references so far wth the name “Camp Station” in newspapers and a lot of articles referencing Grubbs Wells

Learn more about the Pony Express: The Route, The Riders, The Ruins Left Behind.

Year Established/Founded

About July 1861

Grubbs Wells Nevada History

Historic Resource Study Pony Express National Historic Trail

The first station west of Roberts Creek was Camp Station or Grub(b)’s Well. 

Many historical sources generally agree that this station existed, but that it may not have existed until about July 1861, when it was probably built as an Overland Mail Company stage stop.

Riders probably used the station during the last few months of the Pony Express’ existence to break up the thirty-five-mile ride between Roberts Creek and Dry Creek Stations. 

No original station structures remain on the site.

In 1979, a stone-and-concrete marker with a brass Pony Express emblem stood southwest of the site, eight miles north of Highway 50.3

Timeline

• October 26, 1861 – The operations cease after the first transcontinental telegraph was established on October 24, 1861

Elevation

Unknown at this time.

Location

Situated thirteen miles southwest of Roberts Creek Station.

GPS Coordinates

N39 37 24.8 W116 28 33.4

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Photos and Videos

 

The Messiah craze through which the west has just passed revives memories of the early Indian depredations in Nevada when from the Sierras to the Wasatch, the only inhabitants were at the stations of the Pony Express Company.

The stations were usually occupied by a hostler only, whose duties were light as they were lonesome, but demanded prompt attention, as they were required to have the pony ready for the passing rider to mount without delay as soon as he rode up, regardless of the hour, day or night.

Over the lonely stretch from Ruby Valley to Reese River, was a station known as Grubb’s Wells that was reached coming west, at midnight.

On one occasion, the pony rider, a lithe and agile fellow named Reese Hawley, afterward known as a crack whip on the Overland Stage Line, rode up and found the place in silence and darkness. He had given the usual piercing “ki-yi” before reaching the station and expected the fresh horse to be in waiting, but there was no sign of life when he reached the door.

Supposing the hostler to be asleep, he dismounted, leaving the tired and foaming horse within arms reach, and opening the door, struck a match, and before the flickering flame shot up, he made a step and stumbled over the dead body of the hostler. Hastily rising and realizing the danger from the Indians who must be near, he stepped outside to mount his horse and found him gone. He at once struck out with caution and in his moccasin feet stealthily escaped in the darkness, and as rapidly as he could, made his way through the hours of darkness towards Jacobs’ Wells in the Reese River Valley, which he succeeded in reaching the next day in safety. A search and relief party from there returned the next day to Grubb’s Wells and found the dead body of the hostler scalped, and the horses stolen.

They had taken the rider’s horse during the moment he was in the house, and how he escaped was a miracle, but undoubtedly was owing to his knowledge of the Indians’ habits and his caution in retreating. 

References Used

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• Godfrey, Ph.D., Anthony, (August 1994), Historic Resource Study Pony Express National Historic Trail

Grubbs Wells Nevada