Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 202; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Noah R. Knowles, who is engaged in farming and stock-raising on
section 15, Pleasant Township, where he owns a good farm, is a veteran
of the late war. He was born in Sussex County, Del., April 19,
1841, to William W. and Elizabeth (Phillips) Knowles, natives
respectively of Delaware and Maryland.
Mr. and Mrs. Knowles removed to Somerset County, Md. When their
son, Noah, of whom we write, was ten or twelve years old, and there
they lived a number of years. They subsequently removed to
Dorchester County, that State and remained there till the all of 1860,
when they came to Illinois and took up their residence in Fulton
County. In 1865 the parents removed to Nebraska, where they are
living at the present time. Their wedded life has been blessed to
them by the birth of seven children, of whom five survive,
namely: Noah R.; George W., a resident of Johnson County, Neb.;
Angeline, wife of John Turner of Nebraska; S. T. T. who makes his home
in Missouri; and Sena, wife of James Turner, of Nebraska.
Our subject had but limited educational advantages in the common
schools of Maryland and Delaware, but he made the best of them.
After coming to Fulton County he worked on a farm by the month for G.
C. Cooper, receiving in payment for his labor $10 a month and his
board, continuing thus employed for about three years. In March
1864 he enlisted in Company H, Twenty-eighth Illinois Infantry, and
bore an honorable part in the war. He was with his regiment at
the siege of Spanish For, and he fought in many minor skirmishes,
besides doing much scouting and provost duty. He served
principally in Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama and gave
proof of excellent soldierly qualities. While in the army his
eyesight was much injured owing to exposure and he suffered all the
hardships and privations incidental to life on the battlefield.
He was honorably discharged in March, 1866 in Texas, where he was doing
guard duty, and he was mustered out at Springfield the following
April. The value of his services during the time he was in the
army have been recognized by the Government which grants him a pension
of 16 a month.
Since the war our subject has given his attention to farming,
and in the spring of 1879 settled on his present farm on section 15,
Pleasant Township. Here he has eight acres of land which is
fenced into convenient fields, is admirably tilled and is provided with
all the necessary buildings and good farming machinery. Mr.
Knowles enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens, as his
conduct in all the affairs of life has ever been honorable and
upright. In his political views he is a sound Republican.
Socially, he is connected with the Grand Army, being a member of the
Post at Ipava. Though he does not belong to any church he
contributes liberally to the support of religious causes.
The marriage of our subject to Miss Irena Cooper was celebrated
in January, 1867, and has been productive of much happiness to
both. To them have been born two children, Cora, wife of Elmer
Porter, of this place, and one child who died in infancy. Mrs.
Knowles is a daughter of Levin Cooper, whose biography appears
elsewhere in this volume.
