John Beck was born 19 March 1843 to John and Caroline Hall Beck in Aichelberg, Wurtenberg, Germany. He was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1861 while studying in Switzerland. He returned to his native town to preach and in 1864, immigrated with twenty others to America. Beck arrived in Lehi, Utah, in October 1864 where he settled down to raise sheep. In 1865, he married a third cousin, Sara Beck, with whom he raised nine children. Beck had seven other children from his plural marriages to Louisa Matti and Bertha, Matilda, and Louisa Goss. His mining career began in 1870 with the first successful attempt to find concealed ore in the Eureka Gulch. After some setbacks, Beck established the Bullion Beck & Champion Mining Company as principal owner, president, and general manager. Beck also held interest in a number of other mines in the area, as well as being a major owner of two asphalt companies and the Bullion-Beck Tunnel. He was also sole owner of the hot spring resort, Saratoga Springs, in Lehi. After serving a voluntary, two-year mission to Germany from 1887 to 1889, Beck spent the major part of three years in California. In 1890, he took up permanent residence in Salt Lake City where he helped found the Deaf Mute Institute of Utah.
The Bullion Beck & Champion Mining Company records (1881-1929) consist of by-laws, notices, maps, reports, correspondence, minutes, claims, settlements, and other papers. Organized by John Beck (b. 1843) in the 1880s, the Bullion Beck & Champion Mining Company was located in Juab County, Tintic Mining District, Utah Territory. The managerial operation of the company is detailed in the 1881 by-laws. In 1894, the company acquired a number of smaller claims surrounding their operation. A notice of the company's intent to work these mines, and maps detailing the location of mining claims, are part of the collection. Financial dealings and accident reports are also present. In 1906, the Tintic Mine Operators Association was formed. As the Bullion Beck & Champion Mining Company was a part of the organization, minutes and articles are part of the collection. Complaints, disputes, some biographical sketches, trespass accounts, and ore settlements are also in the collection.
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Box 1, folder 14 contains a photocopied version for access purposes. The original item has been removed and placed in Reserve. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator and by appointment. An archivist must remain with the item if being used.
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Folders 1-14 were donated in 1979.
Folders 15-16 have unrecorded donation information.
Processed by Marlene Lewis and Lisa DeMille in 1980 and 2007.
Maps showing claims incorporated into the Bullion Beck and Champion Mining Company.
Regarding salaries of officers.
Regarding a joint railroad and outfitting of a new mill.
Mintes and Articles of Association.
List of papers belonging to the company.
Complaint and suit against this company by the Eureka Hill Mining Company.
Settlement of Orrin Porter Rockwell's claims. This folder contains a photocopied version for access purposes. The original item has been removed and placed in Reserve. Access must be given by the Manuscripts Curator and by appointment. An archivist must remain with the item if being used.
Biographies of John Beck, the Searchlight Gold Mining Company, the Beehive House, and others are included.
Correspondence, trespass records, statements, ore settlement records, and maps are included.