20 University Geological Survey of Kansas. 
is reported to have begun mining lead ore at a point two 
miles east of Joplin, in Jasper county. A year later, 1849, 
Daniel Campbell discovered ore within the present site of 
Joplin. Nothing of importance, however, was done in the 
way of mining until some time later. About 1851 mining 
began in earnest at different points in Jasper county along 
Center creek and Turkey creek. To the south, in Newton 
county, mining began about the same time, and, for some 
reason, progressed more rapidly than in Jasper county. 
These different mines were producing so much lead ore at the 
time the civil war began that they became objects of no little 
importance to each of the belligerent parties, and to a con- 
siderable degree were the cause of much of the fighting in 
southwestern Missouri. It doubtless is true that many peo- 
ple came across the line into Kansas, and at least suspected 
that the vicinity of Galena was lead-bearing. One of the 
Cherokee Indians, David Harland, who came from North 
Carolina in 1855, and acquired a farm of 320 acres along 
Shoal creek, reported to different citizens in later years that 
it was not at all unusual to find pieces of lead ore exposed by 
the upturning of trees in storms. In fact, with the early 
settlement of Cherokee county, many rumors were afloat 
about the Indians having mined lead ore here and there in 
different places. 
After the close of the civil war mining was prosecuted with 
great vigor throughout Newton and Jasper counties. In 1865 
Mr. Henry T. Blow obtained certain leases at Granby, and 
from this little beginning has grown the strong and’ pros- 
perous Granby Mining and Smelting Company. Although ore 
was discovered at and near Joplin previous to 1850, no min- 
ing of importance was done there until after a rediscovery 
was made some twenty years later. In August, 1870, Messrs. 
J. B. Sargent and E. R. Moffett discoverd lead ore in large 
quantities within the present city limits of Joplin, and dur- 
ing the same summer the Moon diggings were opened up on 
East Joplin hill. The town itself was begun in 1871, when 
Patrick Murphy bought the land and laid out the town, first 
callingit Murphysburg. The city of Joplin soon began grow- 
ing with astonishing rapidity, and in a few years had reached 
