Dates

• Existence: 1845 - 1921

Biography

Jesse Knight (1845-1921) was a mining magnate who contributed to Brigham Young University.

Jesse Knight was born September 6, 1845, in Nauvoo, Illinois to Newel and Lydia Goldthwaite Knight. His family, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days Saints, left Nauvoo for the Salt Lake Valley in 1846, but did not arrive until 1850. In 1857, his family relocated to Provo, Utah, where Knight bought and sold cattle. After marrying Amanda McEwan in 1869, Knight and his family ranched in Payson, Utah. In 1896, he discovered a silver mine near Eureka, Utah, that gave him great wealth. He later started the Tintic Drain Tunnel Company and served as president of the Knight Investment Company, Knight Trust & Savings Bank, Springville-Mapleton Sugar Company, Spring Canyon Coal Company, Knight Woolen Mills, Eureka Hill Railroad, Ellison Ranching Company, Nevada, Knight Sugar Company in Canada, American-Colombian Corporation, South America, and about twenty other mining companies. He generously contributed to Brigham Young University and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was often referred to as "Uncle Jesse" for his kindness and generosity. Besides mining, Knight was successful in farming sugar beets. Jesse and Amanda Knight raised six children. He died on March 14, 1921, in a town he settled, Raymond, Alberta, Canada.

Citation:

The Jesse and Amanda Knight Society, 2002?: p. 6 (Jesse Knight, 1845-1921)

Journal of Mormon history, fall 1997: page 4 (Jesse Knight; born in 1845 in Nauvoo, Illinois) page 5 (Utah mining owner; resided in Provo, Utah; businessman)

Wikipedia, website viewed 5 June 2013 (Jesse Knight; born September 6, 1845, Nauvoo, Illinois; died March 14, 1921, Raymond, Alberta; Latter-day Saint mining magnate and entrepreneur; founder of the Latter-day Saint settlement in Raymond, Alberta, Canada; pioneer)

Knight Investment Company Papers, 1885-1953 (In 1857, his family relocated to Provo, Utah, where Knight bought and sold cattle; After marrying Amanda McEwanin 1869, Knight and his family ranched in Payson, Utah. He later started the Tintic Drain Tunnel Company and served as president of the Knight Investment Company, Knight Trust & Savings Bank, Springville-Mapleton Sugar Company, Spring Canyon Coal Company, Knight Woolen Mills, Eureka Hill Railroad, Ellison Ranching Company, Nevada, Knight Sugar Company in Canada, American-Colombian Corporation, South America, and about twenty other mining companies)

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