In 1851 Col. John Reese, with a little band of eighteen men, crossed the great deserts and built the first trading post in Nevada, Mormon Station. Later, more members of the Mormon faith arrived, settled, and established the town of Genoa. Among them were the first lady settler, Eliza Ann Middaugh Mott, wife of Israel Mott, and the first native daughter, Louisa Beatrice Mott. Under the leadership of Orson Hyde, the community prospered and the area became Carson County, Utah, and Washoe County, Nevada.