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Clarence "Jay" McKnight |
Clarence "Jay" McKnight was born
on Feb. 7, 1896 near Dawson, Fayette County, PA, the son of Charles
and Keziah (Stimmell) McKnight.
Jay married Clara Belle Keffer (1893-1974), the daughter of Isaac and Virginia (Snyder) Keffer. They resided in Dawson, Fayette County, and had eight children -- Jesse Franklin McKnight, Charles William McKnight, Pearl Sherman, Thomas Elsworth McKnight, Beatrice Nelson Forsythe, Trellis Mellinger, Ruby Livingston and Elma Antonini.
When the federal census was enumerated in 1920, the McKnights lived in Dawson. The census record shows Jay employed as a machinist in a local coal mine.
In
the four generations photo seen here, Jay stands in the doorway at left,
with his father Charles (left) and grandfather Henry
McKnight seated, and one of Jay's sons standing at right.
During World War II, at least three of the McKnights' sons served in the United States military -- Charles, Jesse and Thomas. Charles and Jesse were pictured together in a local newspaper article, along with their cousins Oliver and Glenn McKnight, sons of William Stewart and Mary Frances McKnight. The article said that Charles, "who went into the military ranks a year ago last April, is stationed at Lincoln, Neb., with the Army Air Corps. A graduate of Dunbar Township High School, he had been employed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad." The article added that Jesse, with the rank of seaman first class, "went into the service last December, ... is somewhere at sea with the fleet. When last heard from, he was operating in the Atlantic." The story said Jesse, as with his cousins Oliver and Glenn, had been employed by A. Overholt & Company at its Broad Ford Distillery" near Connellsville. Another brother, Thomas, was "in the Army, having left for the Army Reception Center at Fort George G. Meade, Md., last week with a contingent of selectees from Fayette Board No. 3 at Perryopolis. He was employed at a coal mine of the H.C. Frick Coke Company."
Jay died at the age of 63 on July 29, 1959.
Clara
Belle survived him by 15 years. She was a member of the Bryan Methodist Church
in Dawson and the Dawson Grange No. 419. She passed away at the age of 80 on
Feb. 22, 1974. She was laid to eternal rest in Cochran Cemetery in Dawson, and
was survived by 19 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. Her obituary was
published in both the Connellsville Daily Courier and the Uniontown
Herald Standard.
Son Charles William McKnight (1916- ? ) married Juanita Mershon (1912- ? ). They had two children -- Daryl McKnight and Charles William McKnight Jr. Circa 1974, they lived in Chadron, Dawes County, NE.
Son Thomas Ellsworth McKnight (1918- ? ) married Ruth Gilmore.
Son Thomas E. McKnight (1918-2008) served in Germany
with the U.S. Army during World War
II, and before the war was employed at a coal mine of the H.C. Frick Coke Co. He worked for
Duraloy, and was a member of Flatwoods Baptist Church.
Thomas married Ruth Gilmore. They resided in Vanderbilt but did not have any
children. Thomas passed away at the age of 90 on June 25, 2008, at home. He
was laid to rest in Cochran Cemetery.
Daughter Pearl Berdina McKnight married Alvie Sherman. They lived in Beckley, Raleigh County, WV and had seven children: Arlene Frances Cohoon, Dianna Rae Zish Rogers, Patricia Ruby McDonald, Shelvey Jean Sherman, Tami Sherman, Naomi Grace Wallace and Alvie Sherman Jr.
Son Jesse Franklin McKnight (1924-1995) married Edna R. Fretts (1924- ? ). Their home was in Scottdale, Westmoreland County, PA. the McKnights had three children -- Susan Martucci, James Russell McKnight and Barry Donald McKnight. Jesse died at the age of 70 on July 11, 1995.
Daughter Ruby Virginia McKnight (1926- ? ) married Glen A. Livingston (1925-1999). They had two sons, Daniel Livingston and Dennis Livingston, and made their home in Dawson. Glen passed away at the age of 74 on Oct. 18, 1999.
Daughter Trellis Rae McKnight married Gary Mellinger. They made their home in Dawson and had three children, Janice Carocci, Pamela Philburn and Gary Mellinger Jr. Sadly, Gary Jr. died at the age of 37 on June 11, 1994.
Daughter Alma June McKnight (1931- ? ) married Fritz Antonini (1927- ? ). Their residence was in Dawson. They had one daughter, Loretta Clara Williams.
Daughter Beatrice Maebelle McKnight was married twice. Her first husband was Julius Nelson. They had one daughter, Fanchon Nelson. She later married Ira Forsythe and lived in Perryopolis, Fayette County.
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Daughter Fanchon Nelson married William L. Pringle (1929-1999). William died at age 69 on Oct. 19, 1999.
Copyright © 2008 Mark A. Miner