Arizona silver belt., 1897-01-14
The Discovery of the Jerome Mines.

claims now owned Dy the Onlteu verde Copper Company. The News says:
 "It was in 1876 that George V. Kell, now living in Tonto Basin; John Douglierty and Judge Riley, both of whom are now dead, and Capt. John Boyd, now resident of Globe, four prospcctors, first located mining claims now included in the United Verde group"
 For the sake of the truth of history we will give the facts in relation to the discovery of that now famons mining property, ss furnished us by Capt John D. Boyd, the only survivor of the party who discovered them.
 It was in December, 1875. that John O'Dougherty, Doc O'Dougherty and John D. Boyd left Pioche. New, thor oughly equipped for prospecting trip into Arizona, their objective points being Globe and the Chiricahua noun tains. Leaving Prescott in January, 1876, they headed for the Verde river and followed that stream until they came in sight of the Black Hills Find ing some float, they prospected that re- zion aud finally made their first mining locations near the head of gnlch to which they gave the name of Bitter creek, because of the acrid taste of the water. These locations were the North and South Chrome, North and South Azure, North and South Venture, and the Gift, Cliff. Oak and other mines, and all of those mentioned by name, excepting the Cliff and Oak, are in cluded in the United Verde group,
 Capt. Boyd and his associates made the laws os the Verde miniug district, and these laws and the original loca. the case of Jordan vs Duke, recently tried ID the district court for Pima county, at Tucson, in October last, the controversy being over the title to Il portion of tbe Oak mine.
 Neither Judge Josiah Riley nor G. V. Kell were of the party that located the United Verde group of mines. Judge Riley was at that time resident of Nevada and came to Arizona f.t the solicitation of John O'Dougherty, who located him in several outside mines, which together with the original loca- tions comprised the property of the Mazatzal Mining Company, which was organized, and recorded at Prescott Judge Riley was interested more in the compilation of A book on popular gov ernment than in the mines, and re. quiring money for the publication of the work, lie was constantly importun- ing his associates to sell, which they finally did, sacrificing one of the most valuable mining properties in America.
 When tue Yeide mining district wus organized, G. " Kell was made re- corder. He then lived on the Indian reservation, where Kerwago1er & Haskell now have their fruit orchard. Kell had no part in the location of tue Jerome mines. The Boyd and O'Dougherty party felt kindly toward him. he having from time to time brought venison to their camp, and as Q recompense John O'Dousherty gave him 50 feet in the Gift claim, which was all the interest he had with them, as the records in the recorders office at Prescott will show.
 After locating the Jerome mines the Boyd and O'Dougherty party went into Tonto Basln, and in May, 1876, dis covered the Mazatzal mines, known ns the Hornet, north and south, and the Silver Zone, north and south, whicE were recorded in Ynvapai county in 1877. These were the first mines dis covered in Tonto Basin. and the loca- tors bnilt the first roads into that dis trict and brought in the first machinery. The party did large amount of devel- opment upon them, having expended sbont S2O, 900 in labor and for ma chinery and roads. Capt Boyd lived continuously at these mines until the spring of 1895. when certain parties, taking advantage of technical omis- sion on his part, jumped the property. Certainly man who has discovered and developed mines and held them for nearly twenty years without dispute should be left in peaceable possession.
 Capt Boyd has followed mining since the early fifties, and from '55 to '5s was foreman of the Rocky Bar gold mine, iu Grass Valley, Cal, at that time the richest miEe in the state. Ben and Tom Pascoe were then boys there Capt Boyd IS not only good miner but man of genial nature and strict integrity of character, who is most esteemed by those who know him best.
 The popularity of Chamberlain's Cough Remedy and the high esteem |, L. l.lxl L.. xl.. ..1 4 x lali...x,