History of Rigsby Hollow

Though never designated as an official community, Rigsby Hollow has had an abundance of human activity within its boundaries. The firm of Wooley, Ham, and Spensley built the first blast furnace in the hollow in 1837. The aforementioned Wooley was Joseph Wooley, an early pioneer that came to the Snake Hollow lead mines when a young man, in 1834. He followed mining and was very successful. He discovered the famous Wooley range that yielded immense quantities of lead ore and was also a partner in the Wooley and Templeton range. It is said that more than one million pounds of ore were taken from one shaft on this range.

The other two members of the firm were John Spenseley and Matthew Ham. Thomas Palliser and Joseph Petty, and a man with the surname of Lightfoot, succeeded to the business sometime between 1840 and 1845.