The Definitive Story of Baxter Mountain Gold New Mexico

John Valentine Winters. . . . . .  add short story here

 

Time line of events of ownerships and partners of Baxter Mountain

  •  In 1877,  Alexander McSween sells land to James J Dolan Lincoln City ,financed by Lehman Spiegelberg  President of 2nd National    Bank, Las Vegas, N.M.  See Here for details. Their history can be seen in the Lincoln county war.
  •  Dec 23rd 1879,  John V Winters issues deed to James j Dolan and wife Caroline F Dolan on Homestake Lode 187910044
  •  Same date Dec 23rd 1879,  John Winters grants deed to John  Wilson  Homestake Lode 187910046
  •  Same date  Dec 23rd 1879, John Winters grants deed to Joseph h La Rue Homestake Lode 187910048 
  • June 14th, 1881 Winter’s issues deed to Virgil W Parker on Homestake 18810412
  •  July 30th, 1881 Winter’s issues  deed to  Samuel Dedrick and  John Hays Homestake Lode 188110131 
  •  From 9 13 1880 till 1 15 1887 Adna Lamson  appointed Postmaster 1880 was involved in several mining transactions. He was an agent or witness in these transactions, not a producer or operator. In 1900 he is a widower, in Colorado working as a miner age 47. 
  • Sept 30th, 1881 Baxter mine and Winters issued deed Baxter Mountain Gold Mining Company 18810252
  •  Consolidating Baxter Mine. Homestake by Baxter Mountain Gold Mining company not filed until 18831018 
  • Sept 21, 1886 Baxter Mountain Gold Mining Company issues deed to John G Baker, Francis N Buck and Henry F Dure 188610790  1880 census shows: Baker was 43 married, servants, owned fine leather factory (Morocco) supply to fine shoe makers. Buck was 35 single living with his mom and siblings, servants, phosphate manufacturers conglomerate, and Dure was 51 married, servants, owned largest rail car manufacturer in country. All three were living in Wilmington Delaware
  •  07 01 1907 William Watson purchases the Homestake mine and mill at sheriffs sale 190710242 (show clipping) 

 

Baxter mountain gold mining company

  • The las Vegas morning Gazette reported incorporated 3 25 1881 : John B Reno, Paschal R Smith, C. Monjean, and  Abe Spiegelberg Were the officers. ( show clipping) This company consolidated the various claims into a mine that could be developed. Early mining at Homestake were placed operations until the Baxter company arrived. Several interesting points were discussed in researching this page. From 9 30 1881 till 1907 North and South homestake were owned by people not in white oaks whom never owned any other property in the town other than the mine. No reference is made by any white oaks newspaper regarding these remote owners or the sales between them. Only one Baxter Mountain Gold Mining Company officer can be found in the 1880 census, odd. Spiegelberg was connected to both the first and the 2nd national banks in las Vegas Reynolds and Zollars were involved as well. The only benefits the town received were paid wages to the miners and the supplies, repair and freight services the mine required Baxter Mountain Gold Mining Company sold out In 1886 to three heavy weighs from Wilmington Delaware, whom oversaw the main production years. John G Baker, Francis N Buck and and Henry F Dure Were the owners. None had any other property owned in Lincoln county.  George dure. Frank’s son was reported in White Oaks in 1884 most likely doing research. They sold off a few unprofitable mines but eventually allowed the main mines to be auctioned off in 1907. Then  Jackson, Lane and Queens held title until 1912 when the queens took over and continued till the 1950s
Other lost to time mines and claims in the white oaks mining district that have deed transfers

Winters homestake,  Little daisy, Absinthe, Canadian, Hell’s 1/2 acre, Holy terror, Keystone, Iron grit, Golden eagle, Exchange, Short and sweet, Clay quartz, Perea lode, Wilson Homestake, La Minera del las cruces, Legal tender, Old dad, Red chief, Red dick, Alice brinkman, Big fortune, Plate verse, Old cash triangle, Red cloud, Little chief, Little mac extension, Sinclair claim, and Wheel of fortune

JAN 14 1880
Eli hayes Chandler ( born oct 1857 , Delaware, d 1919 Baltimore, )purchases the following mines directly from the claimant
Jason
Little annie
Lulu b
Large hope
Little Nell
Red prince
Virginia boy
Golden eagle
Short and sweet
Plat de verde
Little mac
Alice brinkman mine

It should be noted, none of these became a successful endeavor. Eli had been living in Topeka KS, single, living with a roommate in a rented house , 23 years old a lawyer. The 1880 census shows his father Hayes Chandler ( 1820-1886) living in Wilmington Delaware working as a land lending agent. His son Howard Lincoln Chandler ( b1859-1926) lived at home working as a private banker. They lived in the general area with John Baker, Francis Buck and Henry Dore. (The three men whom did profit from north and south homestake mining activity)

It’s no coincidence Eli Chandler ended up in White oaks as his family was involved with the heavy duty partners from Wilmington that eventually did succeed in White Oaks. Eli had two brothers Amon (1860-1861) and Eugene (1872-1874) whom died in infancy and one Simon whom cramped while swimming in 1875 in Wilmington and drowned age 14. Eli and family announced the creation of a bank in White Oaks which was announced in the newspaper, it was chartered, later newspaper articles state it went broke prior to 1883.

The authors have not found any deed issued to build a bank, nor period advertising. nor published condition reports which were required then. Nor was the bank involved in any lending requiring deeds. The question is whether or not Eli actually did operate the first bank in town or did it ever exist. Once proof either way is found. The result will be included here. 

Newspaper articles regarding Eli installation of equipment and mill operation are seen.

08 11 1881 Eli purchases
Prescott lode
Large Hope’s lode
Oro cash triangle
Red cloud mining claim

05 18 1883
Purchases
Copper king
Copper Queen
Consolidated mine

02 13 1884
Purchases Helpingstine mine Runs out of money to make payroll, cedes control to George Dore whom is in residence by mid 1884 , son of Henry of Willingham Delaware. It was all over for the young lawyer in White Oaks. He is next seen in 1900 census working as a lawyer in Atlantic City in a rent house with his wife and children. His brother Howard is in Philadelphia in a rent house with his wife and children working as a stock broker. Their fathers money lost in white oaks