Genoa in Douglas County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Judge Daniel Webster Virgin
July 4, 1835 – August 19, 1928
Photographed By Syd Whittle, July 6, 2009
1. Judge Daniel Webster Virgin Marker
Inscription.
Judge Daniel Webster Virgin. July 4, 1835 – August 19, 1928. Served as first elected judge of Douglas County from 1864 – 66. Later on he served as District Attorney and Superintendent of Schools., While in the practice of law he was considered one of the foremost jurists of his time and was engaged in the famous case of Van Sickle vs. Haines. ,
Snowshoe Thompson Chapter 1827 , E Clampus Vitus , July 28, 1990.
Served as first elected judge of Douglas County from 1864 – 66. Later on he served as District Attorney and Superintendent of Schools.
While in the practice of law he was considered one of the foremost jurists of his time and was engaged in the famous case of Van Sickle vs. Haines.
Snowshoe Thompson Chapter 1827
E Clampus Vitus
July 28, 1990
Erected 1990 by Snowshoe Thompson Chapter 1827, E Clampus Vitus.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1795.
Location. 39° 0.296′ N, 119° 50.755′ W. Marker is in Genoa, Nevada, in Douglas County. Marker can be reached from Jacks Valley Road/Main Street (Nevada Route 206) near 5th Street. Marker is mounted on the wall of the Genoa Courthouse Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2304 Main Street, Genoa NV 89411, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Hans Meyer–Kassel (here, next to this marker); The Pony Express (a few steps from this marker); John A. “Snowshoe” Thompson (a few steps from this marker); Genoa (within
Additional commentary. 1. The Genoa Courthouse Museum - Location of Marker The Genoa Courthouse Museum displays many interesting pieces of Genoa and Douglas County History. The building served as the Courthouse and housed the Sheriff’s Office and the jail. When the County Seat was moved to Minden the building was then used as a school. In addition to the Daniel Virgin marker, a Pony Express and a Showshoe Thompson marker are also located on the grounds.
— Submitted July 12, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.
Photographed By Michael Fuess, October 10, 2020
2. Judge Daniel Webster Virgin Marker
Photographed By Syd Whittle, July 6, 2009
3. Genoa Courthouse Museum
Marker is located on building above the Pony Express Marker seen in photo.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, July 25, 2009
4. Wedding Photo of Judge and Mrs. Daniel W. Virgin
Photo on Display at the Mormon Station State Historic Park Museum.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, July 6, 2009
5. Court Room Where Judge Virgin Presided
Photographed By Syd Whittle, July 25, 2009
6. Verification Certificate of Daniel Virgin’s Election to Office of Justice of Peace
[This certificate is on display at the Mormon Station State Historic Park Museum.]
This document is signed by the first Territorial Governor James W. Nye (1861-64) and Territorial Secretary Orion Clemens, brother of Samuel Clemens, (Mark Twain).
Photographed By Syd Whittle, July 6, 2009
7. Original Genoa Jail
Here in the jail area visitors can see the original cells used from 1865 until 1916. The stove was used after the turn of the century to heat the jail room. The steel privy in the corner was used by prisoners as they contemplated a “cleaner life”. The ball & chains, each 20 inches in circumference and weighing 33 pounds, were used in the 1880s as prisoners were allowed out of their cells for exercise.
The jail was not always divided up the way it is now. Prisoners were taken out of their cells to “exercise” in the open room that is now divided into separate exhibit spaces.
Before the courthouse was restored and converted into a museum, there was a hole in the ceiling above the left-handed cell.
A prisoner had climbed up on top of the cell, when he was let out for exercise, and tried cutting an escape hole in the ceiling.
The unlucky prisoner discovered a half-inch thick steel plate above the dummy ceiling which separated the jail from the courtroom above.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, July 6, 2009
8. Douglas County Sheriffs
Photographed By Syd Whittle, July 6, 2009
9. Pony Express Exhibit
Photographed By Syd Whittle, July 6, 2009
10. Hearthstone of Home of “Snowshoe” Thompson
This is the hearthstone from the home of “Snowshoe Thompson” at Diamond Valley, Ca. Thompson’s real name was “Tom Torsteinson Rui” which he changed to ‘John A. Thompson’.
This stone is the property of Snowshoe Thompson Lodge 78, Sons of Norway, Yuba City, Ca.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, July 6, 2009
11. Old Genoa Post Office
Photographed By Syd Whittle, July 6, 2009
12. The Sheffield Bell No.19
On June 16, 1858, the families of Arnold Trimmer and Frank Walker who both traveled west to Nevada in the same wagon train arrived in Carson Valley and settled in the town of Genoa. This bell, which was sandcast in Sheffield, England in 1865 was shipped via clipper ship around the horn and up to San Francisco, thence by wagon freight over the Sierras to Genoa. Here it was planned to grace the belfry of the newly, proposed Catholic Church. On the same day that the wagonload of lumber arrived for the church, the exciting news of a rich, gold strike in California spread like wildfire through the Carson Valley and by morning of the following day there was no around capable of building the proposed church, so the leading townspeople decided to use the lumber and the bell for a much needed schoolhouse, which stood about four blocks north and west of here. Mr. Trimmer, who is one of the Carson Valley Historical Society’s trustees, attended the school as a young boy. About 1916, the original schoolhouse was vacated and all the furniture and the bell was moved here to the courthouse. The bell has been traditionally rung on Independence Day.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, July 6, 2009
13. School Room Exhibit
Photographed By Syd Whittle, July 6, 2009
14. Sign at Entrance
Credits. This page was last revised on October 14, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,548 times since then and 4 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on July 12, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 2. submitted on October 14, 2020, by Michael Fuess of Reno, Nevada. 3. submitted on July 12, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 4. submitted on July 29, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 5. submitted on July 12, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 6. submitted on July 29, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 7, 8, 9. submitted on July 12, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. submitted on July 13, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.