Jerome Chaffee

Ben Dugan
GCN Historical Writer

2/16/2006 - Jerome Chaffee was one of Colorado’s most influential pioneer politicians. He was born in Cambria, Niagara County, New York in 1825. He was educated at Lockport and came to Adrian Michigan in 1844 at the age of 19. He taught school there for a couple of years when he engaged in the mercantile business for a few years before working as a bank clerk in Kalamazoo. In 1857 Chaffee ventured to Kansas Territory to seek his fortune. He started a banking business with a partner for about two years before leaving for the Kansas Gold Fields. He was involved in mining in Gregory Gulch and pulled out several thousands of dollars from the Bobtail Mine located in Black Hawk. He was also involved in mining and stamp mill operations in Lake Gulch. In 1861 when the Territory of Colorado was organized, the Republicans elected Chaffee as a representative in the legislature, serving his final year in 1863 as speaker of the House. In 1864-65 Chaffee was elected as one of the first State Senators. His disdain for President Johnson and his reconstruction policies delayed Colorado’s entry as a State into the Union. Johnson vetoed the bills that would have admitted Colorado as a State on two successive sessions of Congress. In 1870 Chaffee was elected as a delegate of Congress. He was later elected as a Senator and was finally able to introduce a bill providing for Colorado Statehood. On August 1,1876 Colorado became the 38th state. Chaffee also became heavily involved in Leadville Mining and had interests in the Little Pittburg Consolidated. He was additionally active in mines in Caribou and in other mining centers in Colorado. In 1865 Chaffee set up the First National Bank of Denver and served as its president. In 1860 he was partners with Eben Smith, a California miner and Colorado businessman. Chaffee only served one term as Senator and did not seek re-election due to poor health. He died in New York in 1886 and is buried in Michigan.