Thomas Kearns
| Thomas Kearns | |
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United States Senator from Utah |
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In office January 23, 1901 – March 4, 1905 |
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| Preceded by | Frank J. Cannon |
| Succeeded by | George Sutherland |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 11, 1862 , British Canada |
| Died | October 18, 1918 (aged 56) Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Jennie Judge |
| Children | 4 |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Thomas Kearns (April 11, 1862 – October 18, 1918) was a mining, banking, railroad and newspaper magnate. He was a United States Senator from Utah from 1901 to 1905.
Born near (now in Canada, but a British colony at the time of his birth), he moved with his parents to O'Neill in Holt County, Nebraska, where he attended the public schools until he was 17, worked on his family 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 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. In Park City, Kearns, a Catholic, married Jennie Judge in 1890 in Salt Lake City. They had four children: Margaret Ann (1892-1893), Edmund Judge (1893-1936), Thomas Francis (1897-1967), and Helen Marie (1899-1943).
Kearns served in the City Council of Park City in 1895. He was a member of the Utah constitutional convention of 1895, where he worked for an eight-hour work day.
He was elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy in the term commencing March 4, 1899. At the time, U.S. Senators were still selected by state legislatures. Utah's state legislators had already indicated they would not support the incumbent, Republican Frank J. Cannon, for reelection.Alfred W. McCune, one of Salt Lake City's most prominent businessmen, sought and won the backing of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in his bid for the seat. But the legislature quickly deadlocked over the election. One-hundred and twenty-one ballots were cast, and no winner emerged. On February 18, a state representative accused McCune of trying to buy his vote. A seven-member legislative voted 7-to-2 to absolve McCune of the charge, and although balloting resumed on March 8 McCune still lacked enough votes to win office (he had only 25 votes). The legislature adjourned without having chosen a senator.
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