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Esmeralda, 1864, Orion Clemens
Esmeralda, Esmeralda, Nevada Territory Cover Date: September 16, 1864 This cover contained the official results of the very special election of 1864. The envelope is noted as received by Orion Clemens (see signature), Ironically, this would be one of his last official acts as the Secretary of the Nevada Territory. Orion was Mark Twain's brother (Samuel Clemens) and responsible for bringing him to Nevada. Orion would act as governor of the Territory when Territorial Governor James Nye was away on business. Esmeralda, Nevada Territory cancels are rated R-8 |
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Cover as History: Although Orion Clemens is probably best know for bringing his brother Mark Twain to Nevada, he was an important political figure in Nevada's territorial days.
Orion was born in 1825 and drifted from job to job and left behind a long series of business failures. He eventually was accepted to the bar and moved to Missouri where he campaigned for Abraham Lincoln. This lead to his appointment as Secretary in the new Territory of Nevada. He packed up his wife and brother (his personal assistant) and headed west. Orion was not important as a secretary in the Territory. But Governor Nye was not nearly enthralled with the uncivilized west and found many excuses to be away from Nevada on business. When he was gone, Orion Clemens became the acting governor. He was acting governor from December 1862 to July 1863. During this time he faced his biggest trial. Susanville was claimed by both Nevada and California and had strong supporters for both states. Elections were held and two sets of offices were filled: one from California and one from Nevada When Judge Mott went to serve his term, tempers flared. The California men tried to keep him from holding court. Sheriffs from both states formed posses and they confronted each other. Shots eventually rang out. Only the intervention of Governor Leland Sanford of California and Governor Orion Clemens of Nevada kept things from getting out of hand. They appointed a survey team to determine where Susanville lay and California claimed the city. (Ironically, Esmeralda went through the same dual citizenship and political offices until a survey team determined that city was in Nevada.) |
History of Cover: This envelope carried the official results of the special Nevada election on the first Tuesday in September as requested by President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was desperately concerned that he would need three more electoral votes in his hotly contested Presidential race with his ex-Chief of the Northern Army, General McClellan. Lincoln thought for sure he would not get the soldiers vote. But he did and won fairly easily. Still he valued the two sympathetic Nevada United State Senators when they helped pass the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery. Oh yes, the silver was very valuable also. That was the official reason given in order to make this under-populated territory a state.
So on September 7th the citizens of the Territory of Nevada voted overwhelmingly to join the United States of America. In Esmeralda County the vote was 859 to 72 in favor of statehood. Yet this vote carried in this envelope spelled the end of Orion Clemen's service to Nevada. He was not on the November ticket and would leave the state soon after the November 8th election. New seal of the new state of Nevada. 
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Post Office Dates: January 20, 1864 - February 27, 1866
This was a contested city: claimed by both California and Nevada. The post office was in Mono County from September 9, 1861 until January 20, 1864. It was transferred to Nevada after a survey team contracted by the state of California confirmed that Esmeralda was definitely within the Nevada state line. On February 27, 1866 the name was changed to Aurora, the popular name of the city by its inhabitants.
This was a contested city: claimed by both California and Nevada. The post office was in Mono County from September 9, 1861 until January 20, 1864. It was transferred to Nevada after a survey team contracted by the state of California confirmed that Esmeralda was definitely within the Nevada state line. On February 27, 1866 the name was changed to Aurora, the popular name of the city by its inhabitants.
