976. Amaziah Lord Knox (Daniel E. Knox , John Nocks , John , Zachariah , Zachariah , Sylvanus , Thomas ) was born in Dec 1833 in Berwick, York County, Maine. He died in 1918 in El Cajon, San Diego County, California.
SOURCE: San Diego Historical Quarterly - October 1962, Volume 8, Number 4 "The Fiftieth Year" by Charles V. Birkett
"When Isaac Lankershim, through the professional legal services of Major Levi Chase, a former Union Army officer, bought most of the rancho (Santa Monica Rancho, then Rancho El Cajon) for less than $1 per acre, he hired Amaziah L. Knox, a New Englander whom he had met in San Francisco, to plant and manage the rancho. Knox did so, and in 1877, 21,000 bushels of wheat were grown and shipped to San Francisco at $1.28 per bushel. Knox received $30 a month, but Lankershim gave him 10 acres on the south side of what is now Main Street, and 10 acres on the north side. On the south portion, where the Thrifty Drug Store is today (1962), Knox built the first hotel in El Cajon; a 5-roomer. It was a success and he later enlarged it. He became the first Post Master in 1876 when the valley had 25 families."
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SOURCE: The San Diego Union-Tribune; October 26, 2007From Mexican Ranchos to American Wheat Fields
Eldonna LayHotel builder/owner Amaziah Knox was in the vanguard of new scientific thinking and experimentation during the mid-to-last decades of the 19th century. What had always been “farming” was developing into a more scholarly and sophisticated “agriculture.” To encourage making better use of soils, crops, cultivation, and breeding techniques, state agricultural colleges were established.
My alma mater, Michigan State College/University, was the nation’s first such institution. And it was to plant wheat that former New Englander Amaziah Knox left his adopted San Francisco in 1869, for an overseer’s job. The immense acreage he would oversee were part of what had been a Mexican rancho in a valley just opened by the U.S. government for sale and settlement.
Rancho El Cajon had been owned for nearly 40 years by Dona Maria Antonia Estudillo de Pedrorena, daughter of influential Mexicans living in Old Town. Her irregularly shaped rancho encompassed most of the El Cajon Valley and the Flinn Springs area. But the rancho era was over. Twenty years after the Sacramento Gold Rush, the Americanization of Southern California had begun.
Settlement of the American Midwest and Northwest territories had been going on since 1849. Perhaps Southern California would have been settled then, too, but the Civil War halted migration along the Southern Route. Blazed during the Mexican/American War by General Kearny’s “Army of the West,” and vastly improved later by the Mormon Battalion, the Southern wagon road ran from the Rio Grande Valley, across the desert and badlands to San Diego County’s imposing mountains on its eastern border. From there, it turned north to Warner’s ranch, where it split into two roads – the main one going to the small community of Los Angeles, the other across Pasqual Valley to the old El Camino Real (the Mexicans’ Royal Road) and down to San Diego. But during our Civil War, the federal government closed that road because they feared Southern troops would capture California and turn it into a slave state.
In the turbulent years during and after the Civil War, violence and famine throughout the world created an unprecedented market for grain. Because the distinctively flinty, Southern California-grown wheat proved to resist mildew and rot during long sea voyages, a market developed for the grain, and for flat fertile land upon which to grow it - land like that found in the El Cajon Valley.
Unfortunately for Knox’s employer, there were already small farmers and ranchers who’d thrown up shacks and called themselves “homesteaders.” In reality, some were former squatters in San Diego, driven out by town lawmakers about the time the Valley opened. It took seven years for Knox’s employer to gain clear title; a process requiring intervention by the U.S. Supreme Court and President Ulysses S. Grant. Only then was Knox legally able to chase off increasing numbers of squatters.
Note: To get an up-close-and-personal experience, visit the state museum buildings and the Mormon Battalion Museum in Old Town. Also, tour the county’s two restored adobe ranch houses – the 1823 Rancho Penasquitos House, the 1853 Rancho Guajome between Vista and Oceanside, and the sod Vallecito Stage Station, built in 1854.**********************************************************
SOURCE: The San Diego Union-Tribune February 17, 2007 excerpted from "Those Old Houses: Museum Homes Contain the Life and Times of Local Pioneers" by Roger ShowleyIn the El Cajon Valley about this time, Amaziah Knox, born in Maine, oversaw the planting of wheat when he was hired in 1869 by the new owners of the local ranch.
Then when gold was discovered in Julian, he built El Cajon's first hotel in 1876 – a structure he lived in with his wife Matilda and children. It is a house museum owned by the city of El Cajon and operated by the El Cajon Historical Society.
Local historian Eldonna Lay led the way through the modest cottage, outfitted with little bits of luxury for the day, such as a chocolate pot for serving the delicious liquid considered a special treat a century ago.
“They were willing to invest in good furniture and a good lifestyle,” she said.
Schoolchildren are fascinated by the primitive but durable toys handmade in the pre-TV, -radio, -movie and -telephone age.
Which brings up the challenge of promoting the Knox House and other such structures that have been acquired, restored and opened to the public. Lay said apart from school groups, only 10 to 15 people stop by on any given Saturday, the one day of the week when volunteers are on hand.
“As lovely as it is to have the museum, our main reason for being is to preserve the history of the area,” she said, “so we are investing the money we've saved all these years in all new technical equipment. We're going to be digitizing everything in our files.” **********************************************************Flume Brought Water and Recreation to El Cajon Valley
By Eldonna Lay, V.P. El Cajon Historical Society
As printed in the San Diego Union-Tribune, 02/28/2008
Many parts of El Cajon Valley have underground springs and high levels of groundwater, so it was easy for settlers in 1869 and later to dig wells to provide water for their households and gardens. But, the wells did not supply enough water for field crops.
San Diegans needed water, too. In 1886, English investors started a 33-1/2 –mile-long redwood flume line, which ran from Lake Cuyamaca to the Grossmont knoll on Mount Helix. The 9 million board feet of lumber for the flume were floated from Northern California and required digging eight tunnels through local mountains. One tunnel was 1,900 feet long.
Then came construction of 315 trestles to raise and secure the flume. This required 100 wagons, more than 1,000 men and 800 horses and mules. Men building the flume lived in tents, although enough of them wanted to sleep indoors that Amaziah Knox added 40 rooms to his hotel to accommodate them and others passing through the valley.
It took four years to build the flume. When completed, it ran from Lake Cuyamaca through mountains, over passes, by Boulder Creek and the El Cajon Valley before ending near the Ireton stage stop on Grossmont knoll. It was the longest wooden flume in the world.
Along the flume, water was released to backcountry ranchers for agricultural purposes. At Grossmont the water was transferred to a pipe, which took the water into San Diego. That transfer site today is parkland on Wakarusa Street, near Grossmont Hospital.
A problem arose when the flume was finished: What to do with debris, logs and dead animals that regularly dammed the flow water?
Someone figured out that the flume could be patrolled by flat-bottom boats. The idea inspired a new sport. Stringing boats together with chain and rope, boatloads of adventurous souls began “shooting the flume,” floating from Cuyamaca to Grossmont in a fraction of the time it would take to ride or walk. Unfortunately for ranchers along the line, these noisy excursions did not end at dusk.
Miners, for instance, after enthusiastically imbibing whiskey during an evening of cards, had a habit of flinging themselves aboard the little boats to sing rousing renditions of “Oh, Dem Golden Slippers,” “Alouette” and “Sweet Adeline.” Accompanying the boozy chorus were small explosions whenever riders discarded whiskey bottles against boulders and rocks.
Unfortunately for the investors, rowdy riders were the least of their problems. As impressive as the flume was, the sudden end of the land book in 1888 and a seven-year drought ended any hope of profit. Portions of the flume can still be seen hugging the backcountry foothills. A newer metal flume carries water from the Cuyamaca Mountains to backcountry preserves and lakes. But it remains San Diego’s water, and when the city needs it, water is drained from the lakes and sent to the city . . . to the loud dissatisfaction of fishermen and boaters.
*********************************************************SOURCE: The San Diego Union-Tribune May 16, 2007
In the beginning...
Eldonna Lay
To properly explain El Cajon’s beginnings, I’ll start by asking how and why anyone in 1873 would consider building a hotel in the middle of nowhere! But that’s what Amaziah Knox did just five years after the valley was opened to settlement. Now the Knox House Museum, the home of the El Cajon Historical Society, Amaziah's hotel then sat a mile past the eastern slopes of what we call "Grossmont Pass."
And speaking of early roadways, I want to return for a moment to a time when California belonged to people who’d been here for thousands of years before Europeans “discovered” it. Ancestors of today’s Viejas, Barona, and Sycuan bands were the first ones tramping out the trade routes and travel trails used and mapped by 17th and 18th Century Spanish explorers. Maps then used to establish Spanish missions and army garrisons throughout California.
But Spain's soldiers and priests were overthrown by the Mexicans in 1821, and California became a Mexican possession. So began the “rancho era,” as represented in San Diego's Old Town. Throughout California, some soldiers and private citizens were rewarded with private land grant ranchos. In the El Cajon Valley and the region east and south of it, rancho owners took over mission grazing lands and continued running cattle and raising wheat and other crops and grapes. Street names in the Valley, in Rancho San Diego and out toward Jamul, Spring Valley, and Los Coches reflect those early owners. But Mexican ownership of California, (and Texas, and New Mexico), lasted only 27 years. In 1848, gold was discovered in Northern California. The U.S. wanted California as a state and dispersed a small Army unit to battle it out with Mexican forces. That war began and ended in 1848. We won.
Oh, and why did Amaziah Knox build that hotel in the middle of nowhere? Because of another gold rush. This one in the mountain town of Julian, a few days by horse due north of the El Cajon Valley.
*****************************************************************For further information regarding the Knox House Museum and their holdings, visit the El Cajon Historical Society at:
www.elcajonhistory.org
Amaziah married (1) Adeline Hill "Adie" about 1858. Adeline was born about 1839 in New Hampshire. She died about 1870 in California.
Amaziah married (2) Matilda P. "Ilda, Ella" about 1875 in San Diego County, California. Matilda was born in 1854 in Ohio.
Ella might be the daughter of Theodore Birdseye.
Amaziah and Matilda had the following children:
977. Sarah Nocks (Daniel E. Knox , John Nocks , John , Zachariah , Zachariah , Sylvanus , Thomas ) was born about 1835 in Berwick, York County, Maine.
Sarah married Charles Little Coffin about 1850 in Buxton, York County, Maine. Charles was born in Nov 1819 in Maine.
They had the following children:
978. Daniel E. Nocks (Daniel E. Knox , John Nocks , John , Zachariah , Zachariah , Sylvanus , Thomas ) was born in Dec 1844 in Berwick, York County, Maine.
Daniel married (1) Ella Thompson "Nellie" about 1867 in York County, Maine. Ella was born in 1847 in Massachusetts. She died before 1880 in Berwick, York County, Maine.
They had the following children:
1303 F i Mattie Nocks was born in 1869 in Berwick, York County, Maine. 1304 M ii Leland A. Nocks was born in 1871 in Berwick, York County, Maine.
Daniel married (2) Eliza Wells McCrillis daughter of John W. McCrillis and Gratia W. McCrillis. Eliza was born on 17 Feb 1833 in Skowhegan, Somerset County, Maine.
They had the following children:
1305 M iii Harry D. Nocks was born in Feb 1885 in Berwick, York County, Maine.
984. Asa Woodman Knox (Asa Knox , John Nocks , John , Zachariah , Zachariah , Sylvanus , Thomas ) was born on 10 Sep 1837 in Berwick, York County, Maine. He died on 19 Dec 1890 in Berwick, York County, Maine.
SOURCE: Thomas (Nock) Knox of Dover, N. H., in 1652 and Some of His Descendants Compiled by W. B. Lapham, privately published in 1890 in Augusta, Maine by The Press of the Maine Framer.
"Asa is currently a carpenter in South Berwick; he served in the US Navy during the late War."
Asa married Abby H. Chick daughter of John Franklin Chick and Lydia Wentworth on 4 Jul 1865 in Berwick, York County, Maine. Abby was born on 17 Jun 1845 in Berwick, York County, Maine.
They had the following children:
+ 1306 M i Walter Harvey Knox + 1307 M ii Edgar Moore Knox
987. Sarah Helen Knox (Asa Knox , John Nocks , John , Zachariah , Zachariah , Sylvanus , Thomas ) was born on 5 Nov 1845 in Berwick, York County, Maine.
Sarah married Amos Carlisle Humphrey son of Daniel Clark Humphrey and Amia Douglass on 2 Jul 1865 in Berwick, York County, Maine. Amos was born on 20 Jun 1840 in Underhill, Chittenden County, Vermont.
Amos' occupation was as a shoe maker.
Amos and Sarah had the following children:
1308 M i Ernest C. Humphrey was born in 1869 in Underhill, Chittenden County, Vermont. 1309 F ii Eunice Humphrey was born in 1870 in Underhill, Chittenden County, Vermont. 1310 M iii Roan Humphrey was born about 1875 in Underhill, Chittenden County, Vermont. 1311 M iv Benton Humphrey was born in 1877 in Underhill, Chittenden County, Vermont. + 1312 M v Selwin E. Humphrey
991. William E. Knox (George Knox , Barzillai Nocks , David , Zachariah , Zachariah , Sylvanus , Thomas ) was born on 15 Jun 1861 in Berwick, York County, Maine. He died on 21 Jun 1900.
William married Katie Bell Corson daughter of Benjamin Corson and Mary Elizabeth Noyes on 25 Oct 1888 in Rochester, Strafford County, New Hampshire. Katie was born on 19 Aug 1863 in Rochester, Strafford County, New Hampshire. She died on 25 Jan 1894.
They had the following children:
1313 M i Alfred Sumner Knox. + 1314 F ii Leana Knox
1001. Olive Jane Witham (Ephraim Witham , Dorcas Hersom , Benjamin Hersom , Olive Nock , Zachariah , Sylvanus , Thomas ) was born on 23 Feb 1841 in Kittery Point, York County, Maine. She died on 27 Jul 1929 in York, York County, Maine.
Olive married Daniel J. Payne son of John Payne and Lucy Billing on 29 May 1859 in Kittery Point, York County, Maine. Daniel was born on 23 Oct 1818 in Kittery Point, York County, Maine. He died on 26 Sep 1892 in Kittery Point, York County, Maine.
They had the following children:
1315 F i Susan A. Payne was born on 8 Sep 1861 in Kittery, York County, Maine. She died on 5 Oct 1930 in Portsmouth, Maine. Susan married James Samuel Littlefield. James was born in 1857 in Kittery, York County, Maine. + 1316 F ii Annie Payne
1004. Josiah William Witham (Ephraim Witham , Dorcas Hersom , Benjamin Hersom , Olive Nock , Zachariah , Sylvanus , Thomas ) was born on 31 Dec 1845 in Kittery Point, York County, Maine. He died on 24 Mar 1929 in Portsmouth, Maine. The cause of death was pernicious anemia. He was buried in Acton, York County, Maine.
Josiah enlisted in the 27th Maine in September 1862.
Josiah married (1) Sarah M. Farnham about 1865 in Acton, York County, Maine. Sarah was born in Jul 1845 in Acton, York County, Maine. She died in Apr 1870 in Acton, York County, Maine.
They had the following children:
+ 1317 M i Ira William Witham 1318 M ii Clarence A. Witham was born in Mar 1870 in Acton, York County, Maine. He died in Jul 1870 in Acton, York County, Maine.
Josiah married (2) Georgianna Sanborn daughter of John Gilman Sanborn and Mary Elizabeth Garvin about 1872. Georgianna was born on 30 Mar 1854 in Wakefield, New Hampshire. She died on 5 Feb 1921 in Milton Mills, New Hampshire.
They had the following children:
+ 1319 F iii Minnie Edna Witham + 1320 F iv Mary Elizabeth Witham + 1321 M v Albert Forest Witham + 1322 M vi Arthur Raymond Witham 1323 M vii Ira W. Witham was born in 1898 in Acton, York County, Maine.
1007. Moses H. Witham (Ephraim Witham , Dorcas Hersom , Benjamin Hersom , Olive Nock , Zachariah , Sylvanus , Thomas ) was born on 18 Sep 1851 in Kittery Point, York County, Maine. He died on 17 Dec 1931 in Exeter, New Hampshire.
Moses married Edith Wakefield Sanborn daughter of John Gilman Sanborn and Mary Elizabeth Garvin. Edith was born in 1863 in Horns Mills, New Hampshire. She died on 10 Jan 1894.
They had the following children:
+ 1324 F i Effie S. Witham + 1325 M ii Gardner Witham 1326 F iii Stella Witham was born on 1 Dec 1888 in Newingham, New Hampshire. Stella married Charles Pike. 1327 M iv Elroy Witham Elroy married (1) Afie Gilman. Elroy married (2) Edna Kimball.