California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


J. W. KNOX, B. S., LL.B. Among the leading attorneys and business men of central 
California, is J. W. Knox, who is prominent in legal, financial and social circles. Of a strong 
personality, great force of character and rare mental attainments, he is justly entitled to the 
honorable position that he holds as one of the most brilliant lawyers, and shrewd, energetic 
and safe business men of that part of California. Through persistency of purpose and zeal, 
intelligently and unerringly directed, he has achieved success at the bar and in financial 
circles, the influence of his masterful intellect being felt by judge and jury as well as by his 
associates and clientele. He is and has always been, an inveterate worker, deep thinker and 
great traveler ; has a high sense of honor and integrity, belongs to a good family, is of a 
genial and hospitable nature, extremely cool, self-possessed and calculating under trying 
conditions, and is a gentleman under all circumstances. His caution is large, but it is 
offset by a large hope ; his moral faculties are strong and active ; his intuitions and first im- 
pressions and presentiments have almost invariably been correct, and have been his guide, 
in a large measure, in his successful dealings with strangers and men in general. He is 
possessed with unbounded benevolence; is philanthropic, large-minded, liberal and pub- 
lic-spirited, and has always been in advance of the times in ail matters relating to the pub- 
lic welfare. He is a natural critic and has an analytic mind ; is a high idealist and a man 
of great order; a lover of art, books and nature, and his home is surrounded and beautified by 
all such. There is an under-current of thought and philosophy permeating his nature; his 
mind is discriminating, logical and clear; he spares neither time nor labor in any cause or 
other business in which he is engaged. He is a great lover of his home, of home life and 
family, and has spared no expense to beautify and make his home attractive. He is a Mason, 
Knight of Pythias and Workman, and takes much interest in these orders. He is, and has 
always been, a leading Republican. Has been for many years a member of the state central 
committee and chairman of the Republican county committee. While he takes great in- 
terest in politics on principle, he has never sought nor accepted office, preferring to de- 
vote his entire time to his large and increasing legal business. He has repeatedly refused 
nomination for the office of superior judge and other offices at the hand of his party, and 
declined a tendered appointment by the governor as judge of the superior court of Merced 
county. Aside from his private practice, he is filling an important position as chairman of 
the board of directors of the Merced county branch of the Federal Trust Company , of 
which he is also attorney and treasurer. This company, organized with an authorized capital 
of $5,000,000, has its headquarters in the Mills building, San Francisco, and acts as executor, 
administrator, guardian and assignee ; executes trusts of all kinds ; loans money and issues and 
countersigns stocks and other securities. 

Mr. Knox was born October 10, 1855, at Bloomingburg, Fayette county, Ohio. His 
parents were William Knox, born at Xenia, Ohio, January 6, 1828 (and died at Kansas City 
on June 30, 1900), and Mary Elizabeth (Short) Knox, born February 20, 1833, at Blooming- 
burg, Fayette county, Ohio (and died at Des Moines, Iowa, in 1902). The issue of this mar- 
riage was nine children, all of whom are living at the present time, namely: Jessie, the wife 
of Ira B. Thompson, a contractor and architect of Eureka, Cal. ; Frank Knox, president of the 
National Bank of the Republic, of Salt Lake, Utah ; Murray Knox, a large farmer and 
breeder of blooded stock, of Osborne, Kansas ; Helen, the wife of John Gibson, of the large 
mercantile firm of Gibson & Gibson, of Maxwell, Iowa ; George Knox, a rising young phy- 
sician of San Francisco; Bruce Knox, a successful merchant of Sonora; Florence Knox, a 
teacher in the Polytechnic and Training School of Chicago, and Josephine Knox, one of 
the leading primary teachers of Des Moines, Iowa. 

William Knox, with his family, removed from Ohio to Iowa in 1857, and was during the 
remainder of his life engaged in farming and the breeding of thoroughbred stock of all kinds. 
His farm in Washington county was a model of neatness, landscape beauty and profit. His 
children were taught in their western home three important lessons, habits of industry, 
economy and integrity, and were all given a liberal education. Mary Knox was a noble 
Christian woman, and by her life and careful teachings left a profound impress for good on 
the minds of her children. 

J. W. Knox graduated from Washington College in 1876, and that fall came to Califor- 
nia ; later he entered the first class of the law department of the University of California, and 
graduated from that department with the first class of graduates in 1881. In 1882, he came 
to the city of Merced, where he began the practice of his profession and where he has 
lived continuously since. His ability and power met with ready recognition, and he 
easily came to the front in his chosen profession. For the last fifteen years or more, he has 
been identified with nearly all the litigation of importance in central California, ranging over 
probate, irrigation, land, corporation and criminal law. His practice has extended to all the 
counties of the San Joaquin valley and many of the other counties of the state, besides a 
large federal court practice in which he has been universally successful. 

In 1885, Mr. Knox married Miss Ella M., the only child of Prof. W. A. and Minnie Cow- 
dery, a native of New York, who died September 13, 1903, in the city of Merced, leaving four 
daughters, Hazel, Helen, Ruth and Karmel. Mrs. Knox was a woman of charming person- 
ality and noble character. All who knew her were attracted by her winsome manner and 
goodness of heart. Her praises are sounded by many lips and she is sincerely mourned by 
friends and acquaintances. In the church of which she and her husband were members (the 
First Presbyterian) and in the order of Eastern Star, she was a devoted and valued member, 
and took an important part in the work and the social entertainments of these organizations. 
She possessed many accomplishments. Her memory will long be cherished in many a heart. 
Death came to her in the noonday of her happy life and usefulness. She had a beautiful 
home and enjoyed a large circle of friends; had a fine voice and was especially gifted as a 
singer and was always in demand to aid in social entertainments, and she was ever ready 
to lend her services in entertaining when for the purpose of raising funds for charity. She 
was proverbial for her good work in this way, and it was fully appreciated.