Rev. J. H. McKnight was born August 20, 1836, in Gibson county Tennessee, When a lad of sixteen he was converted and immediately united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and soon after he was ordained an elder. Obeying a call to the gospel ministry, he placed himself under the care of Hopewell Presbytery and was licensed to preach at eighteen years of age. One year later he was ordained to the full work of the ministry. In order to equip himself more thoroughly, he became a student in Bethel College. Brother McKnight was married twice. His first wife was Miss Nancy C. Fisher, to whom he was married February 1, 1853. One son was born to them. R. N. McKnight, now of Waco, Texas, filling a responsible position in a large wholesale drug house. His second marriage was to Miss Elizabeth Boyett, March 19, 1863. Eight children were born of this union, three dying in infancy. The five remaining are all living, four sons and one daughter, all of them living in Lamar county, Texas.

Brother McKnight's life was given to the active ministry until three or four years ago. Of his work in Tennessee there are scores yet living to bear testimony to the faithfulness of his ministry. The larger portion of his ministry at this time was given to riding the circuit and encouraging the smaller congregations. He witnessed many displays of saving grace in the conversion of a large number of men and women. His ministry was peculiarly blessed in that a large number of young men were led to heed the call to preach and enter the ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His ministry in Texas was of a character to command the respect and love of all who knew him. The various congregations he served in the bounds of Red River Presbytery will ever cherish his memory.

As a presbyter he was highly esteemed. Quiet and dignified and at the same time genial in his fellowship with his brethren; he made himself to be greatly beloved by all. The writer enjoyed his companionship for twenty-three years as a presbyter and for nearly six years a daily fellowship in the city of Paris, wherein he had made his home. The presbytery has sustained a great loss; the local church a faithful attendant upon the ministry of the pastor, and the ministry one of whom the Master can say, "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of the Lord." On February 14 he quietly fell asleep, leaving a devoted companion to mourn his death, but with a quiet submission to the divine will to say, "Absent in the body, present with the Lord."

His four sons are worthy men of a noble sire, and though he is dead, he yet liveth in them as they walk in the footprints of their father as he walked in the footsteps of the Master. The daughter, the wife of a Christian man, is living to honor the memory of this man of God. I cannot forbear saying that the loss sustained in his death is personal to me, as our relations were very sweet and tender; and I feel his absence keenly, because of his kindly sympathy and ready co-operation.
Chas. Manton.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, April 12, 1906, page 445]