F. W. KNOX, Coudersport, was born in Deerfield
township, Tioga Co., Penn., March 8, 1824, his father, James Knox, being
the first white boy born in that county, on March 17, 1800. The
grandfather of F. W. Knox, soon after the close of the Revolution, was
appointed, by the State of Connecticut, a commissioner to take possession
of and hold disputed territory between the Delaware and the lakes,
including a twenty-mile strip along the northern portion of the State.
These commissioners were stationed twenty miles apart. The grandfather had
been a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and his army experience
eminently qualified him for this position. Block-houses were built, and
trenches dug by the several commissioners. James Knox, the father, and F.
W. Knox, the son, were both born in the Deerfield block-house, twenty-four
years apart. F. W. Knox received his rudimentary education in select
schools at Knoxville, a village in Deerfield township, the academy at
Wellsboro, and later attended Alfred University, at Alfred Centre, N. Y.,
most of the time for five years, graduating in 1848. After leaving the
university, he was engaged in teaching; at the same time was a student at
law under the instruction of Judge John C. Knox, then of Wellsboro, Tioga,
Co., Penn., one of the able and prominent attorneys of the State. During
the two years following his leaving the university, most of the time was
devoted to teaching; a part of which time he was principal of the academy
at Coudersport, and the high school at Whitesville, N. Y. In 1849 John C.
Knox was appointed judge of the Jefferson, Armstrong and Clarion judicial
district; shortly after, became attorney-general and supreme justice of
the State, and so continued until near his death.
F. W. KNOX, the subject of these lines, entered the law office of the
well-known Hon. James Lowrey. Under the instruction of these able jurists,
the subject about which we write was found well qualified, and in
September, 18.50, was admitted to the bar of Tioga county. In February,
1851, Mr. Knox located at Coudersport, there opened a law office, and very
soon had clients, and from that date until 1884 continued in active
practice, not only in this county, but also had a very large collection
business in McKean and Cameron counties as well. For thirty-two years,
practically, all the legal business of this county, and much in adjoining
counties, was done in four law offices here, and each office was full of
legal work, and continued unbroken until the death of Hon. John S. Mann.
Many, very many, important, intricate and interesting cases were tried,
and land titles were settled in our courts. During all the years Mr. Knox
not only continued in active practice in courts, but gave much time to the
care and management of large landed estates placed in his charge by
Philadelphians, and to his credit be it said not one acre was lost by
neglect in not paying taxes or by occupancy. Any and everything that in
his judgment would benefit his village or county found in him a willing
assistant. In 1871 he assisted W. W. Thompson in establishing the Potter
Enterprise, and gave it his aid and support for some years. In 1869 he
became connected with the enterprise of building a railroad from Buffalo
to Emporium, now known as The Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad.
The subject of this brief sketch became the president of the Pennsylvania
portion, but when the two portions were merged, B. C. Rumsey became
president and F. W. Knox became the Pennsylvania attorney of the road, and
held the position for many years. He was also largely instrumental in
organizing and building the Coudersport & Port Allegany Railroad, of which
he is president, and has been since its organization; and to him
Coudersport, and, in fact, the central portion of the county, is indebted
for its facilities as regards railroad transportation and communication.
The Vanderbilts and Gen. George J. Magee, in the winter of 1881, had
procured a controling interest in the Pine Creek Railway. The principal
office had been held here. In March Gen. Magee and party came here to
attend the annual election. The railroad had been partly graded west of
Coudersport. It was well known that if the Vanderbilt and Magee party
carried the election, the Pine Creek line was to be diverted to the lines
of the above-named parties, and Potter county was to be given the “go-by.”
At this important crisis an interview was held, at which were Gen. Magee,
H. Sherwood, Judge A. G. Olmsted and the subject of this sketch. The
result was that the Vanderbilt and Magee party carried the election, and
the two Coudersport gentlemen owned practically the partly graded line
from Coudersport to Port Allegany, the grading alone costing $120,000. The
railroad was completed in the summer of 1882, and has been a very
profitable property, managed as it is with economy. Last June the road was
changed from narrow to standard gauge. To do this, a mortgage of $75,000
was placed on the road and its franchise, and will earn the interest on
mortgage and fair dividend on stock. Mr. Knox also materially assisted in
the organization of the Citizens’ Water Company, of this village, whereby
the citizens have pure spring water in their homes, and the town is well
protected from fire by ample pressure, and insurance rates have been
reduced one and one-half per cent. His son, J. L. Knox, is secretary of
the company, and, in connection with the president, manages the affairs of
the company. Mr. Knox is still the owner of large tracts of valuable
timbered land, and was formerly engaged in lumbering with profitable
results. His oldest son, Oscar D. Knox, after being admitted to the bar
here in 1870, took up his residence in southwest Missouri, and engaged in
the practice of his profession. About 1881 he became the trial lawyer of
the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad, and during the years following was
very much of the time in the courts, embracing a large district of the
southwest. While engaged in court during the winter of 1884-85, he broke
down, brain fever set in, and he died March 11, 1885. His remains were
brought to Pennsylvania, and placed in the family vault. His children are
now here, cared for by their grandfather. His death was due to overwork.
He was greatly respected in his far distant home; was a delegate to the
Chicago convention in 1884 that nominated Cleveland for the presidency,
and had the reputation, in connection with Mr. John O. Day. of carrying
the entire delegation to Cleveland. James L. Knox, second son of F. W.
Knox, is an attorney at Coudersport. A daughter is engaged in the
mercantile business, and has a large trade. Katie, a bright school-girl of
eleven years, and Frankie D., an active, bright boy of nine years,
constitute the children. James Knox, father of F. W. Knox, died in 1882;
the mother a few years prior.
The business life of Mr. F. W. Knox has been one of
great activity and constant toil. Having a fine rugged constitution and
rare good judgment, he was well equipped to manage successfully a large
business. In church matters, while not a member, he assists the
Presbyterian Church liberally, and is regarded as “good help.”
History of the counties of
McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania : with biographical
selections, including their early settlement and development, a
description of the historic and interesting localities, sketches of
their cities, towns and villages, portraits of prominent men,
biographies of representative citizens, outline history of Pennsylvania,
statistics. Chicago: J.H. Beers &
Co., 1890, pages 1157-1159.
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