Transcribed from Goodspeed’s History of  Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketches of from Twenty-Five to Thirty Counties of East Tennessee, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Original Observations, Reminiscences, etc., etc. (Chicago and Nashville:  The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887), pp. 962-987.  See footnote below for on-line access.

William KNOX was born in Gwinnett County, Ga., September 10, 1828, the son of David L. and Elizabeth (MONTGOMERY) KNOX. Our subject is the seventh of fourteen children. He secured a good education in Bradley County, began life as a farmer, and for twelve years followed this occupation. In 1870, in partnership with R. L. GRAVES, he established a store of general merchandise at Calhoun, McMinn County, and continued nine years. The style of the firm was Graves, Knox & Co. In 1879 he closed out his business in Calhoun, and opened another store just across the Hiwassee River, in Charleston, in which place he had resided all the while, and since that date to the present he has been engaged in the mercantile business. The KNOX family has been one of the most influential and prominent in Bradley County. The father of our subject was among the first settlers. The grandfather of our subject, on his mother’s side, Hugh MONTGOMERY, was at one time Indian agent of the Ocoee Purchase. In February, 1861, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Tennessee SMITH, a native of McMinn County, born November 14, 1840. This union resulted in the birth of ten children–eight sons and two daughters; two sons being dead. Our subject is a decided Democrat, and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His wife and five children are members of the same church.

FamilySearch Tree profile: 

This biography was transcribed by Sherry Pollard. We thank her for transcribing all the Goodspeed’s biographical sketches.

Click here to read and download a digitized version of the original volume free at the Internet Archive. A reprint version is available for viewing and downloading free from FamilySearch.  You will require a free FamilySearch login to browse records.

If you have corrections or wish to provide more information about the individual, please contact us (link in menu).