~LEO S. KNOX~
The son of James Madison Knox & Mary Jane Knox
First married to Dovie Delilah Arnold In December 23, 1917 in Houston County, Texas, USA
Second marriage to Ona Hairston Leediker in 1957 in Houston County, Texas, USA
Grapeland Messenger--Thursday, August 8, 2002 THE LEO KNOX FAMILY A Houston County ADITION
A Houston County entrepreneur was born in Pearson's Chapel, a small community located 6 miles from Lovelady and 13 miles southeast of Crockett in Houston
County near the turn of the century (the nineteenth century to the twentieth century, that is). Leo Knox was born ot an East TX cotton farmer and his wife
and worked around farmland almost from the time he could walk.
As a young boy he first realized his entrepreneurial tendencies when he opened a small work booth near the old Lovelady cotton Gin and began to sell "soda water",
sandwiches and candy to the abundance of workers employed by the gin.
In the early twenties, Knox moved to Crockett and continued what was to be an illustrious career as a business man. Over the next few years he acquired a
small cafe on Goliad Street near the present location of Knox Furniture store.
As with earlier businesses, he worked hard ans was able to later sell the cafe at a comfortable profit, or in his words, "too good a deal to pass up."Then, in 1924,
he bought a music and furniture business from a Mr. Barker Tunstall located on what is now East Houston Street in the building currently across from the Crockett State Bake. As an interesting sidelight, Mr. Tunstall initiated what
we now know as the Crockett Fiddler's Festival some years later.
Knox later moved the business 2 doors down from it's present main office location on Goliad Street.
In April, 1927, Mr. Harry Ellis, a local Crockett businessman, contacted Knox and offered to lease him a livery stable which they believed could be
conferted into a furniture showroom. The stable had an old freight elevator
which is still in service today, after almost 100 years of operation.
At the time there were more than 20 saloons operating in Crockett and at least 8 barber
shops. The telephone number of the store was 157. Although they were late
meeting opening deadline for which they had spent good advertising money, in
April, 1927, the present Knox Furniture Store opened for business.Mr. and Mrs.
Leo Knox were blessed with 7 children, 2 boys and 5 girls. All were hardworking individuals and spent many hours working in the store polishing fixtures and
appliances, sweeping floors and delivering furniture.One of the boys, H. B. "Mutt" Knox attended Baylor University and graduated in 1942 with a degree in Business administration. He worked part-time while in college at furniture stores in W aco and Dallas a well as the family store in Crockett.
Shortly after graduation, he entered into the U.S. Marine Corps and after completing officer's training was commissioned and served as a Captain in the South Pacific during the remainder of the war. Upon his return to Crockett, he entered into the business with a gusto. He worked nights repairing electronic media including
radio and the newest fad, televisions, sometimes working as many as three nights to simply get a picture from an old Pioneer television set. After his father's
retirement and death. H. B. Knox bought out the interests of his brother and sisters and this he and his family became the sole proprietors of Knox Furniture
Store. "Mutt" Knox is proud to tell people that he has been right there at Knox
Furniture Store for almost 57 years. He married Dorothy Eubank in 1947. They had three children, Larry, Barbara and Debbie.Larry was born a few years after the war and began to grow up in his father's and grandfather's footsteps.
He worked hard around the store performing the same types of jobs as those done before him. Larry also attended Baylor University and worked part-time in
furniture stores during his school experience.Upon graduation with a degree in Business Administration, Larry returned home to Crockett with the intention of
continuing on to Houston for several job interviews he had lined up. However, due to the unfortunate deaths of H. B. Knox's two key and most trusted empolyees
of about 30 years and Mr. Knox's resultant need for immediate management support, Larry decided to stay with the family business. Therefor for the last
30 years, "Mutt's" son, Larry, has been right there with him. Also, only six months after he joined the business, Larry married Suzan Cordell ofHouston who,
in addition to being his wife, has been his loyal partner in business ever since. They have 2 children, Trisha and Brad.Under Larry's direction, with the advice and consent of his father, the current location has changed a lot from
the one-room livery stable on Goliad Avenue. The main entry to the building is precisely at the location of the stable. However, since the early 1980's other
buildings have been purchased along with a 10,000 square foot remodeling job which included the expansion of the appliance business along with the addition
of a furniture gallery, one of the first for its time in East TX.In the early 1990's the store expanded again with the purchase of several buildings across the street as they became available. Larry has said, "I look at the buildings and I am particularly proud that we were able to give them new face lifts and even a new life on a street where so many old buildings have been left vacant".
Larry looks at the street as a one family downtown beautification project. The expansion of the 1990's has not been limited to just buildings. Brad Kox, Larry's son, has juined business as the fourth generation Knox ensuring continuation of the Knox family business as a family tradition of service to the community. Even further, Trisha Knox Woodford's son, Jack, may well continue that tradition to a fifth level based on his inquisitiveness and activity as he bounces around the store at every opportunity. The Knox's have not only served Crockett and the surounding area in a pure business evironment over the past half century or more. They have been a giving family, supporting community acitvities and serving in leadership positions with such organizations as the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Lion's Club, School Board, Economic Development Foundation and Crockett Rotary clug, among others. They have truly been a credit
to themselves and to the community in that htey represent the true American Spirit of family and community growth through opportunity of entrepreneural
activities. Additionally, they have porvided similar opportunities for many of our youth through part-time or summer jobs enabling education and success.
LEO KNOX A MAN WHO LOVED PEOPLE BY Josie Patrick
"It made no difference whether you wore khaki clothes or a business suit; it made no difference what color you were -- everbody was the same with my daddy,"
says Mr. Mutt Knox. And anybody who knew Mr. Leo Knox will vouch for the veracity of this statement. Mr. Leo Knox, son of Mr. Frank and Mrs. Janie Johnson Knox, was one of five children. His brothers were Dr. George Knox of Madisonville, Mr. Delbert Knox of Austin and Mr. Clint Knox, who preceded Mr. Leo in death by more than two decades. His only sister, and the only surviving
child of the Frank Knox family, i Mrs. Irene
Info by: Houston County Historical Commission, Crockett, TX
The son of James Madison Knox & Mary Jane Knox
First married to Dovie Delilah Arnold In December 23, 1917 in Houston County, Texas, USA
Second marriage to Ona Hairston Leediker in 1957 in Houston County, Texas, USA
Grapeland Messenger--Thursday, August 8, 2002 THE LEO KNOX FAMILY A Houston County ADITION
A Houston County entrepreneur was born in Pearson's Chapel, a small community located 6 miles from Lovelady and 13 miles southeast of Crockett in Houston
County near the turn of the century (the nineteenth century to the twentieth century, that is). Leo Knox was born ot an East TX cotton farmer and his wife
and worked around farmland almost from the time he could walk.
As a young boy he first realized his entrepreneurial tendencies when he opened a small work booth near the old Lovelady cotton Gin and began to sell "soda water",
sandwiches and candy to the abundance of workers employed by the gin.
In the early twenties, Knox moved to Crockett and continued what was to be an illustrious career as a business man. Over the next few years he acquired a
small cafe on Goliad Street near the present location of Knox Furniture store.
As with earlier businesses, he worked hard ans was able to later sell the cafe at a comfortable profit, or in his words, "too good a deal to pass up."Then, in 1924,
he bought a music and furniture business from a Mr. Barker Tunstall located on what is now East Houston Street in the building currently across from the Crockett State Bake. As an interesting sidelight, Mr. Tunstall initiated what
we now know as the Crockett Fiddler's Festival some years later.
Knox later moved the business 2 doors down from it's present main office location on Goliad Street.
In April, 1927, Mr. Harry Ellis, a local Crockett businessman, contacted Knox and offered to lease him a livery stable which they believed could be
conferted into a furniture showroom. The stable had an old freight elevator
which is still in service today, after almost 100 years of operation.
At the time there were more than 20 saloons operating in Crockett and at least 8 barber
shops. The telephone number of the store was 157. Although they were late
meeting opening deadline for which they had spent good advertising money, in
April, 1927, the present Knox Furniture Store opened for business.Mr. and Mrs.
Leo Knox were blessed with 7 children, 2 boys and 5 girls. All were hardworking individuals and spent many hours working in the store polishing fixtures and
appliances, sweeping floors and delivering furniture.One of the boys, H. B. "Mutt" Knox attended Baylor University and graduated in 1942 with a degree in Business administration. He worked part-time while in college at furniture stores in W aco and Dallas a well as the family store in Crockett.
Shortly after graduation, he entered into the U.S. Marine Corps and after completing officer's training was commissioned and served as a Captain in the South Pacific during the remainder of the war. Upon his return to Crockett, he entered into the business with a gusto. He worked nights repairing electronic media including
radio and the newest fad, televisions, sometimes working as many as three nights to simply get a picture from an old Pioneer television set. After his father's
retirement and death. H. B. Knox bought out the interests of his brother and sisters and this he and his family became the sole proprietors of Knox Furniture
Store. "Mutt" Knox is proud to tell people that he has been right there at Knox
Furniture Store for almost 57 years. He married Dorothy Eubank in 1947. They had three children, Larry, Barbara and Debbie.Larry was born a few years after the war and began to grow up in his father's and grandfather's footsteps.
He worked hard around the store performing the same types of jobs as those done before him. Larry also attended Baylor University and worked part-time in
furniture stores during his school experience.Upon graduation with a degree in Business Administration, Larry returned home to Crockett with the intention of
continuing on to Houston for several job interviews he had lined up. However, due to the unfortunate deaths of H. B. Knox's two key and most trusted empolyees
of about 30 years and Mr. Knox's resultant need for immediate management support, Larry decided to stay with the family business. Therefor for the last
30 years, "Mutt's" son, Larry, has been right there with him. Also, only six months after he joined the business, Larry married Suzan Cordell ofHouston who,
in addition to being his wife, has been his loyal partner in business ever since. They have 2 children, Trisha and Brad.Under Larry's direction, with the advice and consent of his father, the current location has changed a lot from
the one-room livery stable on Goliad Avenue. The main entry to the building is precisely at the location of the stable. However, since the early 1980's other
buildings have been purchased along with a 10,000 square foot remodeling job which included the expansion of the appliance business along with the addition
of a furniture gallery, one of the first for its time in East TX.In the early 1990's the store expanded again with the purchase of several buildings across the street as they became available. Larry has said, "I look at the buildings and I am particularly proud that we were able to give them new face lifts and even a new life on a street where so many old buildings have been left vacant".
Larry looks at the street as a one family downtown beautification project. The expansion of the 1990's has not been limited to just buildings. Brad Kox, Larry's son, has juined business as the fourth generation Knox ensuring continuation of the Knox family business as a family tradition of service to the community. Even further, Trisha Knox Woodford's son, Jack, may well continue that tradition to a fifth level based on his inquisitiveness and activity as he bounces around the store at every opportunity. The Knox's have not only served Crockett and the surounding area in a pure business evironment over the past half century or more. They have been a giving family, supporting community acitvities and serving in leadership positions with such organizations as the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Lion's Club, School Board, Economic Development Foundation and Crockett Rotary clug, among others. They have truly been a credit
to themselves and to the community in that htey represent the true American Spirit of family and community growth through opportunity of entrepreneural
activities. Additionally, they have porvided similar opportunities for many of our youth through part-time or summer jobs enabling education and success.
LEO KNOX A MAN WHO LOVED PEOPLE BY Josie Patrick
"It made no difference whether you wore khaki clothes or a business suit; it made no difference what color you were -- everbody was the same with my daddy,"
says Mr. Mutt Knox. And anybody who knew Mr. Leo Knox will vouch for the veracity of this statement. Mr. Leo Knox, son of Mr. Frank and Mrs. Janie Johnson Knox, was one of five children. His brothers were Dr. George Knox of Madisonville, Mr. Delbert Knox of Austin and Mr. Clint Knox, who preceded Mr. Leo in death by more than two decades. His only sister, and the only surviving
child of the Frank Knox family, i Mrs. Irene
Info by: Houston County Historical Commission, Crockett, TX
~LEO S. KNOX~
The son of James Madison Knox & Mary Jane Knox
First married to Dovie Delilah Arnold In December 23, 1917 in Houston County, Texas, USA
Second marriage to Ona Hairston Leediker in 1957 in Houston County, Texas, USA
Grapeland Messenger--Thursday, August 8, 2002 THE LEO KNOX FAMILY A Houston County ADITION
A Houston County entrepreneur was born in Pearson's Chapel, a small community located 6 miles from Lovelady and 13 miles southeast of Crockett in Houston
County near the turn of the century (the nineteenth century to the twentieth century, that is). Leo Knox was born ot an East TX cotton farmer and his wife
and worked around farmland almost from the time he could walk.
As a young boy he first realized his entrepreneurial tendencies when he opened a small work booth near the old Lovelady cotton Gin and began to sell "soda water",
sandwiches and candy to the abundance of workers employed by the gin.
In the early twenties, Knox moved to Crockett and continued what was to be an illustrious career as a business man. Over the next few years he acquired a
small cafe on Goliad Street near the present location of Knox Furniture store.
As with earlier businesses, he worked hard ans was able to later sell the cafe at a comfortable profit, or in his words, "too good a deal to pass up."Then, in 1924,
he bought a music and furniture business from a Mr. Barker Tunstall located on what is now East Houston Street in the building currently across from the Crockett State Bake. As an interesting sidelight, Mr. Tunstall initiated what
we now know as the Crockett Fiddler's Festival some years later.
Knox later moved the business 2 doors down from it's present main office location on Goliad Street.
In April, 1927, Mr. Harry Ellis, a local Crockett businessman, contacted Knox and offered to lease him a livery stable which they believed could be
conferted into a furniture showroom. The stable had an old freight elevator
which is still in service today, after almost 100 years of operation.
At the time there were more than 20 saloons operating in Crockett and at least 8 barber
shops. The telephone number of the store was 157. Although they were late
meeting opening deadline for which they had spent good advertising money, in
April, 1927, the present Knox Furniture Store opened for business.Mr. and Mrs.
Leo Knox were blessed with 7 children, 2 boys and 5 girls. All were hardworking individuals and spent many hours working in the store polishing fixtures and
appliances, sweeping floors and delivering furniture.One of the boys, H. B. "Mutt" Knox attended Baylor University and graduated in 1942 with a degree in Business administration. He worked part-time while in college at furniture stores in W aco and Dallas a well as the family store in Crockett.
Shortly after graduation, he entered into the U.S. Marine Corps and after completing officer's training was commissioned and served as a Captain in the South Pacific during the remainder of the war. Upon his return to Crockett, he entered into the business with a gusto. He worked nights repairing electronic media including
radio and the newest fad, televisions, sometimes working as many as three nights to simply get a picture from an old Pioneer television set. After his father's
retirement and death. H. B. Knox bought out the interests of his brother and sisters and this he and his family became the sole proprietors of Knox Furniture
Store. "Mutt" Knox is proud to tell people that he has been right there at Knox
Furniture Store for almost 57 years. He married Dorothy Eubank in 1947. They had three children, Larry, Barbara and Debbie.Larry was born a few years after the war and began to grow up in his father's and grandfather's footsteps.
He worked hard around the store performing the same types of jobs as those done before him. Larry also attended Baylor University and worked part-time in
furniture stores during his school experience.Upon graduation with a degree in Business Administration, Larry returned home to Crockett with the intention of
continuing on to Houston for several job interviews he had lined up. However, due to the unfortunate deaths of H. B. Knox's two key and most trusted empolyees
of about 30 years and Mr. Knox's resultant need for immediate management support, Larry decided to stay with the family business. Therefor for the last
30 years, "Mutt's" son, Larry, has been right there with him. Also, only six months after he joined the business, Larry married Suzan Cordell ofHouston who,
in addition to being his wife, has been his loyal partner in business ever since. They have 2 children, Trisha and Brad.Under Larry's direction, with the advice and consent of his father, the current location has changed a lot from
the one-room livery stable on Goliad Avenue. The main entry to the building is precisely at the location of the stable. However, since the early 1980's other
buildings have been purchased along with a 10,000 square foot remodeling job which included the expansion of the appliance business along with the addition
of a furniture gallery, one of the first for its time in East TX.In the early 1990's the store expanded again with the purchase of several buildings across the street as they became available. Larry has said, "I look at the buildings and I am particularly proud that we were able to give them new face lifts and even a new life on a street where so many old buildings have been left vacant".
Larry looks at the street as a one family downtown beautification project. The expansion of the 1990's has not been limited to just buildings. Brad Kox, Larry's son, has juined business as the fourth generation Knox ensuring continuation of the Knox family business as a family tradition of service to the community. Even further, Trisha Knox Woodford's son, Jack, may well continue that tradition to a fifth level based on his inquisitiveness and activity as he bounces around the store at every opportunity. The Knox's have not only served Crockett and the surounding area in a pure business evironment over the past half century or more. They have been a giving family, supporting community acitvities and serving in leadership positions with such organizations as the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Lion's Club, School Board, Economic Development Foundation and Crockett Rotary clug, among others. They have truly been a credit
to themselves and to the community in that htey represent the true American Spirit of family and community growth through opportunity of entrepreneural
activities. Additionally, they have porvided similar opportunities for many of our youth through part-time or summer jobs enabling education and success.
LEO KNOX A MAN WHO LOVED PEOPLE BY Josie Patrick
"It made no difference whether you wore khaki clothes or a business suit; it made no difference what color you were -- everbody was the same with my daddy,"
says Mr. Mutt Knox. And anybody who knew Mr. Leo Knox will vouch for the veracity of this statement. Mr. Leo Knox, son of Mr. Frank and Mrs. Janie Johnson Knox, was one of five children. His brothers were Dr. George Knox of Madisonville, Mr. Delbert Knox of Austin and Mr. Clint Knox, who preceded Mr. Leo in death by more than two decades. His only sister, and the only surviving
child of the Frank Knox family, i Mrs. Irene
Info by: Houston County Historical Commission, Crockett, TX
The son of James Madison Knox & Mary Jane Knox
First married to Dovie Delilah Arnold In December 23, 1917 in Houston County, Texas, USA
Second marriage to Ona Hairston Leediker in 1957 in Houston County, Texas, USA
Grapeland Messenger--Thursday, August 8, 2002 THE LEO KNOX FAMILY A Houston County ADITION
A Houston County entrepreneur was born in Pearson's Chapel, a small community located 6 miles from Lovelady and 13 miles southeast of Crockett in Houston
County near the turn of the century (the nineteenth century to the twentieth century, that is). Leo Knox was born ot an East TX cotton farmer and his wife
and worked around farmland almost from the time he could walk.
As a young boy he first realized his entrepreneurial tendencies when he opened a small work booth near the old Lovelady cotton Gin and began to sell "soda water",
sandwiches and candy to the abundance of workers employed by the gin.
In the early twenties, Knox moved to Crockett and continued what was to be an illustrious career as a business man. Over the next few years he acquired a
small cafe on Goliad Street near the present location of Knox Furniture store.
As with earlier businesses, he worked hard ans was able to later sell the cafe at a comfortable profit, or in his words, "too good a deal to pass up."Then, in 1924,
he bought a music and furniture business from a Mr. Barker Tunstall located on what is now East Houston Street in the building currently across from the Crockett State Bake. As an interesting sidelight, Mr. Tunstall initiated what
we now know as the Crockett Fiddler's Festival some years later.
Knox later moved the business 2 doors down from it's present main office location on Goliad Street.
In April, 1927, Mr. Harry Ellis, a local Crockett businessman, contacted Knox and offered to lease him a livery stable which they believed could be
conferted into a furniture showroom. The stable had an old freight elevator
which is still in service today, after almost 100 years of operation.
At the time there were more than 20 saloons operating in Crockett and at least 8 barber
shops. The telephone number of the store was 157. Although they were late
meeting opening deadline for which they had spent good advertising money, in
April, 1927, the present Knox Furniture Store opened for business.Mr. and Mrs.
Leo Knox were blessed with 7 children, 2 boys and 5 girls. All were hardworking individuals and spent many hours working in the store polishing fixtures and
appliances, sweeping floors and delivering furniture.One of the boys, H. B. "Mutt" Knox attended Baylor University and graduated in 1942 with a degree in Business administration. He worked part-time while in college at furniture stores in W aco and Dallas a well as the family store in Crockett.
Shortly after graduation, he entered into the U.S. Marine Corps and after completing officer's training was commissioned and served as a Captain in the South Pacific during the remainder of the war. Upon his return to Crockett, he entered into the business with a gusto. He worked nights repairing electronic media including
radio and the newest fad, televisions, sometimes working as many as three nights to simply get a picture from an old Pioneer television set. After his father's
retirement and death. H. B. Knox bought out the interests of his brother and sisters and this he and his family became the sole proprietors of Knox Furniture
Store. "Mutt" Knox is proud to tell people that he has been right there at Knox
Furniture Store for almost 57 years. He married Dorothy Eubank in 1947. They had three children, Larry, Barbara and Debbie.Larry was born a few years after the war and began to grow up in his father's and grandfather's footsteps.
He worked hard around the store performing the same types of jobs as those done before him. Larry also attended Baylor University and worked part-time in
furniture stores during his school experience.Upon graduation with a degree in Business Administration, Larry returned home to Crockett with the intention of
continuing on to Houston for several job interviews he had lined up. However, due to the unfortunate deaths of H. B. Knox's two key and most trusted empolyees
of about 30 years and Mr. Knox's resultant need for immediate management support, Larry decided to stay with the family business. Therefor for the last
30 years, "Mutt's" son, Larry, has been right there with him. Also, only six months after he joined the business, Larry married Suzan Cordell ofHouston who,
in addition to being his wife, has been his loyal partner in business ever since. They have 2 children, Trisha and Brad.Under Larry's direction, with the advice and consent of his father, the current location has changed a lot from
the one-room livery stable on Goliad Avenue. The main entry to the building is precisely at the location of the stable. However, since the early 1980's other
buildings have been purchased along with a 10,000 square foot remodeling job which included the expansion of the appliance business along with the addition
of a furniture gallery, one of the first for its time in East TX.In the early 1990's the store expanded again with the purchase of several buildings across the street as they became available. Larry has said, "I look at the buildings and I am particularly proud that we were able to give them new face lifts and even a new life on a street where so many old buildings have been left vacant".
Larry looks at the street as a one family downtown beautification project. The expansion of the 1990's has not been limited to just buildings. Brad Kox, Larry's son, has juined business as the fourth generation Knox ensuring continuation of the Knox family business as a family tradition of service to the community. Even further, Trisha Knox Woodford's son, Jack, may well continue that tradition to a fifth level based on his inquisitiveness and activity as he bounces around the store at every opportunity. The Knox's have not only served Crockett and the surounding area in a pure business evironment over the past half century or more. They have been a giving family, supporting community acitvities and serving in leadership positions with such organizations as the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Lion's Club, School Board, Economic Development Foundation and Crockett Rotary clug, among others. They have truly been a credit
to themselves and to the community in that htey represent the true American Spirit of family and community growth through opportunity of entrepreneural
activities. Additionally, they have porvided similar opportunities for many of our youth through part-time or summer jobs enabling education and success.
LEO KNOX A MAN WHO LOVED PEOPLE BY Josie Patrick
"It made no difference whether you wore khaki clothes or a business suit; it made no difference what color you were -- everbody was the same with my daddy,"
says Mr. Mutt Knox. And anybody who knew Mr. Leo Knox will vouch for the veracity of this statement. Mr. Leo Knox, son of Mr. Frank and Mrs. Janie Johnson Knox, was one of five children. His brothers were Dr. George Knox of Madisonville, Mr. Delbert Knox of Austin and Mr. Clint Knox, who preceded Mr. Leo in death by more than two decades. His only sister, and the only surviving
child of the Frank Knox family, i Mrs. Irene
Info by: Houston County Historical Commission, Crockett, TX
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