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King, Phineas

Mining tycoon in Echo Springs,[1] Utah Territory[2] in 1870.[1] (March 3, 1803 – April 21, 1884)[2]

As a speculator in the promising wealth in the opening American frontier, Phineas King kept his eyes open to the possibilities of mining in the United States territories. He realized that the full potential of mining precious metals in remote regions would be limited as long as there was no cheap or reliable method to process the ore or get it to market.[2]

When he learned of the proposed route of the Union Pacific through the new mining districts of Utah Territory in 1866, King sent geologist and engineer William Fennelly into the region to survey the route for possible sites for large-scale mining operations. King’s idea was to maximize his capital with local rail access for the transportation of heavy goods and equipment in and out of his operation.[2]

In 1867, Fennelly discovered enormous potential in the silver deposits on a hill southeast of the mouth of Echo Canyon in Utah Territory at the small mining camp of Echo Springs. The camp was situated on the proposed route of the railroad between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Salt Lake Valley. Through his attorney, Richard Bixby, King bought, coerced and swindled a few local miners out of the richest ground in Echo Springs and established the Silver Lady Mine. King traveled to Echo Springs to oversee the development of his new acquisition. In the next two years, King would extract vast quantities of unprocessed ore in preparation of the coming railroad.[2]

On January 16, 1869, the first locomotive traveled through Echo Springs. By then, the Silver Lady Mine had mined nearly $3 million of silver and lead ore and King was first in the territory to get his ore to market. With his new capital and business savvy, Echo Springs was transformed from a small mining camp into a full-sized town within a year. King owned, operated or controlled most businesses in town, but the mining operation was the backbone of his power.[2] By 1870, King’s personal wealth was over $5 million.[1]

King surrounded himself with those he could manipulate, bully or buy, and leverage their knowledge and skills to his own advantage. For the most part, he was able to retain the appearances of an honest, but shrewd businessman. For recreation, he founded a regular Saturday-night poker game with his closest associates. He soon developed a

reputation for being as unbeatable at cards as he was in business.[1]

in 1870, Bret Maverick came to Echo Springs and discovered that King’s abilities at poker weren’t honest. In an attempt to protect his reputation, King took actions to have Bret either run out of town or killed. Bret’s own talents kept this from happening, and he began to orchestrate ways of stopping King.[1]

Bret organized the owners of some of the lesser mines on the hill into forming the combined New Hope Mining Company to go into direct competition with King’s Silver Lady Mine. Under Bret’s direction, New Hope began following veins outcropping on their claims downwards and under the boundaries of King’s mine, extracting the ore for themselves.[1]

King sued New Hope over the matter, but was defeated under the Apex Law, which guaranteed the right of any miner to follow and mine any vein on his claim underground, wherever it may lead, even if under the claims of others. King’s attorney, Richard Bixby, traveled to the territorial seat in Salt Lake City to appeal the case, which was shortly overturned. However, before King understood the new ruling, Bret had convinced him to merge his Silver Lady Mine with the New Hope Mining Company, increasing the profits and working conditions of everyone concerned.[1]

Impressed with Bret’s bravado and business sense, King ultimately came to like and respect him. King offered Bret the job of running the newly merged mining operation and making him a wealthy man, but Maverick declined.[1]

By 1878, the silver in Echo Springs played out and all mining operations ceased. With his main source of revenue gone, King eventually closed his other businesses in Echo Springs and retired, passing away at the age of 81.[2]

See: War of the Silver Kings