by Karen Yvonne Hamilton, 2024. Latest update 2/8/25
Sophia Lavinia KNOWLES was born on November 30, 1842, in Long Island, Bahamas to John Thomas KNOWLES (1803-1891) and Hannah Elizabeth PRANCE (1814-1866).
In 1850, Sophia lived with her parents and siblings in Key West, Florida. The family moved to Cudjoe Key and were living there in 1860. Sophia was 17 and listed on the census as a seamstress.
She married John Verta JOHNSON on October 22, 1862, in Key West, Florida. Sophia’s sister, Sarah KNOWLES married John Verta’s brother, Robert William JOHNSON.
CHILDREN (list may be incomplete)
- John William was born on September 7, 1863
- Thurston Ellsworth was born on September 25, 1865
- Louis Marrington was born on January 6, 1868
- Clauderly Clarence was born on February 22, 1870
- Albert Victor was born on February 27, 1872
- Eugene O was born on November 24, 1873
- Clara Belle was born on May 30, 1876
- Walter Otto was born on May 21, 1878
- Jeanette ‘Nettie’ Bertha was born on October 3, 1879
- Rosetta May was born on July 16, 1886
Sophia lived with her husband, John Verta JOHNSON in Key West in 1870 with their children, John, Thurston, Lewis, and Clarence. John Verta worked as a clerk in a grocery. A 13-year old named Eliza THOMPSON also lived with the family.
Sophia and John lost several children at very young ages. Albert Victor passed away on June 24, 1873 when he was 1 year old. Clauderly Clarence passed away on January 19, 1875 at the age of 4. Clara Belle passed away on May 9, 1878 when she was 1 year old. Eugene O passed away on March 13, 1904 at the age of 30.
In 1880, the family lived at 211 Simonton Street in Key West. The children living with them were John, Thurston, Lewis, Eugene, Walter, and Jeannette. In 1885, the family had moved to 105 Simonton Street and had added Rosetta to the family.
John Verta owned and operated a general store.
The family lived at 713 Patronia Street in 1900. In 1910, Sophia and John lived at 713 Simonton St.
FAMILY MEMORIES
From the research notes of Jane Ann GARCIA Rowland:
Sophia was a highly respected Christian woman in Key West. Miss Elaine (Sophia’s granddaughter) said people were always knocking on her door asking her to pray for them or their family. Sophia raised pigeons to use in a dish she took to sick people. She said it was nourishing and would help them get well. Miss Elaine said the dish was called gruel and her grandmother would boil the pigeons until she had a rich broth then would add oatmeal to the broth.
Elaine related a story about how her grandmother held weekly prayer meetings in her home, and family were expected to attend. Elaine said everyone prayed out loud, sang hymns and clapped their hands. Elaine says that these services “scared me to death”.
Elaine remembers that her grandmother was always neatly dressed and would wear nothing but black or white clothes or a combination of the two. She was the sort to pray for the sick, and if she got up and said she felt everything was going to be alright, it usually worked out that way. But whenever she didn’t feel that assurance, the person usually died. She visited the sick and seemed to have no fear of catching the illness no matter how serious it was.
Sophia had a limited education and was eager for her children to have a good education. She read her Bible and helped out in her husband’s hardware store doing long and difficult arithmetic, figuring it out in her head, and was usually always correct. She would go out and feel the belly of the chickens when she lived with her sister and would then announce how many eggs they could expect for breakfast.
Elaine recalls that her grandmother had a strong personality while her aunt, Sarah, was more quiet and shy.
Sophia died on December 14, 1912, in Key West, Florida, at the age of 70, and was buried there.
FLORIDA KEYS HISTORY FACEBOOK GROUP: Consider joining our group for more on Florida Keys History. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1362248743967131
Exploring Florida History 