You may remember in Beck's books he mentions the bicycle artist Ned Knox quite often and here is a little bit more about him. Ned's full name was Edward Prentice Knox and he came to Toms River around 1915. He was the son of Rev. Charles E. and Sarah Fake Knox who arrived in Point Pleasant from Bloomfield in the late 1800s. It has been said that Ned was the first resident of Tom's River to sign up for military duty during WW1. As I have mentioned in a previous post Ned lived at 32 Snyder Ave which today is a parking lot. Even though Ned painted for years he became well known when Beck wrote about him. Here is how one writer oddly described that.
Ned Knox came to light when he wrote a letter to the writer of some books on the old towns of New Jersey.
Ned's bicycle riding was actually not something uncommon in that area.
Edgar Pearce is regarded by his fellow artists as a painter of unusual ability. He scours the county side between Manasquan and Point Pleasant, riding a bicycle with his canvas under his arm, looking for some bit of natural beauty which can be reproduced in color.
While Ned was mostly known as a painter he apparently had other interests. A 1933 article mentions that Edward P. Knox, Toms River, was a given a patent by the US patent office for a projector.
Now here is where it gets confusing. A 1980 article says that Ned married late in life but there is evidence that if it is true he already had a son years before. However, in 1941 his son would die in a tragic accident. A 1941 article says this.
Son of Edward P. Knox, Toms River, Killed in Fall on Rock
The Knox youth had been swimming in a pool near Lodi at Silver Thread Falls. He left the water and was walking across a bridge when he fell. His head struck the rock and he suffered a skull fracture, according to John Gordon, Senica county coroner.
Charles Knox, who was a resident of New York state, was a frequent visitor at the home of his father, 32 Snyder Ave, Toms River. The boy lived with an aunt, Miss Alice Knox of Pitman. A frequent visitor in Toms River, he was in Toms River only a few days ago to see his father, He was blond, curly-haired and always was seen on the street with his dog and bicycle.
One article mentions that Ned married late in life so the son mentioned above is a mystery. Sometime between 1941 and 1943 Ned married Angelica Clayton of Dover Township. Angelica had previously had three other husbands and two of them died in accidents. In 1945 or 1946 they moved to South Seaville in Cape May County even though other info says he had moved back to Toms River soon after. In any event, on December 23, 1947 after a six week stay at Fort Dix Army hospital Edward Prentice Knox passed away. His obituary noted he was 67 and died of a heart ailment. He was serving as a truant officer in Dennis Township.
Some of Ned's paintings were of the Oak at Ong's Hat, the meeting house at Crosswicks, the old sawmill at Dover Forge, the school house at Woodmansie, dunes along the shore, Arney's Mount and scenes of one of the earliest quarries, yielding stone for old colonial foundations. One other article says that very few of his many paintings are known to exist.
Ned will have the final word.
No matter what some of the established people say, there is something about New Jersey, something about all these half-known places that cries out for recognition. I just have to do something about it, that's all.
Ned Knox came to light when he wrote a letter to the writer of some books on the old towns of New Jersey.
Ned's bicycle riding was actually not something uncommon in that area.
Edgar Pearce is regarded by his fellow artists as a painter of unusual ability. He scours the county side between Manasquan and Point Pleasant, riding a bicycle with his canvas under his arm, looking for some bit of natural beauty which can be reproduced in color.
While Ned was mostly known as a painter he apparently had other interests. A 1933 article mentions that Edward P. Knox, Toms River, was a given a patent by the US patent office for a projector.
Now here is where it gets confusing. A 1980 article says that Ned married late in life but there is evidence that if it is true he already had a son years before. However, in 1941 his son would die in a tragic accident. A 1941 article says this.
Son of Edward P. Knox, Toms River, Killed in Fall on Rock
The Knox youth had been swimming in a pool near Lodi at Silver Thread Falls. He left the water and was walking across a bridge when he fell. His head struck the rock and he suffered a skull fracture, according to John Gordon, Senica county coroner.
Charles Knox, who was a resident of New York state, was a frequent visitor at the home of his father, 32 Snyder Ave, Toms River. The boy lived with an aunt, Miss Alice Knox of Pitman. A frequent visitor in Toms River, he was in Toms River only a few days ago to see his father, He was blond, curly-haired and always was seen on the street with his dog and bicycle.
One article mentions that Ned married late in life so the son mentioned above is a mystery. Sometime between 1941 and 1943 Ned married Angelica Clayton of Dover Township. Angelica had previously had three other husbands and two of them died in accidents. In 1945 or 1946 they moved to South Seaville in Cape May County even though other info says he had moved back to Toms River soon after. In any event, on December 23, 1947 after a six week stay at Fort Dix Army hospital Edward Prentice Knox passed away. His obituary noted he was 67 and died of a heart ailment. He was serving as a truant officer in Dennis Township.
Some of Ned's paintings were of the Oak at Ong's Hat, the meeting house at Crosswicks, the old sawmill at Dover Forge, the school house at Woodmansie, dunes along the shore, Arney's Mount and scenes of one of the earliest quarries, yielding stone for old colonial foundations. One other article says that very few of his many paintings are known to exist.
Ned will have the final word.
No matter what some of the established people say, there is something about New Jersey, something about all these half-known places that cries out for recognition. I just have to do something about it, that's all.
Certainly makes genealogy searches interesting, but tedious 
The oldest relatives so far are from the early 1500's. The family tree is amazing 
