Jigger Bob
Jigger Bob was a Paiute Indian who worked for the Pyramid Lake Police. His father was from Pyramid Lake and his mother was from Gerlach.[1] However, if he was born before the founding of Gerlach, then it is more likely that his mother was from the area that was later called Gerlach.
His birth date has been reported as 1822.
In 1918, Jigger Bob was in the Indian Service Police and paid $20 per month.[2]
The 1918 Indian Census has Jigger Bob being born in 1857.[3] The 1920 census has Jigger Bob being born in 1857. In 1933, he was claiming that he was over 100 years old. He died on August 24, 1936 and is buried at Nixon.[4] However, the Nixon Cemetary Findagrave site does not list him.[5] It was reported that he lived until 114! [4] [6]
Mergen[7] repeats two stories told by Jigger Bob to Frank McCulloch and recounted in Nevada Magazine in 1947[8]. Mergen also includes a portrait of Jigger Bob by Robert Caples.
Jigger Bob vs. Jigger Bobb
There is some question as to whether his last name was Bob or Bobb. Most sources use Bob [2] [3] [1] [6] [9] [10] [11] [12] [7], though some use Bobb. [13] [14] [4]
Was Jigger his last name or first name?
The Reno 1920-21 directory lists his name as "Jigger, Robt".[15]
Why Jigger?
Websites associated with buckaroos report that a Jigger Boss was the second in command.[16]. Jigger Bob was at one time perhaps Dave Numaga's right hand man, but this could just be a coincidence.[9]
Jigger Bobb Canyon
Jigger Bobb Canyon was named for Jigger Bob.[13] In 1979, the name was determined to be Jigger Bobb Canyon, not Jigger Bob Canyon.[14]
The Sutcliffe 1957 map is the earliest map that shows Jigger Bob Canyon. [10]
Photos
There are at a few photos and drawings that mention Jigger Bob.[11] [12] [17] [7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Willard Zerbe Park, Catherine S. Fowler, Willard Z. Park's ethnographic notes on the Northern Paiute of western Nevada, 1933-1940 , Volume 1 p. xxiii. Parents and age in 1933.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 United States Civil Service Commission, "Official Register of the United States 1915 Directory," 1918.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Volume Reel 289 - Indians of North America--Census; Native American Census - Nevada (Paiute Indians): 1906-7, 1909-21," page 61.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Ruth Hermann, "The Paiutes of Pyramid Lake: A Narrative Concerning a Western Nevada Indian Tribe," 1972. Uses Jigger Bobb.
- ↑ Nixon Cemetary," Findagrave.com.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Nevada Outdoor School, "Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Profiles: Pioneers, John C. Fremont," Jigger Bob lived to be 114. This document states that Jigger Bob met Fremont and guided Fremont towards where the Truckee River empties into Pyramid Lake. However, "The expeditions of John Charles Frémont," p. 607 mentions a guide but does not name the guide. This document cites Herman1972, so there could be more information there.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Bernard Mergen, "At Pyramid Lake," p. 257-260, 2014
- ↑ Frank McCulloch, "How the Great Spearhead Came to Pyramid Lake", Nevada Magazine, August, 1947
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Nevada Outdoor School, "Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Profiles: Pioneers, Captain Dave," "Captain Dave had six men stationed about that area, Jigger Bob was among these men, although they had no arresting authority."
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Sutcliffe (1957, Rp. 1964) Map.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Nevada Historical Society Photography Collection, WA490 Photo, "Butchered Hog Mr Gerlach at right Paiute Jigger Bob from PL Indian Police c 1910"
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 University of Nevada, Reno. UNRS-P2710-124," "Lorenzo D. Creel with four men. Man to Creel's right is same man as in photo #29, 30, 31 and 34. Pyramid Lake. Nevada, 1918. [Identification supplied by Paiute elder: Jigger Bob, far right, from Big Canyon; "used to holler around" to show he was coming; Joe Mandel, far left] (See also #5112 and #5308)"
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Jigger Bobb Canyon, GNIS
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Decisions on geographic names in the United States," no.7901-8204, 1979-82. "Jigger Bobb Canyon: canyon, 10.5 km (6.8 mi.) long, heads at 39 59'00" N, 119 42'55" W, trends N to open out W of Pyramid Lake; named for a Paiute Indian reported to have been born near Pyramid Lake in 1822; Washoe Co.; Nev.; sec. 1, T 25 N, R 20 E, Mount Diablo Mer.; 40 03'37" N, 119 41'30" W. Not: Jigger Bob Canyon"
- ↑ Reno, Washoe Cty, Nevada 1920-21 City Directory Page 232 lists "Jigger, Robt, patrol".
- ↑ "Cowboys and Buckaroos - People Terms The People and the Land," retrieved 2017-02-05.
- ↑ Russ Lindsay, "Robert Cole Capes: Rooted in Nevada," Jigger Bob image (ca 1930).
- Reno Evening Gazette, "August 15, 1947"