Jacobsville & Reese River Station
In 1860, the Pony Express established Reese River Station on the western side of Reese River. Plagued with trouble from Indians, the station was burned that summer, though a new adobe building was evidently built (it was incomplete during Sir Richard Burton's visit in October 1860). In July 1861, the Overland Mail & Stage Co. established a new station on the eastern side of the river 1½ miles away. At some point, the place became known as Jacobs' Spring after Washington Jacobs, though there is discrepency as to whether he was a stationkeeper for the Pony Express or district agent for the Overland Co. By Fall 1861, the Transcontinental Telegraph reached Jacobs' Spring and a maintenance station was constructed.
In December 1862, Lander County was created from part of Humboldt County and Jacobs' Spring - then renamed Jacobsville - was chosen as the county seat. As a result, the town quickly grew to have a population of 400 in 1863, with two hotels, three stores, and an $8400 courthouse. By the end of the year, however, rapid growth at Clifton and Austin caused Jacobsville to decline in importance, and by the end of the year the county seat was lost to Austin. Jacobsville quickly faded, and before long was abandoned entirely. A large rock foundation is all I could find at Jacobsville, while faint rock alignments mark the site of Reese River Station.
