Golden Fleece Mining and Milling Company (New York) facts for kids

The Golden Fleece Mining and Milling Company was a mining company that started in Tompkins County, New York, around 1879 and officially began on April 22, 1882. It had a lot of money, about $1,000,000, and its shares were traded on the San Francisco Stock and Exchange. This company was all about finding valuable minerals.

The company owned and operated several mining locations. One important site was near Deadwood, Placer County, California, where they dug a very long tunnel, called the Golden Fleece Tunnel, which was three thousand feet long! They also had a mine close to Georgetown, in Clear Creek County, Colorado. It's also believed they had some gold mining interests in Cave Creek, Arizona.

In September 1892, George W. Peirce, who managed the company's money, bought the famous Golden Fleece Mine in Colorado for $50,000. This was a big purchase! Around that time, the company seemed to get more money to grow even bigger. It's thought that a new company with $600,000 was set up in Iowa in 1893, using the same name: Golden Fleece Mining and Milling Company (Iowa).

Who Ran the Company?

Running a big mining company needed many important people. Here are some of them:

George W. Peirce: The Money Man

George W. Peirce was the secretary and treasurer for the Golden Fleece Mining and Milling Company. This meant he handled all the important paperwork and money. He also held the same job for the new Golden Fleece Mining and Milling Company that started in Iowa in 1893.

John Owen Marsh: A Short Time as President

John Owen Marsh was born in 1829 and became the president of the Golden Fleece Mining and Milling Company in April 1884. Sadly, his time as president was very short. He traveled west for company business, going to Colorado and then to Arizona Territory, where the company's property was located near Cave Creek. He became very sick with a fever, which turned out to be typhoid. He passed away on August 1, 1884. His death was a sad event for the company and his hometown.

Henry Monell: The Mining Expert

Henry Monell was the superintendent of the company, probably until 1883. He was a very skilled mineralogist, someone who studies minerals. He had explored for minerals all over, from Alaska to Mexico! He played a big part in developing mining activities in Colorado.

Thomas Blake Campbell: The Architect Director

Thomas Blake Campbell, born in 1854, was named a director of the company. He was a talented architect and builder. He designed many buildings at Cornell University, including chapels, halls, and gymnasiums.

Stephen F. Mack: The Superintendent

Stephen F. Mack was another superintendent for the Golden Fleece Mining Company. He likely took over this role after Mr. Monell left. Mr. Mack was with John O. Marsh when he passed away in Arizona. He later returned to Ithaca and shared details about Mr. Marsh's illness and death. When asked about the company's future, Mr. Mack said he believed they had a good claim, even though he couldn't share all the details.

After Mr. Marsh's death, people wondered what would happen to the company. The exact future of the original company isn't fully known, but it's very likely that its interests and properties were moved over to the Golden Fleece Mining and Milling Company (Iowa), which was created in 1893. George W. Peirce was involved with both companies.

Not to Be Confused: The Nevada Company

It's important not to mix up the Golden Fleece Mining and Milling Company (from New York/Iowa) with another company called the Golden Fleece Gold & Silver Mining Company, which was in Nevada. This Nevada company started earlier, on February 2, 1875.

The Nevada company was involved in gold and silver mining at the Golden Fleece Mine (Nevada), near Poeville. This company was also listed on the San Francisco Stock Exchange. Today, the Nevada company is known because of some important legal cases about mining claims. These cases helped shape mining laws in the United States.