George R. Knox one of the early settlers of Shasta County, California, is a native of Saratoga, New York. He was born August 20, 1822, the son of William B. and Inlam (Hayes) Knox, both natives of New York city. Grandfather Knox was born in Scotland, the country that has furnished so many brave soldiers and such fine physical specimens of the human race. Mr. and Mrs. Knox both died in 1859, leaving two children, natives of the State of New York, William Henry and George R.

The subject of this sketch received his education in Rochester, and afterward became a clerk in Albany, where he was in business four years. He then removed to Galway, New York, and engaged in the mercantile business on his own account, conducting it four years. He spent one season in Troy in the forwarding business. From there he went to New York city, and filled the position of book-keeper for a firm three years. In the spring of 1853 he came to California, and engaged in mining until 1861, a part of the time being on Whisky Creek. His best days’ work while there made him $150. He came to Shasta in 1862, and opened the saloon business, in which he has been engaged most of the time since. He has a fine large billiard room. In it are many specimens of mineral taken from the Shasta County mountains. Judge Knox keeps what he now calls Knox’s Reading Rooms, and counts among his customers many of the citizens of Shasta and surrounding country. He is interested in several good mines, among them the Highland Chief, the Ark, the Alexander, the Goodenough and the Golden Eagle.

The Judge was married in 1843, to Miss Sarah C. Mead, a native of Troy, New York. They had one child, Ann R., now the wife of P. A. Simmons. They reside in New York. Mrs. Knox died in 1889. Judge Knox has recently married Mrs. Celinda Isaacs, the widow of Joseph Isaacs. She is a native of New York, and was formerly Miss Celinda M. Downer.

Our subject is a Republican, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace for the last twenty years, and that of Notary Public for fourteen years. He is a charter member of the lodge and encampment of I.O.O.F., has held the office of District Deputy Grand Master and Grand Patriarch, and was a member of the Grand Lodge and Grand Encampment of the State. He is an intelligent representative of the early days in California; is both a good-looking and a kind-hearted gentleman.

Souece: Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891