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  Notes on George H. Chick Florence, who clearly did not relish the situation, brought up her three California-born sons—Guy [1868–1930], Ralph (1872–1928), and Maurice (1878–1934)—in the Seattle household of her parents, David and Mary Hyde. Her marriage to George ended in 1887, and shortly thereafter she took her sons to California, presumably to have them educated. Census date: July 12, 1860 Name: Amos Chick Residence: Rose Bar Township, Yreka County, California Occupation: Miner Birth location: Maine Household members: Amos Chick, 55 Elisabeth Chick, 40, female, born in Maine George H. Chick, 24, male, born in Maine James A. Chick, 17, male, born in Maine Elisha Arey Chick, 25, male, born in Maine United States Census U.S. In the matter of George H. Chick.—The said Chick appears in this Court by Winans & Hyer, his attorneys, and prays for ten days time in which to present and file his answer to the petition herein, which was thereupon granted. "Law Intelligence," Daily Alta California. San Francisco, November 18, 1868, page 2 U.S. In the matter of Geo. H. Chick, in involuntary bankruptcy, case referred to Asher B. Bates to take testimony. "Law Intelligence," Daily Alta California. San Francisco, December 22, 1868, page 2 The Brooks [mine] have elected C. Field (President), C. B. Comstock, J. C. Yale, George H. Chick, and H. H. Bigelow Trustees for the ensuing year.—Eureka Sentinel "Mining Stocks and Mining," Daily Alta California. San Francisco, December 12, 1875, page 2 Census date: June 14, 1880 Name: George Chick Residence: Hornitas, Mariposa County, California Occupation: Miner Birth location: Maine Married Household members: George H. Chick (boarder), 40, male, parents both born in Maine United States Census Census date: 1883 Name: G. F. Chick Residence: Seattle, King County, Washington Age: 40 Gender: Male Occupation: Agent Birth location: Maine Household members: G. F. Chick, 40 F. Chick, female, 33, housewife, born in Wisconsin G. Chick, 14, male, born in California R. Chick, 11, male, born in California M. Chick, 5, male, born in California Washington State and Territorial Census G. H. Chick ) William Kinney ) Samuel Evans ) John Doe (John McCoy) ) Richard Roe (G. L. Upton) ) Patrick Mathews makes complaint to T. H. Cann, Justice aforesaid and accuses the above named defendants by this complaint and information of the crime of forcible entry committed as follows: For that the said defendants at the County of King in the Territory of Washington, on the 14th day of February, 1883, did then and there violently enter upon and take possession, with menaces and with force and arms, and without the authority of law, a certain close and lands then and there being in possession of E. M. Smithers and C. H. Sutton, which said lands are described as follows, to wit: The west half (½) of Section thirty-four (34), Township twenty-two (22) North of Range seven (7) east in King County, Wash. Terr. Patrick Mathews, being duly sworn an oath, saith: that the matter and things set forth and contained in the above and foregoing complaint and information are true as he verily believes. Justice of the Peace for Seattle Dist., King Cnty. W.T. In the District Court, holding term at Seattle in King County, Washington Territory E. M. Smithers and C. H. Sutton, plaintiffs vs. The Northern Pacific Railroad Company, a corporation duly organized, The Oregon Improvement Company, a corporation duly organized, The Columbia and Puget Sound Railroad Company, a corporation duly organized, James McNaught, J. H. Howard, J. T. Jones, George H. Chick, William Kenney, Samuel Evans, John McCoy, and George Upton, Joseph F. McNaught, E. P. Ferry and J. N. Mitchell, Jr., and Oregon and Transcontinental Railroad Company, defendants Complaint
To
the Honorable Roger
T. Greene, Chief Justice of Washington Territory and Judge of the above
entitled Court. The plaintiffs allege and complain to your honor
I
That
the defendants,
The Northern Pacific Railroad Company, The Oregon Improvement Company
and The Columbia and Puget Sound Railroad Company, and The Oregon and
Transcontinental Railroad Company are corporations duly organized and
authorized to transact business in Washington Territory.
II
That
the plaintiffs,
E. M. Smithers and C. H. Sutton have been for more than six (6) months
last past and are now in actual and lawful possession and occupancy of
the following described premises, to wit: The West half (½)
of
section thirty-four (34) Township twenty-two (22) North of Range
seven East of Willamette Meridian in King County, Washington
Territory.
III
That
said premises are
unsurveyed lands and contain valuable deposits of coal and tracts of
timber and were entered upon, preempted and prospected under the laws
of the United States by plaintiffs in good faith, with the intention of
preempting and purchasing the same from the United States Government.
That plaintiffs have within the past six months expended large sums of
money, to wit: $12000.00 dollars and upwards, in prospecting and
developing the coal veins upon said premises and in making other
valuable improvements thereon, and plaintiffs are now continuing such
developments and improvements; and plaintiffs are qualified to enter
and preempt and purchase said premises under the laws of the United
States.
IV
That
heretofore to
wit, on or about the 14th day of February 1883, the defendants, by
force and arms and against the wish, will or consent of plaintiffs or
either of them, entered into and upon said premises; and said
defendants threaten and are now attempting by force and arms, and
against the wish, will or consent of plaintiffs or either of them, to
hold possession of and oust plaintiffs from said premises.
V
That
said defendants
are committing serious waste upon said premises, cutting down trees,
digging coal and otherwise injuring the property.
VI
That
plaintiffs are
informed, believe and so charge that defendants threaten and intend by
force and arms to take complete possession of and hold said premises,
and to drive plaintiffs therefrom by force. That defendants threaten
and intend to commit further waste on said premises by cutting
therefrom and destroying valuable timber and digging coal thereon, to
the irreparable damage of plaintiffs.
VII
That
plaintiffs are
now in possession and occupancy of houses erected by themselves on said
premises and defendants threaten and intend, as plaintiffs verily
believe, to drive plaintiffs therefrom by force and arms and take
possession of plaintiffs' said houses.
VIII
That
there is danger
of defendants immediately carrying out these threats by taking absolute
possession of said premises by force, driving plaintiffs therefrom by
force, erecting buildings thereon, cutting and destroying timber
thereon and digging coal thereon to the irreparable loss and damage of
plaintiffs, unless restrained by the order of this honorable Court.
That this action if an injunction is granted will prevent a multiplicity of suits as to said lands. Wherefore plaintiffs pray that the defendants and each of them their agents, attorneys and employees be restrained, enjoined and prohibited from in any manner interfering with plaintiffs' possession of said premises, or from building thereon, or destroying any trees or timber thereon or digging any coal thereon, also from dispossessing or attempting to dispossess said plaintiffs or either of them their agents and employees from taking or attempting to take or keep possession of said premises or any part thereof or from entering upon the same or any part thereof. That a restraining order issue to prevent defendants so doing until an application for a temporary injunction can be made and notice thereof given. That at the final hearing hereof such order and injunction be made perpetual, that plaintiffs recover their costs and have such other and further relief in the premises as may be in accordance with equity. J. R. Lewis and
Burke & Rasin,
On February 17, 1883
Smithers and Sutton filed their formal plea with the District Court,
submitting a $500 bond which named F. H. Whitworth and David T. Denny
as sureties. The restraining order was granted, Sheriff McGraw serving
the defendants individually between the February 17 and March 2 (Chick
being one of those served on the 17th). George H. Chick, through his
attorneys (and co-defendants) McNaught, Ferry, McNaught and Mitchell,
filed a demurrer on March 14th; McCoy and Upton also filed.
There's no evidence the order was rescinded.Attorneys for Plaintiffs. G. H. Chick ) William Kinney ) Samuel Evans ) John Doe (John McCoy) ) Richard Roe (G. L. Upton) ) Patrick Mathews makes complaint to T. H. Cann, Justice aforesaid and accuses the above named defendants by this complaint and information of the crime of forcible entry committed as follows: For that the said defendants at the County of King in the Territory of Washington, on the 14th day of February, 1883, did then and there violently enter upon and take possession, with menaces and with force and arms, and without the authority of law, a certain close and lands then and there being in possession of F. H. Whitworth and L. J. Coleman, which said lands are described as follows, to wit: The east half (½) of Section thirty-four (34), Township twenty-two (22) North of Range seven (7) east in King County, Wash. Terr. Patrick Mathews, being duly sworn an oath, saith: that the matter and things set forth and contained in the above and foregoing complaint and information are true as he verily believes. Justice of the Peace for Seattle Dist., King Cnty. W.T. In the District Court, holding term at Seattle in King County, Washington Territory L. J. Coleman and F. H. Whitworth, plaintiffs vs. The Northern Pacific Railroad Company, a corporation duly organized, The Oregon Improvement Company, a corporation duly organized, The Columbia and Puget Sound Railroad Company, a corporation duly organized, James McNaught, J. H. Howard, J. F. Jones, Geo. H. Chick, William Kenney, Samuel Evans, John McCoy, and Geo. Upton, Joseph F. McNaught, E. P. Ferry, J. H. Mitchell, Jr., and Oregon and Transcontinental Railroad Company, defendants Complaint
To
the Honorable Roger T. Green, Chief Justice of Washington Territory
and Judge of the above entitled Court. The plaintiffs allege and
complain to your honor
1. That the defendants, The Oregon Improvement Company,
The Northern Pacific Railroad Company
and The Columbia and Puget Sound Railroad Company, and the Oregon and
Improvement Company are corporations duly organized and
authorized to transact business in Washington Territory.
2.
That the plaintiffs have been for more than six (6) months
last past and are now in actual and lawful possession and occupancy of
the following described premises, to wit: The East half (½)
of
Section thirty-four (34) Township twenty-two (22) North of Range
seven (7) East of the Willamette Meridian in King County, Washington
Territory.
3.
The said premises are
unsurveyed lands and contain valuable deposits of coal and tracts of
timber and were entered upon and prospected and preempted under the
laws
of the United States by plaintiffs in good faith with the intention of
preempting and purchasing the same from the United States Government.
That plaintiffs have expended large sums of
money, to wit: $12000.00 dollars and upwards, in prospecting and
developing the coal veins upon said premises and in making other
valuable improvements thereon, and plaintiffs are now continuing such
developments and improvements; and plaintiffs are qualified to enter,
preempt and purchase said premises under the laws of the United
States.
4. That heretofore to
wit, on or about the 14th day of February 1883, the defendants, by
force and arms and against the wish, will or consent of plaintiffs or
either of them, entered into and upon said premises; and said
defendants threaten and are now attempting by force and arms, and
against the wish, will or consent of plaintiffs or either of them, to
hold possession of and oust plaintiffs from said premises.
5. That said defendants
are committing serious waste upon said premises, cutting down trees,
digging coal and otherwise injuring the property.
6. That plaintiffs are
informed, believe and so charge that defendants threaten and intend by
force and arms to take complete possession of and hold said premises,
and to drive plaintiffs therefrom by force. That defendants threaten
and intend to commit further waste on said premises by cutting
therefrom and destroying valuable timber and digging coal thereon, to
the irreparable damage of plaintiffs.
7. That plaintiffs are
now in possession and occupancy of houses erected by themselves on said
premises and defendants threaten and intend, as plaintiffs verily
believe, to drive plaintiffs therefrom by force and arms and take
possession of plaintiffs' said houses.
8. That there is danger
of defendants immediately carrying out these threats by taking absolute
possession of said premises by force, driving plaintiffs therefrom by
force, erecting buildings thereon, cutting and destroying timber
thereon and digging coal thereon to the irreparable loss and damage of
plaintiffs, unless restrained by the order of this honorable Court.
That this action if an injunction is granted will prevent a multiplicity of suits as to said lands. Wherefore plaintiffs pray that the defendants and each of them their agents, attorneys and employees be restrained, enjoined and prohibited from in any manner interfering with plaintiffs' possession of said premises, or from building thereon, or destroying any trees or timber thereon or digging any coal thereon, also from dispossessing or attempting to dispossess said plaintiffs or either of them their agents and employees from taking or attempting to take or keep possession of said premises or any part thereof or from entering upon the same or any part thereof. That a restraining order [be] issued to prevent defendants so doing until an application for a temporary injunction can be made and notice thereof given. That at the final hearing hereof such order and injunction be made perpetual, that plaintiffs recover their costs and have such other and further relief in the premises as may be in accordance with equity. J. R. Lewis and
Burke & Rasin,
This
complaint was cribbed from that of Smithers and Sutton; the penman even
forgot to change the names in one place. On February 17, 1883 Coleman
and Whitworth filed this formal plea with the District Court,
submitting a $500 bond which named E. M. Smithers and David T. Denny
as sureties. The restraining order was granted, Sheriff McGraw serving
the defendants simultaneously with the previous order. George H. Chick,
through his
attorneys (and co-defendants) McNaught, Ferry, McNaught and Mitchell,
filed a demurrer on March 14th; McCoy and Upton also filed.
There's no evidence the order was rescinded.Attorneys for Plaintiffs. Andrew Merchant, et al. vs. R. C.
Humeston, et al.
Andrew Merchant, George W.
Merton, J. D. Parks, Martin D. Ballard and Edward F. Sox, co-partners
doing business as Ballard & Sox vs. R. C. Humeston, Henry L.
Yesler and John S. Anderson, doing business in Seattle as Yesler Mill
Co.; J. Schram and A. Korn, doing business as J. Schram & Co.;
George H. Chick and Frank Nathan, doing business as Nathan &
Co.; George Stetson and J. J. Post, doing business as Stetson &
Post; G. W. Holmes, Olef Onson, Wesley H. Knee, Seattle Lumber and
Commercial Company. Suit was to recoup unpaid wages in construction of
seven dwelling houses in Seattle.
To the Hon. Roger S. Greene Judge of said District Court George H. Chick and Frank Nathan defendants sued herein as Nathan & Co. answering the complaint of the plaintiffs herein respectfully show and allege as follows viz: I.
That
at all times hereinafter mentioned the said George H. Chick and Frank
Nathan were, ever since have been and now are co-partners doing
business as shingle manufacturers and traders in the city of Seattle in
said county and territory under the firm name and style of Nathan
& Co.
II.
That
said defendant R. C. Humeston was indebted to said George H. Chick and
Frank Nathan as said co-partners in the sum of $283 75/100 upon an
account for 113,500 shingles by said Nathan & Co. furnished and
delivered to said R. C. Humeston at his special instance and request at
said Seattle, between the 7 and 24th days (inclusive) of May A.D. 1883
at the agreed price of two & 50/100 dollars for thousand of
said shingles.
III.
That
no part of said sum of $283 75/100 has ever been paid to said Nathan
& Co. nor to said Chick or Nathan except the sum of $140.00 and
that there now remains due said Nathan & Company upon said
account the sum of one hundred and forty-three dollars and 75/100
dollars.
IV.
That
of the shingles for which the above named sum of $143 75/100 remains
due, ten thousand were furnished for and actually used in the
construction of each of those five certain buildings two of which are
situated on lot 5, two on lot 6 and the other partly on lot 5 and
partly on lot 6 in Block 39 according to Maynard's Plat or addition to
said city of Seattle and situated near Seattle in said King County--all
of said houses fronting on 8th Street between Lone and Wheeler streets
according to said Maynard's Plat.
V.
That
it being these defendants' intention to avail themselves of the benefit
of Chapter 138 of the Code of Washington Territory and perfect a lien
upon the premises aforesaid as a security for the payment of the claim
of these defendants to the extent of $125 00/100 due as aforesaid and
to claim and hold such lien not only upon the said buildings but also
upon the land whereon the same have been constructed, together with a
convenient space about the same or so much as might be required for the
convenient use and occupation thereof or upon such interest as said
defendant Humeston who caused the said buildings to be constructed had
therein at the times said shingles were furnished and used in the
construction of said buildings as aforesaid, these defendants did file
on the 20th day of July A.D. 1883 and within sixty days from the
furnishing [of] said shingles for said houses, with the auditor of said
King County where said premises were wholly situated the claim of these
defendants which said claim and the verification thereof, duly made by
said George H. Chick, are hereby made apart of this answer, copies of
which are hereto attached marked Exhibits "A" & "B" and for a
full and complete description of said claim reference is hereby made
thereto, and that thereafter, to wit: on the said 20th day of July A.D.
1883 the said claim was duly recorded in vol. 5 of Liens page 174
Records of King County, Washington Territory.
VI.
That
said claim was duly filed and recorded within sixty days from the time
said shingles were delivered as aforesaid and that said buildings at
the time said shingles were furnished as aforesaid and at the time said
buildings were constructed and said shingles were used thereon were the
property of said R. C. Humeston together with a leasehold interest in
said lots 5 & 6 in said Block 39 according to said Maynard's
Plat, and said lease hold interest of said Humeston is and was based
upon a lease of said lots to said Humeston from one W. C. Squires dated
[omission].
The case record is nearly
three-quarters of an inch thick and amongst the many demurrers,
refilings and motions to strike, I can't make out what was the final
disposition. The case was appealed to the territory Supreme Court,
though, which on July 13, 1885 affirmed the lower court's decision.
George B. Adair vs. George H. Chick Third Judicial District, ) ss. County of King, ) In the District Court holding terms at Seattle. Geo. B. Adair, Plaintiff, vs. Geo. H. Chick, Defendant. The plaintiff in the above entitled action, for cause of action against the defendant above named, alleges as follows: 1. That on the 6th day of October, 1883, the defendant, Geo. H. Chick, for a valuable consideration, made, executed and delivered to plaintiff his promissory note, whereby the said defendant, for a valuable consideration, as aforesaid, promised to pay to the order of G. B. Adair the sum of one hundred and twenty-six and 25/100 dollars, with interest thereon at the rate of one percent, per month from date until paid; said note being due and payable ten days after the date thereof. 2. That no payments of principal or interest due on said promissory note have been made, except the sum of $26.25. 3. That plaintiff is now the owner and holder of said promissory note. Whereupon plaintiff prays for judgment against said defendant for the sum of one hundred dollars, with interest thereon from the 6th day of October, 1883, until paid, and for costs and plaintiff's disbursements herein. (signed) C. H. Hanford Attorney for Plaintiff Chick's debt remained unpaid as of November 30, 1885, when a summons for the unpaid balance and court costs was filed with the county clerk. A copy of the original promissory note was also filed, with an unattributed newspaper clipping attached to it, reading: "Mr. George H. Chick, who has been on a business trip to California, returned last evening, having secured an appointment to a position of great responsibility." George H. Chick, one of the gentlemen who recently bonded the extensive mining and timber property of the Pacific Hydraulic Mining Co., in Josephine County, was in town last week, and is greatly pleased with Ashland. W. C. Tindall, a correspondent of an eastern journal, accompanied him out from Portland. "Brevities," Ashland Tidings, April 4, 1884, page 3 There is a large amount of tailings at some of our gold quartz mills hitherto of no value whatever. The new reduction works in this city it appears can work these over again to a large profit. Every dollar thus saved is so much more wealth for the state. "Brief Mention," Morning Oregonian, Portland, July 18, 1884, page 3 A BIG SHOWING--Salmon Mills Versus Stamps--Out of 700 lbs. of quartz tailings from five stamp mills, which was worked at Chick's Reduction Works, using Salmon's Pulverizer and Chick's Patent Riffle, a saving of $10.25 per ton is given, showing a loss to the companies of ten tons per day, of $103.50, which is more than one-half what they are realizing on first working, as they claim it pays them but $20 per ton, or $200 per day. Results are stubborn facts. Works located at the corner of Main and Front sts. Office 102 First St., Portland, Or. Morning Oregonian, Portland, July 23, 1884, page 2 LOTS
50x100 FEET
-- AT -- YAQUINA BAY, $25 EACH, INSTALLMENTS OF $5 PER MONTH. GEORGE H. CHICK & CO., No. 102 First Street. Lively times at Yaquina Bay. The lots which Chick & Co., the real estate agents, No. 102 First, are selling at $125 each on easy installments of $25 per month are nearly all sold. They are sure to command a handsome premium when no more can be got. Don't neglect to secure a lot whilst you have the chance, or you will when too late surely regret it. Parties arriving from the country will be located as well as if they had called personally at their office. The officers of the Equal Rights Association of King County in the fall of 1884 were Mrs. C. M. Anderson, president; Mrs. E. Mooers, vice president; Mrs. W. D. Wood, secretary; Mrs. Amos Brown, corresponding secretary; Mrs. M. J. Pontius, treasurer; Mrs. George H. Chick, Mrs. Irving Ballard, Mrs. H. E. Taylor, Mrs. M. E. Kenworthy, Mrs. Alfred Snyder, executive committee. History of Seattle from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Clarence Bagley, 1916 CHICK'S REDUCTION WORKS, -- OF -- TEN TON CAPACITY, Is now ready to make positive WORKING TESTS ON GOLD & SILVER Ores at San Francisco Prices. ---------- CHAS. A. WING, LATE OF ARIZONA, A FIRST-CLASS ASSAYER & MILLMAN, Will have charge of location of works, corner of Main and Front streets. Office at GEO. H. CHICK & CO's., 102 First St., Portland, Or. MINING DEVELOPMENTS.--Geo. H. Chick, of Portland, who was over at Henley this week, informs us that a corporation is to be formed soon to develop a new phase of mining business in Southern Oregon and Northern California, viz: the working of quartz ledges which have gold in them but which could not be profitably worked heretofore because of the impossibility of saving the gold. Mr. Chick has a new process of working the sulphurets which he is sanguine will enable the company to mine with profit in many places where the quartz has failed to pay. The scheme of the company is not fully perfected, but the above is an outline of its object. Its name is to be the Southern Oregon Development Company, and its incorporation is to be so effected as to allow it to operate in California near the Oregon line. Ashland Tidings, August 15, 1884, page 3 Geo. H. Chick, the Portland real estate man, and Capt. Taylor have been over at Henley within the past week, making arrangements for a new mining enterprise. "Personal," Ashland Tidings, August 15, 1884, page 3 The Southern Oregon Development Company now has 500 tons of low-grade ore ready to ship from Jackson County to East Portland as soon as the reduction works in that city are in operation. "Brief Mention," Morning Oregonian, Portland, December 15, 1884, page 3 NEWSPAPERS AND PUBLICATIONS.
Portland
City Directory, 1885. Portland, Oregon: R. L. Polk
& Co., 1885.OREGON
REAL ESTATE ADVERTISER (Monthly)—George H. Chick &
Co., publishers. 102 1st.
YAQUINA
BAY!
Morning
Oregonian, Portland, January 1, 1885 et seq., page 4$35 $50 LOTS! $75 $100 ---- Every man, woman, boy and girl can own a lot on Yaquina Bay, the Terminus of the Oregon Pacific Railroad, and one of the future Great Cities and Commercial Centres of the Northwest. $35, $50, $75 or $100 per Lot, For Cash or Installments, No Interest. MONTHLY: $5, $10, $20, $50. WEEKLY: $2, $3, $5, $10. Perfect Titles. Size 50x100 Feet. ---- GEO. H. CHICK & CO., Real Estate and Mining Brokers, 102 First Street, Portland, Ogn. AN EXPLANATION
Portland,
Or., Jan. 23.
To the Editor of The Oregonian
The report of the trial in Justice Davis' court, published in the issue of last Wednesday, regarding George H. Chick & Co. in connection with J. Grafe, did the firm great injustice. At no time was Mr. Grafe refused either the money or the deed. He expressed himself perfectly satisfied to wait the return of Mr. Richards, when his money was to have been paid or the deed delivered to him. Mr. Grafe, instead of waiting, as he had promised, began suit against the firm before the return of Mr. Richards, who is new here, and the deed which I now show you is signed, sealed, and ready for delivery to Mr. Grafe or his authorized agent. GEO H. CHICK
& CO.
per Geo. H. Chick Morning Oregonian, Portland,
January 30, 1885, page 3
Geo. H. Chick, the Portland real estate man, and Capt. E. J. Bates, both of whom are interested in a mining enterprise near Henley, passed through town this week, on their way from San Francisco to Portland. "Personal," Ashland Tidings, March 20, 1885, page 3 The firm of George H. Chick & Co., real estate and mining brokers, is this day dissolved by mutual consent, Mr. Chick taking charge of mining business, and Mr. Richards of the real estate business. All parties owing the firm will pay their bills on presentation by George H. Chick, and all parties having bills against the firm will present them to Mr. Chick for payment. GEO. H. CHICK
Portland, Or.,
March 18, 1885
D. A. RICHARDS
Morning Oregonian, Portland,
March 20, 1885, page 2
D. A. Richards and Carl Werngren have entered into partnership in the real estate business. Mr. Richards is of the firm of George H. Chick & Co. and Mr. Werngren has purchased the interest of George H. Chick. The new firm ask a continuance of past favors from the patrons of the old firm, and will promptly and reliably transact all matters entrusted to their care. Give them a call at No. 6 Washington Street, Portland, Or. Morning Oregonian, Portland, March 20, 1885, page 2 Census date: Apr 1885 Name: Geo H Chick Residence: Seattle Ward 2, Washington Birth location: Maine Marital status: Married Occupation: Real Estate Household members: Geo. H. Chick, 36 F. M. Chick, age 35, housewife, born in Maine Guy H. Chick, 16, male, born in California R. A. Chick, 12, male, born in California M. Chick, 6, male, born in California Washington State and Territorial Census "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, April 4, 1885, page 3 "Personal Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, April 17, 1885, page 3 "Brevities," Ashland Tidings, June 5, 1885, page 3 By addressing Geo. H. Chick at Henley, Cal., you can arrange for the crushing of any amount of quartz, thereby giving it a practical test--more than an assay usually amounts to. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, June 6, 1885, page 3 "Here and There," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, June 12, 1885, page 3 Mr. G. H. Chick visited our town again on yesterday accompanied by Mr. Thomas Ewing of San Francisco, who is a capitalist and is the owner of two large mines in Arizona that are paying $40,000 net per month. He seems to be very favorably impressed with the mines in the vicinity of Jacksonville and will return here again in a short time to engage in mining. Mr. Chick will put up a mill here to work the Enterprise Company's rock and to prospect the quartz of this vicinity. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, June 27, 1885, page 3 A number of citizens of Jacksonville and vicinity are about investing in a quartz mill, such as are in common use in Shasta County, Cal., and which have a capacity of crushing five tons of quartz per day. Nothing at this time would be of greater importance and benefit than such a mill and we hope that no time will be lost in securing it. It would give those who have quartz ledges a cheap method of determining what is in them, something which is highly needed. "Mining News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, July 10, 1885, page 3 [In Portland] reduction works were talked of, but the projectors don't see a certainty of doubling their money the first year and so hold back. "No Employment for Labor," Morning Oregonian, Portland, July 15, 1885, page 2 . . . I desire to ask what has become of the building of the proposed reduction works that was being talked of here last winter. There is certainly no one thing that could be done that would do so much to develop the mining interests of Oregon as this, and would unquestionably be a good-paying investment for those putting their their money into it. I sincerely hope that this most important project has not been abandoned. E. W. ALLEN
Excerpt,
"Mineral Specimens Wanted," letter to the editor, Morning Oregonian, Portland,
July 25, 1885, page 3
Geo. H. Chick is milling a large quantity of rebellious ores with his new process in Scott Valley, Cal. "Mining News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, July 31, 1885, page 3 There is now a project for getting a quartz mill costing about $6,000 for which George H. Chick is agent. The offer is a liberal one. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, August 22, 1885, page 3 SEATTLE, W.T., Aug. 24--All the county officers were nominated excepting Wm. H. Hughes as assessor and Mrs. Florence Chick as school superintendent. The remaining county and precinct officers were nominated, the convention taking the utmost care that all the officers should be solid for [in favor of] forfeiture. Excerpt, "Declared for Forfeiture," Morning Oregonian, Portland, August 24, 1885, page 1 Geo. H. Chick offers to put a first-class quartz mill in this section very cheap. "Mining News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, August 28, 1885, page 3 It is reasonably certain that a quartz mill will be in operation in this vicinity before the end of the year. Such an enterprise would not only be remunerative, but of incalculable benefit to our county. "Mining News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, September 18, 1885, page 3 GOLD
& SILVER ORES
WORKED. $5 Per Cent, of Fire Assay. AT MORSE & JACOB'S MILL 25 Miles from Ashland. HAVING
LEASED the above named mill and at great expense put in my
SUCCESSFUL PROCESS
Geo. H. Chick and his engineer are in
the valley and submitted a scheme to the citizens of Medford to put up
a quartz mill, which is now in Siskiyou County, at that place [sic],
providing they would furnish him the necessary land and also purchase
the five-eighths interest in said mill owned in California. A public
meeting was held Tuesday evening to consider the matter, and Mr. C.
informs us that his proposition was accepted. The mill will be brought
over at once.FOR WORKING Rebellious Ores and Sulphurets
I
will be prepared on or after May 20th, 1885, to work any ore in
Southern Oregon, 85 per cent, of fire assay.
Parties having Gold and Silver Mines developed, so as to show in sight, the value of my process, can have work put on the same with my process, and the pay for such works taken from the mine, PROVIDING the parties will ship five or more tons of the average ore from such mine to my works in Henley, and have it worked by my process, which I agree to work 85 per cent, or make no charge for working same. Talk
is Cheap, but Results
Tell the Story. GEO. H. CHICK, Agent. Henley, Siskiyou County, Cal. Oregon
Sentinel, Jacksonville, September 19, 1885, et seq., page 3
"Mining News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, October 9, 1885, page 3 The Enterprise Mining Co. of this place this week sent a quantity of rock from their mine to Henley, Cal., where George H. Chick will give it a mill test. The owners of this time still have faith in its paying qualities, and the present mode of procedure will show what there is in the rock. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, October 10, 1885, page 3 The project of putting up a quartz mill at Medford has been abandoned, and Mr. Chick proposes putting it up in this vicinity, if he can get enough inducements. A mill would be of vast benefit to Jacksonville in more ways than one. What this section needs more than anything else is a first-class quartz mill to work the ores of the ledges already discovered, many of which will pay well. Everything possible should be done to get one, for there is no calculating the benefit it will be. There is no doubt but what we have good quartz in Jackson and Josephine counties, but we must prove it before we can expect any amount of foreign capital to be invested here. "Mining News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, October 16, 1885, page 3 It seems as if the people of Medford have accepted Geo. H. Chick's proposition to bring his quartz mill to this county, and a committee has gone to Siskiyou to inspect the situation and probably bring the machinery over. Somebody seems to be throwing cold water on the different projects which have been conceived to bring a quartz mill to Jacksonville. We are very sorry to see this, as there is no calculating the benefit such an enterprise would be. "Mining News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, October 23, 1885, page 3 Geo. H. Chick is preparing to put up a quartz-crushing machine in Medford, the object being to attract thither for test the quartz from various ledges in the county now being prospected. The site chosen for the mill is near the railroad track a short distance south of the depot. A number of citizens of Medford "put up" for the enterprise. "Brevities," Ashland Tidings, October 30, 1885, page 3 Sulphurets and Sulphuret Sharps.
A
correspondent of the Tuolumne Independent
says: The great unknown quantity in gold quartz mines is the value of
the sulphurets, and the number of companies who have been ruined by
them is very large. They are often fair to look upon, but as often
prove deceptive--"Like Dead Sea fruits that tempt the eye, But turn to ashes on the lips." They are of many kinds and colors. Some are docile, some are rebellious. The sulphurets found in gold quartz mines are chemical compounds of sulphur with iron, lead, zinc, copper, arsenic and antimony. The common pyrites, or sulphurets, are composed of iron and sulphur. Galena is composed of lead and sulphur. Zinc blende, or blackjack, is zinc and sulphur, with a little iron and lead, generally. The brassy-looking pyrites, which are technically called chalcopyrite, are composed of iron, copper and sulphur; and, other kinds of sulphurets are composed of one or more of the metals mentioned above and sulphur. When much lead, zinc, arsenic and antimony are present, the sulphurets are called base or refractory, and are very troublesome, requiring roasting as a preliminary step and the use of chemicals in the subsequent grinding processes. The gold which occurs in sulphurets is held there mechanically, and is not chemically combined, like the other elements, and is held just the same as the gold in the quartz, with the exception that the sulphuret gold is smaller and lighter. It can be set free from the pyritic matter containing it either by dissolving the pyrites with acids, or, in the chlorination process, by chlorine gas, which dissolves the gold, or by roasting or burning them, thus driving off all the sulphur, arsenic, antimony or zinc that may be present, and brightening the gold and leaving it in good condition to amalgamate in pans or arrastras; or, lastly, by grinding the sulphurets raw, in pans or arrastras, with quicksilver. Which one of these processes any mine needs has to be determined by the value per ton of the sulphurets, and by the docility of their rebelliousness. Some mines produce sulphurets which yield their gold when worked raw, by a grinding process; others hold the gold closer and require chemicals, or else roasting. The problem is how to get the most profit out of them; for, while the chemical processes yield a better percentage of the assay value per ton, they are so expensive that they will not pay as much profit as the cheaper processes, which do not yield as high a percentage of the assay value, and the tendency of the times is now toward the cheaper, or grinding process. In cases where they are base, a preliminary roasting is necessary. Pyrites, or sulphurets, are spotted, just as quartz is. Some are rich, some are poor, in the same ore, and no one can tell rich from poor; and anyone who pretends to do so either deceives himself or is a humbug. "A man may smile and smile, and yet be a villain"; and so can the bright shining sulphurets be of no value, or the dark, gloomy ores be rich. The only way to test them is by fire assay, or by roasting them and panning out; and here is where many people are deceived, for they are inclined to think their sulphurets all alike, and if one chute or chimney of ore contains rich sulphurets all their other chutes are likewise rich, which may or may not be the case, and it can be laid down as a rule, the sulphurets want as careful prospecting as the quartz before any correct value can be found. About as uncertain as the sulphurets themselves, and often as stubborn and rebellious, is the sulphuret sharp--the man who has a process or processes to get more gold out of sulphurets than is in them. He is a man with a hobby, and often with a crank, as well, and is always finding some wonderful process which turns out to be found, proved, tried everything but true or useful. Processes which look well on paper, or work well on a small scale, fail when tried commercially or practically. They are sound in theory, but ruinous when used practically. Every few years a new sharp finds the true process, and the mining world goes wild over the man who has found the great secret, but somehow or other he fizzles out, and we all go back to first principles, until another new sulphuret meteor flashes across our horizon, and then we all are agog with renewed excitement until he flashes out of sight again. Simplicity and cheap handling of sulphurets is what we are tending to, and the simple processes, which do not yield as high a percentage of the sulphurets, yield a better net profit to the miners than the costlier processes, which have a larger percentage of gold. The sooner the whole matter is robbed of the air of mystery that surrounds it the better. To hear one of these deeply, darkly mysterious sulphuret men talk reminds one of the days of alchemy, and carries us back down the centuries to the age of superstition--to the time of magic elixirs of life, and the philosopher's stone, and the humbuggery of the ancient magicians. Let us look at mining in the full daylight of modern science and practical business, and have no more humbug mystery, worthy only the dark ages and the childhood of mining. Let us return to the blanket sluice for a concentrator, and work the blanket tailings in a pan or arrastra, raw, if they are docile, or roast them, as a preliminary, if they are base, and be content with the result; for by striving to get the last cent out of the sulphurets we lose rather than gain. The great army of concentrator and sulphuret sharps, who have afflicted this coast, have caused the loss of millions of dollars with their newfangled plans and experiments, and want to be sent to pot to await the coming of their brothers--the mischievous, gay, deceiving patent quartz mill men--who are now reaping the harvest of the mining greenhorns, which the concentrator and sulphuret men used to look on as theirs. Ruin follows in the wake of all these mining humbugs, and almost every quartz mill, from San Diego to Alaska, shows some of the marks of these new processes and machines which generally get more gold out of the miner's pocket than out of the sulphurets--S.F. Mining and Scientific Press. Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, November 7, 1885, page 2. The Sentinel apparently chose to reprint this article as a warning about Chick. Geo. H. Chick writes to Jas. A. Wilson of this place that he has arrived at Medford from Siskiyou County, Cal., with the quartz mill he disposed of to the citizens of that place, and that it will be in operation in a few days. "Mining News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, November 13, 1885, page 3 The Chick quartz mill at Medford is ready for business. Walsh & Bragdon will send some of the quartz from their Wagner Creek mines to Medford for trial The Medford Reduction Works are now in running order and are testing ore from different mines. Considerable prospecting is still being done in different portions of Jackson and Josephine counties. When the quartz mills at Jacksonville and Medford are in operations, there will be much more inducement to prospect for quartz. Our citizens are subscribing liberally toward the $2,000 bonus that is required to induce Brown & Co. to bring a quartz mill here. In case that sum is raised, first-class machinery of the most improved kind, and valued at $8,000, will be put up at this place or in the immediate vicinity. It is to be hoped that we will not allow another golden opportunity to slip by. "Mining News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, November 20, 1885, page 3 The quartz mill began operations yesterday. Quite a large amount of ore has already been shipped for crushing. "Medford Brevities," Ashland Tidings, November 20, 1885, page 3 The Chick quartz mill at Medford is about ready to commence crushing rock. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, November 21, 1885, page 3 Good Mining Report.
Messrs.
Walsh & Bragdon recently sent to the Medford quartz mill a
quantity
of rock from which they have received returns as follows: The tailings
from the old quartz mill operated a number of years ago yielded at the
rate of about $170 to the ton; rock from the "Eva C." ledge went $97 to
the ton, and a lot of inferior rock from the outcroppings of the large
ledge, the "Pilgrim," went $62 to the ton. The "Pilgrim" is an
unusually large lead (7 ft.) and promises exceedingly well. They are
now at work upon it and have gone in some ten or fifteen feet, where
they are taking out rock which shows much more gold than did the
croppings of which a report is given above. The proprietors believe it
will go not less than $100 to the ton, perhaps more. They have sent a
ton to Medford, to be run through the mill, and will have the returns
in a short time. Their water-power arrastra will be ready for operation
soon, if the weather does not interfere with work upon it.
Ashland Tidings, November 27, 1885, page 3 The Medford reduction works are in operation. "Southern Oregon Mines," Morning Oregonian, Portland, December 3, 1885, page 3 Geo. H. Chick of the Medford Reduction Works was in town Saturday. He informs us that he made assays of ore from the Wagner Creek and other quartz mines, which resulted quite favorably. Since it has become a settled fact that a fine quartz mill will be put up in this place, a great deal more prospecting is being done. Work has been commenced on a number of ledges which have been lying dormant for many years. Attention is called to the advertisement of the Medford Reduction Works, which are now prepared to test all kinds of ores and make assays promptly; also to reduce any quantity of them and save a considerable percentage of the valuable minerals they contain. Mr. Chick, the superintendent, guarantees satisfaction. "Mining News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, December 4, 1885, page 3 M
E D F O R D
REDUCTION WORKS! ARE NOW SUCCESSFULLY Running on various kinds of Gold
and Silver ores from Jackson and Josephine counties.
Anyone wanting Practical Working Tests made of GOLD AND
SILVER ORES
Can have the same successfully treated at the MEDFORD REDUCTION WORKS At Less Than San Francisco Prices! ASSAYING, $2.50. GEO. H. CHICK.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville,
December 4, 1885 et seq., page 3
The quartz mill is now running on full time.
"Medford Brevities," Ashland Tidings, December 4, 1885, page 3 The new quartz mill at Medford is now in working order and has commenced crushing rock. Geo. H. Chick is in charge. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, December 5, 1885, page 3 The capacity of the Medford quartz reduction works is to be increased to ten tons per day. A large quantity of quartz rock from the Walsh & Bragdon mines on Wagner Creek was shipped to the Medford reduction works this week. "Brevities," Ashland Tidings, December 18, 1885, page 3 O.&C. Officials Visit
Medford.
A
special train bearing Receiver Koehler, Superintendent Brandt and
Vice-President W. W. Bretherton arrived in Medford Tuesday morning for
the purpose of visiting the Medford Reduction Works, under the
management of Mr. George H. Chick. The object of the visit was to learn
the capacity of the mill and to offer encouragement to the stockholders
and miners in the way of switches at different points on the road, and
reduced freight rates on the ore.From the Monitor. Mr. Chick has practically demonstrated to the stockholders that he can reduce rebellious ores and extract the precious metals, if any, from them. Sufficient paying ore to run a ten-stamp mill is ready. Let us have the stamps. We hope the citizens of Medford who have means will not allow this opportunity to slip by. It is an industry of all others that needs encouragement and support, at least until it is placed upon a paying basis. Morning Oregonian, Portland, December 20, 1885, page 7 Ten tons of ore from the Wagner Creek quartz mines were shipped to Medford yesterday for reduction. Money has been raised to purchase stamps for the Medford Reduction Works, and it is expected to have a capacity of ten tons every 24 hours. Fourteen hundred pounds of ore from the Wagner Creek quartz mines were tested at the Medford Reduction Works last week and a gold brick worth over $60 was the result, we are informed. Considerable excitement exists in that section in consequence. "Mining News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, December 27, 1885, page 3 Prospecting is being actively prosecuted in the Wagner Creek district, and it is claimed that a ledge has been traced from the Walsh & Bragdon mines for a number of miles toward the backbone of the Siskiyous. The flattering returns from the rock shipped by Walsh & Bragdon to the Medford Reduction Works started a number of Medford people out to secure locations, and a large number of claims have been made. Walsh & Bragdon have shipped twenty-six tons of tailings from the old stamp mill to Medford. Operations upon the prospect shaft of their Pilgrim mine also continue, under the direction of Mr. Parsons. The new machinery which will increase the capacity of the Medford Reduction Works to ten tons per day was shipped from San Francisco on the 26th ult., and is expected to arrive at Medford next week. In the Blackwell district in Willow Springs precinct, seven or eight claims have been "located" within a short time by the Medford men. A switch is to be laid by the railroad company at the most convenient point, and rock will be shipped to Medford in considerable quantities from mines in which work is already under way. McAndrews & Slagle are taking out 100 tons for this purpose, and Ragsdale & Co. are also preparing to ship a large quantity. "Mining News," Chick Geo H, assayer Medford Reduction Works Co, Geo H Chick, H E Baker, L Seeley, C S Jenkins proprs McKenney's Pacific Coast Directory 1886-1887, page 1023 Medford has turned out "locators" enough to plaster mining claims all over the Wagner Creek hills. "Brevities," Ashland Tidings, January 2, 1886, page 3 Prospecting is being actively prosecuted in the Wagner Creek district, and it is claimed that a ledge has been traced from the Walsh & Bragdon mines for a number of miles toward the backbone of the Siskiyous. The flattering returns from the rock shipped by Walsh & Bragdon to the Medford reduction works started a number of Medford people out to secure locations, and a large number of claims have been made. Walsh & Bragdon have shipped twenty-six tons of tailings from the old stamp mill to Medford. Operations upon the prospect shaft of their Pilgrim mine also continue, under the direction of Mr. Parsons. The new machinery, which will increase the capacity of the Medford reduction works to ten tons per day, was shipped from San Francisco on the 26th ult., and is expected to arrive at Medford next week. In the Blackwell district in Willow Springs precinct, seven or eight claims have been "located" within a short time by the Medford men. A switch is to be laid by the railroad company at the most convenient point, and rock will be shipped to Medford in considerable quantities from mines in which work is already under way. McAndrews & Slagle are taking out 100 tons for this purpose, and Ragsdale & Co. are also preparing to ship a large quantity. M. E. Beatty, a "mining expert" recently from Colorado, and G. W. Howard, of Medford, have located a claim on an extension of the ledge upon which the Cunninghams and Barkdull have recently made such a strike in the Gold Hill district. "Mining News," Ashland Tidings, January 2, 1886, page 3 FRI. 8. Weather, Slight frost Teams hauling Hay to Mill and lumber away, also hauling quartz to Talent to ship to Medford to be reduced to bullion and thence to coin, but I have not seen any of the Coin as yet. Diary of Welborn Beeson, January 8, 1886 There are about four tons daily of gold quartz being delivered at Talent station for shipment to the Medford Reduction Works. "Talent Items," Ashland Tidings, January 8, 1886, page 3 The Medford quartz mill is to be enlarged. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, January 9, 1886, page 3 The Medford Reduction Works started their stamps Friday. These works can treat ten tons per day, and have had an offer to contract one year's work ahead from one mine, but refuse to contract, as it would go against the development of other mines. Excerpt, "Southern Oregon Mines," Morning Oregonian, Portland, January 14, 1886, page 5 Tom Reynolds informs us that he brought up in Wells, Fargo & Co.'s express car on yesterday's train the concentrator for the Medford quartz mill. It was a healthy express package, weighing over 1800 lbs. "Brevities," The improved machinery for the quartz mill at this place arrived on last week's freight and work was resumed the first of this week. There is a great excitement here over the quartz discoveries at Gold Hill. Some very rich ledges have already been found. M. E. Beatty located a ledge recently that assays over $900 to the ton. Ragsdale & Co. are engaged in opening the "consolidated mine," which promises to be a very rich ledge, and that section has begun to assume the appearance of "the days of '49." "Medford Brevities," Ashland Tidings, January 15, 1886, page 3 The stamps for the new reduction works at Medford have arrived and are being put in place. "News of the Northwest," Morning Oregonian, Portland, January 17, 1886, page 8 There are about four tons daily of gold quartz being delivered at Talent station for shipment to the Medford Reduction Works. "Talent Items," The reduction works at Medford have been started up again, after a suspension of some time to permit the putting in of five stamps, a new concentrator and other machinery. Supt. Chick assures us that the best of work will be done henceforth. "Mining News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, January 22, 1886, page 2 The Medford Reduction Works received ten carloads of wood from Grants Pass last week. The quartz mill is now running on full time and is crushing ten tons of ore per day. The quartz mill is now running on full time and is crushing ten tons of ore per day. D. P. Thompson and other Portland capitalists are about starting reduction works at the metropolis on a large scale. Messrs. Koehler and Brandt of the O.&C.R.R., who paid this section a visit recently, seem to be satisfied that Southern Oregon will prove one of its very best customers. [Apparently Chick wasn't associated with the Portland venture.] "Mining News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, January 22, 1886, page 2 The quartz mill is working well and is crushing a considerable quantity of ore. The last freight train brought 75 cords of wood for the reduction works here from Grants Pass, and still there is an abundance of excellent wood within a few miles of this place. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, January 29, 1886, page 3 Fred Grob of this place will send a ton of quartz from his mine to Medford next week to give it a mill test. He has a large lot of rock on the dump, all of which prospects well. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, January 30, 1886, page 3 The Medford quartz mill is now running on full time and is crushing ten tons of ore per day. "Southern Oregon Mines," Morning Oregonian, Portland, February 3, 1886, page 4 Geo. H. Chick had the misfortune to cut his wrist quite severely with a chisel one day last week. It is a painful, though not serious, wound. The Medford Reduction Works has been using wood shipped on the railroad from Grants Pass. The quartz mill belonging to Morris & Jacobs, put up by Geo. H. Chick at Vacent's [Vincent's?], near mouth of Indian Creek, Siskiyou County, has been taken down and will be moved to Humbug, to be used at some good-paying ledges lately discovered at that place. "Brevities," A new engine will be added to the quartz mill in a few days, and it will then be able to crush more ore than it has heretofore. Geo. H. Chick had the misfortune to cut his wrist quite severely with a chisel one day last week. It is a painful, though not serious, wound. Thirty tons of tailings from Wagner Creek mines were worked on at the Medford mill last week and $1,200 taken. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, February 6, 1886, page 3 The report in the Medford Monitor that thirty tons of the tailings from the old quartz mill on Wagner Creek had yielded $1200 at the Medford Reduction Works was entirely erroneous. "Brevities," Geo. H. Chick, of the Medford quartz mill, was in town Tuesday, and displayed some very rich rock from the strike in the Gold Hill district, reported some time ago. "Personal," NEEDS A
BALANCE WHEEL.
The
Medford Monitor stated
some time ago that thirty tons of tailings from the old quartz mill on
Wagner Creek yielded $1200 at the reduction works. By the proprietors
of the mine, the Tidings was informed that this
statement was erroneous, and it said so--simply that and nothing more.
The engineer of the Monitor, evidently
suffering with a sore head or a disordered imagination, takes this as
an insult, and in about a half-column of froth and "swash" charges the Tidings
with
slurring the Medford quartz mill, "belittling Medford as an
enterprising center," and calling him a liar. It is surprising that,
while the fit was upon him, he didn't convict the Tidings of
high treason against the United States of America, and sentence it to
annihilation at once. From the ridiculous he descends to
contemptibility when he hints darkly that "it is rather dangerous to
tell a brother editor that he lies knowingly and willfully."
Possibly
it might be serious in his case. If he is wrought into such a fever by
simply being told that he has made an "erroneous" statement, the
chances are that it would throw him into convulsions that might prove
fatal. Nevertheless, should occasion require it, the Tidings will
not hesitate to perform this "dangerous" duty.
The yield of the rock in question is a matter of some public interest in this neighborhood, and the report that it was about $40 a ton naturally excited much comment. When Messrs. Walsh & Bragdon found that it did not reach one-tenth that figure, the public was entitled to know it, and the idea that the simple statement in the Tidings was intended to injure any enterprise, any place or any man is too preposterous for anyone of ordinary common sense to conceive. The facts are simply these. The manager of the reduction works tested a small quantity of the reduced ore before Mr. Walsh at the mill, and the result pointed to a yield of from $35 to $40 per ton. The Monitor man was informed of this and figured out that thirty tons would yield $1200. He stated that thirty tons had yielded that sum. The fact is, the quantity of rock was less than twenty tons, and the returns received by Walsh & Bragdon were less per ton than one-tenth what the Monitor stated. The Tidings is not disposed to be misrepresented even by the Monitor, and if that paper, or any moving spirit behind it, wishes to pursue this matter further, we have a good stock of facts in store which may be pertinently used. Several tons of rock were hauled to the Medford mill this week from Applegate, but we have not yet heard the result of the test. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, February 27, 1886, page 3 Chick should take the little man of the Monitor on his knee and explain to him the difference between quartz rock and tailings. "Brevities," Ashland Tidings, March 12, 1886, page 3 A short time ago Ragsdale & Co., who own quartz mining property in Willow Springs precinct, published a card in the Jacksonville paper stating that they had selected a sackful of average ore from one of their mines and had it tested at the Medford Reduction Works. The returns given them by Mr. Chick indicated a yield of $53.18 per ton in gold and silver. They they sent tons of rock from the same mine to the reduction works, and received from Chick only $3 per ton, from which experience they deduced and announced the opinion that either Chick had given a false report at first, or else he cannot extract gold from sulphurets, as he claims to, or he pocketed part of the proceeds of the rock. Chick last week began a damage suit for libel against Ragsdale & Co., claiming the modest little sum of $20,000 for the injury to his valuable reputation. "Brevities," Geo. Chick, Sup't. of the Medford Reduction Works, brought suit today against C. C. and J. F. Ragsdale for the sum of $20,000. This is a small sum, considering the offense, even if Mr. Chick succeeds in compelling Messrs. Ragsdale to pay the full amount.--Monitor. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, April 3, 1886, page 3 George Chick, superintendent of the Medford Reduction Works, has brought suit against C. C. and J. F. Ragsdale for the sum of $20,000. The suit is for damages, claimed from the latter for the publication of an article accusing the Medford Reduction Works of embezzling a portion of the gold ore brought there for reduction. "News of the Northwest," Morning Oregonian, Portland, April 4, 1886, page 6 M
E D F O R D
Grants Pass
Courier, April 9 through May 28, 1886, page 2Reduction Works ARE NOW PREPARED TO WORK Gold and Silver Ores IN SOUTHERN OREGON. --AND SOLICIT-- A Share of the Patronage. GEO. H. CHICK, ------ SUPT. Some quartz is being hauled to Medford from George Schumpf's mine to give it a further test. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, April 10, 1886, page 3 The following proceedings have taken place in this court since the last issue of the Sentinel: Geo. H. Chick vs. C. C. and J. F. Ragsdale; action for damages. On trial. Excerpt, "Circuit Court Proceedings," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, May 15, 1886, page 2 The reduction works at Medford are working ores from different sections of the state. These works, under the management of Geo. H. Chick, are proving very successful. "Jackson County News," Grants Pass Courier, June 18, 1886, page 3 J. W. Walsh has leased the Medford quartz mill and moved it to the Hope ledge on Wagner Creek, owned by himself, H. T. Bragdon and others, and will have it running upon rock from that ledge within a few days. It is understood that Mr. Walsh will buy the mill if it is found to answer his purpose. "Brevities," The Chick quartz mill, which was moved over to Wagner Creek from Medford, began running Wednesday morning on rock from the Hope ledge. "Brevities," Geo. H. Chick, formerly of the Medford quartz mill, is now operating in Siskiyou County. "Here and There," Ashland Tidings, September 17, 1886, page 3 G. H. Chick vs. C. C. and J. F. Ragsdale, action for damages. H. K. Hanna allowed to withdraw as attorney for plaintiff. "Circuit Court Proceedings," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, October 8, 1886, page 2 Geo. H. Chick vs. C. C. and J. F. Ragsdale; action for damages. Continued for term. "Circuit Court Proceedings," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, October 16, 1886, page 3 In 1885 a Mr. Chick built a small but very complete test mill at Medford, a station on the Oregon & California Railroad, favorably located for access to the quartz claims of Jackson County. Its operations were probably not very successful. The mill was propelled by steam, and the machinery consisted of a five-stamp battery with 500-pound stamps, a concentrating device, tanks and two amalgamating pans of small capacity. Operations ceasing at the mill, the little battery has been removed to the Pilgrim Ledge, on Wagner Creek, where it is in active use. Excerpt, "Our Mines," Morning Oregonian, Portland, November 11, 1886, page 3 Two
Valuable Inventions
[Yreka Journal]
Mr. Geo.
H. Chick, of this city,
has invented a silver plate for apron to battery of [a] quartz mill,
with metallic chambers that cause the plate to attract gold and silver,
as a magnet will attract iron. Sulphurets and iron will pass over the
plate without adhering to it. The metallic chambers can be attached to
old plates with same result, and cause no loss to those having them.
Below this plate are a set of silver-plated riffles, with pockets for
quicksilver and amalgam, which is kept in active motion by water
passing through perforated pipes. Quicksilver or amalgam cannot pass
the riffles no matter how great the pressure of water. This invention
is also valuable for placer mining as well as quartz mining, and from
an examination of both inventions as shown us by the miniature models,
we are inclined to the belief that they cannot fail to prove practical.
The inventions will soon be placed on the market, and no charge will be
made, if they fail to perform the work claimed by the inventor.George H. Chick, a mining expert, formerly a resident of this city, now of Yreka, Cala., has invented a silver plate for apron to battery of quartz mill, with metallic chambers that causes the plate to attract gold and silver as a magnet will attract iron. Sulphurets and iron will pass over the plate without adhering to it. The metallic chambers can be attached to old plates with the same result, and cause no loss to those having them. Below this plate are a set of silver-plated pocket riffles, with pockets for quicksilver and amalgam, which is kept in active motion by water passing through perforated pipes. Quicksilver or amalgam cannot pass the riffles, no matter how great the pressure of water. This invention is also valuable for placer mining as well as quartz mining. The Yreka Journal speaks highly of the new invention. Morning Oregonian, Portland, December 11, 1886, page 2 The mining property of J. W. Walsh and wife, situated on Wagner Creek, has been attached by G. H. Baker of Medford, who sold them the quartz mill formerly used by the Medford reduction works. "Here and There," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, December 24, 1886, page 3 Geo. H. Chick is down at Redding proposing to put up one of his patent furnaces for the working of rebellious ores, the Press says. He doesn't seem to plant his works very firmly in any one locality. "Brevities," Ashland Tidings, December 24, 1886, page 3 The mining property of J. W. Walsh and wife, on Wagner Creek, has been attached by G. H. Baker of Medford, who sold them the quartz mill formerly used by the Medford Reduction Works. "Here and There," Ashland Tidings, December 31, 1886, page 3 THE PORTLAND REDUCTION WORKS.
For
the purpose of inaugurating the industry of the treatment of ores in
this city, a number of our wealthy men incorporated, August 17, 1886,
the Portland Reduction Works, for the sampling, assaying, smelting and
refining of gold, silver and lead ores. The officers are: W. S. Ladd,
president; W. A. Jones, vice president; James Steel, treasurer; J. M.
Arthur, secretary. The company has erected a smelter in East Portland,
with a capacity of twelve hundred tons per month. New stacks will be
erected as rapidly as the supply of ore procurable will justify. A
refinery will be constructed during the present year. All the works are
substantially constructed, and all the appointments are such as to
insure the best possible results in the treatment of ores. For
smelting, the company guarantees ninety percent of lead contents and
ninety-five percent of silver. In order to promote the development of
ore supplies, the company will make no charge for sampling and assaying
lots of not less than one hundred pounds, the freight upon which has
been prepaid. Smelting charges will be moderate, and returns made
promptly, based upon current New York prices. Ore will be sampled and
assayed in lots of from three to ten tons, at $2.50 per ton; from one
to three tons, at $4.00 per ton; lots of less than one ton, $6.00. Each
lot of ore is run through an automatic sampling machine, which insures
an average assay of the whole.The problem of smelting is a complicated one, owing to the wide divergence in the character of the ores to be smelted. In ores from different ledges, the number and proportionate quantity of baser metals present vary so widely that the services of an expert chemist and metallurgist are constantly required. It was a want of appreciation of this fact, which, in the early days of quartz mining, caused so many disastrous failures, and for a long time caused quartz mining to be looked upon with disfavor. So many were these failures that the effort to develop a quartz lode was considered a gambling enterprise, where success meant riches and failure ruin. The truth of the matter is that quartz mining and reduction of ores is a question of science and not of luck. Ignorance has sunk millions of dollars in this business, and intelligent skill has taken millions more out of it. The great element of uncertainty in mining is the original prospecting of a ledge to ascertain the nature, extent and permanence of its ore. Science may be able to offer a good opinion of the value of a quartz ledge by an examination of the outcroppings; but this opinion is by no means infallible, and nothing but the actual sinking of a shaft and the running of tunnels on the ledge can definitely settle the question. Since this fact has been learned, there have been fewer failures in quartz mining, since the erection of mills to treat the ores of a particular ledge is now delayed until the exact nature and extent of those ores is ascertained. In other words, mining is now conducted on as conservative and careful business principles as any other industry. The process of smelting is required for the reduction of base ores, those containing an admixture of a number of the minor metals. For this reason, as the necessary facilities for such a treatment of ores can not be had in the mining districts as cheaply as in such a commercial center as Portland, the operation of smelters here, where various grades of ore, from widely separated districts, may be brought together for treatment, can be made a very profitable business. Smelting involves the fusing of the ores into a molten mass, composed of the melted metal on the one hand, and a fusible slag on the other. The former is drawn off and cast into bullion bars, while the latter is waste, and is used for filling in low lands in the vicinity of the works. The process depends upon the formation of the slag from the base material associated with the metals. When ores do not themselves possess the necessary constituents, these ingredients, such as limestone, iron, etc., must be added, as a flux, to produce the desired result. For this purpose, the company can draw upon the limestone quarries of Southern Oregon and Puget Sound, and can procure the iron ores required at Oswego, but a few miles from the works. Enormous quantities of fuel, such as coke and charcoal, are required. The former is brought from Cardiff, Wales, and from Puget Sound. Charcoal, which the company will use for the present, can be burned at many points along the lines of railway convenient for shipment to the works. In the matter of fuel of this character, a smelter here has a great advantage over one located in a region not possessing such a wealth of timber as covers our hills and mountains. Excerpt, The West Shore, January 1887, page 63. Chick was apparently not associated with this incarnation of the Portland Reduction Works. Mr. Chick of Chico is here with the view of putting up one of his patent furnaces for the working of rebellious ores. One has been erected at Yreka and gives good satisfaction. It is claimed that Mr. Chick's process is equal to the Denver works. If this is so, mine owners can save a great deal of money, as thousands of tons of ore go to Denver annually from Shasta County. Mr. Chick proposes to build his works in Redding. "Mining Notes," Republican Free Press, Redding, California, December 18, 1886, page 3 The New Reduction Works.
On
Thursday last our local visited the new reduction works now being
erected just below the gas works, and found Mr. Chick with some
half-dozen men busy at work grading and laying a foundation for the
furnace in a building erected for the purpose on the brow of the hill.
On the bank of the creek will be the concentrating room, next above the
pan room, next the pulp room, and above all the furnace and
rock-breaker, making a perfect fall all the way down, so that there
need be no handling of the ore. The machinery is expected today, and
active operations will be commenced. Mr. Chick had put up a small
furnace and was engaged in sampling ore for customers, among them
Messrs. Copeland & Co., which came out very promising, and they
expect to put up works on their mine.
Republican Free Press, Redding, California, January 8, 1887, page 3 Redding Reduction Works.
At
a meeting of the stockholders of the Redding Reduction Works held at
their office last Thursday evening, the following members were elected
for the present year: President, S. P. Fillman; Vice President, Dr. J.
H. Miller; Treasurer, R. M. Saeltzer; Secretary, W. R. Conant. The
meeting then adjourned to the call of the president. At a meeting of
the directors held the same evening, Geo. H. Chick was appointed
Superintendent and General Manager for the year 1887. This company has
a capital stock of one million dollars divided into one thousand
shares, par value ten dollars per share; all of which is paid up. The
object of the company is to buy sulphurets ore, and to build plants
upon all mines working under the Chick patent rights for the state of
California.
Those having mines within easy hauling distance can, after having ore assayed and valued, bring it to the main works at this place and receive their coin according to its valuation. Already several offers have been made to some of the stockholders for purchases at par, and considerable interest is being manifested by mining men, both at home and abroad, in the success of this great auxiliary to mining enterprises. Republican Free Press, Redding, California, January 29, 1887, page 3 The Chick reduction works have been satisfactorily tested. Ores from various mines have been tried by the new process with gratifying success. The company has been so much encouraged that it has commenced the erection of a new furnace of fifteen-ton capacity. "Mining Notes," Republican Free Press, Redding, California, February 12, 1887, page 3 At a meeting of the stockholders of the Redding Reduction Works held at their office last Thursday evening, the following officers were elected for the present year: President, S. P. Fillman; vice-president, J. H. Miller; treasurer, R. M. Saeltzer; secretary, W. R. Conant. At a meeting of the directors held the same evening, Geo. H. Chick was appointed superintendent and general manager for the year 1887. This company has a capital stock of one million dollars, divided in one hundred thousand shares, par value ten dollars per share, all of which is paid up. The object of the company is to buy sulphuret ore, and to build plants upon all mines working under the Chick patent rights for the State of California.--California Exchange. "Mining News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, February 18, 1887, page 2 Superintendent Chick of the new reduction works reports that, in consequence of the great demand to have ore worked, he has been compelled to increase the plant to double its former capacity, and for the present to restrict shipments. Another furnace is being erected, and the railroad company have promised to put in a sidetrack for the works. "Mining Notes," Republican Free Press, Redding, California, February 19, 1887, page 3 Geo. H. Chick, formerly of Medford, but now superintendent of the Redding Reduction Works, will shortly launch a new mining journal, which is to be devoted to the interests of northern California. There is room for such a paper if Mr. Chick makes it a reliable authority on mines. Ten thousand copies will be issued monthly for free distribution. "Mining News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, March 11, 1887, page 2 George H. Chick's new mining journal was issued yesterday. It is devoted entirely to our mining resources, and is a creditable sheet. The large number of 10,000 copies will advertise this county considerably. Republican Free Press, Redding, California, March 12, 1887, page 2 Geo. H. Chick went to San Francisco last Sunday to superintend the shipping of the new machinery required for increasing the capacity of the new reduction works, the last piece of which is now on the way. He returned on Thursday. "Mining Notes," Republican Free Press, Redding, California, March 12, 1887, page 3 We have received the first number of the Redding Mining Journal, issued by Geo. H. Chick, formerly of this county, which announces that it will be devoted to the mining interests of northern California and southern Oregon. It claims a circulation of 10,000 and is well filled with news. "Here and There," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, March 18, 1887, page 3 The libel suit brought by G. H. Chick against J. F. Ragsdale for $20,000 was dismissed on Wednesday last, with costs on plaintiff. The suit of Chick vs. Ragsdale, instituted for damages done by the latter to the reputation of the former, has been dismissed at the plaintiff's cost. That Mr. Chick had a reputation here no one will for a moment deny, but just how that reputation could be injured by Mr. Ragsdale or anyone else we cannot conceive. Perhaps Mr. Chick desired money with which to gain a new and better one. We hope so at least. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, March 19, 1887, page 3 The Redding Reduction Works have been running night and day upon ore from various mines. One lot from Litten & Bennett's mine, Igo, yielded splendid results. Ore has also been worked from Butterfield & Griffith's ledge on Olney Creek; fifty tons from the Texas and Georgia, Old Diggings; ore from Scroggins' mine, Round Mountain; and ore furnished by Jos. Gage from Salt Creek. The process seems to be the correct one for all kinds of ore, and the cheapness of working is really remarkable. "Mining Notes," Republican Free Press, Redding, California, March 19, 1887, page 3 Case
Dismissed.
The
case of Chick vs. Ragsdale was dismissed in the circuit court last week
at plaintiff's cost. Mr. Ragsdale criticized Chick's management of the
Medford Reduction Works in caustic but correct terms, in an article in
the Times [now lost] during
the forepart of 1886, and the latter--more
for effect than for anything else--instituted a libel suit against
them. After due meditation Chick probably came to the conclusion that
there was more truth than poetry in what his accusers said, and wisely
allowed his case to drop. Messrs. Ragsdale are among our best citizens
and are always ready to maintain what they say.Democratic Times, Jacksonville, March 25, 1887, page 3 The new furnace at the Redding Reduction Works is working like a charm, and is kept at work night and day. Between three and four o'clock Friday morning, directly after the fire at the sawmill, John Cymbell, who was on the night shift, observed several men prowling around the works in a very suspicious manner and warned them off. Are fire fiends abroad? The mill will start up next Monday, and not stop night or day unless for repairs. Everything is now fixed in good working order, and the finishing and touches are being put on today. "Mining Notes," Republican Free Press, Redding, California, March 26, 1887, page 3 At the Redding Reduction Works a very busy scene is presented. They are engaging in working ores from different points, and teams are hauling from the Texas and George mine in Old Diggings. The chief advantage of Mr. Chick's patent process seems to be speed and economy. The first enables him to reduce ores at a small price per ton and the latter enables him to save every particle of gold. The system seems to be perfect, and we are satisfied that these works are already a success. "Mining Notes," Republican Free Press, Redding, California, April 2, 1887, page 3 The Redding Reduction Works, says the Journal, are now running day and night under the management of our old friend, Geo. H. Chick, who assays ores at eastern prices, and also buys ores and sulphurets. With a branch railroad to town, and special rates charged for shipping quartz, sulphurets and tailings, it would no doubt pay well to send them to Redding. The railroad route is from 8 to 12 or 15 miles from any of our quartz ledges except those at Henley and vicinity. "Mining Notes," Republican Free Press, Redding, California, April 9, 1887, page 3 I was unable to find any further mention of Chick or the Redding works in the Free Press. The first session of the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Western Washington met in the Congregational Church, June 21, 1887, and was called to order by Mrs. A. M. Weed, president of the local union. Prominent in the exercises were the following ladies of Seattle: Mrs. A. M. Weed, Mrs. Hanson, Mrs. Peterson, Mrs. Olander, Mrs. Parkhurst, Miss Bertha D. Piper, Mrs. Greene, Mrs. Chick, Mrs. Guye, Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Reeves. History of Seattle from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Clarence Bagley, 1916 "Mining Stocks," Daily Alta California. San Francisco, July 2, 1887, page 2 A Chick Again on the Wing.
Geo.
H. Chick, who has bilked nearly everybody having anything to do with
him, is making himself quite scarce around Redding, the scene of his
last magnificent (?) mining scheme. He left this county mourned by many
confiding creditors, which seemed to be the case everywhere. Chick
knows nothing about mining and is a fraud of the first water. We warn
the public against him.Democratic Times, Jacksonville, August 26, 1887, page 3 Florence Hyde Chick vs. George H.
Chick
In the District Court of the Third Judicial District
of Washington Territory; holding terms at Seattle, in the County of
King, in and for the counties of King and Kitsap.Florence Hyde Chick, Plaintiff, vs. George H. Chick, Defendant. To the Honorable Richard A. Jones, Judge of said Court: The plaintiff, Florence Hyde Chick, avers: 1.
That the said
plaintiff and defendant are husband and wife; and were married in Idaho
Territory on the 23rd day of October 1867, and lived together as
husband and wife from that time until the year 1882.
2.
That during all
of said time and ever since said plaintiff has fully discharged her
duty in every respect as wife of said defendant.
3.
That during said time there were born to
plaintiff
and defendant three children, to wit: Guy Chick, aged 18 years; Ralph
Chick, aged 15 years; and Morris Chick, aged 9 years.4.
That for the four years last past the
said defendant
has failed to make suitable provision, or any provision, for the
support and maintenance of the said plaintiff and the said children.
That during said four years the said defendant has furnished the
plaintiff no provisions, clothing or money for the support, education
and maintenance of the said plaintiff and the said plaintiff's
children, with the exception of $250.00 in money; and that said $250.00
so furnished was wholly insufficient to support or maintain the said
plaintiff or the said children.5.
That the said defendant without cause
wholly
deserted and abandoned the said plaintiff in the year 1883; and has
ever since and still continues to desert and abandon said plaintiff.6.
That during all of said time the said
plaintiff has
had the care, custody and control of the said children; and educated
and supported the same.7.
That during all of said time the said
plaintiff has
been and is now a resident of King County, Washington Territory.Wherefore plaintiff prays for a decree dissolving the bonds of matrimony now and heretofore existing between the plaintiff and said defendant; and that said plaintiff be released from all obligations thereof. And that the said plaintiff have the care and custody of said children; and for such other and further relief, including costs, as the Court in the premises is competent to give. Green, McNaught, Hanford and McGraw Attorneys for the Plaintiff. Complaint filed August 30, 1887. George H. Chick appeared at a hearing on May 2, 1888 but did not contest the complaint; Judge Jones granted the divorce two days later, assigning court costs to Chick. From the The richest rock handled so far came from The workmen engaged on the excavation for the foundation of the Reduction Works struck a narrow vein of black sand bearing gold last week. Superintendent Chick made an assay of some of it and found that it contained gold amounting to twenty-five dollars per ton. When the news spread that a gold mine had been discovered right inside the city limits, many hastened to the spot to secure claims, but after a flour sack full of sand had been gathered, the pocket proved to be exhausted and the whole find netted the discoverer only about six dollars. Daily Alta California. San Francisco, September 24, 1888, page 2
G. H. CHICK
Muffle Furnace for Desulphurizing Ores. No. 434,502. Patented Aug. 19, 1890.  Be it known that I, George Horatio Chick, of Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Muffle-Furnaces for Desulphurizing Ores, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. Excerpt, U.S. Patent Office. Application filed December 27, 1889. G. H. CHICK
Ore Riffle. No. 448,710. Patented Mar. 24, 1891.  Be it known that I, George Horatio Chick, of Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore-Riffles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. Excerpt, U.S. Patent Office. Application filed February 8, 1890. G. H. CHICK
Steam Silver-Plated Plate for Amalgamating Gold, Silver, or Copper. No. 460,946. Patented Oct. 13, 1891.  Be it known that I, George Horatio Chick, of Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam Silver-Plated Plate for Amalgamating Gold, Silver, or Copper, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. Excerpt, U.S. Patent Office. Application filed June 22, 1891. Talking of Utah.
Mr.
E. B. Ridgeley returned yesterday morning from a four weeks' trip to
the East, where he has been in the interest of Ogden.
He visited Kansas City as well as other
large eastern cities. At Pittsburg, Kan., he visited the electric
smelters of the Pittsburg Short Method Smelting and Refining Company,
which are said to be the best in existence. Mr. Ridgeley states the
company is greatly interested in the establishment of a smelter in this
city.
The Salt Lake Herald, Salt Lake City, Utah, February 23, 1892, page 3 Pittsburg, in Crawford County, besides being the headquarters of zinc smelting, has the works of the "Chick Short-Method Gold and Silver Refining Company," which, established in 1891, is dealing by a new process with the ores of the precious metals. Geology and Mineral Resources of Kansas, by Robert Hay, Topeka: 1893, page 34 Geo.
H.
Chick in Limbo
People who lived
in and about Medford something like seven years ago will well remember
the name of "Geo. H. Chick." It was he who was so smooth and glib of
tongue as to interest several of our people in a new process for
reducing refractory ore, and very cheaply. He preyed upon the kindly
indulgence of our people to the extent of persuading them to invest
money in a stamp mill, which was built just across the railroad track
from where the A. A. Davis flouring mill now stands. [This would place the Medford
Reduction Works on the site of today's Channel 5 studios.]
After the
machinery had been purchased and the mill erected Chick and his process
failed to materialize and those who invested were beautifully left, as
his process was only an imaginary one and intended for no other purpose
than to defraud. He made little or nothing out of his Medford deal but
at Redding he fleeced one man out of $15,000 on the same proposition.
From California he went to Kansas and this is what the telegraph
dispatches say of him there:
TOPEKA, Kan., Sept. 14.--At the meeting of the stockholders of the Chick Short Method Silver Smelting Co. held last night it was decided to close up the affairs of the concern in the best and quickest manner. The present management has discovered, it is believed, that the assets of the company will be sufficient to pay all liabilities without any further assessments on the stock. At this meeting was read the first accurate report ever made of reducing refractory and worthless ore by the Chick process. It is on this report the present action is based.Medford Mail, October 6, 1893, page 3 Cleanup at the Burr Mill.
The
Lander [Wyoming]
Gazette says
that the cleanup at the Burr mill was anything but satisfactory to
the president of the company, Mr. J. D. Woodruff, and as soon as the
amount of gold retained on the plates was ascertained he promptly
discharged one of the archconspirators, that widely advertised patent
process fraud, George H. Chick, and some of the latter's
assistants.
The rock that was being milled was estimated to be worth at least $9 per pound and about fifty tons were milled but when the cleanup was made it was found that only about $16 per ton was saved. It is said that upwards of $12,000 has been expended upon the representations of Chick and his friends, and the returns therefrom will not exceed $800. Mr. Woodruff relied upon his friends, and they either deliberately robbed him or in their ignorance destroyed the value contained in the ore. The "Chick process" seems to be a good thing for the "inventor," but a costly investment to the man who risks his money in it. The Salt Lake Herald, Utah, November 14, 1893, page 3 During the summer of 1890 some men looking for a suitable place for locating a silver smelter visited Pittsburg [Kansas]. They were attracted by cheap coal and the desire of the citizens for additional industrial plants. After looking the field over they decided to locate if sufficient aid in establishing the plant could be obtained from local citizens. After a few days' negotiations between the visitors and the Pittsburg Commercial Club an agreement was reached and a formal contract was entered into. This agreement between the Pittsburg Commercial Club and the Short Method Refining Company of Pittsburg provided that the smelter company should refine not less than twenty tons of refractory ores at Pittsburg daily for a period of three years; and that the Commercial Club should erect a suitable building on a five-acre tract, which was to be donated, and supply $2,000 to be expended in the construction of furnaces. In addition, the smelter company agreed to install machinery in the amount of $16,000. The smelter company started construction work without delay, but was slow in completing the plant. Not until September, 1891, was it put into operation. The Commercial Club was equally slow in paying its bonus. The day before the expiration of a "six months" clause of the contract, it lacked $750 of the amount due the smelter company. That night it held a meeting for the purpose or raising the amount due. Two hundred dollars was raised from those present. As a means of enthusing others arrangements were made to run a special train to the plant the next morning. About one hundred men took advantage of the excursion. The enthusiasm of the occasion raised another $100. On returning to Pittsburg a committee raised the balance, $450, in about three hours. The silver smelter operated at a profit for some four years. It shut down for want of operating capital, due to the fact that the ore-purchasing agent had managed to get hold of most of the money in the treasury through fraudulent invoices and other means and had left for parts unknown. The plant shut down, never to reopen. Fortunately for stockholders, the plant had earned and had paid to them in dividends during its period of operation more than the stock had cost. The silver smelter was not a financial success for its owners, nor did it add materially to the pay roll of the town. But it was considered to have performed a valuable service for the town in advertising it and in furthering business enthusiasm. "Some Phases of the Industrial History of Pittsburg, Kansas," Fred N. Howell, Kansas Historical Quarterly, May 1932, page 273 2. Where a person receives corporate stock under an agreement with the owner that he will keep it if the business of the corporation yields a certain profit, but that otherwise the money paid therefor shall be regarded as a loan, proof that the business did not yield the specified profit is essential in a suit by such person to recover the mоnеу as a loan. Appeal from district court, Arapahoe County. Action by W. F. Sperry against the Pittsburg Short-Method Smelting & Refining Company and others. From a judgment of nonsuit, plaintiff appeals. Affirmed. Thomas Ward, Jr., for appellant. Charles J. Hughes, Jr., and Tyson S. Dines, for appellees. THOMSON, J. This suit was brought by W. F. Sperry to recover from the Pittsburg Short-Method Smelting & Refining Company the sum of $1,500 which he alleged he had loaned to the defendant. The transaction was had with one George H. Chick, and the questions presented to the trial court were —First, whether Chick obtained the money as the agent of the company; second, whether he was such agent, with authority from the company to effect the loan in its behalf; and, third, whether, if there was no such authority originally, the acts of Chick in the premises were subsequently ratified by the company. At the conclusion of the plaintiff's case, and upon the evidence introduced by him, the court rendered judgment of nonsuit against him. The only witnesses to the transaction were Chick and the plaintiff. The testimony of Chick was taken by deposition, and he was the principal witness in the case. From his testimony the following appears: The defendant company had its principal office and business in Pittsburg. Kan., and also operated a concentrating plant in Denver, Colo. Chick was its manager and assistant treasurer. The loan was negotiated in Denver on the 5th day of January, 1893. Chick received $800 of the amount on that day, by Sperry's check on the Denver National Bank. The remaining $700 was obtained by draft drawn by Chick on Sperry, at Kansas City, Mo., on January 9, 1893. The check was payable to the individual order of Chick, and the draft was made by Chick individually. Except the check and draft, there was no written evidence of the transaction. At the time the loan was agreed upon, Chick transferred to Sperry 10 shares of the capital stock of the company. This stock was the individual property of Chick. We copy the following questions and answers from the examination and cross-examination of Chick, which, together with the foregoing synopsis, embraces substantially all he had to say concerning the transaction: "Q. Did you have any business transactions with the plaintiff in this suit in the month of January, 1893, while acting for defendant as its treasurer and manager? If so, please state what those transactions were. A. I did, on both the dates mentioned, and while I was acting as treasurer and manager. Those transactions were borrowing money to the amount of $1,500 from the plaintiff. It was borrowed money in this way. It was a stock transaction,— that is, providing the stock was worth so much money a share, then he would take the stock; if not, then I was to refund the money or stock, considering it then as collateral security. Q. If, in answer to Interrogatory 4, you say you did have business transactions with the plaintiff on or about the 5th and 9th of January, 1893, state where they occurred, and who were present, stating the exact dates and place. A. I went to plaintiff's office in the People's Bank Building, room 408, in the city of Denver, on or about that date, to negotiate this loan upon this stock, and the loan was made with the understanding, if the stock paid five per cent, or, rather, the business paid five per cent, on the capital stock a month, he then was to take the stock; if it did not, then he was to have his money back, with interest at one per cent, per month" All that Sperry said in relation to the transaction was: "I loaned Mr. Chick for the benefit of the company $1,500. * * * At the time I let Mr. Chick have this money, I took ten shares in the Pittsburg Short-Method Smelting & Refining Company's stock" It seems to us to be a legitimate conclusion from the foregoing evidence that Sperry, when he parted with his money, was not dealing with the company, or with Mr. Chick acting as the agent of the company, but with Mr. Chick individually. In so far as any light can be had from the check and draft, the transaction was between Mr. Sperry and Mr. Chick, each acting in his individual capacity. The evidence outside of these papers is that, in consideration of the money, Chick transferred to Sperry 10 shares of the company's stock, which was the private property of Chick; and the agreement, made at the time, was that, if the business of the company paid 5 per cent, per month on the stock, Sperry should keep the stock; otherwise the stock should be considered as collateral security, and Chick would refund the money to Sperry. Therefore, if the company's business yielded the specified profit, the transaction was a sale of stock; if not, it was a loan of money. The allegation is that it was a loan; and the plaintiff seeks to charge the company with the amount on the hypothesis that Chick, in obtaining the money, acted as its agent, and that the transaction was with it through him. But the stock did not belong to the company. It was Chick's private property. If, therefore, there was a sale, as the parties contemplated there might be, it was a sale by Chick of his own property to Sperry, and Chick was dealing with Sperry on his own account. If the transaction turned out to be a loan, then, upon the refunding of the money, Chick was entitled to a return of his stock, because in such case it would be held by Sperry only as collateral security. If there was a sale, the transaction was Chick's; if there was a loan, it was still Chick's, to the extent, at least, of his receiving back the collateral he had pledged; so that, if the company was bound by the agreement at all, It was only bound for the repayment of the money, or, in other words, for the redemption of Chick's stock. We are unable to dissect and take to pieces the agreement in this way. An agent cannot engage in a transaction which shall be his own if successful, and his principal's if not. This transaction was unitary; it was indivisible; and it must be considered as an entirety. It was either wholly a transaction of the company, or no part of it was. In so far as it involved a sale of stock, or a pledge of stock with a right in the pledger to reclaim it, it was not a transaction of the company, and therefore the company was not bound by any part of the agreement. No extended discussion of the law of principal and agent is necessary in this connection. There is no question of undisclosed principal in the case, and we conceive it to be the rule, where that question is not involved, that a party seeking to charge a supposed principal upon the contract of an ostensible agent must show at the very outset that he gave credit to the alleged principal, and that he intended, so far, at least, as he was concerned, to bind the principal; for, if he did not, it would be entirely immaterial whether the party with whom he dealt was an agent or not, or, being an agent, how comprehensive his authority was. That a person is an agent does not preclude him from making contracts in his own behalf, and by such contracts himself, and not another, is bound. Now, there is not in this record a syllable of evidence tending to show that a liability of the company, in any event, was contemplated by either party at the time the agreement was made and the transaction consummated. It is nowhere said that Chick approached Sperry as a representative of the company, nor can we infer, from anything that is said, that Sperry at the time relied upon the company, or intended to hold it to any responsibility. Not only is there a want of evidence of that kind, but there is evidence indicating that the reverse was the fact. Mr. Chick stated that, the company being pressed for money, he made an agreement with its officers to take the plant and run it himself, and keep them out of debt as far as possible, and that, in pursuance of this agreement, he afterwards ran the business himself, but in behalf of the company. It was after the business had been turned over to him that the alleged loan was made by Sperry. Mr. Sperry testified that, so far as he knew, the business was conducted by Chick in his own name. It may be that the money obtained was afterwards used for the benefit of the company, and it may be that Chick obtained the money for the purpose of so using it; but if he obtained it on his personal responsibility, and not on the responsibility of the company, it is immaterial what disposition he made of it, or what disposition he intended to make of it when he received it. An agent may borrow money on his own account, or obtain it by sale of his property, and give his principal the benefit of it. In such case a liability in his own favor against his principal may arise, but whatever cause of action the person with whom he dealt may have is against him. We dismiss the question of ratification by saying there was nothing to ratify. By a ratification a party estops himself to deny that a person ostensibly acting in his behalf was his agent. There is no such thing as a ratification by an alleged principal of an act which was not intended, by any of the parties to it, to bind him. The plaintiff entirely failed to show such connection of the company with the transaction as would authorize a judgment against it. But there is still another reason why the nonsuit was properly allowed. There was a sale of stock, conditioned on the company's business yielding a certain profit. It was only in the event of a failure to realize this profit that the money paid for the stock was to be regarded as a loan. As Sperry sued for it on the theory that it was a loan, it devolved on him to prove the facts which made it a loan. No such proof was offered, and the plaintiff, therefore, failed to show a cause of action against either Chick or the company. The plaintiff complains that certain portions of the testimony of Chick were stricken out of his deposition. The testimony stricken out consisted, for the most part, of general statements that the money was paid for the company's benefit, and that his acts as manager were approved by the company. Among the statements stricken out we find none of any relevancy or materiality, or which could have any effect on the real questions in issue. They would have done the plaintiff no good if they had remained, and their rejection did him no harm. The Judgment must be affirmed. Affirmed. Pacific Reporter: Kansas Courts of Appeals, West Publishing Co.: 1897, page 315
After access issues were resolved in mid-2005, Phase II FFSA sampling
activities were conducted and a Phase II FFSA Report was completed in
October 2005. Sample results confirmed that soil and shallow subsurface
soil were impacted by the heavy metal contaminants of arsenic, lead,
and mercury. Ground water was not encountered above bedrock and,
therefore, samples were not collected. Based on the results of Phase I
and Phase II FFSA activities, the site was evaluated for a potential
responsible party (PRP). A responsible party was not identified and
additional investigation and/or cleanup actions will be conducted under
the State Water Plan Contamination Remediation Program (SWPCRP).
Kansas
Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Environmental
Remediation, Identified
Sites List Information, 2004 G. H. CHICK
Gold-Washing Apparatus. No. 613,494. Patented Nov. 1, 1898.  Be it known that I, George Horatio Chick, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, County of Alameda, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Gold-Washing Apparatus; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same. Excerpt, U.S. Patent Office. Application filed April 21, 1893 G. H. CHICK
Amalgamator. No. 545,011. Patented Aug. 20, 1895.  Be it known that I, George Horatio Chick, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Amalgamators; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same. Excerpt, U.S. Patent Office. Application filed February 9, 1894 BERKELEY'S ELECTION
The officers and polling-places will be as follows: Second
Ward--Inspectors, G. H. Chick, M. S. Blanchard. . . .
ALAMEDANS DENOUNCE SPEAKER WRIGHT
G. H. CHICK, Berkeley--To say I am surprised at Wright's flop is
putting it mildly. Wright has disgraced himself and everybody that
voted for him has been betrayed. What will be the opinion of the
university town when it is known that our representative voted for Dan
Burns?
E. P. BANCROFT--I would like to be one of the number to tar and feather the man who voted for Burns. Three of Berkeley's leading men--J. W. Richards, G. H. Chick and Professor Boone--had the utmost confidence in him. . . . Excerpt, The San Francisco Call, January 13, 1899, page 2 Census date: June 7, 1900 Name: George H. Chick Residence: 1035 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, California Occupation: Miner/Dealer Birth location: Maine Married for 34 years Household members: George H. Chick, 60, male, born in Maine January 1840, parents both born in Maine Josephine Chick, 40, female, born in Illinois May 1860, parents both born in Kentucky Musaette Chick, 25, female, born in Kansas March 1875 Lloyd Chick, 24, male, born in Kansas January 1876 Gertrude Chick, 21, female, born in Washington January 1879 United States Census Census date: June 8, 1900 Name: George H. Chick Residence: First Avenue, Seattle, Washington Occupation: Miner Birth location: Maine Married for 33 years Household members: George H. Chick (hotel lodger), 64, male, born April 1836, parents both born in Maine United States Census POLICE WILL FORCE
MAN TO PROSECUTE
Horatio Chick Must Press the Charge He Preferred Against Mrs. Krause Mrs. Krause was called in police court No. 1 this morning, and Chick's attorney announced that his client was anxious to "have the charge dismissed, but Prosecuting Attorney Decoto, acting upon the advice of Captain of Detectives Petersen, refused to acquiesce in the dismissal, and Police Judge Smith ordered Mrs. Krause to appear for trial next Monday. She was liberated on $l00 bail. Captain Petersen explained that he was tired of having the police department used as a collection or peace making agency by hotheaded citizens, and that he was going to attempt to instill a more wholesome respect for the majesty of the law, as exemplified by the Oakland police force, into the minds of the public. Therefore he insisted that the charge against Mrs. Krause be pressed. San Francisco Call, August 14, 1909, page 12 WOMAN RETURNS GOLD QUARTZ--Oakland, Aug. 17.--Mrs. Anna L. Krause, who was arrested on a charge of grand larceny preferred by Horatio Chick, a mining man, alleging that she had stolen two lumps of gold quartz valued at $500 from the Butte Saddle mining company of "Suburban Brevities," San Francisco Call, August 18, 1909, page 8 Census date: April
18, 1910
Name: George H. Chick Residence: Fourteenth Street, Oakland, California Occupation: Mine Operator, Mine Promoter Birth location: Maine Married to his second wife for 20 years Household members: George H. Chick, 70, male, born in Maine, parents both born in Maine Josephine Chick, 55, female, born in Illinois, parents both born in Kentucky Gertrude Chick, 30, female, born in Washington United States Census George H. Chick, whose meteoric career in Medford is still fresh in the minds of local pioneers, is now a resident of Berkeley, Cal., in which city his aged father recently died. "Local and Personal," Medford Mail Tribune, October 15, 1912, page 2 Last
revised July 28, 2011
*Thanks to Daniella Thompson, website editor of the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association, for this information. |
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