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Antique Virginia City Masonic Trunk for a Comstock Miner (c.1890s)

Currency:USD Category:Western Americana Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 - 1,200.00 USD
Antique Virginia City Masonic Trunk for a Comstock Miner (c.1890s)
SOLD
250.00USDto j******l+ buyer's premium (60.00)
This item SOLD at 2016 Dec 12 @ 14:52UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
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Wood & canvas trunk inscribed on the side for W.E. Owens, Virginia City, Nev. Masonic imagery (shield and sword). MC Pettibone Manufacturing Co Uniforms. 18" x 11" x 12" William E. Owens was born about 1848 in Wales and came to Virginia City with his brother Owen at some point in the 1870s. They are not listed in the 1868 or 1873 Virginia City directories. They worked as miners. William died October 4th, 1895 from a heart condition. His brother Owen had died the year before. Both are buried in the same plot in the Silver Terrace cemetery in Virginia City. According to Sacramento Daily Union (October 13, 1879), Owen Owens was injured in a mine accident at the Julia Mine: "By an unexpected lowering of the slide in the Julia mine today, on which a air-pipe was being taken into the mine, Abe Geary had his thigh badly crushed and John Peters and Owen Owens were thrown into the hot water and scalded about their legs. They will probably all recover." According to Sept. 9, 1885 Virginia Evening Chronicle, W.E. Owens was one of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad departures for that day (along with noted jeweler M.M. Fredrick). Perhaps he took this trunk on that journey! Masonic trunks like this would hold all of the regalia and fraternal uniform items. Trunk does show signs of use (scuffs, stains). A great Nevada piece! State: Nevada City: Virginia City Date: FHWAC#: 41255