1906 Knight Family Letter

HERE IS THE TEXT OF THE 1906 LETTER, written by James Knight Kreutzinger to his son, Edmund Philip Kreutzinger:

"Mt. Vernon, Ind. 2-11-1906

Dear Edmund--

I was naturally somewhat surprised to note your request for all possible information concerning my mother's family; these things gradually pass out of our recollection and unless some pride is taken in cultivating the family tree it rapidly falls into decay. All that I know authentically is that Grandfather Knight was born in the year 1791 in the County of Hampshire England. His father was James Knight, a well-to-do and rather intelligent farmer, who had two sons: James my grandfather, and Richard, four years younger. Grandfather became a floriculturist in South London and in 1836 and 1837 was awarded silver medals by the South London Floricultural Society; we have one bearing the date of 1837. Uncle David's family has the other. I do not know the maiden name of grandfather's first wife, who was the mother of 7 children:

Eliza (Dewey)

James (supposed to have been blown from a steamboat)

John (supposed to have died of yellow fever in the south)

Richard and Thomas (who remained in England and whose descendants still remain there, except Jessie Grace who came to America about 10 years ago)

Edmund and

Joseph.

After her death he married Esther, second daughter of Thomas Mayne and Esther Bryan. the latter died during the early childhood of my grandmother, as did the youngest daughter, Anna; and grandmother and her eldest sister, mary, were placed in the family of a relative, mrs. Andrews, where they remained until the latter emigrated to Australia, when grandmother entered the employ of Mrs. Colton as a companion where she was living when she met James Knight. Her faher, Thomas Mayne, was a watchmaker and made each of his daughters a watch, one of which is now in our family in a dilapidated condition. My grandmother claimed relationship with the historian Gibbon, just what degree I am unable to say, but the mother of Esther Bryan was a Gibbon.

Of the sons and daughters of James Knight by his two marriages Eliza, the eldest, married Thomas Dewey, came to America, and became the mother of one son, John, who died upon reaching his majority; his mother died about 1842. James became a civil engineer, came to the U.S. and married becoming the father of 3 children two of whom, with their mother died in the early '50's; the youngest child was brought up by the family of his mother's parents. Uncle James was never heard from after the blowing up of a steamer on her way up the Ohio. John disappeared in an equally mysterious manner; Thomas and Richard who remained in London were goldsmiths, I think as was also their Uncle Richard. The Knights were Regular Baptists and during their residence in London attended the Church of John Stevens, a picture of whom is now in my possession. Those of the family who remained in England were member of Charles Spurgeon's Tabernacle. Edmund, Joseph, Ebenezer, David, Esther and Mary came to America with their parents and all married and reared families except Mary, who died at the age of 16. Samuel, the youngest child, died just before the family left England.

The children of James Knight and Esther Mayne were Ebenezer, David, Esther, Mary and Samuel. The only surviving member of the two branches of the family is Ebenezer, who lives in Harrison County, Indiana at the village of Elizabeth, just below New Albany. We have had no communication with our London relatives since Jessie Grace came to America some 10 years ago. Grandmother Knight was born Aug. 25, 1799, and died in Kansas in 1879. Grandfather Knight died in Posey County Indiana
in 1859. Mary, the older sister of grandmother Knight, died in the latter part of 1858; she never married. This is about all I know for a certainty of our ancestry on the Knight side.

Of course you heard of the death of Rillie Ries by drowning in the YMCA pool at Evansville?

This is all I can think of just now so goodbye. We all send our love.

Yours truly,

/s/ James K. Kreutzinger"

I did some research, and discovered that the South London Royal Floricultural Society was formed in 1835.

Old Knight Family Letters..Part 1

For some time now, I've been intending on publishing for internet availability some letters and other documents related to my family history. Here are three letters that were written in pencil on lavender-colored paper, so they were difficult to transcribe. They were sent from Esther Knight to her son/my great-great-grandfather, Ebenezer Knight, shortly before her death in 1879. Spelling and capitalization remain true to the original letters.

"Myers Valley
Potawatomie Co. Kansas

April 28. 1875

My dear son

I have been waiting for a letter from you but it seems in vain. You will not write and I am so trembling that I scarcely know how to. When i think that my only two sons should now on my account feel so bad one to the other, I must leave this painful subject. I want you to write me and let me know how your wife and children are. And let me know how Matilda Rogers and her family are. If you see them give my love to them. Also how Mrs. Combs and Mrs. Glasco are. I have never ask you my son for any think before but I should be very glad if you spare me a trifle now and then to buy me some tea. For ever since the grasshoppers destruction they have never used coffe nor tea and David's wife sold her cow because they had no feed so they have been deprived of milk and butter. So that it has gone hard with them, and as it happens often one trouble don't come alone. About a month ago their other [illegible] colt died. I must close for I am to nervous I can write no more at present.

From your
affectionate
mother
E. Knight

Answer this as soon as possible and don't keep me in suspence. May the blessings of God rest upon you it is my fervent prayer."

Letter 2:

"It is nearly 9 months since your brother David sent you a letter, but we have heard no answer. I have been very sick and am still very weak. My memry is very bad, but I have not forgot i have a son Ebenezer who had a wife + family. I hope when you receive this letter you will read it directly. If you do not I shall think you have disowned your mother and brother altogether, but remember you are as dear to me as when the Lord first gave you to me. Remember we ought to forgive if we expect to be forgiven. Now your brother feels no [illegible] toward you than he did this winter. He was in great trouble at the time and you did not answer the letters he wrote, but I will say no more about it. Your brother is in hope you will write so soon and let me know how you all are getting along. I had such a bad cough in January that i thought I was going home, but The Lord as been pleased to spare me but I am very weak and feeble. But I feel strong in the Lord and the Power of His Might. My son I hope if we never see one another again on Earth we shall meet in Heaven where parting will be known no more. Give my love to your wife and children when ever you can't find time to write."


Letter 3: [apparently written to one of Ebenezer's children]

"I received your letter with the pictures and was much pleased that I was not quite forgotten by my oldest son. Finally I was glad to hear you enjoyed yourself on Christmas day. I am not able to comply with your wish to send my picture. Your aunt Esther Kreutzinger as got me and your grandfather Knight, in one and if at any time you should visit you can see it. Whenever your sister Ellen can spare the money I would like to have her and her brother David James picture together. Give my love to Thos. and his wife and tell them i wish them all the happiness the world can offer them and that is but little at the best. Tell them thou I never espect to see them on Earth I hope to meet in heaven where parting will be knone no more."

Note, written in ink, apparently by David Knight:

"This is all I can find of Mother's last writing. I would have written for her but for the reasons given on this sheet, she would not allow it.

D.K."