Octavius Decatur Gass Photo courtesy of UNLV Special Collections

Octavius Decatur Gass
1827-1924

Octavius Decatur Gass moved into the Old Mormon Fort after the Mormons moved back to Utah.

He used water from the Las Vegas Springs to grow food and trees. He also raised horses and cattle.

The ranch was a good rest stop on the road from California to Utah. Travelers could rest, bathe and repair wagons at the ranch.

When Gass ran out of money, the Stewart family took over his ranch in 1882.