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Elza Hodge “Elzy” Knott

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Elza Hodge “Elzy” Knott

Birth	:	31 Dec 1832 Richland County, Ohio, USA
Death	:	8 Mar 1859 Genoa, Douglas County, Nevada, USA
Burial	:	Brown Cemetery, Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.1016998, -79.4064026
Inscription	:	ELZY H. KNOTT DIED March 8, 1859 Aged 26 ys. 2 mons & 8 da's
Description	:	Elza Hodge Knott, son of Hannah (née Bell) and Thomas Jefferson Knott, senior, was born in Richland County, Ohio, and grew up in Steuben County, Indiana, and in nearby Hillsdale County, Michigan. In 1852, Elza and his father traveled to California. From Placerville, California, they made a winter crossing over the Sierra Nevada mountains to the Carson Valley in what was then Utah Territory—now in Nevada—where they built the first gristmill and sawmill in Nevada, near Genoa. The mill was built for Mormon settler John Reese, but because he failed to pay for the construction, the Knotts... Read More	Elza Hodge Knott, son of Hannah (née Bell) and Thomas Jefferson Knott, senior, was born in Richland County, Ohio, and grew up in Steuben County, Indiana, and in nearby Hillsdale County, Michigan. In 1852, Elza and his father traveled to California. From Placerville, California, they made a winter crossing over the Sierra Nevada mountains to the Carson Valley in what was then Utah Territory—now in Nevada—where they built the first gristmill and sawmill in Nevada, near Genoa. The mill was built for Mormon settler John Reese, but because he failed to pay for the construction, the Knotts retained ownership; a cause of acrimony. Elza Knott and Mary Elizabeth Harris (born in Wales) were married about August 1858, presumably in Utah Territory. The couple had one daughter, Elzyette, born after Elza's death. Elza Knott was shot and killed by John Hern, a Mormon youth, in an argument over a horse bridle that Knott had received from Hern as payment for a card-game debt, only to have it taken back by Hern. Hern was charged with murder, but an irregular people's jury found him not guilty. Thomas J. Knott buried his son on Knott property, rather than permit his son to be buried near Mormons in the local cemetery. Notes In Thomas Knott's 1881 "Personal Remembrance," he spelled his son's name "Elza." It is an uncommon name of Hebrew origin meaning joy. Very possibly named after Ellzey Hedges (1794-1865), an early Richland Co., Ohio, settler and justice of the peace. A nephew, born in 1871, was named Elza Hodge Knott. Date of birth calculated from date of death and age at death inscribed on headstone. 1850 U.S. Census, Scipio Twp., Hillsdale Co., Michigan; dwelling 33, family 34, lines 26-33, p. 437 (printed), p. 873 (written), 8 Oct 1850. 26. Thomas Knott [head], 42, farmer, Ohio. 27. Hannah Knott, 39, Ohio 28. Elzy H. Knott, 17, farmer, Ohio. 29. John W. Knott, 14, Indiana. 30. Thomas J. Knott, 10, Indiana. 31. Louisa J. Knott, 6, Michigan. 32. Albert A. Knott, 1, Michigan. 33. Stephen Fozler, 65, farmer, New Jersey. "[F]ather [Thomas Jefferson Knott, senior] determined to sell his farm and go to California himself. This he did in the spring of 1852, left his family, except [James's] brother Elzy who went with him [...]" (James Wilson Knott, Autobiography, July 1914, Ashland Oregon, in: Janice Harshbarger, "Allen line: John Wilson Knott, the early years in his own words," Web blog post. Happy Genealogy Dance, 17 Jan 2014.) Land claim: Knott, Thomas & Elzy Knott, 11 April 1853. "First Records of Carson Valley," Nevada Historical Society Quarterly, vol. IX, nos. 2-3 (Summer-Fall 1966). "Carson Valley U T [Utah Territory] In Justice Court Henry McCalla Against Thomas Knott [...] and Elzy Knott sworn on the part of the Defendant [...] this 25 day of Aprile 1854." A Carson Valley correspondent for the San Francisco Herald (25 Mar 1859, p. 3) opined that a fair trial "would have resulted in conviction of manslaughter." He described the injustice of the local Vigilance Committee (a self-appointed body of citizens organized to maintain law and order, and to mete out punishment, where an effective court system does not exist), and noted that Elzy Knott "was an enemy of the Vigilance Committee, while Herring [sic, Hern] was connected with it indirectly; it is therefore no crime in Herring to kill Mr. Knott." Thomas J. Knott published an account of his son's shooting and the irregularities in the killer's trial in "LETTER FROM CARSON VALLEY," Sacramento Daily Union, California, vol. 17, no. 2493, 24 March 1859. Elza Knott's daughter, Elzyette Knott Selby, was born posthumously on 12 October 1859 in Genoa. His widow, the former Mary Elizabeth Harris, married John T. Williams in 1859 or 1860. The provenance of the photo of Elza Hodge "Elzy" Knott, is unknown. It appeared in: The Pony Express, vol. 17, no. 12 (May 1952) p. 11 (published in Placerville, California). Photos of his grave generously provided by Sue Knight, Wild Rose Inn. Reviewed 8 November 2021.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Elza Hodge “Elzy” Knott's memorial?
Elza Hodge “Elzy” Knott's memorial is located at: Brown Cemetery, Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, USA.
When did Elza Hodge “Elzy” Knott death?
Elza Hodge “Elzy” Knott death on 8 Mar 1859 in Genoa, Douglas County, Nevada, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Elza Hodge “Elzy” Knott's memorial?
Latitude: 40.1016998
Longitude: -79.4064026

Family Members:

Parent

Hannah Bell Knott

(1811 - 1892)

Spouse

Mary Elizabeth Harris Williams

(1840 - 1908)

Siblings

Rev John Wilson Knott

(1836 - 1927)

Albert Adams Knott

(1848 - 1947)

Children

Elzyette Knott Selby

(1859 - 1944)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Brown Cemetery
Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1016998, -79.4064026

2. Keslar Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0995100, -79.4145100

3. Donegal Cemetery
Donegal, Westmoreland County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1112000, -79.3785000

4. Hays Cemetery
Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1259000, -79.4021000

5. Walnut Hill Cemetery
Donegal, Westmoreland County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1040000, -79.3659000

6. Eutsey Cemetery Old
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0781400, -79.4427900

7. Porch Cemetery
Donegal, Westmoreland County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1306000, -79.3711014

8. Byerly Freeman Cemetery
Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1432500, -79.4100900

9. Eutsey Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0742400, -79.4474900

10. Melcroft Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0561000, -79.3829000

11. Knopsnider Cemetery New
Bullskin Township, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0685400, -79.4686800

12. Knopsnider Cemetery (Old)
Bullskin Township, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0691400, -79.4704800

13. Stouffer Cemetery
Bullskin Township, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0848990, -79.4816900

14. Saint Raymonds Cemetery
Melcroft, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0572014, -79.3531036

15. Mount Nebo Cemetery
Indian Head, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0531000, -79.3556000

16. Dan Snyder Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0408000, -79.4317000

17. Mellinger Cemetery
Mellingertown, Westmoreland County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1432050, -79.4784730

18. Nicholson Cemetery
Clinton, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0506100, -79.4745600

19. Good Hope Lutheran Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0282000, -79.3893900

20. Lobingier Cemetery
Mount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1439030, -79.4887870

21. Franklin Lutheran Cemetery
Kregar, Westmoreland County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1215000, -79.3085000

22. Sparks Cemetery
Indian Head, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 40.0239200, -79.3892500

23. Brothers Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1360700, -79.5004300

24. Fairview Cemetery
Kecksburg, Westmoreland County, USA
Coordinate: 40.1696000, -79.4634000