~ Union Veteran of the Civil War ~
Private & Corporal, Company F, 1st Colorado Infantry
Farrier, Company F, 1st Colorado Cavalry
*Early Life*
Jacob Walker Bales was born on 13 February 1841 in Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co., Indiana. He was the fifth of ten children born to Solomon Bales (1807-1887) and Sarah J. Haynes (1811-1893). By 1850, the Bales family had relocated to Polk Co., Iowa.
By July 1860, Bales had made his way westward to "Gold Hill, Nebraska Territory," which soon became a part of Boulder Co., Colorado Territory, presumably being motivated by the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. By 1861, he was working as a farrier in Denver, CO.
*Military Service*
Bales enlisted as a Private in the Union Army on 10 August 1861 and was mustered into Co. F, 1st CO Inf. on 10 September 1861 at Denver. Some enlistment records incorrectly list the year of his birth as 1839.
He is known to have fought at the Battle of Glorieta Pass in New Mexico Territory on 26-28 March 1862. Bales was promoted to Corporal on 29 July 1862.
On 1 November 1862, the 1st CO Inf. was merged with Companies C and D of the 2nd Colorado Infantry, and re-designated as the 1st Colorado Cavalry Regiment. As such, Jacob Bales was transferred to Co. F, 1st CO Cav. and appointed its Farrier on either 1 or 28 February 1863.
Records from May 1863 reflect that he was "on daily duty as Co. [F's] farrier," and from June through July 1863, he was assigned to "daily duty as provost guard [by] ord.[er] of Lt. Col. S. F. Tappan."
However, on 28 May 1864, Bales was placed under arrest while "on the road" along the Arkansas River for "conduct to the prejudice to good order and military doctrine" by order of Major E. W. Wynkoop, 1st CO Cav. According to official documents, "on or about the 8th day of May 1864… [Jacob Bales] did… steal and take away five horses, property of the United States…and did unlawfully sell the said horses, appropriating the proceeds for his own use… all this at or near Fort Lyon."
Bales was first confined at Denver, before being sent to Fort Lyon, CO, early the following month, where his court martial commenced at 10 A.M. on 22 June 1864. It appears he was found guilty of the offense he was accused of and remained imprisoned at the fort until September 1864.
Shortly after his release from confinement, Bales was mustered out of the Union Army on 11 October 1864 at Denver. He appears to have received an honorable discharge.
*Post-War Life*
In January 1867, Bales was living at the Carr House Hotel in Denver and working as a "floor manager" at an inn, the Green Mountain House, in Golden, CO, but by 1870, had moved to Agency Twp., Osage Co., Kansas, where he lived with his parents and youngest brother and helped tend his family's farm.
On 4 June 1874, Jacob Walker Bales married Harriet A. "Hattie" Owens (1850-1918), in Kansas. They had one daughter, Elena M. Bales (1875-1943), born in October 1875 in KS, who would work as a school teacher for most of her life.
In 1876, Jacob Bales moved back to Denver, CO, with his family, where he ran a meat market out of his home at 405 15th Street. By May 1881, Bales had moved to Silver City, Clear Creek Co., CO, and began working as a miner. In June 1883, he was working on "placer claims... on Fall River... for the Little Alice Mining Company."
On 20 February 1880, Jacob Bales was elected Vice President of the Philadelphia-based Haseltine Mining Company.
In January 1884, Bales was listed as a member of Ellsworth Post 20, Department of Colorado & Wyoming, Grand Army of the Republic, in Central City, CO. In 1889, he served as one of three Election Judges for Fall River, Clear Creek Co., CO.
By late 1893, Bales had purchased several mining properties in Clear Creek Co., CO, with one specific claim described as a "promising... large free milling vein... on [the] Fall River." In mid-December 1893, Bales hired Professor B.F. Sadtler of the Colorado School of Mines to oversee his mining operation. This seems to have been one of more than a dozen profitable mining claims Bales owned.
By November 1894, Jacob Bales owned a ranch near Idaho Springs "in North Springs gulch," where he grew alfalfa and potatoes and raised at least 34 head of cattle. That month, he "sold two [of his] mines for $30,000 [the equivalent of approximately $1,100,000 in 2024] to a New York company and will build a mill and open up their mines," which were described as having "veins... eight to ten feet wide," and projected to extract "$25 to $60 per ton in gold."
On 27 March 1895, while in Idaho Springs, CO, it was reported that Bales "was thrown from his horse... falling on his head," after which it was said that "his face is much, bruised and the jar of the fall has crippled him so that he will be laid up for some time."
In August 1895, Bales was once again appointed one of the Election Judges for Fall River.
In late 1899, the Pennsylvania Mining Company attempted to claim ownership of two prosperous mining properties on the Fall River owned by Jacob Bales. After the dispute was taken to court in Denver, a "lower court" found in favor of Bales, but the ruling was later appealed.
In September 1901, Bales was involved in court yet again, at Georgetown, CO, having brought a case against The Fall River Electric Power Company and the Fidelity Trust Company of Lincoln, Nebraska. Bales accused the companies of infringing upon his property and water rights regarding his mining claims and was seeking "$20,000.00 and interest... at the rate of eight cents per annum from March 11th, 1897."
In May 1902, Bales sold the Santa Fe Tunnel Mine in Clear Creek, CO, which he had owned since the mid-1890s, to J.N. Bradley, who discovered the lode in 1891 and claimed ownership of it since then, during which time the details of the mine's ownership were disputed and its operation "swaddled in litigation."
In 1903, Bales was one of two Chairman of the G.A.R.'s Committee on Flowers and Decorations for the organization's statewide Memorial Day celebrations. He and other local G.A.R. members marched in Idaho Springs' Memorial Day Parade.
In December 1904, he was elected Officer of the Day of Colorado Springs Post 22, Dept. of CO/WY, G.A.R.
On 30 July 1905, Bales became a charter member of E. D. Baker Post 34, Dept. of CO/WY, G.A.R., in Idaho Springs, CO, and was installed as its chaplain.
On 4 September 1905, Bales attended the 39th Annual Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic in Denver and a banquet held in honor of the surviving veterans of Colorado's Union Army regiments at The Savoy in that city.
On 7 September 1905, "at the mouth of the Fall River," Bales saved a woman from being murdered by drowning by her intoxicated husband. Later that month, Bales sold six of his eight mining claims on the Fall River "west of the Lucania tunnel portal," for an unknown, but assuredly large, sum of money.
In December 1906, Bales was elected to a term as E.D. Baker Post 30's Officer of the Day.
By 1910, Bales and his wife had moved to Dumont, Clear Creek Co., CO. On 23 June 1916, Bales attended the Colorado State Pioneers picnic in Denver. After the death of his wife, Jacob moved to Idaho Springs.
In 1916, Jacob Bales served as the Senior Vice Commander of E.D. Baker Post 30.
According to the 4 June 1920 issue of 'The Idaho Springs Siftings-News' - "The three remaining Civil War veterans in Idaho Springs were in the Denver [Memorial Day] parade. Jacob Bales, who will be 80 next February, drove to Denver in his Ford to be in the parade and was one of the spryest men in the bunch as he marched in the Denver streets. Mr. Bales was planning to drive on to Canon City to attend the Grand Army encampment."
*Death*
Jacob Bales died at the age of 81 on 26 August 1922 in Denver, CO, due to complications arising from a recent bout with influenza at a friend's home at 1666 Lafayette Street.
His obituary, published in the 27 August 1922 issue of 'The Denver Post' read as follows: "Jacob W. Bales, Gold Seeker of Old Days is Dead in Denver: Jacob W. Bales, 83 [81] years old, of Idaho Springs, Colo., one of the pioneers who crossed the plains to Colorado in '58 to seek his fortune in gold, died at the home of a friend in Denver [on] Saturday, as the result of an attack of influenza which had left him in a weakened condition. Mr. Bales, who was born in Lafayette, Ind., enlisted in the First Colorado Cavalry, Company F, from Central City when the Civil War broke out and served with the territorial troopers from Colorado during the entire war. He participated in the battle of Apache Canon, among other engagements. For forty years he had made his home In Idaho Springs. His principal business had been mining. Several years ago he retired. Mr. Bales is survived by one daughter and a sister, in California."
*Burial*
On 29 August 1922, after a 4:00 P.M. religious service at the Olinger Chapel in Denver, Jacob Walker Bales's remains were escorted by members of Abraham Lincoln Post 4, Dept. of CO/WY, G.A.R., to nearby Riverside Cemetery, where Bales was buried beside his wife.
***Contributor: Robert Mayer III [50468536]
~ Union Veteran of the Civil War ~
Private & Corporal, Company F, 1st Colorado Infantry
Farrier, Company F, 1st Colorado Cavalry
*Early Life*
Jacob Walker Bales was born on 13 February 1841 in Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co., Indiana. He was the fifth of ten children born to Solomon Bales (1807-1887) and Sarah J. Haynes (1811-1893). By 1850, the Bales family had relocated to Polk Co., Iowa.
By July 1860, Bales had made his way westward to "Gold Hill, Nebraska Territory," which soon became a part of Boulder Co., Colorado Territory, presumably being motivated by the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. By 1861, he was working as a farrier in Denver, CO.
*Military Service*
Bales enlisted as a Private in the Union Army on 10 August 1861 and was mustered into Co. F, 1st CO Inf. on 10 September 1861 at Denver. Some enlistment records incorrectly list the year of his birth as 1839.
He is known to have fought at the Battle of Glorieta Pass in New Mexico Territory on 26-28 March 1862. Bales was promoted to Corporal on 29 July 1862.
On 1 November 1862, the 1st CO Inf. was merged with Companies C and D of the 2nd Colorado Infantry, and re-designated as the 1st Colorado Cavalry Regiment. As such, Jacob Bales was transferred to Co. F, 1st CO Cav. and appointed its Farrier on either 1 or 28 February 1863.
Records from May 1863 reflect that he was "on daily duty as Co. [F's] farrier," and from June through July 1863, he was assigned to "daily duty as provost guard [by] ord.[er] of Lt. Col. S. F. Tappan."
However, on 28 May 1864, Bales was placed under arrest while "on the road" along the Arkansas River for "conduct to the prejudice to good order and military doctrine" by order of Major E. W. Wynkoop, 1st CO Cav. According to official documents, "on or about the 8th day of May 1864… [Jacob Bales] did… steal and take away five horses, property of the United States…and did unlawfully sell the said horses, appropriating the proceeds for his own use… all this at or near Fort Lyon."
Bales was first confined at Denver, before being sent to Fort Lyon, CO, early the following month, where his court martial commenced at 10 A.M. on 22 June 1864. It appears he was found guilty of the offense he was accused of and remained imprisoned at the fort until September 1864.
Shortly after his release from confinement, Bales was mustered out of the Union Army on 11 October 1864 at Denver. He appears to have received an honorable discharge.
*Post-War Life*
In January 1867, Bales was living at the Carr House Hotel in Denver and working as a "floor manager" at an inn, the Green Mountain House, in Golden, CO, but by 1870, had moved to Agency Twp., Osage Co., Kansas, where he lived with his parents and youngest brother and helped tend his family's farm.
On 4 June 1874, Jacob Walker Bales married Harriet A. "Hattie" Owens (1850-1918), in Kansas. They had one daughter, Elena M. Bales (1875-1943), born in October 1875 in KS, who would work as a school teacher for most of her life.
In 1876, Jacob Bales moved back to Denver, CO, with his family, where he ran a meat market out of his home at 405 15th Street. By May 1881, Bales had moved to Silver City, Clear Creek Co., CO, and began working as a miner. In June 1883, he was working on "placer claims... on Fall River... for the Little Alice Mining Company."
On 20 February 1880, Jacob Bales was elected Vice President of the Philadelphia-based Haseltine Mining Company.
In January 1884, Bales was listed as a member of Ellsworth Post 20, Department of Colorado & Wyoming, Grand Army of the Republic, in Central City, CO. In 1889, he served as one of three Election Judges for Fall River, Clear Creek Co., CO.
By late 1893, Bales had purchased several mining properties in Clear Creek Co., CO, with one specific claim described as a "promising... large free milling vein... on [the] Fall River." In mid-December 1893, Bales hired Professor B.F. Sadtler of the Colorado School of Mines to oversee his mining operation. This seems to have been one of more than a dozen profitable mining claims Bales owned.
By November 1894, Jacob Bales owned a ranch near Idaho Springs "in North Springs gulch," where he grew alfalfa and potatoes and raised at least 34 head of cattle. That month, he "sold two [of his] mines for $30,000 [the equivalent of approximately $1,100,000 in 2024] to a New York company and will build a mill and open up their mines," which were described as having "veins... eight to ten feet wide," and projected to extract "$25 to $60 per ton in gold."
On 27 March 1895, while in Idaho Springs, CO, it was reported that Bales "was thrown from his horse... falling on his head," after which it was said that "his face is much, bruised and the jar of the fall has crippled him so that he will be laid up for some time."
In August 1895, Bales was once again appointed one of the Election Judges for Fall River.
In late 1899, the Pennsylvania Mining Company attempted to claim ownership of two prosperous mining properties on the Fall River owned by Jacob Bales. After the dispute was taken to court in Denver, a "lower court" found in favor of Bales, but the ruling was later appealed.
In September 1901, Bales was involved in court yet again, at Georgetown, CO, having brought a case against The Fall River Electric Power Company and the Fidelity Trust Company of Lincoln, Nebraska. Bales accused the companies of infringing upon his property and water rights regarding his mining claims and was seeking "$20,000.00 and interest... at the rate of eight cents per annum from March 11th, 1897."
In May 1902, Bales sold the Santa Fe Tunnel Mine in Clear Creek, CO, which he had owned since the mid-1890s, to J.N. Bradley, who discovered the lode in 1891 and claimed ownership of it since then, during which time the details of the mine's ownership were disputed and its operation "swaddled in litigation."
In 1903, Bales was one of two Chairman of the G.A.R.'s Committee on Flowers and Decorations for the organization's statewide Memorial Day celebrations. He and other local G.A.R. members marched in Idaho Springs' Memorial Day Parade.
In December 1904, he was elected Officer of the Day of Colorado Springs Post 22, Dept. of CO/WY, G.A.R.
On 30 July 1905, Bales became a charter member of E. D. Baker Post 34, Dept. of CO/WY, G.A.R., in Idaho Springs, CO, and was installed as its chaplain.
On 4 September 1905, Bales attended the 39th Annual Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic in Denver and a banquet held in honor of the surviving veterans of Colorado's Union Army regiments at The Savoy in that city.
On 7 September 1905, "at the mouth of the Fall River," Bales saved a woman from being murdered by drowning by her intoxicated husband. Later that month, Bales sold six of his eight mining claims on the Fall River "west of the Lucania tunnel portal," for an unknown, but assuredly large, sum of money.
In December 1906, Bales was elected to a term as E.D. Baker Post 30's Officer of the Day.
By 1910, Bales and his wife had moved to Dumont, Clear Creek Co., CO. On 23 June 1916, Bales attended the Colorado State Pioneers picnic in Denver. After the death of his wife, Jacob moved to Idaho Springs.
In 1916, Jacob Bales served as the Senior Vice Commander of E.D. Baker Post 30.
According to the 4 June 1920 issue of 'The Idaho Springs Siftings-News' - "The three remaining Civil War veterans in Idaho Springs were in the Denver [Memorial Day] parade. Jacob Bales, who will be 80 next February, drove to Denver in his Ford to be in the parade and was one of the spryest men in the bunch as he marched in the Denver streets. Mr. Bales was planning to drive on to Canon City to attend the Grand Army encampment."
*Death*
Jacob Bales died at the age of 81 on 26 August 1922 in Denver, CO, due to complications arising from a recent bout with influenza at a friend's home at 1666 Lafayette Street.
His obituary, published in the 27 August 1922 issue of 'The Denver Post' read as follows: "Jacob W. Bales, Gold Seeker of Old Days is Dead in Denver: Jacob W. Bales, 83 [81] years old, of Idaho Springs, Colo., one of the pioneers who crossed the plains to Colorado in '58 to seek his fortune in gold, died at the home of a friend in Denver [on] Saturday, as the result of an attack of influenza which had left him in a weakened condition. Mr. Bales, who was born in Lafayette, Ind., enlisted in the First Colorado Cavalry, Company F, from Central City when the Civil War broke out and served with the territorial troopers from Colorado during the entire war. He participated in the battle of Apache Canon, among other engagements. For forty years he had made his home In Idaho Springs. His principal business had been mining. Several years ago he retired. Mr. Bales is survived by one daughter and a sister, in California."
*Burial*
On 29 August 1922, after a 4:00 P.M. religious service at the Olinger Chapel in Denver, Jacob Walker Bales's remains were escorted by members of Abraham Lincoln Post 4, Dept. of CO/WY, G.A.R., to nearby Riverside Cemetery, where Bales was buried beside his wife.
***Contributor: Robert Mayer III [50468536]
Inscription
BALES
JACOB WALKER
1841 - 1922
Gravesite Details
US ARMY FARRIER
Family Members
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