Gilpin observer., 1904-01-14

Harris, from whose residence. 144 South
Lafayette street, Denver, the funeral
will occur Saturday afternoon at 1:3O
o'clock.
1t Central City, Colorado, Saturday
| morning. January 9, 1904, Jeremiah
Lee, aged "a years, months.
| Deceased leaves a sorrowipe widow
three daughters and son to mourn the
loss of kind, loving and indulgent
father and husband. The funeral ser.
vices occurred at his late residence Mon.
day afternoon, and on Tuesday the re-
hains were taken to Denver, where tbey
were placed in the vault at Riverside.
and latter will be inferred at Fairmoupt.
MIR. Lee was among the first to pros
pect Leavenworth mountain, and wa,
the discoverer of such well known lodes
as the o. r.. Argentine, Jenny Lind,
George Law and Others several of which
have produced fortunes upon fortunes
| after they passed from his possession.
All these discoveries we're made in 1861.
Prof" Bowman was his companion pros
pector, and the two built what was
known as the Red, White and Blue
smelter in Leavenworth gulch. Bowman
was called Professor" for the reason
that he was the only person here who
knew anything about smelling ores,
having been employed in the lead smelt-
ers of Missouri. Mr. Lee and Mr.. Bow
man built the first road over Burrell
Hill-a road that was in use for MANY
years and over which millions of dollars
worth of ore was hauled.
Mr.. Lee was not only one of the first
prospectors of this district, but was
among the first to come to Colorado, and
was among those who rushed to Califor-
nia in its early history. He is native
of old West Virginia, born in Berkley
county in October, 1929. At the age Of
II his parents moved to Illinois and
then to Missouri. When II years of age
he became imbued with the spirit of war
on the occasion of our little difficulty
with Mexico, and not being old enough
to enlist as a soldier he became an at
tache of Lietenant, afterward Adjutant
Dacaso, of Co. G, in Col. Doniphan's
regiment and participated in all the ups
and downs and terrible marches of that
famous organization. He took part in
the battle Of what is now Ell Paso, and
the battle of Sacramento in chihuahua.
The former battle, he says, was in an
open field with no sort .os protection.
/ vita 800 Americans against 5000 Mexi-
cans. Yet with all the odds, the .Ameri-
cans routed them handsomely, and sent
them flying in all directions. 1t was
during this battle that Mr.. Lee became
deaf from the roar of cannon. Although
on necessary occasions doing equal SER
vice with other soldiers, and fighting
alongside them in their battles, the gov.
ernment never recognized his service be-
cause he was not regularly enlisted.
Without doubt he was the youngest SOL
dier in the American army. After march.
! ing from New Mexico to the Gull of
Mexico, the regiment embarked for
New Orleans and from thence returned
home. covered with glory, in which the
boy of II shared with the other soldiers,
In 1850 he crossed the plains and Rocky
Mountains to California to mine for
gold, and was there four years, returning
to New York by water. Again in 1859
he caught the gold fever and came to
Colorado making his headquarters at
Central City, and spent the first three
years prospecting in every direction, be-
fore, he says, he became satisfied it was
a country fit, oven for wolf to live in.
He prospected up Fall River, and around
Empire and Georgetown in 1860. return.
ing to Georgetown few years later
after town had been established. He
crossed the plains nine times before a
railroad was built, and in 1868, brought
his family out from Missouri. He has
acquired considerable mining property
in Gilpin county, and is the possessor Of
comfortable home in Central City,
surrounded by his children and grand :
children, one Of whom, grand daughter,
recently graduated from the high school
OF that place. Mr.. Lee joined the Pio-
neer society OF Gilpin county when
there were about 5000 members. Today
there are only SO.