Person:William Knight (373)

MILITARY: American Civil War Soldiers December 13, 2003 12:34 AM Name: William H Knight , Residence: Newton, Michigan Enlistment Date: 02 October 1862 Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE State Served: Michigan Unit Numbers: 1076 1076 Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 02 October 1862 at the age of 22 Enlisted in Company A, 7th Cavalry Regiment Michigan on 13 October 1862. Promoted to Full Corporal on 06 April 1864 Promoted to Full Sergeant on 01 May 1864 Mustered out Company A, 7th Cavalry Regiment Michigan on 15 December 1865 in Fort Leavenworth, KS

BIOGRAPHY: Illustrated History and Biographical Record of Lenawee County, Mich. By John I. Knapp and R. I Bonner Adrian, Mich. 1903 - 123 William H. Knight was born in Adrian township, Lenawee County, Mich., October 30th 1842. His father, William Knight, was born near Northampton, Mass., January 17th, 1807, and was the son of Erastus and Polly (Little) Knight. This branch of the Knight family in America, so far as is known, sprung from England, and the first record shows that Joshua Knight lived in Connecticut, was a farmer and shoemaker. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, won distinction for bravery and fidelity, and was promoted to lieutenant. William Knight was raised a farmer, and resided at home until he was about twenty years of age, when he went to New Jersey, where he worked at ship carpentering some time, but eventually to Massachusetts, where he remained for about three years, when in the spring of 1834, he emigrated to Michigan, and settled in Rome township, this county. This was new land, which he commenced to improve, but being a single man, and finding some trouble in securing any conveniences or board, he soon determined to make a change, finally locating on section 18, in Adrian township. Here he at once began clearing and building, and by Christmas that year (1834) he had constructed a house, which he occupied until 1841, when merited reward for faithful labor enabled him to build a far more pretentious from dwelling. He cleared up this farm and brought it to a high state of cultivation, enjoying the fruits of his industry for sixty-six years. He was a prominent and highly respected citizen, enjoying the confidence and esteem of all classes. He was prominent in school and church matters. He was the first to organize a school in his district, and was prominent in organizing the West Adrian Congregational Church. He was a deacon in the church from its foundation, and was always a zealous worker for the cause. He died in Adrian township, November 8th, 1901. December 25th, 1834, William Knight married Miss Anna Smead, daughter of Rufus and Anna (Hawks) Smead and they were the parents of seven children. Mrs Anna (Smead) Knight was born in Bolton, Warren County, N. Y., September 14th, 1810, and came to Michigan with her parents in 1834. She died in Adrian township, July 4th, 1885. Her parents were natives of Massachusetts, and settled on section 17, in Adrian, in 1834. Her father died at the age of 83, and her mother died in 1869, being nearly 95 years old. William H. Knight, the subject of this sketch, was brought up a farmer, and attended the district schools of his neighborhood, afterwards going two years to Raisin Institute, conducted by Aunt Laura Haviland; two years at the Ypsilanti Seminary, afterwards taking a business at the Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Business College. Upon returning home, he went back to the farm. In 1866 he purchased his present farm home, on section 9, in Adrian township, which he has carried ever since. About one and a half years he was employed as bookkeeper at A. Stevenson & Sons' coal and lumber yards at Adrian. He served his township as Supervisor for three years, and several years as School Inspector. He is a member of the West Adrian Congregational Church, and has been superintendent of the Sunday school for the last twenty years. His home is known as Mapleside Fruit, Grain and Stock Farm. He is largely interested in feeding cattle for market. He is president of the Lenawee County Horticultural Society, and is engaged to a limited extent in cultivating and propagating choice fruits. November 25th, 1868, William H. Knight married Miss Frances A. McKenzie, daughter of Charles M. and Ann (Hawkins) McKenzie, and they are the parents of seven children, as follows: Anna E., born March 17th, 1871, married Harry Bartlett, is the mother of two children, and resides in Chicago; Grace A., born May 13th, 1877, teacher in Chicago public schools; Laura F., born July 19th, 1879, died November 21st, 1899; William H., Jr., born February 28th, 1881, unmarried, and lives at home; Charles E., born January 9th, 1883, with First National Bank of Chicago. Mrs. Frances A. Knight was born in Woodstock, this county, May 14th, 1842.

CENSUS: 1880 United States Federal Census Name: William H. Knight Home in 1880: Adrian, Lenawee, Michigan Age: 37 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1843 Birthplace: Michigan Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head) Spouse's Name: Frances Father's birthplace: Massachusetts Mother's birthplace: Massachusetts Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Farming Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male Household Members: Name Age William H. Knight 37 Frances Knight 38 Anna E. Knight 9 Alice C. Knight 6 Mary L. Knight 5 Grace A. Knight 3 Laura F. Knight 11M Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Adrian, Lenawee, Michigan; Roll: T9_590; Family History Film: 1254590; Page: 11.1000; Enumeration District: 145; Image: 0023.

1900 United States Federal Census Name: W Henry Knight Home in 1900: Adrian, Lenawee, Michigan Age: 51 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1849 Birthplace: Michigan Relationship to head-of-house: Head Spouse's Name: Francis Race: White Occupation: Household Members: Name Age W Henry Knight 51 Francis Knight 58 William K Knight 19 Charles Knight 17 Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Adrian, Lenawee, Michigan; Roll: T623 725; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 39.

1910 United States Federal Census Name: William H Knight Age in 1910: 67 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1843 Birthplace: Michigan Relation to Head of House: Head Father's Birth Place: Michigan Mother's Birth Place: New York Spouse's Name: Francis R Home in 1910: Redlands, San Bernardino, California Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male Household Members: Name Age William H Knight 67 Francis R Knight 67 Alice C Knight 36 Charles Knight 27 Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Redlands, San Bernardino, California; Roll: T624_94; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 111; Image: 350.

1920 United States Federal Census Name: William Knight Home in 1920: Redlands, San Bernardino, California Age: 77 years Estimated Birth Year: abt 1843 Birthplace: Michigan Relation to Head of House: Head Spouse's Name: Frances Father's Birth Place: Massachusetts Mother's Birth Place: New York Marital Status: Married Race: White Sex: Male Home owned: Own Able to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Image: 474 Household Members: Name Age William Knight 77 Frances Knight 77 Source Citation: Year: 1920;Census Place: Redlands, San Bernardino, California; Roll: T625_129; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 180; Image: 474.