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KNIGHT, William J.: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:imp209.jpg|left|thumb|350px|]]KNIGHT, William J. (Kilkenny, Ireland, Mar. 3, 1838-Dubuque, IA, Feb. 23, 1908). [[MAYOR]]. Knight, partner in the law firm of Griffith and Knight, was one of the first attorneys to establish a practice in Dubuque. Knight studied law in the office of [[GRIFFITH, Jeffrey M.|Jeffrey M. GRIFFITH]] during the years 1855 and 1856. In 1857 after successfully passing the bar examination at the age of nineteen, Knight joined his former teacher as a partner.  
[[Image:imp209.jpg|left|thumb|350px|]]KNIGHT, William J. (Kilkenny, Ireland, Mar. 3, 1838--Dubuque, IA, Feb. 23, 1908). [[MAYOR]]. Knight, partner in the law firm of Griffith and Knight, was one of the first attorneys to establish a practice in Dubuque. Knight studied law in the office of [[GRIFFITH, Jeffrey M.|Jeffrey M. GRIFFITH]] during the years 1855 and 1856. In 1857 after successfully passing the bar examination at the age of nineteen, Knight joined his former teacher as a partner. (1)


During his legal career, Knight participated in several of the most significant cases of his time. The case of Dubuque Elevator Company vs Illinois Central Railroad involved a claim of $400,000 and resulted in the largest legal fee ever paid to that date.  
During his legal career, Knight participated in several of the most significant cases of his time. The case of Dubuque Elevator Company vs [[ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD]] involved a claim of $400,000.00 and resulted in the largest legal fee ever paid to that date. As a result of that case, the Illinois Central hired the firm of Griffith & Knight as their attorneys. (2)


In 1869 Knight was elected to his first term as mayor. In 1S70
He was elected to the board of education in 1867 and in 1869 Knight was elected to his first of three terms as mayor. It was during his administration that the council granted a franchise to the water company and he was the author of the important clause that gave the city the right to purchase the entire system. While mayor in 1872, Knight was one of three attorneys appointed by the state legislature to the Code Commission assigned the task of codifying the criminal laws of Iowa. (2) 
authority to lay water pipes in the streets was granted; the city
agreed to take 100 hydrants. Of the water company John Thompson was president; the company had a capital of $300,000. In October, 1870, the water company was disbanded — had made a failure. Almost immediately afterward another water company was organized, with Mr. Chamberlain among its officials.  


There was trouble over city bonds between the council and Mr. Thompson
In 1878 as mayor he established a committee of five councilmen and three citizens to travel to Council Bluffs to observe what that city had done to establish a bridge across the Missouri River. (3) He was criticized by some residents for the amount of money spent in 1879 on street construction. Knight replied as he left office that the question had been whether to hire the local labor or leave them unemployed when no other work was available. (4) As he stated:
and others. It was at this date, at last, that the local bondholders
united and demanded 100 cents on the dollar. The city refused
temporarily to pay anything. It had become so firmly fixed in the
minds of the city fathers that they could get a great reduction from
creditors, that this action took them by surprise, dumfounded them,
and they required time to collect their scattered senses. It was
claimed that bondholders had bought the bonds at 25 cents on the
dollar and now demanded 100 cents. Among the city bondholders
here were P. A. Lorimier, Richard Bronson, J. T. Hancock, J. S.
Randall, H. L. Stout, W. L. Bradley, R. A. Babbage, John Hodg-
don, L. D. Randall & Co., Edward Langworthy, Alexander Levi
and W. G. Stewart. These men in mass meeting announced their
intentions to have 100 cents on the dollar. A resolution of Mr.
Thompson was finally adopted by the mass meeting, viz. : To accept
in lieu of their city bonds new 6 per cent twenty-five year bonds on
the same conditions granted to outside creditors. The council
refused to accept, and ordered suit brought for the recovery of
the Thompson bonds, which, it was alleged, had been fraudulently
transferred. In June, 1869, at a special election to decide on compounding the debt, the vote stood : Yes, 228; no, 265. Thus the citizens decided against the issuance of new bonds to pay the old debt. Under contract with the council [[REBMAN, William|William REBMAN]] graded down, leveled and planted with trees the old cemetery now called [[JACKSON PARK]]; all bodies were removed.  


                Capitalists, men of means, never more completely stand
                in their own light; never more antagonize their own
                interests, than when they oppose, find fault with, or
                object to a judicious expenditure of public funds to
                employ the unemployed. (5)


 
Knight ran successfully for the Iowa Legislature in 1880 and was elected to his first of two terms in the state senate in 1885. Knight also served as the legal representative of the [[SISTERS OF CHARITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (BVM)]] assisting them with property acquisition and management. (6)
 
Knight was eventually elected mayor three times.
In 1872 as one of three attorneys who made up the Code Commissioners, Knight was assigned the task of codifying the criminal laws of Iowa. He ran successfully for the legislature in 1880 and was elected to the state senate in 1885.
[[Image:knight.png|right|thumb|350px|]]
[[Image:knight.png|right|thumb|350px|]]
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Source:
Source:


Oldt, Franklin T. ''History of Dubuque County'' http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/franklin-t-oldt/history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl/page-19-history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl.shtml
1. Oldt, Franklin T. '''History of Dubuque County, Iowa'''. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880, p. 824
 
2. "Prominent People," ''Dubuque Daily Herald'', February 19, 1893, p. 5
 
3. "The Ferry Over the Bridge," ''Dubuque Herald'', April 12, 1878, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18780412&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
 
4. "Old and New," ''Dubuque Herald'', April 11, 1879, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18790411&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
 
5. Ibid.
 
6. Riley, Rachel Katherine Daack. '''BVM Catholic Schools and Teachers: A Nineteenth-century U.S. School System'''. Proquest, 2008, p. 64
 
Oldt, Franklin T. '''History of Dubuque County, Iowa'''. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880


[[Category:Politician]]
[[Category:Politician]]
[[Category: Lawyers and Judges]]
[[Category: Lawyers and Judges]]

Latest revision as of 01:40, 20 June 2019

Imp209.jpg

KNIGHT, William J. (Kilkenny, Ireland, Mar. 3, 1838--Dubuque, IA, Feb. 23, 1908). MAYOR. Knight, partner in the law firm of Griffith and Knight, was one of the first attorneys to establish a practice in Dubuque. Knight studied law in the office of Jeffrey M. GRIFFITH during the years 1855 and 1856. In 1857 after successfully passing the bar examination at the age of nineteen, Knight joined his former teacher as a partner. (1)

During his legal career, Knight participated in several of the most significant cases of his time. The case of Dubuque Elevator Company vs ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD involved a claim of $400,000.00 and resulted in the largest legal fee ever paid to that date. As a result of that case, the Illinois Central hired the firm of Griffith & Knight as their attorneys. (2)

He was elected to the board of education in 1867 and in 1869 Knight was elected to his first of three terms as mayor. It was during his administration that the council granted a franchise to the water company and he was the author of the important clause that gave the city the right to purchase the entire system. While mayor in 1872, Knight was one of three attorneys appointed by the state legislature to the Code Commission assigned the task of codifying the criminal laws of Iowa. (2)

In 1878 as mayor he established a committee of five councilmen and three citizens to travel to Council Bluffs to observe what that city had done to establish a bridge across the Missouri River. (3) He was criticized by some residents for the amount of money spent in 1879 on street construction. Knight replied as he left office that the question had been whether to hire the local labor or leave them unemployed when no other work was available. (4) As he stated: 

               Capitalists, men of means, never more completely stand
               in their own light; never more antagonize their own
               interests, than when they oppose, find fault with, or
               object to a judicious expenditure of public funds to
               employ the unemployed. (5)

Knight ran successfully for the Iowa Legislature in 1880 and was elected to his first of two terms in the state senate in 1885. Knight also served as the legal representative of the SISTERS OF CHARITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (BVM) assisting them with property acquisition and management. (6)

Knight.png

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Source:

1. Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880, p. 824

2. "Prominent People," Dubuque Daily Herald, February 19, 1893, p. 5

3. "The Ferry Over the Bridge," Dubuque Herald, April 12, 1878, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18780412&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

4. "Old and New," Dubuque Herald, April 11, 1879, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18790411&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

5. Ibid.

6. Riley, Rachel Katherine Daack. BVM Catholic Schools and Teachers: A Nineteenth-century U.S. School System. Proquest, 2008, p. 64

Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880

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