Mineral County CO Archives Biographies.....Wason, Henry H. January 5, 1869 - ? ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/co/cofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net February 21, 2006, 7:09 pm Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado This well posted mining man and successful ranch and stock man, whose home and interests are in Mineral county, where he is one of the prominent and influential citizens, was born on January 5, 1869, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is the stepson of Martin V. and son of Harriet L. Wason, the former a native of New Hampshire and the latter of England. The mother was the author of three books which have been popular and had an extensive sale. They are “Letters from Colorado,” “Tale of the Santa Rita Mountains” and “The Legend of Manitou Caverns.” The father was a successful ranch, stock and mining man, who came to Colorado in 1873 and the same year was married at Del Norte. In 1879 he took up a homestead two miles south of Creede, which he increased to a ranch of two thousand acres, and became the first settler in the neighborhood. He raised hay and cattle extensively and was active and successful in the mining industry. In 1873 he began mining at Silverton on King Solomon Mountain and acquired the controlling interest in one mile of the North Star vein and the property in which it is located. He retained a one-half interest in the Shenandoah and all of Shenandoah No. 3, also two-thirds of the Dives claim and one-half of the Yellow Jacket, silver and lead mines. At one time he owned also a one-third interest in the Bachelor mine at Creede, but sold out at a good profit. When he came to Colorado he had two hundred horses, and so had something to make a good start with, and as he was a careful prospector, all his efforts were successful. In early life he was a Whig in politics, but in later life a Democrat. He was one of the leading men in the mining industry in his day and locality, and highly esteemed as a public-spirited and progressive citizen, of benevolent disposition and widely-known generosity. His life ended in December, 1903, and that of his wife in August, 1904. Henry H. is their only surviving child. He attended the common schools at Del Norte and the Denver high school, and also passed two years at the state School of Mines in Golden. After making this preparation for the business he spent ten months in the King Solomon mines to acquire a thorough practical knowledge of mining, and thereby became well learned in all departments of the industry. He remained with his parents until death ended their labors, and since then he has carried on the business which his father built up to such great proportions, retaining all the property and keeping every line of the business, mining, ranching, and raising stock, in full activity with enlarging profits. Politically he is a Democrat and takes a lively interest in the affairs of his party. In fraternal relations he is a Woodman of the World, an Odd Fellow and an Elk. In March, 1891, he was married to Miss Frances Rogers, a native of Golden, Colorado, and daughter of Loren P. and Elizabeth Rogers, pioneers of Colorado, the father being very successful in mining. They now live at Golden. Mr. and Mrs. Wason had two children, their daughter Norma M. and their son Loren H. Their mother died in 1900. Additional Comments: From Progressive Men of Western Colorado. Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/mineral/bios/wason163gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cofiles/ File size: 3.8 Kb