The Sheahan's ancestors established mining for silver, lead, copper, zinc and small amounts of gold dating back to 1889. Manning said the family owns six patented claims in addition to 15 unpatented claims that are leased to the Bureau of Land Management.
She said the family's ore processing mill exploded and burned in June 1954 when a jet's wing fuel tank was dropped on it.
The Air Force said the incident was adjudicated in the United States Court of Claims.
Manning said, however, "Our grandparents ran out of money trying to fight it."