JOSEPH McKNIGHT is the only living representative of the family name. His grandfather, Hugh McKnight, was born in Ireland, and after immigrating to America lived for some time in Cecil county, Md., where he was married, and where two sons, John and Joseph, were born. In 1784 he went West and bought 193 acres of land, which had been warranted in November, 1784, to one Samuel Irwin. Hugh McKnight received a patent of this tract June 18, 1799, and remained upon it till his death, when his sons inherited it. John McKnight was born in Cecil county, Md., and came with the family to Washington county, Penn., when yet a boy. He was married to Sarah Nesbitt, a native of Chartiers township, this county, where they made their permanent home. John McKnight was an ardent Democrat and active politician. He died in 1857, having been preceded by his wife in August, 1836. Joseph McKnight was born in 1832, in Chartiers township, and received his early education in the subscription schools, in the meantime assisting with the duties of the farm. In 1859 he crossed the plains to California with an ox team, being about six months on the journey. He was a miner for some time, then worked on a ranch, remaining there until the fall of 1865. He then returned by water to New York City, finally arriving at Washington county, his former home, when he begun to follow agricultural pursuits. In 1872 he bought his present home in Chartiers township, consisting of forty acres of well-cultivated land, upon which is a fine spring of water. Mr. McKnight has always been actively interested in all public questions and votes with the Democratic party.

Text taken from page 1335 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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