Tintic, David Evans
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David Evans, Jr.
(The focus of this page is brief biographical notes of the men that made the Tintic Mining District so successful. Also to establish a timeline using sources not previously readily available.)
As important as the everyday wage worker was to the history of Tintic, it was several men with vision and charisma who made the mines of the Tintic Mining District so successful. These men developed the networks of mining engineers and financiers to develop undeveloped or partially developed mining claims to become giant organizations that made money for their shareholders, and in many cases, kept the mines as a decent place to work.
David Evans was active in the development of the mines in the Tintic district from 1899 until 1916, when he sold the last of his interest in the Plutus mine to Walter Fitch of the adjacent Chief Consolidated company.
Evans was usually in partnership with Jesse Knight in almost all of his mining activities, but like so many successful partnerships, Evans lost interest in the Tintic region with the death of Jesse Knight in 1921.
David Evans Jr., son of Bishop David Evans and Barbara Ann Ewell, was born in Lehi, Utah, January 28, 1852. His early life was spent in his native city working on his father's farm in the summer and attending the district school in the winter. After reaching his majority, he taught school for a time, in the Franklin School, and in connection with Samuel R. Thurman, commenced reading law. He went to Ann Arbor in 1881, and after his return moved to Provo, where he and Thurman conducted a law firm until 1887. He was a United States Deputy Marshall, and was assistant United States District Attorney, under C. S. Varian at Provo.
About this time he moved to Ogden. He was in the Utah Legislature in 1892 and an active member of the Constitutional convention in 1895.
In 1896, Mr. Evans was a delegate to the National Convention at Chicago, where William Jennings Bryan received his first nomination for President of the United States. He lived in Salt Lake City for a time and moved to California about 1902, where he was interested in some large enterprises near Los Angeles. He then became a prominent attorney in Los Angeles.
In 1881 he married Leah M. Naegle, a daughter of John C. and Louisa Naegle. Three daughters were born to them, one dying in infancy.
From a biography prepared by his daughters.
David Evans, Jr. (1852 - 1923)
David Evans, Jr., lawyer and mining operator, was born at Lehi, Utah, January 28, 1852, son of David and Barbara Ann Ewell and grandson of Israel and Abigail Alexander, the former of whom was born at sea in 1770, while his parents were emigrating to the United States from Wales.
David Evans, Sr. laid out the town of Lehi in 1850, was a member of the first territorial legislature, a colonel of militia, and postmaster until his death.
David Evans, Jr. received his early education in the Lehi public schools and at Brigham Young Academy, Provo, Utah. He then studied law under Judge Enos A. Hoge, being admitted to the bar in 1870, and continued his law studies at the University of Michigan in 1882-1883. During 1883-1886 he practiced law at Provo as a partner of Samuel R. Thurman, later Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Utah, and during 1885-1889 he was Assistant Federal District Attorney of Utah by appointment of President Cleveland.
In 1889 he moved to Ogden, Utah where he formed a partnership with Lindsey R. Rogers. He represented Weber County in the Utah territorial senate in 1892-1893 and was chairman of the standing committees on elections, judiciary, penitentiary and reform school, municipal corporations, and the joint committee on memorials to Congress. He was a prominent member of the Utah Constitutional Convention in 1895 and during 1896-1898 he was president of the School for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind at Ogden.
After practicing law for twenty years without losing a case, he retired in 1899 to engage actively in mining enterprises, and for several years he was a dominant factor in the King David Mining Company, Crown Point Mining Co., Iron King Consolidated Mining Company and various other mining properties.
In 1905, Mr. Evans moved to California and was instrumental in developing the beach city of Venice, along the lines of the Italian seaport of that name with many picturesque canals and places of amusement. He also established the First National Bank of Venice, of which he was president. He settled at Los Angeles, California, in 1912 where he became a member of the Board of Freeholders and it was largely through his efforts that Los Angeles County adopted a new charter which established the office of public defender, the first position of its kind in the United States. He was elected first president of the county civil service commission when it was organized in 1913 and served until August 1915, when he resigned.
Mr. Evans possessed a keen judicial mind, the gift of oratory and broad views concerning public questions. He championed every cause which in his opinion made for progress and enlightenment. He was a man of many charities, among which was the establishment of a perpetual fund providing for four scholarships a year at the Brigham Young University. In politics he was a Democrat and he was a delegate to many of the national conventions of that party. He was married at Lehi, Utah, December 1, 1881 to Leah, daughter of John Conrad Naegle, a Utah ranch man and pioneer, and they had three children: Lucile, Gwendolyn Leah, and Irma Louise. Mr. Evans died in Los Angeles, September 5, 1923.
From: The National Cyclopedia of American Biography, Vol, XX, pp 258-259; James White & Co., New York, 1927
Proceedings Constitutional Convention of Utah, 1895
Vol. I and Vol. II; Star Printing Co., Salt Lake City, Utah 1898
Sketches of Inter-Mountain States, Utah, Idaho, and Nevada The Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, Utah 1909
Everybody’s Magazine, "Here is Justice," by Campbell McCulloch, Vol. XXXI, pp. 246-249, August 1914, The Ridgeway Company, New York, N. Y.
The above Biography was prepared upon request from the National Cyclopedia of American Biography by Leah Nagle Evans and daughter Lucile Evans Ferrel.
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June 3, 1898
"Senator David Evans, who was formerly one of the principal stockholders in the Grand Central, is in the city, looking after the legal end of a mining deal that means much for Tintic." (Salt Lake Tribune, June 3, 1898)
November 6, 1898
"Senator David Evans, who is directing affairs at the property of the Lower Mammoth during the absence of Manager Joseph in the East, leaves for Mammoth to inquire into the progress of work this morning. The Senator said last night that very flattering reports had reached him concerning the increase in the volume of ore as well as an improvement in quality but would not discuss it until he has made personal examination." (Salt Lake Tribune, November 6, 1898)
November 19, 1898
David Evans purchased the home of Judge Judd in the Perkins addition in Salt Lake City. It was presumed that Evans would soon be moving from Ogden to Salt Lake City. (Salt Lake Herald, November 19, 1898)
(The Perkins addition in Salt Lake City was a group of 13 houses on Logan Avenue, 1610 South, east of 900 East. The houses were built in 1891 by a Denver developer. The home, at 918 East Logan Avenue, is still there in 2025.)
December 13, 1898
"David Evans will remove to Salt Lake about Jan. 1, where he will practice his profession as an attorney and look after his mining and other interests. Mr. Evans is arranging his affairs and will take his family to the capital shortly after the first of the year. He will make his home at the former residence of Judge Judd, which he purchased some weeks ago." (Salt Lake Herald, December 13, 1898)
February 7, 1899
The Mammoth Mining company held its annual meeting and elected the following officers and directors: William McIntyre, president; Samuel McIntyre, vice president; H. S. Young, secretary; J. F. Corker, treasurer; with the following additional directors, George H. Robinson; David Evans; W. W. Riter; and Francis Armstrong. Cunningham, one of the heaviest stockholders, was eliminated from the board of directors. (Salt Lake Tribune, February 8, 1899, "yesterday")
February 28, 1899
David Evans resigned from the board of the Lower Mammoth Mining company. (Salt Lake Tribune, February 28, 1899)
April 2, 1899
David Evans was one of the majority stockholders and president of the failing Bear River Canal company when it was reorganized as the Bear River Water company. "The purpose of the new company is to repair, improve and extend the canal system in the counties of Rich, Cache, Box Elder, Weber, Davis and Salt Lake, in the state of Utah, and in the southern part of Idaho, for the irrigation of farm and orchard lands and for municipal, domestic, manufacturing: and power purposes." (Salt Lake Herald, April 2, 1899)
May 17, 1899
David Evans, W. S. McCornick, and George Sutherland purchased the La Reine property, which adjoined the Humbug, and which was in direct line with the Star Consolidated and Sunbeam mines. (Salt Lake Herald, May 18, 1899, "yesterday")
May 27, 1899
David Evans purchased the Black Jack and Trail mining claims at Tintic for $25,000, the first payment being made on May 27th. (Deseret News, May 29, 1899)
June 8, 1899
"The ground recently acquired by David Evans on the hill just above the Ajax, known as the Black Jack and Trail, will under the new management be worked very shortly in a vigorous way, in connection with the South Mammoth and West Mammoth, two other very valuable claims that have come into Mr. Evans’ possession. The South Mammoth lies parallel with the Phoenix on the west, the West Mammoth joining the Hungarian claim of the Lower Mammoth on the east, and both ending their lines with the Black Jack and Trail on the south, all joining on the north the ground of the Ajax-Mammoth Extension. It is understood that for the group of four claims Mr. Evans has paid more than half of the entire purchase price, said to be close to $100,000. Since that particular section is universally conceded to be the most valuable undeveloped ground in the camp, the opinion is that he did not pay too much for it." (Salt Lake Herald, June 8, 1899)
June 12, 1899
David Evans, Lafayette Holbrook and others who recently acquired the Black Jack, the Trail, the South Mammoth, and the West Mammoth properties, were on the ground locating the site for their new shaft. (Salt Lake Herald, June 13, 1899)
June 20, 1899
David Evans was not re-elected to the board of the Mammoth Mining company, as part of the reorganization of that company that resulted in William McIntyre selling his lareg block of shares in the company to by his brother Samuel McIntyre, and with William being replaced as president by his brother Samuel. (Deseret News, June 21, 1899, "yesterday")
June 24, 1904
"The Beck Tunnel Consolidated company has filed its articles of incorporation at Provo, which will be the general place of business. Jesse Knight is president; David Evans, vice president; and R. E. Allen, secretary and treasurer." (Eureka Reporter, June 24, 1904)
June 28, 1899
From the Salt Lake Herald, June 28, 1899, Jesse Knight was interviewed about, among other subjects, his interest with David Evans, in the Black Jack properties. He said:
We are going to spend some money on that group and do quick work. Before the contractors have completed their job of 200 feet we will have a big steam plant on the premises, and be prepared to do some lively work. I feel that we are just sure to uncover big ore up there. We haven't given it any particular name, but Dave calls it the Black Jack, and I guess that's good enough.
July 29, 1899
David Evans was no longer practicing law. In an interview concerning a claim for payment while he was in the legislature, he remarked, "You may add, however, that I am manager of the Bear River Canal company, and am mining at Tintic and otherwise minding my own business." (Salt Lake Herald, July 29, 1899)
August 3, 1899
David Evans was reported as having a financial interest in the May Day mine, in addition to his interest with Jesse Knight in the Black Jack mine. (Salt Lake Herald, August 3, 1899)
August 4, 1905
"David Evans this week disposed of his interest in the Black Jack property at Mammoth, Jesse Knight being the purchaser. Mr. Evans will make his home in Southern California in the future." (Eureka Reporter, August 4, 1905)
July 19, 1907
"R. G. Wilson, B. Christensen and others have sold to David Evans the Plutus and other adjoining claims in this district. This ground is located to the southeast of Eureka and takes in a strip of country between the Tetro and the Victoria. There are three claims in the group for which Mr. Evans is reported to have paid $45,000. Messrs. Wilson and Christensen still own other ground in the same locality." (Eureka Reporter, July 19, 1907)
"R. G. Wilson and David Evans were in town this week. Both of the gentlemen are now residents of Los Angeles and are here for the purpose of looking over some of the new and old bonanzas." (Eureka Reporter, July 19, 1907)
July 23, 1909
"The control of the Crusader Consolidated company which owns several fractional claims comprising about twenty acres, adjoining the Plutus group has been taken over by David Evans, who also owns control of the Plutus company. Mr. Evans purchased outright 270,000 of the 300,000 shares of capital stock of Crusader Consolidated. Among the large owners who disposed of their holdings having been William H. Tibbals, H. C. Edwards and Mrs. Ernest Williams. The company has not been active for some time. In the ground is a shaft 180 feet deep but the property itself has not been regarded of great value as a mining prospect. The price paid for it was not made public, but it is understood to have been not a large sum." (Eureka Reporter, July 23, 1909)
April 5, 1912
"Plutus May Resume Work. - Some time next month there will be a meeting of the shareholders of the Plutus mining company and it is generally understood here that immediately thereafter preparations will he made for the resumption of work upon this very valuable piece of mineral ground. The Plutus territory is about in the heart of the producing mineral belt of Tintic and it is hardly probable that the ground will be allowed to remain in the inactive list for any great length of time. David Evans of Provo [sic: Los Angeles] is one of the heaviest shareholders in the Plutus and no doubt has the control of the ground." (Eureka Reporter, April 5, 1912; April 26, 1912)
May 3, 1912
"David Evans of Los Angles and George Havercamp of Provo, both of whom are heavily interested in the Plutus property, were in Tintic the early part of the week. Mr. Evans, who is really in control of this company's affairs, informed the Reporter that his visit to Eureka was for the purpose of looking things over and that there is a possibility of work being resumed upon this ground. He said he is now in consultation with some of the largest shareholders and that most of them seem to be willing to put the mine back in the list of active properties. Evans has been connected with mining operations in Tintic ever since the early days of the district and has a great deal of faith in the Plutus property which is almost surrounded by paying mines." (Eureka Reporter, May 3, 1912)
May 10, 1912
Prior to departing for California, David Evans announced that the Tetro claim of the Plutus property was put under lease to John H. McChrystal and W. Lester Mangum. (Eureka Reporter, May 10, 1912)
September 5, 1912
Shareholders of the Plutus company met at Provo in annual session on Tuesday, electing officers and transacting some other routine business. The Plutus property is now idle, the lessees who went to work there recently having forfeited their lease. The Plutus officers elected were as follows: Jesse Knight, president; Jacob Evans, vice president; David Evans, director and general manager; W. Lester Mangum, secretary and treasurer; J. William Knight and George Havercamp, additional directors. (Eureka Reporter, September 5, 1912)
July 31, 1914
The Plutus property, owned by Jesse Knight and David Evans, was to be leased for two years to the Fairbairn Leasing company. The Fairbairn company had been leasing the adjacent Godiva property for the past few months, and the development of the Plutus property would be handled through the Godiva shaft, which was down to 1200 feet. The Plutus property consisted of 145 acres of mineral ground, and adjoined the Godiva, the Grand Central, the Chief Consolidated, and the Victoria. (Eureka Reporter, July 31, 1914)
March 12, 1915
David Evans, of Los Angeles, was one of the "heavy shareholders" of the King David mine in the Frisco district west of Milford. The King David mine was adjacent to the famous Horn Silver mine, and an important silver strike had been made in the Horn Silver mine and it was expected that the rich silver vein would continue for several hundred feet into the King David ground. The workings of the Horn Silver company were only 150 feet from the King David ground. David Evans made a trip up from Los Angeles, and along with J. William Knight, another heavy shareholder, made a trip to the Horn Silver and King David mines. "Mr. Evans and the Knight people own practically all of the King David stock and there are less than 30,000 shares on the market." (Eureka Reporter, March 12, 1915)
July 2, 1915
"M. L. Crandall engineer for the Knight companies, has been at Frisco, Utah, during the past week. He went there for the purpose of making a survey of the King David ground, where some excellent ore has just been opened. A portion of this property has been leased to the Horn Silver Mining company. The King David is controlled by the Knights and David Evans." (Eureka Reporter, July 2, 1915)
September 7, 1923
"David Evans, well known Utah attorney and mining man, died this week in Los Angeles, where he had resided for the past fifteen years. Mr. Evans was interested with the late Jesse Knight in a number of mining ventures, some of them in this district, and was well known throughout the state. He was 71 years of age at the time of death, which took place last Wednesday. A brother of the deceased, Jacob Evans, lives at Salt Lake. Death followed an operation." (Eureka Reporter, September 7, 1923)
September 21, 1923
"The ashes of David Evans, who for many years resided in Utah during which time he had extensive mining and business interests, were scattered to the winds on one of the beaches of California a few weeks ago. This was in accordance with the request of the deceased. He asked that his body be cremated and that the ashes be taken to some spot near Los Angeles and there released to the winds. David Evans, who was one of the original owners of the Plutus mining ground of this district, left an estate valued at nearly a million dollars. The property consists of real estate in Los Angeles and Venice, the value of which has advanced wonderfully during the past few years." (Eureka Reporter, September 21, 1923)
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