Colorado, Fremont County through Grand County

COLORADO - Fremont County through Grand County

FREMONT

663. Fremont. Florence. A. E. Rinehart Photograph of Florence, Colo, c. 1890. Became an important milling and refining center on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. This photo by A. E. Rinehart shows a mill along the railroad, circa 1890. The town was ignored by most of the historical writers. The image is undamaged but slightly weak. 9 x 12, trimmed mat at top, otherwise mint. Est. $150-300

664. Fremont. Lake. Custer. San Juan. Colorado Co-Operative Prospecting & MC. Cert.#3124. Incorporated in Colorado. Issued to the “Bearer” for 10 shares in 1879. Signed by president Miles A. (?) and secretary J.W. Harbaugh. Uncancelled. Vignette of Colorado state seal in center. Black border and print. No printer noted. Vf, wrinkled, foxing, repaired tear and folds. 3 1/2” x 7”. The company is not listed in Corregan & Lingane, probably because they were formed to prospect on four different groups of mining claims. The spelling of the word “Uncompahgre” on the certificate is “Uncompogery” The certificate is interesting because they made these “bearer certificates, indicating a treasury of $1 million (very doubtful), and the stock was unassessable. Rare. Est. $200-400
GENERAL

665. General. AADAN Corp. Cert. #53374. Inc. in CO, 1950 Issued to Gretchen Garrell for 20 shares in 1973. Printed signatures. Blue borders at left and right. Vignette at top of “A” surrounded by agricultural and industrial scenes. Printed by Jeffries Banknote Co. Uncancelled. 12 x 8. XF. Est. $10-25

666. General. Acacia Hotel Corp. Cert. #14. Incorporated in Colorado in 1920. Issued to J.W. Atkinson for 100 shares in 1920. Signed by president Atkinson and secretary T.H. Holson. Cancelled by green writing. Photo reproduction of the hotel as the vignette. Orange border and seal. Two $1 green documentary stamps in upper left. Out West Printing. 8 1/2” x 11”. Vf, folds. Est. $50-100

667. General. Axial Basin Development Co. Incorporated in Colorado. Cert. #4292, issued to M.A. Fisher for 69 shares in 1921. Signed by president H.W. Meyers and secretary Walter Hamilton. Vignette of spread winged eagle atop crag. Outer black border with inner gold border with gilt seal and gold background design. Uncancelled. 9 x 11. Small hole upper left margin. Printer - Goes. Very fine. Unable to find reference to this company in our library. Est. $10-25

668. General. Bay City Gold Mines, Inc. Incorporated in Colorado. Cert. #468, issued to Quinn Parker for 2000 shares in 1934. Signed by pres. W.G. Duffy and Sec. J.J. Warren. Spread winged bald eagle vignette at top. Orange border and safety print, embossed seal. Printer – Goes. 11 x 8. Uncancelled. Minor discoloration along folds and top edge. Very fine. Unable to find reference to this company in our library. Est. $20-40

669. General. Black Ant Mines Co. Inc. Territory of Arizona. Certificate # 262 issued to S. Hitgaard (?) for 1000 shares in 1906. Datelined Denver. Signed by President Bruce Glidden and Secretary Henry Weber. Uncancelled. Fancy masthead includes two robed woman. Orange-brown border, safety print and seal. 8 x 10. Printer not noted. We could find no reference to this company among our resources. Very fine. Est. $25-50

670. General. Colorado Minerals, Inc. Inc. in CO. Cert. #191, unissued, 19xx. Vignette at upper left corner of robed figure with bald eagle at his right and Colorado State Seal. Gilt border and seal with gilt safety print. 11 x 8. Uncancelled. XF. Printer – Goes. Unable to find reference to this company in our library. Est. $10-25

671. General. Colorado Oil Company Stock certificates, lot of two. Out West Petroleum Co. Incorporated in Colorado. Cert. #11567, issued to Thos. S. Ellis & Co. for 4000 shares in 1920.. Signed by pres. Geo. H. Mosh and sec. M.M. Belshe. Vignette of spread winged eagle clutching stars and stripes shield. Green border and safety print. Name of company in brown ink. Uncancelled. 10 x 10. Printer - RMBN Co. Small tears at edges of folds, very fine. Wellington Oil Co. Incorporated in Colorado. Issued to Filmore J. Gorney for 5000 shares, cert #7065, in 1925. Signed by D. K. Hickey as president and C. H. John as secretary. Vignette of oil field with gushers, small vignettes of at right and left edge. Green border. 8 X 11. Very fine. Unable to find reference to these companies in our library. Est. $25-50

672. General. Colorado Souvenir Sterling Spoons. Lot of 2 pcs. Each 5” long. The first is an early Cripple Creek with miner scene in bowl “Cripple Creek/ copyrighted”. The second has Manitou, Colo. in bowl. Both appear c.1895-9. vf-xf. Est. $150-250

673. General. Equity Consolidated Mines Co. Inc. in CO. Cert. #39 issued to Clifford K. Taylor for 400 shares in 1908. Signed by President Marshall K. Ames and Secretary Richard McKnight. Uncancelled. Vignette of spread winged bald eagle perched on rocky crag with steam locomotive, capital dome, ship and fort in background. Black border and pale green underprint. 8 x 11. Printer - A. S. Carter, Stamps, Seals & Printing, Denver. We could find no reference to this company among our resources. Chipping and tears at fold edges, fine. Est. $25-50
674. General. Gold King Basin Mining & Milling Co. Incorporated in Colorado. Cert. #621, issued to W.M. Herrington for 100 shares in 1904. Signed by sec’y/treas. W.M. Herrington and pre. W.G. Shaw. Vignette at top of tracks leading up to mill site with miner walking along railroad tracks. Black border and print with gilt seal and safety print. Datelined Condersfort, PA. Some wear at folds. 11 x 8. Uncancelled. Fine. Three listings in Poole (1898) for Gold King Mining Companies, but no reference to Gold King Basin. Est. $20-40

675. General. Gold Producers, Inc. Incorporated in Colorado. Cert. #1124, issued to Quin Parker for 1064 shares in 1938. Signed by pres. Al. Osberg and sec. W.F. Woodward. Vignette at top of spread winged bald eagle atop dome with cityscape and seascape in background. Green border and safety print, gilt seal. Printer – Goes. 12 x 8 1/2. Uncancelled. Discoloration at left fold. Fine. Unable to find reference to this company in our library. Est. $20-40

676. General. Golden Reward MC Corporate Seal. Inc. in DE, 1942. The company had properties in Colorado, Idaho and Washington and appears to have been bought by TAC. In the Mines Register, 1946, Golden Reward Mng. Co. is listed twice in the inactive mines section, as an Idaho and a Washington company, (p413). (Ref: Zimmerman.) The seal is approx. 6 x 8, manufactured by Broun-Green. Simple seal with no graphics. Est. $50-100

677. General. Mary Ann Gold Mines, Inc. Incorporated in Colorado, 1934. Issued to Quin Parker for 4000 shares in 1934. Signed by pres. Ade MacConnery and sec. H.J. Steer. Vignette at top of torch, green border, seal and safety print. Uncancelled. Printer - Goes. Discoloration along folds, 11 x 8, fine. We could find no reference to this company in our library. Est. $25-50

678. General. Misc. Postcards of Colorado. Lot of 6 pcs. The cards shows scenes of Almont, Ward, Loveland, Gilman & Eagle River Canon from Battle Mt. Highway, a miner’s cabin in Boulder and a miner working a stope with a pneumatic drill. Very fine. Est. $50-100

679. General. Petroleum Oil Fields Co. Incorporated in Colorado in 1917. Cert. #4305, issued to Mrs. O. Derrick for 1000 shares in 1917. Signed by pres. L.A. Ewing and asst. sec. J.W. Carsen. Vignette across top of large oil field dotted with derricks and containers. Small vignette of a “gusher” at lower left corner. Green border and safety print, green seal. Printer – Goes. Uncancelled. 11 x 8. Very fine. Est. $10-25

680. General. Poland MC. Incorporated in Colorado. Lot of two, unissued, 189x, cert #354. Vignette of spread-winged eagle clutching stars and stripes shield. Black border with orange safety print. Uncancelled. 8 X 10. Printer - Merchants Pub, Denver. We cold find no reference to this company among our resources. Probably not related to the Poland Mining Co. that operated in Yavapai Co. AZ in the teens. Excellent. Est. $20-50

681. General. Rugby Coal Co. Incorporated in Colorado. Cert #3, issued to D.P. Wild for one share in 1906. Signed by A. P. Smith president and W.R. Dapper secretary. Datelined Denver, CO. Vignette at upper left of miners working underground. Vignettes of miners at each corner. Black border with green seal and underprint. Uncancelled. 9 X 12. Printer - Goes. XF. We could find no reference to this company in our library. Est. $25-50

682. General. Stivers Automatic Cover Co. Cert.#132. Incorporated in Colorado. Issued to S.B. Bostain for 1 shares in 1911. Signed by president C.F. Calvin and secretary J.M. Stivers. Vignette of female figure holding illuminated bulb, seated on generator-like object. Black border, gilt seal. Xf, tiny tears at tops of folds. Printed by Goes. Est. $25-50.
GILPIN

683. Gilpin(?). Ivanhoe Mining Co. Incorporated in Colorado 1881. Issued to Jno. F. Green for 100 shares, cert #1275, in 1883. Signed by B. F. Grafton vice president and J. Newton Baker secretary. Vignette at top center of several miners working underground. Black border and underprint. Uncancelled. Printer - Columbian Bank Note, Washington DC. 8 x 11. Datelined Washington. There is an Ivanhoe in nearly every county in Colorado. Only two or three predate the incorporation date of this company. They probably had property in Gilpin County where discoveries were made in 1877. Minor foxing along top edge. Extremely fine. Est. $200-400

684. Gilpin Black Hawk. Black Hawk Gold and Silver Mining, Milling and Developing Co. Incorporated in Iowa. Certificate # 166 issued to John Bauer for 100 shares in 1883. Datelined Ottumwa, Iowa. Signed by President E.G. Young and Secretary Andy Hunnsler. Uncancelled. Vignette of Great Seal of Iowa. Black border on vanilla paper. 5 x 10. Printer- J. T. Bowles, Ottumwa, Iowa. Black Hawk is a common name for mines. During the 1880’s mines by that name were located in Huerfano, Larimer, Ouray, Gunnison, Gilpin and Clear Creek Counties. We were unable to link this company to any specific location. Yellowing at edges, smudges, very fine. Probably Gilpin County. Est. $25-75

685. Gilpin(?) Central City(?) San Juan GMC. Inc. in AZ, 1903. Cert #64, issued to L.A. Grant for 1000 shares in 1903. Signed by vp John M. Ostrander and treas. H.J. Brandenburg. Unusual vignette at top left of Indian brave sitting on cliff by a tree and a steam train way off in the distance. Brown border and underprint. Gold seal. Printer – Adams & Grace, NY. 11 x 8. Uncancelled. Several folds, small chips at tops and bottoms of folds. Very fine. The closest listing in our library is for the San Juan Mining Co., which was dead by 1910-11. The mine was developed by a shaft and had auriferous and argentiferous copper ore. It employed 15 to 20 men in 1903. (Ref: Copper Hdbk, 1910-11, p1519.) Est. $75-150

686. Gilpin. Black Hawk. Black Hawk Mining & Reduction Co. Inc. in CO. Cert #268, issued to R.H. Shindel for 5000 shares in 1902. Signed by pres. John. L. Hoeffer and sec. E.A. Drinkwater. No vignette, gilt border and seal. Datelined Denver. No printer listed. 11 x 7. Two folds. Very fine. Uncancelled. In Poole, 1898, (p330) the Black Hawk Mining Co. is listed as a silver and gold producing mine in Dolores County at Rico. There were additional companies by this name at Black Hawk in Gilpin Co. My guess is the Gilpin property, but we are not sure. Ephiram Drinkwater was a stenographer in Denver. Not related to the famous Drinkwater mine in Nevada. The others are not listed in the Denver 1902 directory. Est. $50-100

687. Gilpin. Black Hawk. Bruce Consolidated MC. Incorporated in Colorado. Two certificates, #s 367 and 4603, both issued to Quin Parker, one for 10 shares, the other for 20, in 1937 and 1936 respectively. Signed by vp William McKinley and Geo. Randall secretary. Crude vignette of mining camp at top of certificate. One certificate has orange border and safety print, the other green. Slightly different designs. Both are uncancelled. 8 X 11. There is a Bruce Lode located on the east side of the North Fork of Clear Creak near Black Hawk. In 1867, John P. Bruce (probably namesake) was working the Bruce Lode which had a 50’ shaft and was “getting good-looking stuff”. There was also a 12 mill stamp. (Hollister, 1868, p.206). Very fine. Est. $50-75

688. Gilpin. Black Hawk. Fifty Gold Mining Co. Cert.#5148. Incorporated in Colorado. Issued to Mrs. H. Marguerita Bishop for 4111 shares in 1910. Signed by president Thompson and secretary Johnson. Four photo reproductions of mine operations in each corner. The border consists of dime size coins printed with the names of mine claims owned by the company. Printed by the Smith-Brooks Printing Co. Vf, folds8 1/2” x 12”. The Fifty GMC owned fifty patented claims, including the Gregory, Bobtail, Fiske and others, all which produced several million dollars worth of gold and silver-bearing copper ores, collectively. The company had an 80 stamp mill. By 1913, after it was sold to a Kansas City syndicate in 1913, the company was dead. (Ref: Weed, 1912-1913, p.365). Est. $400-600
Gilpin. Black Hawk. Fisk Gold Mining Co. Archive with letters signed by the Pony Express Founders.

The Archive. This archive of the Fisk Gold Mining Co. of Colorado is the product of William Vandeventer, a financial agent for a group of investors in New York headed by Wm. Russell, Alex Majors and others. Vandeventer was also president of the company at one time. It dates mostly from 1864, with some papers up to 1872. Another part of the archive covers investments in Leadville, covered in a separate section in this catalog. The archive is important because it shows us a different picture of the gold business in Colorado from up close that we see elsewhere. Here, we have two major financiers from the express, mail, and freight business who started the famous Pony Express backing a mining company after their Pony Express and other businesses had failed. They were making a comeback attempt, but it too failed, mostly because they forgot or did not know to get ore reserves before they built or bought the mill to process the ore. They foolishly spent money on a mill that was never built; rather it remained in storage for 2 years before they sold off the parts.

The property produced gold, but history has not recorded how much. Following the gold business here is also interesting. Gold bullion was shipped back to New York via stage coach, steamer and train to New York for sale on the New York Market, not through the usual channels set up un Nevada and California.

The property was in production at a time of great uncertainty in the western mining market. It had boomed, but by early 1864, a panic had set in, freezing capital, and putting many operations on hold. Hollister, in his epic Mines of Colorado, 1867, wrote:

“in early 1864 bankers who had shipped the gold produced by the mines, and who therefore knew their capacity, advanced money on them, and eventually came to own them. It was easy for them, through parties in the east who were also aware of the extent and richness of the veins from gold shipments to organize stock companies for the purchase and working of them. The effect was to arrest mining generally…In the bubble burst, however, Colorado stocks fared no worse than others and as soon as the panic had subsided a little, business was recommenced….The men who had discovered and steadily developed the country became the most inveterate speculators in the world. This evil still hangs over the mining industry like an eclipse, crippling it perhaps more than all else combined.”

This statement is particularly true of the Fisk mining men. They became speculators, without good knowledge of the business, which led to failure.

The archive has about 200 pieces in total. At the owner’s request we have split the archive into lots making the most sense to historians and collectors. The meat (integrity) of correspondence regarding the Fisk Gold MC of Colorado has been retained. Two autographed letters not relating to the company, but part of the Vandeventer correspondence have been split out. Copies of these are in the main correspondence. A few checks, bills of exchange, steamer documents, and receipts are also split out, with copies retained in the main collection.

The following sections discuss the company, mine, mill, and people in detail.

The Company. The Fisk Gold Mining Company of Colorado appears to have been formed in early 1864. Investors in the Company were W. H. Russell, Alex Majors, Hiram Johnson and others. The company ordered 500 stock certificates from Snyder, Black, and urn in April, 1864. . The initial group of ten investors each paid in $5000. in April. A gold bond issue was floated for another $50,000, giving the company a healthy $100,000 kitty to start with. Russell bought another $18,333.33 and Vanderventer $12,500 in additional stock.

In 1865 the Board was Albert Clark, Andrew Gross, James Raymond, William Russell, Hiram Johnson, H. J. Baker.

John Russell was the agent for the Fisk Co. in Nebraska City and Atchison. He was William Russell’s oldest son. The investors also owned stock in neighboring mines, the Burroughs and the National. Hollister reported in 1867 that the National Gold Mining Co. was located on the Mammoth lode between Jerome Riggs co. and Gold Rock MC.; 233 feet, 280 ft deep shaft. 2 6’ wide veins. He reported that the “Company has never done anything.” The Burroughs GMC was located on the Burroughs lode. Located between the Colorado GMC of Boston and Hardesty property. The LA Crosse Co. owned a strip between 2 parcels owned by Burroughs. 3 shafts. 1 ‘ wide vein. 24 stamp mill. Also owned the Hubert mine in Nevadaville. Hollister liked this company

The Mine. The letters in the archive do not discuss the mine or mining specifically. The Fisk lode crosscuts the famous Bobtail lode about half way between Black Hawk and the Clay County Mine in Lake Gulch. Its eastern extension terminated at the Black Hawk train depot. Hollister reported that the company owned two claims on the Fisk vein and another property on the Running Lode. They had a 150 foot shaft and a 75 foot deep shaft on the Fisk veins running east-west, exposing quartz several feet wide, with much drifting along the veins. W. N. Dickerson of Black Hawk was their agent, and is also a name found in this archive. The mine may have been named after C. W. Fisk, an early miner in the region. He may have originally staked the claims that the company owned. [ref: Hollister; Marshall-Early Gilpin County Records…]

By 1871 Wallihan reported the mine was owned by F. Nochols, operated by leases with the Black Hawk Co. and the Manhattan Co. By then the shafts were deepened to 150 and 250 feet on ore averaging about a foot wide. Ores were milled at their mill yielding 30-70 per ton. George Randall was the agent.

1872 brought new success for the Fisk. The vein was reached in the Bobtail tunnel that year and mining commenced on a larger scale. The Consolidated Bobtail produced over $200,000 in 1879 and the Bobtail lode produced $1.9 million through 1880. There were a number of companies operating on the Fisk vein through the 1870’s, but the Fisk company was dormant. While assays of five ounces of gold per ton were reported, no production results were reported by Fossett.

Unfortunately there is no good record of bullion produced or sold from the mine. I must assume that gold was produced fairly regularly and shipped to Vanderventer in new York for sale. Only one receipt remains from a gold sale, which was for $3107.94 based on the dore of $3081.91 in gold and $26.03 in silver sold to Livermore, Clews & Co. at 32 Wall Street, New York in April, 1865. I suspect this was one of many dore receipts for gold sold.

Fossett, 1880, reports in his Mines of Colorado that the Fisk vein was hit in the Bobtail tunnel, and that much ore was produced as a result. More than $1.2 million was taken from the Bobtail through 1880. The Fisk had several active mines on it, but there were no production statistics given.

The Mill. The company began purchasing mill equipment before it ever had a mine plan or proven ore reserves. They put “the cart
before the horse”, usual for eastern investors with a gleam of gold in their eye. Their dreams of gold were their reserves. In April, 1864, they paid $5000 for a Root Patent steam engine for the hoist. In June they bought a quartz crusher in New York. They also purchased pumps, boilers and other equipment over a 3 or 4 month period. In august, they bought a huge stamp mill with plenty of stamps and shoes to replace worn out parts. The mill equipment was shipped to Colorado in 1864, and the archive contains a number of shipping invoices from steamers on the Missouri river including the Colorado and West Wind, all datelined at Nebraska City. Early Railroad receipts are also present from the Platte Country Railroad 1864 indicating a route from St. Joe to Atchinson. They were buying soda ash and mercury through at least September 1864. [all of above from the archive]

Hollister in 1866 reported that the company ran their ore at the St. Louis Mill. They had purchased an 80’ x 80’ stone building in Black Hawk, storing all the mill equipment there. Hollister described the exact same equipment and parts counts present on some of the invoices in the archive. The results of their milling at the St. Louis Mill were less than earth shaking, and were part of a chapter by Hollister on the troubles of getting gold out of the Black Hawk ores. They recovered less than $20 per ton in gold, running about 1 ton per hour.

By 1865-6, the company had given up on building their mill and began to sell off the equipment in the stone building. There are many receipts for the sold equipment over the next 2 years.

The People.

William Vandeventer was the Company agent in New York, and at one time president. His background is unknown. He is not listed in the New York census of 1865 and not in DAB or found on internet reference sites. This archive comes from him. Vandeventer and friends also invested in several other Colorado mining companies. The Burroughs and National Mining Companies also at Black Hawk were apparently owned by the same group.

William H. Russell (1812-1872) was a founder of the Pony Express in 1860. He was a partner with Alex Majors and W. Waddell in the Pike’s Peak Express. When Russell secretly got the Pony Express going, he placed huge ads in the New York Herald advertising that he could get mail from New York to San Francisco in 9 days, or vice-versa at a charge of $5 each. On April 9, 1860, riders started from each end. William Hepburn Russell was a Missouri banker. With the opening of the west, he engaged in freight business about 1847. By the time of the gold rush, he realized that some of the good money to be made was in government contracts of freight. After a 600,000 pound contract with the fed, he formed a company with Alex Majors and W. B. Waddell in Fort Leavenworth. This became a famous freighting and express business, the largest of its kind in the region. By 1860, with the advent of the Colorado Pikes Peak Gold rush, the group formed the4 Pikes Peak Express Co. Russell was a part of the Pony Express of 1860, and his promotion of the route through the central US was a major coup. In 1862, the group sold to Ben Holladay, some say under duress, with Russell selling all of his interest to Majors. He moved back to New York.

One of the most famous people that the group hired was a young Bill Cody as an express rider in 1857, though just a lad of 11 or 12. It was on his first trip that he reported killing his first Indian. Cody became an express rider again with Russell’s Pony Express in 1860, which he bragged about all his life. There are several documents signed by Russell in this archive, and many more signed by his oldest son J.W. at Atchison or Nebraska City where he acted as the company agent. [ref: Thrapp p1253, 293, etc.].

Settle reported in Empire on Wheels, 1949, that Russell and friends were also investors in the New York Gold Mining Co probably in the Black Hawk area. He also kept his fingers in the freighting business, forming the Clear Creek and Hot Sulphur Springs Wagon Road Co. in 1862, though this venture failed within a year. In 1865 he opened a brokerage business in New York with Akers and Pease. Their specialty was “speculation in gold and dealing in Colorado mining stocks.”

Alex Majors (1814-1900) was a partner of Russell and Waddell in Fort Leavenworth in their freighting business. They held the government contracts for freighting for the “Mormon wars” of 1857-9, when all the Mormons were called to Salt Lake City. His son-in-law Lewis Simpson was a driver (wagon master) for the firm. It was he who was in charge when young Bill Cody took his first trip. Majors had a farm in Missouri and moved to Nebraska City about 1858. He was the financial backer to Russell on the first Leavenworth to Denver routes. He, Russell and Waddell founded the Pony Express. In 1861, the firm failed, largely in part because of the failure of the pony express. He purchased the interests of his partners and ran the business until 1866, though apparently sold to Ben Holladay sometime in between. In 1893 he wrote a book on his reminisces called Seventy Years on the Frontier. Ref- DAB.

There are three letters signed by Alex Majors in this archive. In one dated in October 1866 to Vandeventer, Russell talks of the danger of the steamer hitting the sand bars on the Missouri River. He tells that one of the deck passengers was killed when they hit a sand bar and he fell overboard and drowned. He also talked of the gold shipments from Colorado: It was said that there was between 1 million and 1.5 millions of dollars that came down on the boat, the most that was on any boat on the Missouri River.”

D. A. Butterfield is mentioned in one or more documents. It is unknown if he is related to John Butterfield, express man and friend of Russell’s.

Ben Holladay bought the stage coach and freight business from Russell Majors and Waddell 1861. built it to a huge business Sold to Wells Fargo in 1866. Holladay and Russell were old friends in New York, and partners at one time. There are 2 documents in this archive bearing his name, both related to Ophir Silver Mining stock (Comstock). Apparently Holladay sold his stock or used it as collateral for mining ventures with Russell, Majors, and Vandeventer. Several Holladay pieces are signed by Ben’s brother Jesse but not by Ben. [ref: Thrapp]

J. W. Stanton was an early miner at Black Hawk. He lived in the Eureka District. The eureka district was formed in early 1860 just upstream of the Gregory district. Stanton was there as early as late 1860 and participated in efforts to clean up mining recordation problems in February 1861. He ran for president of the district in Feb 1861, and got fourth place out of 6 candidates out of 422 votes cast. It appears he had a quartz mill in partnership with Sanford at Eureka in the Nevada District by April, 1861. Stanton was the company’s first superintendant and was succeeded by W. N. Dickerson. Stanton gone by 1870. There are many documents and receipts signed by Stanton and Dickerson in this archive.

Hiram A. Johnson was an investor and trustee (Director) of the Fisk and other related mining companies. He is not listed in DAB.
689. Lot 1. Archive. The Fisk Gold Mining Company of Colorado archive contains 142 pieces, including two letters signed by Alex Major and one letter signed by William Russell. Most of the archive is from 1864. In detail, there are seven billheads for advertising; 15 billheads for mill equipment; 6 papers regarding office things (stock certificate orders, etc.); 5 accounting sheets; 11 manuscript receipts for various ; 32 manuscript checks, most with revenue stamps and nearly all from Black Hawk and Central City 1864-5; 7 freight receipts for steamers; 2 US Express documents; 6 first of exchange on Atchison, Kansas Territory (“as” added in ms); 15 railroad receipts; 22 Fisk Gold Mining Co. checks; 3 Steamer Colorado Nebraska City billheads; 1 gold bullion receipt; 3 legal papers; 7 letters. All in generally excellent condition. Also includes the original small black strong box that contained these papers. (6 x 6 x 12”, gilt and red trim, with key) Est $2500-5000

690. Lot 2. Colorado steamer billhead. Datelined Neb(raska) City, Ap(ril) 6 1865. Litchfield. To Steamer Colorado, Dr. with vignette of Missouri River Packet Line at left. 5 x 8”. Adhesive 2 cent revenue attached. Small smudge upper right. Est $100-300

691. Lot 3. revenue stamped documents. Five extremely fine revenue stamped documents, all checks with manuscript datelines of Black Hawk and Central City, 1864-5. a) Black Hawk, 11/64, $2500, signed by Stanton, the Black Hawk agent for the Fisk GMC, with $1 Lease (R70?) and 25 cent certificate (R4); Black Hawk 1/65, with $1 entry of goods adhesive revenue (R67); Central City with $1 conveyance (R66); $2 Conveyance 1/65 (no city) (R81) signed by Hiram Johnson; and $2.50 inland exchange (R84) with a $1 inland exchange (R69) on a New York 6/69 signed by Vandeventer. Est 250-500

692. Lot 4. Kansas Territory Bill of Exchange (First). Datelined Atchison, K.T. with “as” written over the “T.” August 25, 1864. $2000, 2 cent blue adhesive revenue attached. Signed by John Russell, oldest son of William Russell, founder of the Pony Express. Written as a sight draft, unless the exchange laws were different for this part of the frontier. Generally very fine. Lower right corner with folds, chips. Est $300-600

693. Lot 5. Autographed pieces of Alex Majors and William Russell, founders of the Pony Express. Holographic sight draft to W. H. Russell from his son J. W. Russell, signed on the reverse by W. H. Russell. For $1226.33. Revenue stamp attached at top left (5 x 8”); 8x8” holographic receipt for $25,000 payable in three instruments signed by Alex Majors. Both are clean with minor folds. There are thought to be very few documents signed by these important frontiersmen and western financiers. The few we found reference to were in the Huntington Library. We found no record of any public sales, nor have we seen any in private collections over the past 25 years. Est $2500-5000

694. Lot 6. Ben Holladay and Jesse Holladay Second of Exchange on Donohoe Ralston & Co. for $3407 in gold. Back has $8 red California adhesive Second of Exchange stamp and 2 cent blue US imperf stamp, both tied. Signed by Jesse Holladay. Blue paper, 4.5 x 10”. Folds, one pin hole at top right. No stains. Est $400-600

695. Lot 7. One page letter to Ben Holladay from his brother Jesse outlining the 12 feet of the Ophir mine that they bought in January 1864 for $3493. “The mine is looking first rate and no doubt will pay regular dividends now”. 8 x 10”, near mint. Also includes two receipts from Eugene Kelley for the stock mentioned in the letter and three more assessment receipts for the Ophir, all dated 1866. Est $400-600

696. Lot 8. Assessement Receipts Nos. 2-5 for the Ophir Silver Mining Co. in San Francisco., No. 2 dated 1866, the rest dated 1867, all with revenue stamps. Also includes two Memorandums from Eugene Kelly & Co., datelined New York, 1866 and 1868, and an envelope with “Gold & Silver Mining Stock” written on it. The Ophir was one of the key mines on the Comstock Lode. This was one of the shares owned by Ben Holladay referenced in the prior letter. Est $150-300
697. Lot 9. Eleven Fisk Gold Mining Co. checks, 1865. All say “Fisk Gold Mining Co.” at left and in large fancy script underprint over the entire face of the check. Each has a 2 cent adhesive revenue stamp. All are clean. All signed by Vandeventer as president and James Stringer, the treasurer. Datelined New York. Very nice early checks from a Colorado Gold company. Est $150-350

End Fisk GMC Archive

698. Gilpin. Black Hawk. Pittsburg Cons Gold Mining Co. Incorporated in Colorado. Cert. #1480, issued to Mrs. Ella C. Viele for 56 shares in 1923. Signed by sec. H.J. Peacey and pres. James I. Macey. Vignette of miners working underground loading ore cars. Gold border, seal and underprint. Uncancelled. 8 X 11. Printer - Goes. This company succeeded the Pittsburg Calumet Mines Co. They owned the Pittsburg, East Notaway, West Notaway and Calumet & Hecla mines plus 20 other claims all located 1 mile from Black Hawk. Ore values from the mill ran about $20/ton with gold as the major ore mineral. (Mines Handbook, 1925, p.772) Heavy crease vertically along center of certificate. Small tear to top of each fold. Est. $25-75

699. Gilpin. Black Hawk. Reliance Gold & Silver Mining Co. Incorporated in New York 1867. $100 Bond, cert #77, issued in 1867. Signed by F. E. Tucker president and Arimtage secretary. Vignette at top center of complex scene with a cabin, horse drawn wagon, mine portal, train tressle with train crossing, sun over a mountain and several trees. Ornate black border and ornate design at left edge. Bright blue seal. 17 of 20 original coupons attached. No printer noted. 13 x 16. This is probably a company that was working in the Gregory Diggings-Black Hawk Central City area-the site of the first lode gold discovery in Colorado. 2 inch tear along left fold in upper center, but no pieces missing. Paper is delicate and thin, so folds appear as creases. Edges worn within 1 cm of edge. Slight staining along center fold, more distinct on reverse. Very to extremely fine. Est. $250-400

700. Gilpin. Black Hawk. Reliance Gold &Silver Mining Co. Inc. in NY, 1867. Cert #208, issued to Bearer for 100 Dollars in Gold in 1867. Signed by pres. F.E Tucker and sec. Enoch Armitage. Vignette of horse drawn ore cart, small mine building and steam train in background. Black border and print with blue seal. 15 x 12. 16 coupons attached. Folds. Very fine. See lot above for the story. Not rare. Est. $250-400

701. Gilpin. Black Hawk. Rocky Mountain Gold MC of Colorado. Inc. in 1864. Cert #537, issued to S.A. Henry for 100 shares in 1867. Signed by G.B. Sattich and sec. Sam. M. Long. No vignette, but the masthead has a gold sun with rays coming from it behind the title of company. Reddish-brown print and border. Twenty-five cent revenue stamp adhered at bottom left with rubber stamp from company dated 1887 over the top of it. Printer - … Broadway Co., NY. 9 x 6. Trimmed tight at left edge. Pinholes all over certificate, with larger hole at center. Stained. “N.V.” written in modern ballpoint pen on face of certificate. (probably no value written by a securities agent) Fine. Located on the Gregory lode next to the Benton, the principal lode of the Black Hawk district. In 1867 they had 2 shafts, one of which was more than 200’ deep. Both shafts were run on narrow gold quartz veins. The mine and mill were inactive in 1863-6 with no local agent when Hollister reported them. Not reported in Wallihan, 1871. These folks sold stock on a dormant mine. We have had the bonds for this company, but never the stock. Very rare and attractive, particularly with the gold rising (setting, in the case of this company) sun. Est. $500-1000

702. Gilpin. Black Hawk. Rose-City Ore Co. Incorporated in Colorado 1926. Issued to James A. Rich for 2000 shares, cert #6689, in 1928. Signed by J. A. Craig president and E. Tinsley secretary. Vignette at top center of a mill along a stream set in a valley. Green border. Around seal is gold gilt rose that fills up the lower left corner. Uncancelled. Printer - GOES. 8 x 11. The mill at Black Hawk has been operating almost solely on ore from the Gold Dirt Mining Co which operated the Ada Bell and Little Edith gold mines on the south side of Raven Hill in Teller County (Rand & Sturgis, 1931, pg 831) Extremely fine. Est. $75-150

703. Gilpin. Black Hawk. Silver Mountain MC. Incorporated in Colorado. Certificate # A243, issued to Thos. A Keating for 110 shares in 1920. Datelined Denver. Rubber stamp signature of C. W. Sauers and manuscript signature of Secretary D. C. Stratton. Uncancelled. Vignette top center of mountains with mill buildings, aerial tramway and RR tracks; flanking vignettes of miners working underground. Green border and seal. 9 x 12. Printer - Mysell - Rollins Co. Owned five and leased three claims on Silver Mountain. Exploited the Black Jack and Wheeler Tunnel veins up to 3ft wide that carried 0.3 oz. gold, 83 oz. silver and 12-1/2% lead. Development included a 260 ft shaft, crosscuts and considerable drifting. The mine was closed in 1923 as a result of expiration of the Pitman act. (Ref: Mines Hdbk, 1926, p709) Two folds, very fine. Est. $25-50
704. Gilpin. Central City (Dunbar). King Bee Gold M&MC. Cert.#938. Incorporated in Colorado. Issued to J.W. Fischer for 130 shares in 1909. Signed by president Martin and secretary Cokell. Vignette of three men in underground mining scene. Black border. Printed by J.W. Middleton, Chicago. Vf, small dark spot at bottom margin, folds. 6 1/4” x 10 1/2”. The King Bee had major underground workings, with the main access tunnel more than 2 miles long, just to reach the ore body. The ore was reported to contain 2-3 ounces of gold per ton. (Bastin & Hill). Robert L. Martin had his office in the Masonic Temple in Denver, but didn’t disclose his business in the Denver Directory. (1902). Est. $150-300

705. Gilpin. Central City. California Milling & Mining Co. Incorporated in England. Issued to Henry Tracey Gawler for 10 shares, cert #456, in 1897. Signed by H. Thompson, Fred Looz directors and John Bonar secretary. Uncancelled. No vignette. Attractive masthead. All print in green. No printer noted. 9 x 12. Fossett states, “…it cleared more money in 1879 than any mine north of Leadville.” Originally, the mine was operated under the California Gold Mine Co in 1881. Then it became the New California MC in 1886 and finally the California Milling & Mining Co in 1893. (Spence, British Invasion and the American Frontier, 1995) Trimmed tight at left. Extremely fine. Est. $125-250

706. Gilpin. Central City. Central City & Silver Plume Photopostcards, c. 1910. Lot of 3 pcs. The first is an overview of Central City. There is no border as is more common with other cards. The second is an overview of Silver Plume. The photo has numbers on each of the dumps (mines) but does not offer the corresponding names for the numbers. It might be just illustrative showing how many mines there exactly are in small area, the highest number is 23. The last card shows placer mining in an unknown location. Very fine. Est. $25-50

707. Gilpin. Central City. Central GMC. Inc. in NY . Cert.#219, issued to Mrs. Louise C. Stratton for 90 shares in 1864. Signed by pres. R.M. Stratton and sec. L. Bank. Vignette at left of cross section of a shaft with miners working above and below ground. Vignette below masthead of two robed woman seated next to each other with a seascape and train scene in the background. Black border and print. Brown 25 cent revenue stamp at top right. “Central City, Colorado” printed on certificate. Printer – C.O. Jones, NY. 10 3/4 x 6. Uncancelled. XF. The company owned properties on the following lodes: Rhoderic Dhu, Prize, Gunnell and Gunnell Eastern Extension. The mill site was on North Clear Creek, a half mile east of Black Hawk and located between the New York and Kenyon Gold Mining Company’s mill on the main road to Denver. They also had property on the Canal, Lenore, Gardner, Barn Hill and Snow Storm lodes. (Ref: Prospectus of the Central Gold Mining Company, 1866.) The Central Co. owns 200 feet of the Gunnell lode, near the Bobtail at Black Hawk, Gilpin Co. There was significant high grade at the surface which was “hogged out” as Hollister put it, meaning mined out quickly by the hogs, a term describing the early miners who only got the richest ore out quick and left. They also owned property at Gold Hill and Quartz Hill with a 20 stamp mill in Nevada Gulch, later known as Nevadaville. They had two other mills idle or under construction when Hollister wrote them up in 1866-7. Though Hollister thought highly of the company, Wallihan in 1871 did not mention them. Fossett also never mentions the company, but says the Bobtail and Gunnell lodes, among other neighbors were paying good dividends, thus I suspect that the company sold out in the late 1860’s when there was a general lull in activity because of a bit of financial panic. The Central Co. was probably under financed and needed to sell to one of the major competitors. Stratton was no relation to Winfield Stratton of Cripple Creek. Est. $500-800

708. Gilpin. Central City. Central GMC. Inc. in NY. Cert.#13, 7% Mortgage Bond, 1865. Signed by pres. R. M. Stratton, sec. L.M. Bank, trustees Wm Belcher and Lam. R. Platt. No vignette, embossed seal. Foxing along folds. One coupon cut out of bottom of certificate. Fine. 8 x 13 1/2. See above lot for story. Est. $200-400

709. Gilpin. Central City. Swansea & Central City Wagon Road Co. Two unissued certificates, 18xx, no cert #s. Incorporated in Colorado. Vignette of Colorado State Seal. Black print. 8 x 5 1/2.. Printer - Miner Print. We could find no reference to this company among our resources. This certificate probably dates from the 1870’s when wagon routes and roads were in the early stages of development. Extremely fine. Est. $50-100
710. Gilpin. Central City. White Cloud Gold Mining & Milling Co. Incorporated in Colorado. Issued to H. S. Sutcliff Sr. for 1000 shares, cert #128, in 1902. Signed by H. F. Sutcliff president and M. S. Sutcliff secretary. Vignette at top of two miners working underground. Black border with bronzed accents and safety print. Uncancelled. Printer not noted. 8 x 11. 50 cent adhesive revenue stamp at lower left corner. Milton S. Sutcliff was a mining investor. H. F. Sutcliff did not live in Denver at the time. (Denver Directory, 1902). Rare. Attractive. Extremely fine. Est. $100-200

711. Gilpin. Central City-Black Hawk. La Crosse GMC. Incorporated in New York. Cert. #4707, issued to CH. Padeau for 100 shares in 1895. Signed by Frank R. Van Nest President and Edw’d T. Washell Secretary. Vignette of New York State Seal. Pink border, print and vignette. Cancelled by star-shaped hole punches. 7 x 9. Printer - W. E. Badeau, NY. The La Crosse tunnel provided access to the San Juan mine. This mine produced gold and silver, averaging 2 oz and 6 oz per ton respectively. The San Juan was located about a mile southwest of Central City on the crest of Quartz Hill (Bastin and Hill, p. 234-235) Very fine. Est. $50-150

712. Gilpin. Mining Industry & Tradesman, July 23, 1881. This is a periodical written about the mining industry of Colorado and adjacent states. There is a story written on the Justice Mine, the New California Mine and even reports of mining accidents. There are several pages of adds for mining equipment and other stuff. At the end is a list of 126 dividend paying mining companies throughout the U. S. Published by the Mining Industry Publishing Co in Denver, editor is W. C. Wynkoop. 24 pps. Minor wrinkling of pages from wear. Very fine. Est. $50-150

713. Gilpin. Nevadaville. Nevada Consol. GM&MC. Incorporated in Wyoming. Cert. #955, issued to P.E. Stafford for 1000 shares in 1904. Signed by Theo Marx President and J. Fleischer, Secretary. Vignette in gilt underprint of Wyoming State Seal. Gilt seal and Gilpin County Mining District in gilt underprint. Datelined Denver, Colorado. Uncancelled. 8 X 10. Printer - Denver Lith Co. The company had property in Gilpin County, possibly on Nevada Hill. This district was once called the richest town in the world. (Fossett, 1880) Folds. Uncancelled. Excellent. Est. $25-50

714. Gilpin. Prosser Gulch. Gilpin Eureka Cons. Mines, Inc. Inc. in MO. Cert # 170 issued to Noah G. Fann for 10 shares, 1935. Signed by Pres Joseph A. Egle & Sec J. C. Burbey. Uncancelled. Vignettes: top center of mill buildings, headframe, mine rail lines, trestles and ore cars; at left 2 miners working underground; at right 3 miners inspecting specimen. Black border, gold safety print and seal. 6 x 10. Printer - Goes. Probably a reorganization of the Gilpin-Eureka Mines Co., which was a reorganization of the Gilpin-Eureka Mining and Milling Co. Property was developed by a 1,000 ft shaft connecting with the Argo or Newhouse tunnel affording drainage and ore transportation. Property was considered well situated and the ore carried gold, silver and lead (Mines Hdbk, 1931, p. 76) VF. Est. $25-50

715. Gilpin. Russell. Gilpin Gold & Silver Mining Co. Prospectus. Incorporated in Pennsylvania 1866. This report was published shortly after the incorporation. John Buchannan was the president, who was also the treasurer of the Girard Gold & Silver Co. The company held eight claims in Gilpin County and a mill site at the head of Excelsior Gulch. The report boasts of $200/ton ore but offers only limited proof. There are numerous testimonials, mostly promotional statements. Printer - W. B. Selheimer. Extremely fine. Est. $300-600

716. Gilpin. Russell. Girard Gold & Silver Mining Co, 1866. Prospectus. This report was released the same year as incorporation and states, “Two thousand feet is no unusual depth for mines working in America and Europe.” At the time, there were no known mines that had reached those depths, including the Comstock. Included within the report are incorporation and by-law statements. The company had operations near Central City which included the Bobtail, Rot Gut and Vulcan claims. Printer - W. B. Selheimer. 6 x 9. Excellent condition. Est. $300-600
717. Gilpin. Wyckoff & Irwin’s Gold and Silver Amalgamator, 4pp promotional flyer, 8 x 10”, circa 1864-8. This wonderful early Colorado mining promotional piece was for an amalgamator system, which involved mercury on tables or trays below the crushed product of a stamp mill. The brochure touts the operations in place in Colorado and has numerous testimonials from Coloradoans, all in Black Hawk and Central City. Several of the testimonials are by men found in Hollister’s Mines of Colorado, 1867. Hollister mentioned that the “Idaho mill has passed into the hands of Judge Backus’ Pennsylvania friends.” Dickerson was the agent for the Idaho mill, was working the Stonewall mine, wrote one of the testimonials, and was also the agent for the Fisk GMC (Please see the Fisk archive in this sale.) The Fisk GMC may have used Dickerson’s mill which had the Wyckoff & Irwin amalgamating system in place. Very rare. Est. $300-500

718. Gilpin. Central. Pittsburg Consolidated Mining, Milling & Tunnel Co. Inc. in CO, 1882. Cert. # 3609, issued to E.J. Smith for 100 shares in 1906. Signed by pres W.M. Laird and sec R.L. Wilson. Uncommon underground vignette at top left. Brown border with black print. 9 x 12. Uncancelled. Very fine. This mine is on the north side of Russell Gulch. Not to be confused with the old Pittsburgh mine in the upper Union district near Georgetown. It had a 1000’ shaft and produced ores that ran about ½ ounce of gold per ton. Its primary period of activity was 1894-1910 when it was about the fourth most productive mine in the district. (Ref: Bastin, C&L) Est. $50-75

GRAND

Grand. See Clear Creek Georgetown for a group of Alex Martin photographs.