From "The History of North Washington" Published 1904

Transcribed by: Nancy Grubb (nancyg@theofficenet.com)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
FRANCIS M. KNOWLTON 
Francis M. Knowlton was born in Marion, Ohio, on February 13, 1857, the
son of George E. and Susan (McKee) Knowlton, natives of Massachusetts and 
Ohio respectively, and of Irish and English ancestry. When our subject was
one year old the family crossed the plains with ox teams to Benton county,
Oregon, where they lived until 1860. After that they moved to Linn county,
where they lived for a decade. In 1870 they came to eastern Oregon and in 
1880 they journeyed on to Spokane, where the father now lives, the mother
having died in 1863. They were the parents of seven children, Francis M.,
the subject of this sketch, Lafitte, Mary L., Rhoda A., Emma, James E.,
and Susie. Our subject received his education in Oregon and remained with
his father until he was twenty years of age. During these years he had 
learned the harness trade and just before his majority he opened a shop for
himself at Western, Oregon, and attended this, together with farming,having
taken a homestead. In 1874 he went mining and one year later he returned to
harness making. In 1885 Mr. Knowlton took up the stock business and continued
in the same until 1891,when he came to Newport,where he now lives. He settled
upon unsurveyed land, which later was found to belong to the railroad company
He then abandoned it and moved to Newport, where he has lived ever since.
Upon going to Newport Mr. Knowlton engaged in an entirely new business and
owing to natural talent he has made a good success of it. We refer to his 
occupation of boat building. He built the New Volunteer,one of the principal
boats on the Pend d'Oreille,also the Columbia,and the Elk,which carries the
United States mail between Newport and Usk,and also constructed three 
launches the Portland, Newport and Hunter.
   Mr. Knowlton married Miss Mary E., daughter of William and Sophy 
(Tibbitts) Willaby, natives of Missouri. They crossed the plains with ox 
teams, in 1852, to Linn county, Oregon, and now reside at Athena, Oregon. 
They are the parents of three children, A.J., William P., and Mary E. To Mr.
and Mrs. Knowlton four children have been born, three of whom are living, as
follows: Fred, in Stevens county; Eva, wife of F. Long, at Lewiston, Idaho;
and Maude, with her parents. Politically Mr. Knowlton is identified with the 
Liberals.  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free
information on the Internet, material may be freely used by
non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied
material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file.

These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit 
or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations 
desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain 
the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of 
the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of 
this consent.