James Conzett Biography


	This biography appears on page 1864 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JAMES CONZETT is a native son of the old Keystone state, having 
been born at New Castle, Pennsylvania. He was afforded the advantage of 
attendance at the public schools until 1864, when his father took him 
to Switzerland and placed him in a college there. Becoming 
dissatisfied, however, he almost immediately quit the institution and 
returned to America, reaching here very soon after the return of his 
father. He spent the subsequent winter in school at New Castle, and 
then decided to take a trip through the west. He went to Ohio, but, his 
father dying, he returned to New Castle the same year and took charge 
of his father's business. Subsequently he went to Princeton, Indiana, 
where he remained a year and then went to St. Louis, where he remained 
another year. From there he went to Kansas City, Missouri, where he 
remained about a year and a half, going thence to Utah, where he was 
engaged in mining, in connection with which he was also in the produce 
business. In 1876 he decided to locate in the Black Hills, going first 
to Cheyenne, and from there going up the trail with teams, arriving in 
Deadwood about the middle of September. Shortly afterward he went to 
Galena and built one of the first log cabins in that locality. He was 
actively engaged in mining until 1897, when he located and developed 
the Emma group of claims, which subsequently became the property of the 
Galena Mining and Smelting Company. He also became owner of the 
original Alexander property, later adding to it by location. He 
subsequently disposed of all his holdings to the Galena Mining and 
Smelting Company and removed to Deadwood. He retained a property on 
Ruby gulch and organized a company known as the Ruby Gold Mining and 
Milling Company' and the property is now being developed and there is 
in sight a large body of ore, sufficiently rich to justify the 
expenditure of large sums in the erection of the mill.

	Mr. Conzett is a member of the Pioneer Society of the Black Hills 
and has been honored by being four times elected to the office of 
president of the society. He is also a member of the Benevolent and 
Protective Order of Elks, and a member of the Business Men's Club and 
the Olympic Club.

	Mr. Conzett was married to Miss Netta Maxam. The subject has for 
many years taken a keen interest in the trend of public events, and 
during the candidacy of William Jennings Bryan for the presidency Mr. 
Conzett participated actively in the campaign and delivered many 
effective speeches in favor of Mr. Bryan and the principles for which 
he stood.