Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-04-29
A ROMANCE OF THE HEART.
THE DEATH OF AN IOWA RECLUsE-HIs SAD
sToRY AND LIFE OF HIS sECLUsIoN IN
TIE WOODS.


From the Davenport (Iowa) Gazette7
An old settler, one whose career is the
strangest among the hundreds of old set
tiers, has just passed away. For many
years he has led so secluded life that we
presume nearly all his acquaintance here
abouts long ago lost thought Of him, or if
they have remembered him at all it has
been with the supposition that be vas far
away from here, and possibly dead
We allude to William Knight. He
came to this country from England, and
settled in Davenport nearly thirty years
ago, He was an attorney /; had practiced
law in London for years, and was very
able man. His family connections in the
old country were all highly respectable
people. He hung out his sign here and
in Rockingham, and soon built up quite
practice, such as it was He was q finely
educated man, possessed very retentive
memery, was kindly in disposition, of
pleasing address, and Of G social nature.
So it was no wonder that he became popu
lar among the people. All at once, when
he was looked upon as rising 1an, when
his prospects were brightest, he dropped
out of society, and was soon Gas he were
one dead" The secret of that retirement
to lonely cabin in the woods, is known
to but few, but now that he is dead, there
can be no harm in publishing it."
When Knight left En- gland it was with
out the knowledge of his relatives and
friends there. H arrived at New York,
and Immediately pushed for the far West,
and Davenport was about as far West as
men cared to go in those days. His friends
in England supposed that he had gone to
America, and advertised descriptions of
him, with offers of good rewards for It'd
ings of his whereabouts. For years their
efforts were frultless But at last they
took another course, which led to success.
Knight possessed heavy gold watch, of
very peculiar construction. Descriptions
of this watch were sent to the watch deal
ers in the pricIpal cities in America, with
instructions for the close investigation as
to the owner, if it ever came into their
hands. Well, Knights watch got cut of
order. There was nobody here who could
repair it. Accordingly be sent it to Phil
adelphia, and. as luck would have, to an
establishment in which description of
he watch was posted. The proprietor
wrote to London parties that he had re-
ceiyed the watch. Over to this country
as soon as the ocean winds would let them,
came Knights friends, making their way to
Davenport as rapidly as the meagre facili-
ties would allow. They found the runa-
way. They held conference after confer
ence with him, to induce his return to
England. They resorted to strategy, and
endeayored to secure his arrest for some
offence, that he might be sent back as
prisoner All in vain. And they babe
MIN farewell with sad hearts, and returned
to their native land
And Knight. From that time forward
until his death, on Sunday last, he was
changed man. He got small farm rear
Rockingham, heavily wooded tract,
erected a sort of shanty in forest. ana
there, alone, with no companions but his
pipe, books and papers, he spent his time.
He received papers from England regular
ly. and loved to read of new and noted
books and their authors. He cooked his
food, washed his own clothes, cut his own
wood, and was his own servant generally.
He rarely received callers. Grant 4 Smith
were his agents, for he was in receipt Of a
little income, and either one of the firm,
or messenger from them was always,
welcome but no one else was
His cabin had a rough INTERIOR bed
in one corner, a table in the middle Of the
floor, one or two chairs, and trunk consti-
tuting its furniture. A fire place that
would admit cord wood, gave him warmth
and enabled him to cook his food. Some
times he would be seized with letter
writing fit, and letter to his lawyers
every day Cor fortnight would be the
result, an answer being expected by him
as fully as though the matter of CORES
pondence was of the utmost Importance.
And thus he led the life of hermit, save
in relation with his attorneys alone.
Two years ago Knight was seized with
govt, and was SO afflicted as to be scarcely
able to move. Quarters were provided
for him at the house of Bernard Hebrick
on the Locust street road, two miles West
of Brady street, where he was well taken
care of until Sunday, the 4th inst, when
he died, just past the seventy fourth an
niversary of his birthday.
Why he, who was 50 gifted by nature
and so splendidly educated, chose to aban-
don his luxurious home and wealthy
friends, make his way to the American
wilds for residence. aud then, when dis
covered by his friends, resort to the life |
Of hermit, and be content with It TWEEN.