Weston Orson Knowles, M. D., and a gallant ex-officer of the Civil War, was born in Genesee county, N. Y., December 8, 1845, passed his early life on a farm, and was educated in the country schools of his neighborhood.

He came to Michigan in 1859, and, when the Twenty-seventh Michigan volunteer infantry was organized, enlisted in company D., was commissioned second lieutenant, and soon afterward was promoted on the battle field of Ream’s Station, Va., to the rank of first lieutenant, and transferred to the command of company F., of the same regiment. His war record includes a list of thirty-six general engagements, in which he took an active part, beside many skirmishes. He served in the army of the Tennessee, went south under Gen. Burnside, fought at the battle of Bristol, Strawberry Plains, Blue Springs, Knoxville, Vicksburg, Jackson, Campbell’s Station, siege of Knoxville (November 18 to December 5, 1863), Wilderness, Spottsyvania, North Anna, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, Pettersburg, Cemetery Hill, Weldon Railroad, Ream’s Station, Poplar Grove Church, Hatcher’s Run, all in 1864; and during the closing year of the war assisted in digging and changing the famous mine at Petersburg, and also led his company in the attack on the city immediately following, His, next engagement was at Fort Mahone; the occupation of Petersburg; and the collapse of the Confederacy at Appomattox. Some of the skirmishes in which Lieut. Knowles took part were very serious, such as those at Jamestown, Ky..; Big Black, Miss.; Huff’s Ferry, Tenn.; Pine Woods, Va.; Yellow Tavern, Va., and Peeble’s Farm, Va., and thus served from February 26, 1862, until July 9, 1865, when he was mustered our as First Lieutenant and brevet captain.

On returning from the war, Capt. Knowles engaged in farming near Ovid, Clinton county, Mich., where he purchased 160 acres of unimproved land, on which he was engaged for three years in clearing off the heavy timber from thirty acres, doing the work himself, assisted by a yoke of steers. He also built a log house, aided by his neighbors at the raising only. This was dedicated on completion, so to speak, with a large dance, which the entire community of backwoods people heartily joined, as well as in the accompanying feast. Shortly after this, the captain sold his farm and located in Ovid, where he was engaged in the commission business three or four years. In 1871 he went to Saginaw, Mich., entered upon the study of medicine, and practiced there until 1880, when he came to Grand Rapids, and here has successfully been engaged in active practice ever since, making a specialty of treating nervous disorders by magnetism, and also enjoying an extensive general practice. The doctor has a pleasant cottage home at No. 247 Coade avenue, formerly known as East Grove street, and here entertains a large circle of warm friends at seasonable hours.

Dr. Knowles first married in 1865, at Ovid, Mich., Miss Jennette Burt, who was born in Ingham county, Mich., and was his sweetheart during his army days. This lady died in Grand Rapids in 1883, leaving three children, viz: Loyal D., Jennie and Jessie (Twins); of these Loyal D. is contracting freight agent

Page 264

for the Missouri Pacific Railroad company with headquarters at No. 111 Adams street, Chicago; he married Miss Myrtle Smith, a telegraph operator for the Western Union Telegraph company, also of Chicago. Jennie is the wife of Henry Covert, a farmer of Lake View, Mich., and Jessie is Mrs. Archie West of the same place, her husband also a farmer. The second marriage of Mr. Knowles was in 1885, with Mrs. Mary Dixon, a native of Port Hope, Canada, and whose maiden name was Spry, but to this marriage no children have been born.

The parents of Dr. Knowles were Benjamin G. and Alice M. (Philleo) Knowles, the former of whom was a native of Vermont and the latter of Genesee county, N. Y., where their marriage took place. The father was a Baptist minister and also a farmer; both parents died in Niagara county, N. Y., the mother in 1869 and the father in 1872. Their family consisted of four sons, viz: Wells R., who resides at No. 144, Hanson street, Buffalo, N. Y.; William Ward, who enlisted in the Thirteenth Michigan Infantry and was killed in a skirmish; Weston O. is the subject of this sketch, and the fourth child is Albert Fremont, expressman and drayman, on Main street, Lockport, N. Y.

Dr. Knowles is a member of Greenwood lodge, of Good Templars; of Champlin post, No. 29, G. A. R., of the Chosen Friends, and of the Knights of Essenes. Politically he is liberal, but may be denominated a free-silver republican. He was a candidate for coroner of Kent county in 1896, but, his party being in the minority, he did not, of course, expect to be elected. He has been an ardent supporter of the greenback theory, and is an earnest worker and orator during political campaigns.

In religion the doctor is a spiritualist, is a decided medium, and devotes his Sundays entirely to public demonstrations. He is general demand as a medium before intelligent audiences both in Grand Rapids and elsewhere and has given some peculiar and convincing proofs of the presence of the spirits of his loved ones.