Description

Parnell Mine, overview, c. 1890's.

Historical records identify the Parnell Mine as a mining property in the in the Eureka District, Rich Hill/Yarnell area, Yavapai County, Arizona Territory. It was active, primarily, during the late 19th century.

The mine/claim could have been named after the Irish political leader, Charles Stewart Parnell, by the famous "Angel of Tombstone," Nellie Cashman. She was a tireless entrepreneur, prospector, and benefactor and perhaps held ownership of the Parnell mine sometime during its active years. The famous Irish-American pioneer and philanthropist, named the mining claim in the late 1880s or 1890s, due to her respect for a prominent Irish leader of that time, Charles Stewart Parnell.

History credits ownership of the Parnell mine to the Dillon brothers beginning in the early 1890s. {Weekly Arizona Journal Miner, 2/28/1891, pg. 3} “Frank and Paul Dillon are taking out high grade shipping ore from their Parnell mine, in the Eureka district. The property is said to be looking finely, and the prospect excellent for opening up a second Hillside mine.”

{Prescott Evening Courier, 10/31/1901, pg. 3} "D S. McKee, a Chicago expert, will leave today for the Parnell mine, south of Hillside mine, to examine same with a view of handling it. The Parnell is a gold-silver property, principally gold, and is the first south extension of the celebrated Hillside mine. Twenty thousand dollars has been taken out of the Parnell, with $1000 worth of development work. The ledge is four feet wide. The Parnell belongs to J. Frank Dillon."

{Arizona Journal Miner, 4/15/1905, pg. 3} “J. Frank Dillon will leave tomorrow for the Parnell property, which adjoins the famous Hillside mine. He plans to remain there about four months to uncover more ore. Dillon has been in possession of this property since about 1889, when he built an arrastra there. He states that the Eureka district, in which his property is located, will come to the front as soon as there is a smelter to handle the gold ores.”

A summary of the activities and production of the Parnell mine is not widely published in standalone modern reports. Historical data and records of the mine's existence are preserved although in state and federal geological archives.