Person:Orno Knowles (1)

BARRY COUNTY MICHIGAN 1985: Page 321, ORNO L. AND LORNA (LIPSCOMB) KNOWLES

Orno L. Knowles, born 6-14-1897, son of Josiah D. and Eliza M. Knowles attended Brown and Carlton Center schools graduating in 1912. He helped operate the family farm in Carlton Township as his father, suffering from heart trouble, was unable to do heavy work. They quit farming. Orno took detective training, graduated and worked for Arnold and Holeran Agency, Grand Rapids, solving the case of missing silk from Belding Silk Mills. He assisted his grandmother during her last illness, helped rebuild the Woodland Telephone lines after an icestorm, worked for Goodyear Brothers Hardware in Hastings installing plumbing in "new" Pennock Hospital. He enlisted in the Coast Guard, inducted at Camp Eustis, Virginia, assigned anti-aircraft artillery division #5-603-606. At WWI's end, he was transfered to the army and discharged at Fort Custer, Battle Creek. Jobs were hard to find. He attended Franklin Institute, Rochester. N.Y., qualified for railway mail clerk, passing examination grade 94, and was on the list a year without call. Orno signed with the Michigan State Police, trained at Lansing and given charge of various prison road camps. Pay was poor. He took a job operating Freeport Electric Plant, a stock company built by George Nagler. It required twenty-four hours, seven days a week labor. Orno operated two water turbines, one Fairbank diesel unit, read meters, collected bills, changed meters and ran line extentions. With his brother Woodrow's help, he got time off to marry Lorna I. Lipscomb 10-8-1925 at buffalo, New York. Lorna was born 8-17-1900 Woodland Township, daughter of Randall E. and Floy (Cotton) Lipscomb. She graduated from Lake Odessa 1920, wrote teacher's exam and attended Ypsilanti Teachers College two summers. She taught at Cheney, North Jordan and Woodland schools prior to marriage.

Consumers Power Company bought Freeport Electric Company and Orno continued working for them. An electric line was run in from LaBarge, the Freeport plant closed and Orno was assigned general maintenance of electric equipment — territory covering most of Southern Michigan outside Detroit. They bought home on S. Jefferson St., Hastings where they lived forty-five years. Orno belongs to Freeport Masonic Lodge #541, he and twenty-two others formed it and built the hall in 1928, raising funds by selling non-interest bearing stock. He was Master in 1932 — the youngest in Michigan. He's a life member, currently Junior Vice Deacon. He was the 1st Worthy Patron of eastern Stars #478. Lorna is a Past-Worthy Matron and was teasurere many years. Orno is a charter and life member of American Legion #45. He was vice-president of State CIO Council and a founder and instigator of CIO Union #206, Battle Creek, Consumers Power Company. Lorna belongs to Circle #4 Hastings Presbyterian Church, past member of Freeport Woman's Club and was a Hastings Extention Club leader.

Children are: 1. Myrna Lou Knowles b. 8-30-1929, graduated Hastings High School, graduated Michigan State University, taught school, become assistant Vice-President Wells Farge Bank, Concord, California, wed Jack Handley, children Elizabeth and Chistopher, divorced. 2. Verlyn Randall Knowles b. 5-17-1934, graduated Hastings High School, Associate in Arts — San Antonio, Texas, Bachelor's — SW Texas State, Master's — Trinity University, Texas and Specialist in Education — Western Michigan University, Air Corps twenty-one years two months, now Varsity Sports Director and Counselor Delton High School, married Nancy Pennock, children: David who wed Tammy Wilbur, Karen wed Michael Allerding, and Larry wed Karen Carlson — have twin sons. 3. Donna June Knowles b. 6-11-1935, graduated Hastings High School, graduated Wright's Beauty College, Battle Creek, beauty operator, wed William Sweat — children Tammy Sweat, Rebecca Sweat and Richard Sweat, divorced, later wed Robert McCarhy (now deceased). Donna lives in Galveston, Texas.