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Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/iRI.2ACIB/228.1
Message Board Post:
Hi Ellen, my gg grandfather, Walter Scott Chaffee, who was from Madison Co., NY, went to
Pike's Peak in 1860 in company with Jerome Bunting Chaffee and bought two claims at
Leadville, CO. I believe Walter only lasted a year or so and
in 1861 came out from NY to San Buenaventura, Santa Barbara Co., CA. Jerome dob
04-17-1825 Lockport/Cambria, Niagra Co., NY dod 03-09-1886 Salem Center, Westchester Co.,
NY. Married Miriam Barnard, in Adrian, MI, 09-24-1848 of that place. After his education
in NY his family moved to St. Joseph, MO and engaged in banking. He stayed in Gilpin Co.,
CO and made some money. At the organization of the territory of CO, in 1861, he was given
the nomination as delegate to Congress for the new territory, declined at first, but
accepted and was elected. 1863 chosen Speaker of the Lower House. 1865 he was elected to
the U.S. Senate. Became the leader of the Republican party in CO, until he died of acute
laryngitis at his daughters home. 1865 he organized the First National Bank of Denver and
became its president. He really was involved in mining and politics. He amassed a fortune
thru the mining operations and his only living child, Fanny Josephine, married to U.S.
Grant Jr. in 188!
1. His other three children, Horace Jerome, Nellie Virginia & Edward Fenton all died
before they were nine years old. There is a county in CO named for him, "Chaffee
County" about in the middle of CO. He was one of the main characters in forming the
official state of CO from the territory it once was. Sincerely, Terry Chaffee