Laurant Ressouches was born March 25, 1820 in France, and lived 88 exciting years. He brought his family from France to the United States of America, arriving in New York city in 1863. There he worked at his trade of machinist and also engaged in blacksmithing and making ore crushers for use in the new gold discoveries in Colorado.
Childen included:
The first decade of formal mining activity in the Silverton area ~~ from 1874-1884 ~~ showed three members of the Ressouches family identified in the newspapers of the period:
Louis, Theodore, and their mother, Mrs. Laurant (Lawrence) Ressouches.
Mrs. Ressouches was first identified (in a geneaology search) in her survival of an ordeal of being stranded on Cunningham Pass in November, 1879, possibly on her first entry into Silverton. The ordeal was of such significance that it was recalled in a later historical article on the early years of the community. Mrs. Ressouches apparently went on to become a businesswoman in Silverton, having a building erected in the business section of Silverton and being identified in 1883 as the operator of the French Hotel.
When the volunteer firemen organized to fight the menace of fire in the struggling young town, Louis was one of the first to join. He was a charter member of Volunteer Firemen's Association, hook and ladder company No. 2 at 26th and Curtis Streets, formed in 1873. Louis was 31, and served with the organization until it passed out of existence in 1883, the year he married, at age 41.
Rosalie (Rosa) Pernot and Louis Ressouces received a marriage license on August 6, 1883 in Denver, the county of Araphahoe, Colorado. They were married on August 7, 1883 by Rev. F. Bander, Rector of St. Elize.
Louis loved the mountains and knew them well. It wasn't surprising that he was in a party which searched for avalance victims in February 1879.
He located several mining claims in Arastra Gulch, which was the site of the oldest mining claim and some of the first mineral production in San Juan County.
Rosalie "Rosa" and Louis Ressouches had four children:
Clara Louise, born September 10, 1885
Julia, born July 4, 1886
Olive, born September 10, 1887
Marie (date unknown.)
A pioneer prospector in Colorado's gold and silver camps, Louis spent the greater part of his life as a prospector in Colorado's gold and silver camps. A fortune passed through his hands and went back into the ground in the search for more treasure. He and his brother gained wide renown in the Silverton district as "The French Boys." The two mines which they located in this district were sold for $400,000 ~~ but the money went back into more prospecting.
At one time Louis owned a ranch in what was Washingotn Park (in 1932.) After holding the property for three years he decided it was "too far from town" and sold his holdings.
He lived in Silverton for a number of years and was a member of the Catholic Church.
La Plata Miner, Siverton Colorado, June 4, 1879, page 4, "The King Solomon Lode Messrs. Ressouches and Anderson have made a rich strike in the King Solomon lode, which is located on King Solomon mountain. They have been at work on the property for the past three years and have a crosscut tunnel 200 feet in length as well as three drifts on the vein.
"About three weeks ago they struck ten inches of solid galena and gray copper, which they think will run high in silver. They deserve their good fortune for the perseverance and industry with which they have worked to acquire it."
In a genealogical search, Theodore Ressouches is found mining in the Poughkeepsie Gulch area of San Juan County in 1880, but is also identified as a locator of some of the claims in Arastra Gulch. Louis was associated in some unidentified capacity with the King Solomon Tunnel during the early 1880's.
La Plata Miner, Siverton Colorado, May 8, 1880, page 4, "Theo. Ressouches came down from Poughkeepsie on Sunday last to rusticate for a time." (Theosopholus was a brother of Louis Ressouches and Dorothy Ellen Gremaux's uncle.)
La Plata Miner, Siverton Colorado, May 22, 1880, page 4, "The King Solomon Mountain Tunnel is now in 230 feet, and the owners, Messrs. Ressouches Bros. and Anderson, expect to tap the vein within the next fourteen feet. The lode is known as the King Solomon and shows fourteen inches of galena and gray copper in the upper level which will run 123 ounces to the ton."
La Plata Miner, Siverton Colorado, July 20, 1882, page 3, "THE FRENCH BOYS S.M. CO. In giving a description of the properties owned by the French Boys S.M. Co., we will try to state nothing but facts and give only information of the most reliable character. This company was formed and organized in New York city last winter by Mr. Victor Vincent, an engineer of considerable reputation and also a talented artist, who, after a stay of three years in the San Juan country, acquired considerable experience and knowledge about our mines.
"The following named mines, which are being worked by the F.B.S.M. Co., and as a group, form one of the finest properties, and worth the handling of any company. They are all situated on King Solomon mountain, and are called the Jura, located in 1875 by A. Py and Theo. Ressouches; The King Solomon, located in 1870 by Theo. and Louis Resssouches, P. Anderson subsequently acquiring a third interest; the Mountain Queen, located in 1877 by A Py and F. Furrer; also, the King Solomon No. 2. and Mary Vinot lode ~~ the mines comprising this group being in such close proximity that they present unsurpassed facilities for their development.
"The other group of mines is situated on the south side of King Solomon mountain, and separated from the first by a gulch, and comprises the Big Giant, located in 1880 by Louis and Theo. Ressouches and Peter Anderson; the Republic, located in 1881 by Theo. Ressouches and A. Py; and the Mountain Quail, located by A Py and F. Furrer in 1880. All these properties are easy of access and within five miles of Silverton, half of which distance is a good wagon road to Arastra gulch.
"A considerable amount of work has been done on all these properties lately by the company, which consists of a drift 120 feet long, a shaft to connect with said tunnel, which is at present 50 feet deep and 3,500 feet distant from mouth of tunnel, both tunnel and shaft being on the Mountain Quail lode. Two drifts are being run on the King Solomon, one being at the present time 66 feet long and the other 75 feet long, and will at a distance of 450 feet cut the Jura load. On the other side of the gulch a crosscut is now being run to cut the Big Giant and Mountain Quail lodes.
"Eighteen men are now employed and more will be put to work as soon as convenient. The character of mineral is galena in all the veins, running from 100 to 1,400 ounces in silver to the ton. A tiny streak of mineral has lately been struck in one of the drifts on the King Solomon, which shows six inches of solid galena, running high. The company proposes to work all of these properties extensively, and will run a tunnel next winter which will eventually cut all the veins seen on the surface of that part of the southside of King Solomon mountain. Under the superintendence of Mr. Vincent work will progress rapidly, and before long a great quantity of fine ore may be taken out, which will help to add to the wealth of San Jaun county."
La Plata Miner, Siverton Colorado, March 31, 1883, page, "RICH DEVELOPMENT ON KING SOLOMON. The Property of the French Boys Mining Company Proves a Bonanza. Mr. Theo Ressouches went up to the mines on King Solomon mountain owned by the French Boys Mining Company, last Tuesday. He brought down to Silverton one of the richest specimens of gray copper ore we have seen in the country. The ore was taken from the King Solomon and will run over 1,000 ounces in silver to the ton. There is a ten inch streak of this high grade ore which is found in the west drift on the vein about 125 feet from the surface. This rich body of mineral was struck last January by the contractors on the mine.
"There is a ten inch streak of this rich mineral and the streak has been continuous for fifty feet, and in the present face of the drift is as good as it has been at any time. The ore is equal to the very best grade of ore ever taken from the North Star mine on King Solomon. The Jura lode owned by same company shows a two foot pay streak of solid mineral in the face of the drifts. The ore in the Jura is galena and gray copper and pays well to ship. The property of this company is pronounced by disinterested parties who have visited and examined it recently, as the finest property in the country. The company will ship a large amount of ore during the coming summer, as they have a large amount of ground opened and the face of all the drifts on their mines, four in number, are in pay mineral."
La Plata Miner, Siverton Colorado, August 2, 1883, page 2, "Judge Henry Ford and the Hon. John Taylor and T. E. Ressouches, departed for Gunnison city Tuesday to attend court and look after injunction suit of Louis Ressouches, et al. vs. the French Boys Silver Min-Co. The suit was brought to prevent the company from producing and shipping ore from the mines bought from Ressouches and I. P. Anderson on the ground that the company had not performed their contract for the payment of the mines. Judge Ford will represent the sellers of the mine, and John Taylor for the company."
La Plata Miner, Siverton Colorado, August 3, 1883, page 3, "Injunction: Louis Ressouches, T. E. Ressouches and I. P. Anderson were the owners of two valuable mining claims which they had patented, and made an agreement to sell to the French Boys Silver Mining Co. for a certain sum to be paid in three installments, the last payment to be made in October next, and in the agreement the company was permited to work and develop the mines. The owners of the mines claim that the company has not developed the mines but have gouged out the mineral in sight, and have shipped and sold it and also that the company has not paid the installments of money as it came due, and therefore went to the County Court and got an injunction to prevent the company from shipping and selling the ore until they had paid for the mines. The company therefore made a motion to dissolve the injunction to the District Court now in session at Gunnison (sp?), and the result is not yet known as Judge Henry Ford, the attorney for the owners and Hon. John Taylor, attorney for the Company, both left here Tuesday morning of this week for Gunnison and have not yet returned."
La Plata Miner, Siverton Colorado, November 13, 1886, page 3, "Theo. Ressouches moved his family to Red Mountain to-day to reside for the winter. Theodore will work his mining property in that district."
La Plata Miner, Silverton Colorado, August 20, 1892, page 2, "Red Mountain Town Destroyed by Fire. Last Sunday morning at about 3 o'clock the citizens of Red Mountain were aroused by the continuous blowing of the National Belle whistle, and on getting on to the street were horrified to find that the Red Mountain hotel was almost completely enveloped in flames. Mr. Trifle Shobeth, the night engineer of the Bell was first to discover the fire and immediately gave the alarm by starting the whistle and kept it going until the citizens were thoroughly aroused. As soon as enough were out the hose was attached to the hydrant and an effort made to extinguish the flames, but to no purpose.
"It was found that the reservoir had been emptied and there was not force enough to throw the water upon a one story building. The flames spread very rapidly and in eighty minutes time the entire town was burned down. Some of the people saved a little of their furniture and some clothing, but the most of them lost everything they had. General Manager Liverman was on hand in the early morning and tendered a train to the use of the people.
"The total losses as near as can be estimated at present are as follows: (Long list follows)- also: Theo Ressouches; residence and furniture. Loss $660. No insurance. Louis Ressouches; furniture and clothing. Loss $100. no insurance."
On August 29, 1891, Louis filed another mining claim, on the Colorado Western lode. It is unknown whether the Ressouches remained in Red Mountain. Most of the demolished buildings at Red Mountain were not rebuilt after the fire, although what was left of the town continued to function as a supply point and railroad stop until the financial and monetary panic of the mid-1890's spelled the virtual end to most of the outlying mining camps of this area. Depending upon the productivity of the Ressources' Red Mountain claims, they could have stayed in that area for another two to five years, but it is unlikely they were there much after that.
At the time of Laurent Ressouches' death he was living in the eastern part of Denver, Colorado with his son, Louis, a member of society and a prosperous mine owner at Silverton Colorado. Louis had come to Denver to take care of his father in his declining years.
Laurant died May 9, 1908 in Denver, Colorado. The French as an ethnic group at the time were somewhere between the dominant English, Welch and German groups and the unaccepted Italians, Chinese and Mexican groups. It seems that each nationality, in turn, went through the process of being accepted in Western mining society (the French, Slavs and Irish being among the first to "make the grade" and the Chinese being the only group never to make it, at least in Silverton) and thus Frenchmen were possibly relatively isolated to their own mining and business concerns during at least the early part of the period covered, which explains the far-reaching terms of "the French Boys Mining Company."
In time, Rosalie tired of the ups and downs of life with a miner and she divorced Louis. She then returned to where her family lived near Fort Wayne, Indiana, and bought a house for herself and her three daughters still living, Clara, Olive and Julia. Marie had died.
(Rosalie's granddaughter, Dorothy Gremaux Vanek, said that the divorce, which took place about 1915, was the result of Rosa worrying that she would be held responsible for Louis's bills and that he'd built a mansion and took in all drifters and prospectors and rapidly spent his money.)
Childen included:
- Louis, born July 26, 1842 in France. (Louis Ressouches was eighteen months old when his parents came to America.)
- Theodore E. (unknown date and place. Unknown if there were other children.)
The first decade of formal mining activity in the Silverton area ~~ from 1874-1884 ~~ showed three members of the Ressouches family identified in the newspapers of the period:
Louis, Theodore, and their mother, Mrs. Laurant (Lawrence) Ressouches.
Mrs. Ressouches was first identified (in a geneaology search) in her survival of an ordeal of being stranded on Cunningham Pass in November, 1879, possibly on her first entry into Silverton. The ordeal was of such significance that it was recalled in a later historical article on the early years of the community. Mrs. Ressouches apparently went on to become a businesswoman in Silverton, having a building erected in the business section of Silverton and being identified in 1883 as the operator of the French Hotel.
Louis Ressouches
Louis Ressouches spent his youth with his parents. A sporting young man, he was widely known as a fast racer in the early days of Denver. In one memorable horse race, staged in the old fair grounds at the head of Market Street, he was opposed by two Indians and another white man. Residents gathered from mils around to watch the contest. One of the Indians beat him, buth e came in second in the field of four. More often, however, Louis won his races.When the volunteer firemen organized to fight the menace of fire in the struggling young town, Louis was one of the first to join. He was a charter member of Volunteer Firemen's Association, hook and ladder company No. 2 at 26th and Curtis Streets, formed in 1873. Louis was 31, and served with the organization until it passed out of existence in 1883, the year he married, at age 41.
Rosalie (Rosa) Pernot and Louis Ressouces received a marriage license on August 6, 1883 in Denver, the county of Araphahoe, Colorado. They were married on August 7, 1883 by Rev. F. Bander, Rector of St. Elize.
Louis loved the mountains and knew them well. It wasn't surprising that he was in a party which searched for avalance victims in February 1879.
He located several mining claims in Arastra Gulch, which was the site of the oldest mining claim and some of the first mineral production in San Juan County.
Rosalie "Rosa" and Louis Ressouches had four children:
Clara Louise, born September 10, 1885
Julia, born July 4, 1886
Olive, born September 10, 1887
Marie (date unknown.)
A pioneer prospector in Colorado's gold and silver camps, Louis spent the greater part of his life as a prospector in Colorado's gold and silver camps. A fortune passed through his hands and went back into the ground in the search for more treasure. He and his brother gained wide renown in the Silverton district as "The French Boys." The two mines which they located in this district were sold for $400,000 ~~ but the money went back into more prospecting.
At one time Louis owned a ranch in what was Washingotn Park (in 1932.) After holding the property for three years he decided it was "too far from town" and sold his holdings.
He lived in Silverton for a number of years and was a member of the Catholic Church.
La Plata Miner, Siverton Colorado, June 4, 1879, page 4, "The King Solomon Lode Messrs. Ressouches and Anderson have made a rich strike in the King Solomon lode, which is located on King Solomon mountain. They have been at work on the property for the past three years and have a crosscut tunnel 200 feet in length as well as three drifts on the vein.
"About three weeks ago they struck ten inches of solid galena and gray copper, which they think will run high in silver. They deserve their good fortune for the perseverance and industry with which they have worked to acquire it."
In a genealogical search, Theodore Ressouches is found mining in the Poughkeepsie Gulch area of San Juan County in 1880, but is also identified as a locator of some of the claims in Arastra Gulch. Louis was associated in some unidentified capacity with the King Solomon Tunnel during the early 1880's.
La Plata Miner, Siverton Colorado, May 8, 1880, page 4, "Theo. Ressouches came down from Poughkeepsie on Sunday last to rusticate for a time." (Theosopholus was a brother of Louis Ressouches and Dorothy Ellen Gremaux's uncle.)
La Plata Miner, Siverton Colorado, May 22, 1880, page 4, "The King Solomon Mountain Tunnel is now in 230 feet, and the owners, Messrs. Ressouches Bros. and Anderson, expect to tap the vein within the next fourteen feet. The lode is known as the King Solomon and shows fourteen inches of galena and gray copper in the upper level which will run 123 ounces to the ton."
La Plata Miner, Siverton Colorado, July 20, 1882, page 3, "THE FRENCH BOYS S.M. CO. In giving a description of the properties owned by the French Boys S.M. Co., we will try to state nothing but facts and give only information of the most reliable character. This company was formed and organized in New York city last winter by Mr. Victor Vincent, an engineer of considerable reputation and also a talented artist, who, after a stay of three years in the San Juan country, acquired considerable experience and knowledge about our mines.
"The following named mines, which are being worked by the F.B.S.M. Co., and as a group, form one of the finest properties, and worth the handling of any company. They are all situated on King Solomon mountain, and are called the Jura, located in 1875 by A. Py and Theo. Ressouches; The King Solomon, located in 1870 by Theo. and Louis Resssouches, P. Anderson subsequently acquiring a third interest; the Mountain Queen, located in 1877 by A Py and F. Furrer; also, the King Solomon No. 2. and Mary Vinot lode ~~ the mines comprising this group being in such close proximity that they present unsurpassed facilities for their development.
"The other group of mines is situated on the south side of King Solomon mountain, and separated from the first by a gulch, and comprises the Big Giant, located in 1880 by Louis and Theo. Ressouches and Peter Anderson; the Republic, located in 1881 by Theo. Ressouches and A. Py; and the Mountain Quail, located by A Py and F. Furrer in 1880. All these properties are easy of access and within five miles of Silverton, half of which distance is a good wagon road to Arastra gulch.
"A considerable amount of work has been done on all these properties lately by the company, which consists of a drift 120 feet long, a shaft to connect with said tunnel, which is at present 50 feet deep and 3,500 feet distant from mouth of tunnel, both tunnel and shaft being on the Mountain Quail lode. Two drifts are being run on the King Solomon, one being at the present time 66 feet long and the other 75 feet long, and will at a distance of 450 feet cut the Jura load. On the other side of the gulch a crosscut is now being run to cut the Big Giant and Mountain Quail lodes.
"Eighteen men are now employed and more will be put to work as soon as convenient. The character of mineral is galena in all the veins, running from 100 to 1,400 ounces in silver to the ton. A tiny streak of mineral has lately been struck in one of the drifts on the King Solomon, which shows six inches of solid galena, running high. The company proposes to work all of these properties extensively, and will run a tunnel next winter which will eventually cut all the veins seen on the surface of that part of the southside of King Solomon mountain. Under the superintendence of Mr. Vincent work will progress rapidly, and before long a great quantity of fine ore may be taken out, which will help to add to the wealth of San Jaun county."
La Plata Miner, Siverton Colorado, March 31, 1883, page, "RICH DEVELOPMENT ON KING SOLOMON. The Property of the French Boys Mining Company Proves a Bonanza. Mr. Theo Ressouches went up to the mines on King Solomon mountain owned by the French Boys Mining Company, last Tuesday. He brought down to Silverton one of the richest specimens of gray copper ore we have seen in the country. The ore was taken from the King Solomon and will run over 1,000 ounces in silver to the ton. There is a ten inch streak of this high grade ore which is found in the west drift on the vein about 125 feet from the surface. This rich body of mineral was struck last January by the contractors on the mine.
"There is a ten inch streak of this rich mineral and the streak has been continuous for fifty feet, and in the present face of the drift is as good as it has been at any time. The ore is equal to the very best grade of ore ever taken from the North Star mine on King Solomon. The Jura lode owned by same company shows a two foot pay streak of solid mineral in the face of the drifts. The ore in the Jura is galena and gray copper and pays well to ship. The property of this company is pronounced by disinterested parties who have visited and examined it recently, as the finest property in the country. The company will ship a large amount of ore during the coming summer, as they have a large amount of ground opened and the face of all the drifts on their mines, four in number, are in pay mineral."
La Plata Miner, Siverton Colorado, August 2, 1883, page 2, "Judge Henry Ford and the Hon. John Taylor and T. E. Ressouches, departed for Gunnison city Tuesday to attend court and look after injunction suit of Louis Ressouches, et al. vs. the French Boys Silver Min-Co. The suit was brought to prevent the company from producing and shipping ore from the mines bought from Ressouches and I. P. Anderson on the ground that the company had not performed their contract for the payment of the mines. Judge Ford will represent the sellers of the mine, and John Taylor for the company."
La Plata Miner, Siverton Colorado, August 3, 1883, page 3, "Injunction: Louis Ressouches, T. E. Ressouches and I. P. Anderson were the owners of two valuable mining claims which they had patented, and made an agreement to sell to the French Boys Silver Mining Co. for a certain sum to be paid in three installments, the last payment to be made in October next, and in the agreement the company was permited to work and develop the mines. The owners of the mines claim that the company has not developed the mines but have gouged out the mineral in sight, and have shipped and sold it and also that the company has not paid the installments of money as it came due, and therefore went to the County Court and got an injunction to prevent the company from shipping and selling the ore until they had paid for the mines. The company therefore made a motion to dissolve the injunction to the District Court now in session at Gunnison (sp?), and the result is not yet known as Judge Henry Ford, the attorney for the owners and Hon. John Taylor, attorney for the Company, both left here Tuesday morning of this week for Gunnison and have not yet returned."
La Plata Miner, Siverton Colorado, November 13, 1886, page 3, "Theo. Ressouches moved his family to Red Mountain to-day to reside for the winter. Theodore will work his mining property in that district."
La Plata Miner, Silverton Colorado, August 20, 1892, page 2, "Red Mountain Town Destroyed by Fire. Last Sunday morning at about 3 o'clock the citizens of Red Mountain were aroused by the continuous blowing of the National Belle whistle, and on getting on to the street were horrified to find that the Red Mountain hotel was almost completely enveloped in flames. Mr. Trifle Shobeth, the night engineer of the Bell was first to discover the fire and immediately gave the alarm by starting the whistle and kept it going until the citizens were thoroughly aroused. As soon as enough were out the hose was attached to the hydrant and an effort made to extinguish the flames, but to no purpose.
"It was found that the reservoir had been emptied and there was not force enough to throw the water upon a one story building. The flames spread very rapidly and in eighty minutes time the entire town was burned down. Some of the people saved a little of their furniture and some clothing, but the most of them lost everything they had. General Manager Liverman was on hand in the early morning and tendered a train to the use of the people.
"The total losses as near as can be estimated at present are as follows: (Long list follows)- also: Theo Ressouches; residence and furniture. Loss $660. No insurance. Louis Ressouches; furniture and clothing. Loss $100. no insurance."
On August 29, 1891, Louis filed another mining claim, on the Colorado Western lode. It is unknown whether the Ressouches remained in Red Mountain. Most of the demolished buildings at Red Mountain were not rebuilt after the fire, although what was left of the town continued to function as a supply point and railroad stop until the financial and monetary panic of the mid-1890's spelled the virtual end to most of the outlying mining camps of this area. Depending upon the productivity of the Ressources' Red Mountain claims, they could have stayed in that area for another two to five years, but it is unlikely they were there much after that.
At the time of Laurent Ressouches' death he was living in the eastern part of Denver, Colorado with his son, Louis, a member of society and a prosperous mine owner at Silverton Colorado. Louis had come to Denver to take care of his father in his declining years.
Laurant died May 9, 1908 in Denver, Colorado. The French as an ethnic group at the time were somewhere between the dominant English, Welch and German groups and the unaccepted Italians, Chinese and Mexican groups. It seems that each nationality, in turn, went through the process of being accepted in Western mining society (the French, Slavs and Irish being among the first to "make the grade" and the Chinese being the only group never to make it, at least in Silverton) and thus Frenchmen were possibly relatively isolated to their own mining and business concerns during at least the early part of the period covered, which explains the far-reaching terms of "the French Boys Mining Company."
In time, Rosalie tired of the ups and downs of life with a miner and she divorced Louis. She then returned to where her family lived near Fort Wayne, Indiana, and bought a house for herself and her three daughters still living, Clara, Olive and Julia. Marie had died.
(Rosalie's granddaughter, Dorothy Gremaux Vanek, said that the divorce, which took place about 1915, was the result of Rosa worrying that she would be held responsible for Louis's bills and that he'd built a mansion and took in all drifters and prospectors and rapidly spent his money.)
When Arthur Frank Vanek and Mona Inez Leeson wed on August 31, 1949 they linked the following family trees, [Maternal ~ Muench and Leeson] [Paternal ~ Vanek and Gremaux].
