You probably never heard of it. Guess what, most people in the Honey Lake Valley during the 1860s, never heard of it either. Today, it is known today as the Mapes Ranch, located four miles east of Litchfield.
In June 1859, George W. Lathrop and Thomas J. Harvey claimed 1,280 acres there. Located adjacent to the Susan River and the Nobles Emigrant Trail, it quickly developed into a station for travelers. On September 8, 1862, Lathrop sold this place to Uriah and James Shaffer for $4,250 and then the place was called either Lathrops or Shaffers Station. By 1863, it consisted of Shaffers station/trading post, Henry Lomas’ cabin and blacksmith shop, and a house belonging to Wilmans & Bass. At this same time, traffic along the emigrant trail increased dramatically as it was the shortest route to the mining discoveries in Idaho and Northwestern Nevada. With bright prospects, the residents plotted out a town and a name was needed. The place was best known as Lathrops. It was decided to name it Lathrop City. Henry Lomas, the “city’s” blacksmith recalled years later that the name was “Just too much for the town and it died a natural death.”