Colorado Springs Gazette – Feb 5, 1954
James Doyle, the discoverer of the Famous Portland Mine in the Cripple Creek District, dies in his home at Denver Thursday from complications which developed from a broken hip he suffered in a fall five weeks ago. He was 85.
A millionaire at the age of 28, Mr. Doyle was a carpenter in Colorado Springs for three years before going to the Gold Camp and discovering the Portland Mine, which has produced about $72 million in gold since its discovery January 22, 1892.
Following his work of carpentry in Colorado Springs, Mr. Doyle was named superintendent of Irrigation of Colorado Springs in 1890, a position he held until he went to Cripple Creek in the winter of 1891-92.
After noticing rich float above Winfield Scott Stratton's Independence Mine, Mr. Doyle located the Portland Claim which consisted of only one-sixth of an acre. When the deed was recorded, however, the name of Jimmy Burns was added to it and the two became partners. After the millions rolled in, Burns built the Burns Theatre in Colorado Springs. It is now known as the Chief Theatre.
The two Jimmys started to dig a shaft on their small claim but for a time were unable to find the golden wealth they sought. When both were about as discouraged as they could get, their fortunes took a turn for the better when they were joined by John Harnon, who had been working for Stratton.
Harnan was an experienced miner and became a partner when he located a rich vein of ore after making just a short drive from the bottom of the shaft. The two Jimmys had been sinking the shaft alongside the vein of high grade.
Realizing the small size of their claim, the three mined the ore in the daytime and then carried it home at night. Some of it was even carried to the mill in Colorado Springs and Pueblo in sacks by the men.
Their goal at that was to get together enough money to buy adjoining claims and fight any apex litigation which they felt was certain to come when the richness of the discovery was made known.
Stratton later helped finance the many lawsuits which were fought to successful conclusions by Verner Z Reed.
Mr. Doyle was born in Portland, Me., Aug. 20, 1868, but was orphaned at the age of 12. He named the Portland Mine after the town in which he was born.
He was brought up in Portland by three seamstress sisters of Burns, Jane, Kate and Mary Ann. They brought him with them to Colorado Springs in 1887 when the sisters moved here to improve the health of one of them. In addition to his other work here, Mr. Doyle also became foreman of the Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 in 1890, a position formerly held by Burns. It was during this time that Bob Womack, the original discoverer of gold in Cripple Creek, became acquainted with the two partners. They were impressed with the stories he told of his own discovery. Womack frequently slept at the jail. Burns left first for the new Gold Camp on a horse owned by Mr. Doyle, who got this first look at Victor and the surrounding mines in December, 1891.
As the Portland began to produce its millions in gold, the popular Mr. Doyle was elected Mayor of the town in 1896 and re-elected by acclaim two years later. Harnan eventually sold out his interest and the other two partners finally came to a parting of the ways over the firing of a superintendent.
Upshoot of the argument was that Mr. Doyle filed a $700,000 damage suit against Burns for allegedly withholding Portland profits from him after the break. Burns then got out an injunction restraining Mr. Doyle from going on with the suit. Mr. Doyle ignored the injunction and later served seven months in the county jail here for contempt. The two former partners never spoke to each other after that.
After leaving Cripple Creek with controlling interest in the mine lost, Mr. Doyle went to Denver and for many years was chief clerk in the state land office there.
In later years he prospected in Western Colorado and was credited with the discovery of the oil shale deposits near Rifle in 1909.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Marie Doyle; a daughter, Marie E. Doyle; three sons, James D. Doyle, Jack Doyle, and Cortland Doyle, all of Denver.
Rosary services will be held at 8 p.m. tonight in Olinger Mortuary in Denver. Requiem High Mass will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday in St. Domonic's Catholic Church in Denver. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
James Doyle, the discoverer of the Famous Portland Mine in the Cripple Creek District, dies in his home at Denver Thursday from complications which developed from a broken hip he suffered in a fall five weeks ago. He was 85.
A millionaire at the age of 28, Mr. Doyle was a carpenter in Colorado Springs for three years before going to the Gold Camp and discovering the Portland Mine, which has produced about $72 million in gold since its discovery January 22, 1892.
Following his work of carpentry in Colorado Springs, Mr. Doyle was named superintendent of Irrigation of Colorado Springs in 1890, a position he held until he went to Cripple Creek in the winter of 1891-92.
After noticing rich float above Winfield Scott Stratton's Independence Mine, Mr. Doyle located the Portland Claim which consisted of only one-sixth of an acre. When the deed was recorded, however, the name of Jimmy Burns was added to it and the two became partners. After the millions rolled in, Burns built the Burns Theatre in Colorado Springs. It is now known as the Chief Theatre.
The two Jimmys started to dig a shaft on their small claim but for a time were unable to find the golden wealth they sought. When both were about as discouraged as they could get, their fortunes took a turn for the better when they were joined by John Harnon, who had been working for Stratton.
Harnan was an experienced miner and became a partner when he located a rich vein of ore after making just a short drive from the bottom of the shaft. The two Jimmys had been sinking the shaft alongside the vein of high grade.
Realizing the small size of their claim, the three mined the ore in the daytime and then carried it home at night. Some of it was even carried to the mill in Colorado Springs and Pueblo in sacks by the men.
Their goal at that was to get together enough money to buy adjoining claims and fight any apex litigation which they felt was certain to come when the richness of the discovery was made known.
Stratton later helped finance the many lawsuits which were fought to successful conclusions by Verner Z Reed.
Mr. Doyle was born in Portland, Me., Aug. 20, 1868, but was orphaned at the age of 12. He named the Portland Mine after the town in which he was born.
He was brought up in Portland by three seamstress sisters of Burns, Jane, Kate and Mary Ann. They brought him with them to Colorado Springs in 1887 when the sisters moved here to improve the health of one of them. In addition to his other work here, Mr. Doyle also became foreman of the Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 in 1890, a position formerly held by Burns. It was during this time that Bob Womack, the original discoverer of gold in Cripple Creek, became acquainted with the two partners. They were impressed with the stories he told of his own discovery. Womack frequently slept at the jail. Burns left first for the new Gold Camp on a horse owned by Mr. Doyle, who got this first look at Victor and the surrounding mines in December, 1891.
As the Portland began to produce its millions in gold, the popular Mr. Doyle was elected Mayor of the town in 1896 and re-elected by acclaim two years later. Harnan eventually sold out his interest and the other two partners finally came to a parting of the ways over the firing of a superintendent.
Upshoot of the argument was that Mr. Doyle filed a $700,000 damage suit against Burns for allegedly withholding Portland profits from him after the break. Burns then got out an injunction restraining Mr. Doyle from going on with the suit. Mr. Doyle ignored the injunction and later served seven months in the county jail here for contempt. The two former partners never spoke to each other after that.
After leaving Cripple Creek with controlling interest in the mine lost, Mr. Doyle went to Denver and for many years was chief clerk in the state land office there.
In later years he prospected in Western Colorado and was credited with the discovery of the oil shale deposits near Rifle in 1909.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Marie Doyle; a daughter, Marie E. Doyle; three sons, James D. Doyle, Jack Doyle, and Cortland Doyle, all of Denver.
Rosary services will be held at 8 p.m. tonight in Olinger Mortuary in Denver. Requiem High Mass will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday in St. Domonic's Catholic Church in Denver. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Colorado Springs Gazette – Feb 5, 1954
James Doyle, the discoverer of the Famous Portland Mine in the Cripple Creek District, dies in his home at Denver Thursday from complications which developed from a broken hip he suffered in a fall five weeks ago. He was 85.
A millionaire at the age of 28, Mr. Doyle was a carpenter in Colorado Springs for three years before going to the Gold Camp and discovering the Portland Mine, which has produced about $72 million in gold since its discovery January 22, 1892.
Following his work of carpentry in Colorado Springs, Mr. Doyle was named superintendent of Irrigation of Colorado Springs in 1890, a position he held until he went to Cripple Creek in the winter of 1891-92.
After noticing rich float above Winfield Scott Stratton's Independence Mine, Mr. Doyle located the Portland Claim which consisted of only one-sixth of an acre. When the deed was recorded, however, the name of Jimmy Burns was added to it and the two became partners. After the millions rolled in, Burns built the Burns Theatre in Colorado Springs. It is now known as the Chief Theatre.
The two Jimmys started to dig a shaft on their small claim but for a time were unable to find the golden wealth they sought. When both were about as discouraged as they could get, their fortunes took a turn for the better when they were joined by John Harnon, who had been working for Stratton.
Harnan was an experienced miner and became a partner when he located a rich vein of ore after making just a short drive from the bottom of the shaft. The two Jimmys had been sinking the shaft alongside the vein of high grade.
Realizing the small size of their claim, the three mined the ore in the daytime and then carried it home at night. Some of it was even carried to the mill in Colorado Springs and Pueblo in sacks by the men.
Their goal at that was to get together enough money to buy adjoining claims and fight any apex litigation which they felt was certain to come when the richness of the discovery was made known.
Stratton later helped finance the many lawsuits which were fought to successful conclusions by Verner Z Reed.
Mr. Doyle was born in Portland, Me., Aug. 20, 1868, but was orphaned at the age of 12. He named the Portland Mine after the town in which he was born.
He was brought up in Portland by three seamstress sisters of Burns, Jane, Kate and Mary Ann. They brought him with them to Colorado Springs in 1887 when the sisters moved here to improve the health of one of them. In addition to his other work here, Mr. Doyle also became foreman of the Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 in 1890, a position formerly held by Burns. It was during this time that Bob Womack, the original discoverer of gold in Cripple Creek, became acquainted with the two partners. They were impressed with the stories he told of his own discovery. Womack frequently slept at the jail. Burns left first for the new Gold Camp on a horse owned by Mr. Doyle, who got this first look at Victor and the surrounding mines in December, 1891.
As the Portland began to produce its millions in gold, the popular Mr. Doyle was elected Mayor of the town in 1896 and re-elected by acclaim two years later. Harnan eventually sold out his interest and the other two partners finally came to a parting of the ways over the firing of a superintendent.
Upshoot of the argument was that Mr. Doyle filed a $700,000 damage suit against Burns for allegedly withholding Portland profits from him after the break. Burns then got out an injunction restraining Mr. Doyle from going on with the suit. Mr. Doyle ignored the injunction and later served seven months in the county jail here for contempt. The two former partners never spoke to each other after that.
After leaving Cripple Creek with controlling interest in the mine lost, Mr. Doyle went to Denver and for many years was chief clerk in the state land office there.
In later years he prospected in Western Colorado and was credited with the discovery of the oil shale deposits near Rifle in 1909.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Marie Doyle; a daughter, Marie E. Doyle; three sons, James D. Doyle, Jack Doyle, and Cortland Doyle, all of Denver.
Rosary services will be held at 8 p.m. tonight in Olinger Mortuary in Denver. Requiem High Mass will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday in St. Domonic's Catholic Church in Denver. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
James Doyle, the discoverer of the Famous Portland Mine in the Cripple Creek District, dies in his home at Denver Thursday from complications which developed from a broken hip he suffered in a fall five weeks ago. He was 85.
A millionaire at the age of 28, Mr. Doyle was a carpenter in Colorado Springs for three years before going to the Gold Camp and discovering the Portland Mine, which has produced about $72 million in gold since its discovery January 22, 1892.
Following his work of carpentry in Colorado Springs, Mr. Doyle was named superintendent of Irrigation of Colorado Springs in 1890, a position he held until he went to Cripple Creek in the winter of 1891-92.
After noticing rich float above Winfield Scott Stratton's Independence Mine, Mr. Doyle located the Portland Claim which consisted of only one-sixth of an acre. When the deed was recorded, however, the name of Jimmy Burns was added to it and the two became partners. After the millions rolled in, Burns built the Burns Theatre in Colorado Springs. It is now known as the Chief Theatre.
The two Jimmys started to dig a shaft on their small claim but for a time were unable to find the golden wealth they sought. When both were about as discouraged as they could get, their fortunes took a turn for the better when they were joined by John Harnon, who had been working for Stratton.
Harnan was an experienced miner and became a partner when he located a rich vein of ore after making just a short drive from the bottom of the shaft. The two Jimmys had been sinking the shaft alongside the vein of high grade.
Realizing the small size of their claim, the three mined the ore in the daytime and then carried it home at night. Some of it was even carried to the mill in Colorado Springs and Pueblo in sacks by the men.
Their goal at that was to get together enough money to buy adjoining claims and fight any apex litigation which they felt was certain to come when the richness of the discovery was made known.
Stratton later helped finance the many lawsuits which were fought to successful conclusions by Verner Z Reed.
Mr. Doyle was born in Portland, Me., Aug. 20, 1868, but was orphaned at the age of 12. He named the Portland Mine after the town in which he was born.
He was brought up in Portland by three seamstress sisters of Burns, Jane, Kate and Mary Ann. They brought him with them to Colorado Springs in 1887 when the sisters moved here to improve the health of one of them. In addition to his other work here, Mr. Doyle also became foreman of the Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 in 1890, a position formerly held by Burns. It was during this time that Bob Womack, the original discoverer of gold in Cripple Creek, became acquainted with the two partners. They were impressed with the stories he told of his own discovery. Womack frequently slept at the jail. Burns left first for the new Gold Camp on a horse owned by Mr. Doyle, who got this first look at Victor and the surrounding mines in December, 1891.
As the Portland began to produce its millions in gold, the popular Mr. Doyle was elected Mayor of the town in 1896 and re-elected by acclaim two years later. Harnan eventually sold out his interest and the other two partners finally came to a parting of the ways over the firing of a superintendent.
Upshoot of the argument was that Mr. Doyle filed a $700,000 damage suit against Burns for allegedly withholding Portland profits from him after the break. Burns then got out an injunction restraining Mr. Doyle from going on with the suit. Mr. Doyle ignored the injunction and later served seven months in the county jail here for contempt. The two former partners never spoke to each other after that.
After leaving Cripple Creek with controlling interest in the mine lost, Mr. Doyle went to Denver and for many years was chief clerk in the state land office there.
In later years he prospected in Western Colorado and was credited with the discovery of the oil shale deposits near Rifle in 1909.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Marie Doyle; a daughter, Marie E. Doyle; three sons, James D. Doyle, Jack Doyle, and Cortland Doyle, all of Denver.
Rosary services will be held at 8 p.m. tonight in Olinger Mortuary in Denver. Requiem High Mass will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday in St. Domonic's Catholic Church in Denver. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
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