Robert McCracken
1990
Early explorers were followed by prospectors and miners. Settlers who saw the possibilities for agriculture and ranching in the region were not far behind them. The Ash Meadows area, a true desert oasis, was the home of many people, including early community builder "Dad" Fairbanks and some of dubious reputation, such as the legendary desert frontiersman Jack Longstreet. Discovery of borax, clay deposits, and marble and the arrival of the railroads brought new opportunity to the valley's residents around the turn of the century.
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