Personal Page of $Name

Henry Christopher Eberhard Ehlers

Personal Data:

Item	Date	Place/Description
Birth	19 Nov 1853	Wildeshausen, Oldenburg,Germany
Fact 1	Bet. 1867 - 1870	attended night school and clerked in a store in NYC

Parents:

Parent	Name
Father	Friedrich Hermann Gustav Henrich Ehlers
Mother	Maria Elisabeth Bernett

Personal Note(s):

Note Number	Note Text
1	H.C. came in NY in 1867 at about 14 years old. In 1870 he moved to Sacramento (1870-80) with a visit to Whatcom county in 1873 when he was 20. He went to NY in 1911 at the age of 59. He went to Alabama at age 66. He had many, many gold claims (at least 10), not 3. Other family members, including James Parker Ehlers, had gold claims in the same area. I have folders for each claim with the name(s) of those who filed and renewed the claims between 1897-1912. Nancy Dobbs was born in Tennessee, (January 12, 1857). She married HC on August 16, 1885. -Wayne Ehlers I have a Physics book written by Henry (Pub 1911). Having taken 3 Sem of physics, God knows how many related engineering courses, and having continued reading a fair amount of physics, I can tell you with some limited authority that the book is incredible. Consider...He wrote this while on an isolated Farm doing back-breaking labor every day. The book absolutely astounds me. The man had to have one of the finest minds of the time. I only wish that I'd a ended up with more of it [Ehlers Family History.FBK.FBK.FBK.FBK.FTW] H.C. Ehlers, among a number of other interests, was a gold miner in the Mt. Baker area in Whatcom County. There are records of many gold claims and proof of working those claims. The government required a legal statement of work done in order to retain rights to the claim(s). The records of claims began in 1897 and ended with proof of labor in about 1912. There never were any major discoveries on any of his claims but he never lost interest or hope that he would eventually "hit pay dirt". This interest in mining was held by others in the family, particularly James Parker Ehlers, one of his sons. James also had several claim registered as well offer of proof that labor had been performed. Another son, Fred B., was a partner on at least two claims (Granite and North Star). H.C.'s brother-in-law, John K. Jacobs and Jacobs' son, Fredrick, also were partners on the Hard Scrabble claims. Alex Campbell, Laura Ehlers' first husband, had claims on Lady of the Lake (2-5). Effie Ehlers Fowler and her husband (Ray) purchased a number of shares in various gold mining efforts in the State of Washington. When they died their estate had a large number of shares of companies that were no longer in business. They were primarily from the 1930's but even a few were purchased in the 1970's. Effie in the middle 1960's until nearly 1980 made efforts to find the location of H.C.'s major claim, The Lone Star mine. I will include copies and/or excerpts of correspondence. In addition to the information from the letters I will cite, a metal file box stored with the family photographs contains locations of many mining claims, filing of those claims, proof of labor records, books and maps about the mines found in the Mt. Baker area. There are newspaper accounts of the mining activities for 1897 and 1898. The 1897 articles are from Seattle Daily Times. The 1898 stories are from the New Whatcom Reveille. Similar descriptions are found in Leonard Fowler's, Whatcom County the Klondike of Washington (probably 1898). In addition, there are more modern accounts in articles from the 1960's and 1970's found with the other files. The stories, documents, letters, etc. cited below are to be found in the file labeled Gold Mine in with all of the other family history materials. While more actual information as to the location of the Lone Star can be found in the metal box, a simple statement included in the Washington Geological Survey, annual report, V.1, 1901, pt 2 1902, page 45, best summarizes it. "Lone Star. ---These claims are located on Swamp Creek. During the summer of 1901 two tunnels were driven on the property, one of 68 feet, and another of 20 feet. The ore body is a white quartz vein about 25 feet wide, and parallel with it is a grey quartz vein whose exact width has not been determined. The gold values occur as tellurides and sulphides." From Whatcom County. The Klondike, The Blade and the New Whatcom Reveille. October 9, 1897. "Henry Ehlers of Clearbrook says his find is well upon the mts. on the west side of Swamp Creek & is located on a 4 ft. ledge." This an original letter sent by H.C. in 1897 from the Lone Star. "Dear Children, about a week ago I got your letter & I was very glad to learn that you got all over the measles well & I hope that now you will keep healthy and happy all summer. It is spring here now in the valleys which seems strange when one comes from the snowy mountains. We were way up on the top of the mountains and stayed two nights up there. The snow was very deep up there yet and it made us allmost blind to go over the snow when the sun shone on it. Mr. Plagin killed one ground hog and we eat it. There are plenty ground hogs and considerable grouse but both of them are very hard to kill. We worked a long time to turn the Lone Star Creek out of its bed and then we worked two days charting out for a tunnell. Tomorrow we will return to our camp on Willow Creek and go to work on the Lone Star again. Since I wrote the last word Mr. Plagin called me out and took me to a man that wanted me to set a spot cash price on the Lone Star. He wants to go out in the morning with us, and look at the ledge. I think we will be able to sell it. Fredy, I would like to have you or any of you with me here, but you will have to wait till your Uncle Madge (ed. note M.J. Morris?) comes down. Then he and your mama can decide if you may come to me with some of the boys coming up. We have killed about 10 grouse and eaten them with dumplings, and some fried. The butter is about the best grub we can get here in the mountains. I get very tired climbing up the mountain. My legs are poor but they carry me somehow as far as others people good legs. I am glad that the horses and cattle and chickens are all doing well. Goodby to you all. Your loving father, Henry C. Ehlers. Excerpts from letters: 1. From Dr. Keith A. Murray, chairman, Dept. of History, Western Washington State College, March 10, 1966. "Your grandfather's claims are recorded in volume 3 of the mining records of Whatcom County in the County Auditor's Office. He had a considerable number of claims---the Lone Star was only one of them. They were all located during the month of October 1897, including Yellow Jacket, Copper Jack, three claims known as the "Hardscrabble" group, and the mustang claims, in addition to Lone Star. These were located along "Swamp Creek" near where it flowed into Willow Creek. So far so good." " The next problem was locating these two creeks. I called the Forest Supervisor for the Mount Baker district, since these two creek names do not appear on any modern map, and asked him what the modern names for these streams were. He was not familiar with them, for apparently your grandfather named these himself, and the geographic names have changed in the last seventy years. I presume these claims were in Whatcom County, since they were recorded here. The County Engineer has some old maps, but not that old, and we looked for a while, but couldn't find any reference to these streams." "By inference, I would assume they were either in the Red Mountain area, near where the successful Lone Jack mine did operate, or else they could have been near Whatcom Pass considerably to the east, near the present group of claims known as the Challenger claims. Either could have been possible, and I would also guess that it was more likely the latter, for there are quite a few claims still being worked in this area. Since there are 21 books of claims, however, I suspect the same outcroppings have been located a good many times. I didn't to through the books to find whether Henry Ehlers had done location work on these or not. You asked only where they were." 2. Murray, March 14, 1966. " I think I have the information you wanted." "The general location of the fork of Willow and Swamp Creeks is: 48 degrees 55'N, 121 degrees 40'W. The survey description is: SW 1/4 Sec.23, T4ON, R 9 E Willamette Meridian. Swamp Creek is a small stream that flows into the North Fork of the Nooksack from Winchester Mountain, almost exactly at the State highway shops at Shuksan. There is a forest road that climbs the mountain on its way to Twin Lakes, and the small stream that crosses the road about two miles northeast of Shuksan is probably Willow Creek." " There is a map in Percy Jeffcott's book (Cheechako and Sourdough) that shows the two creeks, and I checked with an old-time, retired forestry officer, who did not know exactly that the small stream was Willow Creek, but assumed that it was, since it was the only creek that flowed into Swamp Creek about where the Jeffcott map showed." 3. From Wayne S. Moen, Geologist, Division of Mines and Geology, Department of Conservation, Olympia, Wa., July 21, 1966. "It is interesting to hear from you, as I have been trying to locate the Lone Star mine for some time. One of your grandfather's partners was a Mr. Bloom of Lynden, whose daughter lived across the street from me in Bellingham. Together with this woman's son, I spent many weekends hunting for the mine, as she had been there as a child. The general area in which the mine is located is at the headwaters of Swamp Creek and it can be reached by following the Swamp Creek or Twin Lakes road 5 miles north from Shuksan. We discovered many old mine dumps but were unable to determine if any of them were the workings of the mine." "According to county records, Henry C. Ehlers and partners filed on the Lone Star claim on November 2, 1897. The claim was never patented and when work ceased, it reverted back to the government. The mine never did reach a production state, and the underground mine workings aren't too extensive, as there are no large mine dumps in the area." "Currently, I am working on a report titled, 'Mines and Mineral Resources of Whatcom County, Washington'.... 4. From Moen, August 4, 1966. "This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter of August 2. Any information you have on the Lone Star Mine will be appreciated. Other claims staked by your grandfather in the Mount Baker mining district are as follows: October 20, 1897 Yellow Jacket; October 23, 1897 Hardscrabble; November 3, 1897 Mustang; April 30, 1898 Fusion and Little Pony; June 23, 1898 Slollecom; March 25, 1912, Nooksack; August 23, 1907 Seagold, Dolphin, Big Four, Mustang, Steam Shovel." The claims that were staked in 1897 and 1898 were on Swamp Creek. Those staked in 1907 were 3 to 4 miles east of Glacier and the south side of the Nooksack River. No location is given for the Nooksack claim. I noticed that several claims were staked by a J.P. Ehlers, but I don't suppose he was related to your grandfather." ed. note: In fact, James Parker Ehlers, H.C.'s son, staked claims on January 1, 1909 on the following: Seagold, Amicita, Irish Duke, Mohawk, Mustang, Dolphin. He also claimed Quartz I and Quartz II with his friend, D.O. Friend. A subsequent letter by Moen says the claims were made earlier, January 28, 1908. 5. From a letter by Effie Ehlers Fowler, September 3, 1967. "We went to the mountains and stopped at the Maple Falls store and visited my friend. She called Jake Steiner and he came and we chatted a long while about old mining claims. He is interested in finding his father's old claims...Plans on joining us on Sunday...We have walked many hours today---nearly to Twin Lakes---and have about established where 1 1/2 miles down from the headwaters of Swamp Creek is. We have had lunch and resting and will take off on another walk & search shortly. The fire hazard signs & blockade on the roads were not lifted until...last night. Then we struck out up the Twin Lakes Road and parked at the Y. Now we are parked at the first series of switchbacks---Jake will find us." 6. From a letter by Effie Ehlers Fowler, September 23, 1967. "Ray and I paid a visit to Dayton Friend...We talked old times and how we enjoyed it all. He said He and Jim had been up to the Lone Star mine in the late 1920's and had staked the claim again. And that Jim had recorded it at the Bellingham Courthouse in both their names. But when Jim had gone up again someone had taken down their signs. Said for us to look for a piece of machinery Grandad had made to pull out the bad gases back in the mine. This machine is back in the mine. Said he thought maybe they walked a quarter of a mile to reach the mine from the road. Said he would be unable to find it now." " I phoned Chas. Stone...and I'm glad I did. He owns the Evergreen Mine and is very knowledgeable of the area. Said he was curious about the Lone Star but had never run across it. Remember where we had to park the cars at the first switch back because of the snow. Another indicator would be that the Tomahoi Lake trail takes off from that junction. As we stood there and looked across the valley and saw a creek coming down into Swamp Creek, I thought it might be Willow Creek. He seems to be thoroughly convinced that it is. He says that where we had the cars parked just to walk down to Swamp Creek and follow down Swamp Creek and keep a sharp look right for the remains of any old building. Also that he had found an old mine tunnel there. Said it would take a couple of hours to clear out around the tunnel it was so grown up. So I said it sounded like our old Hardscrabble Mine. He says he has found many old trails & old blazes on trees." 7. From a letter by Effie Ehlers Fowler, October 16, 1967, to Ernest Friend. "The family would like to set foot again on the Lone Star but so far my search has failed. No one knows for sure that a certain creek is Willow Creek up there. One can easily identify Swamp Creek. Can you tell me did the claims start on the edge of Swamp Creek and go up the side of the mountain on west side of the creek? If so it appears the road now goes through the upper half of all the Lone Star group. Before Uncle Jim passed away he said look for the Negra it's next to Lone Star." "What can you tell me about grandad and grandma giving some land to Julia Jacobs and building a little school house on it if she would teach the boys Fred, Jim & Johnnie. I know it burned when the big fire took grandad's house too." 8. From a reply letter from J.E. ( Ernest) Friend, October 21, 1967. "The fartherest up the River I was where the bridge crosses going up to the Lodge. Dayton has been to the Lone Star. He told me a slide come down and covered up the entrance. He ought to be able to tell you about where it is." 9. From a letter by Wayne S. Moen, Department of Natural Resources, September 13, 1968. "This is reply to your letter of September 10 regarding the Lone Star group of claims." "On the attached sketch I have drawn the claims as they might possibly have been staked, according to the recorded descriptions of the claims. However, in no case do any of the location notices provide detailed information that would establish the exact location of the claims. As for the Pony claim, I have not been able to find a location notice for it. On the sketch I have placed it next to the Little Pony claim." "It was nice that you had a chance to get up to Swamp Creek several times this summer. If you had a metal locator, maybe you could locate other objects in the area where you found the stove. I am sorry to hear that you did not find the flume as that is one of the best clues to the whereabouts of the Lone Star mine." 10. Included in the gold mine file is an undated (probably summer or fall of 1968) map with notes in what I believe is Effie's handwriting. It indicates where they parked, where items were found, where old trails were probably located, etc. 11. The file also contain a letter from Bob Southwell, James Parker Ehlers' son-in-law. He was married to Vera Ehlers. He claimed to have engineering experience and made a number of suggestions to Effie about where to find additional maps and assay information. He thought that if the amount of gold per ton was accurate that these claims would have been very valuable. 12. The file also includes a Bellingham Herald article, March 6, 1969 and letter from the Whatcom Museum of History and Art, regarding Effie's donation of mining maps and a copy of the Whatcom County census of 1885. 13. Letter from Effie Ehlers Fowler to the family, October 2, 1970. "I have talked with Wayne Moen---Division of Mines and Geology at Olympia. Among other things I asked about a talc mine. He said you go up the 'Keep Kool Trail' towards Lake Tomaloi and in a saddle towards this end of lake. No trees there abouts. Is remains of machinery and holes dug in where many years ago there was work done on several mine claims. Said one of these holes is a talc mine, with possibly some gold. The hike is about 4 miles. Last part is work. Trail drops down off Winchester Mountain into saddle." 14. Notes from Effie Ehlers Fowler, July 3, 1971. "We left Seattle for Lone Star Placer. We drove up the Twin Lakes road as far as we could and to stop on account of snow still on the road. Could not turn around so backed down to where we could turn around and there went down to 'Keep Kool' trail spot on the road & parked. We had sandwich and coffee. Then dressed in boots, etc and took pruning toots and walked up to a few feet beyond where we had placed 'Willow Creek' sign on a tree. Took off down to Lone Star Placer. Well we cut out a trail as such, hard going in places. Even walked across logs, little creeks, etc. Big patches of snow still there, but we found our markers of two years ago. The plastic orange survey tape was very faded where it was in the sun. The pieces of broken stone still piled on the fallen log. Also found a small coil of cable and put it up on the log. Willow Creek was full of snow the full length. Saturday nite was real cold. There were about 20 cars come up the Twin Lakes road then hiked about and went back down. Two cars parked with us and apparently spent the night at end of 'Keep Kool' trail. We went down on Lone Star Placer again Sunday and got back to the rig as the big rain hit. It was then afternoon and no one came so we packed up." 15. Letter from Wayne Moen, September 7, 1972. "I was up in the area several weeks ago and noticed the markers on the trees above Willow Creek. According to the U.S. Forest Service, they plan to build a parking lot in the area where you noticed the markers." "Regarding your inquiry about the tree bearing the marking USVABM3288. This is a bench mark that has an elevation of 3,288 feet above sea level. The letters stand for United States vertical angle bench mark. They were probably put on the tree in 1907 when the area around Mount Baker was being surveyed prior to publishing the first topographic map of the area." "The bottle that you found at the old log cabin must be of the late 1800's-early 1900's vintage. When you can devote more time in the area, no doubt you will come up with more interesting discoveries." 16. Two official Notice of relocation of Placer Claim forms, copy of the original H.C. Ehlers claim for the Lone Star Placer and a statement by Effie Ehlers Fowler of another visit to the site. Dated June 29, 1973. "We went to the Bellingham Court house and filed a relocation notice on the Lone Star Placer Claim. Grandad recorded this placer on Swamp Creek in 1898. It is recorded in Volume 4, page 318. He and friends had quite a sluicing operation on this claim for years. Their camp was located where Willow and Swamp Creek come together. I have go together all the information I could find on this one and many others of Grandad's in the immediate area." "After completing the business at the Court House we went up the mountain. The Forestry men have put in some mileposts. About half way or a little better between 3 mile and 4 mile post on right side of road we pulled off and made camp. This road is called Twin Lakes Road. Its a rough one way mountain road with turnouts to pass. So we parked beside the road, walked up The road just past an old rock slide area and can look down in the ravine and see Willow Creek flowing into Swamp Creek. Look for Willow Creek sign pointing toward Willow Creek. The sign is nailed to a tree. Look for rocks piled up to show where we take off to go down to claim. Very rough going trail. Also another pile of rocks up the road indicating another place we go down. Its only a few feet beyond 4 mile marker." " We had compass and 100 feet rope,etc., etc and marked off 330 feet from Swamp Creek to indicate the western side line and put a yellow plastic marker on a tree and carved LS on the tree." "We then located a big tree for southwest corner. We nailed yellow plastic round markers on four sides of this tree and placed legal paper in a (Geratol) bottle at base of tree with a yellow plastic showing where it is buried." "This is a meaningful project for the family and must show assessment work for each year, such as trails, etc., etc. or pay $100 per year I think it is. Boundary lines have to be cut out to show property lines and there is debris in creek to remove to put Swamp Creek back in old channel. And the rest of the boundary markers to put up. A sluice box should be set up to recover gold, and be sure to have your gold pan handy." "Would be nice to have a group go up soon and really get things going." 17. Notes by Effie Ehlers Fowler with handwritten map of Lone Star Placer area, September 24, 1973. Proof of Labor on Mining Claim filed for January 1, 1973 to September 24, 1973. "Henry (and Mac) Ray and I went up to the Lone Star Placer this past weekend to work on the line. We go down to the property on Swamp Creek by a rough trail just a few feet beyond the 4 mile marker. You will notice our sign on a tree pointing down to Willow Creek right there, too. We now have the lines pretty will established as illustrated (map shown)." "We could not get across the creek to mark NE corner because of boulders and steep banks and swift water as well as brush. But is was interesting to run across an old camp site not far from the upper line. I found old stove lid and saw but did not bother to search further for relics at this time. So we decided to go down and put in S.E. marker. I was pleased to see that our yellow plastic coffee lids nailed to the tree. One nailed above the other could be seen from way up on the road. So there is still more to be done. We went to Court House and recorded proof of Labor #1147310 for 1973." 18. Note by Effie Ehlers Fowler (undated) with handwritten map of the Lone Star. "Lone Star 1920---Jim Ehlers and Dayton Friend blast setoff to cover entrance by Grandad. Assayed $10 per ton." 19. Notes by Effie Ehlers Fowler, August 14, 1974 and a Proof of Labor on Mining claim for January 1, 1974 to September 1, 1974. "Ray and I sent up to Lynden and spent the night with Henry. We got up early the morning of the 15th and ready to head for the hills...Henry drove his truck and took the lead and we arrived at our regular parking spot on the Twin Lakes road. It was a great surprise to see spots of snow so late in the year...headed over for the Placer claim. We were pleased to find our markers from previous trips still in place. By crawling across on logs we got across Swamp Creek to start our work. Henry and Ray sighted the line by compass and I went ahead with the one hundred foot rope. Rather steep and rough mountain side. Goat Mountain is well named. But we made a well marked easterly side of the Lone Star Placer. Made our way back to north westerly corner by wading Swamp Creek. And it was ice cold, as snow still melting into it. We got back up the Twin Lakes road by making our way up through rough going where the Forestry Department had surveyed a parking place but the funds have been withdrawn to make it at this time. If it is made it will be a blessing as we could park and walk down a short distance to upper end of Lone Star. Also the old trail is very close. We were very weary and happy...Henry left for home and Mac at six o'clock...The next day we went down to Swamp Creek and panned some but the water was extremely cold as snow was only a few feet away. We stayed the night, which was beautiful, quiet and such clean air" EDITOR'S NOTE. THIS WAS THE LAST RECORD I COULD FIND OF EFFIE'S EFFORTS TO LOCATE THE LONE STAR AND OTHER MINING CLAIMS. HER PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH DECLINED AS THE YEARS WENT ON. HER EFFORTS WITH THE REST OF THE FAMILY HISTORY PROJECT ALSO SEEMED TO HAVE SLOWED DRAMATICALLY AT THIS POINT. Story written by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated. "This is a story about a very small lake which was located on the west end of Grandad and Grandma's homestead." "Grandad, Henry C. Ehlers, had named the immediate area around there 'Slollicom'. So therefore, the lake was 'Lake Slollicom'. There were two streams from this one lake, one much larger than the other. The larger flowed east. Grandad made a small log pier on the southeast end of this lake and to it tied up a very shallow cedar dugout canoe he had made. Many a fish was pulled into this boat from the center of the lake. Laura remembers she and Jim as children paddling about in the little canoe. I remember my Dad, Fred Ehlers, taking us children fishing on the lake. As my brothers, Henry and Dick, were big enough they went fishing there alone. We very cautious and paid attention to where we walked as it was so marshy. As children we picked cranberries at the east end of the lake." "Henry, Dick and cousin Bill went hunting and shot many a duck on this lake. And many a fine muskrat was caught in a trap and pelts sold to Sears Roebuck." "I remember someone planted catfish in the lake and my Dad was disappointed." "The creeks around the lake have been dug deeper and deeper to drain the lake to reclaim the marshland surrounding the lake until today it is but a pond." "Lake Slollicom was eventually named 'Pangborn Lake' and the are is known as Crearbrook." "p.s. The name of the little boat was 'Slollicom Mary'." Story written by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated. "One time I was up to Grandad's farm across from Swedish Lutheran Church. I was with him at the barn. Everything at the barn was handmade that I recall. Our barn at home had mill sawed lumber. Grandad's barn had floors and gutters and stanchions,etc all made of hand hewn timber of various sizes. Everything as clean as could be. When it came time for the cows to come, he took down an old cow horn he had fashioned into a horn to blow into to call the cows. Most of them came. I went out to search for the tardy ones. The pasture was spooky to me. It had been burned off at one time and many old black snags and stumps and logs were all about. The cow paths were very narrow & twisty. I was glad to get back to Grandad. But I'll never forget those beautiful fox glove plants that grew out there in that pasture amidst those black stumps." Story written by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated. "This is a true story. It took place in the very early 1900's. I suppose around 1910. Grandad had considerable acreage and much of it he planted into fruit trees. He had many different kinds of apples. He built a packing shed out of split cedar where Tobe Higginson's little chicken house now stands. Grandad ordered a boxcar placed on the siding down at Clearbrook train station as harvest time approached. He hired one of the Jacob girls to come help sort and pack the beautiful apples. This one shipment was destined for New York. And wouldn't you know it, one the way to New York there was a washout or slide and the train was detained for so long on a siding that all those delicious apples of Grandad's spoiled. And to make matters worse he had to pay all the charges." Story written by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated. "This little true story took place when Grandad and Grandma lived in their home on Pangborn Road." "Dayton Friend came down to visit and that worked out fine for Grandad as he needed help on something he had to do. So they went out to the shop and got the forge going good. Little Dayton worked the bellow and held tools, etc. while Grandad fashioned himself a little pair of pliers. When everything was done to Grandad's satisfaction, he sat down in a chair. He instructed Dayton to stand behind the chair and to get ahold of Grandad's forehead and hold on tight as he was going to pull a troublesome old tooth. Which he proceeded to do much to the surprise of little Dayton Friend." Story written by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated. "This is a true story. It took place when Grandad and Grandma lived in the their place on Pangborn Road. Dayton Friend visited often and always wanted to help Grandad. Grandad taught him many things such as how to tell iron from steel. This one day Grandad told Dayton to go out in the shed and pick out a small piece of steel and heat it up red hot on the forge. Little Dayton got that piece of steel red hot and called to Grandad. Grandad came out, picked up the piece of hot steel with a pair of prongs. He raised up his left hand and drew the hot steel across a badly

Note Number

Note Text

H.C. came in NY in 1867 at about 14 years old. In 1870 he moved to Sacramento (1870-80) with a visit to Whatcom county in 1873 when
he was 20. He went to NY in 1911 at the age of 59. He went to Alabama at age 66. He had many, many gold claims (at least 10), not 3. Other family members, including James Parker Ehlers, had gold claims in the same area. I have folders for each claim with the name(s) of those who filed and renewed the claims between 1897-1912. Nancy Dobbs was born in Tennessee, (January 12, 1857). She married HC on August 16, 1885. -Wayne Ehlers

I have a Physics book written by Henry (Pub 1911). Having taken 3 Sem of physics, God knows how many related engineering courses, and having continued reading a fair amount of physics, I can tell you with some limited authority that the book is incredible. Consider...He wrote this while on an isolated Farm doing back-breaking labor every day. The book absolutely astounds me. The man had to have one of the finest minds of the time. I only wish that I'd a ended up with more of it

[Ehlers Family History.FBK.FBK.FBK.FBK.FTW]

H.C. Ehlers, among a number of other interests, was a gold miner in the Mt. Baker area in Whatcom County. There are records of many gold claims and proof of working those claims. The government required a legal statement of work done in order to retain rights to the claim(s). The records of claims began in 1897 and ended with proof of labor in about 1912. There never were any major discoveries on any of his claims but he never lost interest or hope that he would eventually "hit pay dirt". This interest in mining was held by others in the family, particularly James Parker Ehlers, one of his sons. James also had several claim registered as well offer of proof that labor had been performed. Another son, Fred B., was a partner on at least two claims (Granite and North Star). H.C.'s brother-in-law, John K. Jacobs and Jacobs' son, Fredrick, also were partners on the Hard Scrabble claims. Alex Campbell, Laura Ehlers' first husband, had claims on Lady of the Lake (2-5). Effie Ehlers Fowler and her husband (Ray) purchased a number of shares in various gold mining efforts in the State of Washington. When they died their estate had a large number of shares of companies that were no longer in business. They were primarily from the 1930's but even a few were purchased in the 1970's. Effie in the middle 1960's until nearly 1980 made efforts to find the location of H.C.'s major claim, The Lone Star mine. I will include copies and/or excerpts of correspondence.

In addition to the information from the letters I will cite, a metal file box stored with the family photographs contains locations of many mining claims, filing of those claims, proof of labor records, books and maps about the mines found in the Mt. Baker area. There are newspaper accounts of the mining activities for 1897 and 1898. The 1897 articles are from Seattle Daily Times. The 1898 stories are from the New Whatcom Reveille. Similar descriptions are found in Leonard Fowler's, Whatcom County the Klondike of Washington (probably 1898). In addition, there are more modern accounts in articles from the 1960's and 1970's found with the other files.

The stories, documents, letters, etc. cited below are to be found in the file labeled Gold Mine in with all of the other family history materials.

While more actual information as to the location of the Lone Star can be found in the metal box, a simple statement included in the Washington Geological Survey, annual report, V.1, 1901, pt 2 1902, page 45, best summarizes it. "Lone Star. ---These claims are located on Swamp Creek. During the summer of 1901 two tunnels were driven on the property, one of 68 feet, and another of 20 feet. The ore body is a white quartz vein about 25 feet wide, and parallel with it is a grey quartz vein whose exact width has not been determined. The gold values occur as tellurides and sulphides."

From Whatcom County. The Klondike, The Blade and the New Whatcom Reveille. October 9, 1897.
"Henry Ehlers of Clearbrook says his find is well upon the mts. on the west side of Swamp Creek & is located on a 4 ft. ledge."

This an original letter sent by H.C. in 1897 from the Lone Star. "Dear Children, about a week ago I got your letter & I was very glad to learn that you got all over the measles well & I hope that now you will keep healthy and happy all summer. It is spring here now in the valleys which seems strange when one comes from the snowy mountains. We were way up on the top of the mountains and stayed two nights up there. The snow was very deep up there yet and it made us allmost blind to go over the snow when the sun shone on it. Mr. Plagin killed one ground hog and we eat it. There are plenty ground hogs and considerable grouse but both of them are very hard to kill. We worked a long time to turn the Lone Star Creek out of its bed and then we worked two days charting out for a tunnell. Tomorrow we will return to our camp on Willow Creek and go to work on the Lone Star again. Since I wrote the last word Mr. Plagin called me out and took me to a man that wanted me to set a spot cash price on the Lone Star. He wants to go out in the morning with us, and look at the ledge. I think we will be able to sell it. Fredy, I would like to have you or any of you with me here, but you will have to wait till your Uncle Madge (ed. note M.J. Morris?) comes down. Then he and your mama can decide if you may come to me with some of the boys coming up. We have killed about 10 grouse and eaten them with dumplings, and some fried. The butter is about the best grub we can get here in the mountains. I get very tired climbing up the mountain. My legs are poor but they carry me somehow as far as others people good legs. I am glad that the horses and cattle and chickens are all doing well. Goodby to you all. Your loving father, Henry C. Ehlers.

Excerpts from letters:

1. From Dr. Keith A. Murray, chairman, Dept. of History, Western Washington State College, March 10, 1966.
"Your grandfather's claims are recorded in volume 3 of the mining records of Whatcom County in the County Auditor's Office. He had a considerable number of claims---the Lone Star was only one of them. They were all located during the month of October 1897, including Yellow Jacket, Copper Jack, three claims known as the "Hardscrabble" group, and the mustang claims, in addition to Lone Star. These were located along "Swamp Creek" near where it flowed into Willow Creek. So far so good."

" The next problem was locating these two creeks. I called the Forest Supervisor for the Mount Baker district, since these two creek names do not appear on any modern map, and asked him what the modern names for these streams were. He was not familiar with them, for apparently your grandfather named these himself, and the geographic names have changed in the last seventy years. I presume these claims were in Whatcom County, since they were recorded here. The County Engineer has some old maps, but not that old, and we looked for a while, but couldn't find any reference to these streams."

"By inference, I would assume they were either in the Red Mountain area, near where the successful Lone Jack mine did operate, or else they could have been near Whatcom Pass considerably to the east, near the present group of claims known as the Challenger claims. Either could have been possible, and I would also guess that it was more likely the latter, for there are quite a few claims still being worked in this area. Since there are 21 books of claims, however, I suspect the same outcroppings have been located a good many times. I didn't to through the books to find whether Henry Ehlers had done location work on these or not. You asked only where they were."

2. Murray, March 14, 1966.

" I think I have the information you wanted."

"The general location of the fork of Willow and Swamp Creeks is: 48 degrees 55'N, 121 degrees 40'W. The survey description is: SW 1/4 Sec.23, T4ON, R 9 E Willamette Meridian. Swamp Creek is a small stream that flows into the North Fork of the Nooksack from Winchester Mountain, almost exactly at the State highway shops at Shuksan. There is a forest road that climbs the mountain on its way to Twin Lakes, and the small stream that crosses the road about two miles northeast of Shuksan is probably Willow Creek."

" There is a map in Percy Jeffcott's book (Cheechako and Sourdough) that shows the two creeks, and I checked with an old-time, retired forestry officer, who did not know exactly that the small stream was Willow Creek, but assumed that it was, since it was the only creek that flowed into Swamp Creek about where the Jeffcott map showed."

3. From Wayne S. Moen, Geologist, Division of Mines and Geology, Department of Conservation, Olympia, Wa., July 21, 1966.

"It is interesting to hear from you, as I have been trying to locate the Lone Star mine for some time.
One of your grandfather's partners was a Mr. Bloom of Lynden, whose daughter lived across the street from me in Bellingham. Together with this woman's son, I spent many weekends hunting for the mine, as she had been there as a child. The general area in which the mine is located is at the headwaters of Swamp Creek and it can be reached by following the Swamp Creek or Twin Lakes road 5 miles north from Shuksan. We discovered many old mine dumps but were unable to determine if any of them were the workings of the mine."

"According to county records, Henry C. Ehlers and partners filed on the Lone Star claim on November 2, 1897. The claim was never patented and when work ceased, it reverted back to the government. The mine never did reach a production state, and the underground mine workings aren't too extensive, as there are no large mine dumps in the area."

"Currently, I am working on a report titled, 'Mines and Mineral Resources of Whatcom County, Washington'....

4. From Moen, August 4, 1966.

"This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter of August 2. Any information you have on the Lone Star Mine will be appreciated. Other claims staked by your grandfather in the Mount Baker mining district are as follows: October 20, 1897 Yellow Jacket; October 23, 1897 Hardscrabble; November 3, 1897 Mustang; April 30, 1898 Fusion and Little Pony; June 23, 1898 Slollecom; March 25, 1912, Nooksack; August 23, 1907 Seagold, Dolphin, Big Four, Mustang, Steam Shovel."

The claims that were staked in 1897 and 1898 were on Swamp Creek. Those staked in 1907 were 3 to 4 miles east of Glacier and the south side of the Nooksack River. No location is given for the Nooksack claim. I noticed that several claims were staked by a J.P. Ehlers, but I don't suppose he was related to your grandfather."

ed. note: In fact, James Parker Ehlers, H.C.'s son, staked claims on January 1, 1909 on the following:
Seagold, Amicita, Irish Duke, Mohawk, Mustang, Dolphin. He also claimed Quartz I and Quartz II with his friend, D.O. Friend. A subsequent letter by Moen says the claims were made earlier, January 28, 1908.

5. From a letter by Effie Ehlers Fowler, September 3, 1967.

"We went to the mountains and stopped at the Maple Falls store and visited my friend. She called Jake Steiner and he came and we chatted a long while about old mining claims. He is interested in finding his father's old claims...Plans on joining us on Sunday...We have walked many hours today---nearly to Twin Lakes---and have about established where 1 1/2 miles down from the headwaters of Swamp Creek is. We have had lunch and resting and will take off on another walk & search shortly. The fire hazard signs & blockade on the roads were not lifted until...last night. Then we struck out up the Twin Lakes Road and parked at the Y. Now we are parked at the first series of switchbacks---Jake will find us."

6. From a letter by Effie Ehlers Fowler, September 23, 1967.

"Ray and I paid a visit to Dayton Friend...We talked old times and how we enjoyed it all. He said He and Jim had been up to the Lone Star mine in the late 1920's and had staked the claim again. And that Jim had recorded it at the Bellingham Courthouse in both their names. But when Jim had gone up again someone had taken down their signs. Said for us to look for a piece of machinery Grandad had made to pull out the bad gases back in the mine. This machine is back in the mine. Said he thought maybe they walked a quarter of a mile to reach the mine from the road. Said he would be unable to find it now."

" I phoned Chas. Stone...and I'm glad I did. He owns the Evergreen Mine and is very knowledgeable of the area. Said he was curious about the Lone Star but had never run across it. Remember where we had to park the cars at the first switch back because of the snow. Another indicator would be that the Tomahoi Lake trail takes off from that junction. As we stood there and looked across the valley and saw a creek coming down into Swamp Creek, I thought it might be Willow Creek. He seems to be thoroughly convinced that it is. He says that where we had the cars parked just to walk down to Swamp Creek and follow down Swamp Creek and keep a sharp look right for the remains of any old building. Also that he had found an old mine tunnel there. Said it would take a couple of hours to clear out around the tunnel it was so grown up. So I said it sounded like our old Hardscrabble Mine. He says he has found many old trails & old blazes on trees."

7. From a letter by Effie Ehlers Fowler, October 16, 1967, to Ernest Friend.

"The family would like to set foot again on the Lone Star but so far my search has failed. No one knows for sure that a certain creek is Willow Creek up there. One can easily identify Swamp Creek. Can you tell me did the claims start on the edge of Swamp Creek and go up the side of the mountain on west side of the creek? If so it appears the road now goes through the upper half of all the Lone Star group. Before Uncle Jim passed away he said look for the Negra it's next to Lone Star."

"What can you tell me about grandad and grandma giving some land to Julia Jacobs and building a little school house on it if she would teach the boys Fred, Jim & Johnnie. I know it burned when the big fire took grandad's house too."

8. From a reply letter from J.E. ( Ernest) Friend, October 21, 1967.

"The fartherest up the River I was where the bridge crosses going up to the Lodge. Dayton has been to the Lone Star. He told me a slide come down and covered up the entrance. He ought to be able to tell you about where it is."

9. From a letter by Wayne S. Moen, Department of Natural Resources, September 13, 1968.

"This is reply to your letter of September 10 regarding the Lone Star group of claims."

"On the attached sketch I have drawn the claims as they might possibly have been staked, according to the recorded descriptions of the claims. However, in no case do any of the location notices provide detailed information that would establish the exact location of the claims. As for the Pony claim, I have not been able to find a location notice for it. On the sketch I have placed it next to the Little Pony claim."

"It was nice that you had a chance to get up to Swamp Creek several times this summer. If you had a metal locator, maybe you could locate other objects in the area where you found the stove. I am sorry to hear that you did not find the flume as that is one of the best clues to the whereabouts of the Lone Star mine."

10. Included in the gold mine file is an undated (probably summer or fall of 1968) map with notes in what I believe is Effie's handwriting. It indicates where they parked, where items were found, where old trails were probably located, etc.

11. The file also contain a letter from Bob Southwell, James Parker Ehlers' son-in-law. He was married to Vera Ehlers. He claimed to have engineering experience and made a number of suggestions to Effie about where to find additional maps and assay information. He thought that if the amount of gold per ton was accurate that these claims would have been very valuable.

12. The file also includes a Bellingham Herald article, March 6, 1969 and letter from the Whatcom Museum of History and Art, regarding Effie's donation of mining maps and a copy of the Whatcom County census of 1885.

13. Letter from Effie Ehlers Fowler to the family, October 2, 1970.

"I have talked with Wayne Moen---Division of Mines and Geology at Olympia. Among other things I asked about a talc mine. He said you go up the 'Keep Kool Trail' towards Lake Tomaloi and in a saddle towards this end of lake. No trees there abouts. Is remains of machinery and holes dug in where many years ago there was work done on several mine claims. Said one of these holes is a talc mine, with possibly some gold. The hike is about 4 miles. Last part is work. Trail drops down off Winchester Mountain into saddle."

14. Notes from Effie Ehlers Fowler, July 3, 1971.

"We left Seattle for Lone Star Placer. We drove up the Twin Lakes road as far as we could and to stop on account of snow still on the road. Could not turn around so backed down to where we could turn around and there went down to 'Keep Kool' trail spot on the road & parked. We had sandwich and coffee. Then dressed in boots, etc and took pruning toots and walked up to a few feet beyond where we had placed 'Willow Creek' sign on a tree. Took off down to Lone Star Placer. Well we cut out a trail as such, hard going in places. Even walked across logs, little creeks, etc. Big patches of snow still there, but we found our markers of two years ago. The plastic orange survey tape was very faded where it was in the sun. The pieces of broken stone still piled on the fallen log. Also found a small coil of cable and put it up on the log. Willow Creek was full of snow the full length. Saturday nite was real cold. There were about 20 cars come up the Twin Lakes road then hiked about and went back down. Two cars parked with us and apparently spent the night at end of 'Keep Kool' trail. We went down on Lone Star Placer again Sunday and got back to the rig as the big rain hit. It was then afternoon and no one came so we packed up."

15. Letter from Wayne Moen, September 7, 1972.

"I was up in the area several weeks ago and noticed the markers on the trees above Willow Creek. According to the U.S. Forest Service, they plan to build a parking lot in the area where you noticed the markers."

"Regarding your inquiry about the tree bearing the marking USVABM3288. This is a bench mark that has an elevation of 3,288 feet above sea level. The letters stand for United States vertical angle bench mark. They were probably put on the tree in 1907 when the area around Mount Baker was being surveyed prior to publishing the first topographic map of the area."

"The bottle that you found at the old log cabin must be of the late 1800's-early 1900's vintage. When you can devote more time in the area, no doubt you will come up with more interesting discoveries."

16. Two official Notice of relocation of Placer Claim forms, copy of the original H.C. Ehlers claim for the Lone Star Placer and a statement by Effie Ehlers Fowler of another visit to the site. Dated June 29, 1973.

"We went to the Bellingham Court house and filed a relocation notice on the Lone Star Placer Claim. Grandad recorded this placer on Swamp Creek in 1898. It is recorded in Volume 4, page 318. He and friends had quite a sluicing operation on this claim for years. Their camp was located where Willow and Swamp Creek come together. I have go together all the information I could find on this one and many others of Grandad's in the immediate area."

"After completing the business at the Court House we went up the mountain. The Forestry men have put in some mileposts. About half way or a little better between 3 mile and 4 mile post on right side of road we pulled off and made camp. This road is called Twin Lakes Road. Its a rough one way mountain road with turnouts to pass. So we parked beside the road, walked up The road just past an old rock slide area and can look down in the ravine and see Willow Creek flowing into Swamp Creek. Look for Willow Creek sign pointing toward Willow Creek. The sign is nailed to a tree. Look for rocks piled up to show where we take off to go down to claim. Very rough going trail. Also another pile of rocks up the road indicating another place we go down. Its only a few feet beyond 4 mile marker."

" We had compass and 100 feet rope,etc., etc and marked off 330 feet from Swamp Creek to indicate the western side line and put a yellow plastic marker on a tree and carved LS on the tree."

"We then located a big tree for southwest corner. We nailed yellow plastic round markers on four sides of this tree and placed legal paper in a (Geratol) bottle at base of tree with a yellow plastic showing where it is buried."

"This is a meaningful project for the family and must show assessment work for each year, such as trails, etc., etc. or pay $100 per year I think it is. Boundary lines have to be cut out to show property lines and there is debris in creek to remove to put Swamp Creek back in old channel. And the rest of the boundary markers to put up. A sluice box should be set up to recover gold, and be sure to have your gold pan handy."

"Would be nice to have a group go up soon and really get things going."

17. Notes by Effie Ehlers Fowler with handwritten map of Lone Star Placer area, September 24, 1973.
Proof of Labor on Mining Claim filed for January 1, 1973 to September 24, 1973.

"Henry (and Mac) Ray and I went up to the Lone Star Placer this past weekend to work on the line. We go down to the property on Swamp Creek by a rough trail just a few feet beyond the 4 mile marker. You will notice our sign on a tree pointing down to Willow Creek right there, too. We now have the lines pretty will established as illustrated (map shown)."

"We could not get across the creek to mark NE corner because of boulders and steep banks and swift water as well as brush. But is was interesting to run across an old camp site not far from the upper line. I found old stove lid and saw but did not bother to search further for relics at this time. So we decided to go down and put in S.E. marker. I was pleased to see that our yellow plastic coffee lids nailed to the tree. One nailed above the other could be seen from way up on the road. So there is still more to be done. We went to Court House and recorded proof of Labor #1147310 for 1973."

18. Note by Effie Ehlers Fowler (undated) with handwritten map of the Lone Star.

"Lone Star 1920---Jim Ehlers and Dayton Friend blast setoff to cover entrance by Grandad. Assayed $10 per ton."

19. Notes by Effie Ehlers Fowler, August 14, 1974 and a Proof of Labor on Mining claim for January 1, 1974 to September 1, 1974.

"Ray and I sent up to Lynden and spent the night with Henry. We got up early the morning of the 15th and ready to head for the hills...Henry drove his truck and took the lead and we arrived at our regular parking spot on the Twin Lakes road. It was a great surprise to see spots of snow so late in the year...headed over for the Placer claim. We were pleased to find our markers from previous trips still in place. By crawling across on logs we got across Swamp Creek to start our work. Henry and Ray sighted the line by compass and I went ahead with the one hundred foot rope. Rather steep and rough mountain side. Goat Mountain is well named. But we made a well marked easterly side of the Lone Star Placer. Made our way back to north westerly corner by wading Swamp Creek. And it was ice cold, as snow still melting into it. We got back up the Twin Lakes road by making our way up through rough going where the Forestry Department had surveyed a parking place but the funds have been withdrawn to make it at this time. If it is made it will be a blessing as we could park and walk down a short distance to upper end of Lone Star. Also the old trail is very close. We were very weary and happy...Henry left for home and Mac at six o'clock...The next day we went down to Swamp Creek and panned some but the water was extremely cold as snow was only a few feet away. We stayed the night, which was beautiful, quiet and such clean air"

EDITOR'S NOTE. THIS WAS THE LAST RECORD I COULD FIND OF EFFIE'S EFFORTS TO LOCATE THE LONE STAR AND OTHER MINING CLAIMS. HER PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH DECLINED AS THE YEARS WENT ON. HER EFFORTS WITH THE REST OF THE FAMILY HISTORY PROJECT ALSO SEEMED TO HAVE SLOWED DRAMATICALLY AT THIS POINT.

Story written by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated.

"This is a story about a very small lake which was located on the west end of Grandad and Grandma's homestead."

"Grandad, Henry C. Ehlers, had named the immediate area around there 'Slollicom'. So therefore, the lake was 'Lake Slollicom'. There were two streams from this one lake, one much larger than the other. The larger flowed east. Grandad made a small log pier on the southeast end of this lake and to it tied up a very shallow cedar dugout canoe he had made. Many a fish was pulled into this boat from the center of the lake. Laura remembers she and Jim as children paddling about in the little canoe. I remember my Dad, Fred Ehlers, taking us children fishing on the lake. As my brothers, Henry and Dick, were big enough they went fishing there alone. We very cautious and paid attention to where we walked as it was so marshy. As children we picked cranberries at the east end of the lake."

"Henry, Dick and cousin Bill went hunting and shot many a duck on this lake. And many a fine muskrat was caught in a trap and pelts sold to Sears Roebuck."

"I remember someone planted catfish in the lake and my Dad was disappointed."

"The creeks around the lake have been dug deeper and deeper to drain the lake to reclaim the marshland surrounding the lake until today it is but a pond."

"Lake Slollicom was eventually named 'Pangborn Lake' and the are is known as Crearbrook."

"p.s. The name of the little boat was 'Slollicom Mary'."

Story written by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated.

"One time I was up to Grandad's farm across from Swedish Lutheran Church. I was with him at the barn. Everything at the barn was handmade that I recall. Our barn at home had mill sawed lumber. Grandad's barn had floors and gutters and stanchions,etc all made of hand hewn timber of various sizes. Everything as clean as could be. When it came time for the cows to come, he took down an old cow horn he had fashioned into a horn to blow into to call the cows. Most of them came. I went out to search for the tardy ones. The pasture was spooky to me. It had been burned off at one time and many old black snags and stumps and logs were all about. The cow paths were very narrow & twisty. I was glad to get back to Grandad. But I'll never forget those beautiful fox glove plants that grew out there in that pasture amidst those black stumps."

Story written by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated.

"This is a true story. It took place in the very early 1900's. I suppose around 1910. Grandad had considerable acreage and much of it he planted into fruit trees. He had many different kinds of apples. He built a packing shed out of split cedar where Tobe Higginson's little chicken house now stands. Grandad ordered a boxcar placed on the siding down at Clearbrook train station as harvest time approached. He hired one of the Jacob girls to come help sort and pack the beautiful apples. This one shipment was destined for New York. And wouldn't you know it, one the way to New York there was a washout or slide and the train was detained for so long on a siding that all those delicious apples of Grandad's spoiled. And to make matters worse he had to pay all the charges."

Story written by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated.

"This little true story took place when Grandad and Grandma lived in their home on Pangborn Road."

"Dayton Friend came down to visit and that worked out fine for Grandad as he needed help on something he had to do. So they went out to the shop and got the forge going good. Little Dayton worked the bellow and held tools, etc. while Grandad fashioned himself a little pair of pliers. When everything was done to Grandad's satisfaction, he sat down in a chair. He instructed Dayton to stand behind the chair and to get ahold of Grandad's forehead and hold on tight as he was going to pull a troublesome old tooth. Which he proceeded to do much to the surprise of little Dayton Friend."

Story written by Effie Ehlers Fowler, undated.

"This is a true story. It took place when Grandad and Grandma lived in the their place on Pangborn Road. Dayton Friend visited often and always wanted to help Grandad. Grandad taught him many things such as how to tell iron from steel. This one day Grandad told Dayton to go out in the shed and pick out a small piece of steel and heat it up red hot on the forge. Little Dayton got that piece of steel red hot and called to Grandad. Grandad came out, picked up the piece of hot steel with a pair of prongs. He raised up his left hand and drew the hot steel across a badly

Partnerships:

Nancy Arminda Dobbs

Son:	James Parker Ehlers	Born: 15 Oct 1887
Daughter:	Laura Ehlers	Born: 30 Sep 1891
Son:	Frederick Bernard Ehlers	Born: 12 May 1886
Son:	John C. Ehlers	Born: 15 Oct 1887
Son:	John Christopher Ehlers	Born: 7 Apr 1889