In 1899, Doug Graham and Smiley Jones found some gold float in the canyon, followed it up to the source and founded the Graham-Jones mine. After 18 years Jones left the mine and Graham worked it alone. In 1930 Graham sold half ownership for stake money. Graham was robbed and died a few days later. In 1937 the mine was leased to the Burton brothers who changed the name to the Ruth Mine, brought in equipment boosting production to 70 tons of ore per day and continued operation until WWII.