Thomas Kearns

Thomas Kearns (born April 11, 1862 in Woodstock , Ontario , †  October 18, 1918 in Salt Lake City ) was an American politician of Canadian origin who represented the state of Utah in the US Senate as a Republican .

Born in Canada, Kearns was just a child when his parents moved him to Holt County , Nebraska . There he attended public schools, worked on a farm and was employed in the freight industry. He later settled in Utah, where he lived first in Salt Lake City and later in Park City . He was involved in mining there and was the manager of several mines.

In Park City he was also active politically for the first time as a member of the city council from 1895. That same year he was a delegate to the Utah Constitutional Convention. On January 23, 1901, he then entered the US Senate as a representative of his state. The seat previously held by Frank J. Cannon had been vacant since 1899 after the Utah state legislature failed to confirm Cannon in office or elect a successor. In the by-election, Kearns then prevailed. He remained in Congress until March 3, 1905 and did not run for re-election.

As a result, Kearns turned his attention back to mining. Together with a partner, he owned the Silver King Coalition Mine in Park City and several mines in Utah, Nevada , Colorado and California . He also owned The Salt Lake Tribune newspaper . He was also a partner in the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad and helped ensure its success by completing the rail line between Salt Lake City and Southern California.

Web links

• Thomas Kearns in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• Thomas Kearns in the database of Find a Grave (English)