James Warner Woolsey "A Lucky Striker" 1826-1885By Gerry Shepard and Wilford Whitaker ![]() Collection of Matthew R. Isenburg, et al. COLONAL JAMES WARNER8 WOOLSEY (DANIEL7, MOSES6, DANIEL FOWLER5, RICHARD4, THOMAS3, GEORGE "JORIS"2, GEORGE SR1) was born 1826 in Lloyd (Highland), Ulster, NY and died March 24, 1885 in San Miguel, Ourey, CO. He married SARAH ALLEN. She was born March 25, 1832 in NY, and died April 27, 1919 in Lewistown, Fergus, MT.
By April 1877 James Woolsey and M. E. Pinney were listed as sole owners of the "Woolsey Mine." The partners Rowland and Jones had sold their shares and moved on. On November 1, 1877 the papers reported that another very rich streak had been found in the mine. Then November 22, 1877 James Woolsey was in the Claendon Hotel, St. Paul, Minnesota, evidently celebrating his new riches. fter his daughter Emily married in 1878 James was able to help her husband establish himself financially. With his money he did things for his family he that he never had done as a father. Still the gold fever was in him. The mine was no longer a challenge, so in the spring of 1880 James sold his holdings in the mine, which was then officially named the "Alpha and Omega" setting off for Colorado and the new discoveries near the town of Columbia (later named Telluride). Soon he asked his son Irving to join him and together they bought interests in a large number of mining claims in the surrounding area. During the next five years they invested most of the monies James had taken from South Dakota in various mining ventures. "Colonel" James Warner Woolsey died March 24, 1885 and was buried near San Miguel, Colorado. His head stone was later moved to Lone Tree Cemetery, Telluride, Colorado. He left no will. When the debts of his estate were settled by Irving, his executor, there was no legacy. Irving returned to Montana with only memories of his father. Sarah and James McWilliams moved from the Gallatin Valley to a homestead near Lewistown sometime after 1880. There they lived out their lives. James, who wore a patch over one blind eye taught school and ran their small farm. There they raised their son Judson and took in grandchildren from time to time. Sarah was never again rich from the time she left James Woolsey, but she was never lonely. Sarah and James McWilliams are buried together in the Lewistown City Cemetery. NOTES OF RESEARCH FOR THIS FAMILY CORR: 2000 February 26 from Sheila Nelson Follow-up 29 Feb 2000. "Hi. I think we made a connection. I believe James Warren Woolsey and Warner Woolsey are the same person. This Warner (James Warren?) Woolsey was the son of Daniel Woolsey and Elizabeth Deyo (and this Woolsey family was from Lloyd (Highland) for several generations. I was able to contact the Wilkinson Library in Telluride, CO. (San Miguel County). They sent the following email to me: "'Dear Sheila, We're in luck! Wilkinson Library has the Lonetree Cemetery Survey as part of its reference collection. Here's the information provided for James W. Woolsey: Born: 1826 in Ulster County, NY, died: 24 Mar 1885 (age 59) "Colonal" Woolsey arrived in Telluride in the Spring of 1880. Began prospecting in Calif. in 1850. Followed mining to Nevada County (Woolsey Flats), brought first stamp mill to the Black Hills, SD. buried at San Miguel, headstone moved to Lone Tree Cemetery. A copy of the death certificate can be obtained through the following office: San Miguel County Treasurer (970) 728-4551. Sincerely, Kathy Schroers, Wilkinson Public Library, Telluride, Colorado." CORR: 2000 March 2 from Shiela Nelson to Gerry Shepard James Warren Woolsey (Warner Woolsey) and Sarah Allen had 2 children:
CORR: 2000 March 16 from Gerry shepard to Shiela Nelson Hi, Shiela, I received some films at the LDS Family History Center today. In the Grantee's Index for Ulster Co I found James W. Woolsey bought land from Moses Deyo in 1858. This must be Emily's birth place. Moses is probably a cousin there may be more information in the deeds, etc. CORR: From Wilford Whitaker: Nevada County, California is right in the heart of the gold mining country, formed 1851 from Yuba Co. and stretches from Yuba Co., to the Nevada border. - Wilford W. Whitaker CORR: 2004 July 24 from Gerry Shepard Subject: [WOOLSEY] Deadwood Woolseys Jim W Woolsey referenced in the news papers from the Black Hills in the late 1870's and early 1880's was James Warner Woolsey, the son of Daniel Woolsey of Ulster county New York. It was he for whom the Woolsey flats, near Nevada City California were named. History books from the area give the account of how the 49er found the Alpha and Omega mine, selling a portion to the owner of the stamp mill used to extract the ore. At the time of the discovery Jim Woolsey's wife and children were living in Missouri. I don't believe any of his other close relatives had left New York. CORR: 2004 July 24 from Wilford W. Whitaker Subject: Re: [WOOLSEY] Deadwood Woolseys I found the following for "J. Woolsey". [James Warner Woolsey?] ON-LINE: 1850. Passengers on Ship and Wagon Train - DAILY PICAYUNE", New Orleans. "23 Apr 1850. Passengers per Bark "J. W. DWYER" for Chagres, which will leave this evening." Woolsey, J. [www doesn't know if the same man or two Woolsey, J. ["J. Woolseys" but name was written twice.] It appears that James Warner Woolsey had a poetic bent, as I found the following in the Black Hills Daily Times, Deadwood, Lawrence County, Dakota Territory [index]: 1876 - J. W. Woolsey writes "49er's Lament" 1876 - J. W. Woolsey writes "Unlucky 49er's Lament" HIST: THE OLD WEST - THE FORTY-NINERS - by the Editors of TIME-LIFE BOOKS with text by William Weber Johnson. TIME-LIFE BOOKS, New York. 1974: Frontispiece. " . . . Equally authentic - despite the gaudy retouching - is the frontispiece photograph of the mustachioed miner holding an eight-pound lump of gold taken from a mine near Sierraville, California. Whoever made the photograph later tinted the anyonymous argonaut's neckerchief and then added a glowing aura to his precious trophy." CORR: 2006 March 14 from Gerry Shepard In addition to the "likeness" he sold to James, the photographer must have kept some proofs for himself. I first found a copy of the picture through the folks at the University of California Santa Cruz. They have slides of daguerreotypes which were taken during the gold rush and were exhibited at their museum at one time. The picture they have on their slide is from the collection of Mrs. Vivienne Bekeart and except for some very minor details and a different frame it could be the same photo as the one on your web site. They knew that the photo was of James Warner Woolsey, although I am not sure how they knew. However I have a photo taken of James Warner Woolsey several years later and there is no doubt that they are of the same person. James Warner Woolsey was the son of Daniel Woolsey and Elizabeth Deyo, grandson of Moses Woolsey and Abigail Kelsey, ggson of Daniel Woolsey and Mary Deyo, gggson of Richard Woolsey and Sarah Fowler, ggggson of Thomas Woolsey and Ruth Bayless, gggggson of George (joris) & Rebecca Cornell. It was he for whom Woolsey Flats California was named. Woolsey Flats was a boom town near Nevada City and apparently JW was the only really successful miner there. When his mine played out most of the "buildings" were moved to another location. The book "Silver and Gold, Cased Images of the California Gold Rush" by Drew Johnson and Marcia Eymann says that the picture was taken in Nevada City. The people at the University of California agree. Since Woolsey Flats was only a few miles from Nevada City, this sounds logical. JW was very good at finding gold. He became very rich in California, returning to New York and spending a fortune there before resuming his search for gold. He found gold in the Idaho territory, was fairly successful in the Montana gold rush, then was the discoverer of one of the richest mines on the Black Hills during the gold rush there. When he left for the Black Hills his wife divorced him and married the hired man, a farmer. He spent his several fortunes financing the search for the next bonanza. He died a lonely man near the mining boom town of Columbia (now Telluride) Colorado. HIST: The Smithsonian Magazine. January 1998. (ON-LINE: www.smithsonianmag.si.edu) "The Lure of Gold" Collection of Matthew R. Isenburg, et al. "The nugget he had pulled from the mine near Sierraville, (Sierra County), California, weighed a whopping eight pounds, so JAMES WOOLSEY did what came naturally during the gold rush: he had his "likeness" taken to commemorate the event. For three or four dollars, a forty-niner could walk into a daguerreotype studio - located in the tent city that had sprung up in San Francisco, or in one of the portable wagon-studios that plied the mining camps - and have a cased image made to send to loved ones back home. Business was especially brisk when a steam was about to leave for the East. In his advertising broadside, photographer William Shew advised: " ... it is for your advantage to call soon after the steamer leaves, and you will have a much better chance to get good pictures." CORR: 2006 March 10 from Wilford Whitaker In the Gold Fields of California, there is a gold camp named "WOOLSEY FLATS". Marilyn Demas of Sacramento is trying very hard to identify for whom it was named. Can anyone tell us for whom it was named or perhaps give a few clues? CORR: 2006 March 10 from Gerry Shepard Woolsey's Flats was named for James Warner Woolsey who discovered an eight pound gold nugget there and had a successful mine there. I have a copy of the tin type. He later had a large gold discovery in the Black Hills. The Deadwood newspaper at that time lists him as from Woolsey Flats. After the mine near Nevada City ran out he took his family back to his home near New Paltz, but didn't stay long as the lure of the gold fields kept calling. Both he and his wife Sarah Allen are listed in the 1852 census of California as miners. He was the son of Daniel Woolsey and Elizabeth Deyo. CENSUS: 1852 Census Nevada County, California Woolsey, J. W., 26, miner born New York, residence New York on a separate page is listed: Allen, Sarah, 25, miner, born Wisconsin, residence Wisconsin 1860 June 11, 3rd Ward, Niles, Burien County, Michigan, 430-428 Woolsey, James, 35, m, New York, [occupation not stated] Woolsey, Sarah E., 28, f, New York Woolsey, Irwin, 3, m, New York Woolsey, Emma, 10/12, f, New York McDermott, Jane, 22, f, domestic, Ireland 1870 Booneville, Booneville PO, Cooper, MO. FHL# 552271. 29 Jul. p. 326, 47-47 Woolsey, Sarah, 30, f, kh. NY Woolsey, James W, 37, m, miner, $1700 --, NY Woolsey, Owing, 13, m, California Woolsey, Emily, 11, f, NY McWilliams, James, 30, m, farmer, NY 1880 San Miguel City, Ouray Co., CO. FHL# 1254090?. 22 June p. 165. p. 25, #12 ED 91, 320-320 Woolsey, James W, w, m, 53, Partner of a "stainer", single, NY, NY, NY 1900 June Fergus Co., Montana. Sarah and James McWilliams were listed as farmers. The census shows Sarah's birthday as Aug 1835 and her age at her last birthday of 64. Her death certificate lists her birthday as 26 Mar 1832. (I, Sheila, think she failed to tell the truth about her age on occasion :). The census shows that both Sarah and James were born in New York, and both of their parents were also born in NY. The census shows 4 children born to Sarah with 3 living in June of 1900. McWilliams b Aug 1838 and shows an age of 61 in the census. At the time of the census, they had been married for 30 years. They must have md in 1870 in MO." (Sheila Nelson) CORR: 2006 March 12 from Gerry Shepard to Wilford Whitaker Subject: 1852 Census Niles Michigan seemed to be a jumping off point for Western adventurers. James probably left Sarah there with the maid to help her while he explored the Idaho territory in search of gold. He could easily return for the winter months and be a fair weather gold seaker. They didn't stay there long as family lore says that he took the whole family up the Bozeman Trail with John Bozeman after the gold discoveries in Montana. He was successful enough in Montana to be able to buy a ranch in Missouri, near Boonville. When he left Sarah again, on the ranch, to go off to the Black Hills she divorced him and married the hired man, James McWilliams. I don't know why they took the 1852 census in California. Most states had a special census just before statehood, not just after. Possibly the population grew so quickly that they needed to locate the populated areas when forming the state government. NEWS: Black Hills Daily Times, Deadwood, Lawrence County, Dakota Territory [Index] 1876 - Rowland, M. V.; Woolsey and Jones discover Alpha & Omega Mine 1876 - J. W. Woolsey writes "'49ers Lament" 1876 - J. W. Woolsey writes "Unlucky '49ers Lament" for Black Hills Daily Times 1876 - Jim Woolsey, formerly of Woolsey's flat, [Nevada County], California - Alpha Mine or Woolsey's Mine 1876 - Jim Woolsey; Rowland & Jones discover Alpha & Omega Mine. 1877 - Col. Woolsey owns part of the Alpha mine ON-LINE: DEATH VALLEY IN '49 - Chapt XVII - Pioneering - California - "I turn back to give some incidents of life in the mines, and some description of those pioneer gold days. I have spoken of Moore's Flat, Orleans Flat and Woolsey's Flat, all similarly situated on different points of the mountain, on the north side of the ridge between the south and Middle Yuba River, and all at about the same altitude. A very deep canon lies between each of them, but a good mountain road was built around the head of each canon, connecting the towns. [Deep snow] Through Orleans Flat to Moore's Flat, ... both camps joined forces and broke the road over to Woolsey's Flat, and the third day towards Nevada City. There were several Woolseys and Woolsey families that were in California by 1850, early enough to make some sort of impression that would cause Woolsey Flats to be named after them. ONLINE: Woolsey's Gold Mine Here is the James Woolsey gold mine story as it was relayed to me. James B Woolsey was a sheepherder all his life and had a prospector friend who was a dentist in Salt Lake City, Utah. The dentist had him bring samples to him from various areas where he herded sheep. If they looked good the dentist had them assayed. The dentist promised Jim if he ever found anything good he would stake it and give him a percentage. One particular year Jim took his herd of sheep above Current Creek just east of Low Pass on the summit. He also made camp on the summit just east of Low Pass. Several days later he rode his horse down over the hill, north and east of camp. He hadn't been gone long when he spotted a mine tunnel. He got down from his horse and looked at the tunnel. At the entrance the props were sticking out of the ground. It looked as though the hillside has slid or the mine had caved in. Around the props the rock in which the tunnel had been driven was exposed. It was dark reddish brown in color and in the rock was a gold colored metal which he thought might be iron. He chipped some samples from around the tunnel to take to the dentist. During the time Jim was on the mountain he rode by the old mine several times. That fall when he returned to Salt Lake City Jim took the samples to the dentist's office only to find out he was out of town. He left the samples at the dentist's office anyway. Within a couple of days Jim got a job offer in New Mexico and left Utah for a time. When he returned the next year to visit the dentist he learned that he was in a mental institution. Jim found out the dentist had had the rock assayed and that it ran $57,000.00/ton. He also discovered the dentist had spent most of the winter and spring hunting for Jim until his nervous collapse. Jim did not know whether or not the ore he had brought him was the cause of his condition, but with that in mind he never went back to the old mine. Jim gave directions to find the mine and said one should have no trouble finding it. Here are the instructions: Go up Current Creek. Near the head is a road that takes off to the right. Follow that road up the mountain and over the top. Go east through Low Pass and continue going east along the summit. East of Low Pass you can find the camp where Jim stayed. You will know it is the place because all the trees have Woolsey carved in them. Just south and down the hill is where you can find some old dipping vats that were used to dip the sheep in. After finding Jim's camp go a little northeast from there, down over the hill somewhere around 1/4 mile. The tunnel is in the timber and from the tunnel you can see the west fork of the Duchesne River. Another clue which may help is to find the Bobby Duke Trail. Jim said the tunnel is visible from that trail if you look very close. Good luck with your search and who knows, we may see each other on the mountain in our quest for gold. CORR: 2006 March 18 Family group sheet prepared by: Gerald Shepard SOURCES 1. The Deyo Family, Hasbrouck and Heidgerd, Huguenot Historical Society, New Paltz, New York (First Edition 1958, Revised and enlarged Edition 1980). 2. Head Stone in the Tellluride, Colorado Cemetery. 3. STATE OF MONTANA Death Certificate, Lewistown, Fergus County. 4. Brown and Dallison "1856 Brown & Dallison's Nevada, Grass Valley and Rough and Ready Directory Including the First History of Nevada (City and County, California) Reprinted by Maria E. Fields Brower 2001. 5. Bean, Edwin F. Bean's History and Directory of Nevada County California, Nevada City, Gazette Book and Job Office, 1867. 6. Beatrice Hasbrouck Wadlin, Times and Tales of Town of Lloyd (:, 1974). 7. Doyle, Susan B. Journeys to the Land of Gold, Helena, Montana Historical Society Press, 2000. 8. Lonetree Cemetery Survey, Wilkinson Public Library, Telluride, Colorado. 9. Black Hills Daily Times, Deadwood, South Dakota. 10. Black Hills Pioneer, Deadwood, South Dakota. 11. Tallent, Annie D. The Black Hills: or The Last Hunting Ground of the Dakotahs. St. Louis, Nixon Jones Printing Co. 1899. 12. Johnson, Dorothy M., The Bloody Bozeman, New York, McGraw-Hill, 1971. 13. 1852 California State Census, Nevada County California. 14. US Federal Census Walworth County Wisconsin 1850. 15. US Federal Census Gallatin County Montana 1880. 16. US Federal Census Berrien County Michigan 1860. 17. US Federal Census Cooper County Missouri 1870. 18. Charles Warren Haskens, compiler, Index to the Argonauts of California (New Orleans, Louisiana: Polyanthus, Inc., 1975). 19. Frank A. Woolsey obituary, Poughkeepsie Eagle, Poughkeepsie, New York, June 18, 1859, Card Index of Deaths, Marriages and some Births collected from local News Papers. Located at Adriance Memorial Library, Poughkeepsie, New York. 20. George A. Crofutt, editor, Crofutt's Trans-Continental Tourist's Guide (New York: Author, 1872). 21. Irving Woolsey Family Bible in the possession of Joanne Butler. 22. Montana Death Index 1907 - 1953. 23. Marriage Certificate dated 14 February 1878. Children of JAMES WOOLSEY and SARAH ALLEN are:
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