John H. Craycroft

John H. Craycroft for many years had been a mystery to the Craycroft/Craycraft family researchers. The group first became aware of John in the late 1990s when a link was found that spoke of his saloon in Downieville, California. For a long time that was all that was known about John. In early 2004 one of the group members took up the hunt for John H. Craycroft.

A call to the Downieville Museum and Kevel Gutman, its director, revealed that she knew of John and some of his history. She stated that he had left Downieville to return to "The States" but he never made it. She thought perhaps he wound up in Nevada but she wasn't sure. A search in Newspaper Archiveturned up a list of letters waiting for pickup in a Carson City, Nevada, newspaper in about 1861. John H. Craycroft was on the list.

Now the trail led from California to Nevada. A check of census records at Ancestry.com for Nevada in a special census taken in 1875. An entry for J.H. Craigcroft in Lander County indicated that the given age was reasonable for John and his birthplace was listed as District of Columbia. This was a strong candidate for the missing John Craycroft.

The County Clerk's Office in Battle Mountain, Nevada, now the county seat of Lander County was contacted and an inquiry made about any deeds that John may have been party to while living in Lander County. The clerk had located 20 entries in the Deed Books for John H. Craycroft and also located a death certificate for him filed in Austin, Nevada.

What follows below is a summary of what now known about John H. Craycroft, born in Maryland, moved to Ohio, then on to New Orleans en route to the gold fields of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

John H. Craycroft is thought to have been born 29 May 1820 in Bryantown, Maryland, to Clement Craycroft and Sarah Carrico. Other possible dates and places of birth are 1815 in Maryland; December, 1815 in Kentucky; circa 1817 in the District of Columbia; circa 1817, Kentucky; circa 1817, Maryland; and circa 1818 in the District of Columbia .

At some time prior to 1848 John and his family moved to Ohio. This was likely before 1830. The 1830 Census for Cincinnati, Ohio, lists a Clement Craycroff and a family composed of 2 sons, 4 daughters and a woman between 20 and 29. According to the 1852 California Census Index John was 35 years old and stated that his occupation was lumber merchant. His last residence before California was Ohio.

On 18 Dec 1848 John H. Craycroft is listed on the passenger manifest of the Steamer Falcon leaving New Orleans, Louisiana, for Chagres, Panama. The Falcon arrived there on 26 Dec 1848 and John probably crossed the Isthmus of Panama by stagecoach, crossing to the Pacific side to meet the Steamer California. From San Francisco John traveled on to Downieville, California.

In 1849, according to one account "The big saloon was owned by John Craycroft, formerly a mate on a Mississippi River steamboat, who gained most of his money by marrying a Spanish woman and making her a silent partner". Although there is no evidence supporting the statement that John was a Mississippi River mate or married to any woman at all the Craycroft Saloon is still in operation in Downieville, California today (August, 2008)

Apparently John spent Christmas, 1849, in San Francisco. According to a newspaper report: More Shooting.--The Pacific News says:--"On Thursday last officer Meredith arrested John H. Craycroft, charged with having fired two pistol shots at a Mr. Walker, with intent to kill. The difficulty occurred a few evenings since, at the 'Filarmonica,' Jackson street.--Craycroft was held to bail for his appearance before the Alcalde."

From 1849 to 1856 and possibly as late as 1861, John lived in Downieville, California . While living there John was a partner in a gold mine which is still indicated on U.S.Geological Service maps on Craycroft Ridge, about 3 or 4 miles north of Downieville. At the same time he also owned a saloon, general store, lumber mill and theater all in Downieville.

In early 1852 Sierra County, California was formed from part of Yuba County, California. On 14 June 1852 an election was held to elect the first Board of Commissioners. John Craycroft was elected to the Board at that time.

On 17 Aug 1856 John Craycroft was part of a party led by John Brewster, Surveyor General of California, to plan a route for an Immigrant Road. Members of the party also included A.P. Chapman, W.D. Noland, J.J. Bramley, E. Cady, Sol. Purdy, J. Carleton, Jos. Sargent, and J. McMurtie.

By 1861 John moved to Carson City, Nevada, where he is listed in the City Directory as a lumber Merchant. Beginning in 1863 John bought and/or sold land in Austin, Lander County, Nevada. At this time Austin was in what was called the Reese River Mining District. Here is a list of land transactions he was party to:

# 11 Apr 1863 - "G.D. Hall, John Craycroft, Richard V. Day, F.A. White, John G(illegible), Charles Marshall and Joseph E Maloney" sold to "Charles Hasnen (?), F.A. Hassy, Henry Gregory and W.P. Wa(illegible) all of the state of California" "property known as Craycroft Company on the Libby Clark Ledge" for $50.00.
# 1 June 1863 - "John Irvine of Lander County, Nevada Territory", sold J.H. Craycroft "Two hundred feet in the Semanthe Ledge Situate" for $75.00.
# 5 June 1863 - "Sylvester Barnes of Austin, Lander County, Nevada Territory", sold J.H. Craycroft "an individual interest of twenty five (25) feet in the Consolidated Manhattan Ledge Iroquois Company situated in the Reese River Mining District" for $100.00.
# 5 Sep 1863 - "John H. Craycroft of the town of Austin, Lander County Nevada Territory", sold to "Ole Torson of Nevada, Nevada County, State of California", "all the certain piece or parcel of town property situated in the town of Austin, Lander County Nevada Territory, and described on the map of the Town of Austin as Lot Number Eleven (11), in block number Twenty nine (29) North" for $250.00.
# 22 June 1863 - "F.M. Proctor of Austin, Lander County Nevada Territory" sold to "John H. Craycroft of the same place" for $60.00 "all the certain piece or parcel of town property situated in the town of Austin in said county and territory, known and marked on the map of said town as Lot Number Eleven (11), in block number Twenty nine (29)".
# 21 Sep 1863 - "John H. Craycroft of Clifton, Lander County Territory of Nevada" sold to "Peter Hopkins of Carson City Ormsby County Territory aforesaid" for $95.00 "An undivided twenty five 25 feet in the original location of the Symoon Quartz ledge in the Symoon Company."
# 9 Sep 1863 - "J.H. Craycroft of Lander County Nevada Territory" sold to "Ira A. Eaton of Yuba County State of California" for $900.00 "Twenty five feet of undivided interest of and in the Vulcan Company and Ontario Ledge District County and Territory aforesaid also twenty five feet of and in the Simon Ledge and Company District County and Territory aforesaid."
# 24 Oct 1863 - "John Craycroft of Austin Lander County Nevada Territory" sold to "E.W. Marsh of the said town county & territory" for "the sum of friendship one dollar" "An undivided interest equal twelve and one half (12 ½) feet of mining ground in the Manhattan Ledge, Gold Hill Consolidated Company, situate in the Reese River Mining District".
# 3 Nov 1863 - "John H. Craycroft of Clifton, Lander County Nevada Territory" sold to "John R. Mead (illegible) of San Francisco State of California" for $50.00 "Twenty five (25) feet in the Symoon Lode Monsoon Silver Mining Company. Twenty-five (25) feet in the San Jose Silver Mining Company."
# 13 Dec 1863 - "John H. Craycroft of County of Lander Nevada Territory" sold to Wm. McBrian for $95.00 "An undivided interest of fifty 50 feet in the Robert Emmet (?) Ledge and Company".
# 11 Nov 1864 - "C.M. Patchen, H.L. Van Dino, J. H. Craycroft all of Lander County Territory of Nevada" sold to "Asa M. Bowen of County and Territory aforesaid" for $200.00 "Six (600) feet of grounds being two hundred (200) feet from each of the said parties of the first part in the “Great Republic” Gold and Silver Mining, Water and Tunnel Company situated lying and being in the District, County and Territory above mentioned."
# 11 Nov 1864 - "C.M. Patchen, H.L. Van Dino, J. H. Craycroft all of Lander County Territory of Nevada" sold to " Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Asa M. Bowen of County and Territory aforesaid" for $500.00 "Twelve (1200) feet of mining ground in the following named ledges viz Two (200) feet from each of the said parties of the first part in the following named ledges Two hundred (200) feet in the ledge known as the Caroline and Caroline Company, Two (200) hundred feet in the ledge known as the Eveline and Eveline Company situated in the District, County and Territory above mentioned."
# 3 Aug 1865 - "R.C. Hill, B.F. Higgs, Geo. T. Terry, John Craycroft, William Phidham, H.L. Hill by his attorney in fact R.C. Hill and George Fridham" sold to W.C. Marley for $1,600.00 "All of our right, title and interests in and to the following described pieces, parcels and lots of land lying in Lander County State of Nevada, R.C. Hill deeding his entire interest being 160 acres in Survey No. 298 in Book “C” of Survey, B.F. Higgs deeding his entire interest being 160 acres in Survey No. 299 in Book "C" of Survey, Geo. T. Terry deeding his entire interest being 160 acres in Survey No. 296 in Book “C” of Survey, John Craycroft deeding his entire interest being 148 acres in Survey No. 301 in Book “C” of Survey, William Pridham deeding his entire interest being 160 acres in Survey No. 300 in Book "C" of Survey, H.L. Hill deeding by his attorney in fact R.C. Hill his entire interest being 160 acres in Survey No. 295 in Book “C” of Survey and George Pridham deeding his entire interest being (160) acres in Survey No. 297 in Book “C” of Survey and in the aggregate amounting to (1108) acres."
# 16 May 1865 - "J.F. Eddy, J.D. Hutton, J.H. Craycroft, C.H. Wagener, J.D. Woodworth and J. O. Leary all of Lander County and State of Nevada" sold to "A.F. Mitchell of City and County of San Francisco and State of California" for "the sum of friendship One Dollar" "An undivided interest equal twelve hundred (1200) feet in and to that certain claim known and located as the Bengal Ledge being the original location and more fully described in the Mining Records of the Reese River Mining District".
# 7 Sep 1865 - "S.J. Davis, Charles Wray, George T. Gorman, A. Therriat, Henry Lee and John Craycroft of Lander County State of Nevada" sold to "William T. Gorman of the City of Austin Lander County State of Nevada" for $20.00 "All of the following described Mining Ground lying and being situated in the Reese River Mining District Lander County in the State of Nevada and known upon the mining records of said District as the mine recorded as the General Rosencrans Ledge and Company, S.J. Davis conveying four hundred (400) feet and Charles Wray and George T. Gorman and A Thunat (?) and Henry Lee and John Craycroft each conveying Two hundred (200) feet hereby conveying Fourteen hundred (1400) feet."
# 7 Oct 1865 - "George W. Lenhart, Richard Godfrey, John Craycroft, A.J. Holmes and A.R. Gondolfo of Austin, Lander County Nevada" sold to John A. Brophy for $10.00 "All of undivided interests of the first parties herein on and to the following Lodes or Mining claims namely the “Brophy Ledge” Montreal G. & S. M. Co. Everglade Montreal G. & S. M. Co. Florine Ledge Montreal G. & S. M. Company, Hachusett Ledge Montreal G. & S. M. Company each of said ledges being original locations and the first parties herein original location all of the above named ledges containing One Thousand (1000) feet each reference to the mining records of the Reese River Mining District being had will more fully appear each party of the first party conveying two hundred (200) feet in each of the above named ledges."
# 7 Sep 1865 - "S.J. Davis, Charles Wray, John Craycroft, Henry Lee, George T. Gorman, and A. Therriat of Lander County State of Nevada" sold to "William F. Gorman of the City of Austin Lander County State of Nevada" for $20.00 "All of the following described Mining Ground lying and being situated in the Reese River Mining District Lander County in the State of Nevada and known upon the mining records of said District as the mine recorded as the Annie Ledge and Company, Charles Wray and S.J. Davis and Henry Lee and John Craycroft and George T. Gorman and A Therriat each conveying two hundred (200) feet hereby conveying Twelve hundred (1200) feet."
# 20 Dec 1869 - "B.B. Traxel, of Lander County, Nevada" sold to "John H. Craycroft of the same place" for $300.00 "An undivided Two Hundred (200) feet on the Semantha Ledge, commencing at the South East boundary of the claim originally located by John F(illegible) and recorded in Book P page 499 of Mining Records."
# 2 Jan 1873 - "Geo. W. Calvert of Austin Lander County State of Nevada" sold to "John H. Craycroft of the same place" for $5.00 "All of an undivided segregated interest of Three Hundred feet of in and to the Semantha Ledge situated and located on Lander Hill in the Reese River Mining District Lander County Nevada."
# 13 Sep 1881 - "John A. Barrett, Joseph A. Miller, Henry Ensign and J.H. Craycroft all of Austin Lander County Nevada" sold to "Isaac Hoffman of the same place" for $500.00 "an undivided 1/5 interest in and to the following described mining claims. Arizona Mining Claim, recorded in Book G, page 255 Reese River Mining Records, General Ledlie, Loftus, Garcellon Mining Claims recorded in Book G, page 280 Reese River Mining Records, Jamison recorded in Book G, page 293 Reese River Mining records, Perseverance, General Garfield and General Hancock claims recorded in Book G Reese River Mining records page 311 all situated on Midas Flat in said mining district in Lander County, State of Nevada."

Apparently John decided by 1880 that he needed an additional source of income besides mining. The 1880 Census for Lander County, Nevada, shows that John was living on Cedar Street on 16 June and working as a gunsmith. This was likely a profitable occupation for him as almost every miner was likely armed to defend their mining claims.

John H. Craycroft led a colorful and eventful life. Born early in the 19th century probably in Maryland he moves with his family to Ohio in the late 1820s. Nothing more is known of John until the end of 1848 when he boards the Falcon and heads for the gold fields of California. During the 12 years John lived in and around Downieville he owned the saloon, saw mill, general store and theater there. At one time, according to his ledger book he had or was owed approximately $500,000 or over $11 million in 2007 dollars. He then leaves the played out gold mines of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and follows the rush to the Reese River Mining District of north central Nevada. There he chases after the silver in the area, buying and selling many mining claims. Then sadly on 21 June 1903 John H. Craycroft died a pauper in Austin, Nevada.

But despite that there is a happy ending. People in Downieville where John, or Jack as he is known there, is still thought of kindly and considered a valuable part of the town's past. The Craycroft saloon still stands and offers friendly libation. Across the street one of the local hotels offers the Craycroft Room which overlooks John's saloon.

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