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Norman W. Knight was born on Jan. 6, 1870 in Van Wert, Van Wert County, OH, the son of Daniel Harry and Caroline Elizabeth (Llewelyn) Knight.

Norman married Katherine "Belle" Hoy (1873-1963), a native of Defiance, OH, in Scott, Van Wert County. They later moved to Paulding, Paulding County, OH and Gladwin, Gladwin County, MI, where his parents had relocated in the late 1890s.

The Knights had eight children – Harry Knight, Carl F. Knight, Jennie Koontz, Madeline Brink, Daniel D. Knight, Alonzo J. Knight, Paul E. Knight and Walter J. Knight. Prior to marriage, Norman also had a daughter, Evangeline, who was raised from infancy by his parents.

Said a typed family manuscript, “He operated a successful meat market in Gladwin for years before his retirement.” His son Daniel assisted with the meat cutting firm.

The federal census of 1920 shows Norman and Belle living in Sage Township near Gladwin with their five youngest children. His occupation that year was as a farmer. Living next door was their married son Harry and his wife and young son.

Norman died on March 19, 1956 at Gladwin, MI, at the age of 77. He is buried in Gladwin's Highland Cemetery. 

Belle outlived him by seven years. She passed away in 1963, at the age of 90.

~ Son Harry Angus Knight ~

Son Harry Angus Knight (1892-1959) was born on June 15, 1892 in Scott, Van Wert County or in Paulding, Paulding County, OH. As a boy of six, he traveled with his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles to Washington State before settling in Michigan in 1899, near the town of Gladwin, Gladwin County.

He married Leona M. Eagleson (1894- ? ) on May 12, 1915, when he was age 23, and she 21. Leona was the daughter of J.B. Eagleson. Rev. J.W. Hayward conducted the ceremony in Gladwin. Harry was of medium height and build, with grey eyes and black hair. 

When he registered for the military draft during World War I, Harry stated that he was living in Sage Township, Gladwin County. He also reported that he was a farmer, working for himself. 

They had at least six children -- Glenn D. Knight, Maxine Knight, Helen Knight, Geneva Knight, Daniel Knight and Jack Knight. Harry and Belle resided in Gladwin their entire lives.

When the 1920 census was enumerated, they lived on a farm beside Harry's parents in Sage Township near Gladwin. They remained in Sage Township during the 1920s and were listed there on the census of 1930. 

Harry passed away in 1959 at the age of 67. He was buried at Ridge Cemetery in Gladwin. 

Leona survived her husband by 19 years. She died in 1978, and rests with Harry at Ridge Cemetery.

Son Glenn D. Knight (1918- ? ) was born on March 29, 1918, in Gladwin.

Daughter Maxine Knight (1920- ? ) was born on May 24, 1920 in Gladwin.

Daughter Helen Knight (1922- ? ) was born on Feb. 7, 1922 in Gladwin.

Daughter Geneva Knight (1924- ? ) was born on July 19, 1924 in Gladwin.

Son Daniel Knight (1927- ? ) was born on Oct. 16, 1927 in Gladwin.

Son Jack B. Knight (1929-1949) was born on Aug. 8, 1929 in Gladwin. Tragically, he was killed at the age of 19 in an airplane crash, which occurred on Jan. 25, 1949. He is buried in Ridge Cemetery.

~ Son Carl Franklin Knight ~

Son Carl Franklin Knight (1893-1975) was born on July 8, 1893 in or near Scott, Van Wert, OH. As a boy of five, he traveled with his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles to Washington State before settling in Michigan in 1899, near the town of Gladwin, Gladwin County.

He married Lorilla Mae "Rilla" Roberts (1896-1962) of Gladwin on Dec. 1, 1914, the daughter of Theo and Laura (Murdock) Roberts. At the time, he was a farmer and she a domestic. Clergyman J.M. Hayward performed the ceremony, which took place just one day after he had overseen the wedding of Carl's sister Jennie to Elmer Koontz. Witnesses to both marriages were Burton S. Shaw of Walkersville, MI and Robert Bush of Chicago. 

Harry was tall, with dark blue eyes and dark brown hair.

They suffered more than their share of heartbreak, losing three sons in their tender youth -- Daniel W. in infancy in 1915, Stanley W. kin 1921 (three years of age) and Leonard in 1925 (one year old). Fortunately two other of their children lived to adulthood: Hazel B. Knight and Evelyn L. Knight.

When Carl registered for the military draft during World War I, he stated that he was living in SGladwin County, and that he was a self-employed farmer. 

The Knights moved to Mount Morris, Genesee County, MI. In 1920, the census recorded them in Mount Morris, with Carl employed as a machinist in an automobile factory. His unmarried brother Daniel, age 16, and single brother in law Martin Roberts, age 20, lived under their roof. 

By 1930, Carl and Rilla had moved again, to Jerome, Midland County, MI, with Carl working as a merchant in a grocery store. 

Rilla died in 1962, at the age of 65. She was buried in the family plot at Ridge Cemetery in Gladwin. 

The widowed Carl later married Alma (?) in the 1960s. By the 1970s, Carl and Alma had returned to Gladwin. 

Carl passed away in 1975. He was laid to rest beside Rilla in Ridge Cemetery.

Son Stanley W. Knight (1918- ? ) is lost to history for now.

Daughter Hazel B. Knight (1922- ? ) was born on May 30, 1921 in Gladwin.

Daughter Evelyn L. Knight (1926- ? ) was born on June 27, 1926 in Sanford, Midland County, MI.

~ Daughter Jennie (Knight) Koontz ~

Daughter Jennie Knight (1897-1975) was born in 1897 in or near Van Wert, Van Wert County, Ohio. As a toddler, she traveled with her parents, two elder brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins to Washington State before settling in Michigan, near the town of Gladwin, Gladwin County.

She married George "Elmer" Koontz (1893-1991), the son of Gilbert and Lottie (Bellinger) Koontz, on Nov. 30, 1914, in Gladwin County. Rev. J.M. Hayward officiated. Elmer was tall and slender, with grey eyes and light brown hair.

They had two children, Floyd E. Koontz and Lucille Whistler, eight years apart in age. 

During World War I, Elmer was required to register for the military draft. He disclosed that he was a self-employed farm in Gladwin, and that he was married.

The U.S. censuses of 1920 and 1930 show this family in Gladwin, where they made a living as farmers. Their acreage was north of the town.

Jennie passed away in 1975, at the age of 78. 

Elmer outlived her by 16 years. He died in 1991, at the ripe old age of 96. They rest together for eternity in an attractive flat, stone-lined grave in Gladwin's Ridge Cemetery.

Son Floyd E. Koontz (1918- ? ) was born on Dec. 31, 1918 in Gladwin.

Daughter Lucille Koontz (1926- ? ) married Robert Whistler ( ? - ? ). They had at least one son, Michael R. Whisler. Sadly, son Michael (1956-1990), a member of the United States Air Force, died in 1990 at the age of 34, and is buried in Ridge Cemetery.

~ Daughter Madeline (Knight) Brink ~

Daughter Madeline L. Knight (1901-1967) was born on May 5, 1901, and is seen at left. She was an early teacher in Flint, Genesee County, MI. 

On April 29, 1922, in Waterford, Genesee County, she married Frank R. Brink (1894- ? ). He was a native of St. Louis, MO and the son of Robert and Lena (Kruger) Brink. 

They had two sons, Francis "Frank" Brink and John "Jack" Brink, both born in Flint.

The Brinks were among many branches of our extended family to migrate over the years to Flint -- the birthplace of General Motors and home to Buick Motor Company and A.C. Spark Plug -- in search of secure employment. Among them were Paul Arthur Arnold (of the family of John and Martha (Churchill) Ferguson); Hubert Weston Minerd (family of Dr. James Weston Minerd); Robert H. Bunting (family of Anna [Hoye] Bunting); brothers Clarence and Clinton Zinn (family of Catherine [Minerd] Zinn); and Lottie (Nabors) Butler (of the family of Pearl [Beggs] Nabors Altman).

At the time of marriage, Frank was employed as a steam-fitter in Flint. By 1930, they migrated to Frank's hometown, St. Louis, MO, where he found employment as a clerk in a refining plant. 

Suffering from cancer, Madeline died in St. Petersburg, FL on March 22, 1967. 

Frank's fate is unknown.

Son Francis "Frank" Brink (1922- ? ) was born in 1922 in Flint, Genesee County, MI.

Son John "Jack" Brink (1924- ? ) was born on Oct. 14, 1928, also in Flint.

~ Son Daniel D. Knight ~

Son Daniel D. Knight (1904-1973) was born on Jan. 6, 1904 in Gladwin, Gladwin County. As a young man, he boarded in the home of his married brother Carl in Mount Morris, Genesee County, MI. There, in 1920, he was a laborer in an automobile factory.

He married Valetta Sprague (1908- ? ), a native of Beaverton, MI, on Sept. 23, 1924. She was the daughter of Otis and Maud (Stenger) Sprague, and was only age 16 at the time of marriage, while he was age 20.

They had one son, Donald H. Knight.

The federal census of 1930 shows the Knights living in Gladwin, with Daniel employed as a "merchant - meat market."

A newspaper once reported that son Daniel “operated meat markets in Gladwin and Flint for many years. In later life, Daniel operated lumbering businesses at Houghton Lake and Farwell. In 1969 he retired from business and moved to St. Petersburg. [He] served with the air force during World War II." 

Later in life, Daniel married Alice Stutte (?). She brought two children to the marriage, Frank Stutte and Shirley Gocha.

Daniel passed away in St. Petersburg, FL on Oct. 8, 1973, at the age of 9. He was laid to rest in the Memorial Park Cemetery in St. Petersburg, following a funeral led by Rev. R. Warren Wasson. At the time of his death, he was survived by four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Son Donald H. Knight (1926- ? ) was born on Jan. 10, 1926 (or 1928). He resided in Flint, Genesee County in 1973. 

Stepson Frank Stutte made his home in Prescott, Ogemaw County, MI in 1973. 

Stepdaughter Shirley Gocha lived in the early 1970s in Houghton Lake, Roscommon County, MI.

~ Son Alonzo Knight ~

Son Alonzo Knight (1906- ? ) was born on Sept. 22, 1906, and is said to have been named for his mother's brother. 

Alonzo married Mildred Paxton ( ? - ? ). They had three children -- Betty Knight, Gloria Knight and Robert Knight.

Alonzo and Mildred resided in Gladwin during the 1920s and early '30s. Later, they made their home in Davison, Genesee County, MI in the early 1970s. 

Daughter Betty Knight (1927- ? ) was born on Jan. 13, 1927, in Gladwin.

Daughter Gloria Knight (1928- ? ) was born on Aug. 24, 1928, in Gladwin.

Son Robert Knight (1930- ? ) was born on March 19, 1930, in Gladwin.

~ Son Paul E. Knight ~

Son Paul E. Knight (1909-1958) was born on July 23, 1909. He married Zella Paxton ( ? - ? ), the sister of Mildred (Paxton) Knight, whose father was sheriff of Gladwin County. 

They adopted two daughters -- Sharon Knight and Karen Knight. 

Paul passed away in 1958, at the age of 49. He was laid to rest in the Highland Cemetery in Gladwin. A reddish granite stone marks his grave. The epitaph reads: "Remember friend, as you pass by, as you are now, so once was I, as I am now, so you must be, prepared for Heaven and eternity."

Daughter Sharon Knight (1937- ? ) was born in February 1937.

Daughter Karen Knight ( ? - ? ) 

~ Son Walter Knight ~

Son Walter Knight ( ? - ? ) married Lillian Woods ( ? - ? ).

He lived in circa 1973 in Harrison, Clare County, MI.