Jessie Project

     Mining operations expanded into Arizona following the United States' acquisition of territory from Mexico in the 1850s. During the Civil War years of the 1860s, several expeditions seeking gold were headed in the newly acquired territory in spite of the danger of attacking Apache Indian groups. Joseph Walker's Prospecting Party led one such expedition and found gold placer deposits near Big Bug Creek, located in the Bradshaw Mountains.  Big Bug Creek received this name, allegedly, because of the very large beetles flying around there. A member of the Prospecting Party named Theodore Boggs claimed the first mine in the region. Organized mining activities began as he continued to make mining claims in the area. The town of Big Bug sprang up and the Big Bug Mining District was established. This district is one of the earliest mining districts to be formed in Arizona. The population of Big Bug town grew to around 115 in the 1890s. 

     Interest in gold mining dwindled and shifted to silver and copper mining due to their higher commodity prices in the 1870s. Reservations for the Native Americans were established in 1872, leading to fewer attacks on settlements and making troop protection around mines no longer a necessity. In the following decade, more mining claims were made in the Bradshaw area and miners utilized several rich silver mines. The transcontinental railroad completion in 1881 encouraged a silver boom while nearly every single copper deposit of significance was discovered.

     Silver and copper deflation then occurred from 1884 to 1893. Silver mining came almost to a complete stop during the Panic of 1893 as government purchase of silver halted. Few copper mines remained in production during this period as well. Thus, until the end of the 19th century, miners returned their focus back to gold and reopened many of the old gold mines near Prescott, Arizona. New gold deposits were also discovered and worked in the Big Bug Mining District, including the Octave and Congress mines in the Bradshaw Mountains. 

     During a period of stagnation in the early 1900s and a commodity rise for copper, focus shifted from gold mining to copper mining until the Great Depression and the business collapse of 1929. Gradually, the town of Big Bug died during these years as various mines in the area shut down. The town is now a famous ghost town to visit when in Arizona.

     Focus shifted back and forth between mining copper and gold depending on the market demand during that time. The gold price increases in 1933 revived some old gold camps with mixed results. Government declared cessation of gold mining then occurred while copper became high in demand due to the onset of World War II. In the years following World War II, mining has not been significant in the Big Bug region.