Show character sketches of old pioneers william will lam wallace chisholm the subject of this sketch one of mining pioneers came of a family of miners has followed mining all his life practically and although not now actively engaged in mining pursuits is still largely interested in this fascinating industry as his mining possessions are to found in a number of the camps of this intermountain region As a matter of fact having made his fortune in mining mr chisholm has retired and is now enjoying the fruits of a long and successful career in the mining camps of utah two of which at least owe much to mr chisholm and his ass associates opiates oci ates for it was his father that gave to the world the great emma mine at alta in little cottonwood district and the wonderful centennial eu ea io W W CHISHOLM reka at eureka aureia tintic gintic district owes its origin to W W chisholm and the few that were associated with him in this enterprise william wallace chisholm was born june 26 1842 at hazel green wisconsin near which are the lead mines which for many years gave employment to the chisholm family his early boyhood days were but a repetition of the history of nearly all children school in the winter and the pleasures of the mines the hills and the farni farm in the summer formed the quiet childhood life to which he can now look back to with pleasurable remembrances in the year 1857 his family moved to winona min desota and the next year at the a age ge of sixteen he entered the office of the winona democrat where he learned the printers trade the art preservative for about five years he remained at the case when in 1863 he moved to elgin illinois completing two terms at the elgin academy in 1864 accompanied by his father robert B chisholm so well remembered and so highly este esteemed ened by the old timers of utah mr chisholm then having attained his majority left illinois for the mining camps of montana at omaha mr chisholm sr left for virginia city by stage while his son associated with several wisconsin boys made the dangerous and tiresome overland trip with ox teams although the journey was safely made the arrival of mr chisholm at virginia city was attended by disappointment as contrary to expectations his father was not there to greet him word having been given out that young chisholm and his companions had been killed by indians while making their overland trip robert chisholm then in salt lake hearing by accident of his sons arrival at virginia city at once notified him of his whereabouts the result being that the young traveler arrived in metropolis in the middle of november 1864 1 since wh which ich time he has been prominently identified with the interests and history of both city and state the first mining experience of W W chisholm in utah was associated with the old camp of bingham where his father had located several claims here he worked for a couple of years returning to illinois in the fall of 1865 for the purpose of taking a course at eastmann East mans business college at chicago after which he worked as compositor on the chicago post until the spring of 1869 when he returned to utah the day of his departure for the west may marking an important event in the history of this intermountain country as it was on this day that the last spike was driven in the completion of the union pacific railroad thereby completing the last link connecting the atlantic and pacific by an all rail route across the continent during his absence from utah mr chis holms father had been doing some prospecting in little cottonwood canyon and associated socia ted with the late col J F woodman had located what is now known as the famous emma mine at alta mr chisholm sr being in the east at this time the son joined mr woodman in the development and operation of the emma mine and he remained at alta until the year 1871 when a half interest in the emma was sold to park baxter of new york for but before this sale was consummated the mine had produced something in excess of and afterwards the chisholme Chis holms realized about a million more from their remaining interest in the property before it became the subject and foundation of a scandal that caused a commotion in business and commercial circles in the united states and in europe and which nearly led to international complications mention of which in this connection is not germaine to the subject matter of our text at this stage of his career W W chisholm stood high in the estimation of his fellows and associates as an experienced careful successful and reliable mining operator but it was believed by some that his judgment was faulty when in the year 1876 in company with J F woodman he located the centennial eureka claim in tintie district near the crest of the mountain range dividing eureka from mammoth and adjoining the even then noted eureka hill mine still nothing daunted by adverse opinions assessment work was annually performed on the centennial eureka and adjo adjoining ining claims comprising the centennial eureka group acquired either by location or purchase and in the year 1885 the centen nial eureka mining company was organized with a capitalization of shares of 1 each a modest capitalization characteristic of the modesty of the men backing the enterprise one assessment of 1 a share was levied by the company but this was the only one and the last for before more funds were needed the mine had been placed upon a producing and paying basis in the year 1889 the first dividend of 1 a share was paid by the company to be followed by regular monthly dividends of 1 or 2 a share until august 1899 when having disbursed velvet money among its few shareholders to the amount of the mine was sold to A F holden for the handsome sum of being only 30 less than the amount the mine had already paid out in dividend disbursements since the sale of the centennial eureka mr chisholm has not been engaged in active mining operations although he still has extensive mining holdings and valuable interests throughout the state and the west and is a silent partner in quite a number of commercial and business pursuits while mr chisholm has made many friends because of his successes in mining operations he has made many more because of his winning ways charming personality and nobility of character he is as modest as a child and of a retiring disposition and more he is possessed of such sterling qualities of heart and mind that anything within the gift of our people were his would he but take it he is generous to a fault and the poor both know and love him and his charities are many he is a keen sportsman and is never happier than when out in the wilds with rod gun or boat these with books by the best authors are his hobbles hobbies his delights his home on brigham street is filled with all that comfort and luxury could ask for and beloved by friend respected and admired by our citizens his life is typical of what one might expect of a gentleman of a retired plo pioneer neer who has been eminently success successful fIll in his pining mining ventures |