James E. Hickey has lived nearly all his life in Carson Valley, Nevada, where he was born in the famous hard winter of 1890. He received his education at the Mottsville school, worked on the family ranch, and became active in local business and politics. As justice of the peace in Gardnerville, Mr. Hickey was a famous figure, for many persons found it convenient to be married in the little western Nevada town. In addition, Mr. Hickey spent a great part of his life observing and researching the history of the mills on the Carson River, which served the Comstock area during and after the boom days there.

The memoir recorded by James E. Hickey includes information on his Irish immigrant parents and their early life in Carson Valley; descriptions of the area's little villages; character sketches of local figures; information about local politics and his own activities as justice of the peace; material about the Indians of Carson Valley; and the results of his research on the Carson River mills.