The Humbug Mine stood on the east slope of Table Mountain near Jamestown and was the richest mine of its kind in the Mother Lode. In its heyday it produced more than $4,000,000 worth of gold. Because of the mountain’s geology, it yielded placer and river gold rather than the hard rock normally found underground. John O’Neil took out the first patent on the property in November 1880, and the mine began on his property and ran partially under it. Under an agreement with O’Neil for the mineral rights, The California Company of Boston operated the mine. From 1914 to 1950, Frank T. Moyle and his family owned and operated it.