Yes he was seriously wealthy.

He could perhaps have known some of the mine owners and visited them I suppose.

We were wondering how someone in the US would go about recruiting domestic staff from the UK.

I am sure it is purely coincidental but whilst I was trying to find the house where he was a groom in 1901 on the map I noticed one in West Hartlepool called Clarmont which was the name of Butters' house in California.

MB