Tintic, Levi E. Riter
Index For This Page
This page was last updated on December 13, 2025.
Overview
(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.
(Incomplete; research continues...)
Levi Evans Riter Jr./Sr.
Levi Evans Riter Jr/Sr (3 September 1854 – 30 July 1903) (KWVP-FT3)
Son of Levi Evans Riter (1805-1877), and father of Levi Evans Riter (1878-1945)
He was a nephew of William Wollerton (W. W.) Riter, pioneer railroad builder; William Wollerton Riter (4 September 1838 – 17 January 1922) (KWCV-PKY)
Operated the L. E. Riter & Co. general merchandise and miner's supplies store at Silver City.
L. E. Riter was a resident of Santaquin in July 1881, but had moved to Silver City by February 1884.
He had started his L. E. Riter & Co. store in Silver City as early as 1882, with Charles V. Wheeler as manager.
January 22, 1883
"The Elise No. 2 was located Jan. 22, 1883, by L. E. Riter. It is now a part of the famous Dragon Iron mine owned by the Tintic Iron company and is patented ground." (Salt Lake Herald, August 30, 1897)
February 10, 1885
"Homansville Mill. -- We are pleased to learn that the stamps in this mill will shortly be resounding again, L. E. Riter having leased the property with the intention of starting it up with Caresa silver ore on the 10th - today; the mill will work ten or fifteen men to start with; the lease remains in force for one year." (Salt Lake Herald, February 10, 1885)
October 28, 1888
The Tintic Iron company was shipping ore from its mine, from a vein that was 20 to 60 feet in width, and 50 percent iron, above its silver and non-fluxable ingredients. Twenty-five teams were steadily employed hauling the ore to the terminus of the Salt Lake & Western railroad at Silver City. L. E. Riter was general manager. (Salt Lake Herald, October 28, 1888)
In July 1890, he was vice president of the Paxman Mining company.
In June 1892, he owned the Silver Coin mine in Dragon Hollow, east of Silver City, with the mine being worked by leasers.
In July 1892, he had a new home built in the 18th Ward in Salt Lake City, in the west end of the Avenues, at 268 2nd Avenue.
In May 1896, L. E. Riter purchased a large interest in the South Swansea mine at Silver City.
May 5, 1896
L. E. Riter was a director of the company when the South Swansea Mining company filed its articles of incorporation. The mining claims owned were the South Swansea and West Swansea claims. (Deseret News, May 5, 1896)
(During early November 1896, L. E. Riter was doing assessment work on the Snap Dragon claim, which lay immediately south of the Contest, Iron Clad, Reverse, and Black Dragon Extension claims, and may have also been in contest with them with their combined boundaries. -- Salt Lake Herald, November 6, 1896)
In April 1897, he was manager of the South Swansea mine.
In July 1897. L. E. Riter, Jr., was in his third year at the Columbia School of Mines, after attending Utah State University in Logan.
(On October 2, 1897, L. E. Riter purchased controlling interest in the King James mine, which lay immediately south of the holdings of the Dragon iron mine. -- Salt Lake Herald, October 3, 1897, "yesterday")
In January 1898, L. E. Riter was vice president of the Martha Washington Mining company when it was incorporated. The mining claim was located at the top of Dragon Hollow, east of Silver City.
March 15, 1902
"Manager L. E. Riter of the Tintic Iron company has started a force of men cleaning out the Dragon iron mine, which has been idle for two years. A new demand for fluxing ores by American Smelting & Refining company's new smelter is expected." (Salt Lake Telegram, March 15, 1902)
July 31, 1903
"L. E Riter one of the widely known mining men of the Tintic district died at his home at Salt Lake yesterday afternoon from cancer. The deceased has been a resident of the capital for a number of years past and was about 52 years old at the time of his death. He was a prominent character during the early days of the south end of the district. He still owns considerable mining property at Silver City and some real estate, including the Riter Store. The funeral will be held at Salt Lake next Sunday." (Eureka Reporter, July 31, 1903)
April 21, 1906
L. E. Riter (the son) was re-elected as a director shown at the annual meeting of the South Swansea Mining Company. (Engineering and Mining Journal, April 21, 1906)
December 30, 1906
The Tintic Iron Mining company, which owns the Dragon Iron mine at Tintic, shipped 500,000 tons during 1906. The shaft was down to 600 feet. The mine had been worked for more than 20 years, off and on. The control of the company was in the hands of a few Salt Lake capitalists, who have spared nothing within reason to get the results. The officers of the company were: George Y. Wallace, president; L. E. Riter, Jr., general manager; with George Y. Wallace Jr., and L. C. Riter as additional directors. (Salt Lake Herald, December 30, 1906)
June 20, 1908
"It comes from an authoritative source that the deal giving Mr. Knight control of the old Dragon iron mine has been concluded. A new company is to be organized with a capitalization of 1,000,000 shares. L. E. Riter, one of the former owners in the iron mine, will be retained as general manager of the new company." (Deseret News, June 20, 1908)
1910
"The Dragon Mining Co. -- Operating in Tintic District, Juab County, Utah. Officers and Directors: Jesse Knight, President; J. William Knight, Vice-President: R. E. Allen, Secretary; W. Lester Mangum and L. E. Riter. Mine Manager, L. E. Riter, Silver City, Utah. Mine Superintendent, E. E. Gardiner, Silver City, Utah. Main office, Provo, Utah." (Tintic: The Home of the Dividend Payers, 1910)
February 15, 1911
"Some time ago the directors of the Dragon and Governor Mining companies held meetings and arranged for the consolidation of the two mines and on the second of next month the stockholders of the two corporations will meet at Provo for the purpose of voting upon this proposition. Both companies are controlled by the Knight interests and it is understood there will be little or no opposition to the consolidation. It is generally understood that the merger will permit development work to be prosecuted to greater advantage and at less expense than if done separately by each company. The Governor adjoins the Iron Blossom and some of the Iron Blossom ore is known to extend over into this ground. The Dragon is still farther to the south and is equipped with a splendid plant and a double compartment shaft which at this time is down to a depth of over 1,000 feat. At the present time preparations are being made to drift from the 1,025 and 800 levels of the Dragon shaft and it is expected that more valuable ore deposits will he opened up upon these levels. The Dragon mine is now one of the heaviest shippers in Tintic, the output being iron ore which is used for fluxing purposes. Manager L. E. Riter states that the output of the mine for the month of January amounted to about 4,000 tons." (Salt Lake Mining Review, February 15, 1911)
March 3, 1911
"Provo, March 3. - At the meeting of the stockholders of the Dragon and Governor mining companies which was held here yesterday afternoon, it was decided by a unanimous vote to consolidate the two companies under the name Dragon Consolidated. Development will be carried on through the deep shaft of the Dragon which is down 1,065 feet. There has been little exploration in the Governor ground but the Iron Blossom vein is worked to its end lines." The two companies had the same directors: Jesse Knight; J. Will Knight; W. Lester Mangum and R. E. Allen. Amanda Knight was a director of the Governor, but not of the Dragon, which position was held by L. E. Riter in place of Mrs. Knight. (Deseret News, March 3, 1911)
1916
(George Y. Wallace, after Knight's purchase of the Black Dragon, was a director of the Dragon Consolidated Mining company until his death in September 1916, along with Jesse Knight, W. Lester Mangnum, R. E. Allen, and L. E. Riter)
(Incomplete; research continues...)
###