George Warren

Who was George Warren?

George Warren worked as a prospector in the Tombstone and Bisbee, Arizona region during the late 19th century. He is credited with having located the body of copper ore, which later became known as the Copper Queen Mine, one of Arizona's most productive copper mines. Warren never enjoyed the potential riches from his prospecting work and he died in obscurity. He was the victim of his bad judgement and a drinking problem, and wealth passed him up in favor of other men who developed the Warren mining district. In 1880 when pioneer photographer C. S. Fly visited Bisbee during its boom, he took a photo of Warren posing as a miner. This image was used as a model for the miner posing with long-handled spade in the Seal of Arizona. His pauper's grave, originally only marked by a wooden plank saying "G.W. 24" in the Evergreen Cemetery in Bisbee was later commemorated by a large monument erected in his honor.