TYBO

John Centras

John Centras, a Slavonian, was one of the most prolific miner locators in Nevada. John used the name Centers, but signed his name Centras. It is not known where he was born but the name Kentra comes from Dubrovnik and Kentera from Boka. The distance between these towns is slight. John left few personal traces in Nevada except to report to the 1880 Federal Census taker at Grantsville that he was from Austria. He left his son, John, with Sylvester Calabota in San Francisco in 1880. Calabota reported as a Slavonian and was a member of the Slavonic Illyric Society. No record is found of John Centras past the 1880’s. He could have returned to Dalmatia.

John had many ventures throughout the mining districts:

Sclavonia: This ledge is situated between Yankee Blade Ravine and San Francisco Canyon, and was located in the early spring, but has been allowed to remain undeveloped until quite recently. John Centras, the Supt., informs us that he has started an incline, and at a depth of only 11 ft. has uncovered a ledge upwards of 8’ in width of solid quartz and specimens submitted to our inspection were really fine looking and made us wish we were the possessors of a few tons of the rock, just to by for grub this winter. (4)

4. Reese River Reveille, October 17, 1863, p. 2, Col. 2.

John Center, a former resident of Tybo, it is reported, has struck a very rich mine ten miles from Downieville. If what we hear is true, John has at last realized what he has always claimed was lying around loose for him, a bonanza, that will place him above want and keep the wolf from the door the remainder of his days. (5)

5. Tybo Sun, June 29, 1878.

First Settler and Centersville

John Centras- First Settler. Tybo is twelve miles south of Hot Creek, and about forty miles southeast of Belmont, in a mining district of the same name, which is situated on the eastern slope of the Hot Creek Mountains. Ore was discovered in 1866, and in 1870 some important locations were made. John Centers was its first settler, having made his home there in August 1866. See Thompson and West, History of Nevada (Oakland, 1881), p. 527.

Its altitude is about 6,500 feet, and it is surrounded by fine mountain scenery. It is called Centersville and is named after him. John Centras left a commendable record in early Nevada and a few firsts as a pioneer. See Tybo Sun, June 29, 1878.

Tybo

Its altitude is about 6,500 feet, and it is surrounded by fine mountain scenery.Soon after the organization of the District, a smelting furnace was built at the town, and put into operation, and in 1875 still another furnace was built, and also a twenty-stamp mill. In 1876 the town contained five stores, two blacksmith shops, numerous saloons and 1,000 inhabitants. From the opening of the mines until 1879, most of the ore worked in he District was smelted, but in that year the process of crushing and roasting was adopted, since which time the smelting furnaces have not been run. Closing them threw more than 400 men out of employment, and the town commenced declining. The present population is 100. It contains three hotels, one saloon, two restaurants, two livery stables, a post-office, and express office, an assay office and a blacksmith shop. Pneumonia is the only disease which can be called prevalent, for the whole region is remarkably healthy. The buildings are of wood and stone. The fuel supply is obtained from the mountains, at distances varying from ten to twenty miles.

The Tybo Consolidated Company has two furnaces, having a total daily capacity of eight tons, and a twenty-stamp mill. The water supply is obtained from springs, which are private property. Eureka is the most convenient railroad station, 100 miles distant, and the freight rate by team therefrom is two dollars per 100 pounds.

Tybo has a Good Templar’s Lodge, a brick school-house, 18 x 20 feet in size, with twenty-five pupils in attendance; and the taxable property of the township is valued at $200,000. In the vicinity of the town are numerous fine ranches, and about 2,000 head of horses and cattle. The Tybo Sun was started in 1876 by Mr. Ragsdale, who sold out to Wm. B. Taylor. William Love and D. M. Brannan in turn succeeded Taylor and in 1879 the paper suspended. The jail consists of a stockade, and is, fortunately, but little used. Several shooting affrays occurred at Tybo during its palmy days, resulting fatally; but the victims and the slayers were desperadoes, and little attention was paid to the matter.

The reduction mill is now working about twenty-five tons per day, which average about twenty-five dollars per ton. The formation of the district is limestone and porphyry east and west, the veins running with the formation, and dipping nearly perpendicularly. The ores are base, containing lead, iron and zinc, and seven-eights silver and one-eight gold. The records of the district are kept by George Turin. Total number of locations, 100.

John Centras left a commendable record in early Nevada and a few firsts as a pioneer. I hope he struck it rich.