John Dern

John Dern, who has been elected president of the American mining congress at the convention just held at Los Angeles, is one of the most active mining men in Utah. He came here from Nebraska more than fifteen years ago, and has been successfully engaged in mining since he made this city his home.

His first adventure in a mining way was becoming interested in the old Mercur mine with some of his business associates from Nebraska. They were successful with Mr. Dern at the head of the company. Later they took over the holdings of Captain Delamar in that camp and formed the Consolidated Mercur Mines company, which has paid over $3,000,000 in dividends and is still mining low grade ores in that section of the state. From Mercur he extended his investments into almost every camp in the west, and is the head of Uncle Sam Consolidated, Lower Mammoth and May Day Mining companies in Tintic.

Mr. Dern has taken an active part in the American mining congress since its inception, and was one of its charter members. He has always occupied one of the executive offices, and has several times refused to allow his name to go before the convention as its president. Upon his return from Europe recently he decided that since the congress had been successful in getting the establishment of the bureau of mines by the government, there was more work to be done which would better mining conditions. He went to the convention at Los Angeles, and has taken active part in its deliberations.

John Dern, 71, prominent mining and business man of Utah, died at his home, 715 east South Temple street, at 7:15 o'clock this morning. Death was due to heart failure from which he had been suffering several weeks.

Mr. Dern was stricken Thanksgiving day while attending a football game on Cummings field. He was in a serious condition for several days but later rallied and was considered much improved. He began to fail again Sunday, however, and sank rapidly till the end.

A native of Germany, Mr. Dern was born October 24, 1850, at Haussen by Giessen, Oberhessen. The first 15 years of his life was spent in his native country and during that period his early education training was supplemented by study in the academy of Giessen, Germany from 1863 to 1865. He came to the United States in 1865 living on a farm and completing his education in the schools of Illinois. He went to Fremont, Nebraska after the completion of the Union Pacific railroad through that state and subsequently became identified with various activities, including farming, the grain, coal and livestock business, and banking. In 1888 he was elected senator from the tenth senatorial district of Nebraska and from 1890 to 1894 he was treasurer of Dodge county.

While yet a resident of Nebraska Mr. Dern became interested in Utah mining property about 30 years ago and he became one of the founders of the Consolidated Mercur Gold Mines company, which under his direction was developed into a bonanza and paid millions in dividends. His mining interests were extensive, having large holdings in Tintic properties, and for years he was president and general manager of the Uncle Sam Consolidated Mining company at Tintic; vice president and manager of the Lower Mammoth Mining company of the same district; president and general manager of the May Day Mining and Milling company, besides holding a directorship and heavy interests in numerous mining properties in other districts of Utah and Nevada. As the years passed he became identified with some of the most important corporate interests of Salt Lake, including financial and commercial institutions. He was president and one of the organizers of the Gibson Commercial company, wholesale grocers of this city; vice president of the Bankers' Trust company and also of the National Copper Bank of Salt Lake. He was also president of the Calloway, Hoock & Francis company and a member of the directorate of the Mason Mercantile company of Mason, Nevada. He was for years one of the directors of the Salt Lake Hardware company and was a director of the Highland Store company of Bingham, being one of the incorporators of that institution. Mr. Dern was a large holder of Salt Lake real estate and also had extensive interests in Nebraska. He was also a director of the Dixie Power company.

Possessed of keen judgment and imbued with a spirit of progress and enterprise, Mr. Dern became a leading industrial and business figure in the state of Utah. In his political views he was a stalwart Democrat and did much in shaping the policy of his party in Utah during the years of his residence in this state. He had on various occasions been called upon for public service and was a trustee of the Agricultural College at Logan and also a member of the Utah State Capitol commission, manifesting great interest in the erection of the state capitol. In club life he was well known, being a popular member of several organizations, including the Alta club, and did active work with the Commercial club in the interests of civic and community progress. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar, and had long been a representative of that order. He was likewise connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

The activities of Mr. Dern covered a broad scope, touching the general interests and welfare of society as well as the development of the material wealth of the state.

Mr. Dern is survived by the following children: Mrs. George Haslam of Fremont, Neb.; George H. Dern, Mrs. J. C. Dick, Fred C. Dern, Mrs. Elizabeth D. Cunningham, all of Salt Lake and who were at his bedside when he died. Mrs. Dern died about three years ago.

Besides his children, he is also survived by 13 grandchildren.