Mercur Timeline
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This page was last updated on January 31, 2026.
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Mercur Timeline
A timeline of major events in the Mercur mining district, originally known as the Camp Floyd mining district.
Interested researchers are directed to online newspapers, especially Newspapers.com. A search for "Camp Floyd Mining District" gives a wide variety of results.
Silver Era
April 16, 1870
The Camp Floyd Mining District was organized. (E&MJ, April 24, 1897)
April 20, 1870
The first mining claim, a
placer claim, was located and registered by L. Greeley. (E&MJ, April 24, 1897)
1871
"It was opened as a silver camp in 1871 by the development of the Sparrow Hawk and Carrie Steele mines., In the former a pocket of ore fifty feet wide in places was tapped and worked to a small depth. At that time the Carrie Steele turned out rich ore. It was claimed that the two mines produced all of one million dollars. (Salt Lake Tribune, January 1, 1894)
November 1871
As part of the law suit of Marion Gold Mining company vs. Geyser Mining company: "Leandro Steele's Story - At this time court took a recess until 2 o'clock, at which hour Leandro Steele was called. Mr. Steele testified that he located the Carrie Steele claim, which he named after his daughter, in November, 1871, and remained in the locality for a number of years. He saw no work done on the west end of the Marion prior to 1875. In that year he and Higginson both did work on the Marion, which he believed was at a point between the present incline house at the head of No. 2 incline, and the south side line of the Marion. Mr. Steele was confident that there was no incline upon the property in 1872. Mr. Steele testified on cross-examination that he never owned an interest in the Marion. He had seen a monument or a stake on the southwestern part of the claim near post 4, in 1872." (Salt Lake Tribune, July 17, 1896)
1872
The Sparrow Hawk, Last Chance and Marion claims were among the first lode claims located, and were the first ones surveyed for patent, the surveys having been made early in 1872. (E&MJ, April 24, 1897)
May 16, 1872
The Sparrow Hawk mine had a force of nearly 100 men working under the supervision of Capt. Walker. The Queen of the West was not being worked. The General Lowe and the Mormon Chief were both producing large amounts of ore. The Eastern Hemisphere, also known as the Star of the West, was idle. The Excelsior, Bald Eagle, Carrie Steele, America, Ella, Maria and marrow mines were all looking well and were being developed. (Salt Lake Tribune, May 18, 1872, with many other comments about the growth of the district and the town of Lewiston)
November 22, 1872
The Camp Floyd Silver Mining company was incorporated "this past season." The Sparrow Hawk, Marian and last Chance mines were owned by an English company, and the bullion was being shipped direct to England. The company's mill had 20 stamps, and regularly runs out of water, hindering operations. Baxter and Hussey were building a mill at Fairfield, eight miles from camp. The Jenny Lind was the only cinnabar mine in Utah. (Salt Lake Herald, November 22, 1872, includes a long list of active mines)
February 26, 1874
A lengthy article providing a summary of the Camp Floyd district with a list of the mines in the district, and the town of Lewiston. The first mines mentioned by name, about halfway through the article, and therefore likely the most important and most active, were the Sparrow Hawk, Last Chance, and Marion mines. The three mines are shown as "owned and worked by the Camp Floyd Silver Mining company, a British corporation, who have erected a twenty-stamp mill a little south of Lewiston." (Salt Lake Herald, February 26, 1874)
July 23, 1879
The Carrie Steele Mining company was incorporated. (Silver Reef Miner, July 23, 1879)
January 1, 1884
From the Salt Lake Herald, January 1, 1884, "Geology of Utah."
Camp Floyd Mining District.
The principal mines are situated around Lewiston.
The principal mines are the Sparrow Hawk, London, Marion, Geyser, and others of the Camp Floyd Silver Mining Company. These mines are largely developed by numerous shafts, inclines, drifts and adits, and have produced a great amount of silver, which would have been made more profitable if the early management had been more judicious.
The Carrie Steele is largely developed, showing large quantities of rich ore.
The Queen of the West, Silver Cloud, Silver Shield, Antelope, Jenny Lind, Lewiston, Last Chance, Camp Douglas, Silver Star, Reno, Leopard, Silver Circle, Wandering Boy, Star of the West, Midway, Emery, Black Hawk, Gentile Belle, Mormon Chief, Grecian Bend, Mercur, Alexander and New Idria are all promising mines, having all been more or less extensively developed and ore-producing.
Gold Era
December 26, 1890
The Mercur Gold Mining and Milling company held its annual stockholders meeting on January 14, 1891. R. L. Scannell was secretary. (Salt Lake Tribune, December 29, 1890, publishing a notice dated Decemver 26, 1890)
(The above is the first reference in online newspapers to "Mercur" as a location or company in Utah. There were two men in other parts of the nation, a General Mercur, and a Judge (or Justice) Mercur, mentioned throughout the 1880s.)
January 13, 1891
The annual meeting of the Sparrow Hawk Mining company was held on January 13, 1891, in the same location in Salt Lake City as the annual meeting of the Mercur Gold Mining and Milling company the next day. R. L. Scannell was secretary of both companies.
(Salt Lake Tribune, December 28, 1890)
January 14, 1891
The annual meeting of the Mercur Gold Mining and Milling company was held at the office of the secretary of the company in Salt Lake City. The "election of officers for the ensuing year was proceeded with, which resulted as follows: John Dern, of Fremont, Nebraska, president; Henry W. Brown, vice-president: Gilbert S. Peyton, treasurer; Robert L. Scannell, secretary, and these, with the addition of Joseph Smith, form the board of directors; all, with the exception of the president, are Salt Lake parties. The stockholders were well pleased with the outlook, and the mill will be put in operation within thirty days. 150,000 of the 200,000 shares of capital stock were represented." (Salt Lake Tribune, December 28, 1890; Salt Lake Herald, January 15, 1891)
June 27, 1893
"M. J. Franklin" applied to the U. S. Land Office in Salt Lake City for patents on the Brickyard, Potosi, Justice and Arab mining claims, all in the Camp Floyd mining district. (Deseret News, June 27, 1893)
(The Franklin patent application to consolidate the above claims was contested in Third District Court by James W. Neill, who held the adjacent Lady May, Vulture and Sullivan claims. -- Deseret News, August 8, 1893)
October 5, 1893
"James Franklin" was the principal owner of the Brickyard group of mines at Camp Floyd. (Salt Lake Tribune, October 5, 1893)
(James Matthew Franklin was born in Missouri in 1843 and passed away in Stockton, Utah, on October 5, 1893. He was a widower at the time and living in the St. Elmo hotel. The cause of death was listed as pneumonia. His illness was mentioned in the October 5, 1893 issue of the Salt Lake Tribune.) (KNH6-CFD)
1894
Capt. Joseph R. DeLamar bought the Brickyard mine from Enos Wall in 1894. (Utah Since Statehood, Noble Warrum, editor, 1919, page 260)
In 1895 Capt. J. L. DeLamar bought the Golden Gate group of mines which became his Mercur Mines. In 1897-1898, the Golden Gate Mill was built, a 500 ton cyaniding plant. In 1896 and again in 1897, DeLamar had tried to purchase the Mercur Gold Mining and Milling Co., but the price was more than he thought it was worth.
(Read more about Capt. J. R. DeLamar)
August 18, 1895
Brickyard Group -- "It is very evident that the great fight will be between Colonel Wall and his associates and Mat Gisborn. The latter clams a one-half interest in the group, while the colonel and his people have secured bonds on the interests of the Franklin heirs and also control the claim of the Viking company. Until very recently Mr. Gisborn was the administrator of the Franklin estate but there being some dissatisfaction expressed among the interested ones as to the manner in which the affairs of the estate were being managed, Mr. Gisborn stepped down and out and Professor Gillilan was appointed by the probate court to take charge of the affairs of the estate." (Salt Lake Herald, August 18, 1895)
Novemver 22, 1895
Brickyard Group -- John Dern and Edward H. Airis purchased a 1/4 interest in the Brickyard mine at Mercur, for a reported $150,000 or $200,000. The purchase was made knowing that the title of the Birckayrd group was being contested. The two men had sold their interest in the Mercur Gold Mining company. (Salt Lake Herald, November 22, 1895; November 28, 1895)
Edward H. Airis (10 May 1846 – 21 May 1910) (LVWB-V3H)
January 16, 1896
Enos Wall was one of the organizers of the Brickyard Gold Mining company at Mercur, Utah. (Salt Lake Herald, January 16, 1896)
April 6, 1897
Captain DeLamar purchased from A. N. Butts, half interest in the Golden Gate group for a reported $35,000, with an option for DeLamar to purchase the other half for $40,000. (Salt Lake Tribune, April 7, 1895, "yesterday")
May 1, 1897
"Boston & Mercur Mining Company. — Jones & Jacobs, engineers and contractors, of Salt Lake City, have about completed plans for a 200-ton cyanide mill to be erected at Mercur for this company. This plant will have all the latest improvements and work on it will begin at once." (Engineering and Mining Journal, Volume 63, May 1, 1897)
May 1, 1897
"Omaha. — This mine, the pioneer of the west dip of the Mercur vein, is idle at present, on account of a pending suit for its possession, between W. S. Fugate and J. K. Walker, Jr. The highest gold values ever found in the Camp Floyd District were obtained in the Omaha, assays having disclosed $147 per ton. The prospects for the erection of a mill the present year are believed to be passed." (Engineering and Mining Journal, Volume 63, May 1, 1897)
August 28, 1897
The DeLamar Mercur Mines company, organized under the laws of the state of New Jersey, filed its articles of incorporation with Secretary of State Hammond on August 28, 1897. The company commenced business on July 30, 1897. The incorporators were: J. R. DeLamar, Paris, France (2,496 shares of 2,500 issued); W. N. Cromwel, New York City (1 share); W. J. Curtis, Summit, New jersey (1 share); George H. Sullivan, New York City (1 share); H. B. Parsons, Brooklyn, New York (1 share). (Deseret News, August 28, 1897)
1897
Following the completion of L. L. Nunn's Telluride Power company plant on the Provo River in 1897, Nunn "built a 32-mile, 40,000-volt transmission line from it to Joseph DeLamar's mines at Mercur. It went into operation on January 7, 1898, as the longest power line in the world and the first 40,000-volt line in the United States." (McCormick, The Power To Make Good Things Happen, page 45-47)
(Read more about L. L. Nunn's Telluride Power, as part of the history of Utah Power & Light)
September 30, 1899
"It is currently reported that the Mercur Mining company will declare its regular quarterly dividend of $50,000 on October 10, payable on the 20th. The Mercur, under the able management of Hon. John Dern, is in splendid physical condition and good for dividends for many years to come." (Salt Lake Mining Review, September 30, 1899)
December 31, 1899
The name of the La Cigale mine in West Dip was changed to the Boston and Mercur mine.
(Salt Lake Tribune, December 31, 1899)
1900
The Consolidated Mercur Gold Mining company was formed by the consolidation of the Mercur Gold Mining and Milling company and Mercur Mines company. The stockholders of the Mercur Gold company approved the consolidation at a special meeting held on June 27, 1900, and the stockholders of the Mercur Mines company, being DeLamar and his associates.
June 9, 1910
"George Airis, son of the late E. H. Airis, has been elected a member of the board of directors of the Consolidated Mercur Gold Mines company, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his father. E. H. Airis was one of the original incorporators, not only of the Consolidated Mercur company, but of the old Mercur Gold Mining & Milling company, which was merged into the Consolidated company. He was one of the three Nebraska capitalists, the other two being John Dern and John Heimrich, who were pioneers in the Mercur district. He was secretary of the older company, and was a director of both the Mercur Gold Mining & Milling company and the Consolidated Mercur Gold Mines company from their inception until his death." (Salt Lake Herald, June 9, 1910)
July 22, 1922
"H. W. Brown, who, with Gill S. Peyton, exercised an option which brought about the organization of the Mercur Gold Mining and Milling company, and who interested the late John Dern, E. H. Airis, John Heinrich and W. B. Brown in the enterprise, is dead at Blue Rapids. Kansas. Mr. Brown was a well-known figure in the early mining history of Utah and at one time owned real estate and property in Salt Lake. The Mercur company later changed its name to the Consolidated Mercur Gold Mining company." (Salt Lake Tribune, July 22, 1922)
December 8, 1935
From the Salt Lake Tribune, December 8, 1935.
As 1935 draws to a close, the Geyser Marion Gold Mining company, operating an open-cut gold mine in the Mercur district, can look back with justifiable pride at what it has accomplished this year.
In May the company began erecting a 300-ton cyanide mill. Two months later the mill was completed and operating. Numerous difficulties have been encountered, but most of them have been remedied and the company expects to be able to remedy the others. Leakage in the tanks, for example, was overcome by lining them with steel and new thickeners and classifiers have improved the rate of recovery.
Late in the summer the company installed a refinery and the first batch of bullion was shipped in October.
F. B. Bothwell, general manager, reports that the company is employing 25 men and milling 350 tons of ore daily. The mill-heads average $3.25 a ton and the tailings 75 cents.
Operations will be suspended for the winter, Mr. Bothwell says, but a second shovel will be installed as soon as snow melts in the spring, and it is expected that the mill-heads will increase in value to $5 or $6 a ton as depth is gained.
In addition to milling ore from the open-cut mine, the company expects to treat approximately 200,000 tons of tailings from earlier workings. These, it is said, carry values of about $2.50 a ton in gold.
The company's property consists of 200 acres across the canyon from the Lewiston Peak mine, operated by W. F. Snyder and Sons.
July 1936
The Geyser Marion Gold Mining company existed as late as July 1936, as shown in a law suit filed in Third District Court, in which the company sued the Camp Floyd Silver Mining company, and hundreds of associated stockholders, vendors and debtors, claiming ownership of a large number of mining claims in the Camp Floyd Mining District. (Numerous newspaper legal notices, January through July 1936)
(The Geyser Marion Gold Mining company remained as late as January 1952 when a mutual exchange of quit claim deeds took place between the Geyser Marion company, the Hershel Gold Mining company, and the Sacramento Gold Mining company, as parties of the first part, exchanged quit claim deeds with Snyder Mines company and the bank acting as receiver for the bankrupt Consolidated Mercur Gold Mines company, as parties of the second part. -- Western Mineral Survey, January 1952 issues)
1943
"Gold operations in Mercur continued fitfully through 1943 when they were curtailed by the United States because of war needs. (Salt Lake Tribune, August 2, 1981)
(Throughout June to September 1957, the closed Geyser Marion mill was dismantled by the Bothwell Construction company. -- Weekly advertisements in the Tooele Bulletin newspaper)
1969
"The old mine mill and mine dumps were a great place for target plinking and dirt biking until 1969 when Newmont Mining Co. began tentative exploration in the area. (Salt Lake Tribune, August 2, 1981)
Revival (1973)
In December 1973 and January 1974, Getty Oil company announced its purchase of the Mercur gold mine.
(Read more about the events of 1973 to 1998 for the Mercur gold mine, when the mine was owned and operated by Getty Oil and Barrick)
(For additional coverage of the Mercur mine after 1998, see the Mercur, Today page.)
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