Henry Knight

KNIGHT

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/27/2010 at 16:49:41

Henry Knight owns 120 acres of good land on the eastern part of section 21. Harrison township, and has here resided since 1910. He had previously spent twenty-nine years upon a farm on the western part of the same section. At the present writing he is not actively engaged in the work of the fields but rents his land to his son and son in law and lives retired in the enloyment of a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He was born in Lincolnshire, England, November 10, 1854, and when twelve weeks old was brought by his parents to the United States. He is a son of Daniel and Emma (Dimery) Knight, both of whom are now deceased. Their children were as follows: Rosina now the wife of Ed Eckly residing in Boone, Pauline who married S E Smith a resident of Sac county, Iowa, Ellen the wife of J A Johnston living near Stanhope, Daniel who married Martha Ritter and makes his home near Stanhope, Henry of this review, Bertha the wife of Greeley Ritter a resident of Boone, John who is engaged in the real estate business in Chamberlain, South Dakota, Seth who married Amanda Pratt and resides in Dodge township, this county, and Viola the wife of Ben Pollard of Boone. On coming to the new world the parents settled first in Wisconsin, where they remained for three years, and the went to Missouri, afterward coming to Boone county, Iowa where the family home was established.
Henry Knight of this review was then a little lad of but four years, and he has since lived in Boone county, so that he has now witnessed its growth and development for six years more than a century. He is indebted to the public school system for the educational privileges which he enjoyed and his home training was that of the far, with the usual experiences that fall to the lot of the farmer lad. He never sought to change his occupation, realizing the fact that the rich soil of Iowa afforded good opportunities to the agriculturist. In time he became the owner of a farm on section 21, Harrison township, and occupied that place for almost three decades. He then removed to his preset place on the same section, having here one hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land. At the present time, however he leaves its cultivation and management to his son and son in law who rent the place from him.
It was on September 14, 1876 that Mr Knight was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Bronkar, a daughter of Louis and Mary (Gibbons) Bronkar. Mrs Knight was born in Zanesville, Ohio. Her father died in early manhood and the mother afterward removed to Boone county, Iowa, in 1866, settling in Dodge township. Her children by her first marriage were four in number: Sarah, the wife of James Gibbons of Boone, Mrs Lizzie Knight, Clara who married Lyman Sayles, a resident of Jackson, Minnesota, and Samuel Gladen, deceased. After losing her first husband Mrs Bronkar became the wife of J K Tumbleson, but both are now deceased. Mr and Mrs Knight have a family of five children: Nellie the wife of Ole Johnson, who follows farming in Harrison township, Mille who married Roscoe Nelson and are resident farmer of Harrison township, Edward who married Eldora Wheeler and is operating the home farm, Mabel the wife of Fred Pollard and Hazel at home.
Mr Knight has proved a most comfortable home for his family and his success enables him to give them not only the necessities but also some of the luxuries of life. He owns an automobile an says that he regrets he did not get one years ago. The family attend the Methodist church. Politically Mr Knight is a democrat and for fourteen years filled the office of township trustee of Harrison township. He has also served as school director and believes in having good schools, recognizing how important wise instruction is as a preparation for the later responsibilities and duties of life.

1914 Boone County History Book