"Uncle Jesse” Knight: Mining Magnate and Patron to BYU:
Jesse Knight endured the trials of early pioneers. His father, Newel, believed early in Joseph Smith the Prophet, but Jesse acquired some bad habits and attitudes and turned against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Later, because of trials, the faith of his wife, and a miracle healing, his heart was changed. “Uncle Jesse” was known for being generous with the mining wealth he accumulated, and he gave the Lord credit for his success.
Newell Boyd Knight, Author
Newell "Boyd" Knight is a great-grandson of Jesse Knight. He grew up between Provo, Utah, and Preston, Idaho, where he enjoyed his father's interests in farming and mining. He graduated from the College of Southern Utah in 1971 with a dual degree in business education and seminar teaching. Boyd's older brother Dick—a retired professor at Utah State University—had started writing the history of Jesse Knight but got tired and asked Boyd if he wanted to complete it. Little did Boyd know it would turn into a ten-year project of research in libraries, on mine sites, and online. Eventually, the brothers decided to end their research and put it to paper. At the end, everything seemed to fall into place to create the book Uncle Jesse: The Vision to See—the Courage to Do.
Presented by Charles Redd Center for Western Studies