Tintic, Knight Investment Co.

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This page was last updated on March 1, 2026.

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(The focus of this page is the surface workings of the mines of the Knight Investment company, as visible in photographs, as well as a general description of the mines, with minimal coverage of the geology and financial returns. Also to establish a timeline using sources not previously readily available.)

"In the early 1900s, activity shifted to the east where the Iron Blossom vein was discovered and developed for two miles. Along this single ore channel the Iron Blossom, Colorado, Beck Tunnel, Sioux and Dragon mines discovered and mined the ore. Ten years later activity had drifted two miles further east where the Tintic Standard was discovered, which was followed by discovery of the North Lily, Eureka Standard and Eureka Lilly, the main source of production from the district in recent years." (The Mining Industry In Utah, Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce, 1947, page 27)

Knight Investment Company

Mines usually associated with the Knight Investment Company at Tintic:

Beck Tunnel Consolidated Mining Co.
Black Jack Consolidated Mining Co.
Bonneville Mining Co.
Colorado Mining Co.
Dragon Consolidated Mining Co.
East Tintic Coalition Mining Company
Eureka Bullion Mining Company (after 1931)
Iron Blossom Consolidated Mining Co.
Knight Woolen Mills.
Lucky Boy Consolidated Mining Co.
North Lily Mining Company
North Lily Knight Company
Opex Consolidated Mining Co.
Rico-Wellington Mining Co.
Tintic Bullion Mining Company (after 1931)
Tintic Milling Company.

"Another important success, achieved by Jesse Knight, was the discovery of the Iron Blossom and Godiva ore zones. In 1881 he began a tunnel on the northeasterly slope of Godiva Mountain, in an area of highly altered Deseret limestone. At 450 feet he encountered the great Humbug ore shoot, one of the richest lead-silver deposits in the district. Other mines subsequently developing extensions of this discovery were the Uncle Sam, Colorado, Sioux, and the Iron Blossom mines." (Geology and Ore Deposits of Tintic Mining District, Utah Geological Society, 1957, page 77)

Jesse Knight passed away on March 14, 1921.

(Read the Wikipedia article about Jesse Knight)

(Read the Utah Historical Quarterly article about Jesse Knight; PDF; 16 pages; 3.7MB)

Knight Mines

February 8, 1897
The Defender Mining and Milling company filed its articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State. Jesse Knight held 37.5 percent of the company stock and was a director. "The company expects to work the Ruby and Defender lodes at Tintic." The officers and directors were: Robert E. "Ed" Collet, Jr., president and director, 2 percent of stock; Henry Fairbanks, Jr., vice president and director, 5 percent of stock; Orawell "Ora" Simons Jr., secretary treasurer, 7 percent of stock; Jesse Knight, director, 37.5 percent; Lestor Taylor, director, 8 percent of stock; also, Thomas Wimmer held 8 percent of stock, and Isabel Collet held 25 percent of stock. "The claims are in very favorable location, and are regarded by mining men as the foundation for 'a big thing.' Jesse Knight, who has interested himself in the company, is the principal owner of the Humbug, which has in a short time earned him over $100,000." (Provo Daily Enquirer, February 6, 1897; Salt Lake Tribune, February 9, 1897, "yesterday"; Payson Globe, February 13, 1897)

(The Ruby and Defender mining claims were located on the western edge of the town of Eureka, on the north side of the Oregon Short Line tracks, about a 3/4 mile west of the Bullion Beck and Champion property. The property contains the section corners of 13, 14, 23, and 24, T10S, R3W. Research shows that there was never any mining activity on these two claims.)

September 9, 1901
Jesse Knight and David Evans acquired control of the Bullion Beck Tunnel company. (Deseret News, September 9, 1901)

March 30, 1904
"The La Reine Mining company has been reorganized with Jesse Knight as president. It is possible that the La Reine will be consolidated with the Bullion-Beck Tunnel company." (Salt Lake Mining Review, March 30, 1904)

February 13, 1905
The Defender Mining and Milling company amended its articles of incorporation to change it place of business from Payson to Provo. Jesse Knight was shown as president, and R. E. Allen was shown as secretary. (Salt Lake Herald, February 13, 1905)

April 15, 1911
From the Salt Lake Mining Review, April 15, 1911.

The fight between the Rio Grande Ry. and the Knight interests of Tintic still continues and the Knight people are throwing all of their business to the San Pedro Ry. This fight started a few months ago and since that time not a pound of ore from the Knight mines has been shipped out over the Rio Grande Ry. Mr. Knight claims that the Tintic smelter at Silver City could have been operated successfully had the Rio Grande people given him an even break with the other Utah smelters in the matter of coal and coke and even went so far as to say that there is a prospect of the plant being reopened if the railroad will give him a square deal and make Silver City a common point in the shipment of supplies.

The ore which is now being billed out by the Knight mines and other shippers at Silver City amounts to about 90 carloads weekly and this means between $40,000 and $50,000 worth of business per month for the San Pedro Ry. which is getting the entire tonnage.

(The settlement included D&RG promising to keep a switch engine and crew stationed at Silver City to handle the Knight business. -- Eureka Reporter, June 9, 1911)

January 15, 1916
The Knight Investment company, with the following officers and directors, was operating the following companies. (Salt Lake Mining Review, January 15, 1916)

Jesse Knight, president
A. M. Knight, vice president
W. Lester Mangum, secretary
R. E. Allen, director
J. Wm. Knight, director
Knight Starr Jordan, director

Beck Tunnel Consolidated Mining Co.
Black Jack Consolidated Mining Co.
Bonneville Mining Co.
Colorado Mining Co.
Dragon Consolidated Mining Co.
Eureka Hill Railroad Company.
Iron Blossom Consolidated Mining Co.
Knight Woolen Mills.
Lucky Boy Consolidated Mining Co.
Opex Consolidated Mining Co.
Rico-Wellington Mining Co.
Spring Canyon Coal Co.
Tintic Milling Company.
Utah Ore Sampling Co.

On April 23, 1917, Jesse Knight gave this list of the mines that were part of his larger Empire Mines Company, recently formed as a consolidation of his interests. (Provo Daily Herald, April 23, 1917)

May 13, 1919
The Tintic Bullion Mining company filed its articles of incorporation. The properties included three mining claims: Eureka Bullion; Big Hill; and East Tintic. The company was preparing to commence operations, and expected to sink a shaft. (Provo Post, May 13, 1919) (The Tintic Bullion was located immediately west and adjoining the North Lily and Eureka Lily mines.)

February 27, 1919
Knight Investment Co. - Officers and Directors - Jesse Knight, President; A. M. Knight, Vice-President; W. Lester Mangum, Secretary and Treasurer; Oscar Raymond Knight, J. Wm. Knight, R. E. Allen and Knight Starr Jordan. Main Office, Provo, Utah (Salt Lake Telegram, February 27, 1919)

American-Colombian Corporation
Bonneville Mining Company
Colorado Consolidated Mines Co.
Comstock-Phoenix Mining Co.
Dragon Consolidated Mines Co.
East Tintic Consolidated Mining Company
Empire Mines Company
Eureka Hill Railroad Company
Great Western Mines Co.
Iron Blossom Consolidated Mining Co.
Knight Woolen Mills
Lucky Boy Consolidated Mining Co.
Miller Hill Mining Company
Mineral Flat Mining Company
Rico-Wellington Mining Co.
Spring Canyon Coal Company
Springville-Mapleton Sugar Co.
Tintic Drain Tunnel Company
Tintic Milling Company
Utah Grain & Elevator Company
Utah Ore Sampling Company

October 12, 1919
"The Empire Mines company has struck some copper ore. according to the mine superintendent, which runs from 9 to 15 per cent copper. The ore was encountered on the 1800-foot level of the Lower Mammoth shaft at Tintic. This level is about equal to the 2350 level of the Iron Blossom. The company has but a short distance to go before the main ore body is expected to be encountered, toward which the cut is directed. It is thought that the ore will widen out and develop into a permanent body. This company has a five-year lease on the Opohongo, and it is thought that this ore will continue into Opohongo ground." (Salt Lake Herald, October 12, 1919)

(Jesse Knight passed away on March 14, 1921.)

March 15, 1921
"The Knight Investment company controls the following corporations." (Salt Lake Tribune, March 15, 1921)

Alpine-Empire Mining
Bonneville Mining
Bingham-Empire Mines
Bullion Hill Mines
Big Hill Mining
Carbonate Ely Copper
Cummings Mining
Colorado Consolidated Mines
Comstock Phoenix Mining
Central Utah railroad
Dragon Consolidated Mining
Defender Mining and Milling
Draper Mining
Eureka Hill railway
East Tintic Consolidated Mining
Eureka Swansea Extension Mining
Ely Amalgamated Copper
Great Western Mines
Hiawatha Mining
Holt-Chresyensen Process
Ibex Gold Mining
Indian Queen Consolidated Mining
King David Mining (Frisco district, near Milford)
Kepan Mining
Keno Mining and Milling
Knight-Roberts Mining
Lucky Boy Consolidated Mines
Midvale Mining
Miller Hill Mining
Mineral Flat Mining
McGill Mining
Moss Copper Mining
Middle Swansea Mining
North Godiva Consolidated Mining
North Bingham Consolidated Mining
Nevada Park Mining
Old American Mining
Rico Consolidated Mining
Rico Wellington Mining
Read Creek Coal
Swansea Consolidated Mining
Salvator Mining
Springdell Resort
Sioux Mines
Tintic Central Mining
Union Grain and Elevator
Utah Ranching and Development
Utah Valley Land and Water

Knight Investment Sold to North Lily Knight Mining Co. (1929)

(The North Lily Knight company was separate from the North Lily company. The two companies merged in 1941.)

(Read more about the North Lily Mining company of 1916-1941)

By 1929, International Smelting company, already in control of the North Lily, acquired the Knight properties. The Knight acquisition, for about $1,000,000, was made under the name of the North Lily Mining Company. (Eureka Reporter, May 2, 1929; July 11, 1929)

(The North Lily Knight company of 1929 was the instrument by which International Smelting, and Anaconda, controlled the former Knight interests. In 1924, International had taken control of the North Lily company, and the Mountain View Mining company, which was the former Uncle Sam and May Day mines, as well as the Yankee Consolidated company.)

North Lily Knight Mining Company (1929-1941)

(The story of the Tintic properties of the Knight Investment continues as the North Lily Knight company of 1929)

(The sale of the majority of the Knight properties at Tintic in 1929 to the North Lily Knight company, did not include all of the Knight properties.)

Knight Investment Company After 1929

December 1937
The Knight Investment company announced it was operating the following companies. Note that the North Lily and North Lily Knight are not included. (Provo Daily Herald, December 21, 1937)

American-Colombian corporation
Bonneville Mining company
Colorado Consolidated Mines company
Dragon Consolidated Mining company
Empire Mines company
Eureka Hill Railroad company
Iron Blossom Consolidated Mining company
Knight Woolen mills
Lucky Boy Consolidated Mining company
Miller Hill Mining company
Mineral Flat Mining company
Rico-Wellington Mining company
Spring Canyon Coal company
Springville-Mapleton Sugar company
Tintic Drain Tunnel company
Tintic Milling company
Union Grain and Elevator company
Utah Ore Sampling company
West Cache Sugar company

Dragon Consolidated Mine and Halloysite (after 1949)

The Dragon Consolidated Mining company was one of the earliest mining projects of Jesse Knight and his associates. It was a successful operation until, like all the Tintic properties went into a slump after World War II. The Dragon mine was saved by the discovery of a unique type of clay material known as Halloysite, after which the mine was one of the success stories of all mines in Utah.

(Read more about the Dragon Consolidated mine and Halloysite)

Knight Mills

Tintic Milling Co. -- Information about the Tintic Milling company at Silver City, on the site of the closed Tintic Smelting company.

Knight Smelter

Tintic Smelter -- Information about the Tintic Smelter at Silver City, Utah, in operation from 1908 to 1915.

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