In September of 1864, ore was discovered in Eureka, Nevada, and from there mining towns erupted in the surrounding lands. One of these towns was Ruby Hill. Rumour has it that Ruby Hill was actually began by a small population of Cornish Miners, but in later years published journals do not credit them with the establishment of Ruby Hill.In the 1870 US census there were only nine miners living in the area who claimed their birthplace as England, but after just five years the Nevada census showed this number had jumped to 70. In his article, Cousin Jacks of Ruby Hill, the author, Gary T. Spargo,intimated that the miners wrote home regularly to proclaim the great life that could be found at Ruby Hill. In the London Mining Journal mention of the Eureka mining district was a regular occurrence. By 1880, the US census enumerated a total of almost 500 miners who had journeyed from the shores of Cornwall to Ruby Hill. The Cornish accounted for the largest group of people born outside the United States in the area.(1)
Thomas Rosevear arrived in the area of Eureka around 1770 to seek his fortune. He travelled alone, his family all still in Cornwall, but he was to soon marry Elizabeth Hannah Rundle, a fellow Cornish immigrant, and settle in Ruby Hill. Together they added to the Cornish population of Ruby Hill by having a large family - 11 children, born in the ensuing years.

(1)Cousin Jacks of Ruby Hill, Spargo, Gary T., The Cornwall Family History Society, No. 82, 1996.