This home stands on land purchased in 1900 by the Hobgood brothers, B. A. and W. H. Hobgood. Older residents in the community recall that this house was built around 1912 by B. A. Hobgood in 1920.
Soon after they moved into the house, Walter Scott Knotts, Sr. and Annie Gathings Bowen Knotts engaged a landscape artist from Memphis, Tennessee to lay out plans for formal gardens. Mrs. Knotts' work on the gardens was never completed due to the depression of the twenties.
While living here, Mr. Knotts' hobby was raising grapes for making his own wine. His wine cellar may be seen under the house today. He also set out an extensive peach orchard, but was not to reap the full benefit of it as he found it necessary to go west for his health. He took his wife and daughters to New Mexico where they resided for some years. The boys, Ned and Walter, remained here and operated the farm which consisted of several hundred acres. During this time, around 1927, Ned set out the pecan orchard which thrives today.
Walter Scott Knotts, Sr. was at length able to return home, however his health was never good again. He passed away on February 26, 1948. Annie Gathings Bowen Knotts passed away on September 2, 1977.
The land, except for a small acreage reserved for Walter Knotts, was sold in 1962 to George Yarborough.
Walter Scott Knotts, Sr. and Annie Gathings Bowen Knotts are both buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.
The following children were born to the marriage of Walter and Annie:
Edward Bowen "Ned" was born on September 23, 1900. In 1936, he married Donna Marie Fitch who was born on September 19, 1909. Donna was the daughter of Henry F. and Donna Hanes Fitch from Arizona.
Edward Bowen "Ned" Knotts died on June 8, 1980. Donna Marie Fitch Knotts died on April 9, 1992. Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.
Elizabeth was born on January 8, 1903. In 1929, she married John Prewitt Archibald who was born on August 3, 1889. Elizabeth Knotts Archibald is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.
Walter Christopher was born on October 13, 1906. He married Doris Rutledge who was born circa 1911. Both are entombed in the Highland Park Mausoleum in Sicily Island. (Editor's Note: Tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)
Sarah was born on October 6, 1911. She married Carl Clarence Taleen (1895-1991). Sarah Knotts died on August 25, 1997. The location of their burials are unknown at this time.
Georgia was born on October 16, 1930. She married Daniel Patrick McMahon (1904-2004). No other information is available at this time.
Ann was born circa 1918 and married John Stoddard Robas (1918-1964). No other information is available at this time.
Walter Scott Knotts, Sr. and Annie Gathings Bowen Knotts are both buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.
The following children were born to the marriage of Walter and Annie:
Edward Bowen "Ned" was born on September 23, 1900. In 1936, he married Donna Marie Fitch who was born on September 19, 1909. Donna was the daughter of Henry F. and Donna Hanes Fitch from Arizona.
Edward Bowen "Ned" Knotts died on June 8, 1980. Donna Marie Fitch Knotts died on April 9, 1992. Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.
Elizabeth was born on January 8, 1903. In 1929, she married John Prewitt Archibald who was born on August 3, 1889. Elizabeth Knotts Archibald is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.
Walter Christopher was born on October 13, 1906. He married Doris Rutledge who was born circa 1911. Both are entombed in the Highland Park Mausoleum in Sicily Island. (Editor's Note: Tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)
Sarah was born on October 6, 1911. She married Carl Clarence Taleen (1895-1991). Sarah Knotts died on August 25, 1997. The location of their burials are unknown at this time.
Georgia was born on October 16, 1930. She married Daniel Patrick McMahon (1904-2004). No other information is available at this time.
Ann was born circa 1918 and married John Stoddard Robas (1918-1964). No other information is available at this time.
My mother, Georgia Knotts McMahon, died in 2013. Ann Robas died in 2013, in Fernandina Beach, Florida and is buried there. Georgia's ashes are still awaiting interment.
ReplyDeleteDaniel C. McMahon, macdc@hughes.net
Thank you for sharing this info. I am Keith Archibald and live in Odessa/Tampa, FL originally from Rayville, LA. My great uncle was John Prewitt Archibald. He is buried in Archibald cemetary. Noticed Elizabeth's name and date of birth their joint headstone, but there was no date of death. That makes sense now since you shared that she was buried with her family in Sicily Island. I have a pic of the headstone in Archibald if you would like to see it just email amd will be happy to send. My brother Charles Clark Archibald recently passed and was laid to rest next to John Prewitt Archibald. Best regards. Keith Archibald
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