Benton Co., AR - Biographies - James C. Knott

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James C. Knott, groceryman, of Bentonville, Ark., was born in Bedford 
County, Tenn., in 1855, and is the son of John and Harriet (Steel) 
Knott. The father was born in Bedford County, Tenn., in 1808, and was 
of Irish origin. He grew to manhood in his native State and county, 
was married there and there lived until 1859, when he moved to Benton 
County, Ark., and settled six miles south of the county seat. In 1862 
he sold out and moved to Pike County, Ark., but moved from there, in 
the spring of 1865, to Hempstead County, Ark., where he died in August 
of the same year. His wife was born in Bedford County, Tenn., in 1815, 
and after the death of her husband she moved back to Pike County, 
Ark., and in the spring of 1866 she returned to Benton County, of the 
same State, bought a farm of 186 acres, five miles southwest of 
Bentonville, near the former place of residence, and is now living. 
She is the mother of five children who lived to be grown: Frank, who 
died in 1886, at the age of forty-five; Bettie, who was born in 1843, 
and who is now deceased; John, who is salesman for his brother. James 
C., and who was born in Bedford County, Tenn., in 1848, was twelve 
years old when his parents came to Arkansas, was reared on a farm, and 
in 1873 married Miss Mattie Jackson, daughter of J. E. W. Jackson, and 
a native of Benton County, Ark., born 1855; they are the parents of 
three children. Arthur, Elma and Virgil; Eliza J., wife of A. W. 
Hutchinson, who resides in Pike County, Ark., and James C. The last 
named was but four years old when his parents moved to Benton County, 
Ark., and was but ten when his father died. At the age of fifteen he 
left the parental roof, and commenced to fight the battle of life on 
his own responsibility. He attended school during the winter seasons, 
for two years in the country schools, and then attended two years at 
Bentonville. The following three years he clerked for William A. 
Terry, and in 1877 he engaged in the grocery business for himself at 
Bentonville. He commenced on a small scale, but by his good business 
ability and honesty he arose year by year, until he has one of the 
largest and best stocks of groceries in Bentonville. He has one room 
23×102 feet, and an L 20×40 feet. In 1880 he married Miss Ella Peel, a 
native of Boone County, Ark., born 1857, and the daughter of John W. 
Peel. They have two children: Ada and Eugene. Mr. Knott is a Democrat 
in politics.