THE WAUPACA COUNTY POST

January 30, 1992

 

WHEN THEN WAS NOW

By Wayne A. Guyant

 

            Earl Thomas Knight, who left the family homestead in Section 29, Township of Farmington, Waupaca County, to go “west” in 1909, was reunited with his sister after a separation of 48 years.  His sister, Mary, who had grown to womanhood during his long absence, married Myron Schultz and raised a family of her own.

            The Knight family homestead is located at the bottom of the big hill on State Highway 54, five miles west of Waupaca.  The hill has been known as “Knight’s Hill” for many years.

            John Knight married Helena Hearn, August 29, 1883, and it was on the homestead that they started out their married life together.  They became the parents of seven children, three boys – Earl, Robert and Hugh – and four daughters – Florence, Margaret, Olive and Mary, the baby of the family.

            When Earl left his home he was 24 years old and little Mary was only four.  When Mr. Knight embraced his sister after 48 year he made the remark that he could not have held her like this before he left home, because he was so big and she was afraid of him.  When he came in one door, he said, “she would exit out another.”  Mrs. Schultz countered with, “Well, I am not too little or afraid now, so this calls for another big hug.”

            Mr. Knight told of his life after leaving home.  He worked as a deck hand on a Columbia River steamboat in Washington, then as a surveyor for the Oregon Trunk Railroad.

            Then he went to Tucson, AZ, where he was married and worked as a well driller.  Later he became an “extra” on the Tucson Volunteer Fire Department.  In 1913, a fireman friend asked him to work a couple of hours for him, as a hose driver.  The friend gave him $1 and never did return.  He continued as a hoseman, then as a driver of a chemical wagon, as now he had a full-time job.

            When he started as a fireman, horses were in use.  It was not until four years later that motorized apparatuses replaced them.  He retired from the Tucson Fire Department in 1913.  He died in Tucson, on April 9, 1964.  His sister, Mrs. Myron (Mary) Schultz, is the last survivor of the John Knight family.  She makes her home at the South Side Retirement Home, Waupaca.