Lincoln Mine, Sutter Creek, Amador County

The investment paid off, with the Lincoln Mine locating a rich vein and estimated to have produced over 100,000 ounces of gold. Stanford sold his shares, and taking his mining fortune went on to become a builder of the transcontinental railroad, governor, senator, and founder of Stanford University.

One of the major shareholders was Leland Stanford who, at the persuasion of local resident and fellow stock holder R. C. Downs, invested additional funds after the mine experienced a production slump in the late 1850s.

In 1906 the Lincoln Consolidated Mining Company acquired the Mahoney and Wildman Mines. The Wildman and Mahoney were estimated to have produced about 72,500 ounces of gold, creating a combined total of over 172,500 ounces from the three mines by 1900. Costs of exploration and the shareholders' unwillingness to invest more funds led to the end of production in 1912, although the mine was later bought and explored by other mining companies. At closure the Lincoln, Mahoney, and Wildman shafts had reached depths of 2,000ft, 1,200ft, and 1,400ft respectively.