James Cowell Socorro County, New Mexico

James Cowell, of Kelly, a representative of mining interests, was born on the Isle of Man, May 3, 1847, and in his youth was employed in the mines in the north of England, largely in Northumberland County. He came to the United States in 1877 at the age of thirty years, and made his way to Colorado, working in the mines of Central City and elsewhere in that state until coming to New Mexico in 1880. He went first to Georgetown, where he followed mining until 1881, when he removed to Socorro and worked in the Torrance mine until 1883. He then came to Kelly, where he located some claims and bought others. He has produced zinc and lead ore from his Black Hawk group of claims in paving quantities, and is still working these profitably. He is also sinking a shaft in what is known as the Kelly mine, and has good prospects for profitable operations in this.

In 1882 Mr. Cowell was married to Miss Ellen Counihan and their children are: Mamie, Lillie, Florence, Jay, Morris and Clarence. The eldest daughter is the wife of Milton Craig. Mr. Cowell was for nineteen years an Odd Fellow in good standing, but is not in active connection with the organization at present, as there is no lodge at Kelly.

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Source: History of New Mexico, Its Resources and People, Volume II, Pacific States Publishing Co., 1907.