Re: Sen. Thomas Kearns of Utah
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In reply to:
Sen. Thomas Kearns of Utah
Theresa Vanderslice 9/22/98
He is a piece on on Sen Tom Kearns that I picked up on the net,
THOMAS KEARNS
THOMAS KEARNSThomas Kearns was born in 1862 in Oxford County, Ontario, Canada, to Margaret Maher and
Thomas Kearns. He moved with his Irish immigrant parents to a farm in Nebraska and there
obtained a grammar-school education. The development of mining in the West drew him in 1883 to
Park City, Utah, where he worked, prospected, and developed with others the Silver King mine
that made him a millionaire. He married Jennie Judge, with whom he had three children. Elected
alderman in Park City, he was also a delegate to the 1895 state constitutional convention where he
advocated an eight-hour work day.
Thomas Kearns. He moved with his Irish immigrant parents to a farm in Nebraska and there
obtained a grammar-school education. The development of mining in the West drew him in 1883 to
Park City, Utah, where he worked, prospected, and developed with others the Silver King mine
that made him a millionaire. He married Jennie Judge, with whom he had three children. Elected
alderman in Park City, he was also a delegate to the 1895 state constitutional convention where he
advocated an eight-hour work day.
The Democratic majority in the 1899 legislature had failed to elect a U.S. senator, leaving the seat
vacant for two years. In late 1900 Kearns announced his candidacy and was elected the following
year by a Republican-controlled legislature. Some accused LDS Church President Lorenzo Snow of
engineering the election of Kearns, a Catholic. Well-informed on mining law, Kearns also won
recognition in the Senate for his support of Theodore Roosevelt's conservation/irrigation programs.
He worked to secure regimental post status for Fort Douglas and for opening the Uintah Indian
Reservation to settlement. When he failed to receive support for reelection, he bitterly denounced
the power of the Mormon Church in a Senate farewell speech in 1905.
vacant for two years. In late 1900 Kearns announced his candidacy and was elected the following
year by a Republican-controlled legislature. Some accused LDS Church President Lorenzo Snow of
engineering the election of Kearns, a Catholic. Well-informed on mining law, Kearns also won
recognition in the Senate for his support of Theodore Roosevelt's conservation/irrigation programs.
He worked to secure regimental post status for Fort Douglas and for opening the Uintah Indian
Reservation to settlement. When he failed to receive support for reelection, he bitterly denounced
the power of the Mormon Church in a Senate farewell speech in 1905.
Kearns and his partner David Keith had purchased the Salt Lake Tribune in 1901 and also launched
the evening Salt Lake Telegram. Kearns and the Tribune supported the national Republican ticket in
1904 but backed the newly organized American party in Utah. With continued Tribune support the
American party won the Salt Lake City municipal election in 1905 and two subsequent city
elections. The editorial and news columns of the Tribune persistently attacked LDS Church leaders
and their influence on politics; but by 1911 the tone had mellowed.
the evening Salt Lake Telegram. Kearns and the Tribune supported the national Republican ticket in
1904 but backed the newly organized American party in Utah. With continued Tribune support the
American party won the Salt Lake City municipal election in 1905 and two subsequent city
elections. The editorial and news columns of the Tribune persistently attacked LDS Church leaders
and their influence on politics; but by 1911 the tone had mellowed.
Kearns died of a stroke in 1918, eight days after being struck by a car at South Temple and Main
streets. Under the direction of Mrs. Kearns, the Kearns fortune built St. Ann's Orphanage (now a
school), and the Kearns home, which was donated by her to the state in 1937 and is now the
governor's official residence.
See: O.N. Malmquist, The First 100 Years: A History of the Salt Lake Tribune, 1871-1971 (1971).
streets. Under the direction of Mrs. Kearns, the Kearns fortune built St. Ann's Orphanage (now a
school), and the Kearns home, which was donated by her to the state in 1937 and is now the
governor's official residence.
See: O.N. Malmquist, The First 100 Years: A History of the Salt Lake Tribune, 1871-1971 (1971).
Miriam B. Murphy
Miriam B. MurphyMore Replies:
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Re: Sen. Thomas Kearns of Utah
9/13/00