Stephan Knifong

Notes:

1859 BIRTH,DEATH,BURIAL: Stephan Knifong born December 1859, died December 1859; buried Willamina Cemetery: a twin, probably died at birth

Other Events:

• AFN: S1SX-MH

Notes:

1811 BIRTH: VA,Lee Co: Joseph W Knifong was born 11 April 1811, the son of Martin Jesse Knifong, Jr and Eve Wolfe
Family Group sheet: born Russell Co, VA

1845 MARRIAGE: MO,Sullivan Co: Joseph W Knifong md Rhoda Ann Thurlo in 1845; 3 children
Descendants of John and Abigail Thurlo
AF submission FHL: Joseph W Knifong w/father Martin Jessee Jr, w/wife, Clarice N Raine, 1106 C Street, Reading CA 96002

1850 CENSUS: MO,Sullivan Co: 19 Sep, Dw 221:
KNIFONG, Joseph W 39/VA farmer; Rhody Ann 27/OH; John M 4/MO; Paschon
1/MO; Robert Darr 14/VA; Maryann Darr 13/VA.

1852 DEATH OF WIFE, HISTORY: CA to OR: 1994 letter from Richard C Smith: "...20 Apr 1852 Joseph & Hatcher fam started for gold fields of CA. After several hard months on trail, Rhoda Ann became ill in Sierra Nevada mtns, arriving in Ione Valley CA 2 Aug 1852 where Rhoda dd. Leaving children with Hatcher fam, Joseph went to OR where arrived 16 Nov 1852. He returned to CA to get children, returned to Polk Co, OR..."
Richard C Smith letter 1994, Newspaper account contained in book, "The Knifong Family & it's Related Families" by Mrs Ruby Wallace Knifong, article sub-titled "Moving on West" pg 24, written by Mrs Frances Hatcher Feb 1921: "Mrs Knifong, her 3 children...went with wagons west...Mrs Knifong dd
after taking sick in the Sierra Nevada mtns. I kept the 3 children till spring & then Mr Knifong took them & went to Oregon."
Browning MO 24 Feb 1921 "Crossing the plains to California". We left our home in Sullivan Co MO the 20th day of April 1852 & arrived the 2nd of Aug in Ione Valley CA & in Sep 1852 we came to Yolo Co which has been our home ever since. When we left our home we did not intend to stay away but 5 yrs;nevertheless it was a sad parting from our home & loved ones as we knew it was a long &
venturesome trip. We started with 3 wagons which were to meet at a certain place on the road. A neighbor man came with a small wagon to take Mrs Knifong, her 3 children, myself & children to where the wagons were. We were each at our mother's home. How well I remember when I bid my mother goodbye & we waved at each other as far as we could see. Mrs Knifong was in the wagon crying when they came by for me. She had a short time before told her mother goodbye. We both cried, going about a mile before we spoke to each other & then I said brokenly "It is awful hard to part with a mother." & then she answered bursting into tears again, "It is hard."
Though we started with 3 wagons, in a few days Pockman's with 3 wagons joined us & a little later 3 from Ill joined us.
My 2nd day's experience was when we crossed Medicine Creek MO. The creek was pretty deep to ford. The men thought the women had better ride behind the men on horseback. I rode behind a young man with my baby Columbus in his arms. When we crossed over, the horse got in the mud, foundered & threw me off in the water. The man threw the baby on one side & he jumped off the other. I got out of the water, ran & picked up my baby, went up the hill, all dripping with mud & water. They all laughed at me & I told them after this, I was going to stick to the wagon.
With our train of 6 wagons there were 5 yoke of oxen to each wagon & we had quite a lot of stock. There were 19 grown persons & 10 children. Later other trains joined us. We had pistols & guns in our original wagons that would shoot 52 times w/o reloading. We had to stand guard every night as the Indians were very bad. They tried to stampede our cattle before we got very far from Little Blue River. In many places the roads were 200 yrds wide as there was so much stock. Whenever there was a good camping place a large no of trains would stop, there being so many tents it reminded one of a city. By the time we got to the Laplatte river, smallpox & cholera broke out in almost every train. Mr Pockman & dau Harriett dd with cholera in our train. Mr Pockman was bur at Laboute stream & Harriett at Independence Rock. When Harriett dd were 2 miles ahead & they sent a runner to stop us. Mr Hatcher went back to help guard the body from the coyotes, for they would howl all night long. The guards dared not shoot at them, as it would disturb the campers & they would think the Indians were attacking us & come to our aid. My baby & I were all alone in our wagon & you know a lonesome night it was for me.
When were going up the Platte River, we saw a great many campers. Some big trains would bury from 8-10 persons before breakfast that died of cholera or smallpox. We would frequently pass newly made graves, some of which had been torn open by the coyotes & wolves. One circumstance nearly broke my heart. A woman had been buried that had left 10 children. All of the children & husband
were standing around the grave crying, 1 of the girls holding the infant baby. We passed by a tent one day & the men went & peeped in. A horrible spectacle met their gaze, for within lay 3 dead bodies. The men got away as quick as they could.
As we traveled up the Platte River, there was not as much as a switch in the way of wood & we cooked with Buffalo chips for 700 miles.
When were coming over the mtns, I had mtn fever & was feeling so miserable I thought if they would only stop & camp under a big tree I would call it home & stay there. We traveled on until we came to Ione Valley. There Mrs Knifong died after taking sick in the Sierra Nevada Mtns. I kept the 3 children till spring & then Mr Knifong took them & went to Oregon.
At the foot of the Sierra Nevada mtns peddlers met us. We paid them $7 for a little piece of bacon & $1 for an onion. The winter we were in Ione Valley we pd $85/100# for flour. $1 worth of potatoes would make about 1 meal for us, as they were so wormy. The flour had little wooly worms in it. I sifted the flour to get them out. Others borrowed my sifter as they had none. At Jackson the flour was $1/#. Chinamen had to carry the flour to these places on foot, which was about 40 miles from Sacramento. They carried 100 lbs at a time, 50 lbs on each end of a long stick swung over their shoulder, resting frequently on the way. I have only told you a small portion of our trip across the plains. It would take a book to tell it all. Mrs Frances Hatcher, Woodland CA Feb 1921

1854 MARRIAGE #2: OR,Polk Co: Joseph W Knifong md widow Mrs (Elizabeth F) Mary White 19 Feb 1854 (Yamhill Co MGs). [Mrs Polly Owen White, wid with 1 dau, re Olive Knifong Hussey, dau of Joseph and Rhoda Ann].Settled Donation land claim #3765 21 Feb 1854, now part of Willamina OR & Cem. Mary brought to mg a 4 yr old dau. Had 9 more children. Only 1 lived past 10 yrs-Rhoda Ann named after 1st wife, who md James H Hunt) Taken from Moving on West by Ruby Knifong, pg 24
OR land claims, state archives, Ruth Stoller Yamhill/Polk historian, Polk Co Census and head stones Willamina Cemetery.
1860 CENSUS: OR,Polk Co: Dw 439:[ck out]
KNIFONG, Joseph 46/IRE farmer; Mary 44/MO; Pascal 13/ILL;
John 13/ILL; Olive 9/ILL; Ellen 4/OR; Rhoda 4/OR;
Mary 2/OR; Elizabeth 10/MO

1870 CENSUS: OR,Polk Co: Dw# 524:
KNIFONG, Joseph 58/VA farmer; Mary 48/NC; (Rhoda)Ann 15/OR;
Clara 6/OR

1880 CENSUS: OR,Polk Co-Douglas Prec: pg 17,18 Jun, Dw 140:
KNIFONG, Joseph W 69/W VA(NC,WV)farmer; Mary 59/NC(NC,NC);
Rody A 23/OR (WV,NC)

NOTES: Check out IGI MG Rcd #M8583203, #31 Morgan Co, Ohio. Shows married to Alexander McKee 8 Jan 1825,SS: 21 Jan 1981 SG. Cleared birth record for 1826 Morgan Co, OH?
"Descendants.."Not in 1860 Sullivan Co census, believed to have moved west. Rhoda reportedly dd in CO, bur there. Joseph to have con't to OR, rmd & had other children. No record of the desc of md to Rhoda."

Joseph married Elizabeth F Mary Owen 19 Feb 1854, Oregon, United States. Elizabeth was born 12 Sep 1821; died 29 Apr 1897, Oregon, United States; was buried May 1897, Willamina, Yamhill, Oregon, United States. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Richard Smith letter 1996: OR Journal Interview, 17 Sep 1930 with Olive Knifong Hussey, dau of Joseph: Mrs. Hussey born in Missouri 1851. Mother died of cholera while family cross plains to Oregon in the summer of 1852.
Father md Mrs Polly Owen White, wid with 1 dau. She & husb cross plains with baby. Husb died on plains, fam he worked for not want to take wife & baby on, so made them get out. Had no $, no way to Willamette Valley & 1/2 way there.
Man named Woodin saw Mrs White sitting by road crying-stopped to see what the matter. She told him abandoned, no $, no food. Her husband's brother lived in Salem-if get there get $ to pay for crossing with them. Took her with him to Salem, not take $. Father met her in Salem, Married abt 1853-54. Had 4 pairs of twins=8, plus a no. of singles.

1854 MARRIAGE #2: OR,Polk Co: Joseph W Knifong md widow Mrs (Elizabeth F) Mary White 19 Feb 1854 (Yamhill Co MGs). .Settled Donation land claim #3765 21 Feb 1854, now part of Willamina OR & Cem. Mary brought to mg a 4 yr old dau. Had 9 more children. Only 1 lived past 10 yrs-Rhoda Ann named after 1st wife, who md James H Hunt) Taken from Moving on West by Ruby Knifong, pg 24
OR land claims, state archives, Ruth Stoller Yamhill/Polk historian, Polk Co Census and head stones Willamina Cemetery.

1860 CENSUS: OR,Polk Co: Dw 439:[ck out] Mary Knifong age 44, born in Missouri, wife of Joseph Knifong

1870 CENSUS: OR,Polk Co: Dw# 524: Mary Knifong age 48, born in North Carolina, wife of Joseph Knifong

1880 CENSUS: OR,Polk Co-Douglas Prec: pg 17,18 Jun, Dw 140: Mary Knifong age 59 born North Carolina (NC,NC), wife of Joseph Knifong