Chaffee County CO Archives Biographies.....Halsey, John Smith 1830 - October 1895
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net February 28, 2006, 1:46 pm

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     The late John Smith Halsey, of Buena Vista, Chaffee county, who was one of
the leading mining men of central Colorado, had an eventful and interesting
career.  Four times he journeyed around the world, passed many years in the
customs service of a foreign country, and declined citizenship with the
emoluments of a high official station in another.  Some of his children were
born in China, and with him and his wife saw many parts of the globe.  He
located in the central part of this state when it was largely wild and
unsettled, and he bravely bore his part in bringing about its settlement and
civilization, and in developing its resources and making them help to swell the
tides of industrial and commercial life.  Mr. Halsey was born in 1830 at Greene,
Chenango county, New York, and passed his boyhood days there on his father’s
farm, remaining at home until he reached the age of eighteen, and getting his
education at the district schools in the neighborhood.  Filled from childhood
with a desire to go abroad and see the world, he left home at the earliest
practicable date, and joined an uncle at Adrian, Michigan, who did an extensive
business with his boats on Lake Michigan.  But his restless disposition soon
carried him back to his native state and from there through various parts of the
East.  He then turned once more toward the setting sun and crossed the plains to
California.  Having somewhere picked up a jeweler’s book which he read
attentively, on arriving at San Francisco he opened a jewelry store, and after
conducting it for awhile, went to Honolulu, where he started a similar
enterprise.  But the roving spirit still possessed him, and disposing of his
interests in Honolulu, he crossed the Pacific to the Philippine islands.  In
1857 he entered the employ of the Chinese government as one of its leading
customs officials, and in this service he was from time to time stationed at the
various ports of the empire.  He remained in China until the fall of 1879, and
then being granted a furlough for two years as an evidence of the high esteem in
which he was held by the government, at full pay, he visited his native land. 
But before coming home, he was offered the post of governor of the Philippines
by the Spanish government, which had noted his ability and fidelity to duty, the
condition of his appointment being that he should become a citizen of Spain. 
But being true to his own country, although so long absent from it, he declined
the flattering offer and followed his wife to the United States, whither she had
come in 1876 with their three sons born in China.  In the fall of 1879 he
reached his native place, and the next spring came to Hancock, Chaffee county,
this state.  Here he became interested in mining, taking the management of the
Stonewall mine at Hancock, and here his family joined him in 1881.  In 1882, his
furlough approaching its end, he returned to China and resigned his position
under the government.  While there he sold the Stonewall mine to English
capitalists, and closing up his affairs in the Orient, came back to Colorado
after an absence of about two months.  Soon after his arrival he formed the
Brunswick Mining & Milling Company at Tincup, Gunnison county, of which he was
one of the principal stockholders and manager until his death in October, 1895,
always having his home at Buena Vista after settling his family there in 1881. 
Politically he was a supporter of the Republican party, but he never took an
active part in political contentions, although he served for a time as mayor of
Buena Vista.  For many years he was an active and enthusiastic member of the
Masonic order.  He was married at Greene, New York, to Miss Ann Amelia Ripley, a
native of the place and one of his old schoolmates, he coming home from China
for the purpose.  At the time of his marriage Mrs. Halsey was instructor of
painting in LaSalle Female Seminary.  After their marriage they made a tour of
the world, and then returning to China, he resumed his duties there.  They had
four children, all born in China:  One daughter who died in that country; Cady
Ripley and John Smith, Jr., sketches of whom will be found in this work, and
Albert Neal, who died at Greene, New York, in 1877.  After the death of her
husband, Mrs. Halsey remained at Buena Vista with her sons until her death, on
May 2, 1902.  The remains of both were buried in that town.  

Additional Comments:
From Progressive Men of Western Colorado.  Chicago:  A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905

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