Lexington in Fayette County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
James Ben Ali Haggin
1821 - 1914
Photographed By Ken Smith, July 12, 2012
1. James Ben Ali Haggin Marker
Inscription.
James Ben Ali Haggin. A Kentucky-born grandson of a Turkish Army officer, James Ben Ali Haggin was lured west by the Gold Rush. He and his partners eventually owned South Dakora's Homestake Mine---the richest gold vein in North America. Haggin's group also mined other ores, owning the Anaconda Copper Mine in Montana and the Ontario Silver Mine in Utah. When shipping ore from his Cerro de Pasco Copper Mine in Peru necessitated a new railroad, Haggin built it himself, for $2 million. The Haggin group was said to control 80% of the world's copper supply. , Similarly grand in the scale of his thinking in agriculture, Haggin bought the 44,000-acre Norris grant in Sacramento. Finally, he came home to Kentucky in 1897 and began acquiring land. Eventually, his Elmendorf Farm sprawled over 8,700 acres and he owned 1,000 Thoroughbreds. Elmendorf's core remains a prominent Thoroughbred farm and sections of the old property became Spendthrift, Gainesway, Greentree, Payson, Normandy, and C. V. Whitney Farms. Haggin won the 1886 Kentucky Derby with a namesake, Ben Ali, and owned the champions Salvator and Firenza. Haggin's descendants in racing would include Louis Lee Haggin II and William Haggin Perry.
A Kentucky-born grandson of a Turkish Army officer, James Ben Ali Haggin was lured west by the Gold Rush. He and his partners eventually owned South Dakora's Homestake Mine---the richest gold vein in North America. Haggin's group also mined other ores, owning the Anaconda Copper Mine in Montana and the Ontario Silver Mine in Utah. When shipping ore from his Cerro de Pasco Copper Mine in Peru necessitated a new railroad, Haggin built it himself, for $2 million. The Haggin group was said to control 80% of the world's copper supply.
Similarly grand in the scale of his thinking in agriculture, Haggin bought the 44,000-acre Norris grant in Sacramento. Finally, he came home to Kentucky in 1897 and began acquiring land. Eventually, his Elmendorf Farm sprawled over 8,700 acres and he owned 1,000 Thoroughbreds. Elmendorf's core remains a prominent Thoroughbred farm and sections of the old property became Spendthrift, Gainesway, Greentree, Payson, Normandy, and C. V. Whitney Farms. Haggin won the 1886 Kentucky Derby with a namesake, Ben Ali, and owned the champions Salvator and Firenza. Haggin's descendants in racing would include Louis Lee Haggin II and William Haggin Perry.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Entertainment • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.
Location.
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38° 2.501′ N, 84° 29.413′ W. Marker is in Lexington, Kentucky, in Fayette County. Marker can be reached from East Main Street (U.S. 60) near Midland Avenue (U.S. 60), on the right when traveling west. Located in Thoroughbred Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Midland Avenue, Lexington KY 40508, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 675 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 12, 2012, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
