James Douglas Jr.
James Stuart Douglas | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Inverness, Quebec, Canada |
| Died | January 2, 1949 (aged 80) |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, mining executive |
| Known for | Mining operations in Arizona and Mexico; UVX Mining Co. |
| Notable work | Douglas Mansion (Jerome State Historic Park) |
| Spouse | Josephine Leah Williams |
James Stuart Douglas (June 19, 1868 – January 2, 1949), also referred to as Rawhide Jimmy, was a businessman and mining executive originally from Canada who later established his career in the United States.
Early life
Douglas was born in Inverness, Quebec to Naomi Eleanor Douglas (1838–1922) and James Walter Douglas (1837–1918), a Canadian mining engineer and executive. His upbringing took place in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, where his father held the position of manager at the Chemical Copper Company. At age 17, he ventured westward to Manitoba to claim land as a homesteader before moving to the Arizona Territory in search of relief from asthma symptoms.
Career
Following his father's guidance, Douglas relocated to Bisbee, Arizona to serve as an assayer for the Copper Queen Mine, in which his father had purchased shares from the Phelps Dodge company.
In 1892, he became part of the Commercial Mining Company based in Prescott, Arizona, an enterprise connected with Phelps Dodge. By 1900, he was overseeing copper mining and smelting operations at Pilares and Nacozari in Mexico. During this period, he directed the building of a railroad linking Douglas, Arizona to Nacozari. His inventive use of rawhide to safeguard mining equipment rollers earned him the nickname "Rawhide Jimmy." Subsequently, he managed copper extraction activities at Cananea, Sonora.
UVX Mining Co.
In 1912, Douglas secured an option on the United Verde Extension (UVX) property near Jerome, Arizona, with the intention of expanding the "United Verde" ore deposit. Despite facing financial constraints by 1914, exploratory work uncovered rich copper ore deposits that led to profitable mining operations. The year 1916 saw production of copper, silver, and gold valued at $10 million, with profits amounting to $7.4 million. Throughout its operational span from 1915 to 1938, UVX paid out $55 million in dividends, considerably enhancing Douglas’s fortune.
Personal life
Douglas was married to Josephine Leah Williams (1872–1941). Their son, Lewis W. Douglas (1894–1974), pursued a career initially in mining before entering politics as an Arizona Congressman from 1927 to 1933 and later serving as United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom between 1947 and 1951. James Stuart Douglas retired to Quebec in 1939 and passed away due to heart failure in 1949.
Jerome State Historic Park
The residence known as the Douglas Mansion has been converted into the Jerome State Historic Park, which welcomes visitors.