WHITE OAKS DISTRICT
The town of White Oaks began with the discovery of gold by Mexican sheepherders in the early 1850s. The sheepherders had been coming down into the White Oaks Valley for many years, when they discovered gold in the area. Soon a group of these men were making a living by panning the sands of what later became known “Baxter Gulch.” The placer mining continued for over a quarter of a century, the men working at White Oaks during the warm months of the year, then leaving to spend the winter in some larger New Mexico settlement. During this period, no permanent settlement or town was started at White Oaks; only a few cabins were built to house the men during their summer operations.
By the late 1870s many prospectors and miners had passed through the White Oaks country, yet lode gold was not discovered. It remained to be discovered only by accident, by a man who knew nothing of mining. The story of this discovery is as follows, In 1879, John Wilson escaped from a Texas jail, cut across the mountains to visit two friends, Jack Winters and Harry Baxter, who were placer mining in the White oaks country. The day after his arrival, Wilson started for the top of Baxter Mountain to obtain a view of the country through which he expected to travel. He took a pick with him and jokingly said that he was going to find a gold mine. Halfway to the summit he sat downs to rest and began to chip pieces from the rock.
Examining the chips, he found them speckled with yellow. When he returned to the cabin Winters asked Wilson if he had found his mine and Wilson passed over the chips. One glance at the rock sent Winters into the air with a yell, and Harry Baxter, awakened from a nap, became equally excited. It was now pitch dark but the three made a climb for the spot by lantern light.
the above was submitted by Donald M. Queen
Documented White Oaks Migration 1879
Press Picture for Migration Story