Tintic, Knight Mines and Mills

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This page was last updated on December 8, 2025.

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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.)

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)

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)

Operating:

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)

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
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

July 3, 1929
Excerpts from the Deseret News, July 3, 1929.

A $1,000,000 mining deal, one of the largest in Utah mining in recent years, was completed today with the announcement of the acquisition by the International Smelting company, through its subsidiary the North Lily Mining company, of control of all the holdings of the Knight Investment company of Provo, in the Tintic, Eureka, mining district.

Negotiations between the two interests have been under way for several months, and the transaction was completed today when the final agreements were signed by J. O. Elton, manager of the smelting company, and J. William Knight, for the Knight Investment company

The properties involved include control of the Twentieth Century, Big Hill, Empire Mines, Dragon Consolidated, Eureka Swansea, Middle Swansea, Swansea Consolidated, Tintic Drain Tunnel, and substantial interest in Tintic Central, Southern Eureka and North Godiva.

The area of ground is 6,159 acres of patented mining claims, 346 acres of unpatented mining claims, surface rights to 1,739 acres and a contract on 880 acres, a total of 9,127 acres of ground.

The new holding and parent company formed was known as the North Lily Knight company, and would take over all of the Knight properties in Tintic. Development of the mines was to be financed by dividends of the North Lily Mining company.

September 18, 1929
In a special meeting of the stockholders of the Knight Investment company held on September 18, 1929, the stockholders voted the transfer of all Knight Investment properties in the Tintic district to a new corporation called North Lily Knight company, including patented and unpatented mining claims, and stock in other corporations. The new corporation was to be controlled by the North Lily Mining company, with an agreement that the North Lily Mining company would furnish the needed funding to develop the former Knight Investment company properties, beginning with the re-timbering and enlargement of the Big Hill mine's shaft and further development of the Big Hill mine, and further development of the Empire and Twentieth Century mines. The sale included 6,159 acres of patented mining land, 349 acres of unpatented mining land, 1,719 acres of non-mining land, 20 acres of surface rights, and 880 acres of mining land under patent application. (Deseret News, September 18, 1929)

The Knight Investment company properties included:
-- Big Hill Mining company;
-- Defender Mining and Milling company;
-- Empire Mines company;
-- Eureka Hill Railway company;
-- Eureka Swansea Extension;
-- Knight Drain Tunnel;
-- Middle Swansea;
-- Tintic Drain Tunnel;
-- Twentieth Century Mining company;
-- a minority interest in the North Godiva and Tintic Central Mining companies.

The September 19, 1929 issue of the Eureka Reporter showed the Knight Investment properties as:
-- Big Hill
-- Dragon Consolidated
-- Empire Mines
-- Eureka Swansea
-- Middle Swansea
-- Swansea Consolidated
-- Tintic Drain Tunnel
-- Twentieth Century
-- substantial interest in North Godiva
-- substantial interest in Southern Eureka
-- substantial interest in Tintic Central

(The first mention in online newspapers of International Smelting taking over the Knight Investment properties was in the September 29, 1929 issue of the Eureka Reporter.)

July 25, 1930
At a special meeting held on July 25, 1930, the stockholders ratified the agreement to transfer all property and assets of the Knight Investment Co., to the new North Lily-Knight Company, which is backed by the International Mining & Smelting Co. (Eureka Reporter, July 10, 1930; July 31, 1930)

After Knight Investment

After 1929-1930, almost all activity in the former Knight mines took place under the controlling interest of the North Lily Mining company, a subsidiary of International Smelting company, which in-turn was a subsidiary of the Anaconda company.

July 31, 1930
From the Eureka Reporter, July 31, 1930

The North Lily Knight company will control the following 12 companies, plus some unpatented property. The properties involved in the district embrace a mineral tract of more than 7000 acres." (Eureka Reporter, July 31, 1930)

  • the Big Hill property
  • the Defender Mining & Milling company
  • the Dragon Consolidated Mining company
  • the Empire Mines company
  • the Eureka Hill Railroad
  • the Eureka Swansea Mining company
  • the Middle Swansea Mining company
  • the North Godiva Mining company
  • the Southern Eureka Mining company
  • the Swansea Consolidated Mining company
  • one half interest in the Tintic Central Mining company
  • the Twentieth Century

September 4, 1930
The North Lily Knight company took a three-year lease on the Big Hill mine of the Big Hill Mining company, with the North Lily Knight company agreeing to send at least $100,000 per year in development work. The Big Hill shaft was currently at 830 feet, and the North Lily Knight company agreed to sink the shaft down to 2500 or 2800 feet. The surface plant of the Big Hill company was one of the most modern in the Tintic district, and was capable of such deep work. The road from the mine to the main highway was widened and graveled and capable of the added traffic. (Eureka Reporter, September 4, 1930)

"The North Lily-Knight company will control besides the Big Hill property, the Twentieth Century, the Empire Mines company, one half in interest in the Tintic Central Mining company, the Dragon Consolidated Mining company, the Defender Mining & Milling company, the Eureka Swansea Mining company, the Middle Swansea, Eureka Hill Railroad, North Godiva Mining company, Swansea Consolidated Mining company, Southern Eureka Mining company and some unpatented property, embracing a mineral tract of about 7000 acres." (Eureka Reporter, September 4, 1930)

November 6, 1931
Excerpts from the Deseret News, November 6, 1931.

In a $400,000 deal, Anaconda's International Smelting company took ownership of selected properties of the Chief Consolidated Mining company. Included were: 75 percent ownership of Eureka Bullion Mining company stock; full deed and ownership of the Tintic Bullion Mining company and its property; several hundred acres of mining ground adjacent to the North Lily Mining property on the west, north and east; two leases of Chief Consolidated property; a five-year smelting contract for all ores produced by the Chief Consolidated Mining company.

The Chief Consolidated previously had no interest in selling any of its property, but its current indebtedness, together with low metal prices, made the sale necessary. All of the ground sold was in development and not yet producing.

The ground adjoining the Tintic Bullion property would be leased in the form of two separate leases to the North Lily Mining company, a subsidiary of the International Smelting company.

The Eureka Bullion company was currently under lease to the North Lily company, and the North Lily company would take the 75 percent ownership share. The Eureka Bullion company's shaft was down 1200 feet and an ore zone was being worked by laterals and winzes. Another ore zone within the Eureka Bullion ground was being worked from the 1600 Level of the adjacent Big Hill shaft, which is part of the Tintic Bullion ground.

April 13, 1935
From the Salt Lake Tribune, April 13, 1935.

Washington, April 12 UPI — Controlling holdings of International Smelting and Refining company in the shares of several mining companies was disclosed in reports to the securities commission today.

Following is a list of these and other mining company reports filed with the commission in connection with their applications for listing on the Salt Lake City stock exchange:

  • The Big Hill Mining Co.: A. D. Hunter, Salt Lake City, as trustee for North Lily Knight Co. held 50.02 percent of stock
  • Park Nelson Mining Co.: A. B. Young, Salt Lake City as trustee for International Smelting and Refining Co., held 50.31 per cent; Lila Nelson, Park City, held 10.22 percent
  • Moscow Silver Mines Co.: M. B. Johnson, Salt Lake City, trustee, held 16.66 per cent; G. S. Wilkin, Salt Lake City, held 17.7 percent
  • Dragon Consolidated Mining Co.: A. D. Hunter. Salt Lake, trustee for Lily Knight Co., held 65.79 per cent; Tintic Standard Mining company, held 10.67 percent
  • East Tintic Coalition Mining Co.: North Lily Mining Co., held 97 per cent
  • Yankee Consolidated Mining Co : J. O. Elton, Salt Lake, president, as trustee for International Smelting and Refining Co., held 50.14 per cent
  • Empire Mines company; A. D. Hunter, Salt Lake City, trustee for the North Lily Knight company, held 66.1 per cent; Tintic Standard Mining company, held 11 percent
  • Mountain View Mining company: J. C. Dick, New Orleans, Louisiana, a director, held 16 per cent; the International Smelting and Refining company, Salt Lake City, Utah, held 17 per cent; Tom Warburton. Salt Lake, trustee for International Smelting and Refining company, 40.32 per cent
  • Eureka Bullion Mining company: International Smelting and Refining company held 50 per cent
  • Park Konold Mines corporation: Tom Warburton, Salt Lake City, as trustee for International Smelting and Refining company, held 50.33 per cent

April 8, 1937
"The Empire Mines Company filed articles of incorporation. The place of the business office was at Provo, and the following officers were named: Jesse Knight, president; J. Will Knight, vice president; W. Lester Mangum, secretary and treasurer; Mrs. Amanda M. Knight, R, E. Allen, K. S. Jordan and J. H. Smith, additional directors." (Eureka Reporter, April 8, 1937)

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 Crane and Elevator company
Utah Ore Sampling company
West Cache Sugar company

In March 1941, Empire Mines company was shown as being a subsidiary of the North Lily Knight company. (Salt Lake Tribune, March 16, 1941)

North Lily Mining Company

The North Lily Mining company was the holding company for all of the former Knight properties in the Tintic Mining District after Anaconda's International Smelting company bought the Knight interests in 1931.

May 18, 1958
Anaconda, through its subsidiary International Smelting company, controlled the following former Knight companies. (Provo Sunday Herald, May 18, 1958)

Big Hill Mining company
Defender Mining and Milling company
Empire Mines company
Eureka Swansea Extension Mining company
Middle Swansea Mining company
New Southern Eureka Mining company
North Godiva Consolidated Mining company
North Lily Mining company
Swansea Consolidated Mining company
Tintic Drain Tunnel company

(Although incomplete, research suggests that none of the North Lily Mining company properties -- former Knight Investment company properties -- were part of the renewed activity in the Tintic district under the Kennecott lease of 1955. Except for the Dragon Consolidated mine, none of the North Lily properties were active during the early 1970s when Anaconda, especially after closing its International smelter in 1972, began arrangements to merge and consolidate its holdings in the Tintic district.)

(Read more about the North Lily Mining 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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