Person:Jay Knight (3)

CENSUS: 1900 United States Federal Census Record Name: Jae Knight Home in 1900: Gale, Trempealeau, Wisconsin Age: 40 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1860 BirthPlace: Wisconsin Relationship to head-of-house: Head Spouses's Name: Sadie Race: White Occupation: Farmer Household Members: Name Age Jae Knight 40 Sadie Knight 39 Hana Knight 15 Louise Walters 33 Russell Thompson 35 Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Gale, Trempealeau, Wisconsin; Roll: T623 1819; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 130.

1910 United States Federal Census Record Name: Fay E Knight [Jay E Knight] Age in 1910: 50 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1860 BirthPlace: Wisconsin Relation to Head of House: Head Father's Birth Place: Wisconsin Mother's Birth Place: Wisconsin Spouses's Name: Sadie E Home in 1910: Gale, Trempealeau, Wisconsin Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male Household Members: Name Age Fay E Knight 50 Sadie E Knight 39 Well Driller Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Gale, Trempealeau, Wisconsin; Roll: T624_1739; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 177; Image: 869.

1920 United States Federal Census Record Name: Jay Knight Home in 1920: Gale, Trempealeau, Wisconsin Age: 59 years Estimated Birth Year: abt 1861 BirthPlace: Wisconsin Relation to Head of House: Head Spouses's Name: Sadie Father's Birth Place: New York Mother's Birth Place: Wisconsin Marital status: Married Race: White Sex: Male Home owned: Own Able to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Image: 880 Household Members: Name Age Jay Knight 59 Sadie Knight 59 Source Citation: Year: 1920;Census Place: Gale, Trempealeau, Wisconsin; Roll: T625_2018; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 213; Image: 880.

1930 United States Federal Census Record Name: Jay E Knight Home in 1930: Galesville, Trempealeau, Wisconsin Age: 69 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1861 BirthPlace: Wisconsin Relation to Head of House: Head Spouses's Name: Sadie E Race: White Household Members: Name Age Jay E Knight 69 Sadie E Knight 69 Albert E Hauser 41 Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Galesville, Trempealeau, Wisconsin; Roll: 2614; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 14; Image: 833.0.

DEATH: The Galesville Republic - Sept. 30, 1937

DEATH COMES IN SLEEP TO VETERAN PUMP MAN

  Jay E. Knight, for many years a resident of the Galesville community, and over a long period engaged in the pump and windmill trade here, died Thursday afternoon, Sept. 23, at his home in Galesville. He died as he slept.
  Mr. Knight was in his usual health the evening before and sat in animated conversation with his son Horace, who had arrived that day from Clinton, Iowa. The father had driven to La Crosse to meet his son. A trim to Winona and other points had been planned by the Knight family.
  Father and son conversed until 9 o'clock, when the latter retired. His father took to the porch to smoke before going to bed. The elder Knight for a number of years had been troubled with insomnia. The next morning when he was called by his son he did not respond. He seemed to be sleeping so peacefully that he was not disturbed. Late in the forenoon, Mrs. Knight told her son to awaken his father, if the trip planned was to be made. Again the father did not respond to the call. The son gave him a slight shake, but this did not arouse him. He slept on. A doctor was called, but efforts to awaken the sleeping man failed. Thursday afternoon his life went out.
  Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon from the Hamre Funeral Home, conducted by the Rev. Frank Zimmerman. Mrs. Rolf B. Hammer sang a number. The service was very simple, as had always been the request of the deaceased. Burial was made in Pine Cliff cemetery. Pallbearers were Carl McKeeth, Edwin Jahn, Herman Koenig, Walter Turnbull, Alfred Anderson, Joseph Hegy.
  Made His Own Way in the World
  If ever there was a self-made man, Jay E. Knight was one. Born at Tomah, April 11, 1860, he was an orphan before reaching the age of 2. His father, early enlisting in the Civil War, died of disease. His mother passed soon afterward. Until the age of 12, the boy was in charge of an uncle, Wilson Knight, and William Powers in La Crosse. At that age he set out for himself, getting a job in a flour mill. At the age of 19 he engaged with W. P. Powers, early day La Crosse pump and windmill man. This was to be his vocation through life.
  John Quinn, later to long be in business in Galesville, established a pump and well business at Trempealeau, and young Mr. Knight associated with him. While at Trempealeau he met Miss Sadie Burrington, and their marriage took place July 2, 1883, the ceremony being performed in La Crosse. Their residence in Trempealeau continued a long period, even when Mr. Knight became a partner with John Quinn in the Galesville business. He commuted back and forth on the morning and evening trains. His association with Mr. Quinn was not continuous, although they were in and out of partnership many years.
  Eventually, Mr. Knight bought the farm now the Pearl McKeeth place. He resumed the pump business, leaving the farm to other hands. He continued in the trade, erecting windmills and climbing to the tops of towers, long after men of fewer years cared to ascend to such perilous positions. Several years ago a tower toppled and he was precipitated to the ground. How he escaped instant death was miraculous. Seemingly he recovered, but the fall left its effects. His health failed, and in the last few years he suffered much. He sold his business in April this year, to Martin Hanson and retired.
  Had  Wide Acquaintance
  Jay Knight had a wide acquaintance. Those who knew him well knew his great-heartedness. He disliked display in any form. Four years ago, at the time of the Knight's Golden Wedding anniversary, he insisted that the date be kept so quiet that there would be no observation of it. He gave liberally to charity, but almost invariably refused to permit the use of his name. In his earlier years he was most social, and he had a keen sense of  humor. His convictions were strong, nor did he hesitate to express them, and often in so doing he gave offense; but rarely did he not later make amends. In his last years he read much. For light reading he cared not, but philosophical works had a strong appeal for him. Birds, flowers and children were a joy to him. In his last years frequently he would be surrounded by children. After he was stricken a number of the little folk called and could not understand why he did not come to greet them.
  Mr. Knight is survived by his widow and by his son Horace. There are two grandsons-Wayne, a graduate of the University of Iowa and now a petty officer-(remainder is missing)

BIOGRAPHY: Veteran Pump Man Sells Business J. E. Knight, 60 Years in the Game Retires-77 Next Sunday Galesville Republic April 8, 1937

  If you see Jay Knight dancing on a street corner, here are two reasons for his joyful mood. First, he will be 77 on April 11, and second, he is out of the pump and windmill business. Perhaps the latter is the greater cause of this joy.
  Anyhow, after nearly 60 years of sinking wells, wrestling with pipe and climbing towers, Mr. Knight has laid down his wrenches and other tools and is a free man. This week he sold his business to Martin Hanson, another veteran. It is jus 25 years ago this week that Mr. Hanson took over the John Benrud pump business. Mr. Hanson has leased the Knight shop and will combine that business with his own.
  It was as a lad of 19 that Jay Knight first engaged in the pump and windmill trade, starting off with W. P. Powers, early-day La Crosse pump man. Some years later, he and the late John Quinn opened a business at Trempealeau. After that, Mr. Quinn established himself in Galesville, and Mr Knight went it alone. In later years they were together, then dissolved partnership, then reentered.
  When Mr. Knight bought the farm, now the Pearl McKeeth place, he was out of business several years. When he sold the farm and came to Galesville about 30 years ago, he was in again, and he climbed windmill towers with the agility of a cat long after he was considered in the old man class. Even when he took a header from one, that didn't throw a scare into him.
  Of late years he has expressed a desire to retire. Old patrons insisted that he shouldn't. This week Jay decided he would be free. And free he is.
  Mr. Knight started out in life as an orphan. His father died in the Civil War and his mother passed on soon after her son's birth.