Archives West Finding Aid

Born near Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, Thomas Kearns moved with his parents to O'Neill in Holt County, Nebraska, where he attended the public schools untill he was 17, worked on a farm, and engaged in the freighting business. He moved to Park City, Utah, in 1883, and worked in mining, prospected, and operated several mines. In 1889, he and his partner David Keith discovered the rich ore that became the famous Silver King Coalition Mine in Park City. THey would eventually own several mines throughout Utah, Nevada, Colorado and California. They also bought the Salt Lake Tribune in 1905. In Park City, Kearns, a Catholic, married Jennie Judge in 1890, with whom he would have three children. He was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy in the term commencing March 4, 1889. He served from January 23, 1901 to March 3, 1905, and lost a later bid. He is buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery. He and his wife's home, the Kearns Mansion, was donated to the state in 1937, and is still used as the official Governor's Mansion.