John Crawford Knox was born March 4, 1876 in Abbeville,
South Carolina, the son of Samuel Blair Knox and Amanda Elizabeth Crawford. He married January
10, 1901 Olivia Christine McAdams. The Reverend J. F. McKinnon performed the ceremony in
Abbeville. John and Ollie made their home in Birmingham, Alabama where their only child, Samuel
Ralph Knox, was born on December 20, 1901. The marriage did not go well, and John and
Olivia divorced. John Crawford married a second time in Birmingham to Mamie Belle
Cooley. A postcard from him was found among his brother's possessions. It is dated
February 21, 1942 and postmarked in Lewisburg, Alabama. " Dear brother, We are all
well. Mamie's name is Mamie Belle Cooley. She is Irish, but doesn't know where from. Only
knows her grandfather hated a white headed kid and had to have a clean white shirt every
day. Best of wishes, John."
John's obituary in the December 23, 1943 issue
of the Abbeville Press and Banner states he died of pneumonia. He was a graduate of Erskine College and a member of the Masonic Lodge. His will [Book 53, Page 191] was dated
March 16, 1938, and left his residence at Walker's Chapel to his wife, Mamie Belle.
His son, Samuel Ralph Knox, and his grandson, Samuel Ralph Jr. are both mentioned. John
died December 18, 1943 and is buried in Oldwalker's (Old Walker's) Chapel Cemetery in Fultondale, Alabama.
