Mineral County, Colorado

 Later it was taken over by the Emperious Mining Company. It operated continuously until destroyed by fire August 15, 1955. The Emperious Mining Company soon cleared off the mill site and began construction of a new and latest improved model mill, which was completed and began operating in June 1956.

Mineral County is one of the richest silver producing areas in Colorado history and is devoted almost entirely to mining. In 1956 operations were begun at the Commodore and Amethyst Mines. The Gormax Mining Company has completed negotiations for a DMEA loan to be used for lead-zinc ore exploration. Sublet and Outlet Mining Companies were active during 1956. Success was reported in uranium prospecting. Diversified Resources, Inc., did test drilling on sulphur deposit beds near Creede.

There have been from a few to several sawmills operating in this locality before and after the establishment of Mineral County.

The Rio Grande National Forest was proclaimed and established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. It covers nearly all of Mineral County and a large portion of Hinsdale and Rio Grande Counties. It summer grazes large numbers of cattle and sheep, sells timber, and maintains several free camp grounds.

The Rio Grande Del Norte (Great River of the North) flows clear across Mineral County. It and its tributaries and lakes are famed for their good trout fishing.

There were many tough characters in Creede. Some of whom were Bob Ford, Ed O'Kelley, Billy the Kid, Bat Masterson, Jim Selfridge, and Soapy Smith.

Of the unusual characters there • were Clayton Wetherill and Charley Mason, who discovered the Cliff Dwellers ruins, which later became Mesa Verde National Park. Later Mr. Wetherill became a guide and packer for a party of research scientists of the Smithsonian Institution who explored the ruins, finding many valuable historical relics.

Charley Streams, a long time marshal of Creede, was good, fair, and honest. He was not afraid of any man.

Rufus Light wore a full beard with mustache, which was of solid blood red color. He told many a would-be bad man not to get rough, and they took his advice and behaved.

John MacKinzie, M. V. B. Wason, John Haney, Jim Workman, Poker Alice Dubbs, Calamity Jane Rounke, Killiorny Kate and Timberline all contributed to the history of this area.

A. H. Major and Finlay Frazee brought the first merchandise into Creede Camp and started a tent store in North Creede. Hord and Lightner started the first store in a tent in Jimtown.

The first two banks in Creede Camp were The Miners and Merchants Exchange Bank and The First National Bank. Both were operating in 1892. The Miners and Merchants Exchange Bank was robbed, but the robbery was never solved. Both these banks closed when the depression of 1894 struck. About 1897 the Tomkins Brothers Bank was installed in their hardware store, which was operating a few years earlier. The Tomkins Brothers Bank closed January 1, 1926. There is no bank in the county at the present time.