Joseph Knowland, (1833 - 1912), father of United States Representative Joseph Russell Knowland and Grandfather of United States Senator William Fife Knowland.
Origin
Joseph Knowland was born in New York City, October 8,1833. He was orphaned as a youth. Little is known of his early life. His son, Joseph Russell Knowland, wrote: "that his father's parents, died when he was a small boy and [he] recalled little or nothing of them.
Background
As a young man, Joseph Knowland traveled west to seek his fortune in the California gold fields. He left Southampton, Long Island, New York on the S.S. George Law to Aspinwall, the Port of the Isthmus of Panama.He crossed the Isthmus by train, seeing the tropical trees and jungle. He departed Panama on the S.S. John L. Stephens. Joseph Knowland arrived in San Francisco on February 14, 1857. He arrived at Yankee Jim's in Placer County, the argonauts gateway to the gold fields. However, chronic illiness and lack of success made Knowland return to San Francisco.
San Francisco
Joseph Knowland found employment as a laborer, with the firm of George H. Moore and Francis B. Folger, which handled clipper ship service between New York and San Francisco. He left Moore and Folger in 1862, to clerk for Charles Hare's Anchors and Ship Chandler Company. However, a position with Benjamin Dore's Lumber Company, soon proved more lucrative.
Having a secure job, May 13, 1863, Joseph Knowland married in San Francisco, Hannah Bailey Russell, (1832-1921) of Bingham/Moscow, Maine. She was of sturdy New England stock. The daughter of Francis Russell and Rhoda Bailey Russell. Her ancestors, Joseph Russell and Calvin Russell, were veterans of the American Revolution.
Shortly after his marriage, Joseph Knowland was elevated to bookeeper at Henry Blythe's Lumber Yard.Saving enough money to invest, in 1867, he formed a partnership with Jason Springer. Springer and Knowland Lumber Company was a profitable venture. Four years later Knowland and Charles Franklin Doe formed the Knowland and Doe Lumber Company. Charles Franklin Doe, the benefactor of the University of California at Berkeley, the Main/Doe Library bears his name.
The Knowland daughters were born during this period. Sadie E., (1864-1905), and Lucille, (1870-1926). A son, Hollis Russell Knowland died as an infant.
Due to a recurrence of the illiness of his mining days,in 1872, Joseph Knowland moved his family from San Francisco to the city of Alameda in Alameda County.
Alameda
The new home at 2426 Lincoln Avenue was for a growing family. Joseph Russell Knowland, was born at home, August 5, 1873. The home was not a political one, yet the Northern ideals were instilled in the children. The children attended the public schools. Sadie and Lucy attended the private Snell Seminary School for Women and JR Hopkins Academy. Joseph Knowland wrote of his mother, "she was known as a warm, confident person who got things done, with a minimum of histrionics and a maximum of effectiveness.... having the rock-ribbed benevolence of a native of Maine".
Business
Joseph Knowland has an instinct for business and a willingness to undertake new and exciting ventures. Diversified interests, related to the lumber business. He reorganized Gardiner Mill Company of Gardiner City, Oregon. A major interest-holder in the Kerchoff-Cuzner Mill in Los Angeles. Serving with the Hoopers and Talbots on the Board of Directors of the San Pedro Lumber Company. Joseph Knowland was chief advisor to the Southern Lumber Company of San Diego. Investing with Egbert Judson, former California governor,Frederick Low and other prominent men in mining interests in Tombstone, Arizona. He served as vice-president of the Kennedy Mining and Milling Company in Jackson, Amador County. When whaling was very lucrative, Joseph Knowland, was the principal owner of the whaler, Amethyst. U.S. Naval ships saved the crew; the Amethyst sank. A stockholder in the Alameda Bank, and trustee of the Gas Consumers Association.
Later Life
Joseph Knowland, well known in business and fraternal life. In 1864, he joined San Francisco's Golden Gate Masonic Lodge, when he moved to Alameda going into Oak Grove Lodge. Becoming a 33 degree Mason shortly before his death. A member of Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He served on the board of trustees of the Old People's Home. Joseph Knowland each Christmas would send coal and groceries to the most needy in the community and ask nothing for his charity.
Joseph Knowland was extremely proud of his family: eldest daughter, Sadie E. Coe, wife of Professor George A. Coe of the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois. daughter, Lucy Hill and son, US Congressman Joseph Russell Knowland. His grandchildren, Elinor, Russ and Billy.
Joseph Knowland was deeply saddened by the death of Sadie, August 23, 1905 and daughter-in-law, Ellie, July 20, 1908. May 13, 1913,Joseph and Hannah celebrated 50 years of marriage.
Joseph Knowland, left a sick bed to vote for his son, November 5, 1912. He died at his Alameda home, November 13, 1914. The services were a joint Presbyterian and First Methodist rite. Joseph Knowland was cremated.
References
All Flags in Alameda Are Half-Masted When Joseph Knowland Dies, San Francisco Chronicle, November 14, 1912.
The Bay of San Francisco: The Metropolis of the Pacific Coast and Its Suburban Cities, 2 vols. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.
Wyatt, Daniel E., Joseph R. Knowland: The Political Years, 1899-1915 San Francisco: D Wyatt, 1982.