 Luther Canyon (Fay Canyon) - Genoa, NV
N 38° 52.229 W 119° 48.565
11S E 256263 N 4306155
This Nevada Historical Marker for Luther Canyon (Fay Canyon), located south of Genoa, Nevada.
Waymark Code: WME53D
Location: Nevada, United States
Date Posted: 04/04/2012
Views: 14
This Nevada State Historical Marker is located about 10 miles south of Genoa, Nevada. It is situated on the east side of the road, along a small dirt pullout. Luther Canyon is definitely a place with an interesting past, as can be read from the marker:
LUTHER CANYON (FAY CANYON)
Luther Canyon, west of this site, takes its name from Ira M. Luther, who from 1858-1865 had a sawmill there. The house behind the marker was his home. In 1861, he was a delegate to the second Nevada Territorial Legislature. After 1865, the canyon came to be known as Horse Thief Canyon, because of the “business” of John and Lute Olds, owners of the next ranch south. Besides operating a station along the Emigrant Trail for a number of years, they rustled horses from emigrants. The animals were sent up the canyon to drift over the ridge into horse thief meadows. After resting and feeding the horses, they were driven down to Woodfords Canyon to sell to other emigrants. A prospector called Sawtooth was allegedly murdered and buried in the barn south of the Luther house. Sam Brown, a notorious bad man, was shot and killed in front of the Olds barn in 1861 by a man he threatened. “Lucky Bill” Thorington, implicated in a murder in California for which he was hanged by vigilantes in 1858, had a ranch two and a half miles to the south----and the pioneers called the school district "Fairview".
State Historical Marker No. 118 Division of Historic Preservation and Archeology Carson Valley Historical Society and Fred Dressler
Marker Title (required): Luther Canyon (Fay Canyon)
 Marker Number (If official State Marker from NV SHPO website above, otherwise leave blank): 118
 Marker Text (required): Luther Canyon, west of this site, takes its name from Ira M. Luther, who from 1858-1865 had a sawmill there. The house behind the marker was his home. In 1861, he was a delegate to the second Nevada Territorial Legislature. After 1865, the canyon came to be known as Horse Thief Canyon, because of the “business” of John and Lute Olds, owners of the next ranch south. Besides operating a station along the Emigrant Trail for a number of years, they rustled horses from emigrants. The animals were sent up the canyon to drift over the ridge into horse thief meadows. After resting and feeding the horses, they were driven down to Woodfords Canyon to sell to other emigrants. A prospector called Sawtooth was allegedly murdered and buried in the barn south of the Luther house. Sam Brown, a notorious bad man, was shot and killed in front of the Olds barn in 1861 by a man he threatened. “Lucky Bill” Thorington, implicated in a murder in California for which he was hanged by vigilantes in 1858, had a ranch two and a half miles to the south----and the pioneers called the school district "Fairview".
 County (required): Douglas
 Marker Type (required): Full Size (with blue painted mesh)
 Is Marker Damaged? (required): No
 URL - Website (optional): [Web Link]
 Other Marker Type (optional): Not listed
 Other Damage Type (optional): Not listed

|
Visit Instructions:
- The marker must be visited in order to log a Waymark
- Pictures are optional, however, if adding a picture try to include one of a different perspective (e.g. different
angle/season/lighting etc.)
- Add any personal experience or research information that would enhance the history of the marker.
- Thanks!
|