John William Knowles (1822 - 1912)

Born 13 Feb 1822 in Jasper, Georgia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Fletcher (Minter) Knowles — married 4 Feb 1877 in Clay, Alabama, United States

Descendants

Died 13 May 1912 at age 90 in Lineville, Clay, Alabama

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ron Johnston Forbus [send private message]

Biography

John was born in 1822. He was the son of Dennis Knowles and Elizabeth Mercer. He passed away in 1912. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]}

Randolph County, Alabama Commisioner

From Randolph County, Alabama, sixty-two years ago: the red man's home, the white man's Eden - County Commisioners:

1866--- W.C. Robertson, John W. Noles, John D. Windosr and James H. Bell

John W. Noles lived in Lamar beat; 38 years of age; an ordained Baptist minister. Owned a mill and run a farm. A Union man, when elected and was exempted as miller and preacher and was not in the war. He now lives in Clay county merchandising, said to be well-to-do financially. He was one of those few Baptist ministers who believe, or at least preached, "that unless the Lord gave him a text and put the words into his mouth, he couldn't preach". The writer remembers once, at Wedowee, going to hear him when he said, "Brethren, I don't know what will be my text. The Lord hasn't give me one yet; and unless he does and puts the words into my mouth, I won't preach. It won't be John Noles preaching, but the Lord" (Turning the leaves of the Bible at the time, until finally he stopped and said) "the Lord has given me a text". Rev. J.P. Shaffer was present and after leaving the church in company with Noles and the writer said: "Bro. Noles, you do believe what you preach? "Yes Brother Shaffer, don't you"? "No, Brother Noles, I repudiate that God and that sermon, I worship the true and living, and a different God, to the one that preached that harangue. He has been Moderator of his Association since then, but it is not known whether he is still the mouth piece of God or not. I have heard white women, white and black men preach frequently, but "Lord" only once.^[8]

John W. Knowles vs. Susan E. Steed, 1887

John W. Knowles and Susan E. Steed claim the same piece of land. The Probate Court of Clay County, Alabama, rules that the land cannot be divided fairly and that it should be sold. ^[9]

1907 Alabama Census of Confederate Veterans

John William Knowles states he was Captain of his company of the Confederate Home Guard, entering service in the Spring of 1863.^[10]

Estate of John W. Knowles

Clay County, Alabama, 1911-1912, Knowles, John W.

Petition for Letters of Guardianship filed for 27 Feb 1911 by John R. Knowles, son of John W. Knowles for Wyatt J. Green to be guardian. John W. Knowles owns an estate of personal property valued at approximately $10,000 and real estate rental value of $650/year consisting of a farm, store house in Lineville, and residence in Clay County, Alabama. Wyatt J. Green was appointed guardian of John W. Knowles, a person of unsound mind, on 4 Mar 1911.

Inventory of Property:

• John W. Knowles' homestead, in the town of Lineville, Alabama consisting of his home and approximately 13 acres - $2,000
• One brick store house and lot in the town of Lineville, Alabama, known as the J.T. Smith shop lot - $1,250
• One small lot with a small house in Lineville, east of the old college lot - $100
• One farm, consisting of 713 acres, known as the Knowles' place, located about four miles north-west of Ashland - $7,500
• One horse - $40
• One cow - $20
• One buggy - $5
• One iron safe - $40

Actions, Notes, & Accounts:

• Cash in Lineville National Bank - $1363.70
• Cash in Citizens National Bank - $1488.18
• Note on W.R. Barnhill - $5.77
• Note on A. Bell - $48
• Note on B.C. Bynum & Co. - $10
• Note on S. & C.W. Bell - $16
• Note on John T. Cook - $88
• Certificate of Judgment on W.F. Dean - $119.31
• Note on R.M. England - $3.25
• Note on J.I. Huddleston - $164.20
• Note on G.W. Hall - $5.22
• Certificate of Judgment on William Hollinsworth - $90.13
• Note on D.A. Green - $11.37
• Note on B.M. and Lula Smith - $1661.70
• Note on J.R. Knowles - $6.42
• Notes on J.R. Knowles for $250 due January 1, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, and $145 due January 1, 2018
• Note on R.M. Knowles - $200
• Note on R.M. Knowles - $200
• Note on R.M. Knowles - $300
• Note on R.M. Knowles - $500
• Note on G. Matthews & T.H. Harris - $400
• Note on John A. Smith, M.A. Westly, and W.B. Westly - $445.87
• Note on C. Smith - $100
• Note on J.E. Stanford & Co. - $216
• Note on J.E. Stanford & Co. - $108
• Note on M.E. Roy - $440
• Note on C.L. and W.A. Steed - $420
• Note on J.A. and R.H. Shadix - $300
• Note on R.M. Ussury - $250
• Note on R.M. Ussury - $300
• Note on W.H. Weaver - $688
• Note on B.B. Wilkerson - $5.65
• Rent on J.R. Knowles for 4000 lbs lint cotton on Dec 1, 1911-1919
• Account on R.R. Parker for rent of horse $11 and cash received for 7 bales of cotton of the estate in the warehouse at Ashland - $437.82

Wyatt J. Green filed for letters of administration on the estate of John W. Knowles, deceased, on 26 Jun 1912. John W. Knowles, "departed this life in Clay County, Alabama on or about the 13 day of May, 1912, leaving no last will or testament".

Heirs:

• Mrs. M.F. Knowles, wife, Lineville, Alabama
• Mrs. M.J. Ray, daughter, Lineville, Alabama
• Mrs. E.J. Huddleston, daughter, Lineville, Alabama
• Mrs. N.S. Harrington, daughter, Riverview, Alabama
• Mrs. Susan Thomas, daughter, Pisgah, Alabama
• Mrs. Sallie Hanners, daughter, Coal City, Alabama
• Mrs. Anna Tate, daughter, Cook Springs, Alabama
• J.R. Knowles, son, Ashland, Alabama
• R.M. Knowles, son, Lineville, Alabama
• G.W. Price, grandson, Thalia, Texas
• Mrs. C.J. Hite, granddaughter, Tolbert, Texas
• Mrs. A.V. Caldwell, granddaughter, Lindale, Texas

^[11]

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Research Notes

John William Knowles' second wife was Margaret Fletcher Minter Knowles. The surname Martin is incorrect. Trusted list status has been requested to make the change. On later census records she is living with her son John Robert Knowles in Marshall, Alabama.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MH5W-C54 : accessed 27 December 2014), John Knowles, Randolph county, Randolph, Alabama, United States; citing family 1011, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).'
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHDP-FDV : 13 December 2017), J W Noles, 1860.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHKB-P46 : accessed 27 December 2014), John Noles, Alabama, United States; citing p. 42, family 308, NARA microfilm publication M593, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 545,536.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M4JH-XT6 : accessed 27 December 2014), John W Knowles, Ashland, Clay, Alabama, United States, Not Stated; citing sheet 75D, film number 0007, NARA microfilm publication T9, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 1,254,007.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M98Q-R85 : accessed 27 December 2014), John William Knowles, Precinct 13 Lineville, Clay, Alabama, United States; citing sheet 17A, family 289, NARA microfilm publication T623, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.; FHL microfilm 1,240,009.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKQ9-KTB : accessed 24 July 2018), John R Knowles, Lineville, Clay, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 50, sheet 8A, family 142, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 7; FHL microfilm 1,374,020.
7. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 01 June 2018), memorial page for Rev John William Knowles (13 Feb 1822–13 May 1912), Find A Grave Memorial no. 13278061, citing Old Lineville Cemetery, Lineville, Clay County, Alabama, USA ; Maintained by T. Ballard (contributor 46822489) .
8. ↑ "Randolph County, Alabama, Sixty-Two Years Ago: The Red Man's Home, The White Man's Eden". J.M.K. Guinn. Transcribed by Library Project 3529, Works Progress Administration Under Sponsorship of the Birmingham Library Board; Birmingham, Alabama. 1937; Pages 99-101
9. ↑ "Alabama Estate Files, 1830-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNTJ-LDW : 13 March 2018), John W Knowles, 1887; citing Clay County courthouse, Alabama; FHL microfilm 2,210,539.
10. ↑ "Alabama, Census of Confederate Veterans, 1907, 1921, 1927," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2DP-WLQV : 17 March 2018), John William Knowles, 1907; citing Lineville, Clay, Alabama, United States, citing Alabama Department of Archives and History, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,533,727.
11. ↑ "Alabama Estate Files, 1830-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNTJ-LD7 : 13 March 2018), John W Knowles, 1911; citing Clay County courthouse, Alabama; FHL microfilm 2,210,539.

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