"An Auspicious Encounter" Legendary long hunter James Knox and Cherokee Brave "Captain Dick" after whom Dick's River was named (modernly known as Dix River) are the subjects in this painting by Andrew Knez, Jr.
Colonel James Knox, Jr. (1740 - December 24, 1822) was a pioneer and a long hunter.
Born abt. 1740, son of James and Jean Knox, Scotch-Irish immigrants from the province of Ulster, in Northern Ireland. James lived his early years in Augusta Co., VA with siblings John (m. Sarah Robinson, dau. of Joseph, 1793) Robert, Abigail, Elizabeth, Jean, and Mary. His parents were also court-appointed guardians of orphan Ann Jenny Usher.
Some accounts say Revolutionary War veteran, Col. James Knox, arrived in the U.S. from Ireland at the age of 14, which would be abt. 1754; however, this is a disputed date since records of his father's guardianship of Ann Jenny Usher, the first fiduciary guardianship bond on record in Augusta Co., VA appear 11 Feb 1745. Perhaps James, Jr.'s year of immigration was actually abt 1744 (or at age 4), rather than 1754, or perhaps 14 was actually the age of his father who shared the same name when he, rather than his son, came to the United States from Ulster.
While in command of a military force of Augusta Co., VA emigrants, James went down the Holston River to Kentucky, where he built Fort Knox for the protection of the frontier, and which later became Knoxville. After many expeditions and a long military career, he was a member of the Virginia Legislature from Jefferson Co. (now KY), 1788, and of the Kentucky State Senate, from Lincoln Co., 1795-1800.
He married, January 1, 1805, Ann (Montgomery) Logan, widow of General Benjamin McKinley Logan, both buried in the Logan Family Burial Grounds, along with other Logan family members. James died December 24, 1822 in Shelby County, Kentucky. had no known children.
Historical researcher and author John Curry calls James Knox "one of the greatest, most successful Long Hunters who would ever live."