Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-06
|MR. KNOWLES DEAD.
ms weLL-kNoWN CITIZEN PASSES
AWAY M us 18TH YEAR.
sksteh q His Long Carssr-ssrvies 70 STATE
and City.-Ths FunsrsI Arrange
nsuts-Othsr Deaths.

mond's Oldest and most esteemed citizens.
died at his residence. No. q east Canal
street, yesterday afternoon. at 10 minutes
after II o'clock.
Mr.. Knowles was in the 18th year Of
his age, and his death was due more
20 the wearing out Of his system than
to any particular disease. He was born
in Dublin, ireland. December 3, 1915. and
was brought to Richmond when only a
year old. He served an apprenticeship as
gunsmith with the late Thomas Tyrer.
and at the age Of % was appointed by
Governor Floyd master armorer and chief
artifcer at the State armory, In which
position he remained for eighteen years.
enjoying the respect and confidence Of the
State authorities and the warm friend
ship OF the officers of the Public Guard.
In 1850 he was appointed City Gas In
spector, and continued to hold that Office
until 1866, when deposed under the recon-
struction regime. In 1870 he was elected
Superintendent Of the Gas-Works, was
reelected for several terms. and at the
time Of his death was In the office Of his
son, the present Gas Inspector.
Although Mr.. Knowles was not in the
employ OF the State when the John Brown
raid was made. he was Of great assistance
to Captain, afterwards General, Dimmock
In arming and equlpplng the State troops.
HIS CHARACTER.
Prior to the war Mr.. Knowles was very
active in local politics. and took a deep
interest in the volunteer military and the
Fire Department OF the city. He was n
man OF indomitable energy, OF unfinching
courage. quick to resent an injury. but
equally quick to forgive. He was utterly
Incapable of bearing malice. All OF his
impulses were generous. and all his acts
open and above board. No man whose
ancestors had lived here for generations
was more intensely virginian than Mr..
Knowles. He loved Virginia with a deep
devotion. Richmond was to him the
dearest spot on earth. and ne was tho
roughly familiar with local history
For many years Mr. Knowles was Rich
mond correspondent Of the Petersburg
Express, which was conducted by his
brother-in-law, Mr.. Crutchheld, and when
the latter moved to Baltimore and es-
tabllshed the Baltimorean, he became the
Richmond correspondent of that paper.
His nature was essentially genial, and
with this characteristic and his won
derful store of reminescences Of men and
events he was excellent company.
Mr.. Knowles married Miss Sarah
Crutchfed. August IL, 1874 She died
about year ago. and five sons and one
daughter survive him-Messrs. Marion.
r. Emmett, William p. Andrew c., and
Charles H.. and Miss Florence Knowles.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS.
The funeral will take place from Gen.
tenary Methodist church Monday after
noon, and the following will be the pail
bearers:
Honorary-Judge w. W. Crump Messrs.
Charles G.. Thompson, William Taylor,
John Bowers, a. Bargamin. ID. A. Card
well. Il. a. J. Clopton, J. c. Shields.
Charles Phillips, ST., S. b. Ragland. John
NJ. Higgins. and DR.. ID. w. Moseley.
Active-Judge S. b. Witt, Messrs. John
S. Grimes. W. c. Adams. Allen Lyon. r..
Il. Munford, and DR.. w. II. Scott, and
Messrs. Isaac Goddard and w. d. Toler.
from Union Lodge Of Odd-Fellows.
several Other Deaths.
Mr. Thomas b. Wicker, after long
illness, borne with Christian patience, died
early yesterday morning at his residence,
1l2 south Cherry street Mr.. Wicker was
a consistent member of the Second Bap-
fist church and an active worker. lie
was also member of Enterprise Coun-
ell No. ., Junior Order United American
Mechanics. He was in his 37th year, and
leaves a wife and many friends to mourn
their loss. The funeral service will be
held In the Second Baptist church at 4
O'Clock this afternoon.
Intelligence was received here yester-
day of the death Friday evening at Wood
burn, Charles City county, Of Mrs. Mamie
Nj. Christian. wife of Judge Isaac H.
Christian. Deceased had been in III
health for a long time. and her death
WAS not unexpected. though the occasion
of great sorrow to her hosts Of friends
Mrs. Christian. woman Of gentle dis
position and beautiful Christian charac-
ter was native Of this city. and n
daughter of the late John n. Gordon. She
is survived by three brothers and four
sisters. as follows: Messrs. James, John
N. and Rev Clifford Gordon. Mrs. Wad-
dell, of New Kent county; Mrs S. p
Christian, of Roanoke; Mrs. Hugh Blair,
of this city, and Mrs. Coleman, of Staun-
ton. The funeral will take place at
O'Clock this afternoon from Bethany
church.
Mrs Laura Mountioy Hunter wife Of
John G. Hunter. died in Dallas. Texas,
on April Goth. Mrs. Hunter was
daughter OF the late William
Mountjoy, OF this city. and SIS
ter of Mrs. Richard f.. Walker. and
was lady of many lovable traits OF
character. Mr.. Hunter who left here
several years ago. succeeding his father
the late James Hunter, conducted the
Richmond Steel Works on the island
under the Free bridge, on which Johnson's
foundry was formerly located. and where
the electric-plant Is now situated.