1905 History of Crawford County Kansas

John R. Knott, who is well known in Crawford county as a prosperous and progressive farmer and breeder of high-class Poland China hogs, resides on section 19, Grant township, where he has had his home for thirty-five years. He is, in fact, one of the pioneers of the county, and has seen the prairies of this particular section develop from wind-swept plains to a fruitful and beautiful agricultural community, with groves and farm houses, waving grain fields, and thriving villages smiling with prosperity and filling to overflowing the cornucopia of the industrious husbandman. His life has been consonant with his place of habitation, and his ways have been those of peace and good will to his neighbors, of contented performance of duty and the quiet and unalloyed enjoyment of the fruits thereof, all of which has transpired to the betterment of himself and family and the advancement of the welfare of his fellow citizens.

Mr. Knott was born in Monroe county, Missouri, January 16, 1843, a son of Clement and Margaret (Thomas) Knott, who were both born in Kentucky, whence they came to Missouri at an early day. Clement Knott joined the California gold-seekers in 1849, and died on the Pacific slope in 1853, when forty-five years old. His wife lived to the age of seventy-two years, and died in St. Paul, Kansas, in 1876.

Mr. John R. Knott was reared in Missouri and had a common school education. He was yet under age when, in 1861, he enlisted to fight the battles of his country, in Company C, Third Missouri Infantry, with which he served until 1864, having been made a prisoner of war at the battle of Pea Ridge. After leaving the army in 1864 he went to Montana, where he was engaged in mining for the following four and a half years. He came to Crawford county, Kansas, in December, 1869, and took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, which is a part of the farm of two hundred and forty acres which comprises his present nice homestead. He has made all the improvements on this place, and his farm is one of which he may well be proud.

Mr. Knott was married January 22, 1872, to Miss Mary Ann Carico, a daughter of James Carico. Both her parents are now deceased. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Knott. Aloysius is in South America studying for the priesthood; Clarence is also preparing to be a priest, being a student in Kentucky; Legora is at home; Beatrice is a sister of charity at Nazareth, Kentucky; James Mark is a miner at Chicopee, Kansas; and George A. is also at Chicopee. The family are all members of the Catholic church at Greenbush. Mr. Knott affiliates with Lodge No. 1, A. H. T. A. He served as justice of the peace for several years, and his political belief is socialism.