Mining along the James River
Lead and Jack
Springfield Leader, May 7, 1891, page 5
"Greene County has worn the crown as Queen of the Southwest from time immemorial. Pretenders to that crown have often tried to snatch it from her brow but have failed. Today she sits enthroned upon the brow of the Ozarks and gentily [sic] leads her sister counties in agriculture, manufacturers, science, polite arts, letter, &c. She owes to Nature a permanent debt for this wealth, which she has increased by intelligence, industry and integrity.
"For many years Greene yielded to Jasper and Newton supremacy in wealth beneath the sod, because Nature was [too?] prodigal to her in the invaluable wealth above the ground. She was and is generous to her sister counties and has no inclination to pluck from their brows one leaf of the laurels they have won by exploring into the intestines of the Earth. We were satisfied with producing the best quality and largest quantities of wheat, corn, oats, hay, tobacco, apples, peaches, pears, berries of all kinds, the finest horses, cattle, &c. the best and prettiest women and the truest and noblest men. We were satisfied with bountiful Nature above the Earth, allowing our younger sisters, Newton and Jasper, to claim and enjoy all the mineral wealth.
"The exploring mind, however, of our people would not rest with the wealth in sight, so some twenty years ago a company was organized to dig for lead and jack in Boone Township, and while they did not strike anything big, the work goes bravely on and good prospects are getting better every day.
"The James Mines -- For years lead and jack have been found on the James, and during the days of the late John S. Phelps work was prosecuted and mineral was found in paying quantities, bringing him in a handsome royalty. After his death the James River Mines were leased and work continued by various parties. Col. John E. Phelps finally took hold and has developed very rich surface lead and jack, but will not be satisfied until he traverses the most remote chambers of the Earth and discovers her hidden treasures. He is now drilling at a depth of 130 feet, and will continue until he reaches a 'strike,' Hades, or 'Burst.'
"Hard by the Phelps diggins [sic] is the Tom Kershner diggings, where good lead and jack are developed, and a mile or more south, on Pearson Creek, on the McFarland land, are the 'Gumbo' and 'Kodack' [sic] diggings.
"In company with Prof. Jenney and his assistant, Prof. Klauber, of the U. S. Geological Bureau, Ed S. Finch, J. W. Hall, W. J. Boling, S. H. Horine and Will Goodlett, the writer visited the above diggings yesterday. The air was crisp, the sun brilliant, and like Venus chiseled in marble by Phideas, chaste and cold. Along St. Louis Street, from Jefferson East, the foliage was luxuriant and the chilly air did not destroy the perfume of the flowers wafted on every breeze and distilled from every bush. Pickwick Place was clothed in vernal green, dotted with elegant, and we believe, happy homes. A rapid drive of an hour directly East, on a new road, brought us to Pearson Creek where we were greeted by Col. Sherman of the 'Gumbo' and Col. Smith of the 'Kodack.' Profs. Jenney and Klauber went down the shafts and explored the Cretan labyrinth, while the profanes remained on Earth and examined the processes of separating the lead and jack from the rock and clay.
"We would gladly enter into a description of the workings of these mines but time, space and inability forbid. Suffice the Pearson Creek mines show evidence of latent wealth and are constantly yielding larger outputs. These mines are owned by energetic, hard working citizens of this city, who deserve assistance and encouragement. Were they near Joplin or Webb City there would be no trouble in securing capital to develop them. But Springfield, happily or unhappily, is wealthy, our people are satisfied and are growing richer day by day from the labor and capital of others.
"Profs. Jenney and Klauber selected specimens of the different ores, which they will analyze and report to the Geological bureau at Washington. While they are careful to express no official opinion they have no hesitation, personally, in saying that the Pearson Creek and James River mines indicate big 'strikes' and only await the hand of industry and the aid of capital to develop them.
For more early mining information see Greene County, Missouri, mining leases, assignment of leases, warranty deeds, articles of association, articles of incorporation, mineral leases, mineral contracts and other related documents, 1870-1919 by the Greene County Archives & Records Center. The black and white maps are details from the 1876 Greene County plat book.
Find this article at