James C. Cooney was asergeant of theU.S. Army in the 8th U.S. Cavalry when he found largesilver andgold reserves in theMogollon Mountains ofCatron County,New Mexico.[1] He was transferred toFort Bayard, nearSilver City, New Mexico in 1870. Whilescouting for the8th U.S. Cavalry north ofMogollon and east of Alma, he discovered silver ore in the Mogollon Mountains. He began working the claim after leaving the Army in 1876.[2][3]
During a raid on settlers' homes in theAlma Massacre in 1880, Cooney was killed by localChiricahuaApache led byVictorio.[4][5]
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