Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Sayrs Gazlay Knight


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features Sayrs Gazlay Knight and 17 of his descendants down to the fourth generation.


First Generation
1. Sayrs Gazlay Knight,1 born 27 September 1833 in Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont, the son of Albert Gallatin Knight and Adelia ‘Della’ Gazlay;1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 died 20 May 1903 in Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin.1 Sayrs married, ca. 1863, Rebecca Traver4, 5 (born July 1845 in Canada, parents not determined4, 5, 9).

A brief biographical sketch appears in his obituary, which is excerpted here: Sayres G. Knight was born in Battleboro, Vermont, September 27, 1833, a son of the late Albert G. Knight, who came to Racine on horseback in the year 1836, and was identified with the early history of the city. Sayrs came the following spring when but a few years old, and his education was acquired in the primitive schools of the early days, and he also experienced all of those hardships known to the pioneer. His first experience as a civil engineer was when the old Racine and Mississippi railway was built. In later years he was the city engineer of Racine. Sayrs surveyed, gave lines and laid out a large portion of the north, south and west sides of the city. After retiring as city engineer he went west and was engaged in the engineering department at Omaha, Nebraska, where he remained for some years and returned to Racine. Soon he was elected county surveyor, and was a surveyor there for over forty years. He was occasionally called upon to make surveys to settle disputes. He was a quiet and unassuming man, and there was not a better known or more honored citizen in the county. He was survived by his wife, three sons, Albert G., head engineer of an electric railway in La Salle, Ill.; William, employed in the Racine East Manufacturing company offices, and Harold, who assisted his father in his engineering work; two daughters, Jane M. Knight, of New York, and Marietta, a music teacher of Racine; three sisters, Mrs. Jane Whiteley, Racine; Mrs. Jewett, California, and Delia Knight, Andover, Massachusetts.6


Children of Sayrs Gazlay Knight and Rebecca Traver:

 2i. Jane M. Knight, born ca. 1865 in Illinois.4, 9
+3ii. Albert G. Knight, born ca. 1874 in Wisconsin. Married Carrie Nichol.
 4iii. Marietta Knight, born 20 November 1879 in Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin;4, 5, 9, 10, 11 died 10 October 1938 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota.11
+5iv. William Traver Knight, born 6 May 1882 in Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin; died December 1968. Married (1) Elizabeth H. ‘Libbie’ Van Buren Married (2) Caroline Agnes Wagner.
+6v. Harold Timothy Knight, born 5 November 1884 in Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin. Married Mary Irene DeLong.

  1. Wisconsin Deaths and Burials, 1835-1968; Sayrs G. Knight; died 20 May 1903 in Racine, Racine [County], Wis.; born 27 Sep. 1833 in Vermont; surveyor; spouse: Rebecca; father: A. G. Knight, born in Vermont; mother: Delia Knight, born in Vermont.
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1850, Wisconsin, Racine County, Town of Racine, Page No. 88, family of Albert G. Knight (42, VT, farmer); Delia G. Knight (36, NY); Sayrs G. Knight (16, VT); Jane Knight (14, NY); Mary H. Knight (6, Wis.); Timothy Knight (69, VT); Dolly Knight (60, VT).
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1860, Wisconsin, Racine County, City of Racine, Page No. 198, family of Albert G. Knight (52, Vermont, conveyaurio [?]); Sayrs. G. Knight (26, Vermont, lawyer); Mary H. Knight (16, Wis.); John Knight (9, Wis.); James Knight (6, Wis.); Delia Knight (2, Wis.); Simon Whiteley (29, England, printer); Jane K. Whiteley (24, NY).
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, Wisconsin, Racine County, Racine, Enumeration District 162, Page No. 8, family of Sayrs G. Knight (47, Vermont, land surveyor); wife Rebecca Knight (35, Canada); daughter Jane M. Knight (15, Illinois); son Albert G. Knight (6, Wisconsin); daughter Mariette Knight (6/12, Wisconsin, Nov.); servant Carrie Grostabel (19, Wisconsin).
  5. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, Wisconsin, Racine County, Racine, Enumeration District 35, Sheet No. 19B, family of Sayrs Knight (33, Vermont, Sept 1833. county surveyor); wife of 37 years Rebecca Knight (54, Canada, July 1845, 5 children, 5 living); daughter Marietta Knight (20, Wisconsin, Nov. 1879); son William T. Knight (18, Wisconsin, May 1882); son Harold T. Knight (15, Wisconsin, Ju. [?] 1884].
  6. Obituary, The Racine Weekly Journal, Friday, May 22, 1903. Sayrs G. Knight.
  7. The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin, Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879, page 596, biographical sketch of Albert G. Knight. Digitized by Google and available at Google Books.
  8. Gazlay History, written by Spencer G. Kuhn, a grandchild of Theodore Gazlay; undated. This is a typewritten re-compilation of the earlier Genealogy of the Gazlay Family, compiled by Theodore Gazlay in 1890, including the 1852 statement of the family history by Reverend Sayers Gazlay, an elder brother of Theodore. This document re-formats the information in the 1890 work. For example, facts originally shown in list form, such as birth and death dates, are incorporated in the narrative of this later work. Two post-1890 sections are unique to this document: one with additional details about Theodore Gazlay’s family, with dates as late as 1951; and another on the Donaldson family, featuring Jean Gazlay Donaldson and her six marriages, with several dates in 1965.
  9. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Wisconsin, Racine County, Racine, Enumeration District 84, Sheet No. 2B, family of Rebecca Knight (64, Canada, widow, 5 children, 5 living); daughter Jane M. Knight (44, Illinois, selling goods); Mariette Knight (30, Wisconsin, teacher of music); son Timothy H. Knight (25, Wisconsin, civil engineer, surveyor).
  10. Wisconsin Births and Christenings, 1826-1926, available at familysearch.org; Knight, female; born 20 Nov. 1879 in Racine, Racine [County], Wisconsin; father: Sayers Knight; mother: Rebecca Traver.
  11. Minnesota, Deaths and Burials, 1835-1990, Knight, Marietta; died 10 Nov. 1938 in Minneapolis, Hennepin [County], Minnesota; age 58; father: Sayrs G. Knight; mother: Rebecca Traver.
Second Generation
3. Albert G. Knight2 (Sayrs1), born ca. 1874 in Wisconsin.1, 2 Albert married, ca. 1896, Carrie Nichol2 (born ca. 1870 in Nebraska, parents not determined2).

Children of Albert G. Knight and Carrie Nichol:

+7i. Sayrs Gazlay Knight, born 15 April 1900 in Nebraska; died 4 May 1974 in McDade, Bastrop County, Texas. Married Ella F. Oakley.
 8ii. Thomas G. Knight, born ca. 1905 in Illinois.2
 9iii. Marion Knight, born ca. 1907 in Illinois.2

5. William Traver Knight2 (Sayrs1), born 6 May 1882 in Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin;3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 died December 1968.5 William married, first, 5 December 1906, Elizabeth H. ‘Libbie’ Van Buren7, 10 (born 1869 in New York, the daughter of John Thompson Van Buren and Jennie Myers7, 9, 10). William married, second, 21 April 1917 in Hudson, Columbia County, New York, Caroline Agnes Wagner4 (born ca. 1880 in Germany, the daughter of John Wagner and Margaret Klett4, 8).

Children of William Traver Knight and Elizabeth H. ‘Libbie’ Van Buren:

 10i. Elizabeth Wilna Knight, born January 1910 in New York.7, 8, 10
 11ii. Harold Knight, born ca. 1912 in New York.8, 10
 12iii. Rebecca J. Knight, born ca. 1915 in New York.8

6. Harold Timothy Knight2 (Sayrs1), born 5 November 1884 in Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin.6, 11, 12 Harold married, ca. 1914, Mary Irene DeLong15 (born 7 April 1890 in Wisconsin, the daughter of James E. DeLong and Verna Jane Owen;13, 14, 15 Mary died 22 July 1971 in Wisconsin13, 16).

Children of Harold Timothy Knight and Mary Irene DeLong:

+13i. Ruth Eleanor Knight, born 29 February 1916 in Wisconsin; died 15 December 1997. Married Reuben Earl Lee.
+14ii. Everett Wayne Knight, born 19 January 1918 in Wisconsin; died 3 January 1977. Married Ellen Lucille Stuckert.

  1. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, Wisconsin, Racine County, Racine, Enumeration District 162, Page No. 8, family of Sayrs G. Knight (47, Vermont, land surveyor); wife Rebecca Knight (35, Canada); daughter Jane M. Knight (15, Illinois); son Albert G. Knight (6, Wisconsin); daughter Mariette Knight (6/12, Wisconsin, Nov.); servant Carrie Grostabel (19, Wisconsin).
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Nebraska, Douglas County, Omaha City, family of Albert G. Knight (36, Wisconsin, engineer); wife of 14 years Carrie N. Knight (40, Nebraska, 3 children, 3 living); son Sayrs G. Knight (10, Nebraska); son Thomas G. Knight (5, Illinois); daughter Marion Knight (3, Illinois).
  3. Wisconsin Births and Christenings, 1826-1926, available at familysearch.org; Knight, William T.; born 6 May 1882 in Racine, Racine [County], Wisconsin; father: Sayrs G. Knight, 59, born in Bratleborough, Vt.; mother: Rebecca Triever, born in Canada.
  4. New York Marriages 1686-1980, available at familysearch.org. Wm. Traver Knight; 35; Racine, Wis.; weaver; father: Sayrs Gasley Knight; mother: Rebecca Traver; 2nd marriage, 1st wife dead; and Caroline Agnes Wagner; 37; Germany; nurse; father: John Wagner; mother: Margaret Klett (both from Germany); married 21 April 1917 in Hudson, Columbia County, New York.
  5. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Knight, William; no. 005-03-4717; died Dec 1968; born 6 May 1882.
  6. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, Wisconsin, Racine County, Racine, Enumeration District 35, Sheet No. 19B, family of Sayrs Knight (33, Vermont, Sept 1833. county surveyor); wife of 37 years Rebecca Knight (54, Canada, July 1845, 5 children, 5 living); daughter Marietta Knight (20, Wisconsin, Nov. 1879); son William T. Knight (18, Wisconsin, May 1882); son Harold T. Knight (15, Wisconsin, Ju. [?] 1884].
  7. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, New York, Columbia County, Stockport Town, Enumeration District 81, Sheet No. 3A, family of William T. Knight (30, Wisconsin, farmer); wife of 4 years Elizabeth H. Knight (30, New York, 1 child, 1 living); daughter Elizabeth W. Knight (3/12, New York).
  8. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, New York, Albany County, Watervliet, Enumeration District 174, Sheet No. 2A, family of William T. Knight (37, Wisconsin, loom operator, woolen mill); wife Caroline Knight (40, Germany); daughter Wilna Knight (9, New York); son Harold Knight (8, New York); daughter Rebecca Knight (5, New York); border Catherine V. Alexander (28, Pennsylvania, saleswoman); son John G. Alexander (7, New York).
  9. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, New York, Columbia County, Stockport Township, Enumeration District 25, Page No. 16, family of John T. Van Buren (37, New York, farmer); wife Jenny Van Buren (31, Canada); son John M. Van Buren (12, New York); daughter Elizabeth Van Buren (10, New York); daughter Ida Van Buren (8, New York); son Charles Van Buren (1, New York); son Isaac Van Buren (2/12, New York, Mar[ch]).
  10. History of Cornelis Maessen Van Buren, by Harriett C. Waite Van Buren Peckham, A.B., M.D., Brooklyn, N.Y. New York, Tobias A. Weight, Printer and Publisher, 1913.
  11. Wisconsin Births and Christenings, 1826-1926, available at familysearch.org; Knight, male; born 5 Nov. 1884 in Racine, Racine [County], Wisconsin; father: S. G. Knight, born in Putney, Vermont; mother: Rebecca Traver, born in Colensville.
  12. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Wisconsin, Racine County, Racine, Enumeration District 84, Sheet No. 2B, family of Rebecca Knight (64, Canada, widow, 5 children, 5 living); daughter Jane M. Knight (44, Illinois, selling goods); Mariette Knight (30, Wisconsin, teacher of music); son Timothy H. Knight (25, Wisconsin, civil engineer, surveyor).
  13. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Knight, Mary, no. 396-34-8238; died July 1971; born 7 April 1890.
  14. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, Wisconsin, Racine County, Racine, Enumeration District 69, Sheet No. 10B, family of James E. DeLong (57. Wisconsin, laborer, automobile tires); wife Verna DeLong (52, Wisconsin); daughter Mary I. Knight (29, Wisconsin, widow); grand daughter Ruth E. Knight (3 10/12, Wisconsin); grand son Everet W. Knight (1 11/12, Wisconsin); border Ellen Gilbert (29, Wisconsin, teacher, grade school); border Ella Foxwell (36, Wisconsin, teacher, grade school); border Inez M. Lacey (24, Wisconsin, teacher, grade school).
  15. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, Wisconsin, Racine County, Racine City, Enumeration District 51-35, Sheet No. 30B, family of James E. DeLong (66, Wisconsin, first married age 25); wife Verna DeLong (61, Wisconsin, first married age 20); daughter Mary I. Knight (40, Wisconsin, widow, first married age 23, teacher, public school); grand daughter Ruth Eleanor Knight (14, Wisconsin).
  16. Wisconsin Death Index 1959-1997, Knight, Mary I., died 22 July 1971, Wisconsin, age 81.
Third and Fourth Generations
7. Sayrs Gazlay Knight3 (Albert,2 Sayrs1), born 15 April 1900 in Nebraska;1, 2, 3, 4 died 4 May 1974 in McDade, Bastrop County, Texas.1, 5 Sayrs married Ella F. Oakley3 (born ca. 1895 in Nebraska, the daughter of Fred M. Oakley and (unidentified)3, 4).

Children of Sayrs Gazlay Knight and Ella F. Oakley:

 15i. Robert S. Knight, born ca. 1922 in Nebraska.3, 4
 16ii. Richard O. Knight, born ca. 1928 in Colorado.3, 4

13. Ruth Eleanor Knight3 (Harold,2 Sayrs1), born 29 February 1916 in Wisconsin;6, 7, 8, 9 died 15 December 1997.6 Ruth married, 29 January 1938 in Racine County, Wisconsin, Reuben Earl Lee9 (born 9 May 1910 in Sylvania, Racine County, Wisconsin, the son of Horace Lee and May Lettie Toase;9, 10 Reuben died 22 December 199710).

Child of Ruth Eleanor Knight and Reuben Earl Lee:

 17i. Patricia Mae Lee.

14. Everett Wayne Knight3 (Harold,2 Sayrs1), born 19 January 1918 in Wisconsin;7, 11 died 3 January 1977.11 Everett married Ellen Lucille Stuckert (born 20 November 1916, parents not determined;11, 12 Ellen died 16 April 197811). Everett and Ellen are buried in Yorkville Cemetery, Yorkville, Racine County, Wisconsin.11

Child of Everett Wayne Knight and Ellen Lucille Stuckert:

 18i. Gayle Knight, born 20 November 1944 in Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin.12

  1. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Knight, Sayrs; no. 505-09-5056; died May 1974; born 15 April 1900.
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Nebraska, Douglas County, Omaha City, family of Albert G. Knight (36, Wisconsin, engineer); wife of 14 years Carrie N. Knight (40, Nebraska, 3 children, 3 living); son Sayrs G. Knight (10, Nebraska); son Thomas G. Knight (5, Illinois); daughter Marion Knight (3, Illinois).
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, Colorado, Denver County, Denver, Enumeration District 26, Sheet No. 15A, family of Sayrs G. Knight (29, Nebraska); wife Ella F. Knight (35, Nebraska); son Robert S. Knight (8, Nebraska); son Richard O. Knight (2, Colorado); father-in-law Fred M. Oakley (70, Connecticut).
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1940, Nebraska, Douglas County, Omaha, Enumeration District 94-203, Sheet No. 12B, family of Sayrs Knight (40, Nebraska, stationary engineer); wife Ella Knight (45, Nebraska); son Robert S. Knight (18, Nebraska); son Richard Knight (12, Nebraska [sic].
  5. Texas Deaths, 1890-1976; Knight, Sayrs Gazlay; died 4 May 1974 in Mcdade, Bastrop [County], Texas; age 74; father: Albert G. Knight; mother: Carrie Nichol.
  6. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Lee, Ruth E., no. 396-10-8119; died 15 December 1997; born 29 February 1916; last residence: Cochise, Arizona.
  7. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, Wisconsin, Racine County, Racine, Enumeration District 69, Sheet No. 10B, family of James E. DeLong (57. Wisconsin, laborer, automobile tires); wife Verna DeLong (52, Wisconsin); daughter Mary I. Knight (29, Wisconsin, widow); grand daughter Ruth E. Knight (3 10/12, Wisconsin); grand son Everet W. Knight (1 11/12, Wisconsin); border Ellen Gilbert (29, Wisconsin, teacher, grade school); border Ella Foxwell (36, Wisconsin, teacher, grade school); border Inez M. Lacey (24, Wisconsin, teacher, grade school).
  8. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, Wisconsin, Racine County, Racine City, Enumeration District 51-35, Sheet No. 30B, family of James E. DeLong (66, Wisconsin, first married age 25); wife Verna DeLong (61, Wisconsin, first married age 20); daughter Mary I. Knight (40, Wisconsin, widow, first married age 23, teacher, public school); grand daughter Ruth Eleanor Knight (14, Wisconsin).
  9. Jan’s Digs (website), by Jan Cortez. Sylvania Cemetery, Yorkville Township, Racine County, Wisconsin, compiled by Mary Anne Falk, April, 1991; cemetery lot of Horace Lee: the record gives family details of his two wives and their children, including Reuben E. Lee who married Ruth E. Knight [sources are not provided for any of the family information].
  10. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Lee, Ruben E., no. 398-09-9462; died 22 December 1997; born 9 May 1910; last residence: Cochise, Arizona.
  11. Find a Grave (website). Yorkville Cemetery, Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin, Knight / Father / Everett W. / Jan. 19, 1918 / Jan. 3, 1977 / Mother / Ellen L. / Nov. 20, 1916 / Apr. 16, 1978. [From Headstone].
  12. The Milwaukee Journal, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 21 November 1944, Family Now Has Three Births on the Same Day; birth of Gayle Knight, daughter of Ellen (Stuckert) Knight, 25, and great-granddaughter of Mrs. Matilda Stuckert, 82, all with the same birth day, 20 November.