Los Angeles County
Biographies
CHARLES METCALFE SHANNON
SHANNON, CHARLES METCALFE, Capitalist, Los Angeles, Cal., and Tucson, Ariz., was born on a farm near Lexington, Mo., Aug. 7, 1853, the son of John S. and Elizabeth (Metcalfe) Shannon. He married Mollie L. Betterton, at Dallas, Texas, October 13, 1885.
His paternal ancestors settled in Pennsylvania in the 17trh century, later members having moved to Kentucky and Missouri. One of his relatives, Gen. John R. Baylor of Texas, was an officer in the Confederate Army and figured in various daring exploits, then on Feb. 14, 1862, he divided the territory of New Mexico, creating what is now Arizona. After declaring it an independent territory, he proclaimed himself Governor, and his claim was recognized by President Jefferson Davis of the Confederacy. Mr. Shannon later played a prominent part in the Territory.
Mr. Shannon received the early part of his education in the public schools of his district, later attending an academy in Kentucky.
Following his graduation in 1870 he went to Silver City, New Mex., where two of his uncles, by name Metcalfe, had engaged in silver mining, and there began his mining career. After working around Silver City for about a year, he joined a party in which his uncle was a leader, and went overland to what is now Clifton, Ariz., in the hunt for new mining properties. There they pitched camp and Mr. Shannon helped to build the first log house. His uncle gave the town its name, also named the towns of Globe and Metcalfe, Ariz.
On their first visit to this section of Arizona, Mr. Shannon’s uncle located numerous mining properties and among them was the famous Shannon Mine at Metcalfe, which he located in the name of his nephew and which the latter operated for nearly thirty years.
Leaving Clifton, Mr. Shannon’s party returned to Silver City, New Mex. This was his headquarters for many years subsequent, although he located for limited periods at other places, including Globe, Ariz., Las Cruces, N. Mex., and El Paso, Texas. At different times he engaged in newspaper work and cattle raising.
Shortly after his return to Silver City, Mr. Shannon was stricken by typhoid fever, which nearly robbed him of his eyesight, and for a year or more he had to live in a room of dungeon blackness. This had an effect upon his future, interfering greatly with his mining operations.
In 1878 Mr. Shannon took an interest in the “Silver Belt,” a newspaper at Globe, Ariz., to which he devoted part of his time. He went to Las Cruces about 1880 and there, joined a famous Texas editor, named Newman, in a newspaper enterprise, which, while it lasted, was remarkable for its independence and the number of difficulties their policy engendered. Mr. Shannon next started the “Lone Star,” a daily paper at El Paso, Texas, in 1882, but in 1883 he gave up his interest and returned to Silver City, where he founded the “Silver City Sentinel.” This he edited for some years, selling it in 1888 to enter the cattle business. However, in 1890 he returned actively to his mining operations and devoted the greater portion of his time to the Shannon Mine. He worked it alone for many years, but owing to the lack of transportation facilities and the excessive rates charged on ore, he decided, in 1900 to sell the property, which he had held for twenty-nine years and eight months. The mine was bonded and sold to the Shannon Copper Company, a syndicate of wealthy Easterners who were in a position to conduct it along modern lines. This company has since built a railroad to the mine, erected a great smelter at Clifton and installed powerful machinery. More than $19,000,000 of ore has been taken out in twelve years. Mr. Shannon still retains an interest in the company, but is devoting a great deal of time to timber operations in the West.
During his many years’ residence in Arizona, Mr. Shannon was an important factor in the Democratic political life of the Territory. He was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue for the district of new Mexico and Arizona by President Cleveland and served four years, his office requiring him to live during that time at Santa Fe, N. Mex. He maintained his residence in Arizona, however, and was twice elected to the Territorial Council, or Senate, first in 1893, and again in 1900. He was also Democratic National Committeeman from Arizona from 1892 to 1896. It was generally believed that he would be the first Governor of Arizona when she was granted Statehood. Illness prevented him from accepting the nomination.
Mr. Shannon is one of those men who passed through what has been called the “wild and woolly days” of the West. When he began his life in New Mexico and Arizona there were no railroads and Indians were numerous. He had many narrow escapes from the redskins. While he was editor of the “Silver City Sentinel” he figured in a battle with escaped prisoners, including four desperate train robbers, and was one of the posse who brought men to bay after a battle lasting all day, in which five men were killed.
Despite the hardships of the times, the exciting experiences of border life and frequent illness, Mr. Shannon at 59 years of age, shows very little traces of the hard life he endured.
He is a Mason, a member Mystic Shrine, a Knight Templar, an Elk and member, California, Jonathan and Old Pueblo Club of Tucson, and the Hassayampas, another Arizona organization.
Transcribed 9-29-10
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 515, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San
Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta.
1913.
© 2010 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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