KNOWLTON, Otis S.

KNOWLTON, SHEPPARD, MILLER, BOGUE

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 1/18/2003 at 23:14:52

Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

OTIS S. KNOWLTON.

Otis S. Knowlton is the oldest furniture dealer and undertaker in the county, and carried the largest and most complete stock, his store being thoroughly up-to-date. It is located at Nos, 215, 217 and 219 South Second Street. Mr. Knowlton was born on the 12th of May, 1831, in Wilberham, Massachusetts, of which state his parents, Seth and Vilura (Sheppard) Knowlton, were also natives, the family being of good old New England stock. The first to come to America was our subject’s great-grandfather, who was from Scotland and settled in Charlton, Massachusetts. The father came west in 1880, and died in Clinton in January, 1887, having long survived his wife, who died when our subject was only about twelve years old.

In his native state Otis S. Knowlton grew to manhood, and is indebted to its public schools for his educational privileges. At the age of twenty he went to eastern Illinois, where he spent one year, and in 1852 removed to Fulton, that state, just across the river from Clinton, Iowa. Clinton at that time contained not more than eight or ten houses, all the cheap houses of a new community. Being a very ingenious man, he could turn his hand to almost anything, and met with success from the start in the furniture business, which he carried on in Fulton, Illinois, for some years. In 1865 he came to Clinton and opened a store on Fifth avenue, where he was for one year, and then at 607-9 South Second street, and was in business at that place until his removal to his present location about ten years ago. He built a fine two-story brick building in 1889 at his present location, 70x90 feet, all devoted to his business for furniture warerooms and undertaking rooms, having the best undertaking rooms in this section, and, having a large business, has attended a large number of funerals. He has built up a large retail trade, and does no manufacturing of any kind except trimming in the undertaking department. For some time he was in partnership with Joseph Glatts, who is now living retired, but for the past twelve years has been alone in business.

January 11, 1854, Mr. Knowlton was united in marriage with Miss Mary Miller, a native of the old Bay state, born at Tolland, Massachusetts, February 22, 1831, and daughter of Peter and Celeste (Bogue) Miller. Her father was a farmer at Tolland, and later at Easthampton, in the same state, where his death occurred, as also that of his wife. Mrs. Knowlton lived in Massachusetts until her marriage, when she came west. Mr. and Mrs. Knowlton have one son living, Arthur, who is now engaged in farming in Carroll county, Iowa. Mr. Knowlton has never taken any part in politics, although on national issues is usually Republican. In his social relations he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with which he has been connected for five years. He is not only the leading furniture dealer of Clinton, but is one of its most prominent and influential business men and honored early settlers. He well remembers when a little orchard stood upon the site of his present store, and in the development and upbuilding of the city he has borne an important part. He is a lifelong member of the Methodist church, as is also his wife. They live in a beautiful home at 738 Sixth avenue.