The family of John Wilson Knott 1836-1927

This was a terribly sad post to research, and it's a sad one to write.  Lots of our ancestors in the distant past had to deal with many losses of children, and although I feel a little tug at my heart as I learn of them, this family is much closer to me in time, and I have recollections of two of the "children", my grandmother and my grand uncle.  This one just plain hurts.

John Wilson Knott was born in 1836 in Jamestown, Steuben County, Indiana, the son of Thomas J and Hannah Bell Knott.  Thomas moved from place to place as part of his job, but I think Wilson, as he was known, probably thought of Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa as his home.  His mother and several of his siblings are buried there, and John and his wife are buried there also.  John's wife is Harriet Clarissa Starr, the daughter of John and Clarissa Falley Starr, and they were married in Tipton, where the Starr family had lived for decades.  

John probably profited from being moved from pillar to post so often during his childhood, because he continued that pattern his entire life.  As a Presbyterian pastor, he led at least 17 different congregations. I've written of his life before, but am mentioning it again here because the people I'm really writing about, his children, would have moved frequently also.  This is true, at least, of the ones who survived. If you're a family member reading this, grab the tissues!

The first son born to John and Harriet is Alfred.  He was born in 1863 in Tipton and died in 1865 in Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa.   

Herbert, called Bertie, was born in 1865 and died in 1879 in Shiloh Township, Jefferson County, Illinois.  Apparently his family was visiting his grandparents, and the newspaper account says that he died of poisoning.  Worse, it said that his mother had mistakenly given him arsenic, when she thought she was giving him his quinine medicine.   I can not begin to imagine the pain his mother must have felt, and how this could have affected her marriage.  

Walter Leroy was born in 1867.  He did live to adulthood, married, and had children, but his is not a happy story either.  He married Estella Huntington, the daughter of Septimius and Ruth Pherson Huntington.  They had three children together, Jane, Ruth, and Paul.  However, the marriage didn't work out and Leroy left the family.  The distress pushed his wife into severe mental illness, and she was institutionalized for what appears to be the rest of her life.  Leroy didn't remarry.  He died in 1930 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

Robert was born in 1870 in Mechanicsville, Cedar County, Iowa.  He married Nellie Burkhalter, the daughter of Henry and Hannah Dutro Burkhalter.  I have found no record of children for them, but it's possible that there were children who were born and died between census records.  Robert died in 1930 in Salt Lake City, Utah and my father knew him.  

Mary was born in 1872 in Lodi, Columbia County, Wisconsin and died in 1894 in Holdrege, Nebraska of "quick consumption".  She had begun a promising career as a concert soprano and her parents must have been heartbroken.

Anna was born in 1874 and died less than two years later, both in Lodi, Columbia, Wisconsin. Cause of death is "cholera infantum".

Edith was born in 1878 in Lodi, Wisconsin.  She married Edward Allen, the son of George and Nancy McCoy Allen.  He was a school teacher at the time and she the pastor's daughter, newly arrived in Soda Springs, Idaho.  Their children are Forest, Vernon, Tessora, Corinne, Edith, and Richard.  Edith died in 1954 in Salt Lake City, Utah, so she was the first of the children to have a long and mostly happy life.  

George was the next born, in 1880.  He was born in Anna, Union County, Illinois, and died in 1967 in Independence, Polk County, Oregon, where he was a physician for many years.  He married Martha Fratzke, the daughter of Johann August and Charlotte Tetzloff Fratzke, and they have three daughters-Margaret, Helen and Frances.  

Finally, John was born in 1882 and died in 1886 in Sweetland Township, Muscatine County, Iowa.  As far as we know, this was their last child, and it is always sad to lose the youngest.  

I should mention that there is a four year gap between children, between Anna and Edith.  Since the other children were born approximately every two years, it is possible that there was an unsuccessful pregnancy during this time.  Or perhaps Harriet was in need of a rest.

Wilson and Harriet are both buried in Tipton, Iowa, after dying in Oregon.  I feel sure that George paid for their funerals and burial, for in serving the Lord all those years, the only treasures they laid up are those in heaven.  I can't stop thinking about this family, about the love and faith that sustained them through all the sorrows in their life together.  They were amazing people.