Emma Knight
When the Retail Development Group purchased two buildings in the 1100 block of 4th Street, research began on the buildings and owners. At that time wonderful stories emerged about the Wythe family, the Stuarts, and the Knights. A letter was found from Joseph Smith III to Emma Knight, but the connection to the Wythes was not perfectly clear. Last week’s discovery of an obituary for Emma Puffer explained the relationship.
Emma Knight with her parents and siblings were on the steamer Uncle Toby when Emma Hale Smith and her family came to Fulton in 1846-47.
Fulton Journal: January 8, 1895:
Friday afternoon Mrs. L.F. Puffer died at her home in this city, after an illness of but ten days. The cause of her death was an abscess in the right lung. Her maiden name was Emma E. Knight. She was born in Charleston, Illinois, January 24, 1839, being fifty-five years, eleven months and ten days of age at the time of her death. She was one of the old residents of Fulton, having come to this city with her parents in 1847, and resided here since, excepting a short time spent in Colorado. She was married to Monroe C. Wythe, in Sterling, in 1856. To this marriage two children were born, Frank A. who resides in this city and Eva who died in infancy. Her married life was not a happy one and in 1866 she obtained a divorce from Mr. Wythe. At Black Hawk, Colorado, November 25, 1868, she was married to L.F. Puffer and soon after Mr. and Mrs. Puffer returned to Fulton. To this marriage two daughters were born, Nettie, now Mrs. Martin H. McGrath, of this city, and Daisy, now Mrs. Clayton Snodgrass, of Iron Hill, Iowa. About twelve years ago her sight failed and she had been practically blind since, but through it all she was ever patient and uncomplaining, thinking more of others than herself and cheering those about her with words of encouragement, sympathy and love. When quite young she became deeply interested in the teachings and philosophy of modern Spiritualism and soon became not only satisfied in her own mind that its claims were true but became herself a medium and through all her life her faith in, or as she claimed her knowledge of, the truth of continued life and inter-communion of friends here and hereafter was a source of great comfort to her and that faith sustained her in the closing hours of her life. She was fully conscious throughout her final illness, but could speak only with great difficulty. The funeral services were at the house Sunday held at 2 o’clock p.m. Rev. Frank S. Arnold officiating, and the remains were buried in Fulton cemetery. Thus another old resident of Fulton sleeps in the silent city of the dead. Mr. Puffer will reside for the present with his daughter, Mrs. McGrath, in this city.
