Person:George Knight (194)

CENSUS: 1850 United States Federal Census Name: George W Knight Age: 27 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1823 Birth Place: New York Gender: Male Home in 1850(City,County,State): Eaton Rapids, Eaton, Michigan Household Members: Name Age Edwin Knight 4 George W Knight 27 Lucy Knight 1 Zelinda Knight 25 Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Eaton Rapids, Eaton, Michigan; Roll: M432_349; Page: 132; Image: 521.

1860 United States Federal Census Name: George W Knight Age in 1860: 37 Birth Year: abt 1823 Birthplace: New York Home in 1860: Eaton Rapids, Eaton, Michigan Gender: Male Post Office: Eaton Rapids Household Members: Name Age George W Knight 37 Philinde Knight 35 Edwin Knight 4 Lucy Knight 10 Marcus F Knight 7 Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Eaton Rapids, Eaton, Michigan; Roll: M653_542; Page: 0; Image: 41.

1870 United States Federal Census Name: George Knight Estimated Birth Year: 1823 Age in 1870: 47 Birthplace: New York Home in 1870: Eaton Rapids, Eaton, Michigan Race: White Gender: Male Post Office: Eaton Rapids Household Members: Name Age George Knight 47 Belinda Knight 45 Lucy Knight 21 Marcus Knight 17 Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Eaton Rapids, Eaton, Michigan; Roll: M593_670; Page: 210; Image: 421.

BIOGRAPHY: Portrait Biographical Album of Barry and Eaton Counties, Mich. Presidents of the United States and Governors of the State Chicago - Chapman Bros. 1891 - Page 433 George W. Knight. One by one the pioneers of Eaton County have gone to the bourne whence no traveler returns, leaving a name and memory that redounds to their credit and merits the hearty respect of posterity. One of this number is the late George W. Knight, whose portrait appears on the opposite page. His equals were few in the county and his place has never been filled. One who knew him intimately for many years testifies to his honor and uprightness as a citizen, and his faithfulness as a friend. He made strong ties among his associates, to whom he was true in every respect, and he was one of the first to advocate and aid public improvements, both with his influence and the contents of his purse. Mr. Knight was born in Litchfield, Herkimer County, N.Y., August 27, 1822, his parents being Joseph and Lucy (Munn) Knight who were natives of the same county as himself. The only other member of the family was Alonzo, who died in December, 1890. The mother departed this life in her native State, but the father breathed his last in Michigan. Our subject was educated in the common schools. He came to Eaton County in 1857, when this section was wild and unsettled, and here he began the struggle of life in and almost unbroken wilderness. For many years he lived upon a farm, but about 1876 he built a home in Eaton Rapids where he resided during the remnant of his days. His widow still occupies the dwelling in which her husband spent his last years. She has been a resident of the county for more than half a century, having come here before a railroad was built in the State. She has witnessed greater advancements than her husband was spared to see, although he was able to trace the development of the county from an uncultivated State to that of a thrifty and prosperous region with schools and churches innumerable. He died of heart disease February 20, 1878, while on his way home from Charlotte. Politically Mr. Knight was a Democrat, and so popular was he that to place him in the field as candidate was to insure success to his party ticket. Strong in his partisanship he yet reached out the hand of friendship to men of other beliefs, and his fidelity to trust was acknowledged by all. He held various local offices, among them that of Supervisor of Hamlin Township, and Superintendent of the Poor, in whose welfare he took a warm interest. At the time of his decease he was President of the Farmer's Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Barry and Eaton Counties. Mr. Knight was married November 9, 1843, to Miss Philanda Hamlin, a daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Perry) Hamlin, who were of the old New England stock and were married in Massachusetts. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Knight was blessed by the birth of three children - Edwy, Lucy and Marcus F. The older son is a prominent business man of Jackson and now Mayor of that city. He was formerly engaged in the sale of merchandise in Eaton Rapids for a number of years. He is a Mason and has taken the Knight Templar degree. He married Miss Helen Safford, of Perry, N.Y. The other son now lives in Shelton, Wash. Lucy is the wife of Scott Roraback, a farmer and stock-dealer in Eaton County.