Amanda's Grandfather was Richard Searle Whitaker, he came to Knobel with the railroad when he was 19 years old. He had been working for them in St. Louis and was one of the overseers when the railroad was first coming through. He was born May 11,1863 in England and died Nov. 7,1938 in KNobel. During the years he lived in Knobel we met and married Ruby Faye Ridgeway. They had 5 children. He was President of the Board of Trustees of Arkansas State College for 25 years, having been appointed to the Board in 1911 and elected president in 1913. At the time of his death he was Secetary of the Executive Board of the four state schools at Jonesboro, Magnolia, Monticello and Russellville. His sister, Adelle Whitaker, married Richard Gilchrist in Knobel and lived there until their deaths.
** Thank you Amanda for the information on your Grandfather. If anyone else has information on their family from Knobel that would like me to add to the site Please e-mail.
