Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Knox, James F. 1856 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 14, 2013, 9:19 pm Source: See Below Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher JAMES F. KNOX. For almost a half century James F. Knox has been a resident of Center township and for twenty-seven years he has resided upon his present farm on section 32, where he owns one hundred and thirty-seven acres of rich and productive land. There are good improvements upon his place and the well tilled fields indicate a life of industry, perseverance and determination. Iowa numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred near Belknap, in Davis county, October 19, 1856, his parents being William and Sarah (Hare) Knox, who were natives of Northern Ireland and were of Presbyterian faith. They were reared on the Emerald isle and Mr. Knox crossed the Atlantic to New York when twenty-one years of age. He was employed in the eastern metropolis at the trade of a weaver for a time and afterward removed to Steubenville, Ohio, where he followed the same business. In the year 1850 he arrived in Lucas county, Iowa, where he worked at his trade until 1861. With the outbreak of the Civil war his patriotic spirit was aroused in behalf of his adopted land and he enlisted from Bloomfield as a member of the Iowa Cray Beards, or the Thirty-seventh Infantry Regiment. He thus served for three years on active duty and made a most creditable military record. Following the close of hostilities he engaged in farming and in 1866 removed to Wapello county, owning a small place in Center township. His political allegiance was always given the democratic party, but he never sought nor desired public office. He died in Center township in 1884 at the age of seventy-five years, while his wife, surviving him for a decade, passed away in 1894 at the age of eighty years. They were always loyal to the faith of the Presbyterian church, in which they held membership. Their family numbered seven children: Joseph, who became a recruit at Bloomfield and served during the last eighteen months of the war with Company C., of the Third Iowa Cavalry and passed away in 1882, leaving a widow and four children; Sarah and Margaret, who died in infancy; Margaret, the second of the name, who became the wife of W. A. Carter and now lives in Minnesota; Eliza, the wife of T. C. Peck, of Nebraska; William, who died at the age of eleven years; and James F. The last named has been a resident of Center township since 1866, with the exception of two years spent in Adams township and a year and a half in Nebraska. He was a little lad of but ten summers when the family home was here established. He is today the owner of one hundred and thirty-seven acres of arable land on section 32, Center township, and has remained upon this farm for twenty-seven years. The result of his care and labor is seen in highly cultivated fields and good buildings, always kept in repair. He uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the cultivation and care of the crops and his business methods are productive of excellent results. Mr. Knox has been married twice. In 1883 he wedded Hannah M. Scully, who was born in Massachusetts, and died in this county in 1901. There were five children of that union: Joseph, who is living in Ottumwa; Anna, the wife of John Young; Sarah A., a teacher of this county; Eva, who died at the age of eighteen years; and John, who follows farming. In May, 1907, Mr. Knox was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Mary S. Chisman, a widow who had six sons: Carl, Wilbur, Austin, Paul, Harold and Herbert, the last two being at home. Unto the second marriage of Mr. Knox two children were born: Hazel and Ellis, but the former died at the age of thirteen months. In his political views Mr. Knox is a stalwart republican, thoroughly in sympathy with the principles of the party, for he believes that its platform contains the best elements of good government. He is serving as one of the trustees of his township, being the incumbent in the office for the fifth year, his reelection indicating how faithfully he has served the people in that connection. There are no unusual events in his life history, no spectacular phases. It has been through the careful performance of his daily duties and his loyalty in citizenship that he has been firmly established as a representative resident of this district. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA ILLUSTRATED VOLUME II CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 5.0 Kb