BOTHWICK -
The
Bothwick area is located in T19N R62E NW1/4 NE1/4 Section 31.
Bothwick is said to have been an early toll road to and from areas
in Egan Basin and Butte Valley. Botha Creek runs towards Butte
Valley. The area was used for ranching and an infamous murder
took place here.
Around 1871, when Hunter sprang up
about 30 miles north of Ely, NV, it depended on supplies from the
Hilp Brothers of Mineral City. The shortest route between the two
settlements was via Botha Creek into the Steptoe Valley through
Hercules Gap. Bothwick was said to be named for William Botha
who built the toll road, stock corrals and a dugout on Botha
Creek. William Botha may have been killed by Indians and
buried near his dugout.
During World War I and the 1920's,
thirteen families moved into the area and changed the name of Botha
Creek to Bothwick. These early residents were the Piscovich, Cogan,
Carter, Dragosavic, Smith, Sly, Phillips, Miller, Kenyon, McManus,
M. T. Collins, Guy Tidball, and Chuck Kogan families. Several
bachelors like "Scotty" moved into the area to produce
moonshine. Frank Ludwig, Bill Dyer, Chris Peterson, and Pat
Toner lived here. Among the first to take up land when the Homestead
Act passed was the Bill Bradley family. Mrs. Bradley was midwife for
those who lived in the area.
