My Genealogy Hound

Charles W. Knox, a successful farmer and prominent citizen of Groveland township, located on his fine farm of 141 acres in sections 27 and 34, was born at Plattsburg, New York, March 30, 1865, and was but a babe of six weeks when he became a resident of Michigan. He is a son of Maj. John J. and Emily M. (Davis) Knox, and a grandson of Walter and Jane (Todd) Knox.

Walter Knox was born at Harwich, near Glasgow, Scotland, and was one of the first of the hardy pioneers of Independence township, Oakland County. He died here in 1856 at the age of 57 years. He was married in Scotland to Jane Todd, who died at the home of her son, William W. Knox, in Springfield township, this county, in 1891, at the age of 90 years. They were the parents of these children: James, of Pennsylvania; Maj. John J.; William W., of Springfield township, Oakland County; Walter, of Pontiac; Mrs. Jeannette Funston, deceased; Mrs. Isabella Sherman, of Ludington, Michigan; Mrs. Almina La Doo, deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth Husted, deceased; Mrs. Mary Lowrie, deceased; and David and John, who died in infancy.

Maj. John J. Knox was born February 8, 1835, near Syracuse, New York, and came to Michigan with his parents in 1836. He was reared on the home farm in Independence township and was educated in the local schools. For a number of years he engaged in teaching, following the profession in Michigan and Mississippi. When the Civil War broke out, he was one of the first from Clarkston to respond to the call for soldiers, in May, 1861, enlisting as sergeant in Company D, 5th Reg., Michigan Vol. Inf., under Colonel Beach, in Kearney’s corps. He was in the battles of Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, Antietam, Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Spottsylvania, and innumerable skirmishes, giving loyal service during the whole war. He was dangerously wounded in the neck at the battle of Fair Oaks in 1863, and was left for dead on the field; he was finally picked up with little more than a spark of life left in him, but after a long struggle in the hospital finally got out again and back into the service. Enlisting as a private, he was discharged in 1865 with the well earned rank of brevet major. He served some time as provost marshal of the Plattsburg (New York) district and under Gen. O. O. Howard performed important service in Georgia and Alabama, in 1866 and 1867, in tranquilizing those sections and in giving the freedmen their rights. When the country no longer needed his sword, he was given an important position in the Indian Office at Washington, D. C., where he did good service, and was often sent on important missions to Indian tribes in the fulfillment of treaties. During this time he studied law and would doubtless have become a prominent jurist had not death called him away, at his Washington home, in 1877. Two years previous to his death, in the fall of 1875, Secretary Chandler had assigned the Major to an important position in the Pension Department, which position he held up to the time of his death. He was an ardent Republican and was in the confidence of the leaders of the party. Fraternally he was a Mason. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian. On August 8, 1861, he was married to Emily M. Davis, daughter of John Davis, of Independence township, Oakland County. To this union twin sons were born on March 30, 1865: Charles W., our subject, and his brother, John J., of Springfield township, Oakland County. Mrs. Knox died July 5, 1865, and the Major was married in 1869 to his second wife, Belle Boss, of Albany, New York.

Our subject was deprived of his mother when but three months old, and he then became a member of the family of his aunt, Mrs. Mary Lowrie, then of Oakland County, but later of Lapeer County, Michigan. When he was about six years old, his aunt moved back to Oakland County. Thus our subject has been a continuous resident of this county since he was six years old. At the age of 12 years he transferred his home to that of his uncle, William W. Knox, in Springfield township. On January 5, 1893, he was married to Isabel Rees, who was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and is a daughter of John Rees. After his marriage, Mr. Knox settled on his present farm of 141 1/2 acres, which is improved by a good farm dwelling and commodious barns. There he has carried on extensive farming operations, being also interested in the breeding of cattle, sheep and hogs. His six acres of apple trees are kept in fine producing condition, and his dairy interests are large.

In politics Mr. Knox is a Republican, has been a justice of the peace, a member of the School Board and has had opportunities to hold other local offices. He belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, the Grange and the Gleaners. In religious views he is a Presbyterian.