Discovered in 1853, Confidence Mine became one of California’s richest gold mines. It was developed by pioneer stage owner and Pony Express man Ben Holladay. An incline shaft of 1,000 feet was sunk, and from it a 2,000-foot horizontal shaft reached the best paydirt. At its peak, the mine employed a 40-stamp mill, and its ore averaged better than $20 per ton. The mine’s total yield was conservatively placed at $3,500,000, though some said it was more like $5,000,000. It supported the town of Confidence, which included a hotel, dance hall, saloon, general store, butcher shop, post office, and school. Nearby were the Mary Ellen, Independence, Little Jessie, and Playboy mines, all productive sources of high-quality ore.