U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert K. Knotts (b. 1818) ------------------------------------------------------------------- History of Tucker County, West Virginia From the Earliest Explorations and Settlements to the Present Time. by Hu Maxwell Kingwood, W. Va.; Preston Publishing Company, 1884. Pages 424-425 Robert K. Knotts, of English descent, son of Robert Knotts, born in Marion County, W. Va., in 1818. Married in 1840, to Fanny, daughter of Frederick Harsh, of Preston County. Children: Martin Luther, Ellen, John A., James, Stephen A. and William A. He has 110 acres of improved land on a farm of 180 acres. He has been in Tucker since 1852, and "has held no office, except the plow handles." Mr. Knotts began for himself with but little on which to go, except health and industry. He commenced in the woods, and the first year raised 40 bushels of sound corn, and since that time has been selling corn every year. The first year he killed 21 deer within one mile of the house; he generally killed from 10 to 20 a year for 20 years. He never hunted except in the morning before breakfast. Often he would kill two and three and get home in time for breakfast; he sometimes carried venison to West Union and sold it. Bear skins were worth from $1.50 to $7 each. He probably had the most remarkable adventure with panthers that was ever in the county or State. One Sunday morning he went hunting as was his custom, and met three panthers, and he shot one dead where it stood. The largest of the remaining sat down and watched him until he had reloaded. He shot it, but it ran yelling into the woods and the other followed it; he reloaded his gun, and presently the unhurt beast came galloping back to look for its partner. He shot it dead. The one that was wounded also died, making three panthers that he killed without moving from his tracks. This was his last hunting on the Sabbath day. M. L. Knotts, son of R. K. Knotts, was born in 1837, in Preston County. In 1859 he married Margaret E., daughter of Enos Sell, of Preston County; he lives 10 miles from St. George on Maxwell's Run, where he owns a farm of 168 acres, 75 of which is under cultivation. He has been a hunter, but not so great a one as his father; he has killed 8 bears and 1 panther, 11 feet long. Children: John J., Enos. E., Fanny E., Mary E., Susan Adaline, Jennie R., Laura Belle, and Stella Maud. William A. Knotts, son of Robert Knotts, was born in 1856. Married Clara B., daughter of S. R. Fansler. He lives on Horse Shoe Ran, 5 miles from St. George, and is a farmer. Their child's name is Albert C. James Knotts, born 1845, son of R. K Knotts; married in 1866, to Teena M., daughter of Christian Willis. Children: William Arnold, Amos and Mary E. He farms 40 acres of improved land and has 85 acres of woodland on Twelve Mile Creek, 13 miles from St. George. He has killed four bears, and has had some remarkable fights with them. ------------------------------------------------------------------- (wife of Robert K. Knotts) Register of Deaths, Tucker County, WV (Pages 55-56 , Line No. 15) FULL-NAME: Fanny Knotts DEATH-DATE: December 23, 1887 DEATH-PLACE: St. George Dist. CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Apoplexy AGE-AT-DEATH: 74y-7m PARENTS: not known BIRTH-PLACE: Preston Co. MARITAL-STATUS: married INFORMANT: Robt Knotts, head of family ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Tucker County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/tucker/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------