Death came quickly and early to the new mining camp of Midas.
The first murder took place in February 1908, just a few months after the first gold discovery was reported. The victim, Thomas Bean, was buried in Colorado where his family had waited while he checked out the new find in Nevada.
A community cemetery was not needed at that point, but it soon became necessary. The 1907-1908 winter was particularly harsh, and Elko County death records report that at least six men had died by the end of April 1908. Some succumbed to pneumonia; at least two committed suicide. A cemetery became essential.
Midas residents located their cemetery in a draw southeast of the main part of town, within easy walking distance of the primary road between town and the mining district. Most importantly, the earliest part of the cemetery is located in an area that can be dug with some ease. A cemetery record has not yet been located, but county death notices indicate that the first person buried in the Midas Cemetery was Edmund R. Deakin, 32 years old, who died from pneumonia on April 10, 1908.
A search of Elko County records and Nevada newspaper articles has identified 30 people who are buried in the Midas Cemetery. Local memories, ambiguous death notices, and the clearing of brush from the site suggest that an additional 10 people may have been buried there.
A fire in the 1950s destroyed all of the wooden markers, and only three original granite markers have survived. Records suggest that the last full burial was of Louis Reymond, a 52-year-old mining engineer who died on September 21, 1932.
In 1995, Barrick Gold transferred ownership of a large parcel of land, centered around the Midas Cemetery, to Elko County. The County has authorized Friends of Midas to maintain the site. In the years since, the white picket fence was recreated; commemorative markers were installed; and the ashes of Midas residents have also found their final resting place here.
Visitors are welcome at the Midas Cemetery, a quiet and peaceful place with an exceptional view out into the nearby valleys.
Maintenance and repair work are planned for 2021. If you are interested in volunteering or providing other support, please contact Friends of Midas.
Additional information about the Midas Cemetery may be found in A Century of Enthusiasm and also at the cemetery’s page on Find A Grave. Many thanks to Larry Estes, a Midas neighbor, who has greatly enhanced that page! Larry attached individual memorials for those buried in the Midas Cemetery and added photos that he took during his visit to the cemetery. His good work has ensured that the final resting places for many Midas residents will not be forgotten.
