James Earls (Earle)

James Earls (Earle), my great grandfather was baptised 9 March 1845 in Avoca, Wicklow, Ireland with sponsors being William Dunne and Catherine Develin.  

His parents were James Earls and Ann Develin who were married 25 November 1839 in Avoca Parish with William Dunne and Ann Kelly as witnesses.    His sister Jane was baptised 2 April 1843, her sponsors being Francis Duffy and May Develin.  Family stories tell us that a brother John was born around 1853-7 but haven't found any documentation.  I'm not sure of the date James emigrated to the United States or if he came with his parents but we believe it was around 1855-62.  

The family bible has his marriage to Bridget Kirby as 10 July 1972 (eloping to New York City) but no documentation.   After his marriage we are able to follow him and his family. James and Bridget had 10 children, 8 that made it to adulthood. He was a miner from a very young age, a newspaper article states he worked under Mackey and James G Fair, had his baptism in the Silver Flood which accompanied the Comstock excitement in Virginia City, Nevada. Other articles state he was  "raised underground at the age of 15 in the Lake Superior district and then came west. He was  later superintendent of several mining companies in Utah, Montana, Nevada and Idaho.  Some of the mines he was associated with were the Mollie Gibson, Mammoth, Bullion Beck and the last mine was the Gold Hunter in Idaho at the time of his death.  The family lived in several locations starting in Austin and Eureka, Nevada; Frisco, Utah; and Butte, Montana; but moved the family permanently to Salt Lake City in 1900's as he worked different mines in several areas.  

He contracted Bright's Disease and died at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah on 6 July, 1909.  He is buried at Mt. Calvery Cemetery in Salt Lake City.