Wilbur T. Maxwell Obit

 Well-Known Local Man Killed in Mine Accident
...........
From The Silverton Standard of September 14, 1945

Wilbur T. Maxwell met death late Friday of last week when caught in a fall of rock in the Bandora mine in the South Mineral Creek section of San Juan County.

Word of the accident reached town later in the day and a crew of men immediately went to the mine to recover his body, returning early Saturday to Silverton.

Directing developments and operation of the mine for himself and associates, Maxwell was engaged in some work on Level 4 and prior to coming to town to secure additional help to continue the drift and also extract ore developed in this part of the mine.

With Deputy Mine Inspector D. C. McNaughton, this part of the mine was looked over Thursday, with Maxwell outlining plans for operating the remainder of the year. Men visiting the mine Wednesday stated no new movement of rock had occurred.

Nearly 40 Years in Colorado

Wilbur Tharp Maxwell was born September 4, 1898 at Odessa, Mo., and came with his parents to Silverton when a boy. He attended local schools and graduated from Silverton High School prior to World War I and was accepted for officer training, although prevented by illness in reaching the indicated training field before the armistice.

Turning to mines and mills, he gained practical experience which later enabled him to direct several of the smaller undertakings in the district to a measure of success and establish him competent authority in the highly complex business of producing and marketing ores of this part of Colorado.

After it was known the United States was to be involved in World War II, Mr. Maxwell volunteered and was

 enrolled as an Engineer to specialize in demolition. His first training was at Fort Leonard Wood and later at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. His outfit was among the first to be engaged in Africa.

Just under the upper bracket of the draft law, Mr. Maxwell was given an honorable discharge from the Army and returned to San Juan County to resume direction of operations at the Bandora for himself and associates. During his absence a new IeveI on the vein had been opened and this was further explored as well as stoping in other sections of the mine continued.

Remained Loyal to Colorado

In the years spent in mills and mines of San Juan County, Mr. Maxwell declined offers to go elsewhere. Prior to enlistment, he passed an opportunity for mill work in Mexico and returned to Colorado after a period in California where he was similarly engaged.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. N. C. Maxwell, Silverton, his sister, Mrs. J. S. Baily, Wheat Ridge; niece, Barbara Jean Eson, nephews, James Barton Eson, and Nathan Osborn Baily, aII of Wheat Ridge. An uncle, A. L. Maxwell, aunt, Mrs. Harriet Keeling and their families live respectively in Missouri and Texas.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the Congregational Church, Rev. J. David BechteI, Durango, officiating. Bearers were George Brammeier, Claude E. Deering, C. R. Rosenstock, Knut Svedenborg, John Turner, Louis Wyman. Honorary: Charles A. Chase, A. J. Yahn, John Eliason, D. C. McNaughton, John Gilheany, Wm. Palmquist, Ross C. Beaber, Robert Burnell, L. W. Parcell, Carl Sutherland, Louis Dalla, Pete Motto and Fiore Giacomelli.

The Maguire Funeral Chapel directed and burial was in Hillside Cemetery.

My Maxwell Line
Rev. Brown Portrait

Albert Leander Maxwell
Nathaniel Carson Maxwell
Arthur Leonard Maxwell

Sara Maxwell Baily
Wilbur T. Maxwell

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