BY HARRY HOLMES RABY 1976.
FRANCIS WAS BORN IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK NEAR NAPLES, ON THE 7TH DAYOF JULY 1835. WHEN HE WAS A LAD OF SOME 10 YEARS HE CAME TO MICHIGAN WITH HIS PARENTS AND FAMILY. THERE WAS A BROTHER THOMAS, AND A SISTER CALLED LOT, AND PERHAPS THERE WERE OTHER CHILDREN WHOSE NAMES HAVEBEEN FORGOTTEN, OR THEY MAY HAVE REMAINED IN NEW YORK STATE. THEFATHER, BENJAMIN, TOOK-UP LAND ABOUT A MILE OF THE FISHVILLE SCHOOL,AND LIKELY FRANCIS WENT TO SCHOOL AS A BOY. AS HE GREW OLDER, FRANCISPROBABLY HELPED HIS FATHER AND THE NEIGHBORING FARMERS CLEAR LAND ANDDO FARM WORK.
WHEN FRANCIS WAS 24 YEARS OF AGE, HE MARRIED NAOMI PIXLEY, A DAUGHTEROF JONAH AND MARIA PIXLEY WHOSE HOME WAS SOME DISTANCE EAST OF THEKNICKERBOCKER HOME.
NAOMI AND FRANCIS LIVED MOST OF THEIR LIFE IN THE FISHVILLE AREA.OWNED THE FARM THAT FATHER BENJAMIN TOOK-UP FROM THE GOVERNMENT IN1845, AS WELL AS OTHER LAND LATER SOLD TO CHARLEY PIXLEY, NAOMI'SBROTHER.
ALTHOUGH MY FATHER, HARVE RABY, WAS SOME TWENTY YEARS YOUNGER THANFRANCIS, THEY WERE VERY GOOD FRIENDS, AND I AS A TEEN AGED LAD ENJOYED LISTENING TO THEM AS THEY TALKED ABOUT HUNTING, THEIR GUNS, AND THEIR WATCHES. FRANCIS AND HARVE WOULD AT TIMES DISCUSS THE MERITS OFVARIOUS MAKES OF WATCHES AND THE MARVELOUS ACCURACY OF THE ONES THEY CARRIED IF CORRECTLY WOUND ON TIME.
THE HUNTING STORIES WERE VERY INTERESTING, AS THEY COVERED THE HUNTINGOF WOLVES, BEAR, DEER, WILD TURKEYS, PRAIRIE CHICKENS, AND OTHER SMALLGAME. FRANCIS HAD CHILDREN LIVING IN NORTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN AND ITWAS HIS CUSTOM TO GO NORTH EVERY FALL AND HUNT WITH THEM.
FRANCIS WAS A VETERN OF THE CIVIL WAR HAVING ENLISTED AT THE BEGINNING UNDER CAPT. DELAND OF JACKSON, AND AGAIN IN 1864 AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR ANOTHER MAN WHO WAS DRAFTED INTO THE SERVICE.
FRANCIS LOST HIS WIFE IN MAR. OF 1907 AND THEREAFTER LIVED MOST OF THE TIME WITH HIS TWO SONS AT MARION.
FRANCIS DIED AT MARION IN MAY OF 1914. MEMORIAL SERVICES WERE HELD INTHE NORVELL BAPTIST CHURCH, WITH BURIAL ON THE KNICKERBOCKER LOT IN NORVELL TWP. CEMETERY.
Francis Knickerbocker Marriage License 483 Jackson Co., Jackson, Mi
Francis B. Knickerbocker age 72 from Grass Lake born in New YorkState, occupation farmer, father Benjamin F., mother's maiden name Miachian. Spouse Eliza Boic 70 years old from Napoleon, born in Michigan, at home. Father's name Henry Luce, mother's maiden name unknown. Marriage License applied for on 11-18-1907.
Francis B. Knickerbocker 72 years of age, from Grass Lake born in NewYork State a farmer whose father was Benajamin and mother's maidenname was Miachian, has been married one time and Eloza Borst is 70years old from Napoleon, birthplace Michigan father's name is Henry Luce, mother's name unknown, maiden name of Luce, been married onetime.
Married on 11-25-1907 by Fred G. Jones Justice of the Peace
wit: Mrs. Bertha Jaume of Napoleon and Mrs. Marion Fuller ofNapoleon.