Chilsond  
 
 

Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.

      DANIEL G. CHILSON.  Surely the reliable prospector is a man deserving credit from every American citizen, since the vast quantities of wealth of this country have been brought to life through his efforts.  Following this unique and strong character always goes the mining engineer and expert, whose forces assist to bring into circulation these vast amounts discovered by the prospector.  The mining expert is also a great benefactor.  When we find both these qualities combined in one man, who is promoted by an energy that never tires and directed by keen wisdom and consummate skill which leads to success after success, we certainly have men deserving of especial mention in the history of the country.  Such a one is the subject of this article.  Mr. Chilson is not a school made man, although he is a student.  He is a thorough worker and understands the science of geology, metallurgy, mineralogy, chemistry, assaying and so forth, as far as they are real and not theoretical.  He is decidedly a practical man in all these lines, and in financial lines as well.  The magnificent success that he has achieved, stamps him a man of great caliber and broad views.
     Daniel G. Chilson was born in Burleson county, Texas, October 9, 1849, the son of Judge S. L. and Sophie M. (Jenkins) Chilson.  The father was a native of Indiana, married in Missouri and moved to Texas where he operated the Chilson hotel in Caldwell.  The family later moved to Bandera county, where the father was elected county judge.  He served the confederate cause through the Civil War, after which he came to California and where he has remained since.  Our subject was liberally educated and early developed a propensity for independent, personal investigation, the prosecution of which has given him his success in life largely.  In 1868 he was favored with a companionship with Colonel K. S. Woolsey, in extended hunting tours through Arizona, and during this time he became an expert shot.  In 1871 he was in California and roved about over the state.  In 1873 he went to Arizona and discovered some lead mines at Castle Dame.  He was soon shipping ore to San Francisco and continued the same until he came out a few hundred dollars in debt.  Being a man of energy he was not daunted and this failure simply whetted his appetite for further mining ventures.  Gaining the assistance of James M. Narney, a wealthy wholesale merchant at Yuma, young Chilson was soon in the field again and discovered the Silver Nuggett, from which he cleaned up eighty-two thousand dollars in a very short time.  Major W. W. Leland, of New York, was the man that introduced him to the New York capitalists with whom he was enabled to stock the mine, in which deal he made two hundred thousand dollars more.  His next discovery was the Mineral Creek mines, where he located a mill at the expense of ninety thousand dollars and lost the whole thing, through hostile Indians.  Other reverses in mining speculations took all of what he had left, except a twenty-five thousand dollar farm in Los Angeles county.  Following this Mr. Chilson was in various deals, both gaining and losing money, always clinging to the mining ventures.  It may be said of him that what he made in mining he would always use to further develop some property.  In 1876 he commenced assaying and in every department in the science he made thorough investigations, until he is now a most skillful expert.  In 1876 Mr. Chilson took charge of the Young America mine, near Bossburg, and one year later located in Loomis.  Since coming here he has put through several good deals, besides attending to a general assaying business.  Mr. Chilson is entire owner of the Paymaster group of mines, located about fifteen miles west of Loomis, on Toat Coulee creek, and indications show that there is a fortune waiting for him in this property. In 1888 he located his present farm, which joins the town of Loomis, and is a very valuable property.  He has a good residence, commodious office and laboratory near by, a thousand bearing trees and raises cattle.
     On January 13, 1891, Mr. Chilson married Miss Jennie, daughter of Joseph and Sarah J. (Wilkes) Hall, mentioned elsewhere in this volume.  To them one child, Daniel G., Jr., has been born.  Mrs. Chilson is a well educated lady and has become thoroughly interested in mining assays, as is her husband, and has rendered Mr. Chilson most valuable assistance.  Too much credit can scarcely be given to this remarkable lady for the self denial and excellent spirit manifested in her husband's business, which at times is exceedingly trying and arduous, and especially so in the hours when the clouds hang low.  Mr. and Mrs. Chilson have hosts of friends and are well respected in the community.