Thomas Pope Knox

Senator Knox was born in Savannah, Georgia on July 8, 1809, the son of shipping merchant Andrew and Rebecca Rice-Pray Knox; moved with family to the “Selma Farm” in Norristown in 1821 after hard financial times beset the family.  Thomas was educated at Norristown Academy and Rutger’s college, returning to the Selma Farm to pursue agriculture.  He married Sarah Ann Leedom of Plymouth.  After the death of his wife and four of five children by 1847, he purchased Isaac Williams’ “upper Chain Farm” in Norristown, and in 1851, he returned to the Selma Farm where he lived out his remaining years.  He served as a Governor’s Aid to William Bigler (appointed Colonel); served in the state Senate, 1856-1858 (three years); was chosen President of the State Agricultural Society; and served as justice of the peace, Norriton Twp.  He is described as a man of “medium stature, fair complexion, and hair nearly snow-white in his later years. He possessed remarkable suavity and courtly gifts, and therefore was always an agreeable companion, having in social converse a pleasant word for each and all.”  He died at home, age 70, on May 29, 1879, interred in Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown.