Originally, Nevada was a part of Utah and was called Carson county; and a pretty large county it was, too.

Certain of its valleys produced no end of hay, and this attracted small colonies of Mormon stock-raisers and farmers to them.

A few orthodox Americans straggled in from California, but no love was lost between the two classes of colonists.

There was little or no friendly intercourse; each party staid to itself.

The Mormons were largely in the majority, and had the additional advantage of being peculiarly under the protection of the Mormon government of the Territory.