Thomas Kearns was born in Ontario, Canada, on April 11, 1862. He traveled with his parents to Holt County, Nebraska, where he worked in both farming and freighting. In 1883 he moved to Park City, Utah, where he owned several mining operations with his partner David Keith, including the Silver King Coalition Mine. Kearns also owned mines in Nevada, Colorado, and California. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1899 and served from 1901-1905. Kearns did not seek re-election and instead returned to his mining businesses and also went into publishing, having purchased the Salt Lake Tribune in 1901. He was one of the original incorporators of the San Pedro, Los Angeles, & Salt Lake Railroad. Kearns died in Salt Lake City on October 18, 1918. The house where Kearns and his wife, Jennie Judge, lived is now the Utah Governor's Mansion.
From the description of Senator Thomas Kearns of Utah: a sketch, 1930. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 658901412
