The Lost County
(Roop)

In January, 1854, the Utah Legislature reorganized the counties and created Carson County, embracing nearly all western Nevada. At an election held September 20, 1854, James C. Fain was elected Sheriff; Richard D. Sides, Treasurer ; H. M. Hodges and James A. Williams, Constables ; Charles D. Daggett, Prosecuting Attorney ; Nicholas Ambrosia ("Dutch Nick") and Henry Van Sickle, Justices of the Peace; Henry D. Sears, William P. Allen and James McMarlin, Selectmen. George Stiles, United States Judge of the Third Judicial District; Joseph L. Haywood, United States Marshal, and Probate Judge Orson Hyde came to western Utah to establish a stable government and to settle with commissioners from California the boundary line on the west. No satisfactory settlement was made at that time and the uncertainty caused by the indefinite line afterward produced serious trouble in Honey Lake Valley. The citizens of Honey Lake Valley did not know for many years whether they were citizens of California or Nevada. Finally they decided that they were in Roop County, Nevada, and organized as a county, electing W. H. Nalleight Sheriff. Plumas County, in California, claimed jurisdiction and sent its Sheriff to Honey Lake to serve a warrant, and by such action brought up the legal status of the residents of Honey Lake Valley. He was resisted and was compelled to call in a company of militia to aid in the service of the legal paper. The residents of the valley gathered about twenty-six fighting men and fortified themselves in a log-house on the outskirts of Susanville and waited the coming of the troops. The company from Quincy marched in, ninety strong, and took possession of a log-house within gunshot of the one held by the Honey Lakers. The militia sent out a detail to drag in a log for defensive purposes and the citizens fired, wounding one of the men quite seriously. For a couple of days there was considerable desultory firing and several men on both sides were wounded. With true Western zeal the Honey Lakers extracted some fun out of the occurrence by raising their hats carefully poised on sticks just over the ridge-pole of their log-house to attract the fire of the enemy. Several volleys were fired, but one of the jokers raised his hat a little too far and the militia saw the stick and ceased firing. A compromise was finally made and ' the militia accomplished their end. Roop County moved east and the Honey Lake passed into the Golden State. Source:history of nevada 1913 Contributed by J Rice