The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-18
MILLIONS IN A
SIS TRANSACTION
Trifing Deal Brought Senator
Nixon and Geo. Wingield Into
Millionaire Partnership.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Goldfeld, Nevp- Aug. Is. - This
drear, dread, gold bearing desert of
Nevada has produced many strangely
assorted associations of men, but none
stranger than the close ,comradeship and
absolute partnership of George Wing
field and George S. Nixon. The people
Of the land have heard Of Nixon, for
he was recently elected to the United
Stewart. In the highest council in
the land, Nixon now stands for Ne
vada, but the name of Wingfeld is
still unsung outside the state in which
he is so rapidly making himself IA
nous. .t ~. .sas.@.
Nixonis ~ years old; Wing6eld, only
~. They are both millionaires, but
cessful pursuit of wealth. Nothing
Identifies their individual character
istics better than the manner in which
they came together. Senator Nixon,
always man of affairs, had a bank at
Winnemucca, New, doing business in a
modest way, building his fortune slow
lyos. but on firm foundations. Into his
came youth, something of a shambier
but with keen eye and an easily dis
cernible determination to accomplish
definite purpose.
"Will you give. me $25 on that9"
he said to the banker, throwing on the
desk a diamond ring.
Nixon had never had any thought of
there was something. in tho appearance
of his unknown visitor that attracted
him. In the bankers mind was i
thought to have little fun with the
youth, but he never got beyond the
single question:: =.
CHOW do I know that your diamond
is worth a $25 loan?'
Quick as a wink the other settled
the discussions:
't,There s the rock; lend or not; it IS
up to you.'
Nixon Made the Loan. ..
The loan was made and then and
there the future United States senator
had won the friendship and devotion
Of George Wingfeld, 10 years old with
only a diamond ring to show for sew
towns and camps Of Nevada
Wlngfield was much Of gambler at
that time. He never made any pre-
| tense of anything else, but he was
the kind of square western gambler
that even a Nevada banker could rely
upon. and in after days Nixon unques-
t1onably and without regret backed
| w LnaC
became enormously successful.
Wingfeld was Arkansas born, but was
taken to Oregon when. youngster. He
had rough and ready bringing up
when he drifted over into Nevada
reached Winnemucca and made his
first transaction with Banker Nixon
For few years Winnemucca held him
Then came the gold excitement al
Tonopah, and he was off like a fash
|
anything out of the line of humdrum
Nixon ha d staked him again and he hat
$500 or $400 when; he reached the new
camp. Unknown to Nixon he set, him
self up in a gambling house, which h
called the Tonopaha club. The touch O.
Midas was with him from the start, TO
that establishment is said to have nette
him at least '$15o;eoo annually in tn
1 five years of it's existence. 1t is tn
only enterprise that Wingfeld has i
which Senator Nixon has never been i,
partnership. y l..
In the earliest days of his 'Tonopa
prosperity, Wingfeld, ever mindful O
his obligations, wrote to Nixon i
WSidnannemucca, inclosing a check TO
: $3.50 ),
wrote, characteristically, "and send m
the change. By the way, you had bel
ter come to this Tonopah country
There is chance to make money!
Almost Split.
Nixon went to Tonopah and pro-
pered. Wingfeld had accumulated niue
real estate and mining property the1
and Nixon went in with him in ever,
thing. An anecdote shows how nea
\ they We're to parting Of the ways whe
( the gold discoveries were made at Col,
field less than two years ago. Ready I
get in on the ground floor in all thu
:, was doing, they took an option and pal
N down $4,000 on several claims that wei
te included in what was known as tt
c, Grandpa group, now split up into sue
Oh rich properties as the Sandstone, CO
x uu1mbia, Moutain, May Queen, Kenda
is Nevada Boy and some others. 1t W;
IS big group of undeveloped claim
or and when the time came to take up II
ID option, Nixon did not think it wort
sh while to put in any more money. TT
man who controlled the property we
al to Tonopah and Wingfeld was the
Id with the cash. To Nixon he simp
n. said: . -
OF "You are in for half''
Wingtield a Tireless Worker.
II: IN .Wingfeld is absolutely indefatigab]
es and as he is alert to every new oppc