Robert Wade McKnight, postmaster at Girard, Illinois, a
prominent citizen and leading Republican politician of Macoupin County, was
born in Taylorville, Christian County, Illinois, November 26, 1873. He is
the only surviving son of the late distinguished Col. Sargeant and Virginia
A. (Boggess) McKnight.
Mr. McKnight accompanied his parents to
Girard in March, 1882, and this city has been his place of residence ever
since. He enjoyed exceptional educational advantages. After completing the
public school course at Girard, he attended Morgan Park Military Academy at
Chicago, the University of Illinois at Champaign, and the Metropolitan
Business College at Chicago. From 1895 to 1897, he served as city attorney
of Girard. On February 1, 1898, he was appointed postmaster by the late
President McKinley, and on March 14, 1902, was reappointed by President
Roosevelt.
Mr. McKnight was married in Carlinville, Illinois,
February 14, 1901, to Gertrude Elfrieda Fischer, who is a daughter of Dr. C.
J. C. Fischer of Carlinville. They have one little daughter, Dorothy
Virginia, who was born August 21, 1902.
Mr. McKnight has taken a
very active part in politics and has served as the secretary of the Girard
Republican Club and as delegate to various conventions. Fraternally he is a
Mason and a Knight of Pythias.
Extracted 2018 May 07 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 229-230.
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