P. T. Farnsworth

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This page was last updated on March 8, 2026.

(The focus of this page is brief biographical notes of the men that made the mining industry in Utah so successful. Also to establish a timeline using sources not previously readily available.)

As important as the everyday wage worker was to the history of mining in Utah, it was several men with experience, vision and charisma who made the mining industry in Utah so successful. These men developed the networks of mining engineers and financiers to develop the undeveloped or partially developed mining claims to become giant organizations that made money for their shareholders, and in many cases, kept the mines as a decent place to work.

P. T. Farnsworth (1849-1920)

(Frisco and Tintic)

Philo Taylor Farnsworth Jr. (15 October 1849 – 19 July 1920) (KWVP-2JL)

P. T. Farnsworth was a resident of Beaver, Utah, in the mid 1880s when he was elected as a legislator representing Beaver and Piute counties. His first newspaper reference, noted as Philo T. Farnsworth, Jr., was in March 1876 when he went to Fillmore to participate in the Territorial Convention. In November 1882 he ran for mayor of the town of Beaver. During the late 1870s, he was a member of the beaver Stake Board of Trade.

As a legislator for Beaver County, Farnsworth traveled to Salt Lake City, where the legislature met in the old Salt Lake City Hall until 1894, when it began meeting in the new Salt Lake City and County building.

As a resident of Beaver, Farnsworth operated a ranch where he managed a herd of 3,000 cattle. On one occasion in October 1888, Farnsworth shipped 22 railroad carloads of cattle to market.

December 18, 1888
"The Horn Silver management will be changed on the first of the year. Mr. P. T. Farnsworth, of Beaver, succeeding Major Hill, who has manipulated the working of the mine for so many years. Mr. Farnsworth is an energetic business man, and it is thought that his policy will be to push out in new directions and attempt to bring the mine back to the excellent working order that existed of old." (Salt Lake Herald, December 18, 1888)

(At this time, Farnsworth moved from Beaver to Frisco, with his family remaining in Beaver except for regular visits.)

February 1, 1889
"Mr. P. T. Farnsworth of the Horn Silver has shipped 300 tons of ore, and could have shipped 200 more had there been cars sufficient. The people of Frisco are jubilant over the new management of the mine and justly think a bright future is before them." (Beaver Utah Utonian, February 1, 1889)

(Farnsworth did not run for re-election for his legislative seat in July 1889.)

When it opened for business on May 6, 1890, Philo T. Farnsworth was a director of the newly formed State Bank of Utah. He had not yet moved from Beaver to Salt Lake City by this time. In March 1889, he was one of the organizers of the Home Life Insurance company of Utah, also located in Salt Lake City. Both were well known as "Mormon" organizations, with the same leadership as the LDS church.

September 8, 1891
P. T. Farnsworth was elected as manager of the Austin Silver mine in Austin, Nevada. -- Mining operations were to be resumed upon the old Manhattan Mining and Reduction company's property in Austin, Nevada, which had been sold on September 8th to the Austin Mining Co. of Chicago. The new company's officers were as follows: A. C. Washington, President; A. N. Phelps Stokes, Treasurer; H. L. Harrison, Secretary; and P. T. Farnsworth, General Manager. Mr. Farnsworth was to be in Austin in a few days to direct operations; and had telegraphed C. W. Hinchcliffe requesting him to take charge of the company's property, and have Mr. Hutchinson continue the present operations until his arrival. (Salt Lake Tribune, September 16, 1891, quoting the Austin Reveille)

(The Manhattan Mining and Reduction company had closed in 1887, but had been one of the star performing mines during Austin's boom times of the 1860s to 1880s, and the Austin Mining company was the Stokes family's attempt in 1891 to restart the production of the mine to provide traffic for their Nevada Central Railroad. Farnsworth immediately set about repairing the inactive shafts and underground drifts and crosscuts. The Austin mine was the center of the Reese River mining district, and was the remnant of the Manhattan Silver Mining Company which began buying up smaller claims and mills in 1865. By the 1870s, they owned nearly every major mine in the canyon.)

(In July 1891, Stokes met Mr. P. T. Farnsworth, manager of the Horn Silver Mining Company, and Mr. A. C. Washington, president. They owned mining property in central Nevada and had done a large business with Stokes' Nevada Central Railroad. They had recently surveyed mines in the Austin area and proposed a partnership with Stokes. The company they formed along with Stokes was the Austin Mining Company, organized to restart the old Manhattan mine at Austin. The reorganized mine was initially profitable but became unprofitable owing to the depressed silver prices of the period 1893-1895. In 1898 Stokes was made aware that Farnsworth was possibly not acting in his best interests, and in July 1898, Farnsworth was replaced as manager of the Austin Mining company.)

(In March 1896, with P. T. Farnsworth still as general manager, the Austin Mining company was completing its drain tunnel, which was into the mountain 5,000 feet, with 1,500 feet yet to go to connect with its shaft, which had reached 700 feet below the surface. The tunnel had been started in 1893 and when the tunnel was finished, its portal, which was near the Nevada Central railroad depot in Austin, would be the location of the mining company's power house, compressor and mill. The tunnel will also remove the expense of hoisting ore and waste to the surface using the shaft. The mine was working 80 claims using two shafts, which were connected underground.)

(Anson Phelps Stokes (1838–1913) was the "Phelps" of the very successful Phelps Dodge & Co. mercantile and later, copper company. He had a son and a grandson by the same name. He was patriarch of the family's greatest wealth, and a merchant, banker, and developer. He was a major figure in New York City real estate and built "Shadowbrook," which at the time was the largest private residence in the United States. The Phelps Stokes family was part of the Gilded Age of American business.)

P. T. Farnsworth was reported in newspapers throughout the 1890s as being in Salt Lake City on a regular basis, taking acre of the business of the Horn Silver mine, and the Austin mine. Such trips from Beaver would have been by way of coach from Beaver to Milford, a distance of 30 miles by way of Minersville. From Milford there was railroad service to Salt Lake City. The trip would require an overnight stay at Milford, since the train to Salt Lake City departed Milford at about 6:30 am. The train trip itself typically took 10 to 12 hours, which then required an overnight stay in Salt Lake City prior to conducting any business.

In December 1892, George Q. Cannon, a senior leader in the LDS church, transferred 15,000 shares of the Bullion Beck company that he personally held, to P. T. Farnsworth as trustee for Cannon's interest in the company. Cannon also transferred an additional 600 shares to Farnsworth for his own personal account. Farnsworth was already involved in the Bullion Beck company, and was also the successful manager of the Horn Silver mine near Milford. (December 1892, The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press)

(excerpts)

I felt much impressed to send for Brother P. T. Farnsworth today, and I had a long conversation with him about the Bullion-Beck property. He said he would not want to touch it unless it could be made perfectly safe. I told him I would like to give him a portion of it, so that he would have an interest in the matter, and I wanted him to look after it strictly. I explained to him my position and my feelings, that to me it was not pleasant business to be in contact with men in whom I had no confidence; in fact, I had no taste for it, and no inclination, even if I had the time, to attend to it. He told me that he would do anything in his power; that President Woodruff had said to him some time since, that he wished him to take hold and help me, had impressed him and he had thought a good many times of it since, but he had been so busy that he had let it pass. (George Q. Cannon, letter dated December 5, 1892)

I also had a conversation with Brother P. T. Farnsworth, in the presence of Bishop Clawson, concerning the turning over of my interest in the Bullion-Beck mine in trust to him. I desired to learn from him what number of shares I ought to turn over to him for him to be the bona fide owner of, as I desired to have him interested in the property and to compensate him for that which he would do for me. I told him then I would let him have 600, with which he seemed to be quite satisfied. The price we agreed to call it was $9 a share. I consider this much below its actual value, but as it makes no difference particularly, I was willing to let it go at that. (George Q. Cannon, letter dated December 14, 1892)

I divided my stock as follows: 600 shares to P. T. Farnsworth personally; 15000 shares to be in his hands in trust for me; 889 shares and a fraction to stand in my name on the books. I suggested that he have a certificate drawn for himself for 600 shares, and then three certificates, of 5000 each, for himself also, being the amount that he is to hold in trust, and certificate for 889 shares and a fraction in my name. We had some conversation as to the effect safety of this stock in his hands in the event of his death, or his getting embarrassed; and while there is some danger connected with it, it was thought to be the best way that could be for him to endorse the stock and have it pinned with the document that we had both signed, and be put in escrow, in the hands of Abraham H. Cannon. I have had a fear of late that owing to Brother Beck's embarrassments, he might get squeezed and lose control of the property, and I have such a large interest in the mine that he cannot get squeezed without my feeling the pressure also. I have not the confidence that I would like to have in those who are associated with him in the controlling of this property. Brother Farnsworth has a high reputation as a good manager. According to his statement, we are paying more than twice as much for getting ore out of our property than he is doing as manager of the Horn Silver mine, although he has a long distance to freight, and it costs $5 or $6 a month for him to haul his water. I am putting a good deal of responsibility in his hands; still I feel clear in doing so, for I have had this matter under consideration for a long time, and am led to do the right thing. (George Q. Cannon, letter dated December 15, 1892)

February 21, 1894
P. T. Farnsworth (from the Horn Silver at Frisco, and the Austin Silver mine at Austin, Nevada) had been appointed as the temporary manager of the Bullion Beck company, and was elected to fill the director seat vacated by A. E. Hyde, who was voted off the board, and removed as manager. "Under the careful management of Mr. Farnsworth, the mines must of necessity make even a better showing than before. That gentleman will take charge today." (Salt Lake Herald, February 21, 1894)

March 20, 1894
"P. T. Farnsworth, manager of the Austin Mining and Milling company, and the Horn Silver, and president of the Bullion-Beck and Champion Mining company, arrived from the west yesterday morning and returned again last evening on urgent business. 'The fluctuations of silver is having a terribly depressing effect upon the mines of Nevada and the owners of many of them are contemplating a cessation of operations,' he said yesterday to a Herald reporter. 'They depend entirely upon the silver in their ores, there being few which carry enough gold or lead to pay for reduction. A farther material reduction in the price of silver will mean that all of the mines of Nevada will be closed and much suffering will be the result. The mill at the Horn Silver is all ready to resume operations and will probably be turning out concentrates again in a few days.'" (Salt Lake Herald, March 20, 1894)

August 3, 1894
"One of the biggest cattle shipments of the year started over the Union Pacific from Milford yesterday. It consists of five special trains of twenty cars each, and about 2300 head are on board. These cattle are the property of P. T. Farnsworth and are the result of this year's roundup, being in condition for the Chicago market." (Salt Lake Tribune, August 3, 1894)

September 7, 1894
"The affairs of the Bullion-Beck Mining Company have been given another big shaking up. The contest for control that has been going on for some months past culminated Tuesday night when, at a session of the board of directors that lasted into the night, President Farnsworth was relieved of his duties in connection with the management of the mine. C. S. Burton's resignation as treasurer and director was also accepted and he was succeeded by Frank Knox." (Tooele Transcript, September 7, 1894)

September 14, 1894
"As a result of the recent change in the management of the Bullion-Beck mine the following officers have been elected: John Beck, general manager; Frank Knox, secretary and treasurer. P. T. Farnsworth will continue as president, but will not be in active charge of the property. Captain Smith will continue as foreman, the directors being much pleased with his work." (Tooele Transcript, September 14, 1894)

October 2, 1894
At the annual meeting of the Horn Silver Mining company held "yesterday afternoon" in Salt Lake City, 320,826 shares, out of a possible 400,00, were represented. Mr. Farnsworth retains the management of the company's interests, over which he has so well presided for several years. President Washington expressed the satisfaction of the eastern stockholders at the methods adopted in the operation of the property." (Salt Lake Herald, October 3, 1894)

October 5, 1894
At the semi-annual meeting of the stockholders of the Zion's Co-operative mercantike Institution (ZCMI), the stockholders proceeded to re-elect the old officers and board of directors, as follows: President, Wilford Woodruff; vice-president, Moses Thatcher; secretary, T. G. Webber; treasurer, A. W. Carlson. Directors, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith, Heber J. Grant, George Romney, John R. Winder, Henry Dinwoodey, P. T. Farnsworth, J. R. Barnes, W. H. Rowe, John Henry Smith and F. M. Lyman. (Salt Lake Herald, October 6, 1894)

November 20, 1894
"The condition of President P. T. Farnsworth, of the Bullion-Beck, was somewhat improved last night, but he is still a very sick man. It will be several weeks before he will be able to again shoulder his great business responsibilities." (Salt Lake Herald, November 20, 1894)

January 10, 1895
"P. T. Farnsworth yesterday received advices from the ranch of the Blackfoot Cattle company, where Murdock & Farnsworth are feeding 2,300 head of steers, to the effect that the cattle are doing extremely well and will be in splendid shape for market in the spring. Since the death of John C. Murdock, Abe Fotheringham has had charge of the stock." (Salt Lake Herald, January 10, 1895)

P. T. Farnsworth Resigns From Austin Mining (1898)

(In July 1898, after Farnsworth was replaced as manager of the Austin Mining company, he continued on with his position with the Horn Silver mine.)

October 12, 1900
"P. T. Farnsworth and W. F. Snyder purchased the Dalton and Lark mining property in Bingham. The consideration was $300,000." (Deseret News, October 12, 1900)

P. T. Farnsworth Resigns From Bullion Beck (1908)

October 20, 1908
"Control of the Bullion Beck and Champion Mining company has passed to the United States Mining company, the acquisition to at some future time be consolidated with the Centennial Eureka, no doubt. For the present, however, a separate organization will be maintained, but the Bullion Beck will be operated by C. E. Allen, the United States company's mine manager, who succeeds P. T. Farnsworth as manager of the Bullion Beck. In the reorganization of the Bullion Beck company Mr. Farnsworth remains on the board, as do Joseph F. Smith, who is vice president, and J. A. Cunningham. The United States company's representatives elected to the board are W. M. Bradley, who is president; C. E. Allen, George W. Heintz and Fred Leon." (Salt Lake Herald, October 20, 1908)

October 23, 1908
"The United States Smelting, Refining & Mining company is now owner of the control of the Bullion-Beck & Champion Mining company. This important deal was consummated Monday morning in the local offices of the Bullion-Beck, when the officials met for a reorganization of the board. P. T. Farnsworth tendered his resignation as president at the meeting, which was accepted. The Bullion-Beck & Champion company is capitalized for only 100,000 shares of stock, and a trifle over 50,000 shares is now in the hands of the United States company. It is understood that this stock was secured from P. T. Farnsworth, the former holder of control, the price being $135,000, or a little less than $3 per share." (Ogden Semi-Weekly Standard, October 23, 1908)

P. T. Farnsworth Resigns From Horn Silver (1913-1914)

(The last reference to P. T. Farnsworth being a director of the Horn Silver Mining was in December 1913.)

June 7, 1914
"For years P. T. Farnsworth, a well-known business man of Salt Lake, who at one time was prominently connected with the old Horn Silver mine near Milford with its $5,662,000 dividend record, has been quietly developing the Rob Roy. He has extracted some extremely rich ore from a number of places, but the unsolved faulting has yet baffled his efforts. Yet he and associates are not one whit discouraged." (Salt Lake Herald, June 7, 1914)

(In mid October 1914 there was an annual meeting of the Horn Silver Mining company in which a n entire new group of directors and officers were elected. This suggests that there was, for unknown reasons, a complete reorganization of the company with P. T. Farnsworth being replaced both as a director and as general manager.)

P. T. Farnsworth Dies (1920)

July 19, 1920
"Death Claims P. T. Farnsworth, Sr. - Another old-time mining operator of Utah and Nevada dropped out of the ranks on the 19th when Philo T. Farnsworth died at his home in this city. During his active career as mining investor, operator and manager, Mr. Farnsworth was prominently identified with a number of bonanza mining propositions of the surrounding country. He was for many years manager of the Horn Silver Mining Company's bonanza at Frisco, Utah; also a prominent figure in the management and operation of the Bullion-Beck, at Tintic. At Austin, Nevada, he was manager of the Austin Gold Mining Company's properties and in many other propositions, since the early days of mining in Utah, his influence and money were applied. During the last few years of his life failing health kept Mr. Farnsworth from participation in business affairs, though his final collapse came unexpectedly." (Salt Lake Mining Review, July 30, 1920)

July 19, 1920
From the Deseret News, July 20, 1920.

Citizen Prominent In Mining And Education Answers Death's Call -- Philo Taylor Farnsworth, Sr., prominent mining man of Salt Lake and a friend of education, died at his home at the Godbe apartments, 164 east South Temple street, Monday night. Death was due to intestinal poisoning. He had been ill since Saturday. Sunday he rallied and was able to walk around but had a sinking spell Sunday night.

He had appeared so well Sunday morning that Philo T. Farnsworth, Jr., a son, left on a vacation trip to Idaho. With the exception of this son and one daughter, Miss Lacy J. Farnsworth, who will arrive Wednesday from Chicago, all the members of the family were at the bedside when death occurred. Funeral arrangements will not be completed until the daughter arrives from Chicago. The body is at the Joseph William Taylor undertaking establishment.

Mr. Farnsworth was born October 15, 1849, at Salt Lake. His parents were Philo Taylor Farnsworth of old New England stock, and Mrs. Margaret Yates Farnsworth, of English descent. He was educated in the city schools and grew up with the state of Utah. He was mayor of Beaver at the time of the visit there of General Phil Sheridan. He saw active service in the Black Hawk and other Indian wars of the state.

He represented Beaver county in the territorial legislature at the time when J. T. Hammond, President Anthon H. Lund and Senator William H. King were members. He also served on the auditing board of the state mental hospital for 15 years.

Mr. Farnsworth was an enthusiastic supporter of education and donated liberally to various institutions of learning in the state. Chief among these donations was his purchase of Fort Cameron, Beaver county, from the federal government and the presentation of the property to the L. D. S. church as a school site. This is now the home of Murdock academy.

Mr. Farnsworth lived in Salt Lake 28 years. He was a member of the board of public works for a number of years, a director of Z. C. M. I. and of the Home Fire Insurance company and the State bank, now the Utah State National.

In mining Mr. Farnsworth was particularly active in Utah and Nevada. He was manager of the Horn Silver Mining company of Frisco, Beaver county, for 20 years. He also served as manager of the Bullion Beck Mining company at Eureka, and the Austin Mining company of Austin, Nev., for about 12 years each. Besides these properties he was identified with the Dalton and Lark mines at Bingham and other mining interests throughout the state and Nevada.

Mr. Farnsworth is survived by his widow, Mrs. Julia P. Murdock Farnsworth, daughter of John R. Murdock, one of the Utah pioneers; and the following children: Mrs. Henry C. Lund, Philo T. Farnsworth, Jr., Mrs. G. Gill Richards, Mrs. E. T. Cannon, Mrs. Hugo B. Anderson, Miss Lacy Farnsworth, Miss Amy Farnsworth and Miss Athene Farnsworth, all of Salt Lake; by three brothers, W. H. Farnsworth and Franklin D. Farnsworth, both of Beaver, and Reuben Farnsworth of Salt Lake; and by three sisters, Mrs. George C. Murdock of Beaver and Mrs. E. M. Mansfield and Miss Alice Farnsworth, both of Salt Lake.

Summary of Life and Achievements:

- Born in Salt Lake City in 1849 to New England and English settlers. He was married to Julia P. Murdock and had a large family of at least eight children.

- He served in the Black Hawk War and held several political offices, including Mayor of Beaver, Utah, and representative in the territorial legislature.

- He was a major benefactor to Utah schools, most notably purchasing Fort Cameron and donating it to the LDS Church to establish Murdock Academy.

- He was a heavyweight in the mining industry, he managed the Horn Silver Mining Company for two decades and held directorships at major institutions like Z.C.M.I. and the Utah State National bank.

July 22, 1920
"Funeral services for Philo T. Farnsworth, mining man, who died Monday night, will be held in his home, apartment No. 4, Godbe apartments, at 11 o'clock Thursday morning. Bishop T. A. Clawson of the Eighteenth ward will conduct the service, the music being under the direction of Professor A. C. Lund. Miss Lacy J. Farnsworth, daughter of Mr. Farnsworth, who is returning from Chicago, is due to arrive in Salt Lake at 4:50 o'clock this afternoon." (Salt Lake Tribune, July 21, 1920)

Philo Taylor Farnsworth Sr. (1826–1887)

August 10, 1887
"The death of Philo T. Farnsworth, at Beaver, last Sunday week, has caused general regret in all parts of Utah. Bishop Farnsworth was well-known, having resided and been an active resident of this Territory since 1848. His family numbered thirty children—twenty sons and ten daughters—twenty-four of whom are now living." (Salt Lake Herald, August 10, 1887)

While he shares a name with his famous grandson—the inventor of the television—the elder Philo was a prominent figure in his own right during the early history of the Utah Territory.

Biographical Highlights

- Birth: January 24, 1826, in Burlington, Ohio.

- Death: July 31, 1887, in Beaver, Utah.

- Arrival in Utah: He arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1848, having helped drive a team of oxen for the Franklin D. Richards company.

- Bishop Farnsworth was a pioneer in the literal sense, helping to establish several settlements in southern Utah

- He was a key figure in the settlement of Beaver, Utah, serving as its first LDS Bishop from 1856 to 1864.

- Beyond his religious duties, he served as a Probate Judge for Beaver County and was a member of the Utah Territorial Legislature.

- He was known for learning the Piute language and often served as an interpreter and mediator between the settlers and the local Native American tribes, who reportedly held him in high regard.

- His large family size - 30 children (20 sons and 10 daughters) - was the result of his practice of polygamy; he had four wives: Margaret Yates, Margaret Adams, Agnes Patterson, and Mary Priscilla Griffiths.

- One of his sons, Lewis Edwin Farnsworth, would later become the father of Philo T. Farnsworth (the inventor), who was born in a log cabin near Beaver in 1906, less than 20 years after his grandfather's death.

Television Inventor

This Philo T. Farnsworth is related to the famous inventor Philo Taylor Farnsworth (1906–1971), who is credited with inventing the all-electronic television. They descend from different polygamy wives of the inventor's grandfather, Philo Taylor Farnsworth Sr. (1826-1887).

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