George D. Brice-Mother Lode Mine

[bikerbob1944]

Just a shot in the dark, but I was wondering if anyone had ever heard of George D. Brice. "1901 Presented to George D. Brice By Mechanical Staff Mother Lode Mine" This engraving is on a well worn 14k solid gold case housing an Elgin grade 149 watch. This is a 21 jewel hunting case watch made in 1896. Any information is appreciated.

Bob

[Kent]

Hi Bob:

Welcome to the NAWCC Pocket Watch Message Board!

A Google Search for the Mother Lode Mine indicates that there were a few in different states. However, filtering the results with "George Brice" failed to yield any results.

A Search for George D. Brice turns up only one entry, who seems to be too young to be the recipient.

Nevertheless, I suggest that you read through those entries for the mines and see if there's enough information to follow up elsewhere to see if you can link Mr. Brice to one of those mines.

Oh, what is the serial number on the movement? Also, what type of dial does it have, Roman or Arabic?

Good luck,

[bikerbob1944]

Originally Posted by Kent

Hi Bob:

Welcome to the NAWCC Pocket Watch Message Board!

A Google Search for the Mother Lode Mine indicates that there were a few in different states. However, filtering the results with "George Brice" failed to yield any results.

A Search for George D. Brice turns up only one entry, who seems to be too young to be the recipient.

Nevertheless, I suggest that you read through those entries for the mines and see if there's enough information to follow up elsewhere to see if you can link Mr. Brice to one of those mines.

Oh, what is the serial number on the movement? Also, what type of dial does it have, Roman or Arabic?

Good luck,

Thanks for the reply. Serial number is 6677999 indicating it was made in 1896. Dial is Arabic. I didn't have much luck with Google. I read about several of the mines but could not find anything about George Brice. I never realized there were so many Mother Lode mines.

Bob

[IMHO]

I found 1900 census listing for George D. Brice, Portland, Oregon, age 39, where his occupation is listed as, Engineer (Mining Machinery).

[CZHACK]

Bob,

One of my other hobbies is geneology. If you go to Ancestry.com and search you will see many GDBs. I suggest you look at the 1900 census records at Ancestry.com. It may take a few hours but you are likely to find him.....and others in your own family.

Mike

[bikerbob1944]

Originally Posted by DChaplain

I found 1900 census listing for George D. Brice, Portland, Oregon, age 39, where his occupation is listed as, Engineer (Mining Machinery).

Thanks for the information. It seems real likely that this is the correct George. It also appears that he worked at the Mother Lode Mine located in B. C. Canada. A person on the Chapter 185 board pointed out that the wording was likely Canadian. He reported that use of the term "Mechanical Staff" instead of Maintenance Crew or Department could be Canadian.

Bob

[IMHO]

Hi Bob,

You may be correct about the Canadian connection - who knows - but there are also references to a "Mother Lode" mine in Eastern Oregon.

That particular name seems to have been popular in many mining regions.

[Clint Geller]

Dave Chaplain's report of an engineer specializing in mining machinery living in OR must be considered here. The only fact that doesn't tally with the notion of this being THE Geo. Brice is that the info I could find on the OR mine on the Internet inidicates it opened in 1907, whereas the cuvette inscription on the watch is dated 1901. Perhaps the watch dial can give us a clue. For example, if it were a 24 hr dial, this would point to the likelihood of a Canadian mine.

[bikerbob1944]

Originally Posted by Clint

Dave Chaplain's report of an engineer specializing in mining machinery living in OR must be considered here. The only fact that doesn't tally with the notion of this being THE Geo. Brice is that the info I could find on the OR mine on the Internet inidicates it opened in 1907, whereas the cuvette inscription on the watch is dated 1901. Perhaps the watch dial can give us a clue. For example, if it were a 24 hr dial, this would point to the likelihood of a Canadian mine.

Here's a picture of the dial-not Canadian for sure. The time frame is right for the Canadian mine and Portland, Oregon would be somewhat close to B C. I've been calling some of the Brice's in Oregon trying to find a relative of George Brice. No luck so far.

I would like everyone for their interesting posts.

Bob

[bikerbob1944]

Just found out a little more information yesterday. I got the following from ancestery.com

Canadian Genealogy Index, 1600s-1900s Canadian Genealogy Index, 1600s-1900s
Name: George Brice
Event: Living
Year: 1901
Province: British Columbia
Place: Anaconda
Comments: Machinist.
Source: Henderson's British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory and Mining Companies for 1900-1901.
Volume/Page: 186
Note: The province and county are associated with the location of the record source and in some cases may not be the same as the place where the event occured.

Source Information:
Genealogical Research Library, Ontario, Canada. Canadian Genealogy Index, 1600s-1900s [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: Compiled from various family history sources. See source information provided with each entry.

It looks like the town of Anaconda is now gone but Greenwood, British Columbia, is still there. The Mother Lode Mine was located in this area. I looked for some Brice's in Greenwood but have had no luck so far.

Bob