Mr. Knight has long maintained his home in this county, and while he has
been benefited himself in a very material way through his efforts in a
varied line of work, he has ever done what he could in the upbuilding of the
community at large, and today he stands as one of the substantial and
foremost citizens of Sandoval, where he is held in high favor by everyone.
J. F. Knight was born in Wenona, Illinois, May 23, 1867, the son of
John and Susan (Ingersoll) Knight. The subject's grandfather, a native of
Pennsylvania and of German lineage, was a farmer and lived and died in the
old Keystone state. He was the father of eight children, all of whom lived
to maturity. Eli Knight was a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted .in
a Pennsylvania regiment and served three years, His brother, Thomas Knight,
was also a soldier in the Federal ranks. They were both Lutherans in their
church relations. Grandfather Knight lived to an advanced age, and
grandmother Knight reached the age of ninety-four years. Grandfather
Ingersoll was from New York. He came to Illinois in the fifties and settled
in Wenona, where he lived the balance of his life, having reached the great
age of ninety-six years. Grandmother Ingersoll met death in an unfortunate
manner, by being killed when sixty-five years old.
The father of our
subject was raised in Pennsylvania, and after his marriage to his first wife
he came to Illinois and settled in Wenona. While in Pennsylvania he worked
at the miller's trade, but after he came to Illinois he worked at farming,
and he reached the age of fifty-two years. The subject's mother lived to be
sixty-four years old. She was a member of the Christian church. Three
children were born to John Knight by his first wife, and the same number by
his second. He was a Democrat and served as County Clerk in Pennsylvania.
The early education of the subject of this sketch was obtained in
the schools of Marion county. He later attended the Southern Illinois Normal
School, where he gained a good education, having applied himself in a
diligent manner to his text-books. Taking the advice of Horace Greeley, who
told the young men of the East to seek their fortune in the West, Mr. Knight
went to California after he left school, and for some time kept books. But
he later returned to Illinois and worked his father's farm for a period of
seven years, then bought land in Marion county and sold live stock, and
later engaged in the livery business in Sandoval, which he conducted for
seven years. He owns an excellent farm in this county, consisting of one
hundred and fifty acres of highly improved land. He also owns another farm
which he rents, having the management of the first mentioned. Mr. Knight was
also engaged in the ice business for a period of fourteen years. He owns ten
houses in Sandoval, which he rents, and ilso owns a beautiful and modern
residence. All this he has made practically unaided, having been a careful
business man and exercised the best of judgment in all his business
transactions.
Mr. Knight was united in marriage in 1891 to Stella
Reinhardt, a native of this county, and the daughter of Charles and
Frederick (Deitz) Reinhardt, natives of Germany. Mr. Reinhardt came to
America in an early day and settled in Marion county. He was a weaver in the
old country, but took up the baker's trade here. There were five children in
his family.
Two children have been born to the subject and wife. The
first, Merle, was born in April, 1893, and is in high school at this
writing, 1908. The second, Norman, was born in 1896. They are both bright
and interesting children.
The subject is a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, also the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen, having
passed all the chairs in the Odd Fellows. In his political relations he is a
Democrat, and has long taken an active part in his party's affairs. He is at
present Township Supervisor and has been Tax Collector. He was president of
the Village Board for three terms, and he was Alderman for several terms. In
his official capacities he gave the people of this community the best
possible service and gained the approval of all.
Extracted 27 May 2019 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 542-543.