H. McKnight     1890         Grant Parish
Submitted to USGENWEB By: Kay Thompson - Brown

Source: Biographical and historical memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
          Nashville and Chicago: The Southern Publishing Company 1890



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H. McKnight (deceased) was born in Maine on June 6, 1835 and was reared and
educated in St. John, New Brunswick. His parents passed their entire lives in
New Brunswick. The father was a ship builder and was well and favorably known
to all seafaring men.

H. McKnight left the parental roof when in his seventeenth year, went to
Australia and roamed about for several years. He finally came to Louisiana and
located in what is now Grant Parish on a plantation.

He enlisted in the Civil War, served three years and was then discharged on
account of being an officer and his company being disbanded. He was a
lieutenant in Westbrook Guards. He was twice wounded, once at the battle of
Belmont and again at the battle of Shiloh. After being discharged he went to
New Orleans, where he remained until after the surrender and then returned to
his farm.

He followed milling and ginning for a livelihood and in 1876 he moved to
Colfax where he was appointed recorder of mortgages. He served one term and
filled the position in a capable and highly efficient manner. He was a very
prominent man and wielded no small influence with those acquainted with him.

His death occurred in August 1886. He owned at that time a large planting
interest which the widow and sons still retain about 600 acres of this land
are in alluvial soil along Red River. Socially Mr. McKnight was a member of
the Masonic fraternity.

He was married in 1860 to Miss Elizabeth Dean, who bore him eleven children,
all living: Olive A (wife of John McNeely), Ella E (wife of RS Cameron) George
H (surveyor of Grant Parish), Susie M (wife of NC McNeely), Thomas P, Anna,
Robert E, Joseph, Willie L, John C, and David M.

Mrs. McKnight is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She is a woman of
intelligence and is possessed of excellent business qualification.