Copper Discovered In Lee County

An interesting tidbit you may not be familiar with:  Copper was discovered and mined in Northern Lee County near Deep River school apparently in the late 1850s or early 1860s. A report by the “Sanford Herald” on January 16, 1932 stated that the mine last operated around 1900 for about 18 months and about 180 men were employed there. The ore was taken to Osgood (a few
miles away) apparently by horse drawn wagons, loaded on railroad cars and
shipped to processing plants. One such processing plant was in Greensboro and its closing in the summer of 1903 may have impacted the local mine causing it to close. The ore body was reported to be a large quantity but the mine closed because the smelter closed.

The people: The Clegg Copper Mine was started by Nathaniel Clegg according to reports. I can not verify the connections but the name Clegg was prominent in England when the Saxons were in control. After losing power they migrated to other places including the states. By doing an Internet search of Clegg Copper Mine you will find the name Clegg connected to copper on several continents. The Clegg Family Motto is “Qui potest capere caplet” or “Let him take what he is able to take.”

The mine:  Prior to 1890 the mine had reached a depth of 200 feet. It eventually reached a depth of 800 feet according to a report by Willard Berry in 1943. As is common in mines there were other minerals including silver. Russ Patterson, of Patterson Exploration and Bob Ganis did some copper prospecting in 1969 and 1970. As college students it was certainly not commercially feasible for them to mine at that time. Russ provided some of the information for this article. In 1978 H.M. Babiker, a North Carolina State University graduate student from Sudan did his masters thesis on “Geology of the Clegg Copper Mine and Vicinity, Lee and Chatham Counties, North Carolina”. It is probably available if anyone would like to read the technical information.

In the next article we will talk about Copper Mine Creek and Copper Ridge. If any readers have more information on the mine or the Clegg family and its ancestors, or descendants of Nathaniel Clegg please contact us with additional information as this history should not be lost.

Lee County Prospecting in the 21st Century
 
Two weeks ago we had an article about the local Copper Mine. The article was inspired by a current day prospector. Last year we were in the process of surveying a tract of land on Farrell road just off US # 1 North of Sanford. (The Airport Exit).  Our surveyor, Dowell Eakes, and his crew found a man in a wet suit in what is Copper Mine Creek prospecting for precious metals.  This site east of US # 1 is down stream from the Copper Mine which was West of US # 1.  Metals are often found in streams down stream from mine sites. I even found specs of gold while panning in a stream in Alaska, as most tourists could. This led us to deciding to use the word Copper in the name of the proposed development and to inquire as to the history of Copper Mining in Lee County.

21ST Century Prospectors in this area have more often been trying to find one acre plus homesites.  In the Deep River area few have been available. The attraction is the easy commute North or South, the proximity to the airport for pilots, the nearby Deep River Elementary School, and the sense of  community found in the Northview – Deep River community, which is often lacking in urban areas. The Northview – Deep River Optimist Baseball park is just one example. Some prospectors looking for homesites want to be near their church, again seeking that sense of community. The proximity to Jordan Lake and Harris Lake make the area highly desirable for water enthusiasts. We are finding demand for extra large garages or even free standing garages for the recreational vehicles and other hobbies.

To meet the needs of 21ST Century Prospectors we have created a community of
homesites named Copper Ridge adjoining Copper Mine Creek. The community will include a pool and other amenities along with the 51 large homesites, including some that can accommodate walk-out basements. Yes, we will be building there with a line of newly designed premier homes. There will be variety to avoid the sameness often found in many developments, yet just enough restrictions to enhance property values. Other approved builders also will be building, some even building their personal homes.

Now back to the mine -------------------

Our previous article brought a response from Dr. Lynn Sadler, editor of The Men of Endor: Their Works and Their Times, written by R. A. Wiesner, Reference North Carolina 669 Lee County Library. It includes information on the Cleggs and references a publication, “The Cleggs of Old Chatham” by W. H. Broghton.  Nathaniel Clegg, the founder of the Clegg Copper Mine also owned a mill, a dam and locks on the Deep River just east of its confluence with the Rocky River.  According to Endor Furnace records the same Nathaniel Clegg did some surveying and hauled supplies with his horses and wagons but there is no record that the Cleggs had an ownership interest in the Endor Iron Works.  However, brothers Isaac and Nathaniel Clegg, and Isaac’s son Isaac Newton Clegg all are described as having technically oriented vocations. 

There were several iron works in Chatham that now have been lost. In records of the Confederate States Navy Department 1861 to 1862, a William McClane and J. W. Clegg were listed amongst the owners of one of the four largest iron works in the south. They contracted iron plate for the Confederate States. 

No record of J. W. Clegg shows up in Chatham records of the period.  There is speculation that J. W. really was I. N. All of the records were hand written and signed and a copy of the documents leaves open the possibility of error.  What is known is that Cleggs were important players in the iron works of Chatham and Central North Carolina.

You can find the previous article on the Clegg Copper Mine on our web site www.grocecompanies.com as well as other published articles on improving your credit score, how much home can you afford, should you keep renting until prices go lower, why buy a new home and Noah.