Charles Reardon McKnight

MCKNIGHT HUDSON SHEPHEARD

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/21/2010 at 20:59:39

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Charles Reardon McKnight
By Loraine E Washburn

Charles Reardon ‘Charlie’ McKnight was born 28 February 1869, near Bedford, in Lawrence County, Indiana, the eldest child of John Wesley McKnight and Mary Ellen Hudson. He came to Woodbury County, Iowa, at age 20 and worked as a farm hand. He was married 7 February 1894 at Luton, Woodbury County, to Luella Blanche Shepheard. This couple moved around quite a bit, but always remained in Woodbury County. They lived near Luton, Moville and Climbing Hill. In 1911, the couple purchased a farm in Section 18 of West Fork Township of Woodbury County. Except for a short time, working on a bridge crew, he worked as a farmer. He built a new house and a new barn on the farm. The house is still standing and occupied. The farm was taken over by the only son after Charlie’s death, and was farmed by the son until his death in 1956, after which the property was sold.

Charles died 11 January 1948 in West Fork Township and is buried in Climbing Hill, Iowa.

Luella Blanche Shepheard was born 19 June 1877, near Luton, in West Fork Township, the daughter of William Henry Shepheard and Angeline Metcalf. The Shepheard name was spelled many ways by the family, but a pension affidavit of Wm Henry says he spelled it Shepheard. Luella was a lifelong resident of Woodbury County, a hardworking homemaker and mother. She passed away 30 May 1937 at her home in West Fork Township and is buried at Climbing Hill.

Charlie and Luella were parents of three children:
(1) Elsie, born 11 March 1895, married 31 October 1917, to Jesse Washburn, and died 13 January 1973, all in Woodbury County, having spent all but three years of her life in the county. Jesse and Elsie were parents of seven children: Elva, 1918, Alta, 1921, Bernard, 1923, Marian, 1925, Wilma, 1927, Jesse ‘Bud’, 1929, and Lowell, 1931.
(2) Alma, born 9 June 1899, Woodbury County, was married 7 May 1919 to Clem Smith; they lived for many years at Climbing Hill, Iowa. Clem is deceased and buried at Climbing Hill. Alma has lived in Florida, California, and Arizona as well as Woodbury County. She is presently residing in Sioux City. The Smiths were parents of nine children: Louis Philip, born 20 January 1921, served in Naval Air Force, WWII, present whereabouts unknown; Ward Charles, born 23 October 1922, Air Force, WWII, carpenter, he helped in construction of the Sioux City Auditorium in 1949, moved to California in early 1950’s and has lived there since. Ward is married and has two children. Grace Alma, born 15 June (about 1924), had five children by her first marriage. She moved to Arizona after 1950, and died in Arizona in the late 1960’s. Clem Warren ‘Bud’ born 22 July, about 1927, lives in Michigan, is married and has two children. Betheen Louise, born 30 September 1929, is married to Roger Benson; they are the parents of six children and live in Sioux City. Margery Juanita, born 21 October 1931, married to Roland Cassens, 1931-1978; they lived at Climbing Hill and had six children. Margery lives at Climbing Hill. Joyce Marie, born 12 July 1933, married in Woodbury County to Leonard Meier; they lived near Sergeant Bluff, and are parents of two sons born in Sioux City, and one son born in California. She remarried in 1974 to Mr Galles. MaryAnn, born 13 March 1936 and married to Mitchell Scott, died 1968; they live in Florida, and were parents of four children. Mary Ann still resides in Florida. Larry Vernon, born 14 November 1939, married Barbara Haggin; they had three children and live at Moville, Iowa. All of Alma’s children were born near Hornick, iowa.
(3) Raymond Frank was born 15 Jan 1908, at Luton, West Fork Township, Woodbury County. He farmed with his father, and later farmed for himself after the death of his father. He was married, 1937 at Bronson, Iowa, to Gladys Irene McClarty, born 1916, Smithland, Iowa. He died of lung cancer at his home on 20 November 1956, and is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Sioux City, Iowa. His wife moved to Onawa, Iowa, after his death, and was employed in a hospital there. She remarried and moved to California.
Ray and Gladys were parents of three children, a male infant, Donna Rae, and Catherine. Donna, born 23 August 1944, Woodbury County, married (2( to Michael Shannon, they have two children and live in Indiana. Catherine Ann, born 27 September 1951, in Woodbury County, married (1( Eugene Leonard and two children and (2( Stan Meastas; both marriages ended in divorce. She is probably living in Iowa, but not in Woodbury County.