Nevada's only territorial governor, James Warren Nye, was born in New York on June 10, 1814 or 1815, the seventh of ten children. Nye was educated at home and attended Hamilton Seminary for one term. He worked as a stagecoach driver for four years before studying law. Nye passed the New York Bar exam in 1839.
Nye, a Democrat, was active in local politics and won election as Madison County District Attorney (1839) and County Judge (1840-1848). He ran for Congress in 1848 as a Free-Soil Democrat who opposed slavery in the territories. He lost to the incumbent and eventually took a position on the Metropolitan New York Police Commission; eventually becoming the commission's first president (1857-1860).
The newly-organized Republican Party fit with Nye's ideology, and he switched affiliation. In 1860, Nye campaigned for William Seward in his presidential campaign. After Abraham Lincoln received the party nomination, Nye avidly campaigned for him. Lincoln commissioned Nye as governor of Nevada Territory, created by Congress on March 2, 1861.
Among Governor Nye's goals, once he assumed his new office, were to tame the remote territory, to hasten Nevada toward admission to the Union, and to redeem his ambition to become a U.S. Senator. Nye ordered a census, organized judicial districts, called for creation of a legislative body consisting of a Council and House of Representatives, and established districts pending formation of counties.
Governor Nye also served as superintendent of Indian Affairs. In May 1862, Nye met with the principal leaders of the Northern Paiutes, including Chief Winnemucca and Numaga, to create a peace policy. Sarah Winnemucca, daughter of Chief Winnemucca and passionate advocate for the Paiute people, related in her book Life Among the Paiutes that Nye was the "only governor who ever helped my people." In October 1863, Governor Nye signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship with the Shoshone Indians at Ruby Valley.
As Nevada's territorial governor, Nye strongly supported civil rights; he was one of a handful of political leaders opposed to discriminatory legislation. He was equally outspoken in his opposition to gambling; encouraging the First Territorial Legislature to pass stringent laws to prevent gaming.
After Nevada gained statehood in 1864 the Nevada legislature elected Nye as one of Nevada's first United States Senators fulfilling his original dream. The Nevada Legislature reelected Nye in 1867.
In 1872, without a major source of financial support, Nye could not withstand the bid of Comstock millionaire John P. Jones in 1873.
1. “Myth #88: Who was the First Governor of the State of Nevada?” by Guy Rocha, Former Nevada State Archivist
2. ONE: Online Nevada Encyclopedia
3. Wikipedia
4. National Governor’s Association
So who was Nevada's first State Governor. The standard and common answer is Henry Blasdel. And although it is true he was the first elected Governor, James Nye was actually the first Governor. When Nevada became a state it took six weeks to have an election and form a new government. In that time, James W. Nye was the Governor of Nevada.
On October 31, 1864, Nye's first action as the Acting Governor of Nevada was to certify President Lincoln's proclamation declaring Nevada's statehood. Lincoln's statehood proclamation and Nye's certification was published in Nevada's newspapers beginning the following day. The certification was signed James W. Nye, Governor, and attested to by Orion Clemens, Secretary of State.
Governor Nye's principal task was to oversee the first state elections on November 8, which included electing a governor and selecting presidential electors. There were no steam railroads in Nevada in 1864 and official election results delivered by stage and other means took time to arrive in Carson City. The official canvas of the vote was completed on November 26.
The check above is made out to Harrington & Jones. If Governor Nye was important to Nevada, Harrington & Jones were too.
William P. Harrington:
William Pierce Harrington was a true California 49er. However, after three months of placer mining he settled in as a businessman ending up in Marysville.
In 1859 a party, consisting of Mr. Harrington, J. C. Fall, J. A. Paxton, Judge Mott and James Wilson, chartered a stage and visited Carson City, Virginia City, Gold Hill and other new mining camps and were impressed with the magnitude of the mineral resources of these camps.
In 1861 he lost to John Winters for a seat in the first territorial government. In 1861 he was buying and selling property in Carson City and Silver City. He bought interest in the Mexican Mine. Sometime around 1864 he left for San Francisco and became a real estate broker. In 1870 he moved to Colusa County where he put down his roots.
John H. Kinkead:
John Henry Kinkead arrived in California in 1854. In 1859 John Fall (father of Kinkead’s wife Lizzie) and John Kinkead opened a branch mercantile business in Carson City.
The official Utah and Nevada Territorial records are peppered with Kinkead’s name. A man named Eaton & Kinkead bought 50 feet in the Virginia Quartz Ledge in February of 1860. This included Gay & Dettinger, Winnamuck, Desert, Sugar Loaf, French , Allen, Mills & Halsey, and Durgin. These were all in the Devil’s Gate area. They also bought claims near Chinatown (Dayton), Galena, and Six-Mile Canyon. In February of 1860 he bought 25’ of the Mammoth Quartz Lead in the Flowery District. He continued to be a major buyer and seller.
William P. Harrington:
William Pierce Harrington was a true California 49er. However, after three months of placer mining he settled in as a businessman ending up in Marysville.
In 1859 a party, consisting of Mr. Harrington, J. C. Fall, J. A. Paxton, Judge Mott and James Wilson, chartered a stage and visited Carson City, Virginia City, Gold Hill and other new mining camps and were impressed with the magnitude of the mineral resources of these camps.
In 1861 he lost to John Winters for a seat in the first territorial government. In 1861 he was buying and selling property in Carson City and Silver City. He bought interest in the Mexican Mine. Sometime around 1864 he left for San Francisco and became a real estate broker. In 1870 he moved to Colusa County where he put down his roots.
John H. Kinkead:
John Henry Kinkead arrived in California in 1854. In 1859 John Fall (father of Kinkead’s wife Lizzie) and John Kinkead opened a branch mercantile business in Carson City.
The official Utah and Nevada Territorial records are peppered with Kinkead’s name. A man named Eaton & Kinkead bought 50 feet in the Virginia Quartz Ledge in February of 1860. This included Gay & Dettinger, Winnamuck, Desert, Sugar Loaf, French , Allen, Mills & Halsey, and Durgin. These were all in the Devil’s Gate area. They also bought claims near Chinatown (Dayton), Galena, and Six-Mile Canyon. In February of 1860 he bought 25’ of the Mammoth Quartz Lead in the Flowery District. He continued to be a major buyer and seller.
Kinkead was a the Territorial Treasurer. He was a member of both the First and Second Constitutional Conventions.
He left the state from 1867 to 1871 where he went to Alaska. He was one of the few Americans to live here while the land was being transferred from Russia to the Untied States. He has the distinction of being the first American appointed to a post in Alaska.
He returned to Nevada where he became Governor
Harrington & Kinkead:
Harrington & Kinkead (ad is from the first Nevada Territorial Directory) were connected through Mr. J. C. Fall. The result was that a partnership was formed, first under the firm name of J. C. Fall & Co., then Kincaid & Harrington, and finally Kincaid, Harrington & Co., who conducted a general merchandise business at Carson City until the fall of 1864.
On April 2, 1861 Fall, Harrington, & Kinkead bought 320 acres of land. Commonly called Smith’s Station.
On August 24, 1861 Harrington & Kinkead bought an interest in a water ditch and quart mill being constructed near Empire City on the Carson River.
In September of 1861 Harrington bought three mining claims and other properties from Kinkead.
1. “Colusa County Biographies;” California Genealogy & History Archives
2. “The Records of Carson County, Utah & Nevada Territories, 1855-1861” by Ellison
3. “History of Nevada” by Thompson & West
He left the state from 1867 to 1871 where he went to Alaska. He was one of the few Americans to live here while the land was being transferred from Russia to the Untied States. He has the distinction of being the first American appointed to a post in Alaska.
He returned to Nevada where he became Governor
Harrington & Kinkead:
Harrington & Kinkead (ad is from the first Nevada Territorial Directory) were connected through Mr. J. C. Fall. The result was that a partnership was formed, first under the firm name of J. C. Fall & Co., then Kincaid & Harrington, and finally Kincaid, Harrington & Co., who conducted a general merchandise business at Carson City until the fall of 1864.
On April 2, 1861 Fall, Harrington, & Kinkead bought 320 acres of land. Commonly called Smith’s Station.
On August 24, 1861 Harrington & Kinkead bought an interest in a water ditch and quart mill being constructed near Empire City on the Carson River.
In September of 1861 Harrington bought three mining claims and other properties from Kinkead.
1. “Colusa County Biographies;” California Genealogy & History Archives
2. “The Records of Carson County, Utah & Nevada Territories, 1855-1861” by Ellison
3. “History of Nevada” by Thompson & West