Frontier justice in lecture

Nevada historian Bob Ellison speaks on vigilantes and self-government in the 1850s at the Douglas County Historical Society's lecture of the month, 7 p.m. tonight, at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center.

The frontier settlers who came to Nevada before it was a state had to create their own government.

"It was a group of guys who were trying to decide how to protect themselves and their property rights - the keys they think are important for future prosperity," said Ellison. "The U.S. Constitution granted them the right to self-govern and so they did.

"Both cases - self-government and vigilantes - were what they did when they were thinking of self-rule."

Ellison deals with these subjects in his book, "Territorial Lawmen of Nevada Vol. 1."

A judge, sheriff and recorder were chosen at Mormon Station in November 1851, but vigilantes ruled for a couple of years until the Carson County Utah Territory was re-established.

"Until that government was formed, people had to protect themselves," said Ellison.

Carson Valley resident Ellison has been a teacher, deputy sheriff and was head of security at Bently Nevada. His books on the history of Carson Valley include "Long Beard," the biography of Warren Wasson, an early Genoa pioneer and Nevada's first U.S. marshal, and "First Impressions," a history of the Emigrant Trail through Carson Valley. Some of Ellison's books are available at the museum's book store.

Douglas County Historical Society hosts lectures on the second Thursday of the month at Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center, 1477 Highway 395, Gardnerville. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $3, free for historical society members. Information, 782-2555.