Hello Folks,
I am trying to locate living family members of James Edward Knowles born on 12-28-1830
(probably in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. His parents were Charles and Mary Ann (Maidlow)
Knowles, who were natives of England before immigrating to the U.S. in the early 1800s.
Their son James Edward Knowles opened a grocery store in Clinton, Indiana in 1861 with the
help of his brother Charles B. Knowles and Luke Grant. James Edward Knowles also purchased
80 acres of property in Clinton in 1864 and did sell some of this property as smaller
lots. James E. Knowles was first married in Vanderburgh County, Indiana in December 15,
1859 to Pluma Wilcox and then later remarried Delia Elliot on September 25, 1884.
Morton E. Knowles, born 4/24/1862 in Indiana may have been the only child of said James
Edward Knowles. Morton E. Knowles married Lillian G. Calder, June 1, 1884 in Vermillion
County, Indiana. Morton and Lillian had at least three children; i.e., Frank M. Knowles
(b. 1888), James Edward Knowles, Jr. (b. 1891) and Morton E. Knowles, Jr. (b. 1895). This
family of Knowles migrated from Indiana to Montana in the late 1800s, as they appear in
Lewis and Clark County, Montana in 1900. The son Frank M. Knowles and his wife Mary Louise
apparently had only one child; i.e. Beverly L. Knowles (b. 1916). The son James Edward
Knowles, Jr. (1891 - 1972) and his wife Maria Eugenia Ballard (b. 1883) may not have had
any children. James, Jr. died February 7, 1972 in Pasadena, California. A notice of a
hearing (scheduled for March 3, 1972 in the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles
County for the petition for probate of the Will and Codicil for James Edward Knowles
was posted by William E. Fox (attorney, executor of the Will) in the Pasadena newspaper
(Star-News) on February 15, 1972 and again the following week.
The City of Clinton in Vermillion County, Indiana is trying to obtain federal funding for
an important Disaster Recovery Project for Clinton; i.e., to fix the Feather Creek from
continuously flooding the city. A parcel of property in Vermillion County needed for this
project is in the name of said James Edward Knowles (Sr.). The city needs to find the
living relatives of James Edward Knowles, so that they may obtain an easement for the
property for the Disaster Recovery Project. This property recorded in the mid 1800s is
still listed on the deed to James Edward Knowles. The city of Clinton cannot pursue
funding on eminent domain, so they must trace back the relatives.
Any additional information concerning the genealogy of this Knowles family that would help
the city locate living relatives would be very much appreciated. The descendants of James
Edward Knowles (if any) are probably not aware of the property in Clinton, Indiana.
Rob Noles
Robert B. Noles
rbnoles(a)bellsouth.net
Skype Name: robert.b.noles
Mandeville, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana
I'm buried in Email; if I don't respond right away; remind me of your request!
Project Administrator, Genetic Genealogy Projects (for Knowles, Wiregrass, & Lumbee
Tribe)
Using Genetic Genealogy to prove our family trees
Director, Knowles/Knoles/Noles Family Association:
www.KKNFA.org
Director, Huxford Genealogical Society & Library:
www.Huxford.com