Rhoten & Co. have their arrastra in the Willow Springs district in operation and are crushing fair rock. 
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, July 31, 1880, page 69


    Enoch Rhoten, of Willow Springs, picked up a piece of quartz in his diggings the other day, from which he realized two ounces of gold. 
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, April 30, 1881, page 277


    KANE CREEK.--Democratic Times, May 14: Rhoten Bros. of Kane Creek are down 20 ft. on their ledge. The rich pay was struck at a depth of 15 ft., where the quartz is much decomposed, and full of free gold. A comparatively small amount has been crushed in an arrastra, but considerable panning out has been done, with extraordinary results. Some panfuls have yielded considerably over $100 each, one bringing $104 and another $140. 
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, May 21, 1881, page 325


    WILLOW SPRINGS.--We learn that the ore of the Rhoten ledge, in Willow Springs district, is not as rich as formerly, though still of a good quality. The company evidently struck a pocket, which seems to be worked out.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, May 28, 1881, page 341


    Rhoten Bros., of Willow Springs, have their arrastra in operation and are crushing some rich quartz.… Hayes & Magruder will soon commence getting their mines on Rogue River ready for winter.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, June 24, 1882, page 413


    NOTES.--Jacksonville Times, April 28: John Barkdull and E. Rhoten have commenced work at the big bar of Rogue River. 
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, May 5, 1883, page 309


    Rich rock is being taken out of the old John Rhoten ledge on Kane Creek. T. B. Hueston, of Thompson Creek, says the miners of that region still have plenty of water. The miners have made no extraordinary reports as yet.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, May 26, 1883, page 357


    About three tons of rock from the John Rhoten ledge on Kane Creek was crushed and prospected even better than anticipated.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, June 23, 1883, page 421


    R. Cook, who has been putting the Rhoten ledge in Willow Springs precinct in shape for Ross, Dolsen & Co., says there is a well-defined vein of quartz. 
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, September 22, 1883, page 181


    Ross & Co. have sent specimens of ore from the Rhoten ledge, in Willow Springs district, below for assay, and if the report is favorable active operations will be resumed at once.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, October 20, 1883, page 245


    Rhoten Bros., of Harris Gulch, in Willow Springs precinct, are cleaning up and expect to do fairly. They have picked up some neat pieces of gold already. 
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, April 12, 1884, page 261


    A. L. Rhoten returned from the Coeur d'Alene mines last week. He says there is no reason for this great excitement, which seems to have been gotten up in the interest of speculators. 
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, May 17, 1884, page 341


    Rhoten & Sons are taking some quartz from their ledge in Willow Springs precinct, which shows considerable free gold.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, June 28, 1884, page 437


    J. Rhoten of Willow Springs precinct showed us some fine specimens of quartz, which he had taken out of his mine last week. 
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, February 28, 1885, page 145


    An old gentleman by the name of Rhoten was seriously kicked in the abdomen last Sunday, near Gold Hill.
"Local and Personal," Rogue River Courier, Grants Pass, May 27, 1887, page 3


    W. G. Kenney has purchased a fourth interest in Klippel & Rhoten's ledge in Willow Springs precinct.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, June 9, 1888, page 369


    Rhoten & Morris, who discovered an enormously rich deposit of ore in Blackwell district, have brought about $3000 worth of gold dust to town, all of which they crushed out of a small quantity of quartz in a hand mortar. The ledge is limited and is supposed to be only a pocket. Others are of the same opinion that it may prove of permanence, however, in which event it will prove a second Gold Hill. This is the richest quartz discovery made on this coast in a long time. It has occasioned considerable excitement, and prospecting has been renewed with vigor.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, June 2, 1888, page 345


    E. Rhoten has discovered a new ledge in Willow Springs precinct, which shows considerable free gold. 
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, April 16, 1887, page 257


    John Rhoten, of Willow Springs, Jackson County, who was recently kicked by a horse, died from his injury.
"Oregon News," The Eye, Snohomish City, Washington, June 18, 1887, page 2


    Among the many attorneys who have been admitted to practice lately none are making more progress than W. H. Parker. His address to the jury in the Rhoten case this week was an excellent effort and is highly complimented by all who heard it. Many were visibly affected by his remarks in behalf of the defendant.
"Here and There," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, December 12, 1889, page 3


    The discovery of ore at the Rhoten ledge in Blackwell district, last week assaying about $800 to the ton, caused quite a breeze in mining circles.
"Mining News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, October 16, 1891, page 3


    Enoch Rhoten has also made another of his pocket finds, from which he took about $250 in one day, and two other prospectors in the same neighborhood, whose names we failed to learn, also struck a pocket from which about several hundred dollars were extracted before it was milked out.
"Mining News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, March 18, 1892, page 3


    Medford Mail: W. H. Rhoten and A. W. Sturgis are placer mining up on Jackass Creek, and are meeting with success in big chunks. Last week they took out 68 ounces of clear gold from their flume, as the result of a two months' run. They have not made their cleanup yet, nor will they do so as long as the water supply holds out, but when they do rich returns are expected.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, April 28, 1894, page 270


    E. Rhoten, the well-known and most successful miner, is again in the hills and closing up rapidly on a rich trace. When Enoch gets a trace of the hidden treasure he never stops to eat or sleep until the game is bagged.
Gold Hill Miner, May 3, 1895, quoted in the Gold Hill News, June 25, 1910, page 1


    Perry Knotts and Ed. Rhoten will leave Monday for Josephine County on a prospecting expedition, and expect to be gone all summer.
"Kanes Creek Items," Medford Mail, June 21, 1901, page 5


    Perry Knotts and Ed. Rhoten have returned home from Del Norte County, Calif., where they have been engaged in prospecting for Dr. C. R. Ray.
"Kanes Creek Items," Medford Mail, August 2, 1901, page 3


    Ed Rhoten and Ed. Swinden are prospecting on Blackwell hill and are meeting with good success.
"Kanes Creek Items," Medford Mail, September 27, 1901, page 5


    Mrs. Al. Boggs and children, of Hornbrook, Calif., came over last week to visit her mother, Mrs. Rhoten, and other relatives.
"Kanes Creek Items," Medford Mail, November 22, 1901, page 5


    Ed. Rhoten, who has been prospecting on Applegate, came home to spend the holidays.
"Kanes Creek Items," Medford Mail, January 3, 1902, page 5


    Mrs. E. Rhoten, who has been ill, is improving, we are glad to say.
"Kanes Creek Items," Medford Mail, January 24, 1902, page 5


    Misses Nora and May Gale, who have been attending the Medford public school this winter, are home on a visit to their mother, Mrs. E. Rhoten.
"Kanes Creek Items," Medford Mail, June 27, 1902, page 5


    A center of interest at the present time is the Alice mine on Kanes Creek (see map). This property was found about twenty years ago by Enoch Rhoten, who took out a lot of free gold by means of an arrastra. The property was bought from the Rhoten estate by Morton Lindley in 1893 and four years later it was bonded to John R. Mitchell, a prominent Colorado man, interested with an English company known as the Gold Key Syndicate. This company had plans formulated and contracts ready for the construction of a big electric power plant on Rogue River about opposite Gold Hill when the South African war broke out and so affected interests of the company elsewhere that the plans had to be given up. A carload shipment of seventeen tons to Selby made by Mitchell in 1898 gave returns of one ounce six pennyweights gold per ton.
    It is a large ledge. Taken through its total width it will constitute a forty-foot body of low-grade ore, with the values occasionally running quite high. A crosscut at the bottom of the winze and representing the lowest point in the mine will average better than seven dollars for a width of thirteen and one-half feet. This winze is from the ninety-foot level and is itself forty feet deep. The tunneling on the property totals over five hundred feet.
    A quartet of Eastern Oregon men last fall took hold of the property. Their experience with Eastern Oregon ore enabled them to see an opportunity in the Alice that was going unappreciated by other men, and they are today adding a mill and cyanide plant of fifteen or twenty tons daily capacity. The mill, which is of the new Ideal type, is an experiment with them, but since they are not men of a hidebound, non-progressive type, and, moreover, since this particular experiment happens to be costing them nothing, as they merely removed the mill from a neighboring property, they are quite willing to find out what the Ideal can do for itself on this particular ore. C. R. Townsend, an experienced assayer and cyanide man, is the managing partner, and Mr. M. J. Roelsma will have charge of the mill.
Mineral Wealth, Redding, August 1, 1904, pages 28-29


    R. F. Swinden & Son and J. E. Rhoten, who have a lease on the North and South mines belonging to the Condor Water & Power Company, recently erected a 5-stamp mill for handling the ores of those mines. Three men are kept at work on the vein, which averages 14 inches in width, carrying good values.
"Southern Oregon Mintes, Mineral Wealth, Redding, February 1, 1905, page 9


    Dr. Kelsey this week performed a slight operation upon the arm of E. W. Rhoten. During the past winter Mr. Rhoten broke one of the bones of his elbow, and of late it has been giving him considerable trouble. He consulted Dr. Kelsey, who performed the operation with successful results.
Gold Hill News, August 3, 1906, quoted in Gold Hill News, August 4, 1932, page 4


    Perry Knotts and Ed Rhoten left on Saturday for Prospect, where they will hunt and prospect for a week or ten days.
    Mrs. John Rhoten was the guest of Mrs. Higinbotham several days of last week.
"Kanes Creek Items," Medford Mail, August 24, 1906, page 3


    Wm. Rhoten, who is six feet six and who is working for Wm. Lewis on his Kanes Creek ranch, went to Medford on business Thursday. Mr. Rhoten is not the longest thing on Kanes Creek. He killed a cougar not long ago that measured fourteen feet from tip to tip.
"Local Notes," Gold Hill News, December 24, 1910, page 5


    J. E. Rhoten sustained a fracture of the left shoulder Thursday afternoon by falling from a reservoir on which he was working at Dr. Ray's placer mine, three miles north of Gold Hill, formerly owned and operated by J. W. Hays. He slipped and fell from a scaffold a distance of about eight feet, alighting on his neck and shoulder. He got up and walked to where other men were working. A rig was procured and Mr. Rhoten was brought to A. J. Olsen's residence in Gold Hill, where the fracture was reduced by Drs. Smith and Loughbridge. The patient is resting easily and will probably be out as soon as usual in such cases.
"Local Notes," Gold Hill News, January 14, 1911, page 5


    Enoch Rhoten, celebrated Kanes Creek prospector, is now a resident of Watkins in the Applegate country, where he will shortly open a store. He was in Gold Hill looking after business matters Monday.
"Local News Notes," Gold Hill News, March 16, 1912, page 5


    J. E. Rhoten came in from Galls Creek, where he is operating the Ray mine on the Galls Creek-Foots Creek divide, bearing samples of ore that are estimated to run $50 to the ton in free-milling gold. Mr. Rhoten reports a considerable quantity of ore of this quality in sight, and is congratulating himself upon the possession of a lease from the Ray company, owners of the property. The Ray mine adjoins the line of the Red Oak mine, formerly owned by J. H. Beeman, of this city, and it is the general belief of the mining men who are familiar with the location of both properties and the character of the Red Oak ore that the vein now being worked by Mr. Rhoten is a continuation of the Red Oak location. The latter property, however, has never exceeded a value of $20. It is now the property of Milo P. Ward, of High Line Ditch fame. Much ore of lesser value is also in sight at the Ray mine, the $50 variety being merely the core of the vein, and not over fourteen inches in width. Several tons of the high-grade ore are now upon the dump.
"Local News Notes," Gold Hill News, February 22, 1913, page 3


    Born:--To Mr. and Mrs. Al Rhoten, of Kanes Creek, on Sunday, September 21st, a daughter.
"Local News Notes," Gold Hill News, September 27, 1913, page 3


    Mrs. Ed Rhoten went to Medford Saturday, summoned by the illness of her sister, Miss Capitola Swinden, at the home of her mother in that city.
"Local News Notes," Gold Hill News, March 21, 1914, page 3


    Grandma Rhoten, mother of the famous clan of pocket hunters, and now comparatively young at 89 years, took her first automobile ride with Ralph Darling on Sunday. She has been living at the home of her son, Al, near Tolo, and is now the guest of her daughter, Mrs. Boggis, of Kanes Creek.
"Local News Notes," Gold Hill News, September 12, 1914, page 3


    En Rhoten and John Knox, Kanes Creek miners, were arrested Wednesday evening by Sheriff Singler, who apprehended the men on a special trip to this locality. The specific charge against them was uttering of threats against a neighbor woman on the creek, whose home they are alleged to have entered while under the influence of liquor. Both were arraigned in justice court at Medford yesterday morning to answer the charge. A fine of $25 was imposed.
"Local News Notes," Gold Hill News, March 27, 1915, page 3


    The Kanes Creek trouble which carried the participants into justice court at Medford last week is reported to have been but half told. Enoch Rhoten and John Knotts, prospectors of this district, were accused of making threats against Mrs. Thomas Fennell, a widow woman residing on the creek. They were accordingly fined for disorderly conduct. Their version of the affair is that Mrs. Fennell engaged them to kill and dress some hogs for her, promising them a portion of the pork as recompense. Upon finishing the job they made demand for the agreed share and were refused. Followed in due course the squabble that enlivened local gossip several days last week. Meantime the prospectors are shy their "grubstake"--or pork steak, if you choose--as well as the amount of the fine imposed.
"Local News Notes," Gold Hill News, April 3, 1915, page 3


    To Southern Oregon and the Gold Hill district has come a change almost as great as that which greeted the returning Rip Van Winkle, since Frank Coen threw up his job with Thomas Chavner and left for California--over forty-three years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Coen [Simeon L. "Frank" Coen] are now the guests of Kanes Creek friends
and relatives. Mrs. Coen is a daughter of Grandma Rhoten and sister of Mrs. Emma Boggis.
    Back to the home of their youth, for the first visit in almost half a century, came the Coens from Seattle, arriving Wednesday morning. While waiting for a conveyance to take them "out on the Creek," Mr. Coen became reminiscent.
    "Over there somewheres," he waved his hand to the river, "used to be the town of Dardanelles. There weren't no Gold Hill then, son; I should say not! Forty-three years ago I plowed for Tom Chavner just about where we're standing."
    Again he faced the river and pointed a wavering digit. "About over there was Tom Chavner's home place. I worked for him. Is he here yet, or what?" Bystanders told him of the pioneer's passing, years ago. Coen shook his head slowly, and turned to greet Abe Crabtree, who remembered him well.
    Since their departure in the days of long since, Mr. and Mrs. Coen have lived in California, Montana and Idaho, and for the past ten years in Seattle. Mr. Coen was asked what business he followed in the Washington metropolis. He fixed his inquisitor with mildly suspicious gaze, then rallied to the occasion.
    "O, real estate, real estate," he replied, "and some building. We've done very well."
    His wife cut in, her eyes twinkling. "Why don't you tell him that you're a bricklayer?" she queried.
    Mr. Coen wears a G.A.R. button. He proved in this emergency that he remembers his strategy.
    "Tm wondering most," he said, half to himself, "whether Grandma Rhoten will know the 'black-haired boy,' as she used to call me.'" The thatch of the returned wanderer is silvered.
    They will visit in this vicinity for several weeks, renewing old acquaintances and recalling old times.
Gold Hill News, June 12, 1915, page 1




    Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Coen [Simeon L. Coen] of Seattle, Washington, who resided in the valley forty-three years ago, were in town Monday morning and made a short visit in the editorial parlor of the Post.
    Mr. Coen lived in Rogue River Valley for a period of three years in the early seventies, marrying a Jackson County girl, a daughter of the late John Rhoten who resided in Sams Valley, and he and his wife are now spending a few weeks with relatives and friends in the vicinity of Gold Hill.
    Mr. Coen remarked that they were "glad to visit old scenes and to greet old friends; that they have found a number whose faces were familiar and looked good, but that they find many changes have taken place during their absence; that many old farms have given place to fine orchards and that many commodious and handsome residences have been built on what was waste land forty-three years ago. A few old farms look familiar, one of which is the Granville Sears place, where the same old house, smokehouse and well that were used in 1870 are still in use today.
    "It saddens our hearts to find that many of the good old neighbors of forty years ago, among whom we remember Thos. Beall, Ish, Hanley, Ross Chambers, Granville Sears, Uncle Tom Chavner and many of the good people of Jacksonville, have passed to the Great Beyond, from which there is no return.
    "Some of our friends may be interested in a little of our history: After our marriage we moved first to California, then to Montana, thence to Spokane, and later to Seattle and in each instance was fortunate in a financial way, having finally acquired what to us is a snug fortune, besides having reared a family of ten children. I wish to say that in our travels we have found no place that appeals to us as a home like the beautiful little city of Jacksonville, and if we are spared we hope to meet our friends again."
Jacksonville Post, June 19, 1915, page 1


    "The only way to make a visit that you know you haven't time to make, or money, or something else, is to make the visit anyhow.'' Thus says Samuel [sic] Coen, and he should know, for he and his good wife have just concluded a visit that they had been putting off for nearly half a century.
    During their stay with relatives at the old home on Kanes Creek the Coens renewed many of the friendships of their youth, and for a fortnight have lived more in the golden past than in the present.
    They went to the cabin they knew in the '60s. Hand-hewn timber and sturdy joist had vanished as sustenance for the dwarf oaks and manzanita. A few tumbled stones marked the fireplace. "But the old spring--the best one ever was--it was there!'' triumphed Mr. Coen. "I drank from that spring, as I have many a day long since, and looked across the valley to the hills. They seemed just the same as they used to. It made a fellow feel like crying, without being sorry at all.''
    Whereupon Mr. Coen presented the News reporter with the following interview, and bade him goodbye. It is a document of the heart, and we are as pleased to publish it as--why, more so than if it were the personal recollections of John Rockefeller:
    "Yes, the time has arrived when the duties of our Seattle home compel us to say goodbye to our many dear friends, residents of Gold Hill and vicinity, and the many friends that we have made since our arrival some three weeks since. 'Tis a hard word to say, but since the best of friends must part, it is with many regrets that we say it. We have certainly had a very enjoyable time with the many dear friends that we knew forty-three years since. It is a sad fact, nevertheless a true one, that we have not had the pleasure of meeting very many of our old-time acquaintances for whom we had formed a very warm and sincere attachment. Namely, Colonel Ross, Ish, Hanley and Thomas and Vincent Beall; especially the late Thomas Chavner. With him we had a very special acquaintance and learned to regard each other as two friends. We have been pleased to meet with Mike Chavner, then a boy of nine; Peter, six years of age, and Mary and Margaret, the two younger, with whom we have had a very pleasant visit, and would like to see them again were it possible; but circumstances will not permit the visit, hence our return to our Seattle home, where we have already spent many happy moments of our life.
    "Now just a word as to this beautiful valley that forty years ago, from present indications, was simply in its infancy. I have traveled quite extensively since leaving here, but there is no place that appeals to me like the grand and fertile country that it is. It seems to me one veritable garden of fruits--fruits of all kinds, and vegetables second to none in any place or country that has been my privilege to see. Were conditions and circumstances somewhat different I certainly would take great pleasure in the way of returning to this beautiful valley and making it my home the remaining days of life.
    "Now, Mr. Editor, I certainly wish you success in the enterprise [upon] which you have embarked, together with many happy days and good fortune otherwise."
Gold Hill News, July 3, 1915, page 1


    For a great many years the two Rhoten brothers have been famous as "pocket" hunters, and finders, as they have brought in many pockets, some of which ran well up into the thousands of dollars. The answer to "what are you doing now" may be easily answered when we spill the beans on Al Rhoten by saying that he is reported as making mysterious trips into the mountains and that he this week exhibited splendid specimens of nice fresh pocket gold.
"Local Happenings," Gold Hill News, February 18, 1926, page 1


    Work will start soon at the site of the old Rhoten pocket, where Henry Ray will have charge of the drilling of 500 feet of tunnel. Mr. Ray expects to have two shifts working on the property in the near future.
"Local Happenings," Gold Hill News, November 28, 1929, page 5


    A new portable-type compressor was unloaded at the local freight depot this week and transported to the Revenue mine, commonly known as the old Rhoten pocket on Kanes Creek, from which many thousands of dollars were taken by the original discoverers. The present owners anticipate developing the mine on a commercial basis, and all plans are being made to ascertain the extent of the mineral values contained on that property. The work on the property is being done under the supervision of Henry Ray, who until a short time ago has been employed at the Sylvanite mine near this city. The Revenue is being developed by Seattle capital.
Gold Hill News, December 5, 1929, page 1


    Enos M. Rhoten, 79, known in all Southern Oregon for the rich strikes he had made as a prospector and pocket hunter, died at his Kanes Creek home near here Saturday. Death was due to apoplexy.
    Rhoten is said to have originated the art of hunting gold pockets in the days of the gold rush and is credited with taking more gold out of the hills of Jackson County than any other individual. His process was followed by others, but none were so proficient as he. He took $150,000 out of one pocket on the head of Kanes Creek, which is considered the largest individual pocket ever uncovered here.
    Rhoten always spent his money in true miner fashion. He uncovered a pocket valued at $50,000 one time, according to the old-timers, and with the money bought two saloons, one at God Hill and one at Grants Pass. He kept open house and gave whiskey and beer to all who cared to drink. His $50,000 lasted about three weeks, and when the money was gone he returned to the mountains, there to mine more gold.
    Known by every old-timer in this section, Rhoten's passing is regretted by many. By his death one of the most picturesque characters of the section is gone, and many a tale of the early days dies with him.
    Besides being the outstanding miner of Jackson County, Rhoten was in the Indian wars here and received a pension from the government for his services, and in his last days this was his main support, for his generosity soon lost him the sums he realized in his mining.
    He is survived by his wife, Nancy Ellen Rhoten, and one daughter, Ida LeClair of Gold Hill. He also leaves three brothers, Abraham and Albert Rhoten of Gold Hill and William Rhoten of Yreka, and one sister, Mrs. Al Boggis of Gold Hill. He was born in Appanoose County, Iowa, in 1852 and came to Jackson County 60 years ago.
    Funeral services were conducted by Reverend W. H. Eaton at the Conger chapel at 1:30 Tuesday. Interment will be at the Gold Hill cemetery.
Gold Hill News, December 17, 1931, page 1


    Mountainside and river bed surrendered to him vast sums of gold during his 60 years of mining, but death yesterday robbed him of little in material wealth. For Enos M. Rhoten, 79, known to the Southern Oregon mining world as the father of pocket hunters, was a very generous man.
    He died Saturday morning at his home on Kane Creek from apoplexy, ending one of the most romantic careers growing out of the gold days in Jackson County.
    He found his first gold in the amount of $150, when he was just seven years old. He continued to find it for the next 60 years, and in his findings were some of the richest mines in Southern Oregon, one of them producing $150,000.
    His gold went as easily as it came. At one time, he is said to have owned three saloons in Jackson County. Over each bar free whiskey was passed to good drinkers, but never to be taken through the doors of the saloon.
    Mr. Rhoten was born in Appanoose County, Iowa. And came from his birthplace to Southern Oregon. He became, when but a youth, identified with mining activities of this region. When mining history was to be made, he was there to make it.
    He was also a veteran of the Indian war, playing an equally colorful role in that phase of the early development of the country.
    As a veteran, he was pensioned until his death.
    Mr. Rhoten leaves his wife, Nancy Ellen Rhoten, and one daughter, Ida LeClair of Gold Hill. Also three brothers and one sister, Abraham and Albert Rhoten and Mrs. Al Boggis of Gold Hill and William Rhoten of Yreka.
    Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. W. H. Eaton at the Conger Chapel at 1:30 Tuesday afternoon. Interment in Gold Hill cemetery.
Medford Mail Tribune, December 13, 1931, page 1


    While a cold December rain splashed the roof and porch of his little frame cabin, adding to the darkness of the Kane Creek canyon below, Al Rhoten paused, a few nights ago, in the preparation of supper to review for inquisitive reporters a few incidents in the life of his brother, Enos, king of pocket hunters, who died last week a poor man in a cabin just over the hill.
    Bending his giant form over the little stove in the corner of the kitchen, he placed a skillet of pan bread back on the lid, then turned with tear-dimmed eyes to answer questions.
    "Yes, Enic and I mined a lot together. Right in these very hills," he leaned forward a trifle to accommodate a weakness in hearing, his head still failing by only a hand's breadth to touch the smoke-stained ceiling. "We took gold from Kane creek, Galls Creek, Sardine Creek, Foots Creek, following it up the hill."
    "The amount, oh, I couldn't say exactly. It was up in the thousands. The richest pocket yielded anyway $100,000. We found that on Kanes Creek in 1905." Where the money went the tall blond man failed to mention, apparently unmindful of the obvious lack of it in the open cabin.
    "Enic found his richest pocket before that on Gold Hill. He got about $17,000 out. He always panned until he got the biggest."
    In a cloud of smoke the smell of burned bacon suddenly permeated the cabin. The old miner turned back to the stove for a second.
    "Your meal will be spoiled," the reporter apologized.
    "If it is, we'll cook another. There's plenty," a kindly smile spread over his large upper jaw, slightly shortened by a blond mustache. The miner pushed aside a dish of boiled potatoes, obviously prepared for frying.
    "We used to start out, oh, just any time of the day we felt like it with pan, pick and shovel," he continued, "we'd go where we had seen color, dig a little hole, then follow it up the hill 'til we came to the pocket," he described the system originated by his brother and copied by practically every miner in Southern Oregon.
    "Did anybody ever high grade your gold?" he was asked.
    "If they did, we didn't miss it," he answered, refusing to give credit to the many stories told by early settlers of thefts from the Rhoten pockets.
    "There's lots more gold in the ground," he added, "and I'm going to get it, after while." His gray eyes clouded again, as he gazed out into the rain. The voice of his 16-year-old son could be heard, rambling on with another story of "Enos" to the good listener, leaning on the porch railing, "built to keep the goat out."
    Questioned about Enos Rhoten''s first find. when he was seven years old, Al took up his story again.
    "Yes, he was going for the cows, when he found that pocket. It was on Blackwell Hill. He saw color and went back to dig. He took out about $150. That was before my time. I'm still in my sixties. Enic was past 79.
    "He never complained before he died. He was sick three years. Just couldn't get out of bed. Old age. I guess. He lived right over there." He pointed from the cabin toward the dim light, shining out on the neighboring hill.
    "Yes, he liked to play cards," he admitted when questioned, making no mention, however, of the days in Toney Olson's saloon, or the purchase of the Grants Pass bar for $50,000, told by fellow miners. "No, never played baseball, except when a kid at school. He got his education in Iowa, before he came here with our folks. They crossed the plains by ox team in '59."
    Asked if his father mined too, Mr. Rhoten replied: "After he came to Southern Oregon. We all did. We've taken lots of gold from these hills."
    Telling of the part his brother, Enos, played in the Indian wars. he said: "He got shot once, right here," he lifted his hand to his great chest. "The bullet lodged in a rib. It was still there when he died. I felt it. He was only 18 when the war came. I was too young. If I hadn't been, I sure would have gone."
    "He lived on Kane Creek 50 years. His widow's still over there, and his daughter, Ida. It's a pretty bad trip though, at night. You'd better wait 'til daylight," he objected, as the group left the cabin to begin the steep descent down the slippery road to the car waiting a half-mile below. No "color" could be seen in the deep mud of the dooryard, nor one object to reflect passage of the Rhoten brothers' gold.
Medford Mail Tribune, December 21, 1931, page 2


    Dan Bowerman, of Medford, Oregon, former fellow-sufferer with Cad on one of that city's morning dailies, has written interestingly of a gold hunter in his locality. We pass it on to you.
    By his peculiar sort of genius, Enos Rhoten won--and spent--fortune after fortune.
    But he never thought that the gold of Jackson County would all be found, and he died in poverty the other day.
    When he was 7 years old--that was 77 years ago--Enos Rhoten found a rock with a hole in it. He thrust his hand into the hole. He pulled out several pieces of blackish yellow rock. They were gold nuggets worth $150, and Rhoten had found his life's work.
    He became the peer of pocket hunters.
    There are more ways of finding gold than there are of skinning the proverbial cat. The secret way that Enos Rhoten brought to high perfection is the most peculiar of all.
    Not for him, or for the other "pocket hunters," was the labor of panning, of cradling, or of following ore veins with tunnels. Rhoten didn't even look into rock fissures in creek beds at low water, to scoop out the gold dust that had settled there during high water.
    He took his fortunes out of pockets. How he found them was his secret.
    By some uncanny sense, he would trek the hills until he found nuggets or rich gold in rotting quartz, hidden in "pockets" in rock, or under the surface of the ground. The gold was in the "pocket." He took it out. That's all there was to it.
    How the gold got there was something that bothered Enos not at all. His private theory was that it "just grew."
    Most pocket hunters, in the days when millions were being taken at Gold Hill, at Eight-Dollar Mountain, at Sailor Diggins and on Jackass Creek, carefully panned "color" until they traced the pocket from which rains had washed minute quantities of gold down to the creeks. Rhoten followed that method and others.
    From 1851 until the rich stakes were exhausted, Enos Rhoten followed his queer profession.
    He uncovered the richest pocket ever found in Jackson County, and took out $150,000 in 20 minutes. That was only one of his finds. He was credited with finding more than any other one man of the creeks.
    But the money went like his find. He bought three saloons and served all drinks on the house, old-timers recall. Of all the free-spending miners in those riotous days, Enos Rhoten was the most liberal.
    He outlived his profession. Gold is taken in Jackson County now only by corporations with massive machinery able to dredge and bore, and extract wealth from low-paying ore. All the surface wealth, all the pockets, are gone. Rhoten spent his last years in circumstances that were far from comfortable.
    "I never dreamed the gold would run out," he used to say.
The Rustler, King City, California, January 19, 1932, page 4


    Roy Rhoten of Grants Pass was visiting his father, Al Rhoten, on Kanes Creek Tuesday.
"Local Happenings," Gold Hill News, February 25, 1932, page 4


    The Al Rhoten cabin on China Gulch in the Kanes Creek section was destroyed by fire last week, the entire building and its contents, including the personal belongings of Mr. Rhoten, being a total loss. It is thought the fire was started by sparks from the kitchen stove.
"Local Happenings," Gold Hill News, August 11, 1932, page 8




    THE 4 RHOTEN BROTHERS – Prospectors Extraordinary: ALL 6 ft. 7 in. tall. Shoulder-length hair. Long black beards. Cowhide boots. Passing our house toward the southern mountains. All on foot, and each carrying a 30-30 rifle. Their string of pack mules laden with tobacco, bacon, salt pork, rice, beans, coffee, sugar, salt, flour, baking powder and gallons of whiskey. When followed by anyone they would stop, level their rifles and warn: "Nobody ever follows a Rhoten and returns to tell it!" Annually they'd return. Wild, grizzly, dirty, weatherbeaten, gnarled and hoary-eyed – with bags and bags of gold dust and nuggets. Local merchants, saloon keepers, gamblers, madams and gals all happy to welcome them back. First they'd go to Old Beek's bank, cash in their gold – deposit their mules at the livery stable (pay in advance) – give Jerry Nunan and Jim Cronemiller general stores money in advance (grub stake) for supplies when they would be hitting for the hills again. After a shave, haircut, and bath at Billy Poole's barber shop, then off to the saloons, gambling joints and "cat house" for a rip-snortin' good time. And how the old bar flies loved 'em. Free drinks galore! Their names were Al, Bill, Jim and Een [Enos]. On one occasion Een decided not to return to the hills with his brothers. Instead, he went down to Gold Hill – got drunk – and bought a saloon for cash. Too many drinks on the house soon depleted his roll. He got into a brawl with some logger and Constable Joe Hammersley locked him in the town jug (which was slowly crumbling to pieces). Next noon when Joe H. went to the jail with breakfast, all that he found inside was a hole in the rotten cement floor with dirt piled all around. Joe looked all over outside but could find no hole in the ground for possible escape. So, from his home nearby Joe brought out a chair and a double-barrelled shotgun and sat down and waited. Soon, gopher-like, the ground in front of him began to move – and up through the hole popped Een's head – eye to eye with the end of Joe's gun. "DON'T MOVE, EEN," Joe shouted. "OR I'LL BLOW YOUR HEAD OFF! YOU'RE ALREADY UP TO YOUR NECK IN YOUR GRAVE, SO YOU'D BETTER COME OUT WITH HANDS UP!" Een emerges, grinning, brushes himself off, and (with the jail being ruined) he and Joe go over to Een's saloon and finish up what was left of the stock. Joe and the boys took up a collection – grub staked Een with food and a mule and headed him toward the southern mountains to join his brothers. (But with a gentleman's agreement that when he returns in the spring he'll buy the town a new jail.)
Pinto Colvig, Clowns Is People, 1935, Southern Oregon Historical Society Research Library, MS9