Willis Robert Knox (Intercourse, PA)

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Willis Robert Knox (July 3, 1871 – April 23, 1963)

Biography

  • Name: Willis Robert Knox
  • Birth: July 3, 1871 Intercourse, Lancaster County, PA
  • Death: April 23, 1963 Manheim Township, PA (buried Intercourse,PA)

Willis Robert Knox was born July 3, 1871 in the village of Intercourse, Leacock Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was orphaned as an infant. His foster parents were Robert J. Knox (1822-1909) and Mary Ann (Diller) Knox (1830-1911). He attended public school at Intercourse. He married Clara Graebel Miller (1869-1948). They had no children.

Knox attended summer classes at Millersville (PA) State Normal School in 1889 and 1890. He taught public school from 1889 to 1898. He then grew and sold farm seed for ten years. He gave up the seed business in 1908 to devote full time to establishing a bank.

Knox led organization of the First National Bank of Intercourse (in operation from 1909 to 1972, when it merged with a larger bank) and was its first president for seven and one-half years until 1915. During his tenure his signature appeared on national currency issued by the bank. Among his duties he wrote newspaper ads and advertising booklets for the bank.

Beginning in 1909 Knox was organizer, director, secretary and manager of Intercourse Telephone and Telegraph Company. In 1911 he purchased a Rowe truck, which was presumably used by the telephone company.

From 1912 to 1914 Knox was shareholder, director, treasurer and sales representative of Rowe Motor Manufacturing Company. He was its agent for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He sold Rowe trucks to Kirk Johnson & Company to haul pianos and to B. Bear Herr to haul ice and seed wheat. He purchased and personally used a touring car from Rowe Motor to help promote sales. In 1912 he organized the Rural Transportation Company to provide motorized passenger transportation on routes not served by rail or trolley. The firm purchased a 15-passenger Rowe truck to operate between the Lancaster County towns of Maytown and Marietta.

Knox served three years as Lancaster County Democratic committeeman representing Leacock township. He attended the 1912 Democratic National Convention where Woodrow Wilson was nominated for President.

In 1915 Knox became second vice-president of the Agricultural Trust Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and continued to reside at Intercourse.

During 1917 to 1919 Knox resumed the offices of director and treasurer of Rowe Motor Manufacturing Company and was instrumental in having the company relocate to Lancaster. In 1919 he resigned from Rowe to become partner in Lancaster’s Kelly-Springfield Tire Company agency, which was reorganized as Wheatland Auto Company in 1920.

In 1927 Knox was executive secretary for Lancaster Auto Club and resided at 921 E. King Street, Lancaster. In 1935 he was still at Lancaster Auto Club; he then lived at 626 N. Franklin St., Lancaster, which was his home until 1948. In 1940 he was agent for Lincoln National Life Insurance Co.

In 1946, at the age of 75, Knox was warehouseman for Aument Brothers, Inc. In 1948 he was watchman for Aument Brothers, Inc. and resided at 823 George St., Lancaster, where he remained until 1960. He was widowed when Clara died at age 79 on August 27, 1948.

In 1950 Knox was a clerk for Food Fair Market. He remained there as a night watchman in 1954 and 1955. In 1956, he continued to work for Food Fair as a custodian at age 85.

In 1952 Knox attended the Democratic National Convention and supported Adlai Stevenson as nominee for President. He sent Stevenson a letter of endorsement and was pleased to receive a personal reply, which he kept as a prized possession.

Knox was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and the Intercourse Council 650 of Fraternal Patriotic Americans. He was a director of the Lancaster County Agricultural Fair Association.

Willis R. Knox died at age 91 on April 23, 1963 at the Oreville Mennonite Home, where he had lived for two and one-half years. He was buried at Old Leacock Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Intercourse, PA.

Biography written by Fred Benson

Bank Officer Summary

During his banking career, Willis R. Knox was involved with the following bank(s):

$5 Series 1902 Plain Back bank note with stamped signatures of Harry H. Hess, Cashier and Willis R. Knox, President. Courtesy eBay


Sources

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