ge L. Knox, was born in
Wilson County, Tenn., September 16, 1841. He was a slave,
spending his early life on the farm and in following the
vocation of shoemaker, which he learned while serving a
master.

In 1862 he joined the Union forces in the Civil War; after
the termination of that terrible crisis he went to
Indianapolis, where he learned the tonsorial art. He did not
stay any great while in that city, but went to Greenfield,
Ind., not many miles away, where he concluded to make his
home. He established himself in business in a small way, and
by dint of persistency, thrift and integrity, such as has
marked his course ever since, he, in a few years, succeeded
in gaining a competence. He took an active part in politics
as a Republican, of which party he has been an unswerving
member up to this time. He won great respect for himself and
family among the whites, and the older Greenfieldians never
visit Indianapolis without dropping in to see George, as
they so familiarly call him.

In 1895 he moved to Indianapolis and finally became the sole
proprietor of the Bates House barber shop, said to be the
most elegant shop in the country. He is a member of the M.
E. Church, which has greatly honored him by sending him as a
delegate-at-large to the general conference in New York in
1888, and to Omaha, Neb., in 1892. He has filled numerous
offices in the local church.

He has been very active and prominent in Republican councils
in his new home. Has served as delegate-at-large to the
National Convention that met in Minneapolis, Minn., 1892,
where Benjamin Harrison was nominated for the Presidency. He
was selected as an Alternate Delegate-at-large to St. Louis,
Mo., in 1896, when President McKinley was nominated. His
voice has been heard all over the state in advocacy of the
principles of his party.

In 1892 he look charge of the Freeman and since that time he
has given the publication considerable attention, the
results of which are shown by its very large and very wide
circulation. The active management of this well-known paper
is in charge of his son, Elwood C., who is rapidly
developing as a man of business and affairs.

History has, since time begun, shown the rise, decline and fall of
empires, nations, races and individuals