JEDIDIAH KNOTTS, farmer and raiser and dealer in stock,
residing on section 11, Troy Township, Clarke County, Iowa, was born in Taylor
County, West Virginia November 12, 1841. His father, Absalom Knotts, was a
native of the same county, then known as Monongahela County, and was a
merchant, and contractor on public works. In 1853 he came to Iowa, locating in
Warren County, where he laid out the town of New Virginia, and improved a large
farm. He returned to Virginia and came with the family to Warren County in the
fall of 1857. In the spring of 1861 he removed with them to Osceola, and
engaged in the mercantile business. He lived some time at Council Bluffs, Iowa,
but subsequently settled in Lucas, Lucas County, Iowa, where he died several
years later, his death occurring February 27,1885. He was an active business
man, a public-spirited citizen, and made many friends wherever he resided. He
was twice married, his first wife being Matilda Sayre, by whom he had ten
children, eight reaching maturity, of whom six still survive – Joseph, of
Council Bluffs; Mrs. Polly A. McGee, of Indianola, Iowa; Jedidiah, our subject;
Elijah W., of Lucas, Iowa; Mrs. Susannah Daily, of Lucas, and James B., of
Indianola. For his second wife Mr. Knotts married Mrs. Maria Marsh. Jedidiah
Knotts, whose name heads this sketch, was reared to agricultural pursuits, and
in his youth received the benefit of the common schools. He enlisted in the war
of the Rebellion in Company H, Forty-sixth Iowa Infantry, and was on guard duty
most of the time while in the service. September 7, 1865, he was united in
marriage to Mary J. Hudgel, a native of Auglaize County, Ohio, and daughter of
Thomas Hudgel, who is now deceased. They have seven children – Matilda E.,
William L., Lillie M., Edwin P., Charles S., Ernest W. and Lena L. He settled
on his farm in Troy Township, which he still owns, and which contains 460 acres
of choice land under good cultivation. He left his farm in 1872, and was a
resident of Murray until March, 1882, when he moved again to the farm, where he
has since lived. On coming to Murray he began dealing in grain and stock, which
he followed for five years, and is at present engaged in buying and shipping
stock. Mr. Knotts is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a
comrade of the Grand Army post at Murray.
SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke
County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 337
