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COLORADO PART 9: Teller County Part 1: Cripple Creek District Intro, People of Note, Cripple Creek A's, Assay, Badges and Medals

TELLER CO

Cripple Creek District
The Welty family, in 1871, were among the first to homestead and settle the area that was to become known as Cripple Creek. Several stories have persisted regarding the origin of the name Cripple Creek. One is as follows: While constructing a log structure over a spring to develop it for their livestock, the Weltys were involved in a Keystone Kops-like incident in which one of the logs got away from them, injuring one of the brothers. While attempting to avoid the errant log, another brother wounded himself slightly when he inadvertently discharged his firearm. In the ensuing commotion, a terrified pet calf broke its leg, attempting to jump the stream. When the excitement was over, Levi Welty commented "Well, boys, this sure is some cripple creek." Other stories involve horses and cowboys breaking their legs, but all relate to a creek and someone or something winding up crippled. The name stuck.
Bob Womack was a friend of the Weltys. He was born in Kentucky in 1844 and arrived in Colorado early in 1861 with his father and brother, William. They initially prospected in the Clear Creek area, but were unsuccessful and settled on ranching. William Womack bought the Welty ranch when the Weltys opted to abandon their Cripple Creek property to establish a homestead near Mt. Pisgah. Bob built a cabin nearby and ran cattle between Cripple Creek and Sunview, his own family's ranch near Colorado Springs. Bob's experience in Clear Creek piqued his interest in mining and during his wanderings with his cattle, he kept an eye out for gold and unusual looking rock. He eventually located a prospect in October 1890 which he named the "El Paso lode" and early in the following spring, began to extract ore valued at $250 per ton. A "rush" to Cripple Creek ensued and before the year was out, new discoveries began being made in rapid succession. The town of Cripple Creek quickly sprang up, and the district as a whole grew from a population of 450 in 1891 to 12,500 in 1893 and over 50,000 by 1900; its peak year.
Cripple Creek became the most productive gold district in the state, yielding over 21 million ounces during the next 100 years and amounting to nearly half of Colorado's total recorded gold production. Nineteen mines recorded gross productions of over $3 million; the list topped by the Portland mine that grossed $60 million by 1951. At least 27 people and probably many more were made millionaires by these rich deposits. However, not all of Cripple Creek's inhabitants derived the benefits of this wealth, and for the common miner and laborer, life was not nearly as comfortable. Two serious riots escalated from strikes that were related to mining union issues during the first two decades of the district's existence (Sprague, 1953).
Most of the gold at Cripple Creek occurred as high-grade, fissure controlled telluride mineralization, much of it in the mineral calaverite. High grade pockets were not uncommon. Probably the most well known of these was discovered in 1914, on the 1200 foot level of the Cresson mine. Referred to as the "Cresson Vug" or the "Big Stope", this calaverite-lined cavity contained up to 4,000 ounces per ton gold! The discovery was so rich that mining it was conducted under armed guard (Davis & Streufert, p. 50-60)
Teller County was carved out of El Paso County, March, 1899. It was named after Senator Henry M. Teller who lobbied against the eastern push for the US to adopt the gold standard and cease buying silver as required by the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890. Adopting a gold standard would be a serious blow to western mining interests as silver production was one of their chief means of livelihood. Although Teller's and others efforts failed, he was honored as the namesake for the newly formed county.
Interestingly, the formation of a new county provided support for a contentious local practice that had been going on for nearly a decade. In the 1890's, high-grading was an acceptable practice in which workers would pocket high-grade ore and sell it illicitly. Ore was hidden in extra pockets sewn into pants, in boot tops, and lunch buckets or stashed in the mine to be picked up later by "night riders", accomplices who would sneak into the mines at night and haul out the booty. The stolen ore typically was taken to a saloon where the high-grader was issued a claim check by the bartender. Assayers would pick up the ore later and remove the gold using small chlorination plants. Cash for the contained gold was delivered back to the bartender to be picked up by the high-grading miner a day or so later, after the assayer's and bartender's cut was taken out. High-graders normally got about 50 cents on the dollar for their stolen ore, but one could increase his daily wages as much as a third by doing so. Pillars of the community were not above the practice, but in order to maintain their good name and image, wouldn't stoop to the unspeakable behavior of entering a saloon. Instead, they used haberdashers, cigar stores or even passed the ore to their wives who, in some cases, had the laundryman pick up the ore to be "laundered". Almost no one was above the practice. It was so well established that the law sided with the high-graders. A miner brought up before a judge for stealing ore from Stratton's Independence mine was let off when the judge ruled that ". . ore was real estate and you can't steal real estate." High-graders could be prosecuted for the misdemeanor of trespass, but not for the crime of larceny.
The Western Federation of Miners fully supported high-grading, justifying it by the argument that the nation's wealth belonged to the men who produced it. That attitude was impetus for mine owners' to form their own Cripple Creek Mine Owners' and Operators' Association to police the mines and assayers. Armed guards were placed in the Cresson mine when the rich ore of the "Cresson Vug" was being extracted. Change was slow to come, and it wasn't till World War I that the practice finally ceased. By this time most of the high-grade ore was gone anyway, so it may have died a natural death rather than one by legislation, political pressure or ethics. (Sprague, p. 203-207, 312-13).

Cancelled versus uncancelled stocks. A note here is necessary regarding the difference between cancelled and uncancelled stocks. Issued and uncancelled stocks are those that were issued to shareholders who never sold them. In many cases, the investments were nearly worthless to begin with. In others, the mining companies paid handsome dividends, and shareholders chose to keep their stocks, even long after the companies were dead. These certificates are rare and are worth a premium.
In the case of Cripple Creek companies, there seems to be a large amount of companies whose stocks were issued, cancelled, and still exist today. This is not the norm in other western states, where mining companies who issued stock usually called them in when sold and destroyed them. A cancelled stock usually means that there are numerous pieces available…usually more than 100, unless the issue was tightly held. Cripple Creek cancelled stocks seem to come from many sources, and we are not sure if there was a large single holding at one time, perhaps by a single mining company that may have consolidated many of the mining companies in order to mine as an open pit. Certainly there are today more than 20 companies whose issued and cancelled stocks are available. Compared to issued and uncancelled stocks, the cancelled certificates are usually worth considerably less than the uncancelled certificates. However, when a cancelled certificate has signatures by the company president, secretary, or the issuee, who are famous people - hence autographs, the value increases substantially. In the case of several of the important Cripple Creek companies, our consignors here have apparently made a special effort to collect the important signatures on certificates, whether cancelled or not. In many cases, they have also collected what amounts to a "founder's share" by obtaining one of the very first certificates ever issued for the company.

Townsites. There were more than a dozen different townsites within the Cripple Creek District. As the organization of these catalogs tends to be a dynamic process, changes in our organization may be reflected on some entries but not on others. Late in the compilation we began to include these town names where a specific link to the town could be made; otherwise items are listed under the general Cripple Creek district heading. These towns include: Cripple Creek, Victor, Goldfield, Cameron, Gillette, Arequa, Independence, Altman, Anaconda, Globe Hill, Elkton, Lawrence, Cripple Creek Falls, Mound and Fremont.

PEOPLE OF NOTE This section offers short biographical sketches of some of those signatures found in this collection.

Woods, Warren, Frank and Harry.
Harry E. Woods and his brother Frank were founders of the town of Victor. In 1893, funded by their father, Warren, they purchased the 136-acre Mount Rosa Placer tract for $1,000 and laid out a townsite on it. The lots sold readily and they reinvested their profits by constructing the Victor hotel. While excavating the site for this building, Frank uncovered a vein that contained a little gold. He traced the vein to a claim called the Gold Coin which he bought for a few thousand dollars. In less than a year, the brothers were earning more than $50,000 a month from this property. With the profits, they acquired the Jack Pot and Wild Horse mines, increasing their wealth even more. They erected an elaborate shaft house called the Gold Coin over the mine and financed the development of a business district in Victor. They were known as honest, likable and generous men, readily giving to their community in the way of parks, a baseball field, a dance hall and other facilities. They continued to purchase mines and it eventually became apparent to Winfield Stratton, the wealthiest of the Cripple Creek millionaires, that their intent was to gain control of the entire district by undercutting the cost of transportation, milling and smelting provided by other companies. By 1900 they owned nearly 40 companies and their assets totaled close to $45 million. However, their luck turned sour beginning in 1899 when a fire destroyed most of Victor's business section, profits from their Gold Coin Mine began a rapid decline, their mill at Arequa Gulch was operating inefficiently and many of the community service facilities they funded were operating in the red. Creditors and stockholders began having doubts about their credibility. The fiasco that finished their meteoric rise to wealth was a hydroelectric power scheme in which they invested heavily. Plans to establish electric streetcar service in Pueblo, Colorado were squashed by influential local families, and the cost of a wooden aqueduct to supply water to the power plant was a bottomless money sink. By 1910, their investment company was dead and the brothers moved to California to live out the remainder of their lives in considerably less comfortable circumstances than those to which they had become accustomed (Sprague, pp. 100, 165, 226-228, 315; Levine, pp. 20-22).

Brothers Samuel, Douglas and George Bernard were grocers from Colorado Springs. In 1892 they cancelled William Shemwell's $36.50 grocery bill in exchange for half interest in his Elkton claim. George financed development work on the claim for two years until he was nearly broke. Before abandoning the property, however, they struck pay dirt, netting $40,000 in the first week. The Elkton eventually produced $16 million in gold. With his profits, Sam purchased the Beacon Hill El Paso that produced $11 million. Not long after the turn of the century, the brothers retired from mining, buying large ranches and raising livestock. George purchased a ranch located about 20 miles northeast of Colorado Springs, encompassing 3,750 acres on which he raised Angus and Galloway cattle. The income derived from investments he had made dropped significantly after about 1907, but he continued to live the lifestyle of a man of wealth. Eventually his entire fortune made from the Elkton and El Paso was consumed. These two mines stopped producing after WW I and in 1933 George died a pauper. Samuel's interest was in horses and he opened an elite stables in Colorado Springs where he boarded thoroughbreds owned by other Cripple Creek millionaires. He built an elaborate mansion in San Luis Valley and organized the San Luis Valley Irrigation, Land & Power Co. to develop the land, but the company was his undoing. It was a money losing venture and he had to sell off shares in the Elkton and other mines to pay debts. It eventually drained him of his wealth and he too died, completely impoverished, in a state hospital in 1937. Douglas, who also died that decade, had fared little better. He operated a grocery store in Victor and a livery in Colorado Springs. With his profits from the mines, he also purchased a large ranch. After the panic of 1907 he gave up his mining interests to devote more time to livestock, but like his brothers, he was unsuccessful as a cattleman and lost the ranch. However, his livery business continued to provide him with an income until his death. (Sprague, p. 126, 309; Levine, p 37-38).

J. R. McKinnie
J. R. McKinnie lived an adventurous early life, fighting for the Union in the Civil War, hunting buffalo and mining in the San Juan Mountains where he gained valuable experience. He taught school in Steubenville, Ohio and married a teacher from a neighboring school, took up farming near Bird City, Kansas and eventually settled in Colorado Springs with his wife and six children. Here he began hauling freight to Cripple Creek, and became interested in the mining activity there. With R. P. Davie he entered the real estate
business and in 1891 located the Gold King lode, New Moon, Anchor and Mt. Rosa Placer claims near Cripple Creek. When a townsite was being laid out near his Mount Rosa Placer claim, he shifted the claim down slope to be better suited to this purpose. Adjacent claim holders on the up-hill side did likewise, opening up a fraction upon which James Doyle and James Burns located the Portland claim. When the Portland fell into litigation over apex rights in 1893, Verner Reed, from whom McKinnie purchased his real estate business, engineered the mines business tactics. McKinnie and Peck approached Reed and negotiated a share of the Portland sometime in 1894, financed by profits over the previous 3 years from their Black Diamond mine and sale of the Mount Rosa to the Woods brothers. During 1894 and 1895, he lived in a cabin near the property among other soon-to-be notables such as Winfield Stratton, James Burns, James Doyle, Sam Strong and John Harnan. By 1895 his mines were paying handsome dividends so he purchased a nice home in Colorado Springs, settling into a more domestic lifestyle with his family. On April 26, 1896 Cripple Creek was swept by fire and, following the lead of others, he advanced paychecks to workers at the Moon-Anchor and shut down the mine so workers could help clear debris. By 1900 he was involved in of a number of businesses. His interests included at least twenty mining companies at Cripple Creek, in the San Juans, in California, Arizona and Missouri. His financial solvency had its ups and downs, and the economic panic of 1907 caught him at a low point from which he was unable to recover. He moved to Los Angeles in the teens and died a few years later, having lost his entire fortune. (Sprague, pp. 69, 70, 116-118, 129, 163, 165, 195, 308; Levine, pp. 18-19).

Spencer Penrose
Spencer Penrose was a Harvard educated Pennsylvanian from a wealthy Philadelphia family who joined with his boyhood friend, Charlie Tutt, in a real estate business in Colorado Springs in 1892. Spencer moved to Cripple Creek as the representative for Tutt & Penrose. Earlier, Tutt had located the C.O.D. claim on which leasers struck rich ore early in 1893. Penrose bought into the property and revealed his immodest promoter skills by preparing a glowing prospectus on it that he shopped around Colorado Springs and Denver. Unfortunately, the miners soon struck a water course and the mine flooded, prompting some of Penrose's socialite friends to issue a tongue-in-cheek prospectus of their own entitled "The Tenderfoot's Delight Mining, Milling and Transportation Company". The prospectus read, in part, "The C.O.D. Mine is elevated two miles above sea-level and consequently the grade of the ore expected to be found will be very high." Further, "A large flow of water exists in this great mine, which when pumped to the surface to a canal which is projected from Cripple Creek down the mountain to Colorado Springs, will form an important artery of commerce." Tutt & Penrose began buying into many of the mines and businesses in Cripple Creek. They owned the Topic Dance Hall that was consumed in the Cripple Creek fire of April 25, 1896. They were co-owners with Charlie MacNeill of a chlorination mill in Colorado City that treated half the low grade ore produced in the district and bought large amounts of stock in the Midland Terminal railway. The trio also bought the Granite, Gold Coin and Ajax mines. Penrose, Bert Carlton and Eugene Shove bought the Golden Cycle Mill and associated mines from John Milliken for $4.5 million In 1904, Penrose, MacNeill and Tutt raised half a millon dollars to finance founding of the Utah Copper Company, a mill proposed by Daniel Jackling for treating low grade copper ore from a deposit at Bingham, Utah. The success of the mill was underestimated and the district eventually produced more than a billion tons of ore worth and earning Penrose more than $200,000 per month. (Sprague, pp. 171-172, 190, 191, 244, 245, 248, 250, 285-288).

James Doyle
Doyle was an orphan who came west from Portland, Maine with the sisters of James Burns where they joined Burns in Colorado Springs. Doyle was 18 years younger than Burns, but the two of them ventured into the mining business together, in spite of having absolutely no clue about what they were doing. In the spring of 1891 they were busy on their claim on the hill above Winfield Stratton's Independence mine where they attracted his attention with their feverish activity. During the summer of 1891, Doyle worked as superintendent of irrigation in Colorado Springs to finance development of the property, but then lost most of his savings in a crap game. In January of 1892, Doyle was heading up to the property when he noticed a small fraction of ground that had opened up as a result of some claim shifting activities centered around the relocation of the Mount Rosa Placer group (see J. R. McKinnie). He quickly located a claim on it, including Burns as his partner on the location notice, and named it the Portland after their hometown in Maine. They invited Stratton to the property for his opinion of its merits, but his unfavorable response angered the two quick tempered Irishmen and they booted him off. After sinking a 30 ft shaft and not finding anything, they encountered John Harnan, another Irishman who has been sorting ore at Stratton's Independence. Harnan immediately recognized sylvanite, a gold telluride mineral on the dump and asked Burns what he would give him if he located a vein for them. They offered him a third interest in the Portland, which he accepted. Within a week they were sacking ore, but the experienced Harnan realized they were headed for problems because of the Apex law that stated rights to a vein belonged to those on whose claim the vein surfaced. The Portland claim was so small that the vein surfaced on a neighboring claim. They conceived of a plan to remove their sacked ore at night, have it surreptitiously refined in Pueblo, and hopefully accumulate enough profit to defend themselves in the inevitable lawsuits before anyone was onto them. After seven months they had made $70,000, but on one of these nighttime forays, Burns stumbled into Stratton, and in the course of the evening revealed what they were up to. Stratton found that the owners of the Portland could help him with some of his own goals, so he agreed to fund them in the purchase of neighboring claims and in the defense of any lawsuits. The three Portland owners and Stratton entered into an unwritten agreement to work together. When the lawsuits came, the claims were staggering - $3 million in 27 separate suits. Stratton hired Verner Z. Reed, a brilliant real estate promoter, to represent the two mines. Reed cleverly out smarted, outmaneuvered and kept several steps ahead of all the claimants. He eventually bought out all the claims in the lawsuits, expanding the Portland's holdings from an initial 7/10ths of an acre to 183 acres. The cost was a little over a million dollars, but the rewards were phenomenal - the combined total output of the two mines was $88 million. Doyle was listed in the 1894 Cripple Creek Directory as an assayer and chemist at Anaconda and was elected Mayor of Victor in the later 1890's. About the time he was Mayor, he had a falling out with Burns and the two grew to despise each other. Doyle eventually left Cripple Creek to pursue mining ventures elsewhere.
James F. Burns
James Burns was born in Portland, Maine and after following various pursuits that took him to Cuba, South America and New Orleans, he ventured to Cripple Creek in 1886. Burns was later joined by his sisters and James Doyle, also a Portlandite. Doyle joined Burns in his gold seeking ventures and the two of them located a small claim they named the Portland in 1892. Neither knew the first thing about mining but in exchange for a third interest in their mine, they obtain the help of John Harnan, a more experienced in the district. Soon their claim was yielding significant amounts of ore, but Harnan was able to foresee problems owing to Colorado's Apex Law. The law states that rights to a vein belong to the owner of the claim on which the vein crops out. The Portland claim was so small that the vein they encountered at a depth of 30 feet cropped out on an adjacent claim and rightfully belonged to its owner. They devised a plan to mine as much as possible, pack the ore out at night, have it refined in Pueblo and accumulate enough profit that they could fight any lawsuits that were sure to come. All went well for several months until one night Burns stumbled across Winfield Stratton who owned the Independence mine 400 feet below the Portland, and revealed their secretive operation. Stratton saw an opportunity that would benefit them both, and after a meeting with Doyle and Harnan, Stratton agreed to help finance their inevitable lawsuits in exchange for a part interest in the Portland. They agreed and when the news of their activity was discovered in October of 1893, Stratton hired Verner Z. Reed to act as their corporate affairs. The lawsuits amounted to nearly $3million, but Reed was such an astute businessman that he kept a step ahead of the claimants and eventually succeeded in buying them out and increasing the property from less than a tenth of an acre to over 183 acres in the process. Burns ran operations at the Portland which employed 125 men. He was sympathetic to the worker's needs and supported their cause during the "Bull Hill War" in 1894 in which workers demanded better pay and working conditions. Because of his position on this issue the Portland was one of the few mines that continued operations during these violent strikes. His support for the workers strained relations with his partners, especially after he spent a considerable sum to recover the bodies of 8 miners killed in a cave-in and to compensate their families for their losses. Harnan sold out his interest in the Portland in 1894. Doyle brought suit against Burns, but in 1909, he too sold out and went on to pursue other interests. Burns continued on at the Portland which ultimately became the largest gold producer in the district, yielding $60 million in production over its life time. Burns died in 1917 leaving an estate to his wife and children valued at nearly $1.2 million.

Henry Blackmer
Henry Blackmer was a legal counselor from Massachusetts who had an office in Colorado Springs. In 1892 he was made El Paso County District Attorney, but gave up a legal career for involvement in the mining business. He and a partner formed the Colorado Trading and Transfer company, made profitable by Blackmer's business acumen. Blackmer became involved in nine mining companies and several railway companies. He left Cripple Creek in the late teens to invest in Wyoming oil where he became involved in the Teapot Dome scandal. In 1925 he fled to France to avoid prosecution, but eventually returned to the US, paying nearly $4 million in fines. He died at the age of 92 in 1962. (Levine, pp. 40-41).

Blackmer was president of the Orphan Gold Mining Company and had an interest in several other mining companies including the following:

Buckhorn GMC. Findley GMC.
Gray Horse GMC. Morning Star GMC.
New Haven GMC. Olive Branch GMC.
Pilgrim Consolidated GMC. Southern Boy GMC.

He also organized the Cripple Creek Railway Co. to acquire the following properties from the Denver and Southwestern Railway Co.:

La Bella Mill, Water and Power Co. Colorado Trading and Transfer Co.
Midland Terminal Railway Co. Florence & Cripple Creek Railway Co.
Golden Circle Railroad Co. Canon City & Cripple Creek Railroad Co.
United States Reduction and Refining Co.

A. D. Jones-- Jones was a prominent Cripple Creek figure and, who, like others, dabbled and invested in other mining companies besides the Pharmacist Consol. MC, of which he was a co-founder and president. Jones started out as a druggist, having been born from a Civil War surgeon, but, like many others, when he heard about the success in Cripple Creek, he abandoned his profession and stole for Colorado. He did worked for a short time under J. K. Wagner, future founder of the Pharmacist Claim, as a pharmacist at the Miller Brothers drug company, but after the company was sold, he, with J. K. and J. W. Miller, co-founded the Pharmacist MC, one of the first claims, which made the second Cripple Creek mineral shipment and the first carload shipment "from the divide on the Midland." The story goes that the unskilled claim jumpers, Jones and J. K. Miller, had no clue as to where to begin digging, so Jones solved the problem by simply tossing his hat into the air and digging where it happened to fall. This became a $600/ton legend!

Percy Hagerman-- Percy Hagerman, of Colorado Springs, came from a long line of Colorado land and development growth. Father, James J. Hagerman, connected with the iron mills in Milwaukee, gradually worked himself up the totem pole of the Milwaukee Iron Co., after having rubbed shoulders with bigwig Captain E.B. Ward of Detroit, a prominent figure in iron works, factories and mines. This would be the beginning of James' success in the mining business, having developed the iron mines in the Menominee district and founded the Chapin mine, the U.S.'s largest producing mine. Percy, born January 24, 1869, would follow in his father's footsteps as he
watched his father transform the Colorado and Pecos valley of New Mexico and launch the organization of the Colorado Midland RR. After his return from the east, where he attended and graduated from Cornell University and Yale Law School, Percy continued his father's work in the development of Colorado Springs

Albert E. Carlton-- The Carlton family was one of the most successful of the Cripple Creek settlement, dipping their toes in virtually every business. Born in Illinois on February 20, 1866, Albert E. Carlton suffered from tuberculosis, which became the core reason for the family's move to Colorado Springs. The interest in Cripple Creek would be sparked by overheard conversations at his place of employment as a youth. In 1893, after becoming fired up about the prospects of rumored ensuing wealth, Albert and brother Leslie left for Cripple Creek District, where in that same year, with partner Henry Blackmer, they began the Colorado Trading & Transfer Co. Due to the community's need for burning fuel, the Trading Co. was a huge success, which enabled the brothers to invest heavily in the First National Bank of Cripple Creek.
Their extreme success would rely on their ability to use their status with the FNB to access information on all of the major mining properties. This somewhat devious tactic allowed them to "snatch-up" properties that maybe hadn't been before considered, but which would later enable a mass consolidation under the Golden Cycle MC name. This keen ability to profit from potentially unprofitable situation led to further developments, such as the Cripple Creek Drainage & Tunnel Company in 1906. In short, the brothers were perfectly competent as businessmen, resulting in one of the most successful empires Cripple Creek would ever produce. In 1911, after a long battle with John T. Milliken, then owner of the Golden Cycle MC and many other properties, A.E. finally accomplished the consolidation project he had for so long coveted, a consolidation which now totaled over $240,000,000 in Cripple Creek assets. On Sept., 7, 1931, while trying to gain control over the Portland MC, Albert E. Carlton died, leaving his estate to brother, Leslie, and wife, Ethel.

James W. Miller-- Born in Ohio on Oct. 5, 1864, James W. Miller was among the profitable of Cripple Creek. Like A. D. Jones, Miller was a pharmacist, and with his brother, J. K., moved to Colorado Springs where the two started a pharmaceutical company, quaintly called the Miller Brothers. The Pharmacist MC claim was staked by J. W.'s brother J. K. Miller, along with A.D. Jones, long-term president of the Pharmacist MC. During its reign, J. W. served as the company's treasurer, secretary and director. He became known as a valuable property owner in both Cripple Creek and Colorado City, and owned interest in other companies, such as the Favorite MC, of which he served as vice-president and director, and other claims.

Frank G. Peck--- Born on June 7, 1862 in Illinois, Peck's family moved to Colorado Springs in 1872. He first became interested in the mining business when he began prospecting in San Juan. Later, in Leadville, like so many others, he owned and sold mining property before its true value would ever be known. He owned several groups that he never fully developed, such as the Ingleside Group, and the Robinson Group. By this time, Cripple Creek was staked and claimed at every turn, so Peck resorted to the brokerage business, where he began investing in profitable mines, such as the Portland MC. Peck and McKinnie purchased the Black Diamond claim from Bill Fernay for $500 in 1892, which between 1892 and 1894 made a net profit of $70,000. And because of the skyrocketing of stock value in the Portland MC, they negotiated the Black Diamond for shares in the Portland MC, for which Peck served as president, secretary and treasurer.

CRIPPLE CREEK MINING DISTRICT

Please see the map section for maps that may directly pertain to these companies.

1947. Teller. Cripple Creek. Abe Lincoln Lode title abstracts and letter. Lot of 3 pcs. Letter, 1903, is addressed to the El Paso County Abstract Co., in regards to the mining co. The abstracts are from 1892-1903. All are very fine. Letter- 5 x 8"; abstracts- 8 x 16". Est. $25-50

1948. Teller. Cripple Creek. Adams Express Co. receipt for payment from A.E. Carlton. Datelined Aug. 24, 1912. Very fine. 3 x 8". Est. $10-20.

1949. Teller. Cripple Creek. Adams Express Receipts, 1915. Three pcs. Two are for Sears and the third is unknown. Each has an adhesive 1 cent revenue stamp attached. Very fine. 5.5 x 8". Est. $25-50

1950. Teller. Cripple Creek. Advertising thermometers. Two Glass Framed Advertising Thermometers. One is for Lehew's Service Station, reading "We have what your auto needs / Wholesale and Retail / Phone 189 Cripple Creek, Colo. Mountain scene. Mint. 5 x 7", circa 1945. The other one is for Ormint Pontiac Co., "Dollar for Dollar, You can't beat Pontiac-GMC… Cripple Creek, Colo., Phone 56." Scene of the Last Supper. Glass cracked. 4 x 5". (1956). Est. $50-75

1951. Teller. Cripple Creek. Ajax GMC. Lot of 24 various Ajax GMC related papers and photos. Title abstract dating from 1891-1905, 8.5 x 17"; three small notes regarding the mine, 1890's; envelope which used to contain the deed to the lode, noted on the envelope, 1895, 8.5 x 4"; receipt from FNB, 1897, 8.5 x 5.5"; letterhead from C.S. Wilson, attorney, regarding the deed, 1896, 5.5 x 8.5"; location certificate and amended location certificate for the lode (2pp.), 1891/93, 13 x 8"; timecards from the mine (unissued), 5.5 x 3.5"; newspaper clipping headlining, "Rich Ore in the Ajax", c.1895, 5.5 x 2.5"; letter from the Portland GMC, 1911, 11 x 8.5"; copy of the Mining Reporter, featuring a photo of the car haulage machine at Ajax Mine, 1903, 12.5 x 9; lot of 8 treasurer's reports dating from 1900-1910, 11 x 8.5"; 3 photo reprints of both the mine, and miners: 10 x 8" photo featuring approximately 43 workers posed in front of and on the mine shaft elevators, c.1899, 10 x 8"; photo of the Ajax Mines explosion, c.1900, 8 x 10"; postcard of Ajax and Portland Mines, 3.5 x 5.5", and panoramic, color postcard of the Ajax Mines, 3.5 x 5.5". All in varied conditions, most very fine. The Ajax owned four patents on Battle Mountain overlooking Victor. It had a controlling interest in the Hallett & Hamburg GMC. The Ajax GMC mined their own property; it did not use lessees. It was a closely held corporation according to engineer Fred Hills in 1900. The production was very large, but unreported. They began in 1895, employed 140 men by 1905. The geology there was similar to the Portland mine according to Hills. Est. $200-400

1952. Teller. Cripple Creek. Ajax Group Title Abstracts. Approximately 300pp. c.1895-1935. See above for story. See lot #1947 for similar image. Est. $100-200.

Teller. Cripple Creek. Ajax Mine. Other Ajax mine documents can be found in the Victor section.

1953. Teller. Cripple Creek. Alert Gold Mining Co. Bill of Sale, 1900. Signed by vice-president M. Starwood and secretary J.N.D. Stovell. Very fine. Est. $25-50

1954. Teller. Cripple Creek. Altman Water Co. Incorporated in Colorado. First mortgage, 6% 25 year bond. Unissued, no cert #, unsigned, 1900. Vignette of steam powered pump? Green border. Cancelled by hole punches of same. 14 x 9. Printer - Pueblo Litho & Print, Co, Pueblo, Colo. We could find no specific reference to this company among our resources. Altman is a small community in the Cripple Creek district, located between the towns of Cameron and Goldfield and this company presumably was organized to provide a domestic and industrial water supply for the town and local mines. Very fine. Est. $25-75

1955. Teller. Cripple Creek. American Eagle Consolidated MC. Incorporated in Delaware 1919. Issued to S. G. Fox & Co. for 100 shares, cert #49, in 1919. Signed by president William W. Rowan and secretary Jacob F. Keyser. Vignette of spread winged eagle atop crag. Red border. Uncancelled. 8 x 11. Printer - Border K. B. 1911. Possibly a consolidation of mines surrounding the American Eagle mine located on the southwestern slopes of Bull Hill. Very fine. Est. $25-50

1956. Teller. Cripple Creek. American Smelting & Refining Co. related billheads. One is on ASARCO company billhead, for receipt of .57 oz of silver and 2.65 oz. of gold, 1899. The other is on The Taylor & Brunton Sampling Co. billhead which notes the consignment of ore to ASARCO, 1900. Both are stained, the latter with some tearing. Est. $25-50

1957. Teller. Cripple Creek. Anaconda GMC. Lot of 2 certificates. Incorporated in Colorado in 1892. The first was Issued to Taylor J. Downing for 775 shares in 1893. Cancelled. Singed by president D.H. Moffat and secretary R.H. Reid. The other was issued to F.H. Pittingill for 22 shares in 1893. Cancelled. Corporate signatures. Gilt border and underprint with no vignette. 7.75 x 10. Holes punched at bottom and at left. Folds, crease. Mines included the Lone Star, Lone Star Nos 2 & 3, Rustler, Puffer, Anaconda, Grover, Cleveland, Superior, Excelsior, Great View, Hub, Little Mack Free Milling, Sarah B., Napoleon, Kitte M., No Name, Oro Fino and Ivy Wild. All located on Gold Hill just a couple of miles southeast of Cripple Creek. By 1900, there were 13,483' of tunnels, drifts and winzes. (Hills, 1900) Est. $200-300

1958. Teller. Cripple Creek. Anaconda GMC. Inc. in Colorado, 1892, issued to W.F. Drake for 250 shares in 1893, signed by R.H. Reid, sec., and D.H. Moffat, pres. Cancelled by rubber stamp and hole punches. Stub glued to left edge of certificate. Cripple Creek, Colorado printed on certificate at top right. No vignette, gilt border, black print, embossed gilt seal. Slight stains where stub was glued, otherwise extremely fine. 13.5 (including stub) x 8.5". Est. $100-200

1959. Teller. Cripple Creek. Anaconda GMC. Incorporated in Colorado in 1892. Issued to C.W. Wood for two hundred shares in 1893. Signed by president Moffat and secretary R.H. Reid. Cancelled. Gold border and black print. Fine, cancellation stamp across owner's name, and hole punches at the bottom near the signatures. 8 x 11". Est. $100-200
1960. Teller. Cripple Creek. Anaconda GMC. Incorporated in Colorado in 1892. Issued to W.H. Leonard for five hundred shares in 1893. Signed by President Moffat and secretary R.H. Reid. Cancelled. Gold border and black print. Fine, cancellation stamp across owner's name, and hole punches at the bottom near the signatures. 8 x 1"1. Est. $100-200

1961. Teller. Cripple Creek. Anaconda GMC. Incorporated in Colorado in 1892. Issued to F.L. Roudebush, Trustee for 500 shares, cert #4989, in 1896. Signed by president Moffat and secretary R. H. Reid. Fancy masthead. Gold border, seal and background design. Cancelled by hole punches above signatures and red rubber stamp. 8 x 10. Very fine. Est. $200-300

1962. Teller. Cripple Creek. Anaconda MC. Incorporated in Wyoming 1900. Issued to Marr & Middagh, Trustees for 500 shares, cert #1721, in 1901. Signed by president Adolph J. Zang. Black print. A Reorganization of the Anaconda Gold Mining Company of Colorado Principal Mines at Cripple Creek, Colorado printed on certificate. Cancelled by hole punches of same across signatures. 7 x 10. Printer - Denver Lith, Co. Mines are similar to above lot. Adolph Zang lived in Denver where he established the Rocky Mountain Brewery Co. He was one of the organizers of the Schirmer Insurance & Investment Co. which was turned into a banking company. He was one of the founders of the Vindicator Consolidated GMC and was president of the company up to the time of his death. He established the town of Goldfield about 4 miles southeast of Cripple Creek. He became one of the directors of the Cresson Consolidated GMC and one of its largest stockholders. One of his sons, Frank, became vice president of the Vindicator Cons GMC and also secretary of the Cresson Cons GM&MC. (Hills, 1900; Sprague, 1953; Stone, 1918) Stub glued at left edge. Very fine. Est. $100-200

1963. Teller. Cripple Creek. Apache GMC. Incorporated in Colorado. Issued to Jas. A. Phillips Trustee for 1000 shares, cert #482, in 1896. Signed by W. H. Kistler president and secretary faded away. Vignette at top of Indian woman leaning on shield of Colorado State Seal. Orange border with unique underprint. Underprint vignette of Victor, Colorado with the major mines marked and Victor Battle Mtn and Mines printed at left. Uncancelled. 8 X 11. Printer - W. H. Kistler, Denver. Tears about .5 in down along folds. Staining along left fold. Owned the Minnie Merle and 10,331 acres southeast of Cripple Creek. The mines marked in underprint vignette are true names of the major mines of Cripple Creek. (Horn & McMahan, 1899). Fine to very fine. Est. $50-150

1964. Teller. Cripple Creek. Arcadia Consolidated Mining Co. Incorporated in Colorado in 1896. Certificate number 1069 issued to S. A. Nay for 4,000 shares in 1897. Datelined Colorado Springs. Signed by Vice-President J. C. Salmon and Secretary N. W. Salmon. Cancelled by rubber stamp of same. Vignette top center of 4 miners working underground. Gold border and seal. 8 x 10. Printer not noted. This company was owned and controlled by W. S. Stratton. The property was located on Gold Hill on the east edge of the town of Cripple Creek. (Hills, pp. 63, 442-43). Very fine. Est. $50-150

1965. Teller. Cripple Creek. Arcadia Consolidated Mining Co. Incorporated in Colorado in 1896. Certificate number 1460 issued to S. S. Bernard for 1000 shares in 1897. Datelined Colorado Springs. Signed by Vice-President J. C. Salmon and Secretary N. W. Salmon. Cancelled. Vignette top center of 4 miners working underground. Gold border and seal. 8 x 10. Printer not noted. See lot above for the story. Wear to folds. Chip in lower left corner, crease at upper right corner. Fine. Est. $75-150

1966. Teller. Cripple Creek. Arcadia MC. Stock certificate and Post card. Incorporated in Colorado in 1895. Issued to H.L Sherwood for one share in 1895. Signed by president J.C. Plumb and secretary W.W. Salmon. Cancelled. Mast Head is garnished with flowers. Brown border. Very fine, Ex. Stock Dividend stamp vertically across the left side. The post card features men working a winch at the Arcadia Mine. The company owned just five acres in two claims. In 1900 it was bought out by W. Stratton and became the Arcadia Consol. MC. [ref: Hills] Very fine. 3 x 5". Est.-$75-150

1967. Teller. Cripple Creek. Arequa. Various Arequa Townsite Title Abstracts ranging from 1895-1930. Est. $50-150.

Teller. Cripple Creek. Assay
In order to value a property on which metal bearing rock is found, it is necessary to determine the "grade" of the "ore". Technically, "ore" is any rock from which metal can be extracted profitably, so it is a relative term. Most mining companies today spend in the range of $90 to $250 to recover one ounce of gold. (This wide range is due to variations in ore type, some of which are more costly to process than others; differences in labor and regulatory costs; etc). Today's gold price has been hovering around $260 per ounce, so
some of these companies are marginally profitable while others have a comfortable operating margin. Most companies have "ore stockpiles", and those whose operating costs are in the $250 range could suddenly find they have a "waste stockpile", should the price of gold drop below $250 per ounce.
"Grade" is simply a measure of the amount of metal in rock. If the grade is above a certain amount, the rock can be considered "ore". For precious metals such as gold and silver, grade is usually reported in the unit "ounces per ton", commonly written as oz/ton or opt. During the period circa 1790 to 1934 the price of gold was fixed by the federal government at $20.67 per ounce, so people became accustomed to rating the grade in units of "dollars per ton", saving a conversion step (the price of silver was not fixed so the grade of this metal has always been reported in ounces per ton). In 1934 the government-fixed price of gold was raised to $35 per ounce, so "dollars per ton" was still used after that change was made. However, in 1976 when price controls were lifted, the value of an ounce of gold began to fluctuate daily, rendering the unit "dollars per ton" meaningless, so "ounces per ton" then became the normal unit for reporting grade of gold. In metric based countries (ie, the rest of the world) grade is measured in grams per tonne. That is a metric tonne, equivalent to 1,000 kg; 1 gram being one millionth of a metric ton.
The most reliable method of determining the grade of ore is by fire assay. This method has been in use for over 500 years and is still used routinely in gold mines and by explorationists throughout the world. Geologists are trained in sampling theory, so they know that the collection of the sample must be done in such a way as to be as representative of the whole as possible; they understand the biases that can be introduced during sampling, and can make an intelligent interpretation of the data when the analytical results are returned to them.
Fire assaying can accurately determine the amount of gold and silver in samples collected from soils, outcrops, alluvial material in stream beds, cuttings and core from exploratory drilling and even vegetation whose roots take up minute amounts of metals and incorporate them in the structure of the plant. For inorganic material such as soils, rock chips and so on, a sample in the 2 to 10 pound range is typically collected. These are crushed, producing a coarse granular material that is thoroughly mixed. Then a 1/4 to 1/2 pound, representative portion of the crushed rock is pulverized to an extremely fine powder called a "pulp". From this pulp, about an ounce is carefully split from the whole then precisely weighed and fired in the assay furnace. An assay of this amount of material is called a "One ton fire assay". This comes from the term "1 Assay ton" which equals 29.1667 grams. One assay ton has the same relation to one milligram that one short ton (2000 lbs) has to one Troy ounce; that is 29,166.7:1. Therefore, the weight in milligrams of precious metal obtained from a one ton fire assay is directly equivalent to "ounces per ton".

1968. Teller. Cripple Creek. Assay. 25 Various Assay Papers. Such companies as the Portland GMC, no signature, 1918; the Copeland Ore Sampling Co., Victor, 1916, having received ore from Stratton; J.B. Page, 1930, from the Mexican G&SMC; Stratton Cripple Creek Mining & Development Co., 1902, form American Eagle MC; and John C. Staats, 1902, from American Eagle. All but for one are in very good condition. The Rio Sampling Co. billhead has severe damage to most of the right side and the bottom edge. Est. $100-300

1969. Teller. Cripple Creek. Assay. Lot of Four Assay Documents. Midway Assay Office in Cripple Creek, to Findley Cons. M. Co., letter stating Findley will be billed under one heading since pulps reached Midway office without indication of shaft to which they belonged, not dated. Poston Assaying Co. (rubber-stamped at top), does not indicate to whom this was sent, lists "15 - .01, 20 - trace, 21 - none, 22 - none, 30 - .01, 31 - .045", states charges for services are $10, not dated. Two pieces from J. B. Page Assay Co. in Victor to Granite-Portland for Samples Assayed, both dated 1908. Very fine. Est. $25-50.

1970. Teller. Cripple Creek. Assay. Mines Inc. Pulps (2) from a working underground face. c.1930. See write-up on assaying at beginning of Cripple Creek section. Very fine. Est. $10-25

1971. Teller. Cripple Creek. Assay. Small Town Assay Papers. Lot of 6. From such companies as J.S. Neall, El Paso, Colo., 1893; The National Gold Extraction Co., Goldfield, Colo., 1899; and Lucky Guss Assay Office, Altman, Colo., 1899. Some are water damaged. Est. $50-150

1972. Teller. Cripple Creek. Associated GMC. Incorporated in Colorado 1895. Issued to F. L. Duncan for 1000 shares, cert #201, in 1896. Signed by president J. D. Miller and secretary J. Morton. Vignette of snow capped mountain. Brown print, gilt seal and Cripple Creek Gold Mining District in gold underprint. Uncancelled. 8 x 11. Printer - Pueblo Litho. Wear to folds with stain at top of right fold. Owned the Dixie and Link mines on Mineral Hill. On Straub Mountain, they owned the Little Alice, Lottie, Caliente, Chieftain, Oaken Bucket, Santa Fe and Golden Tunnel. On Nipple Mountain they owned the Honeycomb, Little Febby and Georgia claims. They also owned four copper claims in the Hard Scrabble Mining District. The company employed nearly 60 men and was operating with no debts and $15,000-30,000 cash on hand at all times. In 1898, the company was being to ship ore from their copper claims. (Horn & McMahan, p. 10) Very fine. Est. $50-150

1973. Teller. Cripple Creek. Atlanta, Cripple Creek and Creede MC. Incorporated in Colorado 1895. Issued to John W. Proudfit & Co. for 1000 shares in 1899. Signed by president James Smith and secretary Albert Wagner. Vignette of miners working underground. Gold border with gilt seal and gold underprint and background design. Principal office, Cripple Creek, Colorado, El Paso and Mineral Counties, Colorado printed on certificate. Uncancelled. 8 x 10. Owned the Flat Top and Little Susie on Copper Mountain. Developed by an 80' shaft and 300' of cross-cuts and drifts, plus a 400' tunnel. (Hills, 1900; Horn & McMahon, p. 11). Proudfit & Co. was a Banker and Broker firm with offices in Colorado Springs. They issued one of the handbooks of the mines and mining companies of Cripple Creek that we use as a reference. Trimmed tight at bottom edge (printing error?) Very fine. Est. $50-100

1974. Teller. Cripple Creek. Auto. Pierce Motor Cars & Cycle letterhead, datelined 1905. The letterhead consists of the company name, surrounded by fancy vines, with an arrow shooting through it. Black and red print. The letter is addressed to A.E. Carlton of FNB, regarding his interest in purchasing a new vehicle. 3 x 9". Very fine. Est. $25-50.

1975. Teller. Cripple Creek. Auto. Smith Motor Truck Corp. letterhead. It addresses the First National Bank of Cripple Creek, and basically is pushing their latest creation, the Smith Form-a-truck, which is illustrated in color, in the heading. This letter represents salesmanship at its finest. Very fine. 10.5 x 8". Est. $15-25.

1976. Teller. Cripple Creek. Auto. Two Letterheads from the Colorado Automobile Co. One from Packard Motor Car Co. All three letterheads are communications with A.E. Carlton. 1904-1912. Very fine. 7 x 8" to 10.5 x 8". Est. $100-200

1977. Teller. Cripple Creek. Autograph. Adolph J. Zang Typewritten on Letterhead paper, dated 1916, to the First National Bank of Cripple Creek regarding interest payment on notes. Zang was the founder of Zang's Brewing Co., and president and treasurer of Zang Realty & Investment Co., both of Denver. (Ballenger & Richards, p. 1310). He was also a major stockholder in the Vindicator Mine, Zang's Elmwood Ranch and the Cresson Mine. 8-1/2 x 8-1/2. Est. $25-50

1978. Teller. Cripple Creek. Autograph. Bernard, George. Lot of four various letterheads related to George Bernard, including a letter addressed to A. E. Carlton in regards to stock in the Elkton Mine, with which Bernard was involved. All are in very fine condition, ranging in date from 1902-15. See Bernard biography. All 10.5 x 8". Est. $50-150.

1979. Teller. Cripple Creek. Autograph. Burns & Carleton. Various correspondence to Burns et al regarding stock matters of the Colorado Trading & Transfer Co. Also a billhead to the Rugby Fuel Co. Three First National Bank checks signed by A.E. Carlton. Total of 10 pieces, all very fine. Sizes ranging from 3 x 8" to 10.5 x 8". Est. $50-100.

1980. Teller. Cripple Creek. Autograph. Typewritten letter on H. E. Woods letterhead from same to William Lloyd in Colorado Springs requesting address of a Mr. J. W. McBane. Signed by H. E. Woods. Carbon copy on white paper. 8-1/2 x 11. See historical sketch of Woods family under Woods Investment Co. Est. $50-150

1981. Teller. Cripple Creek. Autograph. Woods Investment Co. Letter dated 1897 to an attorney requesting transfer of certificate number 1583 for 1,000 shares of Granite Hills to the name of George Vance. Signed by H. E. Woods. Fancy letterhead in brown on yellow paper. 8-1/2 x 11. See biographical sketch of Woods Family at beginning of Cripple Creek section. Est. $25-50
There are additional autographs throughout this Cripple Creek section.

1982. Teller. Cripple Creek. Baby Mine Title Abstracts. Lot of 7 pieces all related to the Baby Mine, among which are Baby Ruth Lode, Baby Mine Lode, Baby McKee Lode. All are circa 1904, and detail a history of claims transactions and agreements with various mining companies and individuals. The records are specific by county book
and page, and include notes by the title officer. There is a lengthy section under "Title abstracts" explaining these important documents. 8 x 17". Est.- $100-200.

BADGES AND MEDALS
The following is a spectacular collection of Cripple Creek badges and medals. These very colorful items are rarely found in this fine of condition today.

1983. Teller. Cripple Creek. 1893 St. Patrick's Day Ribbon. Green ribbon, 8 1/2" long, 2" wide. Very early ribbon from the first days of Cripple Creek. Probably had a pinback at the top of the ribbon. Frayed edges at bottom of ribbon. Black lettering reads: "Cripple Creek / Typographical Union. / St. Patrick's Day, / 1893. Est. $25-50.

1984. Teller. Cripple Creek. 1904 Governor's Medal. Breast badge with ribbon and medal. "Colorado City / Cripple Creek / Telluride - Trinidad / 1903 / 1904 // Red-white-blue ribbon. // 1.5" diam medal "James H. Peabody Governor of Colorado / (pic of Peabody) / 1903-4 // (scene of miner etc.) / Law and Order. Smooth edge. XF-Au with original box. Est. $100-200.

1985. Teller. Cripple Creek. 1910 I.O.O.F. Badge. At top is 1.75" diameter, brown pinback with the IOOF seeing eye and the letters FLT in interlocking chain. Red ribbon hanging from pin with gilt lettering: "Forty-Third / Annual Session / Grand Lodge / I.O.O.F. / Cripple Creek, / Colorado / October 1910." Entire badge is 5" long. Est. $50-100.

1986. Teller. Cripple Creek. 4th of July, 1899 Badge. "Souvenir" in gilt lettering in red, white and blue banner. Hanging below is a fancy five-point gilt medal. "1899 / Fourth July / (pic miners) / Cripple Creek, Colo / Teller / County // Schwaab. 2" x 1.5". Near mint medal. No pinback. Est. $50-100.

1987. Teller. Cripple Creek. Colorado State Federation of Labor Convention Badge. "17th Annual Convention / Colorado State / Federation of Labor / Aug. 12-15, 1912, Cripple Creek" in celluloid oval at top with fancy gilt border as breast pin. Suspended below is medallic badge with celluloid center, "Colorado State Federation of Labor / (pic) / Seal. Frame is gilt. Reverse: "The Whitehead Mfg. Co., Newark, NJ." Est. $50-100.

1988. Teller. Cripple Creek. Gilt Souvenir Cripple Creek Badge, c1899. "Souvenir" with pick and shovel in banner. Hung from banner is a medal in the shape of an ore bucket. In the top of the ore bucket is mimimicked gold with "$ Unlimited." The side panel of the bucket is a scroll and reads: "Cripple Creek / Greatest Gold / (pic miner's pack mule) / mining camp / on Earth." Reverse: Schwaabe & S. Co., Milwaukee. Near mint. Est. $75-150.

1989. Teller. Cripple Creek. I.O.O.F. Badge, 1899. Breast pin of wreath surrounding tent, hanging from it are three ribbons, black, gold and purple. "I.O.O.F. / Grand / Encampment / of / Colorado / Cripple Creek / Colo. / 1899" in gilt lettering on purple ribbon. All three ribbons are fringed at bottom. Breast pin is 1.5" x 2". Entire badge is 4.5" long. Sticker attached to back reads: "The M.C. Lilley & Co. Military & Society Goods, Columbus Ohio." Near mint. Est. $100-150.

1990. Teller. Cripple Creek. I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 101 Badge by Whitehead & Hoag, Newark, NJ. Crème hanger breast pin with clasping hands in color, gilt frame around breast pin. White outer ribbon hanging from breast pin with two crossed American flags (small hole in ribbon just below flagon right), and a color, 1.75" diameter, convex circular disk hanging from it. This disk has the IOOF seeing eye in color with "Independent Order of Odd Fellows / F.L.T." in black. The main ribbon is red with silver and gold tassels on bottom. "Cripple Creek / Lodge, No. 101 / Cripple Creek, Colo" in silver lettering on red ribbon. Reverse is black funeral ribbon with silver lettering. 2.2" x 6". Est. $100-300.

1991. Teller. Cripple Creek. "Magician" Women of Woodcraft, Circle No. 61 Badge. Nearly identical to the Member badge, but "Magician" inserted into the breast pin portion. The ribbon has no fancy edge, but it does have gold tassels at the bottom. The disk chows surface wear. The quality of printing on the disk is higher on this piece. Reverse is black funeral theme. Est. $100-300.

1992. Teller. Cripple Creek. Rebekah Assembly, I.O.O.F. Pinback with Ribbons. 2" color celluloid with 2 trailing ribbons. Celluloid has "Twentieth Annual Session Rebekah Assembly IOOF" with picture of a woman. Ribbons say: "Cripple Creek Colorado" and "October 1910" in gold lettering. Ribbons are pink with green edges. 3.5". Near mint. Est. $50-100.
1993. Teller. Cripple Creek. Three Different I.O.O.F., Cripple Creek Badges. A.) "Souvenir / Sovereign / Grand Lodge / Denver / Sept. 21, 1908 / Cripple Creek / Lodge No. 101 / IOOF" in silver lettering on 2.5" red ribbon hanging from silver tri-link IOOF insignia breast pin. IOOF symbolic pinback in color at bottom. Near mint. B.) "Souvenir" in gilt, breast badge, purple and white ribbon, circular, fancy gilt border, convex IOOF seeing eye celluloid with "FLT / (Eye) / Grand Lodge Meeting / Cripple Creek, Colo. Oct 17021, 1910." Nothing on reverse. Near mint. C.) Interlinked chain breast pin with full color suspended celluloid tent in gilt frame over purple ribbon. "38 Annual Session / Grand Encampment / IOOF / Cripple Creek / Colo / Oct. 1910." With round gilt bordered convex celluloid with picture of log cabin and a man with a dog. Near mint. Reverse blank. Est. $200-500

1994. Teller. Cripple Creek. Track Medal, 1916. Has initials in flying (winged) emblem: "St. J". Underneath is a large winged foot and "1916". Reverse: "Point Prize". Est. $20-40.

1995. Teller. Cripple Creek. Two Crystal (Saloon) Book Marks. "Take one to / the Crystal / 226 E. Bennett Ave. / Phone 310" in ornate heart-shaped aluminum with fringed colored string. 2 x 2 1/2". Near mint. Est. $40-60.

1996. Teller. Cripple Creek. Two mule derby ribbons. A.) Green ribbon, gilt writing, "Third / Annual / Grand / (metal mule sewn in place) / Derby / Cripple / Creek / Colo / (aritificial nugget sewn in place) / September / 2-3-4 / 1933". 6". B.) Yellow ribbon, black writing, "Fourth / Annual / (mule sewn in place) / Derby / Cripple / Creek / Colo / (artificial nugget sewn in place) / September / 1-2-3 / 1934." Both near mint. Est. $150-300.

1997. Teller. Cripple Creek. US Smelting & Refining Co. thirty year gold lapel pin. "30" in blue enamel shield bounded by pick and shovel. 0.6" diameter, 3.5 grams. 14 kt gold. Ex. Fine. Employee name unknown. Comes with Western Federation of Mines lapel pin, "W F M" in white enamel with stars. 0.5" diam black enamel background. Mint. These pins reportedly belonged to Spencer Penrose, geologist. This lot also includes a Spencer Penrose 1968 medal with the Broadmore Hotel, Colorado Springs on the other side. Est. $150-250.

1998. Teller. Cripple Creek. Very Ornate and Fancy, Four-Part Medallic Badge. Eagle at top with "FOE". Eagle is holding crossed pick and shovel. Directly below an artificial gold nugget is suspended. Suspended on chain from left and right is elongated metal plate: "Cripple Creek AERIE No. 37". Suspended by chain below that is a circular medal with pictorial color celluloid center with two miners, one of whom is holding up a nugget, reads "Greatest Gold Camp on Earth / Two Miles High." All metal parts could use cleaning. Fabulous! Est. $200-400.

1999. Teller. Cripple Creek. Women of Woodcraft Breast Medal. "Souvenir" embossed on breast pin. Red ribbon and medallic piece suspended below. Ribbon blank. Medal is 1.5" diam, but fancy shaped. "3rd Biennial / Session / Women of Woodcraft / (pic) / Cripple Creek / Aug. 1902. Reverse: The John Emill (?) Mfg. Co., Denver. 2.7" long. Dark toned. Mint. Est. $75-150.

2000. Teller. Cripple Creek. Women of Woodcraft Circle No. 61, Two Badges. These badges are nearly identical. Embossed gilt breast pins, one with "Attendant" and one with "Neighbor". Tri-color vertical striped ribbon, green, white, red, left to right. "Cripple Creek / Circle No. 61 / Cripple Creek / Colorado" in gilt on ribbon. (Gilt weakening.) Medallic gilt medal hanging from hanger-piece at bottom of ribbon, "Women of Woodcraft / (pic) / Alis Volat Propris". Both holed at 12 o'clock, but hole made in slightly different places. Reverse of ribbon is typical funeral version. Both badges are 4.5" long. Very nice. Est. $200-30000.

2001. Teller. Cripple Creek. Women of Woodcraft, Circle No. 61 Badge. Ornate white breast pin hanger, "Member", gilt metal border, with two ribbons hanging from it. Outer ribbon, off-white, plain, with circular, color disk hanging from it. Convex, 1.75" in diameter with Women of Woodcraft scene. Backing or main ribbon is green, white and red (left to right) with gold edging (has a tear at upper right edge) and tassels at bottom, with "Cripple Creek / Circle No. 61 / W. of W. / Cripple Creek, Colo" in silver lettering. Outer ribbon showing wear. Lettering also showing wear. Reverse on main ribbon has black funeral theme. Est. $100-300.
2002. Teller. Globesville. Modern Brotherhood of America Badge, c1905. "Modern Brotherhood of America / NBA / FLP" in breast pin at top. Suspended below is a white ribbon with crossed American flags. Hanging from that is a round celluloid with "Modern Brotherhood of America" with picture of a man and woman in mountain setting, gold sunset, in color. Background ribbon is red, white and blue, with gilt writing: "Garden Place / Lodge / No. 2457 / MBA / Globesville, Colo." Gold fringe and tassels at base. 7.5" long. Reverse is typical black funeral version in silver. Near mint. Est. $100-300.

2003. Teller. Goldfield. Goldfield Aerie No. 295 Badge. Full breast badge, above wording in elongated oval on breast pin with a fancy metal plate suspended below reading "Member"; hanging below that is a large "FOE" eagle shaped piece. Ribbon back is red, white and blue, left to right, with "Goldfield / Aerie No. 295 / FOE / Goldfield, Col," in silver lettering. Silver edging and fringe at bottom. Ribbon is torn at base of eagle. Reverse is typical black with lodge markings. Est. $100-200.

2004. Teller. Victor. 1899 4th of July Breast Badge with Ribbon. Red ribbon with pinback. Suspended gilt medal in shield shape. "Fourth July / Celebration / 18 (pic miners) 99 / Victor / Teller Co. Colo // Schwaabe & S. Co., / Milwaukee." Wreath underneath. Near mint. Est. $75-150.

2005. Teller. Victor. Gilt Souvenir 4th of July, 1899 Badge. "Souvenir" on gilt banner. Red, white ,blue backing missing. Hanging from banner is medal in shield shape. "Fourth July / Celebration / 18 (pic miners) 99 / Victor / Teller Co., Colo." Wreath underneath, pinback missing. Reverse: Schwaab & BS Co., Milwaukeee. 1.75" x 1.2". Medal near mint. Est. $50-100.

2006. Teller. Victor. Gold Stick Pin 14 kt, with 1/2 x 3/4" high grade gold ore from the Independence Mine showing native gold. Circa 1895-1900. Rare. Est. $100-200.

2007. Teller. Victor. Rathbone Sisters, Grand Temple Guest Badge. "Victor" in celluloid rectangle in gilt frame on breast pin with suspended white ribbon. In gold lettering on white ribbon: "Grand Temple of Colorado, 1901". Suspended from the white ribbon is a celluloid medal of 1.75" with full color picture of man in armor and a woman, with "Rathbone Sisters" in black lettering. Attached to pinback is an orange ribbon which reads: "Grand Temple, R.S., August 13, 1901. Guest. Carnation …Temple, Victor, Colorado." Near mint. 5". Est. $100-300.

End Badges and Medals