Schieffelin, Edward, 1847-1897

Edward Lawrence Schieffelin was born on October 8, 1847 in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. In 1849 his father Clinton Schieffelin and uncle-in-law Joe Walker headed west to try their luck in the gold fields of California. Eventually, the two purchased property along the Rogue River in Oregon, and in 1856 a young Edward and his family moved west to join his father in Jackson County, Oregon. As a young man Schieffelin prospected all over the North American West, but his biggest find came in 1877 when he discovered the Tombstone silver mine near the southern border of Arizona. After this success Schieffelin traveled throughout North America and eventually met and married stage actress Mary Elizabeth Brown in 1883. Despite his monetary success Edward Schieffelin never gave up prospecting, and he died in May of 1897 while prospecting in the vicinity of the South Umpqua River in Oregon.

From the description of Papers of Edward Schieffelin, 1880-1881. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 275169598

Prospector, credited with the discovery of silver ore at Tombstone, Ariz.

From the description of Schieffelin papers, 1877-1983. (Arizona Historical Society, Southern Arizona Division). WorldCat record id: 39358224

Prospector; discovered the silver mines of the San Pedro Valley, which led to the establishment of Tombstone, Ariz.

From the description of History of the discovery of Tombstone, Arizona, as told by Edward Lawrence Schieffelin, 1888-1890. (University of Arizona). WorldCat record id: 31146861