Person:Horatio Knight (20)

BIOGRAPHY: !Horatio Gates Knight-was a prosperous and well known businessman and politian of his time. He rose to become first Treasurer, then President of the firm of Williston & Knight, a manufacturer of cloth covered buttons. He became Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, and was a trustee of Williams College. He served as Chairman of the Hoosac Tunnel Commission and was Commissioner of the Draft for the Civil War. He served in both houses of the Massachusetts Legislature. He was a delegate to the Republican convention in Chicago that nominated Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses Grant to the Presidency. Lt. Governor from 1875-1879

New England Magazine Volume 5 Issue 26 December 1886

Horatio G. Knight
By Hon. William G. Bassett

  In Easthampton, where agriculture, education and manufactures are conducted with some prominence, are located the mills of three companies, which are leading producers of the several kinds of goods they make. These are covered buttons, rubber thread, and suspenders and other elastic goods. Samuel Williston, the well known munificent philanthropist, founder of Williston Seminary, was the leader in this enterprises.

  Horatio G. Knight commenced with Mr. Williston as a boy. Expecting to go at once in the store of his employer, he was set to work in a garden. Though a little disappointed and dissatisfied, he has said he did the work the best he could. Mr. Williston had a purpose to educate him in the schools, but he at once became so useful that he could not be spared for that purpose. But reading, constant contact with means of education, a study of and participation in affairs of importance, with travel and observation in this country and foreign countries, have made him a man of unusual general intelligence. Thirty-nine years ago, Williston and Knight established the button business in Easthampton. They remained partners in business till Mr. Williston's death.

   It fell to the lot of Governor Knight to buy the first India Rubber and the first elastic fabric looms and braiding machines there used. During that long and intimate association in business, the names of Samuel Williston and Horatio G. Knight were suggestive of successful business integrity and enterprise. The manufacture of goods in their native town, and in connection with it, a prosperous selling business in New York, both during the life of Mr. Williston and since his death, have owed much to the intelligent energy and vitalizing contact of Governor Knight. His success is the result of constant, systematic and intelligent diligence. He is an alert man. He walks fast, works and thinks rapidly and well.

The Willimantic Journal An Independent, Local, Family Newspaper. Published Every Saturday Morning Office in Franklin Building, Up Stairs

• • • • • • • • The Willimantic Journal, September 1861

924. TWJ Fri Sep 27, 1861: Horatio G. Knight of Easthampton, Mass., has offered to give $50 to single, $100 to married men of that town, who will enlist in the company now forming in Northampton. A part of the money will be paid immediately if needed, and the balance at the expiration of the term of service.

Genealogy of the Lyman Family in Great Britain and America Lyman Coleman, D.D., Albany, N. Y. J. Munsell, State Street 1872 - Page 439/440 476 Hon. Horation G. Knight, son of Sylvester and Rachel Lyman Knight, b. March 24, 1817; m. Mary A. Huntoon, of New York, Sept. 28, 1841, and settled in Easthampton, where he now resides, and is one of the leading manufacturers of the town. On the establishment of the button works on Hon. Samuel Williston of Easthampton, Mr. Knight, who had been before clerk and salesman for Mr. Williston, became a partner. Since then the firm of Williston, Knight & Co., until the recent organization of the National Button Co., in which the same persons are stockholders. Mr. Knight is also largely interested in the Nashawnnuck and Glendale Companies, and next to Mr. Williston has been most prominent in the manufacturing operations of the place.

  He has also been very prominent in the public affairs of the town, which he has twice represented in the lower house of the legislature. He also occupied a seat in the Senate during two sessions, and was a member of the Republican National Convention at Chicago, by which Abraham Lincoln was first placed before the people as a candidate for the presidency. He was a member of the Executive Council of the state of Mass., in the administration of Gov. Bullock, to which position he was elected under the circumstances very complimentary to himself. He also filled the same office in the first term of Gov. Clafin. In the early part of the war Mr. Knight was very active in procuring volunteers, paying bounties to Easthampton men who enlisted in the 27th Regiment, and subsequently to those who enlisted in the 31st Regiment, amounting in the aggregate to several thousand dollars.

John Hopkins and Some of his Descendants By Timothy Hopkins Printed and bound in the United States of America by Stanford University Press 1932

One of a Thousand One Thousand Representative Men Resident in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts A. D. 1888 - 89 Compiled by John C. Rand. Boston First National, Publishing Company 1890 - Page 361

  Knight, Horation Gates, the son of Sylvester and Rachel L. Knight, was born in Easthampton, Hampshire County, March 24, 1818.
  He received his early education at the common schools of his native town. When quite a boy he went into the employ of Samuel Williston at Easthampton, with the expectation of going at once into his store, but much to his surprise he was set to work in the garden. Through a little disappointed and dissatisfied, he has since said he did the work the best he could. He soon rose in position. In 1832 he became a clerk in Mr. Williston's employ, and in 1842 he was a partner with him in his extensive button manufacturing business. He continued with Mr. Williston in various manufacturing enterprises and mercantile pursuits till the time of the latter's death. He is now a manufacturer and merchant, being the senior member of the Williston & Knight Company, New York.
  Mr. Knight served two years in the House of Representatives, two years in the Senate, two years in the executive council, and four years as lieutenant-governor. He has been a trustee of Williams College, Williston Seminary, Clarke Institution for Deaf Mutes, president of a national bank, a savings bank, and of several manufacturing corporations, a director of the New Haven & Northampton railroad,  a member of the state board of education, of the Easthampton school committee, and has held various other offices in his native town.
  Mr. Knight was appointed by “War Governor” Andrew to the office of drafting commissioner, by Governor Claflin a commissioner on the Lee and New Haven railroad matters, and by Governor Washburn a state commissioner to the Vienna Exposition.
  He has traveled extensively in this and foreign countries, having visited Europe many times for business and pleasure.
  He was a delegate to the Chicago convention that first nominated Abraham Lincoln, and to the Philadelphia convention that nominated General Grant.
  Mr. Knight was married in New York City, September 28, 1842, to Mary Ann, daughter of Charles and Minerva P. Huntoon, by whom he has five surviving children; Alice, Horatio W., Lucy, Charles H., and Mary Knight- two boys, Frederick A. and Russel W., dying in infancy.

History of the Town of Westford, In the County of Middlesex, Massachusetts 1659 - 1883 by Rev. Edwin R. Hodgman, A. M. Lowell, Mass - Morning Mail Company, Printers. 1883 Votes Cast in Elections for Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

1875 Election Governor: Alexander H. Rice, 217 William Gaston, 215 John L. Baker, 27; Lieutenant Governor: Horatio G. Knight, 168 John Quincy Adams, 209

1876 Election Governor: Alexander H. Rice, 217 Charles Francis Adams, 174 John I. Baker, 6; Lieutenant Governor: Horatio G. Knight, 217 William R. Plunkett, 176 Daniel c. Eddy, 6

1877 Election Governor: Alexander H. Rice, 156 William Gaston, 159 Robert C. Pitman, 20 Wendell Phillips, 1; Lieutenant Governor: Horatio G. Knight, 159 William R. Plunkett, 160 Elijah A. Morse, 15 Dyer D. Lum, 1

Williston Seminary, Easthampton, Mass. Alumni Records From 1842 to 1874 Compiled by Joseph H. Sawyer 1875 - Page 27 Hon. Horatio G. Knight was treasurer of the National Button Company, Easthampton, and member of firm Williston Knight & Co., when elected trustee; born in Easthampton, Mass., March 24, 1817; has filled the various town offices in Easthampton; representative to the General Court of Massachusetts, two years; senator from Hampshire District, two years; councilor from the Eighth District, two years; appointed drafting committee, by Governor Andrew; Massachusetts commissioner to Vienna Exhibition, by Governor Washburn; commissioner on Lee and New Haven Railroad, by Governor Talbot; has been treasurer and president of Glendale Elastic Fabric Company; treasurer of National Button Company; vice-president Northampton Institution for Savings; president Easthampton Rubber Thread Company; president Northampton Loan and Trust Company; president First National Bank of Easthampton; delegate to the Chicago Convention which first nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency, and to the Philadelphia Convention, which nominated General Grant, for a second term; elected lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts, November 3, 1874.

MARRAIGE: KNIGHT, Horatio G. Marriage Wife: Mary Ann HUNTOON Marriage Date: 28 Sep 1841 Recorded in: Seventh Presbyterian Church, New York, New York, New York Source: FHL Number 503633 Dates: 1835-1847

CENSUS: 1850 United States Federal Census Name: Horatio G Knight Age: 33 Estimated birth year: abt 1817 Birth Place: Massachusetts Gender: Male Home in 1850 (City,County,State): Easthampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Easthampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: M432_320; Page: 169; Image: 331.

1860 United States Federal Census Name: Horatio Knight Age in 1860: 43 Birth Year: abt 1817 Birthplace: Massachusetts Home in 1860: Easthampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts Gender: Male Post Office: Easthampton Household Members: Name Age Horatio Knight 43 Mary Ann Knight 39 Alice Knight 16 Horatio W Knight 15 Lucy Knight 12 Charles Knight 11 Mary Knight 3 Ellen McCarty 18 Anna Matthews 35 Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Easthampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: M653_505; Page: 353; Image: 355.

1870 United States Federal Census Name: Horatio G Knight Estimated birth year: abt 1817 Age in 1870: 53 Birthplace: Massachusetts Home in 1870: Easthampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts Race: White Gender: Male Post Office: Southampton Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Easthampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: M593_620; Page: 125; Image: 252.

1880 United States Federal Census Name: Horatio I. Knight Home in 1880: Easthamptom, Hampshire, Massachusetts Age: 63 Estimated birth year: abt 1817 Birthplace: Massachusetts Relation to head-of-household: Self (Head) Spouse's name: Mary Ann Father's birthplace: Massachusetts Mother's birthplace: Massachusetts Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Button Manufacturer Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male Household Members: Name Age Horatio I. Knight 63 Mary Ann Knight 59 Lucy Knight 31 Mary Reed 33 Annie Gorman 25 Rachel M. Knight 66 Charles W. Butt 33 Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Easthamptom, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: T9_537; Family History Film: 1254537; Page: 308.4000; Enumeration District: 343; Image: 0618.

PASSPORT: U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 Name: Horatio Gates Knight Birth Date: 24 Mar 1817 Birth Place: Town of Easthampton Passport Issue Date: 12 Feb 1873 Passport Includes a Photo: N Source: Passport Applications, 1795-1905 (M1372) Source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007. Original data: Passport Applications, 1795-1905; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1372, 694

MEDIA: D00011 - Horatio Gates Knight - Plate from book page