Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-03-07
PIERPONT'S GRAND OLD MAN
LAID TO REST.

1t becomes our sad duty once more t.
chronicle the death of one of Day coun,
TVS aged pioneers. "Uncle"J.D ID. knight
quietly passed away Wednesday morn.
ing between the hours Of four and five
o'clock, without any previous illness.
John Dudley Knight was born June
%, 1921, neal Tunbridge, Vermont, and
lived with his parents there and in New
Hampshire until grown to young man
hood. His father was a physician, well
known for his decision of character and
good humor, while his mother coupled
keen wit with marked amiability, traits
which found a happy combination in
the boy. 1t was the desire of the father
that the bow should follow his profession
but after studying medicine for some
time he decided that that was not his
calling, so he went to Boston, the east.
ern metropolis, and served a five year
apprenticeship as a machinist. He then
took up railroad engineering which he
followed for many years, running on
the old Colonist railroad, one of the
first u of Boston.
On March 25th. 1874, he was united
in marriage to Emily Newton who died
March ~, 1s45, of small pox. Three
years later, June 8, 1s4S, he was married
to Miss Mary K. Earle, the aged wife
who still survives him. To this union
six children were born, four OF whom
are living, Mrs. J. T. Goodwin, of Web
ster, j L. Knight, Lamar, Mo-, E. X
Knight and Mrs. II. f. Kibler, of Pier
pont.
On April 5, 1854, when the gold fever
of California was attracting the atten-
ton of the entire world he started for
the western coast with a prosperous kit
and plenty of enthusiasm. Here he
remained for about two years. June
81, 1856, he left the land of sunshine
and ~jonrneyed TO Illinois where he
resided on the bank of the Illinois river
opposite the town of LaSalle. Later on
he moved across the river in Homer
township where he engaged in farming
until the spring of 1870 when he moved
to Goodland, Newton county, Indiana,
where he resided for thirteen years. On
March 20, 1883 he with Mr.. d. Baillie
and their families loaded their emigrant
cars for Dakota territory and landed in
Andover March 80, 1888 and located on
his farm near Pierpont which has been
his home until the hour of his death.
]. ID. knight was a man of remark.
able vitality, strong of mind and of
excellent Judgment. Politically through
out his entire life he was always to be
found in the front ranks of republican
ism and used his influence and vote to
further that cause. During his life he
held many minor offices in this locality
among them that Of postmaster of this,
his home town. He was a constant
reader even in his advanced years and
was well informed on the events Of the
day.
He kept faith with his fellowmen.
What better can be said of any man?
People of this community loved him as
a father, and no careless child ever
pointed the finger of derision at
"Grandpa" Knight.
He has gone but his memory lives on.
like the ripples spreading out in aver
widening circle, the influence on the
lives of those who knew him will con-
time and the noble life though gone
will continue to live. To the aged
wife who is left alone in her grief, may
the Great All-Father sustain her and
bear her mp in her deep grief until she
feels that death is but separation, that
must come to all in natures course,
and that only makes the cherished one
and the future over which the veil Of
mortality is drawn for q time, sweeter
in q faith that reaches beyond time
and takes hold upon eternity
Signal.