Howard Morrison Knox

HOWARD MORRISON KNOX, a resident of Garden City since March, 1886, and who has given his chief energies uninterruptedly to merchandising for over thirty years, was born at Chester, Massachusetts, August 28, 1846. His father, Alanson Knox, born at Blandford, Massachusetts, February 22, 1802, grew up in the Massachusetts rural districts and spent his life as a farmer and stockman. He lived to be about ninety-one years of age. He was a republican in politics and orthodox in religion. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Shepard, who died when about three score and ten. Her father, L. Shepard, was a member of the old Shepard family of Blandford. The Shepards are English, while the Knoxes are Scotch-Irish. Alanson Knox and wife had eight children, all of whom grew to mature years: Elizabeth, who married L. K. Park and lived at Lorain, Ohio; Eli, who served in the Union army and died in Massachusetts; Abbie, who married William Holmes and resided in Berkshire County, Massachusetts; Letitia, who married Loren Holmes and died at Deshler, Ohio; Spencer, who was a Massachusetts farmer and died in that state; Martha, who became the wife of Frank Dunbar and died at Huntington, Massachusetts; Emma, who died in Massachusetts, the wife of Charles Lee; and Howard M.

Howard M. Knox grew up on a farm and had modest school advantages. At the age of seventeen he became a traveling salesman, at first handling tinware and later honey and beeswax. With headquarters at Boston, he covered the New England states from New York City to the Canadian line, his conveyance being a wagon and team. He enjoyed the work, but after some years realized that he was saving no money and determined to seek better employment. His first wages as a traveling man was $25 a month "and furnished." The salary was doubled, but somehow it was mysteriously spent. When he announced his intention of leaving the road his employers promised him $1,000 for the next year, but he was not to be swayed from his resolution.

For several years he farmed in Massachusetts, following which he became a contractor, getting out logs, cordwood and timber, employing both horses and oxen in this work. It brought him some profit, but he left it to concentrate all his energies on farming. About that time he married, and with a very small capital moved West and located at Deshler, Ohio, in 1872. At Deshler he was in business as a merchant, proprietor of a livery and feed stable, also sold provisions, and for a time was landlord of a hotel. There also he took a contract for the delivery of sycamore logs to the mill at hand, a contract which resulted disastrously to him as a result of the financial failure of the company. His next location was at Defiance, Ohio, where for two years he was a liveryman. Another year or so he spent in the livery, bus and transfer business at Columbia City, Indiana, and it was from Whitley County, Indiana, that Mr. Knox came West and cast in his lot with Garden City and Finney County. The capital of about $1,400 which he brought with him was invested in a store and bakery. The store was just south of the Buffalo Block, and his place of business has not been far from that original location during subsequent years. His present store is the third one he has occupied since he came to Garden City. Two generations of people, including most of the pioneers and all of the later residents know his store under his individual name of H. M. Knox.

As a public spirited citizen and business man he was identified with the organization of the Commercial Club of Garden City, and has served as its president and member of its official board. He has also been one of the officials of the Fair Association and has contributed his part in other enterprises reflecting the co-operative spirit of the community. Though best known as a merchant, Mr. Knox has for more than a quarter of a century had some interest in farming and cattle raising. His pasture is south of the Arkansas River, and he has a tract of irrigated farm land near Garden City. Mr. Knox is a republican and has always voted that ticket. The only official service he has rendered has been as councilman from his ward. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Odd Fellows, a charter member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and has filled the chief offices in the local camp.

In his native county of Massachusetts October 8, 1871, Mr. Knox married Ella M. Bates, daughter of Elizur and Julia (Alderman) Bates. Her father was member of the old Massachusetts family of Bates, but of its special branch at Suffield, Connecticut. Julia Alderman was a daughter of Daniel Alderman, of an old Connecticut family. Elizur Bates was studying for the ministry in the Episcopal Church when he died. His three daughters were: Mrs. Knox, born March 2, 1852; Emma, wife of Fred Brainard, of Collinsville, Connecticut; and Mrs. Eva Parish, of Collinsville. The mother of these daughters married for her second husband Newton Mather. She died at Collinsville, Connecticut, in August, 1907, aged eighty-six.

Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Knox the oldest is George S., who has spent his life at Garden City and his active career as a merchant. He married Belle Adair. The second child, Eugene, died at the age of fifteen. Dwight A., an associate with his brother George S., married Rose Pyle and has one daughter, Jean. Edith Knox, the older daughter, is the wife of Carson Loftus, a lumberman of Strawn, Kansas. Ella married Walter Eamon, a rancher of Kendall, Kansas, and has a daughter, Julia. The youngest of the family is Howard M., Jr., who has enlisted in the United States Marines at Paris Island, South Carolina.

Pages 2528-2529.