John F. Campion

John Francis Campion (December 1849 – July 17, 1916) was a wealthy Canadian-American who made his fortune in mining and sugar production. He was also an executive and investor in banking, railroad, insurance, and other businesses.

Campion ran away from school as a teen to join the Union Navy during the American Civil War. After the end of the war, Campion became a miner and became an expert on the geology of mining. He fought to maintain possession of his mining interests early in his career, and he became increasingly successful, founding the Ibex Mining Company in Leadville, Colorado in 1891. Two years later, an ore stream was found at the mine that made him a fortune.

He was a co-founder of what is now called the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and was president of the board of trustees until his death in 1916. He donated his rare collection of native gold, which is among the best in the world.