This is a photograph of Dave Jordan by the Knowles’ family plot at Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois. The cemetery is located at 1035 E. 67th Street.

The Knowles plot is located in the Linden Hill Section of the cemetery and is located at J1-314. The marker is about 1'10" x 1'10" by 5' high in the shape of a obelisk. The inscription on the marker is very worn. It appears to state:

In memory of Isabella C. beloved wife of William W. Knowles born November 30, 1854 died August 31, 1892.

Isabella Catherine Black's baptism was 22 May 1857 at St. Patrick’s Church of Quebec City. The Baptismal Record states that Isabella Catherine Black was about 3 years of age which indicates a birth year of 1853. The early 1861 Quebec Census indicates her as age 7 which also confirms 1853. And the Bearly Bible also indicates Nov 30, 1853.

Her Illinois Certificate of death indicates and that she died on September 1, 1892 in the AM and her obituary also indicates September 1 and states her age as 38 years 9 month which implies November 1853. So it’s difficult to understand how the inscription on the marker is off by a year on the birth and off by a day on the date of death.

There are four registered names in the Knowles Family plot at Oak Woods Cemetery. These are:

  1. Isabella C. Knowles (1892)
  2. William Knowles (March 1897)
  3. Robert Knowles (July 1898); brother of William Knowles
  4. Harold A. Knowles (July 1908) 18 month old child of Wilfred Washington Knowles. Wilfred was a son of William and Isabella Knowles.

Only Isabella’s name is on the marker.

This photo was taken on a visit to the cemetery on July 7, 1978. If you would like to add information about this picture, please contact Dave Jordan, a 2x great-grandson of William and Isabella Knowles. The Picture Reference Number is: Slide: SEP1978N7-28; Digitized: 055-28.