Knight, Jesse, 1845-1921
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)
Found in 7 Collections and/or Records:
Board of Trustees records
Contains certificates of sale and correspondence to and from Joseph B. Keeler concerning Brigham Young University lands sold to various individuals and the deeding of Brigham Young University lands to the Latter-day Saint Church, 1910-1919. 186 items.
Jesse Knight Endowment Fund records
Contains records and receipts of the Jesse Knight Endowment Fund.
Jesse Knight papers
Collection includes various biographical materials of Jesse Knight, such as patriarchal blessings, the biography of Knight by Inez Knight Allen, funeral tributes to Jesse Knight, legal and financial records of the Blue Bench Irrigation Company, and correspondence concerning the Jesse Knight Trust Fund established for Brigham Young University students. Also included are writings about Knight by Mark Allen. Materials dated approximately 1856 to 2000, with the bulk dated 1856 to 1960.
David O. McKay letter to Jesse Knight
Contains a letter written by David O. McKay for Elder Jesse Knight. At this time David O. McKay was the Principal at Weber Academy. The letter is about McKay contributing $100 to the Karl G. Maeser Memorial Building. It was written in 1908.
Oral history interview with Mark K. Allen
Interview by Karl Young with Mark K. Allen concerning his early life, family, grandfather, time as a student at Brigham Young University, education, and experiences at BYU as a professor and counselor. Includes transcript and sound recording.
Photographs of university trustees
Contains thirty-nine black-and-white photographs of presidents of the Board of Trustees of Brigham Young Academy and University; also views of chairmen of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of BYU. Also includes view of Karl G. Maeser's wife, Anna.
University Irrigation Company incorporation articles
Includes articles of incorporation specifying names of incorporators, regulations, and policies.