Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1892-03-12
r.E history OF a PIoxEEB,

TEE HISTORY OF A
The San Francisco Examiner in lite edi'
tion Of last Sunday has an extended bio
graphical sketch Of Simeon Wenbsn. the
owner of the celebrated Cortez mines in
this county. The article is more histori'
cal than otherwise. conveying but q faint
idea Of the tremendous struggle made BY
Mr.. wenbsn before Wrestling success
from the eternal hills. The many trials OF
that portion Of his life covering the
period between 1854 and abeut 1850, can
never be realized nor written by any
other person than himself. Some dates
and other information eulled from the
Examiner will prove interesting to the
readers Of the SENTINEL. Mr.. Wenban
was born in County Kent, England, May
Is, 1924, but came with his parents to
America when only four years OF
age. They settled ct Utica, n. Y,
where they remained for six years. there.
upon removing to Cleveland. Ohio. BE
was married In ls49 in Illinois, to Miss
Caroline Shepard, but leaving his family
behind him be sailed.from New York in
1854, reaching San Francisco on March
18th of that year. He tried placer min
ing in California with varying success for
some years, coming over to the Comstock
in 1862, and TO Austin with the rush in
1868. The Examiner gives the following
account Of his operations at Cortez:
AFTER a wearisome journey some
seemingly good prospects were struck in
| the neighborhood Of Mount Tenabo, and
arrangements were at once made to start
in work, in conjunction with a number
Of San Francisco capitalists. The Cortez
Company was then formed, and an eight
stamp mill was erected. This venture
was also a failure, the company receiving
but s25, 900 out s2O0,C"1 invested. Moth.
ing daunsed, he again started out. and in
| four claims in the limestone district be
was named as part owner by the original
locators, Senator Hearst owning the con-
| trolling interest, which interest was
afterward purchased by Mr.. Wenban.
| Mr.. Hearst's other interests would not
permit him to develop the mines, but
Mr.. Wenbsn, being satisfied that fortune
awaited him, experimental and satisfied
| himself OF their value. He finally Sc.
| cured twenty-six locations on favorable
terms and purchased the mill Of the
CortezC Company, which had cost 500, coo,
for $40, 0C0. 1t was enlarged and used
until 1885, when a new mill was erected
at the mine. To supply water Mr.. Wen
ban bored two a~rtesian wells and ex-
pended $50, 900 in the work. In 1856 he
substituted the teaching for the amalgs'
mating process and found q great saying
thereby. The amount Of bullion actually
produced from the time he began work
ing his mines to 1888 was s3,5C0,C D."
1t only remains to be said by the Sen.
rINEL that Mr.. Wenban has always stood
III WIS oCCbiOhp WhClO Al q . bOo huOWht
in the foremost rank for integrity
aud liberal and Straightforward dealing
with his fellow men, and no man is more
universally respected for his liberal mind
and kind heart. He has a charming
family, consisting Of his wife and two
refined and accomplished married daugh'
lers and four grandchildren. His beauti'
ful home at the corner of Van Ness
Avenue and Jackson street lie one Of the
most pallatial private residences in Sar
Francisco. Its furnishings throughout
are in elegant and refined taste. Mr.
Wenban, who is approaching 70. look
twenty years younger, and is enioyin,
life with a zest that can only be appre'
ciated by those who have finally beer
released from a long struggle Of weari
some toll. He has hosts Of friends ant
richly deserves all the good fortune tina
has come to him in these latter years.