Being a fourth generation Californian, I’ve always been told the generic story about my great-grandparents living almost to a hundred and that they operated a stage coach. Thanks to my brothers ex-wife Deby, here’s the real story:
Mark Erway was an early resident of Mason Valley. Young Mark had come west by ox team in 1862 with his father and brother, and together they mined in Pine Grove, a thriving mining town south of Yerington. He was married to Mary Dailey in Carson City in 1880 by Father Tourmey of the Catholic Church.
Mary was born Mary Smith, her father being Robert C. Smith, who was robbed and killed near Carson City about one week before Mary was born. Her mother was later married to Cornelius Dailey of Virginia City in 1862 by Father Manogue, and Mary assumed the name of Dailey. Mr Dailey was an architect, and designed the fourth ward school house and the Shannon house in Virginia City. Mary as a girl, attended the Virginia City convent.
In 1886, Mark, when his father died, took over the ranching interests in Mason valley. Later he secured the contract for hauling freight between Wabuska, situated at the north end of Mason Valley, and Bodie, California. Subsequently, he was engaged in freighting by contract over Kingsbury grade between Sacramento and Bodie. These were days of hardship in teaming as there were ten or twelve horses to manage with the hazards of poor roads, and in the winter the added danger of stormy weather. However, he “delivered the goods”.
Later, he was a stage driver for twenty years; first between Bodie and Yerington, and then between Pine Grove and Yerington. When Pine Grove’s mining projects were discontinued he operated his freight line between Yerington and Wabuska. Mark Erway’s genial disposition and accommodating nature won him many friends.
He was a member of the school board for several years, and he always liked music. He and his brother Benjamin often furnished music for he dances in Yerington in the 1880s and 1890’s, Mark playing the piano and Benjamin the violin.
Mark’s wife, Mary, a woman with fine ideals with respect to rearing a family, performed her duties in the home which was erected in Yerington in 1894, at the corner of Bridge and Main streets. The residence is still standing. The children, eight in number, were all born in Yerington.
One of those kids was my grandmother…
Nice history lesson. My Grandfather Grandville Thomas Norvel was a sheriff back in Kentuckey. He had his bout with the Dalton brothers. He use to tell me stories., I wish I had his picture with that handle bar mustash and badge and ten gallon cowboy hat. Sure did love my grandparents.