Sayre, Hal, 1835-1926

Hal Sayre (1835-1926) was an experienced surveyor and civil engineer when he came to Colorado during the Clear Creek gold rush of 1859. He was instrumental in determining the extent of mining claims derived from pre-territorial mining districts in Gilpin and Clear Creek counties, Colorado. Born Peter Halbert Sayre in Orange Co., N.Y., on April 2, 1835, he was educated at an academy in Binghamton, N.Y., and participated in building the New York and Pennsylvania canal (1851-1852) and surveyed an extension of the Transit Railroad in Minnesota. In 1869, he established a surveying and abstracts office in Central City, Colorado, with his partner, Ed. C. Parmelee. Sayre was appointed the first deputy Mineral Surveyor of Colorado Territory in 1872. He served as an engineer with the Colorado Militia and served with the 3rd Colorado volunteers at the Sand Creek campaign of 1864 led by Colonel John Chivington.