Rosevear Ranch
(Shekell's Station)
Stephen and Alice Shekell arrived in White Pine County in 1870, where they set up a ranch and hotel twelve miles from Hamilton, aptly called Shekell's Station or 12-Mile House. After Mr. Shekell's death in 1886, Alice operated the station with her son from a previous marriage, Ira J. McKnight, who also operated a harness and saddle shop there from 1888 until at least 1890.
In 1903, Thomas Rosevear purchased Shekell's. Five years later, he made his home there with his new bride Emily. Both Cornish immigrants, they arrived separately to Nevada in the 1880s; Emily operated a boarding house at Hamilton where Thomas worked as a miner. About 1909, they purchased the Barnes Ranch near Preston. In 1911, a new auto road was established, passing through the ranch, which was designated part of the Lincoln Highway two years later. It was purchased by Clarence Moorman (owner of the ranch at nearby Illipah) in 1914, nevertheless it was listed in the Complete Official Road Guide of the Lincoln Highway in 1916 as Rosevear's, which stated the ranch was not open and had no accomodations. By 1924, it wasn't listed at all. Stone ruins of one building remain, which is said to have been used as a granary.
