Marion Thomas “Isaac” Knight and Frances “Fannie” Breland

Marion (Marian) Isaac KNIGHT was born 25 Aug 1866 to William KNIGHT and Martha (Mary E.) NOBLE/NOBLES. He died 25 Dec. 1947.

Marion married Frances A. “Fannie” BRELAND, daughter of Elijah BRELAND and Mariah BROWN. She was born 9 May 1871 (given as from Pine, LA) and died 24 Sept. 1907.

Fannie is buried at the Nobles Cemetery at Pine.

Ethel (Simmons) HENNESY described Marion, her mother’s father, as a “full-blooded Irishman.” Which isn’t so. His grandfather, Charles KNIGHT, was born in Virginia in 1785.

Marion Knight was wealthy and disapproved of his daughter, Annie, marrying Lucius SIMMONS, who was poor. He left Annie out of his will.

Marion’s name in the Fowler/Simmons Genealogy is spelled Marion. Often it is also given as Marian.

Marion was a Mason, member of Pine Lodge No. 264, F&AM. I have a very, very poor xerox of a photo which reads, “Pine Lodge No. 264, F&AM, has quite a history–as is indicated in this old photograph which was taken July 27th 1900. The heirs of Monroe Knight donated the original photograph to the lodge. From left are James “Jockey Jim” Knight, Plummer Knight, Dr. Warner, Ira Pope, Monroe Knight, D.E. Branch, P.E. “Rev. Pink” Toney, Rev. Tom Bennett, Marian Knight, Layton Schilling, Meride Breland, James “Peg Jim” Knight, W.E. Alford, Archie Whittington, and Curtis “Boy” Miley.” So we have four Knights and a Breland in the photo.

I have some notes from Jean Kearns (granddaughter of Annie) that state that while 4 children survived there were others who were killed by typhoid.

Marion and Frances had:

• Annie Clarinda b. 22 Feb. 1888 at Sheridan LA, married Lucius SIMMONS in 1904.
• William E. “Bill” b. 1889 Oct 17, d. 1954 Feb 3 (buried at Nobles Cemetery at Pine, Washington Parish, Louisiana) married Mima Letchworth
• J. C. (see C. J. below, buried at NOBLES cemetery) b. 1891 Dec 10, b. 1907 Sep 18
• Wilbur. SSDI shows Wilbur as born 22 Oct. 1893 and dying Jan. 1970. Married Zula Hennesy
• Albert M. b. 1895 Dec 4, d. 1896 Sep 4 (buried at Nobles Cemetery at Pine, Washington Parish, Louisiana)
• Mary b. 1896 Jan at Washington Parish, Louisiana
• Bertha b. 1898 June at Washington Parish, Louisiana

NOBLES cemetery shows a C. J. KNIGHT, son of M. T. and F. A. KNIGHT, b. 10 Dec. 1891, died 18 Sept. 1907.

NOBLES cemetery also shows Albert M., Son of M. T. & F. A. KNIGHT, b. 4 Dec. 1895 and died 4 Sept. 1896.

Frances’ tombstone at the NOBLES cemetery shows her as wife of M. T. KNIGHT, May 9, 1871 – Sept. 24 1907.

Marion’s second wife was Leah CORKERN. A Franklinton LA newspaper article, August 19th 1926, mentions a Mrs. Marion KNIGHT, daughter of Rev. C. T. CORKERN.

Monday, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. C. J. Gayer, Rev. C.T. Corkern died at the age of 65 years, 11 months, and 21 days.

He married 1st, Mollie Magee, sister of W.L. Magee. He later married Mrs. May Voyles, widow of Rev. Claude Voyles of Shreveport. The following children survive him, Mrs. Marion Knight, C.J. Gayer, and 1 son, John Corkern, all of Franklinton; Mrs. Iddo Crain of Hammond; Miss Annette Corkern of Magnolia; Mrs. W.M. Edwards, Texas; and Rev. W.A. Corkern of Kerns, Texas. Funeral services were held at the Ellis cemetery.

This would be Leah Lenora CORKERN, daughter of Charles Thomas CORKERN and Mary Jane MAGEE. She was b. 31 Jan 1884 in Washington Parish, LA, d. 11 July 1959, Washington Parish, LA. She is buried at the Ellis Cemetery. She and “Marion T.” are given as having married 11 Nov. 1908 in Washington Parish, LA.

Jack Kearns writes, “She was a wonderful Christian lady. She was blind, but could do just about anything in the house.”

A posted photo shows Marion, Leah, Annie, William E. Sr., Wilbur Warren and Lela Maye KNIGHT.

The ELLIS Cemetery shows:

Leah L. KNIGHT – Jan 31, 1884 – July 11 1959
Marion T. KNIGHT – August 25 1866 – Dec. 25, 1947 – Masonic Emblem
Lela Maye KNIGHT – Aug. 19, 1909 (was living in 1963 when this was recorded)
W. E. (Bill) KNIGHT Sr. – Oct. 17 1889 – Feb. 3, 1954 – Mason
W. E. (Bill) KNIGHT, Jr. – June 2, 1924 – July 11, 1963.

The following are land transactions involving Marion T. Knight found at http://www.geocities.com/knighthistory/LouisianaKnights.htm:

1908 – M. T. Knight from succession of Francis A. Knight, 297.60 acres, bk. 13, pg. 374
1908 – Anna C. Knight from Marion T. Knight, 42.33 acres, bk. 13, pg. 528
1908 – Wm. E. Knight from Marion T. Knight, 42.57 acres, bk. 13, pg. 528
1909 – Chas. C. Knight from Marion T. Knight, 1 acres, bk. 15, pg. 179
1911 – Wilbur W. Knight from M. T. Knight, 42.03 acres, bk. 18, pg 744
1919 – M. T. Knight from Lampton Realty Co., Sq. 260 & 289, Franklinton, bk. 33, pg 49
1919 – Marion T. Knight from W. W. Babington et al, N ½ of N ½ of NW 1`/4, Sec. 16-2-12, bk 33, pg 382
1920 – M. T. Knight from Lampton Realty Co., Sq. 261, Franklinton, bk 33, pg 519
1927 – M. T. Knight from Rosa Amacker, 60 acres, bk 48, pg 400
1930 – M. T. Knight from John E. Burris, 1760 acres, bk 57, pg 244
1931 – M. T. Knight from (By shff.) John Yassich, Movables & 55 acres Hr. 45-2-10, bk 58, pg 284
1931 – M. T. Knight, Sqs. 260, 261, 289, Franklinton, bk 58, pg 581
1932 – M. T. Knight from Dennis Watson, NE ¼ of SE ¼ Sec. 192-2-11, bk 60, pg 1
1932 – M. T. Knight from Wilber W. Knight, 3 acres, bk 60, pg 79
1932 – R. D. Knight from M. T. Knight, 3 acres, bk 60, pg 80
1934 – M. T. Knight from Sam Wood, E ½ Lot 2 Sq. 317 Franklinton, bk 64, pg 597
1935 – Marion T. Knight from M. M. Magee, Lot 6, Sq. 316, Franklinton, bk bk 68, pg 617

Census information thus far located:

1920 LOUISIANA WASHINGTON PARISH CENSUS EXTRACT

MAIN STREET
11/12 SIMMONS Jesse own 33 b. LA father b. MS mother b. LA merchant at grocery store
Margie 30 b. LA father b. MO mother b. LA
Jesse W. son 8 b. LA
Clarence son 6
Thurmond son 5
Youx son 1 and 61/12
TENTH AVE
12/13 HENNESY Marion own 48 b. LA parents b. LA farmer
Maud 45
Curtis 17
Levy 15
Kirby 12
? son 10
Wanda daughter 6
HOOPER Mary servant 36 single unable to read or write b. LA parents b. unk
WILLIAMS STREET
13/14 KNIGHT Marion L. own 53 b. LA father b. LA mother b. NC farmer
Leah wife 35 b. LA parents b. LA
Mary Jane daughter 10

1930 Louisiana, Washington Parish, Police Jury Ward 3
(The image, at Ancestry.com, is very fuzzy)
222/222 KNIGHT, Wilbur Owns home, 33, married at 18 b. LA parents b. LA, Farmer, general farm
Ethel 27, married at 25
Leon 14 Son
Mildred 12 Daughter
Dorothy Daughter (age illegible)
Marion Father 66 married at 45
Lenora stepmother 46 married at 25
223/223 KNIGHT William owns home 40 md at 18, Farmer, General Farm
Mina 40, md at 18
illegible 20
Muddie? Son 18
Wilma Daughter 16
Willie Son 14
Lillie Daughter 12
Maline? Daughter 10
illegible Daughter 7
illegible Son 6
illegble Son 4 and some months
illegible Son 1 and some months
Year: 1930; Census Place: Police Jury Ward 3, Washington, Louisiana; Roll: T626_824; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 5; Image: 0703.