How can I find out family history information about Edwin M. Knowles?

Question

I'm trying to find out if he is part of our family name of the same--Knowles. / He is the founder of the Edwin M. Knowles china (dishes) factory from West Virginia.

Answer 1

www.rootsweb.com
Edwin M KNOWLES
Birth: 5 Jan 1869 in East Liverpool, OH
Death: 8 Feb 1943 in Newell, W VA
Burial: 12 Feb 1943 Riverview Cemetery, East Liverpool, OH
Harvard Univ Education
Occupation: formed Edwin M Knowles Pottery, Newell, WVA

Father: Isaac Watts KNOWLES
Mother: Rebecca Jane MERCHANT
Marriage: Mary Katherine Durflinger
Children
Edwin Kenneth KNOWLES--b: 16 Jul 1892 in East Liverpool, OH

Parents info:
Father: b: 16 MAY 1819 in Hookstown Beaver Co PA
Death: 23 JUL 1902 in Pasadena CA
Burial: 2 AUG 1902 Riverview Cemetery E. Liverpool OH
1845:Occupation-- Potteries /carpenter/cabinet maker

Mother: Birth: 22 Feb 1839 in Delaware, OH
Death: 1 Mar 1933 in Palm Beach, Florida (Coronary Thrombosis)
Burial: 3 May 1933 Riverview Cemetery, East Liverpool, OH


PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS:
Father: John KNOWLES b: 8 Sep 1783 in Pennsylvania ;
Died: 1858,East Liverpool,Columbiana,Ohio

Mother: Rachel WARRICK b: 1789 in Kingwood, Hunterdon Co., NJ; Died: 1858-01-11, East Liverpool,Columbiana,Ohio

MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS (Rebecca's parents)
Father: William MERCHANT (or MARCHANT)
Birth: Jun. 13, 1800, Berkeley County,West Virginia, USA
Death: Dec. 27, 1878, Washington Court House, Fayette
County, Ohio, USA

Mother: Elizabeth "Betsey" Smith
Born: 16 Aug 1805,Back Creek Valley, Berkeley, VA
Died: 12 Apr 1894, Fayette, Ohio
MATERNAL GREAT-GRANDPARENTS:
Isaac Smith
Born: 16 Jun 1780,Back Creek Valley, Berkeley, Virginia
Died: 3 May 1853, Fayette, Ohio

Nancy Wilson
Born: 18 Jun 1783 , Berkeley, Virginia
Died: 3 Mar 1870, Fayette, Ohio

William Merchant's parents:
Abraham Marchant
Born: 15 Dec 1763 , Berkley, Virginia
Died:17 Oct, 1815, New Martinsburg, Highland, OH

Sarah Bull
Born: March 20, 1767, Berkley, VA, USA
Died: April 7, 1845. Highland, Ohio, USA




MATERNAL GREAT-GREAT GRANDPARENTS:
Alexander Smith
Born: 1735 , Prince William, Virginia
Died: 1801 , Back Creek Valley, Berkeley, Virginia

Mary Wright
Born: 1748
Died: 1812, Berkeley, Virginia


MATERNAL 3RD GREAT-GRANDPARENTS: MERCHANT

William Merchant
Parents: Richard Merchant & Mary Ebden Sweeting
Birth: 1725-09-15
Somerset,,Maryland,USA
Death: 1772-06-18
Charles Town,Berkeley,West Virginia,USA
Marriage — 1747-03-25 in Frederick,,Virginia,USA
Priscilla Brooks
Parents: Unknown & Unknown
Birth: 1731
Frederick,,Virginia,USA
Death: 1787

4th GREAT-GRANDPARENTS:
Richard Merchant
Born: 1700
Queen Annes,,Maryland,USA
Died: 1752-09-01
Old Pauls Church,Baltimore,Maryland,USA

Marriage 1723-07-28 in St Pauls Parish,Baltimore,Maryland,USA
Mary Ebden Sweeting
Born: 1705
,,Virginia,USA
Died: 1753

5TH GREAT-GRANDPARENTS:
William Ebden
Born: 1667
Baltimore,,Maryland,USA
Died: 1699-10-04
Baltimore,,Maryland,USA
Married: ABT 1690 in Baltimore, Baltimore, MD
Elizabeth :Born: 1670, Baltimore County, MD
Died: Baltimore County, MD


PATERNAL GREAT-GRANDPARENTS (Rachel's)
Isaac Warrick
Born: 1752 , Brighton,Beaver,Pennsylvania
Died: 1839-08-27, South Beaver,Beaver,Pennsylvania

Mary Thatcher
Born: 1757, Brighton,Beaver,Pennsylvania
Died: 1831-11-03, South Beaver,Beaver,Pennsylvania

ABOUT HIS CHINA COMPANY:
Edwin M. Knowles ( 1869-1943) was the son of Isaac Watt Knowles (1819-1902), a founder and partner of the firm Knowles, Taylor, and Knowles Co., which by the turn of the century had become the largest pottery in the world. Edwin Knowles' father had helped pioneer many inventions that revolutionized American dinnerware manufacture.
Edwin M. Knowles entered the pottery business after receiving his education at Allegheny College and Harvard University. He took control of the Potters Supply Company of East Liverpool, Ohio in 1890. By 1900, he became founder and president of the Knowles China Company, which soon changed its name to the Edwin M. Knowles China Co.
The Knowles facility, located in Chester, West Virginia, was described as a "model plant of the highest order." Edwin Knowles determined that his firm would manufacture only the finest semi-vitreous ware. One year later, product from the plant was lauded by the Crockery and Glass Journal as the highest grade ware: "weight is light, its finish the finest, its shapes graceful, its decorations artistic, and its body and quality most durable." Knowles' reputation for creating quality product became known throughout the industry. Demand for Knowles product grew. It wasn't long thereafter that plant No. 2 was erected, just two miles south of plant No. 1 along the Ohio River in Chester, West Virginia in Newell, West Virginia.
By November 1930 production had been at its best since the ending of the World War. The number of workers at this time was about 725 and by March 1931, with business still improving, employment was reported at about 600 workers. The firm consolidated its manufacture at the Newell factory, selling its Chester, West Virginia plant to the Harker Pottery in 1931.
Vincent Broomhall (1906-1991) became the firm's art director in 1935. The deco-modern Yorktown dinnerware was introduced in 1936. The line was characterized by many circular ridges or terraces, a common design feature at this time.
A full-featured line of kitchenware accessories was introduced by the company in 1938. Designed by Vincent Broomhall, it was said to be modern and promoted the space-saving concept in the kitchen. The ware, available in seven colors that could be mixed and matched, was said to be in colors jointly adopted by retail organizations.
The company introduced its new shape in 1939. Potomac was said to combine "Colonial grace with modern simplicity". Patterns on the shape would be in "The American Tradition", with themes from early American to American modern.
PATTERNS--YEAR INTRODUCED:
Yorktown--1936.
Potomac--1941
Pacific Plaids--1950 (created by Virginia Hamill)
Accent --1951
Gourmet--c.1956
Twin Oaks--1953-1954
Paradise--1953
Criterion--1954
Ribbon --1954
Ebonette--1954
Pink Threads--1954 (also had Green Threads)
Choreography --1955
Scroll --1955
Celestial --1955
Forecast,--1956
Esquire--1956 (included Grass, Antique White, Queen Anne's Lace, Seeds, etc)
Solar,--1957
Botanica (showcasing fifteen different wild leaves, ferns, vines and pods in white outline form on a tan background)--1957
Four Seasons--White (1959), Washington Square (1959),Modern Classic(1960), Reflections (1960)
Flower Chain (1959)
Triad (1959),
Ring-A-Round --1959
Street Song --1959

.Edwin M. Knowles remained president of the company until his death 9 February 1943. Succeeding E. M. Knowles as president was Frederick Blackmore Lawrence, who would continue in this office until his death in March 1948. William A. Harris Jr. would later serve as president during much of the fifties and into the early sixties
The company ceased operations in late 1962 citing a lack of foreseeable profits. This was largely blamed on tariffs which were said to encourage the importation of foreign dinnerware at prices so low that E. M. Knowles could not be competitive

Answer 2

http://www.modish.net/Edwin-M-Knowles-China-Company
the bio states that his father was Isaac Watt Knowles, who was born in 1819 and died 1902.
if you look at the below census from 1880, I would feel sure this is him since he manufactured dish wares. The entry of Edward is probably correct to be Edwin.
http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:3310613&id=I528903795
this is one of several files at rootsweb, but I posted this one since it seems to have notes/ documentation. Remember, if there is more than one file, you would want to compare them since they can overlap, and of course, you would always want to verify how accurate the sources may be.

Answer 3

I have cousins who are knowles..And my aunt and my late uncle Knowles.