YUBA COUNTY OBITS
DAVID EDGAR KNIGHT
Marysville Daily Appeal - 1/5/1900, p1 - David E. Knight Dead - Suddenly Passed Away at 4 O'clock This Morning - David E. Knight, the well known Marysville pioneer and capitalist, died very suddenly and unexpectedly at his residence on B street at 4 o'clock this morning. - While his health has been failing somewhat of late, he was, nevertheless, attending to his business affairs yesterday and in apparently good health when retiring last night. - His wife was awakened by his struggling and had not time to summon help ere he had passed away. - Death was no doubt due to heart disease. - Mr. Knight was 74 years of age.
Marysville Daily Appeal - 1/6/1900, p1 - David E. Knight - Funeral of the Deceased Pioneer Will Take Place To-morrow - A Sketch of His Life - Long Identified With the Business Interests of Northern California - Leaves an Ample Fortune - To say that the community was shocked yesterday morning when in perusing the Appeal it was learned that David E. Knight had succumbed to the infirmities which have been afflicting him for some two years back and had gone the way of all flesh, would be but mildly expressing the general feeling of regret among all classes which the news occasioned. - The lateness of the hour prevented anything more extensive than a bare mention of the fact of his passing, at the time. - David E. Knight has long been a force of no uncertain quantity in the events which have followed down in the history of the city of Marysville. Possessed of a tenacious, rugged personality he was a man strong in his friendships and one who preserved to the last the undying fidelity of a large number of our best citizens many of whom, especially among the older element, had been his social and business associates for the past forty years. "Dave," as he was called by his intimates was always a man that they could "back up against" no matter what the exigency of business or political contingencies and rest firm in the knowledge that the wall would never give, might the storm be ever so severe or the outlook ever so dreary. No such word as "fail" was ever known to David E. Knight. When he put his hand to the plow on a proposition it was a well known fact that he was there to win or failing temporarily he would fight it out on that line till the crack of doom. He was of the stuff of which men are made, beloved by his friends and respected by his opponents. - In comparison to the ordinary run of men David E. Knight stood as does the grand old oak beside the clinging woodbine-a tower of strength to those who leaned upon him-and the storms of winter nor the summer's heat ne'r operated to weaken his fidelity toward those who basked in the light of his esteem. Born in the Green Mountain-Dewey's-State, three quarters of a century ago, his life had been spent in the activity of business pursuits constantly up to the day of his death. Whatever he did he did well, the best he knew as he saw it. A pioneer of California, one of that band of indomitable spirits who reached the coast when the State was yet a wilderness and by whose efforts it's present grandeur have been upbuilded, he wrought his way toward that end up to the day of his death. Scorning to pause for the enjoyment of that retirement to which his efforts had entitled him and which his success had made possible he labored on, each day's duties cheerfully met, each night's repose honestly earned until the last when at the summons which we all shall have to meet at one time or another, with the aged partner of his lifes joys and sorrows at his side, he passed as a man might choose to go, to that mysterious land from which no traveler has yet returned, and was no more. - David Edgar Knight was born in Tunbridge, Orange County, Vermont, on October 24, 1825, and was therefore a trifle upwards of 74 years of age at the time of his death. When a boy he resided at Boston, Mass., later living for a time at New Orleans from which city he however again returned to Boston. - He came to California in 1852 by the Nicaragua Canal route in company with W. T. Ellis Sr., the pioneer merchant of this city, and others. Being a machinist by trade he at first took up a residence at San Francisco, known in early days as Yerba Buena. After working there for some time he moved to Sacramento where he established and conducted successfully a gas plant, which he later sold out. - In 1856 the dead pioneer came to Marysville, and had been a resident of this city up to the time of his death. In Man 1858 the Marysville Coal Gas Company was formed and D. E. Knight, A. Pierce and C. H. Simpkins were elected Trustees. They organized by electing D. E. Knight President and Superintendent. A contract was made with the city granting the Company the power to lay mains and pipes, and by which the Company agreed to furnish gas free of cost to the churches and public buildings so long as no franchise should be granted to other parties. Marysville was first lighted by this Company, on August 18, 1858. The works have been successfully managed by D. E. Knight ever since that time. - In 1867 the idea of establishing a Woolen Mill in Marysville was conceived, and a company was incorporated in the spring of the same year with W. H. Parks, President; D. E. Knight, Vice-President; C. M. Patterson, Secretary; J. H. Jewett, Treasurer. D. E. Knight was Superintendent of the mill from the time of its opening in October 1868 until it was destroyed by fire. - In 1874 a line of steamers was started by D. E. Knight, W. T. Ellis Sr., and J. R. Rideout from Marysville to San Francisco carrying merchandise and passengers. The steamer C. M. Small was purchased and placed on the route to San Francisco and in 1875 the company built the D. E. Knight and placed it also in service. In seasons of low water the Knight ran from Marysville to Sacramento connecting there with the Small for San Francisco. - The deceased took a great interest for many years in agricultural societies and as far back as 1874 was President of the Agricultural, Horticultural and Mechanical Society of the Northern District of California. This society owned a large park north of the city on which were buildings and stalls required to accommodate a large display of stock, machinery, product, etc., and a race course. In more recent years he was a Director of the Thirteenth District Agricultural Society and of the State Agricultural Society and at the time of his death was President of the Pacific Coast Trotting Horse Breeders Association. - Deceased had represented the State in National and State Republican conventions many times and had as well filled the office of Levee Commissioner for the city of Marysville continuously since 1880, having rendered valuable services to the city in that capacity. He was an Alderman for the city of Marysville in the years 1866 and 1867, when W. K. Hudson was Mayor, and again in 1874-75, under Mayor Wm. Hawley. - At the time of his demise deceased was Superintendent of the Marysville Gas and Electric Company, President and General Manager of the Marysville and Yuba City Street Railway, President and a Director of the Marysville Democrat Publishing Company, a Director of the Decker, Jewett & Co. Bank, and was connected with the Marysville Steam Laundry. - He was the owner of Agricultural Park, and for many years had taken much interest in fast trotting stock, having employed the well-known horseman, William Hogoboom, to train and drive his horses, which have been very successful on the different tracks of recent years. - The deceased was prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of Corinthian Lodge, No. 9, F. & A.M.; Washington R. A. Chapter, No. 13; Marysville Council, No. 3, R. & S.M.; Marysville Commandery, No. 7, K.T.; Oriental Lodge, No. 45, I.O.O.F., and of Marysville Encampment, No. 6, I.O.O.F. - Always rated a wealthy man, he had during his long life, always been liberal in his donations to charitable purposes, and to old residents who were in needy circumstances. - Besides his local interests he is credited with owning considerable Spring Valley water stock, and Oakland gas stock. - Besides an aged wife he leaves two brothers, A. J. Knight of Manchester, New Hampshire, and John Knight of Pierport, South Dakota; a sister, Mrs. Camp, who resides in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and three nieces, Mrs. J. P. Swift, Mrs. Emma Stevens, and Mrs. C. B. Andross, who reside in Marysville, to mourn his passing. The first wife of Rev. C. J. Chase was a niece of the deceased. - For a number of years the deceased was a member of the Union League Club of San Francisco. - The funeral will take place at 2 o'clock to-morrow afternoon under the auspices of Marysville Commandery, Knights Templar. The services will be held in the Masonic asylum at 2 o'clock. The interment will take place in the family vault at the city cemetery. - The flags over the City Hall and Masonic Hall, and Odd Fellows' Hall have been placed at half-mast out of respect to his memory.
Marysville Daily Appeal - 4/14/1900, p1 - D. E. Knight's Estate - Appraisers Report Shows a Valuation of About $150,000 - Assets Mostly Gilt Edge - The Dead Capitalist's Property Lay in Yuba, Sutter and San Francisco Counties - The appraisers have filed their report in the matter of the estate of David E. Knight, deceased, showing the total value of the same to be, according to their estimates, $147,654.37, of which $110,554.61 is in Yuba, $21325.60 in Sutter, and $15,774.10 in San Francisco county. - It is expected that the estate will finally figure out if anything somewhat better than the appraisement, the recent sale of cattle, sheep and personal property in Sutter county, and of horses and personality at the race track, having somewhat exceeded the heretofore fixed valuations. - The principal assets of the estate are as follows: - In Yuba County, Coin on hand, $167.50; deposit and certificate of deposit in Decker, Jewett & Co. Bank, $12,582.85; deed in escrow, since taken up, $3500; jewelry, $40; two notes, Marysville Gas & Electric Company, $15,112.88; note, Marysville and Yuba City R. R. Co., $2066.62; note, Deborah and A. A. Robson, $1032; sundry accounts due, $857.32; 200 shares Spring Valley Water stock, $19,600; 300 Oakland Gas, L & H Co., $15,000; 30 S. F. Gas & Electric, $1650; 75 Decker, Jewett & Co. bank, $7,500; 433 Marysville Gas & Electric, $7,360; 172 Marysville Woolen Factory, $860; 75 Marysville & Yuba City R. R., $5,925; 50 Colmena Olive Co., $750; 50 Empire F. & H. Works, $100; 202 Democrat Pub. Co., $2,500; 4,000 Marysville & Nevada Power & Water Co., $1,000; 20 Kern River oil, $200; 10 S. F. oil, $10; horses and personality at race track, $4,570.50; real property at race track, $2,500; other real property, $5,670. - In Sutter County, Cattle, horses and personal property, $8,925.60; Barrett ranch, 597.36 acres, $5,000; Butte ranch, 977 acres, $7,400. - San Francisco County, Cash in safe deposit box, $3,674.10; U. S. 4 per cent consols of 1907 together with coupons due on same, $11,500; real property $600.
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