CLIFTON  UTAH

Clifton may seem like a mere extension of Gold Hill, since it is just over the hill from there, but it's history goes back way further than Gold Hill's. You might say that Gold His is an extension of Clifton.

Gold was first discovered in the Deep Creek area around Clifton around 1857, by employees of the Overland Stage Co. Major Howard Eagan, the Stage and Pony Express Superintendent stationed at Ibapah. Mining did not begin in earnest until around 1865 when silver was also found. A mining camp quickly sprung up on Clifton Flat and named Clifton.

Before 1872 all of the ore mined there had to be shipped all of the way to Stockton, the closest smelter. Large Ore wagons were employed, using the Overland trail as the main route to the smelters. In 1872 a small mill and smelter was built at Clifton. At this time Clifton was a booming camp with shops, stores, Hotels, and the usual saloons. As mining and prospecting increased in the area, mines were also established over the mountain near cane springs.

Large scale mining at Clifton continued until about 1874/74 when most of the high grade ore ran out. The area around Clifton remained idle until 1892 when gold ore was discovered at Gold Hill by Co. James P. Woodman. Woodman established the Alvarado, Cane Springs and Gold Hill Mines. After this time most of the mining activity was centered around Gold Hill.

Clifton, in the mean time remained small, with just limited mining activity thereafter. Some mines remained semi-active well into this century with a small population living nearby. But Clifton never regained the status it had in the 1870's.

The Last permanent residents to remain at Clifton that I know of were the brothers Brigham and Oliver Young. Nephews to Brigham Young. They lived in a couple of old cabins up until their deaths.

The cabin that Prospector explored was supposedly that of Oliver Young. It looks a bit different than some of the other pictures that I have seen of it though. It looks like someone in the 50's or 60's lived in it for a while and added on the little room to the side. Just recently I have heard that a Clifton Mining company was wanting to open up more modern mining operations there. . .

Hey, in looking up some of my information on Clifton I found out a little more on the iron balls mentioned earlier. Apparently they were made by the Eagle Iron Works in Salt Lake City for Clifton's mine owners. They were hollow, with a shell about an inch thick and had a flush fitting lock. They were filled with high grade ore to be shipped to the smelters to the east, and were loaded on Wagons. Apparently this method was used to ward off robberies of ore shipments. One reported robbery was reported of these Iron balls, but apparently it was unsuccessful, since after taking the balls the thieves could not open them.

Pubah

looking toward Clifton

Inside this hole is Water for the houses in this area

William  R. Sheldon

Native of NY

Died Dec 25 1889

74 years Old

born 1815