Thomas Weir

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Thomas Weir

As important as the everyday wage worker was to the history of Bingham, it was several men with vision and charisma who made the mines of the Bingham Mining District so successful. These men developed the networks of mining engineers and financiers to develop undeveloped or partially developed mining claims to become giant organizations that made money for their shareholders, and at least until 1980, kept the mines as a decent place to work.

Thomas Weir came to Utah in the early 1890s, managing various mines in the Bingham mines. He became associated with Samuel Newhouse in about 1895 and together they developed the Highland Boy gold mine of the Utah Consolidated mining company, then the Boston Consolidated mining company adjacent to the Highland Boy mine. Both Weir and Newhouse cut their ties with the Boston Consolidated company in 1910 when it was bought by the Utah Copper company. After 1910, both men remained in Utah, and were active in developing other mines. Thomas Weir died in June 1932 in Salt Lake City, at age 77.

From the history of the Weir-Cosgriff mansion at 505 East on South Temple Street in Salt Lake City.

Thomas Weir and Samuel Newhouse seemed destined to be together, at least for a time. They were both born in the state of New York; both were intrigued with mining opportunities in the West where they were associated, first in Leadville, Colorado, then in Bingham Canyon with the beginning of the copper industry there. Both had white pillared homes on the grand boulevard of Brigham Street.

Weir was born near Cambridge in 1855 and educated to be a mining and civil engineer. He came west to Leadville, then a boom town, and became associated with Samuel Newhouse. In 1886 he married Clara Pond Treadway in Denver. His arrival in Utah in 1894 was probably at the same time as Newhouse's, because in 1896 the two were reported to have purchased the Highland Boy Mine in Bingham Canyon. Their diverse talents strengthened their relationship.

Weir remained on home ground where his knowledge of engineering was used to advantage; and Newhouse, the promoter, went off to London where he successfully obtained capital for the new venture. This transaction resulted in the organization of the Utah Consolidated Gold Mines, Limited, a British company, with Samuel Newhouse as president and Thomas Weir as general manager.

The Weir-Newhouse team was responsible for Bingham's first important shipment of copper ore. It left Highland Boy Mine in December 1896. The following year the two organized the Boston Consolidated Mining Company which was eventually sold to Utah Copper Company.

From the beginning of Weir's career in Colorado he had held high positions in the mining field. In Colorado he was assistant manager in the A. Y. Mine, and three years later became general manager of the A. Y. and Minnie Mine. In Montana, where he operated from 1888 to 1893, he became general manager of the Granite Mountain Mining Company. In Utah he was general manager of Highland Boy Mining Company, manager of Boston Consolidated, director of Ohio Copper Company, and president of Ajax Mining Company. Additionally, he was owner and manager of Weir Salt Company, vice-president of Walker Brothers Bank, and a member of the Alta and Commercial clubs of Salt Lake City.

October 18, 1884
"The Leadville Herald has the following: A. Y. - Mr. Samuel Harsh has disposed of his interest in the A. Y. mine to his partners, Messrs. Graham and Guggenheim, and resigned the management. Mr. Thomas Weir will succeed him." (Engineering and Mining Journal, Volume 38, October 18, 1884)

December 1, 1888
"Mr. Thomas Weir, manager of the A Y and Minnie mines, of Leadville, Colorado, has resigned in order to accept management of the Granite Mining Company, of Montana." (Engineering ad Mining Journal, December 1, 1888, Volume 46, Number 22, page 464)

December 20, 1888
"Thomas A. Weir has been appointed superintendent of of the Granite Mountain mining company, and assumed his official position last Monday morning [December 17th]. Mr. Weir was formerly manager of the A. Y. and Minnie Mining company of Leadville, Colo., and has had great and varied experience in the mining line for years past." (Philipsburg Mail [Deer Lodge County, Montana], December 20, 1888)

March 21, 1891
Thomas Weir was the subject of an article in the national publication, Engineering and Mining Journal, March 21, 1891, Volume 51.

Thomas Weir. -- A man who has successively directed the affairs of two of the greatest silver mining companies in the United States may well be selected as a representative of this important branch of the mining industry. This honor has fallen to Thomas Weir, who, although still a comparatively young man, has already achieved a high reputation as a mining engineer.

Mr. Weir was born in Coila, Washington County, N. Y, on February 14th, 1855. He received his early education at the Washington County Academy in Cambridge, where be prepared for Union College, which he entered at the age of 17. There he took a course in civil engineering, and he was evidently an apt student, for when he graduated, in 1876, he stood at the head of his class. For a year after leaving college, Mr. Weir taught school at Cambridge, N. Y., but in March, 1878, abandoned this, and removed to Beatrice, Neb. In the following August he obtained employment in connection with the Government improvement work on the Missouri River at Omaha and Council Bluffs. Early in the next year, however, he was transferred to the Mississippi River Commission to assist in the surveying work. He also had charge of a party engaged in making borings in the marine deposits along the lower river.

Attracted by the mining excitement, then at its height, in the new district at Leadville, Colo., Mr. Weir resigned his position with the Mississippi River Commission and went thither in March, 1880. He occupied himself with general surveying work until August of the following year, when he was offered and accepted a position as Secretary and Mining Engineer with the A. Y. and Minnie Mines, which were then just being opened. Mr. Weir performed his duties so creditably that in October, 1884, he was promoted to the general management of the property, which, by this time, was giving promise of becoming one of the most important mines in the Leadville district. It was located between the Stone mine of the Iron Silver Mining Company and the Colonel Sellers, upon a portion of the great ore deposit known as the Stone chute, one of the largest bodies of silver-lead ore ever known.

At the time that Mr. Weir assumed the management of this property, the great ore body had been only partially opened, and to him fell the task of its further development, together with the exploration of the northern portion of the mines, in which the Smuggler and White Cap ore chutes were supposed to lie.

This work he performed in most intelligent, careful and systematic manner, and under his management the mine paid large dividends to its owners. The Minnie ore was mined at a lower cost than in any other sulphide mine in Leadville at that time. The cost of management and superintendence was reduced to a particularly low figure, in great contrast to the practice in many of the other mines.

Mr. Weir was distinguished for his caution and conservatism and the care with which he attended to the minutest details in connection with his duties. Dressing works were erected at the mine in 1887, and he was the only man who, up to that time, had successfully concentrated these complex and difficult ores.

In March, 1888, after the exploration of the great Minnie ore body had been practically completed and the work of extraction commenced, Mr. Weir resigned his position to accept the superintendency of the mine and mills of the Granite Mountain Company, of Montana. The record of this wonderful property during the past two years is well known to the readers of the Engineering and Mining Journal. The sum of $4,800,000 has been distributed in dividends to its shareholders during this time. In the operation of this mine and the amalgamating mills connected with it, Mr. Weir has shown the same marked ability as he did in Leadville.

Mr. Weir is a man of quiet and somewhat reserved manner, but his kind, honest and hearty character has won him a host of friends. He is exceptionally modest and seldom speaks of his own connection with his work. He has attained his present high position and the esteem and confidence in which he is held by his employers, through his own merits alone.

March 10, 1893
"Youngest Mine Manager In Montana is Thomas Weir of the Granite Mountain. He has directed work on the property since 1888, when Captain J. W. Plummer, now manager of the famous De Lamar mine of Idaho, was forced out. Mr. Weir is 38 years old, a native of Washington county, N. Y.; was graduated from Union college, Schenectady in 1876, and afterward engaged in United States river improvements on the Missouri and Lower Mississippi. In 1879 Mr. Weir went to Leadville, where he was a mineral land surveyor, and in August, 1880, became secretary and chief engineer of the A. Y. mine. In 1884 he also became assistant manager of the property. He was then placed in full charge of that mine and of the Minnie, where he remained until December, 1888. Then he received a telegram from St. Louis, and in 48 hours after reaching there was placed in charge of the Granite Mountain." (Anaconda Standard, March 10, 1893)

March 11, 1893
"A Change of Management. -- April 1, Thomas Weir will cease to act as manager of the Granite Mountain mine Philipsburg and that his place will be filled by J. D. Henley, at present acting manager of the Drum Lummon. It is understood that Mr. Weir will take charge of some properties in the state of Washington, owned by a New York syndicate." (Anaconda Recorder, March 11, 1893)

(Thomas Weir stated that the reason for his change of location was to seek employment at a lower altitude, from Montana to Washington, because his wife's health was suffering due to Granite's high altitude. -- Helena Independent Record, March 23, 1893) (Granite, Montana, now a ghost town, was at 7,100 feet above sea level, and was three miles east of Philipsburg, which in-turn is 54 miles west and north of Butte.)

(Weir's new employment was with the Monte Cristo Coal & Iron Milling company, at Everett, located north of Seattle. -- Anaconda Recorder, April 1, 1893; April 8, 1893; Missoula Western Democrat, July 2, 1893)

February 17, 1894
Thomas Weir resigned his position as general superintendent of the Monte Cristo mine and concentrator at Everett, Washington, and had gone to Salt Lake City, "having left yesterday." (Tacoma Daily Ledger, February 18, 1894)

(By August 1895, Thomas Weir was referred to as "the well-known mining expert" and had just returned to Salt Lake City from an inspection trip to the Sterling Mining & Milling company at Belmont, Nye County, Nevada. -- Salt Lake Herald, August 11, 1895)

(In October 1895, Weir was referred to as being "well known in the Intermountain region as a successful mine manager. -- Salt Lake Tribune, October 21, 1895)

January 1, 1896
An advertisement: "Thomas Weir, Mining Engineer, Room 323 Atlas Block, Salt Lake, P.O.Box 323." (Salt Lake Tribune, January 1, 1896)

August 1896
"Mr. Thos. Weir, formerly of the celebrated Granite Mountain mine in Montana, and under whose direction the A. Y. and Minnie mines at Leadville, Col., were developed, has accepted the management of the Highland Boy mine and other properties of Samuel Newhouse at Bingham, Utah." (The Colliery Engineer And Metal Miner, Volume 17, No. 1, August 1896, page 167, "Personals")

October 1896
Highland Boy Gold Mining Company was organized in October 1896 as the U.S. subsidiary of Utah Consolidated Gold Mines, Ltd. of London. Between 1898 and 1900, the company shipped the majority of the copper from Bingham district, as sulfide ores. By 1901, the Highland Boy mine was the "chief" producer of copper in the Bingham District. ("Economic Geology of the Bingham Mining District, Utah", USGS Professional Paper 38, 1905, pp. 265, 268)

November 1896
Thomas Weir assumed the position of manager of the Highland Boy mine in November 1896. (Engineering and Mining Journal, May 22, 1897, Volume 63, Issue 21, page 523)

December 31, 1897
Thomas Weir and his wife deeded 43 patented mining claims in the Bingham Mining District to Samuel Newhouse.

The following comes from the April 24, 1898 issue of the Salt Lake Herald Republican newspaper:

Transfer Of Bingham Mining Claims -- The Title to Fifty-six Lodes Vested In Samuel Newhouse.- - An important deed bearing date of Dec. 31, 1897, was filed in the office of County Recorder Jensen yesterday. For a consideration of $138,500 Thomas Weir and wife convey to Samuel Newhouse, of Denver, the following mining property and appurtenances in West Mountain mining district (43 patented mining claims).

April 9, 1898
Thomas Weir and Alfred Bettles of Salt Lake City, with Samuel Newhouse of Denver, received a patent: 601,201, Method or Process of Extracting precious Metals From Their Ores. the process included neutralizing the acid in the ore, then placing the ore in a solution of cyanide of potassium and subjecting it to agitation, then applying quicksilver and typical amalgamation. (Engineering and Mining Journal, April 9, 1898, Volume 65, Issue 15, page 437)

September 17, 1898
Thomas Weir and Samuel Newhouse secured a bond and lease on the Honerine mine near Stockton. The Honerine consisted of 12 patented claims, with application to patent nine more. During the 1880s, the Honerine was a regular shipper of lead and silver, but the declining silver and lead prices, and "careless management had their effect and the property almost dropped out of sight. Mr. Weir recently completed an examination." (Engineering and Mining Journal, September 17, 1898, Volume 66, Issue 12, page 349)

(They gave up the bond and lease in late December 1898 after a deluge on December 22nd flooded the mine. -- E&MJ, Dec 31, 1898)

November 11, 1898
The Boston Consolidated Mining company, a company organized in New York, filed its certificate in Utah with the Salt Lake County clerk. Samuel Newhouse was president. Thomas Weir of Salt Lake City was designated as the company's agent in Utah. (Salt Lake Herald, November 12, 1898, "yesterday")

April 8, 1899
"Samuel Newhouse has taken the presidency at Ajax, and Thomas Weir is managing director. The mine has a copper record, which has given currency to the rumor of its being listed in Boston." (Engineering and Mining Journal, Volume 67, Issue 14, page 427)

April 14, 1899
Thomas Weir, as managing director, took hold the the Ajax company and began much needed improvements, including a new hoisting plant which would give the company hoisting capability down to a 1200-foot level. The main working shaft was to to the 700-foot level and the new hoists would allow expansion down to the 1200-foot level. Other improvements included the company's own compressor plant, allowing a considerable saving over its current method of buying compressed air from the nearby Sioux-Ajax Tunnel company. (Salt Lake Herald, April 14, 1899)

May 20, 1899
"Mr. Thomas Weir, having surrendered the management of the Utah Consolidated to the Standard Oil folks, is enjoying a month's outing in the East. He plans to return to Salt Lake City about the middle of June." (Engineering and Mining Journal, May 20, 1899, Volume 67, Issue 20, page 596)

July 8, 1899
"Boston Consolidated. - Thomas Weir has tendered his resignation as manager, which was accepted." (Engineering and Mining Journal, July 8, 1899, Volume 68, Issue 2, page 15)

September 22, 1900
"Piegan. [Montana] - The Marion Mining Company, which owns this property at Marysville, has given an option to purchase to Thomas Weir of Salt Lake. The terms are not known. Development work from the winze which is sunk at a point 800 ft. in the tunnel and is down 100 ft. is showing up well, being all in ore of good milling value." (Engineering and Mining Journal, September 8, 1900, Volume 70, Issue 12, page 349)

October 27, 1900
"Ajax. - On October 15th the annual meeting was held in Salt Lake City, resulting in the selection of the following officers and directors: Thomas Weir, president; George A. Lowe, vice-president; C. K. McCormick, treasurer; H. M. Ryan, W. H. Dickson, Samuel Newhouse and Frank Knox; all directors. Exploration has been satisfactory." (Engineering and Mining Journal, October 27, 1900, Volume 70, Issue 17, page 500)

November 1, 1902
"Ajax Mining Company. - At the recent annual meeting the following trustees and officers were elected: Thomas Weir, president; George A. Lowe, vice-president; W. S. McCornick, treasurer; J. M. Burt, secretary; these, with P. L. Kimberley, James Ivers and Henry M. Ryan completing the board. Messrs. Kimberley and Ivers replace C. K. McCornick and W. H. King." (Engineering and Mining Journal, November 1, 1902, Volume 74, issue 18, page 599)

July 21, 1906
Thomas Weir was active as a consultant for mining engineering. "The Ohio Copper Company's mines at Bingham are to have heavier equipment. For some time the mine has been undergoing development along lines recommended by Thomas Weir who was employed to examine it. The mill is running on 200 tons of ore per day, all of which is encountered in development." (Engineering and Mining Journal, July 21, 1906, Volume 82, Issue 3, page 129)

(Read more about Ohio Copper company)

September 15, 1906
Thomas Weir was elected as a director and manager of Ohio Copper company at Bngham. (Engineering and Mining Journal, September 15, 1906, Volume 82, Issue 11, page 519)

(On November 24, 1906, control of Ohio Copper Company passed to F. Augustus Heinze, as a subsidiary of his United Copper Company. At which time Thomas Weir resigned as manager.)

May 22, 1907
The Ute Copper Company was incorporated on Wednesday (May 22). Its organizers included Thomas Weir, his brother John Weir, Newton Catrow and his brother Henry Catrow, all of whom were previously involved in the Ohio Copper company prior to it being sold to the Heinze interests. The new company owned a 200-ton concentrating mill, and 225 acres of mineralized ground, with a frontage of 4,500 feet along the railroad line in Bingham canyon, allowing for an opening along any point as convenient. The old Weir tunnel was located on the same property, and would be extended and expanded from its present 900-foot depth to become the main workings of the new company. Thomas Weir had purchased the old Winnamuck property in January and had ordered a new compressor to begin opening up new ground. (Salt Lake Herald, May 23, 1907; Salt Lake Tribune, May 23, 1907)

November 9, 1907
Thomas Weir was re-elected as president of the Ajax Mining Company, one of the oldest mining concerns operating in the Tintic district. The company had cleared an indebtedness of about $40,000 during the past year and had over $20,000 in the treasury. During the year ending Oct. 1, last, 8,091 tons of ore were marketed and 981 ft. of develoinnent work performed. (Engineering and Mining Journal, November 9, 1907, Volume 84, Issue 19, page 895)

December 7, 1907
Thomas Weir was still a director of the Ohio Copper company. (Engineering and Mining Journal, December 7, 1907, Volume 84, Issue 23, page 1082)

May 23, 1908
Thomas Weir and Henry Catrow, of Salt Lake, and A. J. Catrow, of Miamisburg, Ohio, were owners of the large minority interests in the Ohio Copper mine and were in New York to confer with the majority interests in working out a plan to finance the enterprise. (Engineering and Mining Journal, May 23, 1908, Volume 85, Issue 21, page 1068)

January 28, 1911
Thomas Weir was elected as a director of the Bullion Coalition mine in Tooele County. The company took over the old Honerine, Honerine Extension, and several other mines at Stockton the first the year." (Engineering and Mining Journal, January 28, 1911, Volume 91, Issue 4, page 241)

July 18, 1925
Thomas Weir sold the Ute Copper company and its holdings to the Bingham Mines company. (Engineering and Mining Journal, July 18, 1925, Volume 120, Issue 3, page 101)

June 20, 1932
From the Salt Lake Tribune, June 20, 1932.

Thomas Weir, 77, one of the leading mining figures of the west for the last 35 years and active worker in the First Presbyterian church, died in a local hospital Sunday at 7:05 a. m. of cerebral hemorrhage, following a few days' illness.

During his residence in Utah, Mr. Weir was actively engaged in mining, both as manager, operator and owner in developments. Coming to a Utah in the early '90s, following management of mines in Colorado and Montana, he helped organize the Highland Boy mine in Bingham and was its first manager. He was associated in this and other work with the late Samuel Newhouse, and constructed what was said to be the first tramway in Utah at the property.

Developed Boston Consolidated -- Mr. Weir and Mr. Newhouse developed the Boston Consolidated mine, about 1898, near the Highland Boy location, and Mr. Weir managed this several years, until it was taken over by the Utah Copper company. Mr. Weir and B. F. Bauer then organized the Bullion Coalition mine at Stockton, Utah, with the former as manager. The property later was taken over by the National Lead company.

Besides these activities, Mr. Weir also was an influential figure in the Tintic district, helping organize the Laclede mine, of which he was manager and part owner for several years.

Prior to his coming to Utah, Mr. Weir was manager of the A. Y. Minnie mine at Leadville, Colo., and later was manager of a mine in Philipsburg, Mont. He also was engaged in reclamation work for the government several years on the Mississippi river, near St. Louis.

Prominent in Church Work -- Prominent in work of the First Presbyterian church, Mr. Weir was for the past 12 years teacher of the Thomas Weir Bible class and was an elder at the time of his death. He was one of the heaviest contributors to the fund for construction of the present building of the church, and was long known for his support of church activities.

He was a world-wide traveler and prior to the World war made a trip around the world.

Born in Cambridge, N. Y., February 14, 1855, Mr. Weir was graduated from the Union college in Schenectady, N. Y. in 1876, where he was an outstanding student. About five years ago he learned from the president of the college that his work was of such high caliber that his , records have been kept on permanent file at the college library.

Funeral Services Wednesday -- Mr. Weir's first wife, Clara Treadway Weir, died in April of 1916, and he married Elizabeth Patterson of Berkeley, Cal., in 1920.

Surviving are the widow and two sons, Thomas and Benjamin Weir, 53 Sixth East street, and two brothers, John Weir of Salt Lake and Joseph Weir of St. Louis.

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 2 p. m. in the First Presbyterian church. The pastor, the Rev. Theodore G. Lilley, will be in charge, assisted by the Rev. H. W. Reherd, president of Westminster college, and the Rev. W. H. Ensign, pastor of Westminster church. Interment will be in the family plot in Mt. Olivet cemetery.

(At the time of his death, Thomas Weir "owned a large acreage of mineral ground located between the old town of Diamond and Silver City" in the Tintic mining district. -- Eureka Reporter, June 23, 1932)

June 23, 1932
"Funeral services for Thomas Weir, 77, one of the leading mining men of the west, who died in a local hospital Sunday at 7:05 a. m. of cerebral hemorrhage, were held in the First Presbyterian church Wednesday at 2 p. m. Mr. Weir is survived by his widow, Elizabeth Patterson Weir; two sons, Thomas and Benjamin Weir of Salt Lake, and two brothers, John Weir of Salt Lake and Joseph Weir of St. Louis. Burial took place in Mount Olivet cemetery." (Salt Lake Tribune, June 23, 1932)

June 27, 1932
"Died - Thomas Weir, 77, prominent Utah mining man, First Presbyterian church elder and originator of a Bible class which bears his name; of cerebral hemorrhage, in a local hospital." (Salt Lake Tribune, June 27, 1932)

July 1, 1932
From the Salt Lake Tribune, July 1, 1932.

A sincere wish that his sons will abstain from the use of intoxicants and tobacco during all their lives, and strive to follow Christian teachings, is one of the legacies of the late Thomas Weir, mining man and prominent Presbyterian churchman, to his sons. Mr. Weir died June 19, at the age of 77. His will was filed for probate in the Third district court Thursday by Elizabeth Patterson Weir, his widow, and John Weir, a brother.

The estate is listed as "upwards of $10,000." consisting solely of personal property, including stocks and household furniture. His widow, Elizabeth Patterson Weir, 55 Sixth East street, will receive one-third of the estate, in addition to personal effects of sentimental value; and his boys, Thomas Patterson Weir, 11, and Benjamin Martin Weir, 8, of the same address, are given educational annuities until they become 30, when they fall heir to the remainder, The will was drafted May 28, 1930.

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