Edward Wones Knight
History of the State of Montana, by Joaquim Miller, 1894 
  
Edward Wones Knight, second vice-president of the First National 
Bank of Helena, and one of the representative 
businessmen of this city, was born in Madison County, Indiana, 
May 21, 1838, a lineal descendant of James Knight who 
landed at Plymouth in the Mayflower. The Knights were among the 
early settlers of Frederick and Baltimore, Maryland and 
Mr. Knight's branch of the family later became settlers in 
Kentucky, Mississippi and Indiana. Among them were men of 
integrity and worth who were connected with all the early 
history of the country. Mr. Knight's father, Henry William 
Knight, was born in Brookville, Indiana in 1812; was married 
in 1834 to Mary E. Martin, a native of Lawrenceburg, 
Indiana, born in1818. They became the parents of six children, 
Edward W. being the second child and oldest son. The 
mother died in her thirty-second year and the father lived to 
be sixty-two. Both were worthy members of the Presbyterian
Church and for many years he carried on a hardware and tin 
business. 

During the early boyhood days of Edward W. Knight his parents 
resided in Louisville, Kentukcy, where he received his 
academic education, and where he was for a time employed as 
bookkeeper in a bank. Later, having inherited from his 
mother several thousand acres of land in Virginia and Kentucky, 
the care and disposal of this property led him into a 
study of law, particularly in land cases. He was for two years 
engaged in making disposition of this property, and in 
the meantime he read law under the instructions of Judge Hauser, 
of Kentucky. After this he continued his studies under 
a Scotch barrister and banker and became interested in the 
purchase of a large quantity of school land in Wisconsin. 
In 1858 he began a regular law course at Louisville, Kentucky, 
and fater completing it he entered upon the practice of
his profession. 

In 1859 Mr. Knight was married at Falmouth, Kentucky, to 
Theodosia Hauser, a native of that place and daughter of Hon. 
Samuel T. Hauser. For a time after their marriage he resided 
on a farm near the city, and practiced law in that circuit.
Later he became interested in the organization of the First 
National Bank of Helena, and in 1873 he came to Helena to
aid in its management. Up to 1876 he served in the capacity of
 bookkeeper and assistant teller, and from 1876 up to the
present time he has filled the position of cashier in the 
institution. While residing at Flamouth he served two terms 
as Mayor of the city. Upon his arrival in Montana he at once 
became identified with her growth and development and has
embraced every opportunity offered to that end. While so doing 
he has acquired a very wide and favorable acquaintance,
his reputation extending throughout the whole state. He has the 
honor of having been the second Mayor of Helena. He 
has been for many years a member of the Board of Education, and 
while acting in that capacity has had much to do with
shaping the educational affairs of the city, the educational 
standard and advantages of Helena being equal to any of
the Western cities. He helped to organize the first electric 
light company, of which he was elected president and he 
also aided in the organization of the Board of Trade. He is now 
a stockholder in the present electric light and gas 
company in the city. 

Politically Mr Knight has affiliated with the Democratic party 
all his life. He is not, however, an active politician 
and has never been an office seeker, but was in 1893 one of the 
Commissioners of Lewis and Clarke County and is 
chairman of the board. Both he and his wife have long been 
prominent members of the Presbyterian Church, he having 
served the church in various official capacities as well as 
having been for ten or twelve years the efficient 
Sabbath-school superintendent. He was made a Master Mason about 
the time he reached his majority and has been 
an enthusiastic Mason ever since, giving much of his time and 
attention ot the order. He has advanced in its mysteries 
until he is now a Knight Templar at the York rite and has 
attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish rite.

He is Past Eminent Commander of Sir Knight Templars. He is also 
a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, a member of the 
Benevolent Order of Elks and the K. of P. 

Mr. and Mrs. Knight have had eight children, of whom five are 
living: Edward W., Jr. a graduate of Booneville 
College, Missouri and now occupying the position of receiving 
teller in the First National Bank of Helena; T.H., 
a businessman of Helena; Stella, wife of Herbert Nickerson, a 
businessman of Helena; Henry W, a student in the 
Military Academy of Missouri; and Barbara P., a member of the 
home circle. They occupy one of the most delightful
homes in the beautiful city in which they live. 

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