The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-01-22
IS ] WORTH
IlLIONS
Copper King Visits
His Parents.

John, Henry Holden Returns
From the Far West a Mil
lionaire to Make His Par
ents Happy.
John Henry Holden, of Chelan, Che
Ian county, Washington, has been In,
Denison this week after years of abb
sence. He returns a millionaire, the
owner OF one of the world 'srlchest cop
per ledges which he has leased for
princely sum His aged parents, Mr..
and Mrs. John Holden, are the hap
piest people in Denison. For years
they have struggled with poverty, do
ing without the comforts and some
times almost without the necessities of
lie. Now their son has returned, pos
sibly the richest man who ever trod
the streets of Denison, and what is just
as good to their loving hearts, a fine,
manly. we'll informed, gentlemanly
man. 1t was in 1854 that young Hol-
den left his employment in the store OF
r. b. Hillas in Dunlap to go West.
He clerked for while in Lincoln, Neb.
and then went to Colorado. Here he
worked and became interested in min
Ing, later becoming ore inspector for
smelter. 1t was here that fortune
first smiled upon him and that for an
investment of S1.50, he with two others
found claim which they sold for s64,-
O00. Holden used his share for further
prospecting, and in two years he was
penniless. Again he went west, this
tire to Seattle. where he clerked in
winter to get enough money to pros
spectin the summer. The storySof his
trips over mountains, through forests,
caiping alone in the wilderness with
his blanket and rife, would fill vol
umes. It was July of 1896 that he
found his fortune in perhaps the Wild
est part OF the state of Washington,
near the head of Lake Chelan. After
many days of prospecting he stopped
on the mountain side, preparing for
his noon-day meal He went up the
slope in hopes of shooting some grouse
for his dinner, and while there, his ex-
perienced eye caught sight Of the out
cropping of the ore which was to make
of him millionaire. 1t may well be
imagined that dinner and grouse were
forgotten. and that he eagerly examin-
ed the ledge for verifcation of the
story told by the telltale rock. The
find was richer than he had anticipat-
ed, even in his widest dreams. A for
tv-six foot ledge of solid copper and
gold bearing ore, reaching way up the
Eountain side. He at once set about
doing the assessment work necessary
to hold his claim, and built little
shanty as a shelter against the elem
ents. Although rich he was still poor
he had millions in ore, but no money
with which to develop his claim and
bring the metal to market: his first
step was to organize a stock company
with friend named Maloney. and his
brother-in-law, Mr.. Lord. the three
were soon able to bring the worth of
the claim to the attention of capital
lists, and last November they effected a
lease covering period OF seven years.
By the terms of the lease, MIR. Hold
en- receives 100000 cash, for the first
six moaths he is to receive a bonus of
800 per month, for the second six
months bonus of 5000 per month, for
the second year $500 per month, for the
third year $4O0 per month and for the
fourth and fifth years $500 per month,
aside from this ROYALTY of 10 per cent
of the gross output of the mines for the
first five years, and for the last two
years of the lease he receivesa royalty
of 20 per cent of the gross output and
GU uuS CuSt Va tJS iSuoS viz So tiCohiSoo
who have leased the mine may pur-
chase it for the cash consideration of
ST. 100000. Aside from this Mr.. Hold
en- has other near by claims, for one of
which the company has offered him
$780, 900. This sounds like a tale
from the Arabian Knights, but Mr..
Holden's life has not been one OF roses,
and it is only his indonitable pluck
and perseverance which made this
golden reward possible. Shortly after
the discovery of the claim, Mr.. Holden
was suddenly surprised by supposed
friend, who, at the point Of q, g, revolver,
demanded that he deed him half in,
terest in, his claim. Mr. Holden's ans.
LIVER was to spring at the fellow witha