William Knox

    William Knox, one of the respected citizens of Washington Township, engaged in farming on section 35, is a native of Kentucky, born in Bourbon County, January 15, 1820, a son of John and Margaret (Hammer) Knox. The father was born in Kentucky, January 4, 1797, of English descent, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Davis) Knox, who were born in Maryland, and died in Bourbon County, Kentucky. The mother of our subject was born in Tennessee in 1799, a daughter of John and Margaret (Wilkerson) Hammer, both of whom were born in Tennessee, and died in Brown County, Ohio. The Hammer family is of German origin. The father of our subject died in Grant County, Indiana, aged seventy-six years, and his mother died in Blackford County, at the age of seventy-six years. They were the parents of nine children -William, the subject of this sketch; James M., Melissa, Elizabeth, Rachel, Dorothy, Lucinda, Anna and Melinda.

    William Knox was three years old when his parents moved to Brown County, Ohio, and when he was ten years old they settled in Henry County, Indiana. William was reared to manhood in Henry County, and was there married September 4, 1844, to Miss Susan Clevinger, a native of Wayne County, Indiana, born November 25, 1827, where she was reared. She is a daughter of Daniel and Susan (Conley) Clevinger, her father born in Maryland, January 25, 1786, and her mother born March 9, 1810. Both died in Wayne County, Indiana, her father aged seventy-nine years, and the mother aged eighty years. They had a family of seven children -Samuel, Polly, Cynthia A., Lucinda, Margaret, Maria and Susan.

    Mr. and Mrs. Knox have been born nine children as follows -Maria A., born June 14, 1845; Margaret E., born May 6, 1847, died aged thirteen years; John W., born August 19, 1849; James M., born December 30, 1851; Daniel, born July 27, 1854; Mary E., born May 3, 1858; Cynthia A., born November 12, 1860. William H. died, aged three years, and Cyrus R. died, at the age of four years. The six children who are living are married and comfortably settled in life.

    A few years after his marriage Mr. Knox moved with his wife and two children to Grant County, Indiana, where he made his home until 1860. He then came to Blackford County, and settled on his present farm on section 35, Washington Township. About twenty-five acres of the land had been cleared and a log cabin built when Mr. Knox came to the township, but he latter was in such poor condition that he soon built a hewed-log house, which has since been occupied by him and his family. This house was repaired three years ago, and makes a good comfortable residence. His farm contains forty acres of choice land, which is well improved and under good cultivation and everything about he place shows the care and thrift of the owner.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.