USA > Wisconsin > Lafayette County > History of Lafayette county, Wisconsin > Part 58
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Terrill Range and Badger Range .- These ranges are situated on Lots 128, 129, 130, 131, 132 and 134, of Harrison's survey of the city of Mineral Point. They are old and well-known ranges, which have been worked continuously for many years, and are now productive of Smith- sonite and galenite. The mines are situated in a high ridge, from which the water drains natu- rally into the adjacent ravines, leaving the diggings constantly dry. The ore is found in flat sheets and "pitches" (inclined sheets). The ranges are from one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet wide, more than a quarter of a mile long, and contain ore at depths varying from ten to sixty feet below the surface. There are three principal openings in the lower beds of the Galena limestone. The parties now working on the Terrill range are as follows :
Matt Shields and John Linden .- They have been working for three years, at an average depth of forty feet, producing chiefly Smithsonite from the second opening. The sheet averages about ten inches in thickness.
Pascoe & Collins .- They have been working their present mine during the last eight years, producing Smithsonite, blende and galenite from the green rock and green-rock opening. The Smithsonite is the most abundant, and the lead ore the least so. The workings are from twenty to sixty feet deep, and the ore is found in sheets from one to four inches thick. The blende is found at the greatest depth, and averages about four inches in thickness.
Jacka & Waggoner .- These parties have been working here eight years, at a depth of about fifty feet below the surface, but never having reached the lower opening. They estimate their annual production at 15,000 pounds of galenite and 25 tons of Smithsonite. The range at this point is two hundred feet wide.
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HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.
Hitchins & Terrill .- They have been working at various times during the last ten years in the northwest end of the Terrill range, known as the Brush Lot, producing lead ore and zinc ore. This was formerly very rich ground. The work at present is confined to prospecting.
Huxtable & Son .- These parties are working near the center of the range, and from twenty to fifty feet deep, producing large amounts of lead and zinc ore. This is believed to be one of the best mines in the range.
Parties working on the Badger range are as follows :
Thomas Cox & Sons .- These parties are working near the center of the range, and have been mining here during the last ten years. The ore is found in three flat openings. The first is from ten to twenty feet below the surface, and contains chiefly Smithsonite, in sheets of three inches in thickness. The second opening is ten feet deeper, containing the same ore, mixed with galenite, in sheets of three inches. The third opening is ten feet below the second, and contains chiefly blende, in sheets averaging four inches. The description in these openings applies to all other mines in the range. Other parties working in this range are :
- Cox & Co., James Hitchins & Holman and Harris and Partner .- The mining ground on this ridge is owned in small lots by several parties, among whom are Messrs. Ross, Priestly, Tyck and Prideaux. It was found impossible to obtain any information of the amounts of ore produced on this ridge, but it is safe to estimate ore to the amount of $600 per annum for each man, and this is probably much beneath the actual amount.
William Prideaux Mines .- Southeast quarter of northwest quarter of Section 30, Town- ship 5, Range 3 east. This is a part of the Ashbank range, so called from the decomposed appearance of much of the surface lead ore. It was discovered more than thirty years since, and worked extensively for lead ore. The course of the range is nearly northwest, and its aver- age width about twenty-five feet. The principal product of the mine is Smithsonite, with some lead ore. The workings are chiefly in the green-rock opening, where the ores are found in flat and pitching sheets, from two to eighteen inches thick. The ground is dry, and the workings rather shallow, seldom being more than fifty fect below the surface. In one place, where the water was troublesome, it was removed by drilling a hole fifty-four feet deep, draining it off through a lower opening. During the present year (1876), about 51,000 pounds of lead ore and some blende were obtained in the brown-rock opening. Mr. Prideaux commenced work in April, 1873. He estimates that from January 1 to October 1, 1876, the value of ores produced is $6,500, and about the same amount from April, 1873, to January 1, 1876. A short distance southwest of the preceding is a parallel range not workedat present, but regarded as valuable mining ground.
J. Jackson & Co .- These diggings are also on the Ashbank range, and a short distance east ot William Prideaux. The ores produced are Smithsonite and galenite, in nearly equal amounts, found in flat sheets in the green rock and its openings, from fifteen to forty feet below the sur- face. The range is about forty rods long and 350 feet wide; ten shafts have been sunk upon it. Work was commenced here in 1868, since which time it has been continuous, the mines proving very productive. No exact amounts could be ascertained, but the owners estimate the value of ores produced since 1868 at $18,000, the present year being the most remunerative.
Mitchell & Pollard .- Northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 30, Town- ship 5, Range 3 east. This range is situated about sixty rods southwesterly from the Prideaux mines. These parties have been working about four years, producing Smithsonite and lead ore. The workings are shallow and dry, similar to the Ashbank range, but not so productive.
Sinapee Diggings .- These mines are situated on the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 30. They were discovered in 1854; have been worked continuously since then, and now furnish employment to several parties, among whom are
Samuel Prisk and William Paynter .- These parties commenced work in the fall of 1875, and have produced during the last year about fifty tons of Smithsonite and some lead ore. The diggings are quite dry, and average about fifteen feet in depth. The ore is found in flat sheets, the principal workings being in the glass-rock openings. The mine furnishes fine cabinet speci-
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HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.
mens of galenite. The range is about five hundred feet long, and from one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet wide, and has a general east-and-west course. The ore sheet is from two to four inches thick.
Prisk & Coad .- This is a parallel range, situated about three hundred feet south of the preceding, and having about the same length, width and thickness. The above parties com- menced work in the fall of 1875, and are now working in the upper pipe-clay opening. This mine is from fifty to sixty feet deep, and formerly produced over a million pounds. The pro- duction during the past year was 7,000 pounds of lead ore.
Samuel and William Richards .- These parties are working a short distance east of Prisk & Paynter. They have been engaged here about a year and a half, producing chiefly blende and lead ore.
Bennett & Brady .- Situated near the center of Section 29. A large amount of work has been done here, including a level to unwater the ground. They are quite productive of the ores of zinc and lead.
Short & Co .- Situated on the northwest quarter of Section 29. Considerable mining has been done by these parties in this vicinity during the last few years. There are several very profitable mines in the northwestern part of Strong's Addition to the city of Mineral Point, all on land owned by Mr. J. J. Ross. They are as follows :
Bohan & Co .- Smithsonite and lead ore are produced here. The range is from seventy to eighty feet wide, has a general east-and-west course, and is worked to a depth of seventy feet below the surface. There are two openings, separated by about twenty feet of unproductve rock, the lower ore being the glass-rock opening.
Connaughton & Casserly .- These parties are working on an east-and-west range, about three hundred feet north of the preceding. They have been working here during the last two years, having sunk two principal shafts to a depth of sixty feet to the glass-rock opening. This is an east-and-west range, about sixty feet wide, and has been drifted on to a distance of 100 feet. It produces chiefly blende, estimated by the owners at $800 per year.
John Wogler & Co .- Situated about three hundred feet northwest of the preceding. These parties are working in the same openings, and producing chiefly zinc ores. Until very recently, two other parties were employed in this vicinity, this ridge having for many years been very good mining ground.
Bennett & Co .- This party is engaged in mining and prospecting about a quarter of a mile east of the preceding diggings. Near the corner of Towns 4 and 5, Ranges 2 and 3 east, are a number of ranges which have been worked for many years. Those situated on Section 1 are the property of the Mineral Point Mining Company; those on the adjacent sections are the property of Mr. John J. Ross. There are six principal crevices, running nearly parallel, on Sections 33 and 1. Their general course is south 70° east, and on entering Section 6, they run nearly east and west. The crevices lead down to the opening between the buff and blue limestones, known as the glass-rock opening. The ore here is found in a flat sheet, about a foot thick and from seventy to one hundred and forty feet wide, which has been worked for a dis- tance of half a mile. The ores are galenite and blende, and occur associated with baryte, and have to be separated before reduction. The mode of drainage in Mr. Ross' mine is somewhat peculiar ; shafts were sunk at intervals to a distance of eight feet below the opening, into the buff limestone, where a bed is reached through which the water readily passes away. This mode of drainage was accidentally discovered in prospecting for the sheet. No ore of any con- sequence is found in the upper pipe-clay opening ; occasional bunches have been found, prob- ably not over 20,000 pounds in all. These ranges have been worked at intervals for the last forty years by various parties. Active operations were commenced by Mr. Ross about ten years ago, since which time his ground has produced about 2,500,000 pounds of lead ore, and about 3,500 tons of zinc ores. During the whole time in which these mines have been worked, it is safe to say they have produced not less than 8,000,000 pounds of lead ore, and twice as much zinc ores. During the winter of 1874-75, ore to the value of $1,600 was produced.
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HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.
During the winter of 1875-76, $1,000 worth of ore was produced. On the lands of the Min- eral Point Mining Company, several parties are working on tribute. The amount this ground is producing could not be ascertained.
Goldsworthy & Brother .- These diggings are situated on Lots 279 and 280 of Harrison's survey, about a quarter of a mile east of the preceding, and on the northwest quarter of Sec- tion 6, Town 4, Range 3 east. This is known as the Barber range, and has been worked in the winter seasons during the last six years. The ore is Smithsonite, much mixed with pyrites ; it is found in the upper pipe-clay opening, in a flat sheet from eight to thirty feet wide, and from eighteen to twenty-four inches thick, being most productive in crossing crevices. About twenty tons per year is produced here.
T. Lutey & Co .- This party is working a short distance east of the preceding, on land owned by M. M. Cothren. They have been working in a continuation of the Barber range for about two months (October and November, 1876), and have now a very good prospect. Most of the lead ore from the Barber Range is obtained from the glass-rock opening, but it never has been worked for zinc ore.
Suthers & Co .- Situated on the southeast part of Harrison's survey. This is a nearly east- and-west range, known as the " Walla Walla," and has been worked by the present party since 1865. The range is about 120 feet wide, and has been worked in the glass-rock opening to a length of about 1,000 feet, and at a depth of seventy-three below the surface. The mine pro- duces lead ore and both kinds of zinc ore. The average annual product of lead ore is about 44,000 pounds. The products from January to April, 1876, of all kinds of ore were valued at $900.
J. Arthur & Co .- Situated on the southwest quarter Section 6, Township 4, Range 3 east. This is an east-and-west range, discovered about two years since, and worked continuously to the present. The ores are Smithsonite and lead ore found in a flat sheets, from six inches to one foot thick, in the glass-rock opening, at a depth of sixty feet from the surface. The range is about one hundred feet wide. It is situated on land owned by Mr. J. J Ross. The ground is com- paratively dry.
Hoare Bros .- Situated about fifty yards east of the preceding, and on the same range, in land owned by Mr. J. Hoare. This party has been working here about two years, producing lead ore and Smithsonite from the glass-rock opening. The diggings are now very good.
Nichols & Holmes .- Situated on northeast quarter Section 7, Township 4, Range 3 east, a short distance east of the old zinc works. There are some irregular flat sheets of zinc ore in the glass-rock opening, about twenty feet deep. They have been worked during the last two years, and have produced considerable zinc ore.
Harris & Lang .- These diggings are situated about half a mile south of the preceding. This is an east-and-west range, situated in the glass-rock opening, about twenty-five feet deep. It has been worked about a year, producing considerable zinc ore. In the vicinity of the Mineral Point Town Hall, on the northwest quarter of Section 5, Township 4, Range 3 east, are the fol- lowing diggings :
Prideaux & Henry .- This is a north-and-south range, about 200 yards south of the Town Hall, which has been worked by the present party since 1866. The ores are lead and zinc, found in flat and pitching sheets, from eight to ten inches thick, in the upper pipe-clay opening, at a depth of from one to sivty feet below the surface. The range is from sixty to seventy feet wide, and has been worked to a distance of 350 feet.
Jeffrey & Bro .- Situated about one hundred yards south of the preceding, and probably on the same range. The range is here one hundred feet wide, and produces lead ore and both kinds of zinc ore in about equal quantities, and considerable iron pyrites. The work has been chiefly done in the winter season during the last two years.
Mankey & Son .- Situated about 150 yards southeast of Jeffrey & Bro. They have been working during the last twelve years in a north-and-south range. The product is lead ore, found in vertical crevices, and in flat sheets in the green-rock opening, at a depth of forty feet from the
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HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.
surface. All the diggings in this hill are dry, and most of them are remunerative, but the amounts of ore produced could not be ascertained. The mining land is owned by Messrs. Henry Coad, Prideaux & Woodman. About a quarter of a mile north of this ridge is the Mineral Point Hill, lying directly east of the city. The following parties are mining there :
Short & Foster .- Situated about 200 yards west of Jeffrey & Bro., on an old north-and- south range, sixty feet in width. They have been working during the last two years in the win- ter season, producing lead and zinc ores from the pipe-clay opening. The diggings are about forty feet deep.
Vivian & Sleep .- This party is working a nearly east-and-west range, the most southerly of several parallel ranges which cross the hill. The range is about fifty feet wide, and produces zinc ores, chiefly Smithsonite, from the upper pipe-clay opening, which is here about twenty-five feet below the surface. They have been working here during the last thirteen years, operating during the entire year.
Brown & Cluthers .- They have been mining about a year on a parallel range 150 feet north of the one last mentioned. The range is about fifty feet wide, and produces zinc ores, chiefly blende. The ore is found in flat and pitching sheets in the pipe-clay opening.
James Dunn & Son .- This party has been working about three years on a range 150 feet north of the preceding. Both kinds of zinc ores are produced from the upper pipe-clay opening, which lies here about forty feet deep. .
Trewilla & Strong .- This party has worked about eight years in this vicinity and one and a half on their present range, producing zinc ores.
Goldsworthy & Hocks .- Situated about one-fourth of a mile east of Vivian & Sleep. They have been mining about a year, producing blende. The mining land in this hill is owned by Messrs. Hutchinson, Henry, Curry, Gundry and Washburn. The ranges all bear a little north of west and south of east, and have never been worked below the upper pipe-clay opening. The earliest mining in this vicinity was done in the Mineral Point Hill. The ranges were formerly very productive, and have been worked continuously for many years to the present time. There are a few other parties mining with in a few miles of Mineral Point. They are as follows :
Rogers & Mankey .- Situated on the northeast quarter of Section 8, Township 4, Range 3 east, on land owned by Mr. Suthers, near Rock Branch. This is a new discovery, made in October, 1876, being a flat sheet of Smithsonite in the brown-rock opening.
Jeffrey & May .- Situated a short distance north of the preceding. This is also a new dis- covery, made about the same time as the preceding, being a flat sheet of zinc ores in the glass- rock opening. The prospect is very good.
Badcroft Diggings .- Section 15, Township 4, Range 3 east. Work was begun here in 1872, and has been continued at intervals since. A small amount of lead ore has been pro- duced. The ore is found in flat and pitching sheets in the pipe-clay opening, about twenty feet below the surface.
Shepard & Co .- Situated on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 22, Township 4, Range 2 east. Work was commenced here in August, 1876, on the old Maloney range. This range has a general east-and-west course, and yields lead ore and blende from the pipe-clay opening, which is here about twenty-five feet deep. The ore occurs in flat sheets from four to five inches thick, the blende forming the top and bottom of the sheet, and lead ore the central part. The product has been, to December, 1876, lead ore, 1,500 pounds ; blende, three tons. The ground is dry, and the prospect considered good.
Clebenstein Diggings .- They are situated on the same ridge, and a short distance east of the preceding. They are now operated by August Cain, who has been mining about a year. They were operated from 1865 to 1875 by Mrs. Clebenstein, and produced large amounts of lead and zinc ores. The ore was found in flat sheets, in the pipe-clay and glass-rock openings.
H. Joseph's Diggings .- Situated on the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 5. Township 4, Range 3 east. Mining was commenced here in 1871, and continued until the fall
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HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.
of 1874, when it was discontinued on account of water. The ore found here was exclusively blende, which occurred in a flat sheet in the green-rock opening. The width of the sheet was about eighty feet, its greatest thickness three feet, and it was worked for a distance of 800 feet. The greatest depth below the surface is seventy feet. During the years 1873-74, this ground produced about one thousand tons of blende.
Diamond Grove Diggings .- These diggings are situated on Sections 25 and 26, Township 5, Range 2 east. They produce chiefly zinc ores, found in flat sheets in the pipe clay and glass- rock openings. The following parties are now mining here.
Cain & Read .- Situated on the northwest quarter of Section 25. This party has been working on the Rodersdorf range during the winters of 1873-74, 1874-75. The ore, which is Smithsonite, is found in the glass-rock opening, in a range from sixteen to twenty feet wide, and two hundred feet long. The production during the first season was seventeen and one-half tons ; in the second season, twenty tons.
Robert Conley & Sons .- Situated on the southwest quarter of Section 25. Mining has been carried on here by the above party during the last ten years, on an east-and-west range. Both kinds of zinc ore and lead ore are found here, in the pipe-clay and glass-rock openings, but chiefly in the latter. The range is from forty to sixty feet wide, and has been worked a distance of one hundred and fifty yards. During the last year and a half, the product of lead ore has been 60,000 pounds, and 60 tons of zinc ore during the last two years.
Biddick Diggings .- A valuable deposit of lead ore has lately been discovered on the south- west quarter of Section 24, Township 5, Range 2 east. Four flat sheets, from one to four inches thick, are found here, situated above one another in the upper pipe-clay opening. It has not yet been sufficiently worked to determine its actual extent.
Martin Bros. §. Cramer .- Situated on the southwest quarter of Section 25. This and the preceding one are on land owned by Mr. James Spensley. They have been mining here on an east-and-west range, which was discovered two years since. The ore is Smithsonite, and is found in the glass-rock opening, which is here from ten to thirty feet deep.
Spensley &. Brown .- situated on the northeast quarter of Section 26, Township 5, Range 2 east. Men have been employed since July, 1876, driving an adit in the glass-rock opening. The adit is 200 feet long, and drains an east-and-west range. The product has been : Lead ore, 36,000 pounds ; blende, 6 tons.
Opir &. Lancaster .- Situated on the northwest quarter of Section 26. This party is work- ing the same range, 450 yards west of the preceding. It is here known as the Lancaster range, and has been worked by the present party about a year. The product has been 150 tons of blende. It is worked by an adit.
Mc Dermott &. Co .- Mining has been carried on here by Mr. McDermott for about twenty- six years, in the McShane & Gray range. The ore is found in flat and pitching sheets, in crevices and crevice-openings in the Galena limestone, above the flat openings. The dig- gings now produce lead and zinc ore. The average annual product is about thirty thousand pounds.
Schlosser & Co .- This party has been working four or five years on the east end of the same range as the preceding. The ground is dry, and the lead ore is found about forty feet below the surface. The average annual product is about ten thousand pounds.
William & Thomas Thrasher .- This party has been working in this vicinity about fifteen years, on a parallel range, situated about a quarter of a mile southeast of Schlosser & Co. The product is chiefly lead ore.
Lost Grove Diggings .- These diggings are situated on land owned by Mr. J. J. Ross, on Section 33, Township 5, Range 2 east. Mining is confined here to the winter season. The ground is dry, and the ore is found in flat sheets in the glass-rock opening. The following par- ties are mining here :
Rigger &. Arthur .- This party has been working two years in an east-and-west range, producing lead ore and Smithsonite. The range varies from twenty-five to fifty feet in width,
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HISTORY OF THE LEAD REGION.
and lies from thirty to forty feet below the surface. The product is valued at $12,000 per annum.
Clayton & Co .- Situated about a quarter of a mile northwest of the preceding. Have been working during the last twelve years on the Jim Brown range. This is an east-and-west range, from fifty to sixty feet wide, and lying about seventy feet below the surface, producing exclusively lead ore. The product has been about twenty thousand pounds per annum.
Garden & Son .- Situated about one-fourth of a mile south of the preceding. They have been working about two years, and have produced about $400 worth of ore.
Robert Brown & Co .- Situated about half a mile east of Clayton & Co., and on the same range. The diggings here are from twenty-five to fifty feet deep. They have been working about three years, and have produced about thirty thousand pounds per annum.
Furfer & Co .- They have been working on a range near Brown & Co. during the last eight years, producing lead and zinc ore.
CALAMINE DISTRICT.
There are several tracts of land situated in Sections 18 and 19, Township 3, Range 3 east, which were formerly quite productive, but little work is now done on them. They are situated on the left side of the Pecatonica River, on the ridge which separates the Wood and Bonner Branches. The ridge slopes abruptly on all sides, but one toward the various streams which nearly inclose it. On the summit of the ridge there is a thickness of about one hundred feet of Galena limestone, underlaid by about fifty feet of the blue and buff limestones, below which is the sandstone. All these formations may be distinctly seen in passing from the summit of the ridge to the valley of the Pecatonica. During the winter of 1876-77, some mining was done here by Mr. Charles Mappes, of Belmont, on an east-and-west range, lying from thirty to forty feet below the surface. Four men were employed, working on a flat sheet of blende and galenite. The amount produced could not be ascertained. Some Smithsonite is also produced in this vicinity.
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