Person:Zenias Knight (5)

DEATH: California Death Index, 1940-1997 Name: Zenias Knight Social Security #: 0 Sex: MALE Birth Date: 16 Nov 1854 Birthplace: Iowa Death Date: 2 Aug 1946 Death Place: Tulare Mother's Maiden Name: Worley Father's Surname: Knight Source Citation: Place: Tulare; Date: 2 Aug 1946; Social Security: 0.

CENSUS: 1880 United States Federal Census Name: (Zenias) Knight Home in 1880: Merced, California Age: 24 Estimated birth year: abt 1856 Birthplace: Iowa Relation to head-of-household: Self (Head) Spouse's name: Sarah Father's birthplace: Indiana Mother's birthplace: Indiana Occupation: Farmer Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male Household Members: Name Age Zenias Knight 24 Sarah Knight 21 Moran Knight 11/12 Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: , Merced, California; Roll: T9_68; Family History Film: 1254068; Page: 394.1000; Enumeration District: 45; Image: 0790.

1910 United States Federal Census Name: Jones Knight [Zenas Knight] Age in 1910: 54 Estimated birth year: abt 1856 Birthplace: Iowa Relation to Head of House: Head Father's Birth Place: Indiana Mother's Birth Place: Indiana Spouse's name: Sarah E Home in 1910: Kaweah, Tulare, California Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male Household Members: Name Age Jones Knight 54 Sarah E Knight 50 Walter Knight 28 Julia Knight 18 Jonias Knight 11 Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Kaweah, Tulare, California; Roll: T624_110; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 241; Image: 1278.

1920 United States Federal Census Name: Zenas Knight Home in 1920: Tulare Ward 3, Tulare, California Age: 66 years Estimated birth year: abt 1854 Birthplace: Iowa Relation to Head of House: Head Spouse's name: Sarah E Father's Birth Place: Indiana Mother's Birth Place: Indiana Marital Status: Married Race: White Sex: Male Home owned: Rent Able to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Image: 727 Household Members: Name Age Zenas Knight 66 Sarah E Knight 63 Source Citation: Year: 1920;Census Place: Tulare Ward 3, Tulare, California; Roll: T625_153; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 224; Image: 727.

1930 United States Federal Census Name: Zenias Knight Home in 1930: Visalia, Tulare, California Age: 75 Estimated birth year: abt 1855 Relation to Head of House: Father Spouse's name: Sarah E Occupation:Farmer Household Members: Name Age Warren K Knight 50 Lizzie C Knight 44 Marvin L Knight 18 Katherine N Knight 14 Zenias Knight 75 Sarah E Knight 72 Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Visalia, Tulare, California; Roll: 226; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 89; Image: 1090.0.

BIOGRAPHY: History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913 pp. 581-582 Transcribed by Kathy Sedler ZENIAS KNIGHT A son of James H. and Mary M. (Worley) Knight and a well-known citizen of Tulare county, whose residence is half a mile southeast of Monson, Zenais Knight was born in Jones county, Iowa, November 16, 1854. In 1860, before he was yet six years old, he came as an emigrant to California. A train of one hundred wagons left Wyoming, Iowa, and at Baker, Idaho, was divided into two trains, one of which, consisting of thirty to forty wagons, started for Oregon, while the other came on to California. Of the Oregon party an aunt of Mr. Knight was a member. Indians at that time were very troublesome and they attacked the train, killing most of the emigrants, appropriating the stock and burning the wagons. The lady mentioned was one of those who escaped and it was not until four or five years afterwards that she was enabled to inform her California friends of the fate that had overtaken the train. The journey to California was made by way of Omaha and Lone Tree, Neb., up the Platte River valley, by Salt Lake and down the sink of the Humboldt to Hangtown, where the party rested for a few days. The Oregon party consisted of about seventy-five individuals, the California party of about one hundred and seventy-five. The Knights located in Green River valley, after a short stop at Sacramento and took up one hundred and sixty acres of railroad grant land which they had later to abandon. The father lived out his days in California; the mother is living in Merced county. Zenias Knight's early days were passed as a pioneer in a new and undeveloped country. Work was plentiful and educational advantages few, but by reading, study and observation he became well informed. He married, at Hanford, Miss Sarah E. Halford, who was born in California, and they have had seven children: Warren, Walter, Laura, Alice, Wallace, Harvey and Zenias. Alice married Jacob Christen and had a son named Christopher. They live at Dinuba. Warren, a resident of Bakersfield, married Elizabeth Worthley. After his marriage for a time Mr. Knight lived in Merced county. From there he moved to eastern Oregon, whence after seven years he came back to California and located in Tulare county. He bought sixty acres of land in 1904 which he has since developed into a fine fruit ranch, giving attention at the same time to stock. He has eight acres of peaches five years old and from twelve acres of his land he secured three cuttings of alfalfa in 1911. His stock consists of eight head and he has ten good hogs. When Mr. Knight first came to this county there was not a house between Visalia and Fresno, and he saw herds of from five hundred to seven hundred antelope and many elk, while bear were numerous in the swamps. The whole country was a vast undeveloped plain. He was acquainted as boy and man with many pioneers and one man of note among several he knew was Evans of doubtful fame. In 1867 and 1868, then only a big boy, Mr. Knight freighted between Stockton and Bakersfield, often visiting Sacramento, hauling mill stuff. He recollects that on one occasion the transportation charges on a steam boiler amounted to $50 more than the original cost of the boiler at Sacramento. Those were the days of primitive things in California. In the later development of this part of the state Mr. Knight has manfully borne his part. Politically he is a Republican. He formerly had membership with the Baptist church. In every relation of life he has been public-spiritedly helpful to those with whom he has been brought in contact.