Goldfield, Esmeralda Co. Nev. Law Badges

Presented to W. A. Ingalls / By His Deputies /
Hallmarked D&R 14k.

Purchase price in 1907 was $1200. The badge was in the safe deposit box of Mrs. N. B. Mercer in Tonopah, Nevada from 1921 to 1967. In 1967 the badge was gifted to Ron Donoho, Nevada Historian and well known old west collector. William Ingalls was not the first Sheriff of Esmeralda County but he was the first Sheriff of Esmeralda County at the newly located County Seat in Goldfield.

Nevada State Journal Reno 22 Jan 1908

Reno Evening Gazette July 5 1912 p6

Goldfield News 26 Sep 1908 p4

Eureka Sentinel Apr 6 1908 p1

This hand made and engraved silver shield was first worn by Wm. A. Ingalls, the 1st Sheriff of Esmeralda County once the county seat was moved to Hawthorne, Nevada in 1893, and in Goldfield until 1907. It was worn by William B. Mercer, Stepson of Wm. Ingalls, from 1921 to 1935. William B. Mercer was the 2nd elected Sheriff of Esmeralda County at Goldfield. This badge is pictured in R. L. Wilson’s book, “The Peacemakers” on page 200 although he put the caption for the Constable badge pictured below by mistake. It is also pictured in the Time Life, The Old West series in “The Gunfighters” book on page 100.

Constable Goldfield Nevada badge, worn by “Two Gun” Charlie Benton and Claud Inman. This badge was gifted to Ron Donoho in 1967 by Mrs. N. B. Mercer of Goldfield, Nevada.

Claud C. Inman was Constable of Goldfield and also the Chief of the Goldfield Volunteer and paid fire department.

Esmeralda County Deputy Sheriff badge worn by Dutch Humble and made by L. H. Moise Sansome St. San Francisco.

Gold shooting medal presented by a Sacramento merchant Kimball & Son Co. in 1906 at the Northern California Championship shooting tournament.

Back is maker marked J. N. Phillips Sac. Phillips was a prominent jeweler. Also inscibed: Won By / Dutch Humble. Dutch was a resident of Rocklin, CA

Esmeralda County Sheriff Reward Poster for Paul Bossetti for Grand Larceny. Issued by Sheriff W. A. Ingalls and received by the San Francisco Police Department January 1911.

Presentation belt buckle, purchased as a possible fantasy creation but thought it was cute with the miniature badge on it. The original badge is pictured above and has been featured in the Time Life Collectible series book, “The Gunfighters” and in several magazine articles. As a general rule western belt buckles were made of silver in the 1900 era.

Reverse of the buckle with presentation:
To W. A. Ingalls
From His Friend
Tom Sweeney.

Presentation on reverse:
Presented To Wm. A. Ingalls
By His Deputies & Friends.
(According to Ron Donoho the deputies for Sheriff Ingalls got together and sent two Twenty Dollar Gold Coins to the jeweler so he would have Goldfield gold to make the badge.)

Dutch Humble
was a Deputy Sheriff in Esmeralda County, NV and also Butte Co. CA. He was a champion marksman and baseball player.

Esmeralda County, NV Deputy Sheriff badge made of silver with hard fired black enamel. Locally made and hallmarked by W. A. Lord, a Goldfield jeweler and inscribed on the back with the officers initials and the date 8-14-07.