The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1939-09-22
Old Timers
Visit City

John F. Mcknight, who left Wyan-
cote in 1898, after spending his boy
hood days here and who, during later
years, spent much Of his time like a
lot of other old shipyard men in var
ious parts Of the country, returned for
a brief visit to his old home town re-
Gently. During his earlier days MI
Mcknight played tackle on the first
WyandOtte high school football team
and later with the Wyandotte indie
pendents. The following men were on
the roster of the first Wyandotte
(1S9S) high school football team:
Leon Leo" Berndt, j. III. Jerry
Bishop, A. Il. Bunny" Burns, +. z.
/ 'Perce" Clark, Norman f. Coan, Chas.
ii. Denman, f. l. Pat" Ford, Leo
Lawrence, VIM. Bill" Lawrence, JOS
! eph spin" Mathews, John Jack" Nc
Knight, Ed High" Milspaugh, Fred
"ZitZ" LOeffler, Jas. q. Jim" pinSon,
James j. Jim Raglan, A. L. Abe"
Schubert. Mark T. Pug" Smith.
Only four of the above list are de-
cea sed: Norman f. COsm, Fred Loef-
fer. James j. Raglan and Leon Berndr.
Mr.. Mcknight was known as Happy
JACK" because of his good nature and
happy disposition. He was always the
life Of his team even when the going
was rough for the boys.
MIR. Mcknight i now field engineer
with the American Car aud Foundry
Company. by which firm he has been
employed since 1872. His headquarters
are in -. Louis, where he resides with
/ his family. wife and three children.
He is Il charter member Of the Wyan-
dOtte Old Time Ball Players AssOcia
ton He Is the son of james and Cecel-
il Mcknight. His mother was former
II Cecilia Heidenreich, daughter Of
one of the early settlers VI Michigan.
Mr.. Mcknight is Il brother Of Harry
Mcknight Of WyandOtte and Of James
vi ST. Louis, Mo. and Billy" Nc
Knight. deceased. His sisters are Mrs.
Chas. Frahp of Detroit. Mrs. James
Hickey of Rome, y. u, and Kate Nc
Knight. formerly Sister Mary Alma al
81. Mary's convent, Monroe, deceased,
and Mrs. James ROhr of Detroit
Mr.. Mcknight spent a happy week
of renewing acquaintance with his old
friends and team mates during his Wis
il with relatives here. One Of the most
pleasant experiences was Il visit with
his old school teacher, Miss Ella Ke-
veney. who taught him in the old Wy
andOtte high S,hOol way back TO 1898
and 1899.
simultaneously with the visit of Mr..
Mcknight. Joseph Matthews, also
member Of the first Wyandotte high
football team. and Mrs. Matthews
paid visit 10 WyandOtte. staying al
the home of his brother. Sidney. and
enjoyed several days with his father,
Joseph Matthews. ST.. spin" Matthews
left WyandOtte in 1904, and went dir
ect To Rochester, y. Y. He has been
employed i'll the inspection department
of the Rochester GAS and Electricity
Company since his arrival there.
On the old football team joe was
nickn;med spin" owing to his ability
as spinning half-back" III making
long gains through the opponents line
and around the end. He lives in ROclI-
ester and has wife and two child
rem. His father. Joseph Matthews, Sr.,
how 30 years old, came to WyandOtte
in the early sos and was employed in
the old Eureka Iron and Steel mill.
Mr.. and Mrs. Matthews left for Buffalo
where they visited Il son for few
days before returning home.