Soon after his arrival in Colorado, he, in company with a friend, Mr. Robert S. Holf, took a trip to Aspen. They spent several days at Aspen, and were much pleased with the beautiful camp, and at once concluded to make some investments there, and if possible assist the residents of the town to develop the mines, in the richness of which they seemed to have great confidence. After purchasing a smelter that had been erected the previous year, but which had never been run, Major Wheeler returned to New York, and interested his partner, Mr. Webster, as well as Mr. Holt, in the enterprise. They each concluded to put in $50,ooo, and immediately organized a corporation known as the Aspen Smelting Company. Mr. Wheeler returned to Colorado a few weeks later, bringing with him Mr. W. B. Devereux, a metallurgist, who at once took charge of the small smelting plant previously purchased, and soon afterward opened an ore market for the purchase of ores. Major Wheeler then organized a bank in Aspen under the firm name of J. B. Wheeler & Co., taking as a cashier and partner, Mr. D. M. Van Hoevenbergh.

It soon became apparent that the owners of mines were correct in their opinion as to the value and richness of their property, and no sooner was an ore market opened and cash paid for all ores delivered, than a fresh impetus was given the mining industry in the camp, and soon the mines that had laid dormant for several years were being

worked, and their value and richness begun to be demonstrated. Several

hundred thousand dollars worth of ore was purchased before a pound of it was smelted. It is doubtful if ever a smelter was started under such difficult circumstances as was the Aspen Mining & Smelting Company.

The ores purchased contained a very small percentage of lead, were very refractory, and contained no iron. Coke could only be obtained by transferring it on burros over a high mountain

range.

During the winter of 1882-1883 Mr. Wheeler purchased some coal land thirty-five miles from Aspen, and immediately begun to test the coal, to ascertain whether it was suitable for the manufacture of coke.

Finding that it was a good coking coal, he immediately commenced the construction of coke ovens, being obliged to transport the material for same by rail and wagon from Denver. The ovens built are probably the most costly ones ever erected in the State of Colorado. The cost of transportion on coke from the ovens to Aspen was from twenty-five to thirty dollars. As soon as a sufficient quantity had been manufactured and transported to the smelter, the latter was "blown in,” and although many of the ores contained eight or nine per cent. of zinc, besides other refractory elements, still the smelter was run successfully, and the bullion produced was probably the richest ever turned out by any smelter in the state. It soon became necessary

other, the right of property, however, inuring to the capitalist because of that fortiter in re facie tenus, which has rendered his career both honorable and successful.

It has been frequently said to the writer "Wheeler made Aspen." He certainly had much to do with awakening Aspen out of restless sleep. This he did by the magnetic touch of capital which revealed the hidden treasures in her mountains. Soon after the locomotive came, partly at his bidding, to do the will of both miner and engineer; and then came the rivulet of commercial prosperity to Aspen which is now a widening river.

In all that pertains to the welfare of "Manitou all the year round," Major Wheeler takes a deep interest. He, with a few others, laid his hand to the lever, and immediately wheels began to revolve that will take the locomotive to the summit of Pike's Peak. He is President of the Manitou Mineral Water Company, by virtue of which these delicious waters may find their way to all the homes of the land. He built Wheeler Block, his banking house, out

of Colorado red sand-stone, the largest and finest in this beautiful mountain resort. Here he built Windermere, his summer residence, transforming its site, granulated rock, into a place where flowers grow and breathe their perfume, and where luxuriant grass mantles with living green the rocks upon which its foundations rest. Windermere comprises about five acres, elliptical in form, in the heart of Manitou. The illustration affords a correct view, with its surroundings. front may be seen a portion of the park, with Ruxton Creek hidden from view by shrubbery, and the rear portion of the Navajo Springs Building in the right hand lower corner. As barriers against the north wind the mountains rise into the empyrean.

In

In 1870 Major Wheeler married Miss Harriet Macy Valentine, a native of Nantucket, Massachusetts. With his surviving children, Elsie and Marion, they spend part of their time at Windermere, in Manitou, where

"Apollo still the long, long summer gilds." HENRY DUDLEY TEETOR.

THE eminence to which this famous representative of the medical profession of New York has attained, stands as the sum of two factors that have been conspicuous all through his career: A native genius for this particular work, that has kept him in it against all di

verting calls, and a capacity for mental and physical labor that has brought the best possible results, whether in study, investigation, or the application of knowledge in actual practice. Men may leap to fame in some professions or occupations in a single hour; in that.

VIEW IN MANITOU SPRINGS, SHOWING WINDERMERE,'' THE RESIDENCE OF MAJOR J. B. WHEELER, IN FOREGROUND; ALSO PART

OF THE PARK AND REAR OF THE NAVAJO SPRINGS BUILDING.