Collection of 30 Civil War-dated antique mortgage bond certificates for $1,000 in The Mowry Silver Mining Company, each 14 x 17, all issued to William T. Coleman and Samuel L. M. Barlow on November 2, 1864, each signed at the conclusion by Sylvester Mowry as the company's president. Each crisp uncanceled certificate features its original bright green embossed company seal and an attractive ornate border surmounted with “Arizona” above an engraving of the Mowry Silver Mine headquarters and offices. The bottom of each bond retains 10 warrant coupons for $50. In overall fine condition, with intersecting folds, and some light creasing to edges.
Sylvester Mowry was a politician, miner, and land speculator (1833-1871) who is best remembered as an early advocate for establishing the Arizona Territory. He was also a West Point graduate and officer of the United States Army during the Civil War who maneuvered between Union and Confederate authorities to ensure the security of his mining operations against Apache attacks; a proponent of slavery and secession, Mowry was later arrested as a traitor for revealing Union troop movements to Confederate officers. Mowry’s duplicitous nature can be further exemplified by this very collection of $1000 mortgage bonds.
Although he played a significant role in promoting and developing mining operations in the Arizona region during the mid-1800s, Mowry and his silver mine faced significant challenges and periods of inactivity. He resorted to issuing Mortgage Bonds such as these to raise funds for the mine's operation, consequently enabling him to maintain a lavish lifestyle despite the challenges his mining ventures faced. Mowry later sold his mine to the Mowry Silver Mining Company, a transaction that involved creating a façade of a sale to protect his assets from divorce proceedings initiated by his wife, Laura A. Mowry, before ultimately selling his mine at auction in 1874. A fascinating collection related to a controversial figure in Arizona's early history.
