Biographical Sketch of

Francis Gilbert Knight

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 764 - 765 


Francis Gilbert Knight, one of the leading citizens of Kingston, Wis., and a loyal defender of his country 
during the late war, was born in Somerset County, Me., Sept. 19, 1832, his parents, George and Amelia (Rhodes) 
Knight, being also natives of the Pine Tree State.  His mother died when he was about a year old, and he was 
then reared by an uncle, Gilbert Rhodes, with whom he remained until eighteen years of age, spending his time 
in the pineries of Maine and Canada.  He first came to the West in the month of April, 1857, stopping for a 
short time at Havanna, Ill., whence in July of the same year, he came to Kingston and engaged in the lumber 
business for a number of years, until 1862, when he responded to his country's call for troops.  The year 
previous, he had married Harriet J. Knox, a native of New York, and a daughter of Alanson Knox.  Bidding 
good-bye to his young bride, he enrolled his name among the boys in blue and was mustered into service at 
Oshkosh, as a member of the 32nd Wisconsin Regiment.  Shortly afterward the command was ordered to Memphis, 
Tenn., where it remained a month; then to Hurricane Creek, Miss., whence they started after Price, who was 
making a raid through some of the Southern States.  The regiment participated in the battles of Davis Mills 
and Holly Springs, after which an engagement was brought on at Grand Junction, Tenn.  It went into winter 
quarters at Bulwer and the following spring was sent to Memphis, Tenn., having charge of the Charleston 
Depot for six months, during which time the troops also guarded the road for a distance of fifty miles.  
They then marched on to Vicksburg under Gen. Sherman, and thence east to Meriden, and after some slight 
skirmishes returned to Cairo, whence after a short  time they were sent out to gain knowledge of the 
whereabouts of Forrest.  Boarding some steamers on the Tennessee River, they then proceeded by water as 
far as the boats could go, and on landing marched across the country to Decatur, Ala., where the brigade 
to which Mr. Knight belonged built a fort and was stationed three months, participating in several skirmishes 
during that time.  The next important engagement in which he took part was the siege and capture of Atlanta, 
which was followed by the celebrated March to the Sea under Sherman.  On their March to the Sea, they 
participated in the battles of Three Rivers, Bentonville, and a number of others.  He also participated 
in the Grand review at Washington, after which he received his discharge, and on his return to Milwaukee 
was mustered out of service.  Mr. Knight was ever faithful to his duty as a soldier, and though he was in 
some of the most hotly contested battles of the war, was never known to flinch or falter.  To such men the 
preservation of the Union is due and too much cannot be said in praise of their heroism and noble self-sacrifice 
in leaving their homes and families, perhaps never again to return.
 
Immediately after being mustered out, Mr. Knight returned to his home, and the joy of that hour can better be 
imagined than described.  Six children have been born of his union with Miss Knox:  Amelia, Catherine, Gilbert 
A., Allen, Henry and Arthur, who died at the age of fourteen years.
 
In political sentiment, Mr. Knight is a Republican, and socially is a member of the G. A. R. Post of Kingston.  
Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, also their children, and in the Master's 
vineyard, they are earnest workers.  They have a pleasant home in Kingston, and are held in high regard by all 
who know them.  Mr. Knight is one of the leading citizens of Green Lake County, and probably no man in the 
community has more friends than he.






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