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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Samuel Knowlton, a highly esteemed resident of Union Township, owns and occupies a fine farm estate of 600 acres, and in his beautiful home is surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He was born in Franklin County, Me., Aug. 28, 1822, and removed with his parents to Ohio when a boy of ten years, in 1882. After reaching years of manhood, he was married, in 1845, to Miss Julia A. Hadley, of Clinton County, Ohio. To them twelve children were born, eight of whom are living: Olive Ann is the wife of William H. Needham, editor and proprietor of the Sigourney News; Mary, Mrs. K. C. Naylor, resides in Des Moines; Charles F. is editor of the Osborne (Kan.) Journal; Anna, the wife of L. B. Christman, lives in Linn County, Iowa; Ella is a policy writer for the State Insurance Company at Des Moines; Edwin, Minnie and Cora are at home; Sherman, Simon, Rosa and Emma are deceased; Rosa married G. A. Webster, of Des Moines; Emma married J. C. Gritman, of Linn County. The mother of these children died Jan. 17, 1882, and Dec. 13, 1883, Mr. Knowlton espoused as his second wife Mrs. Harriet J. Ellis. Mr. Knowlton was passenger on the first train of cars ever run out of the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. He came to this State in 1865, and located in the city of Oskaloosa, residing there for a period of eight years, engaged in business, and then removed to his present farm in Union Township. His land is under good cultivation, with first-class improvements, and all the appliances required by a modern agriculturist. Politically Mr. Knowlton is a Republican, and was elected by his party in Union Township, as a member of the County Board of Supervisors, in which he served from 1876 to 1879, filling the position in a most creditable manner. He possesses the Yankee characteristic of knowing how to make money as well as how to save it, and brings to the discharge of his business and social obligations, ability of a superior order, which has placed him among the prosperous and representative farmer of this county.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy