Benjamin Franklin McKnight was born to Robert ( 1825 - 1904 ) buried Evergreen Cemetery, Spencer, Toga County, and Martha "Decker" McKnight in Elmira, Chemung County New York June 15 1855. He was one of 7 children, 5 biological and 1 adopted siblings -

Catharine Allington - McKnight 1844–

William H McKnight 1850–

Susan Jane McKnight - Aug 5 1851 – March 30 1864 memorial # 5394898 buried Roushy Cemetery Chemung, New York

Rachel McKnight 1854– before 1870

Adeline McKnight 1858–

Alice McKnight (Beadle) Jan 24 1870 - 21 Jan 1924 memorial 245910626 - buried Evergreen Cemetery, Spencer, Tioga County, New York

Pennsylvania, May 2 1877 Ben married Pernisa Benjamin and lived in the Williamsport area . When the 1880 census is taken Benjamin and Sally (Pernisa) McKnight are in Williamsport, Lycoming, Pennsylvania, in their household are Mary (later spelled Marie) age 1, Lucy (Lucille)aged 5 months, Robert; Benjamin's father listed as a widower and Alice, Benjamins sister age 11. Their son William Robert is born in Pennsylvania October 31 1881,

Sometime between 1882 and 1884 Benjamin moves to New York with his family; there, their son Benjamin Franklin Jr. is born in Elmira, Chemung County, New York 1 August 1884. by 1890 the McKnight family is in Iowa, first the Lamar's area then in Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa. August 1890 Pernisa passes away from pneumonia. Benjamin remarries a woman but divorces; only later known by "the wife of T.F. Finnerty in newspaper articles; Her name is Florence E Goodman. He again marries for the third time in 1899 to Johanne Kristine Nicoline. From 1901 until 1915 Benjamin's life is in upheaval. 1916 he moves back to New York and in May remarries; this being the fourth time, to Elvira L. "Benjamin" Drake, Pernisa's sister. Elvira passes away in 1929 and Ben marries Lillian , his wife until He passes away in 1940. The headstone reads 1940 death date for both Benjamin and Lillian, but Lillian didn't pass away until 1942. documentation of their relationship, place of burial and death dates are retained.