Pueblo County, Colorado
John Cameron

Contributed by Jean Griesan.

John Cameron, general superintendent of the Victor Coal and Coke Company at Trinidad and a recognized expert in the coal mining industry, is of Scotch birth and descent. His father, Peter Cameron, emigrated from Scotland to the United States in 1848 and settled in Blossburg, one of the oldest mining towns in Pennsylvania. A coal miner by occupation, he secured employment with the Blossburg Coal Company, with whom he remained for ten years. His death occurred in Tioga County, Pa., at the age of sixty-five. Some years before he left his native land he married Anna Richardson, and they became the parents of nine children, but only three of these are living: Catherine, wife of William Watchman; David, of Tioga County, Pa.; and John. The mother died in 1874, when sixty-six years of age.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, May 10, 1848, our subject was only two years of age when he was brought to America, consequently he has no recollection of his native country, but his mind has been stored with legends of the clan of Camerons and Loch Eheal, where they originated. He received a public-school education. At the age of sixteen he secured work in the mines of the Blossburg Coal Company, and in time became proficient in every branch of coal mining. After having remained with the Blossburg Coal Company until 1873, he then accepted a position with the Kittanning Coal Company, with whom he remained, as pit boss, until 1877, having charge of the inside workings of their mines. In 1877 he engaged with the Cambria Iron Company at Johnstown, Pa., as superintendent of their mines in Johnstown and Connellsville.

Resigning his position in 1882, Mr. Cameron came to Colorado to accept a position as general superintendent of mines for the Colorado Coal and Iron Company, with head office in Pueblo. At that time he took up his residence in Pueblo, where he has since made his home. During the time that he was employed by the Colorado Coal and Iron Company, he prospected through all the western counties of the state, examining lands where it was thought coal and iron might be found. In 1889 he resigned his position, and accepted the position of general manager for the Southwestern Coal and Improvement Company in the Indian Territory, where he remained for one year. Returning to Colorado in 1890, he became superintendent of the Victor Coal and Coke Company, whose head offices are in Denver, he having charge of the Trinidad office.

In politics Mr. Cameron is a Republican. He is a member of Cambria Lodge of Masons at Johnstown, Pa., and is identified with Pueblo Chapter No. 28, R. A. M., and Pueblo Commandery No. 3, K. T. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. His first marriage, which took place in 1866, united him with Cornelia Marvin, of Tioga County, Pa., who died in 1874. Of the five children born of this union, the youngest, Peter, died at five months, and Susan G. died at the age of three years. The others are: Kate, wife of A. R. Fellows, of Denver; Anna, who married Dr. A. Taylor, of Hastings, Las Animas County, Colo.; and Belle, Mrs. F. J. Webb, residing in Port Jervis, Orange County, N. Y. In 1877 Mr. Cameron was united in marriage with Sarah A. Wilson, a native of Nova Scotia, but at the time of her marriage a resident of Pennsylvania. She died in Colorado in 1897, leaving two sons, Peter and James R.

Extracted from "Portrait and Biographical Record of the State of Colorado," published by Chapman Publishing Company in Chicago in 1899.



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