Samuel Knowles (1857-1954)

Obituary
Veteran of State Methodism

MR. SAM KNOWLES DIES—CHURCH LOSS

LAST of the original members of the old Albert Street Methodist Church — and Queensland's oldest gemmologist — died in Brisbane yesterday.

He was 96-year-old veteran of Queensland Methodism, Mr. Sam Knowles. Mr. Knowles came to Brisbane from England on the sailing ship, Flying Cloud, in 1863. For 86 years a member of the Queensland Methodist Church, he first attended services when the city church was situated at the corner of Burnett Lane and Albert Street, on the present site of the Commonwealth Bank. His father, Mr. Sam Knowles, Senior, was one of the original trustees of the present Albert Street Church, and was responsible for the purchase of the property for £10,000. Mr. Knowles himself was senior trustee of the present Albert Street Church, completed in 1888.

He also was superintendent of the Sunday School at the church for 23 years. Dapper, bearded Mr. Knowles continued in his own business until a month ago when he suffered a stroke. His sons have been helping him in the business, which he established in 1878. He was nine years Queensland president of the Federated Retail Jewellers' Association of Australia. He also founded the Queensland Justices' Association. Keen and alert until the stroke, Mr. Knowles preached in the Albert Street Methodist Church last October. Tomorrow, the Rev. H. M. Wheller will conduct his funeral service in the same church. Mr. Knowles has left three sons, a daughter, 15 grand children, and three great grandchildren.

__SHOWFACTBOX__