New Britain herald., 1928-04-16
SAMUEL knight, 60.
called BY Death
Veteran Photographer Was De-
scended From English Nobility
Especial to the Heraldl

Plainville, April 16 - Samuel
Knight. 60. veteran photographer
who had conducted studios in New
Britain and Plainville for the past
IS years passed away last Saturday
noon at his home. IS East Main
street. Failing very gradually since
an accident ten years ago, Mr..
Knight was taken i'll with grippe
about Christmas, and his almost in
dolnitable spirit finally gave way
after one last courageous fight
against a weakening body, death be-
ing due to Il general brea kdown.
Mr.. Knight was born on February
~. 1853. in Richmond. Va, tho son
of Samuel and Laura Taylor Knight.
His father, the son of a nobleman,
was rich and owned Il large portion
Of what is now Central park in New
York city and later purchased L
slave plantation in Virginia, but the
Civil War swept away his fortune.
His mother ran the Union blockade
on several occasions in order to
procure money for the family and
finally, with her young son and
negro slave. she fed across the 20
tomac during the night. 1t is relat-
ed that the child began to cry dur
ing the passage and that the negro
threatened to throw il overheard lest
II should disclose their presence TO
the Union guards. but they finally
stuffed it mouth, reached shore
safely, and made their way toI
Brooklyn. n. Y.
While he was still a boy Mr..
Knights interest was attracted by
photography. and he Went into the
business with tho Richardson Broth
rs in Brooklyn. 1t is said that one
If these brothers, Phil, used to take
Ar. Knight with him on his round
of the saloons and would ask The
customers if they wanted to see the
devil. He would then have Mr..
Knight, who accompanied him but
did not drink, open a bag of -four
he was carrying and let out very
indignant and pasty cat.
In the sos MIR. Knight removed |
To Hartford. There. in 1885, he |
married Miss Agnes Ninton. One
lay in the 9os the couple We're Wis !
Ting a friend an New Britain and !
We're told that there was a vacant !
photogra phic studio at 125 Main
street. Mr.. Knight investigated and /
promptly rented the place. a por
ton of which is occupied today by .
johnson d Peterson. There Mr..
Knight conducted his business until
about eight years ago. when he sold
out to the present occupants
About 1901 Mr.. Knight opened a
studio in the wing of his home in
Plainville and conducted it one day
each week. Ten years ago he was
critically injured when run down by
an automobile at the East Main
street railroad crossing. and he was
50 weakened by this that he was led
to sell his New Britain studio. but
he still carried on his business here
and did so, in fact, until his recent
illness.
Mr. Knight was always a very ac-
tive man and did much manual
work about the house and yard
which many a younger man would
have Stunned. His unfailing cheer
fulness, despite the affections which
heset him at the end, won him in
Vulnerable friends and made him a
veritable institution here. Even at
the end he attempted to conceal his
POOR health and would not cease his
battle, and it was not until three
days before his death that he could I
be persuaded to go to bed.
He was member of Centennial
lodge, +. & A. NJ, of New Britain.
send degree Mason. a Shriner. and
n member Of Washington Command
cry. knights Templars. He also be-
longed to Phoenix lodge, !. O. o. r.,
and to Mattabesett tribe, I. o. r. NJ.
In former years he belonged to nu-
merous other lodges, including the
A merican Mechanics. and at one
time he was a sergeant in the Put
nam Phalanx.
Mr.. Knight is survived by his wild
ow: one son. Vinton l.. knight, em-
ployed at the New Britain Trust
CO.; and two sisters, Mrs. Fannie
lforsfall Of Greenport, l.. l., and
Mrs. Laura Royle OF Brooklyn, N. Y.
Funeral services will be held at
2:30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at
his late residence. They will be con-
Quoted by Arthur Oldershaw. first
reader Of the Christian Science
church of New Britain. Burial will
be In the family plot in Spring
Grove cemetery, Hartford.