Francis “Borax” Marion Smith – The Borax King of Death Valley
Francis Marion Smith, a name synonymous with the transformative power of industry and the stark beauty of Death Valley, carved his legacy from the arid landscapes of the American West. More than just a miner, he was a visionary entrepreneur, a real estate mogul, and a transportation innovator. Popularly known as the "Borax King," Francis "Borax" Marion Smith spearheaded the Pacific Coast Borax Company, shaping the borax industry and leaving an indelible mark on the landscapes of California and Nevada. His story is one of relentless ambition, strategic acquisition, and the enduring power of a single mineral to build an empire.
Born on February 2, 1846, in Richmond, Wisconsin, Francis "Borax" Marion Smith’s early life was rooted in the Midwestern farmlands. His parents, Henry G. and Charlotte Paul Smith, instilled in him a strong work ethic and provided him with a solid education. He attended public schools before graduating from Milton College in Wisconsin, laying the groundwork for his future endeavors. However, the allure of the West, with its promise of untold riches and boundless opportunity, proved too strong to resist.
At the age of 21, Smith left the familiar comforts of his father’s ranch and embarked on a journey westward. He traveled through Idaho, California, and Nevada, immersing himself in the rugged realities of frontier life. He gained valuable experience in mining and various other trades, honing his skills and developing a keen understanding of the region’s vast potential. After several years of itinerant work, he settled in Nevada for a five-year period, solidifying his connection to the land and preparing himself for his future entrepreneurial ventures.
The late 1860s saw Smith working under contract for several ore mills near Columbus, Nevada. His task involved locating and procuring timber for the various mining camps that dotted the landscape. This work brought him to Teel’s Marsh, a seemingly unremarkable location that would ultimately change the course of his life. It was here that he stumbled upon a rich deposit of borax, a naturally occurring mineral compound with a wide array of industrial and household applications.
Recognizing the significance of his discovery, Smith collected samples and had them assayed. The results confirmed his suspicions: the ore was of exceptional quality, exceeding that of any known borax source. Seizing the opportunity, he promptly staked several claims, marking the beginning of his career as a borax miner and the foundation of his future empire. This was the moment that Francis "Borax" Marion Smith began his ascent.
With the assistance of his older brother, Julius, and two brothers named Storey, Smith established a borax works on the edge of Teel’s Marsh. Their initial goal was to concentrate the borax crystals, separating them from the surrounding dirt and impurities. Operations commenced in 1873 under the name Smith and Storey Brothers Borax Co. However, the Smith brothers soon acquired the Storey brothers’ interest, leading to a change in the company’s name to Smith Brothers Borax Co., and later to Teel’s Marsh Borax Co. The Teel’s Marsh deposits quickly became the world’s primary source of borax, fueling its widespread commercial use across the globe.
In 1875, amidst a national economic downturn, Smith demonstrated his entrepreneurial acumen by opening a retail store and office at 185 Wall Street in New York City. This strategic move aimed to expand the borax market by directly reaching consumers in a major commercial center. His advertising campaigns, while perhaps embellished, touted borax as a versatile cleaning agent and even a preventative measure against various ailments. These claims, while not scientifically sound by modern standards, effectively popularized the product in a prime market at a time when sales were slumping. That same year, Francis "Borax" Marion Smith married Mary "Mollie" Rebecca Thompson Wright, a divorcee from Brooklyn, New York, solidifying his personal and professional ties.
In 1877, Smith founded the settlement of Marietta, Nevada, which is now a semi-ghost town. This town served as a crucial shipping point for the borax extracted from Teel’s Marsh. The borax was transported in 30-ton loads, utilizing two massive wagons accompanied by a third wagon carrying essential food and water supplies. These wagons were drawn by teams of 24 mules, traversing 160 miles across the harsh Great Basin Desert from Marietta to Wadsworth, Nevada, where the nearest Central Pacific Railroad siding was located.
In 1881, Smith and his wife, Mollie, relocated to Oakland, California, a move that would further diversify his business interests. While continuing his borax operations at Teel’s Marsh, Smith began to invest heavily in real estate, recognizing the burgeoning potential of the growing city. In 1884, he bought out his brother’s share of their partnership, gaining full control of their borax enterprise. This acquisition allowed him to focus his attention on the potential development opportunities in Death Valley, a region known for its extreme climate and abundant mineral resources.
As William T. Coleman, the owner of the Harmony and Amargosa Borax Works, the Lila C Mine, the Furnace Creek Ranch, and other properties in Death Valley, began to experience financial difficulties in the late 1880s, Smith saw an opportunity to expand his borax empire. He provided Coleman with much-needed capital in exchange for mortgages on his properties, a strategic move that would ultimately lead to Smith’s acquisition of Coleman’s assets.
To further enhance the processing of raw minerals into marketable borax products, Smith collaborated with renowned engineer and reinforced concrete innovator Ernest L. Ransome in 1889. Together, they designed two new refineries: one in West Alameda, California, and the other in Bayonne, New Jersey. The California refinery was particularly noteworthy as it was the first structure of its kind to be constructed using reinforced concrete, a testament to Smith’s commitment to innovation and efficiency.
In 1890, Coleman’s financial empire crumbled, and Smith acquired all of his properties, solidifying his position as the dominant force in the borax industry. He consolidated his holdings under the name Pacific Coast Borax Company. Smith ceased operations at the Harmony and Amargosa Borax Works, choosing instead to concentrate on mining operations at Borate, California, in the Calico Mountains. Initially, the ore was hand-sorted at the mine and transported to Daggett, California, using the iconic 20-mule teams and wagons that Coleman had previously employed in Death Valley.
In 1891, Stephen Mather, the administrator of the company’s New York office, persuaded Smith to add the name "20 Mule Team Borax" to the product packaging, capitalizing on the fame of the mule teams. The trademark was officially registered three years later. Mather later owned the Thorkildsen-Mather Borax Company and was appointed the first Director of the National Park Service in 1916.
While Smith focused on his borax interests, his wife, Mollie, dedicated herself to philanthropic endeavors, particularly supporting orphaned girls. Unable to have children of her own after a tragic miscarriage, Mollie yearned for a family. She tirelessly raised money for the care of orphaned girls, and the couple also took in several young girls as wards over the years. These girls, along with their adopted daughter Marion Francis Smith, became known as the "Solid Six," a term of endearment coined by Smith.
In 1892, Smith and Mollie traveled east to Shelter Island, New York, seeking a location to build a summer home. They purchased a 42-acre homestead with a colonial-style house. Smith hired an architect to expand the original structure, eventually creating a 35-room mansion. Over time, he acquired additional acreage, expanding the estate to 435 acres. They named their summer retreat "Presdeleau."
Determined to find a more efficient means of transporting ore from the mines to the railhead at Daggett, Smith experimented with a steam tractor called "Old Dinah" in 1894. However, the rugged terrain proved too challenging for the steam tractor, and he continued to rely on the 20-mule teams for several more years.
Smith also invested heavily in real estate and public transit in Oakland. In 1895, he and partner Frank Havens formed the Realty Syndicate, acquiring real estate and consolidating numerous independent transit companies to create an integrated system of streetcar lines and rail extensions to serve the subdivisions they were developing.
In the same year, a grand mansion was completed for the Smiths in Oakland, California. Mollie oversaw the planning and construction of the 42-room mansion, known as Arbor Villa, on a 53-acre estate. Designed by architect Walter J. Mathews, Arbor Villa featured luxurious furnishings, a ballroom, and a bowling alley, reflecting the Smiths’ affluent lifestyle.
With opulent homes on both coasts, the Smith family divided their time between Oakland and Shelter Island. During the summers, they traveled from California to New Jersey in Smith’s private railroad car, Hauoli, and an additional Pullman car, before transferring to his personal steam yacht, also named Hauoli, for the final leg of the journey to Presdeleau.
In 1896, Smith and Ransome built a concrete Ferry Building in San Francisco, a key component of the Realty Syndicate’s transportation system. Shortly after, they established the Ransome Concrete Machinery Company, which secured patents and advanced modern concrete construction techniques.
In 1898, Smith constructed the 12-mile-long narrow gauge Borate & Daggett Railroad. This railroad transported ore to a calcining plant in Marion, north of Daggett, allowing for a higher grade of ore to be shipped to Alameda via the Southern Pacific Railroad. With the completion of the railroad, the 20-mule teams were retired.
Tragically, Mollie died of a stroke on December 31, 1905. In June 1907, Smith married Evelyn Kate Ellis, Mollie’s secretary, who was also her choice as his second wife. Over the next six years, the couple had four children.
In 1907, mining operations shifted from Borate, California, to the Lila C Mine at Ryan, near Death Valley. The equipment and buildings were relocated, and long mule teams were used until Smith constructed the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad, a subsidiary of the Pacific Coast Borax Company.
In 1913, Smith became financially overextended and lost most of his assets to creditors. He lost his borax mines, company, land, transit investments, railroad cars, and boats. However, the family retained their homes because they had been deeded to Evelyn.
Despite his financial setbacks, Smith worked to rebuild his fortune. He formed the Tonopah Extension Mining and Milling Company, later known as the West End Consolidated Mining Company.
In 1921, Smith discovered a rich colemanite deposit near St. Thomas, Nevada, which he named the Anniversary Mine. The profits from this mine provided capital to develop deposits at Searles Lake.
By 1928, Smith was 82 years old and in declining health. He relinquished control of the West End Chemical Company. In 1930, he lost the ability to speak.
Francis Marion Smith died on August 27, 1931, at the age of 85. He is buried in Oakland’s Mountain View Cemetery. After his death, his Oakland property was subdivided, and the mansion was demolished in 1932.
Evelyn Smith took over as president of the West End Chemical Company and managed it for several years. The Mary R. Smith Trust continued to support orphans until the state took over providing for them.
Today, the Francis Marion Smith Park in Oakland stands on land donated by the Smiths. Smith Mountain in Death Valley is named in his honor. The Western Railroad Museum in California includes an archives wing named for him. The Pacific Coast Borax Company, under the name Rio Tinto Borax, continues to operate as a major supplier of borates. The story of Francis "Borax" Marion Smith remains a testament to ambition and the enduring legacy of a resourceful entrepreneur.