Ware County GaArchives Biographies.....Knight, Arthur Merrill unknown - living in 1913
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 22, 2004, 12:13 am

Author: William Harden
p. 891-892

   ARTHUR MERRILL KNIGHT. A man of pronounced business ability and acumen,
Arthur Merrill Knight holds an assured position among the useful and highly
esteemed citizens of Waycross, and has been a potent power in aiding the city's
growth and improvement. A son of the late Albion W. Knight, he was born at White
Sulphur Springs, Florida.

   He comes of substantial New England ancestry, his paternal grandfather, Major
Peter Merrill Knight, having been a life-long resident of Maine. He was a ship
builder and planter, and was quite prominent in military circles, serving as
major in a company of militia, a position to which he was appointed by King
George. He married Sally Buxton, a native of Maine, and they reared two sons and
two daughters, as follows: Albion W., father of the subject of this sketch;
George A., a traveling salesman, who located in Florida, and whose son, Albion
W. Knight, second, is now Bishop of the diocese of Georgia; Amanda M.; and Eliza J.

   Albion W. Knight was born and reared in Maine, and was educated at Bowdoin
College, in Brunswick, Maine, being graduated from both the literary and medical
departments of that institution. Coming south after receiving his degree of M.
D., Doctor Knight was actively and successfully engaged in the practice of
medicine at White Sulphur Springs, Florida, until 1870, when he removed with his
family to Jacksonville, Florida, where he continued the practice of his
profession until his death, in 1889. Doctor Knight married Caroline Demere, who
was born on Saint Simons Island, Georgia, a daughter of Raymond Demere, who was
the third in direct line of descent to bear that name. The Demere family
originated in France, the immigrant ancestor having been a Huguenot, who fled
from his native country to America, settling in South Carolina, thence moving to
Saint Simons Island, Georgia, which subsequently became the home of four
generations of his descendants. The Demeres were extensive planters, very
prosperous in their operations, at one time owning 360 slaves. Seven children
blessed the marriage of doctor and Mrs. Knight, namely: Ann, Augustus Demere,
Annie Elizabeth, Louis Buxton, Raymond Denery, Arthur Merrill, and Fraser Sinclair.

   Completing his early studies at Saint John's church school, in Jacksonville,
Florida, Arthur Merrill Knight began life as a wage-earner at the age of sixteen
years, for two years clerking in a tobacco store, and for three years in a
grocery. He was afterwards employed in the railroad service at Jacksonville
until 1887, when he located in Way-cross, Georgia, where he continued in the
same line of work for thirteen years. Severing his connection with the railroad
company in 1900, Mr. Knight engaged in banking. Close confinement and strict
attention to business, however, did not agree with him, and on account of ill
health he was forced to abandon active pursuits and go to the mountains to
recuperate. Returning to Waycross after resting a few months, Mr. Knight
embarked in the real estate and insurance business, with which he has since been
identified, in his transactions being exceedingly prosperous.

   Mr. Knight is likewise connected with various other enterprises of
importance. He is secretary and treasurer of the Waycross Investment Company;
secretary of the Waycross Reality and Improvement Company; has been president of
the board of education and also of the Waycross board of trade; is president of
the board of trustees of the owners of the Young Men's Christian Association
property; one of the directors of the Young Men's Christian Association, and
senior warden of the Episcopal church.

   Having cast his first presidential vote for General Hancock, Mr. Knight has
since been a stanch adherent of the Democratic party. In the days when Waycross
had but twenty-five hundred inhabitants, Mr. Knight was elected mayor of the
city, and, through successive re-elections, held the position fifteen years.
During that time the city schools were organized; streets were paved; and water
and sewer systems were inaugurated; while the growth of the city was especially
notable, during his administration the population being increased to nineteen
thousand people. Fraternally Mr. Knight is a member of Waycross Lodge, No. 369,
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Religiously he and his family are
members of the Grace Episcopal church.

   In 1884 Mr. Knight married Susan Fatio, who was born in Jacksonville,
Florida, a daughter of the late Col. Daniel Fatio, who commanded a Florida
regiment in the war between the states. Mr. and Mrs. Knight are the parents of
three children, namely: Jaquelin, who was graduated from the literary department
of the University of Georgia, and from the Atlanta College of Physicians and
Surgeons and was engaged in the practice of medicine at Waycross up to the time
of his death, November 18, 1912; Arthur M., who was educated at the University
of Georgia, is now in business with his father; and Gerald, attending the
Waycross schools. The older son is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted
Order of Masons, as was also the deceased son.


Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913

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