In the year 1878, the month and day of April 5th, HARRY MCKNIGHT, son of Robert Woods and Mary Ann Phillips McKnight was born in Brooklyn, New York at Bridge and Tillery streets, an ordinary neighborhood of that day. Before the boy's birth, the father Robert Woods McKnight, a civil war navy veteran, died, on Washington's birthday of that same year. Making Mary Ann, who was very ill with TB, a widow with an eight year old, son and a newborn baby. Because of her health, Harry was placed in the Brooklyn orphanage. His experiences were some good some bad. The earliest memory he had was when he injured himself on a steam radiator. When he was six years of age the under certain windows about the nursery, steam radiators were being installed. Sections were coupled together until the required length was attained. A perforated cover was placed over the top, making for a neat finish. His curiosity was aroused by the radiator and he crawled behind what he called the Iron Wonder. He lost his balance, falling backward, crooking the leg under the steam inlet pipe while under full heat, he had to undergo a month's worth of treatments and it left him with a sizeable scar. Shortly after that he had the first and what would be the last meeting with his mother. An inmate of the Home Grandma Dickson, was allowed to take the him on a journey via Horse Car on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn to Nassau Street line, stopping at a house, where his mother lived. At the house was his mother Mary Ann and his older brother known as Frankie., While he was there he was hurt when a flame from the cookstove burned him. Harry and his brother, Frank, with their mother had a happy time. He then was returned back to the Orphanage. The mother died shortly afterwards.

Once he reached the age of eleven years, he was eligible for adoption. His first placement was with a fine gentleman who lived in Ridgewood, New Jersey. But he was unable to adjust to living outside of the Orphanage and the people didn't have the patience to help him with the adjustment, so they sent him back. The second placement was with Doctor B. of Staten island, New York desired boy who would attend door and odd errands about the house and act as sort of an orderly, during visitations at various homes. After a couple of unpleasant incidents Harry ran away. He ran to the nearby West Brighton Station boarded same for St. George, leaving Staten Island by the ferry for New York City past the recently constructed "Statue of Liberty". After the ferry landed at the Battery, from the boat, the way was, traversed to the entrance of the Brooklyn Bridge (Roebling to Frankfort St.) where the New York World was published, known as the Pulitzer Building. A group of boys here purchased their paper and scattering, sold these In every direction. Here the he, had his first experience in any kind of self employment and business venture. Purchasing ten papers, tried to be nonchalant in deportment to mix with the more experienced venders, but, found himself jostled and pushed, while trying to sell his ten, also sensing by tugs, that others wanted his papers by stealing, so found that he was unwelcome among so many, therefore, decided. to turn elsewhere for livelihood. This not being his line, decided against repetition. Being hungry, he obtained two frankfurter sandwiches for a dime, consuming same while walking toward the East River, he then boarded a white steamer named the "Shelter Island. There were no berths; as he with the others was an extra passenger. This was an all night trip in Long Island Sound, the boat arriving at Shelter Island, which lies just across the bay from Greenport, facing the ocean toward the open sea toward Block Island. The passengers and freight dismissed and disposed of, the boat left for Its return trip to New York City.

During, the night he and two boys he met on board were sitting around a campfire they had made, preparatory to spending, the night in the woods. Being ordered to put out the fire the three were locked in a shed, having an Interior wall bench, with the promise of breakfast next morning, and a visit to the Justice of the Peace for a briefing. During the night the two spoke of and planned a breakout for the next morning and did so in spite of the warning that since this was an Island, that it would be impossible to leave without the use of a boat or other float means. The promised breakfast came, which the now lone lad accepted and ate. It was not necessary to say anything about the others as a broken lock and their absence attested to its destruction. The constable came for the charges to accompany him to the Justice of the Peace for a brief hearing. Since the lad was alone, he was interrogated about his past and present situation, but he told only of his boat trip and the now interrupted stay upon the Island. But as to a future intention, no comment. During the investigation of the lad, the editor of the local paper, The Shelter Island Tribune, William Field Jr. came in looking for news items for the next edition. Brothers Paul and William Field, Jr. owned and operated the local newspaper. The William Field, Jr. spoke to Harry and said he and the judge, were friends, requested to him that he might take a walk with the boy, so to become better acquainted and to report back to the Judge what, if anything, he had learned. Returning he said, "Your honor, if it be all the same to you, I like this kid and desire to keep him with me and teach him printing," So the lad became a Printer's Devil. Shelter Island was a summer resort, the paper could not survive the Idle winter months so the establishment was sold and dismantled. The brothers went back to Brooklyn with the lad. William, Jr. decided, that both he and the boy would stick together, principally because he was reminded of a younger brother who had died, so a fifteen year association began a this point.

Arriving back in Brooklyn, Paul went his own way, William, Jr. and the lad, whom he soulfully accepted as he would his own departed brother, agreed that this boy should share his name, therefore, the name, Harry Field, was acquired, dropping for a time the original name. As the two became better acquainted, roomed together, to the point of keeping bachelor's hall, sharing particularly looking after both earnings and expenses and most each others welfare in a comradely manner. The first thing they did was secure living quarters. They got a furnished room on Lawrence Street near Tillery Street in Brooklyn, a second floor space, well-lighted and with stove heat (coal and wood). Friend Bill obtained employment as solicitor for a wood engraving house, at Fulton and Gold Streets, New York. They made fine woodcuts of all merchandise, especially Jewelry. Their landlady was Mrs. Goodwin, a fine, motherly woman, who had two sons. The elder was employed in the local theatre as wing and scene shifter. While the younger brother, William still of school age, made a good companion for the boy Harry. During weekdays of school, while going to and from home, the boys would pick up sticks of wood as boards of suitable burning quality, piling same in the back yard, to be chopped later in cook stove lengths to be peddled on Saturdays in the neighborhood for ten cents a barrel, thus obtaining spending money for theatre or some other treat. About at this time the officials of the Orphan's, home, found out where Harry was, and by lawful means returned him to the home. In due course he was sent to another place, "St. Giles the Cripple, a Home for Crippled Children, a Catholic Institution. The home taught him and any of the able of the crippled boys to cane seat chairs. Not being Catholic the lad was permitted to attend outside public school for study. After a rather busy and successful six months of instruction the he again ran away and rejoined his old friend Bill.

About this time Harry, was old enough for outside paid employment, even to learn some profession. He had a natural talent for artwork so his friend obtained for him a starting place as apprentice in the engraving firm. Where he soon learned to trim woodcuts after the routing had been done, readying for printing and proofing. After a year at this part of tile art, he became adept at machine lining of cuts, a shading process, which at two and one-half dollars a week, seemed very low in proportion for such work. Therefore asked for a raise in wages, and was assured they would consider it. After two weeks the boy went out and secured a similar job with a Photo Engraving firm for a dollar more, telling the former employers that after thinking about it two weeks, he decided himself to change. At this period both friends moved to a three roomed flat, with a bath. This time they had to buy their own furnishings calling for utmost economy, accomplished by walking to work and return from Brooklyn to New York City via Brooklyn bridge both ways, with one half mile extra at each city thus, saving fifty-two cents each day. Actually this was almost enough to pair a months rent while having time to rest between trips. Harry's guardian Bill and a friend joined the National Guard in Brooklyn, while in the National Guard Bill started drinking heavily. When things got too bad a the pair almost went their separate way they decided to start fresh in another city. So by the scalper's ticket route via Washington, D.C. to Chicago, Illinois the two friends landed in Chicago, April 1893 about the time of the closing of the Colombian Exhibition, "Chicago World's Fair". Moving, from one rooming house to another for a time, settling down only after the Field family, father, stepmother, son, Warren and daughter, Altermar, also settled with the two in Chicago. They rented a cottage, one of two alike on Diversey at North Clark near the park where Ferris wheel of the Exposition had been located from the World's Fair. The family then moved to another larger house, located near Cubs Baseball Park. William, Jr. the guardian, continued as bookkeeper for the machine manufacturing while the boy was learning machine design. After about six years apprentice as mechanic was now doing real Engineering, working detailing and design even to taking the place of a full time College man, who suddenly departed. The guardian began to stray, mentally becoming restless and somewhat careless, even to imbibing again, and from time to time falling short of funds. It came about that the old folks had guaranteed his debts through their furniture mortgage. Learning of this the lad asked for the partially paid contract and seeing the lenders obtained the right to pay them according to the original contract, as the guardian had already left for Kansas City, Missouri to start afresh. The situation now was changed, Harry felt uneasy among the family, especially after learning that they had been harassed when they were still in NY by the authorities looking for him. He decided to remain until some positive news from his absent friend. This was cut short by an argument, and he left one morning and never saw them again.

Harry deiced to go to Roosevelt, Long Island to get reacquainted with his brother Frank who had settled there with his wife and daughter. Arriving at Roosevelt station in Long Island the brothers met for the first time since babyhood, twenty-one years of the reunion of two. Frank was elated to meet his brother there being eight years difference in age. Going, to the home of the sister-in-law's family where they were staying. They stayed with the Calnan family throughout the winter. He got a job in a Baking Machinery house. The elder brother was a boss Baker with a large firm had influence in obtaining the lad a job. So through that winter he kept the place until spring, when his brother Frank a better job. This was Frank's opportunity for an advanced position In Pittsburgh, Pa. He had to leave Harry behind. Harry was not comfortable being there without Frank, so he headed for Kansas City, Missouri to join again with his friend William Jr.

Postal arrangements were made in regards to work in, Kansas City and again his hopes were high in thoughts of new work and travel. Upon arrival was informed that the firm had decided on other arrangements, so the lad again was adrift. He than formed a new partnership with William Jr., and they opened an advertising office, wherein, illustrative cuts and photographs were the order of business. The first effort was in the form of a blotter for an "Uncle Sam's" laundry, depicted as "Uncle Sam in his regular striped and star apparel, astride a rocking, horse normally called a "Hobby". The caption being, "Good Laundering is our Hobby." Success of this venture seemed eminent for at least a year, until Bill went back to his drinking and loose living. This caused a drain on both their finances and their friendship.

Just as things seemed to be going downhill, the most important single incident was about to happen to Harry. He received an invitation to attend a card party, not having much interest in this kind of party he felt out of place. This changed when he met a young woman about the same age, who also seemed out of place. An acquaintance was struck, at first just of mutual interest. However, he couldn't stop thinking about her. Soon afterwards, he was watching for her from his upstairs window as she passed by his house during the morning on her way to where she worked as a stenographer. Learning her name, Nellie Bingaman, he made a few calls to her at her rooming house. After a couple of these calls and a few walks about the Paseo, he proposed to her. Three months later, they got married at the bride's home In Princeton Kansas, returning as man and wife to Kansas City and later in St. Louis, around the time of the World's Fair, to begin their new life together.

They had three children, a son who died at the age of 45 years, followed in turn by three daughters. They left St. Louis and moved to Elmhurst, IL, suburb of Chicago. They lived in a house and had lots of land, enough to raise vegetables and chickens. They lost the first house in the depression, but brought another one later on.

Postscript: Nellie died in a nursing home in Bensenville, IL in November of 1969 and Harry went to live with one of his daughters in Iowa, where he died in 1975. Not one to go quietly, Harry almost missed his own funeral. The plane that was to bring the coffin from Iowa, almost left without him. One of the family members accompanying the body to Chicago, noticed a coffin on the runway and asked whether it was going to Chicago. She was told it was going to Denver, CO.. She insisted that they check, and sure enough it was Harry, about to make one last journey west. Everything was straightened out and he is buried next to Nellie at Elm Lawn in Elmhurst, IL.