In the early 1900's at the top of the mountain (well it is elevation of 1600 feet, its a mountain around here) near home lived an old lady named Nancy Rutan. She would always say when she was ready to die she would "go jump in the mine hole". That was an old mine on the mountain that is filled near to the top with water. In the summer of 1914 she disappeared. My grandfather was part of the search party that looked for her but she was never seen again.
Fast forward to 1986. I was turkey hunting and came upon the stone foundation of her house. I had seen it many times before. Sitting at the base of a tree a few yards from the foundation I made a few calls but received no return gobbles. Going to stand up I noticed the bottom of a glass jar. The glass had bubbles in it so I figured it was old. The jar was upside down what I had seen was the bottom. Taking care not to break it I dug it up from the dirt and tree roots. A zinc topped Mason jar, Patent November 30, 1858 containing a silver dollar and an Indian head penny.
Returning home I showed the jar and contents to my grandfather. He looked at it for a few seconds then said he was "stunned". He said that the last person to see Nancy alive was Mr. Truax the owner of the general store in Beemerville. A week before she was known to be missing she had purchased some supplies at the store with a 5 dollar gold piece and had told Mr. Truax that was the last of her money. He had told the searchers he gave her a silver dollar and a penny in change.
The silver dollar (1881) and the Indian head penny may not be worth much but to me they are priceless.
Paper now inside the jar is a note in my grandmothers handwriting telling this story.
![[Linked Image]](https://trapperman.com/forum/attachments/usergals/2024/05/full-11499-218538-nancys_jar.jpg)
