"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon." Chapman Publishing Company, 1903. p. 1444. GEORGE O. KNOWLES The genial and successful manager of the Meyer & Keyles general merchandise store is one of the very capable and promising business men of Mapleton, and one of the many sons of Minnesota who owe their start in life to the inspiring surroundings of a prosperous northwestern community. Born in Rice county, Minn., September 27, 1865, he comes of an old New Hampshire family, in which state his parents, Ebenezer C. and Lucinda (Atwood) Knowles, were born, reared and married. The parents removed from New Hampshire to Rice county, Minn., in 1855, locating at Hastings, where the father worked at his trade as carpenter, but afterward turned his attention to general farming near Northfield, Minn. For thirty years his intrepid honesty and practical industry redounded to the credit of the neighborhood and during that time he was elected to the state legislature on the Republican ticket, representing in an interested and helpful manner, those who had placed their confidence in him. In 1885 he sold his farm and came to Mapleton, Ore., arriving October 8, and at once purchasing some land near the town, where he farmed in a small way up to the time of his death, January 12, 1902, at the, age of eighty-two years. His wife, who was born in 1822, is still living in Mapleton and she is the mother of eight children, the order of their birth being as follows : John, a resident of Cottonwood county, Minn. ; Albert P., of Mapleton ; Frank ; Cora E., wife of W. H. Weatherson, of Florence, Ore. Four of the children are deceased. The elder Knowles was well known fraternally, and for more than forty years had been connected with the Blue Lodge, A. F. & A. M. His father's success permitted of more than the average educational opportunities for his son, George O., who passed from the public schools of Rice county, Minn., to Carleton College, which he attended two terms. Six months were spent at the State University at Eugene, and he afterward attended the Pacific Business College at San Francisco, remaining there five months. His first business experience was acquired in a mercantile business at Seaton, where he devoted seven years to this enterprise. For three years he tempted fortune in the mines of the Bohemia district, and was more fortunate than many, and at present not only owns three claims there, but is possessor of a general merchandise store netting a handsome yearly income, August 4, 1902, Mr. Knowles was united in marriage with Lenora B. Casterline, who was born in Minnesota in 1879, and came to Oregon in 1887, where she was reared and educated. Mr. Knowles is a Democrat in political affiliation. Fraternally he is associated with the Florence Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of which he is present worshipful master; and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2008 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.