Post by Leslie Kyle on Jul 8, 2009 1:14:07 GMT -5
ALFRED C. KYLE. In a review of the men who have been active in connection with the mining interests of this great "silver state," it is imperative that due recognition he accorded Alfred C. Kyle, of Virginia City, who is now the superintendent of the Bullion, the Exchequer, the New York, the Silver Hill and other mines. He has once a resident of Nevada since 1868, and during the thirty-five years that have since come and gone he has not only watched with interest the progress of the state, but has aided in the expansion of its business opportunities and in its substantial growth and material progress.
He is a native of Huntingdon county. Pennsylvania, where he was born on the 23rd of June, 1846. Of Scotch lineage, his paternal great-grandfather, Robert Kyle, was a native of Scotland, whence he emigrated to the new world, settling in Greenbrier county, Virginia, thus becoming the founder of the Kyle family in the United States. Both the grandfather and the father of Alfred C. Kyle bore the cognomen of Robert and were both natives of Virginia. The latter Robert Kyle married Miss Rosana Murphy, and after their marriage the young couple moved to the state of Pennsylvania, where Robert Kyle was employed as the manager of an iron foundry, being thus closely associated with the industrial development of that locality. In his early manhood he was a Whig, and upon the dissolution of the party joined the ranks of the Republican party. Both he and his wife were valued members of the Methodist church, taking a most helpful interest in its work and doing everything in their power to extend its growth and promote its mission among men. Robert Kyle was called to his-final rest in 1871, when seventy-five years of age, and his wife departed this life in her fortieth year. They were the parents of eight children, of whom six are now living, but Alfred C. Kyle and his brother, Silas, are the only ones of the family now in Nevada.
Under the parental roof Alfred C. Kyle spent his boyhood days, and when in his seventeenth year he crossed the plains with oxen to California, being five months upon the journey. At the end of that time the party with which he traveled were gladdened by the sight of the fertile district around San Bernardino. The Civil war was at that time in progress, and a rebel flag was seen flying in the town, but as soon as the United States soldiers made their entrance into the city it was taken down and the stars and stripes unfurled. Mr. Kyle made his way to Mariposa county, and there learned the trade of an engineer. He afterward went to Montana, where he engaged in placer mining in Gold Creek, near the mining camp of Pioneer. Although he paid forty dollars a day for water obtained from the Rock Creek Ditch Company, he even then made some money. On leaving that locality he went to Virginia City, where he remained for a time, later proceeding to the gold diggings on the Salmon river in Idaho. In 1870, attracted by the Snake Creek excitement, he again changed his place of labor; and while working there made from eight to ten dollars per day. Afterwards returning to Nevada, he was for some time employed in a mill in Belmont, but later removed to Placer county, California, where he worked in the St. Patrick mine.
He also engaged in prospecting, from Denver, Colorado, to Alaska, and thence to Sonora, in Mexico. He was not pleased with Alaska because of the short season, this affording but very limited opportunity for the miners to accomplish any work. He was likewise connected with Tombstone mining excitement, and all his experiences and adventures as a mining maji on the Pacific coast and in Alaska would make a thrilling story if given in detail. There have been exciting episodes in his life history which would hardly be credited in a book, but truth is stranger than fiction, and there are chapters in Mr. Kyle's life that have been of most intense interest.
In 1894 he returned to Virginia City. Nevada, to occupy the position formerly filled by Rogers Pendergast, and. has been superintendent of the Sierra Nevada, Union and Union Shaft, the Bulletin, the Exchequer, the New York, the Silver Hill and others. Out of the Sierra Nevada he took seventy-five thousand dollars, and out of the Silver Hill twenty thousand dollars. He has purchased all the ground around these mines, which has now been worked down to the depth of seven hundred feet. He has prospected all the other mines, and feels that there are some excellent paying properties in this locality. The Silver Hill Company was in debt and discouraged when Mr. Kyle assumed the management, but he urged the proprietors to allow him to do a little developing at a different place, and he has made of this a good property, not only clearing the company of all its financial obligations, but also leaving twenty-five thousand dollars in its treasury. He devotes his entire attention to the superintendency of the mines in his care, and is undoubtedly the right man in the right place.
He has been a Republican since becoming a voter, but has never been active in politics, nor has he become identified with any secret societies. His sterling purpose and many excellent characteristics are widely recognized and commended, and have gained for him the friendship and favor of many with whom he has come in contact.
He is a native of Huntingdon county. Pennsylvania, where he was born on the 23rd of June, 1846. Of Scotch lineage, his paternal great-grandfather, Robert Kyle, was a native of Scotland, whence he emigrated to the new world, settling in Greenbrier county, Virginia, thus becoming the founder of the Kyle family in the United States. Both the grandfather and the father of Alfred C. Kyle bore the cognomen of Robert and were both natives of Virginia. The latter Robert Kyle married Miss Rosana Murphy, and after their marriage the young couple moved to the state of Pennsylvania, where Robert Kyle was employed as the manager of an iron foundry, being thus closely associated with the industrial development of that locality. In his early manhood he was a Whig, and upon the dissolution of the party joined the ranks of the Republican party. Both he and his wife were valued members of the Methodist church, taking a most helpful interest in its work and doing everything in their power to extend its growth and promote its mission among men. Robert Kyle was called to his-final rest in 1871, when seventy-five years of age, and his wife departed this life in her fortieth year. They were the parents of eight children, of whom six are now living, but Alfred C. Kyle and his brother, Silas, are the only ones of the family now in Nevada.
Under the parental roof Alfred C. Kyle spent his boyhood days, and when in his seventeenth year he crossed the plains with oxen to California, being five months upon the journey. At the end of that time the party with which he traveled were gladdened by the sight of the fertile district around San Bernardino. The Civil war was at that time in progress, and a rebel flag was seen flying in the town, but as soon as the United States soldiers made their entrance into the city it was taken down and the stars and stripes unfurled. Mr. Kyle made his way to Mariposa county, and there learned the trade of an engineer. He afterward went to Montana, where he engaged in placer mining in Gold Creek, near the mining camp of Pioneer. Although he paid forty dollars a day for water obtained from the Rock Creek Ditch Company, he even then made some money. On leaving that locality he went to Virginia City, where he remained for a time, later proceeding to the gold diggings on the Salmon river in Idaho. In 1870, attracted by the Snake Creek excitement, he again changed his place of labor; and while working there made from eight to ten dollars per day. Afterwards returning to Nevada, he was for some time employed in a mill in Belmont, but later removed to Placer county, California, where he worked in the St. Patrick mine.
He also engaged in prospecting, from Denver, Colorado, to Alaska, and thence to Sonora, in Mexico. He was not pleased with Alaska because of the short season, this affording but very limited opportunity for the miners to accomplish any work. He was likewise connected with Tombstone mining excitement, and all his experiences and adventures as a mining maji on the Pacific coast and in Alaska would make a thrilling story if given in detail. There have been exciting episodes in his life history which would hardly be credited in a book, but truth is stranger than fiction, and there are chapters in Mr. Kyle's life that have been of most intense interest.
In 1894 he returned to Virginia City. Nevada, to occupy the position formerly filled by Rogers Pendergast, and. has been superintendent of the Sierra Nevada, Union and Union Shaft, the Bulletin, the Exchequer, the New York, the Silver Hill and others. Out of the Sierra Nevada he took seventy-five thousand dollars, and out of the Silver Hill twenty thousand dollars. He has purchased all the ground around these mines, which has now been worked down to the depth of seven hundred feet. He has prospected all the other mines, and feels that there are some excellent paying properties in this locality. The Silver Hill Company was in debt and discouraged when Mr. Kyle assumed the management, but he urged the proprietors to allow him to do a little developing at a different place, and he has made of this a good property, not only clearing the company of all its financial obligations, but also leaving twenty-five thousand dollars in its treasury. He devotes his entire attention to the superintendency of the mines in his care, and is undoubtedly the right man in the right place.
He has been a Republican since becoming a voter, but has never been active in politics, nor has he become identified with any secret societies. His sterling purpose and many excellent characteristics are widely recognized and commended, and have gained for him the friendship and favor of many with whom he has come in contact.