Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
MCKNIGHT, Thomas
MCKNIGHT, Thomas. (Unknown-Dubuque, IA, Dec., 1865). Postmaster of Peru. In 1833 McKnight, with Patrick J. QUIGLEY, surveyed the site north of Dubuque known as Peru. McKnight was later the postmaster of Peru before being appointed receiver in the Dubuque Land Office. It was believed at the time that McKnight collected and paid more to the government under the LEASING SYSTEM than all his successors had in twenty years.
On October 10, 1836, McKnight was among the three senators elected to represent that portion of Wisconsin Territory west of the MISSISSIPPI RIVER. McKnight practiced law and in 1846 lost an election by only 247 votes to Ansel BRIGGS who became Iowa's first governor.