Robert Knowler

KNOWLER PAGE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/21/2010 at 16:44:51

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Robert Knowler
By Robert Knowler

I know that this will be the only reference to a Knowler that you will find in this book. There are no others around. If for some reason you would like to know more about the information that my family has on the Knowlers, you may find our story in the 1984 Mahaska County, Iowa, History by the same publisher as this book. This book also contains stories on the Stephen family (my mother’s family) and the Garrett family (my grandmother Knowler’s family).

The earliest Knowler information we have is on my great great grandparents, William and Matilda (Page) Knowler. William was born In England in 1824. He and Matilda arrived in New York in 1849, and were known to be in Indiana in 1855. In 1860, they settled in Keokuk County, Iowa, and engaged in farming. Both are buried in the Bethel Cemetery in Warren Township, Keokuk County.

William and Matilda had ten children; one of them, George Henry, was my great grandfather. George was born in 1849 while his parents were still in New York. While with the family in Keokuk County, Iowa, he married Violet Ann Dawson in 1873. George and Violet farmed in Keokuk County and raised six children there. Both are buried in the Bethel Cemetery in Keokuk County. Their son, Bert, was my grandfather.

Grandfather Bert was born in Delta, Iowa, in 1882. HE married Alda Mae Garrett, daughter of Delta grocers and milliners, in 1905. Bert worked very hard, spent his life farming, and insisted that his family also know hard work. Like me, Grandfather Bert was short in stature, but he was very strong in character. Due to hard times and misfortune, he had to move to a farm south of Sigourney, Iowa, and then in 1927 he moved to a farm near Lacey, Iowa, in Mahaska County. Grandpa’s last move was to a farm near Barnes City in Poweshiek County, where he died. My grandparents were just two of many many victims of the great depression, which deprived them of being owners of some very nice land. Both are buried in the Garrett cemetery near Delta, Iowa. My father, Clifford, was one of their five children.

Dad was born in Delta in 1907 and attended country school there. He was not able to finish high school because Granddad just had to have his help on the farm. Dad and my mother, Blanche Lucille Stephen, were married in 1929, and tried to farm with no rain and 10 cent corn. After a year of this, he left the farm and became a tank wagon operator for Farm Union. Dad drove the dirt road from New Sharon to Pella for a 300-gallon load, and did so till Farm Union ‘folded’. He then became associated with Texaco, an association that lasted until he entered the insurance business in 1948. He loved the life insurance business, and did well with it, later adding general insurance. My brother, Wendell, now operates the Knowler Insurance Agency. I have another brother, Del, the President of National Sharegraphics in Dallas, Texas. Dell and I are the publishers of this book.

I am the youngest of the three Knowler boys. All three of us were raised in New Sharon, Iowa, mowed yards, cleared snow, carried papers, and ‘built things’ in the garage. When I graduated from high school, Wendell and I bought and operated a Texaco Service Station. All three of us have served in the armed forces.

I arrived in Sioux City in 1963 as an account representative for UARCO Business Forms, manufacturers of computer forms and carbon inter-leaved business papers. I didn’t want to come to Sioux City from Des Moines because I didn’t like the way it first looked. I really didn’t have a choice, and was promised that I would only have to stay here for three years.

When that time period had expired, I decided that I wanted to live here after all. This was probably because I had become so involved with about 500 super young men, members of the Morningside Chapter, Order of DeMolay. For several years I was the ‘Chapter Dad’ of this fine youth organization, and took great pleasure in seeing my kids constantly recognized as being one of the best DeMolay Chapters in the world. Many of my grown friends today are friends because of their association with me in the Fraternity of DeMolay.

In 1967, I decided to try my hand at retailing. With no money, and a couple of kids to help me, I worked over a dance studio on South St Aubin (where Drs. Prince and Gardner have their practice now) and opened the Black Knight. This little men’s store caught the eye of Morningsiders, and was at once a success. I always had East High and Morningside students on my staff, and while there employed Lance Larson. Then a student at Morningside, Lance now owns ‘Lancers’, formerly the Black Knight.

While at the South St Aubin location, I also had as an employee, Chuck Robbins, a Morningside student, track man, and good friend. Since he was a track man, his coach was Lowell ‘Bud' Brockman. Bud would come almost every week and ask me to drive the track team to a meet. This started a long association with Morningside College which is still in existence. It caused me to serve on the Board of Directors, two of my years on the Board as Chairman. My association with Morningside College, as well as my association with the Morningside Chapter, Order of DeMolay, are two of the highlights of my life.

The Black Knight’s location changed with a move to a location on Morningside Avenue; formerly a ‘King’s Food Host’ restaurant, the building currently houses a business interest of mine, the Morningside Fitness Center. During the sixteen-year operation of the Black Knight, there were also locations in Indian Hills and Sunset Plaza. When the new Southern Hills Mall opened in 1980, the Black Knight moved there to new quarters, now occupied by Lancer’s.

As this writing, I am engaged with my brother Del in the operation of National Sharegraphics, this book’s publisher.

I have enjoyed being involved in many Sioux City functions, including a term as Chairman of the Board of Morningside State Bank and service on the Boards of the Prairie Gold Council, Boy Scouts of America; the YMCA; the Siouxland Rehabilitation Center; and the Boys Club, of which I’ll be present for the next two years. I also enjoy being involved in most special projects that occur in a community.

I spend as much time as possible flying, and regularly get to fly some of the children to our Shrine Hospitals. I have been able to work with Mr Al Palmer and his white ponies in the Shrine White Patrol, play with the Shrine Band, and currently have the pleasure of chairing the annual Morningside College-Shrine Football game.

My duties with our publishing operation could possibly be served more easily from another location; however, I choose to remain in Sioux City, just as I did in 1966.

People always like the town in which they live, if they like their work and have good friends.
Note: Mr Knowler was elected County Treasurer in ----, he is not running for the 2010 re-election.