Knotts, Joseph D.

KNOTTS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 15:53:35

JOSEPH DAVID KNOTTS
born Dec 1, 1858, Iowa

J. D. Knotts, Lucas, Iowa - The Knotts family have figured prominently in the business circles of Iowa for a period of forty years, and as one of the best representatives of this family the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch should be accorded specific recognition. J. D. Knotts was born in Warren county, Iowa, December 1, 1858. His father, F. Knotts, was born in 1834, in West Virginia, son of Absalom Knotts and grandson of Absalom Knotts Sr. The elder Absalom Knotts was a native of North Carolina and of German and Scotch descent. He served through the Revolutionary war, lived a long and useful life, and his mortal remains are buried at Knottsville, West Virginia, the town named in honor of him, He was twice married. By his first wife he had eight children, and by his second wife, nee Nancy Myers, he had the following children: James, Sarah, Joseph, Mary, Absalom, Jonathan, and one that died in infancy.
The younger, Absalom Knotts, was born in Harrison county, now West Virginia, July 15, 1811, and was reared on his father's plantation at that place, receiving such education as the schools of that day afforded. At the age of twenty he was united in marriage to Matilda Sayre, who was born in the western part of Virginia, daughter of Jedediah Sayre, an Englishman, who was one of the early settlers of the Old Dominion. This Absalom Knotts was largely engaged in milling, operating a sawmill, flouring mill, and woolen factory, and he also dealt largely in lands. In 1855 he came west to Iowa and entered a large tract of Government land in Warren county and also land in other counties. In 1857 he and his family located at New Virginia in Warren county and subsequently removed from there to Osceola, Clarke county, where he engaged in business. He continued his residence at Osceola until 1870 when he came to Lucas. Here he spent the rest of his life. He was in many ways prominently connected with this town, was public-spirited and generous and did much to promote its material growth. He erected the Knotts block, a fine brick structure, at a cost of $14,000. In all matters of a public nature he took an active part, casting his vote and influence with the Republican party. Religiously, he was a Methodist and a local preacher in that church, and by all who knew him was greatly esteemed for his high moral and Christian character. In his death the citizens of Lucas and this part of Iowa lost a valued citizen. His wife died January 9, 1867, her death occurring during their residence at Osceola. They were the parents of ten children, eight of whom grew up, namely: Rev. Joseph, one of Iowa's prominent men, was Presiding Elder of Council Bluffs district for a number of years, and Consul to Mexico under President Grant's administration, died in Texas; Joshua F., the father of our subject; Polly Ann McGee, Indianola, Iowa; Lemuel, who was a member of Company B, Sixth Iowa Infantry, was wounded and taken prisoner at Shiloh, and it is supposed that he died in a Rebel prison; Jedediah, engaged in the stock and real-estate business at Beatrice, Nebraska; Elijah, in the real-estate business at Neosho, Missouri; Susanna, wife of R. Daily, a merchant of Lincoln, Nebraska; and James B., a farmer near Lucas, Iowa. Joshua F. Knotts, father of our subject, came to Warren county in 1857. He married Julia Ann Felton, who was born July 4, 1835 and, like himself, a native of Virginia. She died November 4, 1869, and he died near Osceola, May 23, 1873, at the age of thirty- nine years, leaving his second wife, Clara Whetzell, whom he married in 1872, with two children: Franklin Scott, who died at the age of nine; and Jacob Fredrick who now resides in Clarke county and is farming. His four children by his first marriage are J. D., L. W., John A., and Julia. Julia died at the age of three years. John A. is a resident of Columbus, Kansas and L. W. is engaged in mining in Mexico.
Having thus briefly glanced at the history of his family, we now turn to the life of our immediate subject, J. D. Knotts. He was reared and educated in Osceola, Iowa, completing his education in the high school of that place. At the age of eighteen he went to Chihuahua, Mexico, where he remained for a period of fifteen years and where he was successfully engaged in silver mining. At the end of that time he returned to Iowa and located at Lucas, with the various interests of which place he has since been connected. He owns large tracts of farming land in the vicinity of Lucas. He has not confined his business operations to any one line, but has divided his energies and whatever he has undertaken has carried to success. In connection with his agriculural pursuits, he is largely interested in the stock business, raising, buying, and selling large numbers of cattle, horses and hogs; does a large business in agricultural implements, and also runs a grocery, meat and provision business at Lucas. Besides this he still retains mining interests in Mexico. In short, he is one of the busiest of busy men in Lucas. He was married August 23, 1891 at Lucas, Iowa to Miss M. E. Chapman, of Des Moines, a refined and cultured lady and a skilled singer and elocutionist. She was born in Summit county, Ohio, June 21, 1869, but has spent the greater portion of her life in Iowa. They have two children: Ramona J., born in old Mexico, and Isis M., born in Luca, Iowa. Mr. Knotts is a leading Republican, a member of the City Council, and in every way takes a deep interest in the affairs of the town in which he lives, and is justly entitled to the esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias and a Mason.
Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.235