James Earls : Short Biography

James Earls was born to James Earls and Anne Develin and baptized on 9 March 1845 in the parish of Avoca, Wicklow Co.  We believe his father was James Earls born 10 August 1802 of John Earls and Jane Kavanagh, in the same parish. 

James had a sister Jane who was baptized 02 April,1843 in Avoca and family stories of a brother John who we have never found any confirmation of.  We don't know for sure when they emmigrated to America but the story goes when James was a young boy he came along with his family and got his start in the Superior mines.  I have found no records to where his mother or father died in Ireland, nor America. His family had been in mining when he was a lad and we find him in Nevada in 1870 and was involved in the Comstock Lode.  He was in New Jersey at sometime in his life and it is where his sister lived, marries and has her first child.  He marries Bridget Kirby who was baptised 09 March 1856 in Kill Parish, Knockmahon, Waterford Co.  She was living in Rockaway, Morris Co, New Jersey in 1870. Acoording to the family bible they were married on 10 July, 1872 in New York but have no certificate to prove that. They then move west where he is involved in mining in Montana, Nevada and Utah where he eventually becomes superintendent of several mines.  The had 10 children through the course of their marriage of whom 8 survive.  He Died 5 July 1909 of Brights Disease. Buried at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Salt Lake City on 6 July. Was Superintendent at the Gold Hunter Mine in Mullan, Idaho at the time of his death.