Bill McHaney is one of the earliest residents of Twentynine Palms. He was a gold miner, cattleman, and Twentynine Palms homesteader. He has several claims to fame, including being late to his own funeral.
Bill McHaney started a cattle ranch with his brothers near Big Bear, then near Thousand Palms, before moving in the 1860s to what is now known as the Desert Queen Ranch in Joshua Tree National Park. McHaney said the valley was full of antelope and the grass was belly-high on a horse.
In 1895, McHaney discovered gold nearby, and named it the Desert Queen Mine. It was one of the richest gold mines in the area. Unfortunately, poor management and wild spending forced McHaney clan to sell the mine. McHaney was never able to find another mother lode. McHaney died of pneumonia in January 1937. He was living in a small cabin on the Desert Queen Ranch, formerly owned by Bill Keys. However, deep snow forced a postponement of the funeral at the Twentynine Palms Cemetery for two days.
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