Click Here for Frank Campbell's Letters and Reports 1861-1872

Beautiful Walker River wetlands, Campbell Valley, Walker River Reservation, Nevada
Click Here for a BLM Map showing Campbell Valley, Campbell Ditch and Campbell Ranch (Yerington Paiute Tribe Reservation).
1861: Governor Nye and Indian Agent Warren Wasson asked Frank Campbell to go and live on the Walker River Reserve as Sub Agent with $50 per month wages..."I told them I would do it – I am waiting here now for Agent to come. I will then take a load of provisions over and stop at the Reserve. It is a good position and I mean to try and keep it."
Fort Churchill was the depot for the government issued supplies. No farming was yet underway, Campbell and the reservation residents cut and hayed the natural bunch grasses, he mentions 70 tons put up at his own expense the first year, which they were able to trade, along with some grazing privileges to the local ranchers in exchange for beef. Catastrophic flooding occured in 1861- '62 destroyed Campbell's and R.A. Washington's first crops on the reservation.
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1863 - 1864: Frank Campbell was not at Walker River Reservation during October 1863 to October 1864, he may have been drafted into the Civil War? Campbell ditch was dug in Mason Valley and he started farming upstream to better, irrigated ground in Mason valley. Charles D Lane was also ranching and prospecting in Mason Valley at this time.
Campbell and Washington's hardships were compounded, over the next 3 years the reservation received no farm equipment or government pay for the agency post. Despite it all, they kept their friendly alliance, and carried on the business of reservation farming and ranching.

Governor Nye's Secretary, Orion Clemen's 1863 Letter to Acting Indian Agent Frank Campbell,
Executive Department
Nevada Territory
Carson City May 11, 1863:
Frank Campbell Esq.
Acting Indian Agent
Walker River Reservation,
Sir yours of 20th April received. If you find it necessary to leave the Reservation
you are directed to store the moveable prperty at Fort Churchill. I obtained
Maj. McDermitt's consent while at the Fort last month.
Yours respectfully,
Orion Clemens
Acting Gov. Ex Officio Suptint.
...There was no moveable equipment other than a few tools and one government mule.

Fort Churchill State Park
1865:Wallace Report March 20, 1865, Fort Churchill Frank Campbell helps keep the peace with Lt. William Clark and the Cavalry
Frank Campbell Walker River Reservation testimony Statement taken at Fort Churchill, September, 11, 1865.
Warren Wasson Indian Agent report to joint special committee September 1865
Report by Mr. Higby Condition of the Tribes Report 1865. In this report honorable Mr. Higby mentions Frank Campbell's appointment and good character
Click here for complete text for Condition of the Indian tribes,: Report of the joint special committee, appointed under joint resolution of March 3, 1865. With an appendix by United States Congress

Buggy Race - William Sharon loses again to Alex Toponce and Frank Campbell, Virginia City 1868
1867: Alexander Toponce Reminiscences - Winter in Nevada 1867-68 stories of teamsters, trades and government contracting.
Carson City Report July1, 1867 H. G . Parker, Supt. Indian Affairs, Carson City, Nevada.

Walker River Cottonwoods