Henry Knight

The Evening Star, July 15, 1910
Capt. Knight Dead
Passes Away at Age Eighty, After Long Illness
Funeral Next Monday
Was employee of Coast and Geodetic Survey Many Years
Officer During Civil War
Came to Washington in His Early Youth and Took Active Interest in Politics

Capt. Henry M. Knight, 80 years old, and one of the oldest employees of the coast and geodetic survey, died at 1:30 o'clock this morning at the residence of his son-in-law, Edward A. Muir, 1439 Girard street. For many weeks he has been rapidly failing in health, the infirmities of old age being aggravated by the extreme heat of the early summer. Death was due primarily to senile debility.

The funeral will be held Monday, services at the house being under the immediate direction of the Masons and G.A.R. Rev. Arthur Spooner and Rev. Dr. J.J. Muir will be in charge, and burial will be in the Congressional Cemetery.

Born in Philadelphia

Capt. Henry M. Knight was born in Philadelphia, May 21, 1830, and received his early education in the public schools of that city. In 1844 his father received an appointment as engraver in the coast and geodetic survey, and young Knight was one of the members of the family coming to this city at that time. Three years later he received an appointment on his own account as apprentice in the same office with his father.

In 1851 and 1852 he was an assistant in the Engineer Corps of the survey and as such assisted in establishing the boundary between this country and Mexico. On his return to Washington, young Knight took an active part in the organization of a political club known as the "Wideawakes," and became its captain. This company acted as escort to Lincoln at his inauguration.

At the opening of the civil war, and in answer to the President's call for 75,000 volunteers to serve three months, Capt. Knight organized a company of 10 men and within twenty-four hours after the issuance of the call received his commission as captain. This company enlisted to serve only in the District of Columbia, but upon the request of Secretary of War Cameron, Capt. Knight led his men to join Pattersons' army in the Valley of Virginia.

The company was mustered out at the end of its three months, but Capt. Knight served during most of the remainder of the war. He was captain of Company A of the 1st District Regiment, and on several occasions served as major of his regiment.

In the City Council

After the war and when politics reigned in the District, Capt. Knight took an active interest in municipal affairs. At one time he represented the seventh ward as a common councilman. After the change in the form of the District government he again entered the coast and geodetic survey, his new appointment dating from 1870, and he served continuously in the service until last April, when he became too feeble to longer follow the daily routine at the office.

Capt. Knight was married December 3, 1857, to Virginia Foulkrod of Philadelphia. Mrs. Knight died ten years ago, but nine children of the couple are surviving. They are Mrs. M.F. Thompson, Mrs. Charles W. Holes, Mrs. Ella K. Ellis, Mrs. Edward A. Muir and Mrs. G.P. Ritter of Washington; Mrs. William R. Smucker of Littlestown, Pa.; Mrs. Delevan W. Gee of Steamboat Springs, Col.; H.T. Knight of Riverdale, Md., and Dr. Carlisle P. Knight of Buffalo, N.Y.

Capt. Knight was one of the oldest Masons in the District, having been a member of Washington Centennial Lodge, No. 14, from October 14, 1857. On The fiftieth anniversary of his membership his lodge presented to him a life membership certificate. Capt. Knight also was a member of Potomac Post, No. 11, G.A.R.

The Evening Star, July 17, 1910
Funeral of Capt. Knight
Masonic Bodies to Have Charge of Services Tomorrow

The funeral of Capt. Henry M. Knight, veteran member of the coast and geodetic survey, whose death occurred Friday, will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the residence of his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Edward A. Muir, 1439 Girard street northwest. Services at the house will be under the direction of the Masonic bodies of which Capt. Knight was a member, and there will be a large delegation present of his comrades from the G.A.R.

Rev. Arthur Spooner and Rev. J.J. Muir will be in charge of the services. Interment will be in Congressional Cemetery.

The Evening Star, July 18, 1910
Capt. Knight Buried
G.A.R. Members and Masons Assist at Services

The funeral of Capt. Henry M. Knight, veteran employee of the coast and geodetic survey, and a prominent member of the G.A.R. and of the Masonic fraternity, took place at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon from the family home, 1439 Girard street northwest. Rev. Arthur Spooner and Rev. Dr. J.J. Muir were in charge. The ritual of the G.A.R. was ready by a delegation from Potomac Post, No. 11, in charge of Capt. Tyler Powell, and the Masonic service was under the direction of Grand Master Henry F. Woodward of Centennial Lodge, of which Capt. Knight was a member for more than a half century. Miss Blanche Muir Dalgleish, soloist from the choir of the Washington Heights Presbyterian Church, sang the hymns. Burial was in Congressional Cemetery.

William MacKenzie and William H. Davis, representing the coast and geodetic survey, were honorary pallbearers. The active pallbearers were Dr. Millard F. Thompson, Dr. Henry C. Thompson, Dr. Frederick F. Ritter, F.H. Peabody, B.T. Trueworthy and J.T. Parks.