Emma Silver Mine In Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah

United States Land Office, Salt Lake City, Utah, Oct., 1870. Notice is hereby given. That we, James M. Day, William W. Chisholm, James Smith, William B. Smith, Minerva M. Cunnington, James F. Woodman. J. Robinson Walker, Samuel S. Walker, Francis L. Clift, David F. Walker, and Matthew H. Walker, known as the "Emma Silver Mining Company," do claim twenty-four hundred feet in length by one hundred feet in width, on the "Emma" lode, (being a silver bearing vein of rock in place), and the land and premises appertaining to said mine, all situated in the Little Cottonwood mining district, county of Salt Lake, and Territory of Utah.

Captain Woodman, the well-known mining magnate, whose name will live in the history of our State in connection with those famous mines, the Emma and the Centennial-Eureka,of which he was the discoverer, came west in 1857, and made his first visit to Utah in the spring of 1865. He was by birth an Englishman, and his family were well-to-do land holders, but while yet a youth, the spirit of adventure impelled him across the Atlantic. He settled in Canada, where for some time he was engaged in railroading, prior to setting out for California, drawn thither by the magnetic excitement of the world-renowned gold discovery, which was then at its very height.

Arriving on the coast, he spent the next few years in placer mining, but was unsuccessful, and in the hope of bettering his fortunes, he crossed the Sierras into Nevada and became interested in some equally unsuccessful mining properties in that part. Thence, he went to Wyoming, to examine some oil springs, of which he had heard, and while upon this journey, he and his friend, Captain J. M. Day, passed through Salt Lake City, where they made the acquaintance of General P. E. Conner and Robert B. Chisholm, who were mining both in Utah and Nevada. Soon after this visit, Captain Woodman settled permanently at Salt Lake City, where he maintained a continuous residence up to the time of his death.

Until 1868 the Captain's mining experience in Utah was a repetition of what he had passed through in California and Nevada, but better days were in store for him, and they came with the discovery and location of the Emma mine, in Little Cottonwood canyon. His interest in this celebrated property he sold in 1871, for one hundred and ten thousand dollars. The Walker Brothers, who next controlled the mine, disposed of it to a British Syndicate for five millions. Prior to selling his interest in the Emma, Mr. Woodman located and worked a copper claim in Bingham Canyon, from which was taken the first copper ore shipped out of the State. Soon after the turn of the financial tide in his favor, he married Miss Fannie Corwin, of Cleveland, Ohio, from whom he was parted, after a brief period of wedded happiness, by death, in the year 1876. This calamity was prefaced by others in which his fortune was completely swept away. He did not lack for friends, however, though for some time ill luck continued to pursue him in his mining operations.

The year that his wife died he located, in the Tintic District, the Centennial-Eureka mine, which was prospected and developed by himself and W.W. Chisholm,whose biography is given in this same group. For eight years their labors yielded them little in the way of reward, but finally fortune smiled once more upon the veteran miner, who is said to have realized in one way and another from this rich and productive property, a full half million dollars. A few years since, he parted with his interest therein, but continued to own and work mining properties in various parts. The Winnamuck, in Bingham, was largely owned by him, though he lost heavily through his connection with that once prosperous mine. He also owned claims in the Deep Creek country, which death prevented him from developing as he designed. Among his holdings was considerable valuable property in the city of Chicago, where he was visiting at the time of his demise.

In Salt Lake City, Captain Woodman resided at the Alta Club. He had no children, and his nearest relative in these parts was Mr. J. H. Woodman, secretary of the Cunnington Mercantile Company. He had a brother living at Ottawa, Canada, and one or two nephews in New Brunswick, where the Woodmans settled upon coming to America. A sufferer from dropsy in his old age, Captain Woodman was in Chicago on business, in the fall of 1901, when he was taken seriously ill, and in the following January his Salt Lake nephew was summoned to his bedside. All was done for him that could be, but he grew steadily worse, until death ended his sufferings, March 15, 1902. He left an estate valued at a quarter of a million. In accordance with his dying request his remains were taken to Ottawa, for burial.

Col. J. F. Woodman, the old-time mining man, died Saturday at Chicago at the age of 70, from dropsical affection, after an illness of several months. He leaves a nephew, Harry Woodman, of this city, a brother in Winnipeg, and several nephews and nieces in Winnipeg, Canada, and New Brunswick. The colonel also leaves an estate valued at about $500,000 in mining property in Utah, and Nevada. Harry Woodman was sent for in January last, and he remained with his uncle until the end.

That his devotion was appreciated is evident from the fact that Col. Woodman left Harry $130,000. The property consists of stock in the Consolidated Street Railway company, the Daly-West mine, Silver King, Comstock. Winnemuck, Kane Springs group, and other mines. So Harry will not have to worry along any longer as secretary of Cunnington & Co. but can take life easy for the remainder of his "born days." A house and lot in Chicago, valued at $20,000, is bequeathed to Mrs. John Craig, wife of a close friend of the deceased, at whose home he died. The remains have been shipped to New Brunswick for interment, and Harry Woodman has gone thither in charge of them.

Col. Woodman was a native of Marlborough, Eng., where his father was a landed proprietor. But the son was drawn to California in the fifties, and for 26 years prior to his final departure for Chicago last fall, was a resident of Salt Lake. He resided on east Second South street until three years ago when he removed to the Alta club.

James F. Woodman was for years one of the wealthiest and most popular mining men in Utah, and was one of the pioneers of the great mining industry for he came to the territory in 1866, and since then has been instrumental in materially aiding and directing in the development of many of the richest and most extensive deposits in this part of the country. Col. Woodman began his mining career in 1851 in California, remaining in that state for seven years, removing then to Virginia City. In 1864 he and Capt. J. M. Day went to the Bear River oil fields; but its success did not attend their efforts, the two went south to Pahranagat, where Col. Woodman actively participated in the organization of Lincoln county, Nev., and built the second house ever put up in the valley. Col. Woodman subsequently removed to this city and located in the Little Cottonwood mining district, where he discovered and located the famous Emma mine, in company with Capt. Day. Selling a small share in the property to the Walker Bros., active operations were begun with the proceeds. In 1870 he sold his interests to Warren Hussey and leaving the territory, did not return until 1875, when he resumed mining.

Until recent years Col. Woodman has been an active operator in mining interests in this state. He was not only a large stockholder in many of the best known mines in the territory, but he held important positions in their official directory. The deceased was a widower and had no children. He was married in Cleveland early in the seventies to Miss Fannie Corwin, a descendant of Gov. and Senator Thos. Corwin, but she died in 1879. The old colonel will be much missed in the West.