Biography

Obituary: Major Henry P. Knowles, a leading banker and produce dealer of Wayne county, died yesterday at his home in Palmyra, aged 82. He survived by one daughter. He was born in Lyons and enlisted August 19, 1862, in Company A of the Ninth New York Heavy Artillery Volunteers as Quartermaster, was promoted to be Commissary Sergeant September 20, 1864. and later was advanced to Brevet Major and served on the staff of Gen William H. Seward, being discharged June 27, 1865.  In 1866 he removed to Palmyra and founded the banking house of H.P. Knowles & Co. which exists to-day. He was also associated in the general forwarding and produce business, owning boats on the Erie Canal. He was agent of the American Express Company at Palmyra for a quarter of a century and was actively engaged in business up to two weeks ago. He was a leader in the Episcopal Church in the Western New York diocese, being custodian of certain funds.
Served as a quartermaster in William Henry Seward Jr.'s regiment, and is mostly likely the "Knowles" referred to in William Henry Seward Jr.'s letter to Janet Seward on October 2, 1864.