Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-14
DEATH OF GEO. W. KNOX.
An Enterprising Business Man and . Well
Known Citizen Passes Away.


known Citizen Passes Away.
After long and somewhat painful illness,
Mr.. George W. Knox passed away yesterday
afternoon at his residence. s03 X street. In
his death the city has lost an energetic and
successful business man and a large circle a
genial and devoted friend Mr.. Knoxs life
was in many respects typical American career.
He began life poor boy and when he died at
the age Of sixty-three he was at the head
of large and fourishing business
which had been built up by his industry his
ability and his energy. The express ana storage
business which he organized has grown to such
an extent that it is commonly spoken of as the
Knox Express Company. although it was the
pride of Mr.. Knox that he was able to retain
the business under his own management instead
OF organizing company. Mr.. Knox was
July. 1929. At the age of seventeen
he left has home and went 10 Boston
seeking employment He obtained a place as
a brakeman on a railroad and later became tine
conductor on a freight train. Returning again
to his native state he located in Portland, where
he carried on business as contractor. He how
ever, after period went back to railroadirg
and became a conductor on a train run
ming between Wilmington, Del, and the
peninsula. He was careful and frugal
anu Always on Tue LOOKOUT IOr u cfance 10 bet
ter his condition. Seeing a prospect in Iowa
he went there in 1856 and invested his money
In the lumber business. He, however. met
with reverses, and he returned again TO the
railroad. He was conductor on a train run
ming between Philadelphia and Washington,
and il was on his train that President Lin
coin made the perilous midnight trip from
Philadelphia to this city TO be inaugurated
Mr.. Knox was one of the few men who WAS
aware of the identity Of the distinguished pas
senger. During the first three years of the war
Mr.. Knox continued on the railroad, and then
he conceived the idea of establishing a baggage
and express business in this city He began
with one horse and wagon. which he named the
Excelsior express. His business methods and
his executive ability has resulted in the growth
OF this feeble enterprise into a business which
now requires a building covering nearly a
square, on ID and b streets and is regarded es
the largest private express concern in this
country.
Mr.. Knox always retained his loyalty to his
native state and took particular pleasure in ex-
tending courtesies to Elaine men visiting the
city. Over the Eastern branch. in the District
and Prince Georges county, Mr.. knox has a
farm OF 200 acres with buildings, including three
large barns, all modelled after the New England
style. The barns stored $50 tons of hay and the
whole farm is under-drained with tile. In this
place he took particular pleasure, recalling as
1t did his early life in New England.
In his physique Mr.. Knox bore a strong re-
semblance to President Lincoln. So striking
was this similarity of form that he was selected
as the model tor the statue OF Lincoln modelled
by Winnie Roam Hoxie which stands in the
Capitol. In acting as the figure for this work
he wore President Lincoln's coat.
Mr.. Knox was connected with a number of
organizations, among which may be mentioned
the Sons Of the American Revolution; Federal
Lodge, No. /, +. A. A. NJ; Columbia r. Chap
ter, No. 1; Washington Commandery, knights
Templar, No. /, and Almas Temple of the Mys-
tic Shrine.
He leaves a wife and three children, two sons
and one daughter. The sons. William S. and
George V. W. Knox, have been associated with
their father in the business The funeral will
take place at l O'Clock on "Wednesday from the
residence of the deceased. The funeral services
will be In charge of the Masons The inter-
ment will be at Glenwood.