ROSE MARKWARD KNOX
Name: Rose Knox
Born: November 18, 1857
Died: 1940
Rose Knox, Markward, aka Mrs Charles B. Knox (November 18, 1857 - 1940) was
an American businesswoman, who ran the Knox Gelatin Factory in Johnstown, New
York, USA after her husband died. She won wide respect as one of the leading
businesswomen of her time.
Rose was one of three girls born to David and Amanda Markward of Mansfield, Ohio.
In the late 1870s, Rose and her family moved to Gloversville, New York, where
she lived until 1896. Rose met her husband, Charles Briggs Knox, in 1881: they
married on February 15, 1883. Together Rose and Charles had three children: one
girl who died in childhood, and two sons, one of whom died in early adulthood.
Rose took her husband's last name, Knox, on marriage. In 1896 the family moved
to Johnstown to set up a gelatin business after Charles Knox watched Rose making
homemade gelatin in her kitchen. The Charles B. Knox Gelatin Company was located
in a large four story factory building. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Knox were very
close: Charles shared all his business affairs with his wife, making them
partners in the business. Rose wrote recipe booklets promoting Knox's gelatin
product, over a million of which were distributed each year.[1] Mr. Knox also
allowed his wife a weekly allowance which she could do with as she pleased. This
taught Rose how to handle and budget money, which came in handy when she was
running the Gelatin Business herself.
Mrs. Knox became a businesswoman when her husband died in 1908, taking over his
Knox Gelatin Factory. She made notable changes in the business. The first day
she was there she permanently closed the back door of the factory, stating that
all men and women were equal and that was the way she was going to be treating
them: there was no need to have two separate doors. She also requested one of
her husband’s top executives to resign after he was overheard saying he would
not work for a women. Throughout the years to come, Mrs. Knox made many other
changes. One of the most famous things she did was to create a five day work
week for her workers, and she also gave them two weeks of paid vacation,
something that was unheard of before. Mrs. Knox survived the Depression without
having to release any of her workers. She was a Prebyterian in religion and a
Republican in politics. She died aged 93, in 1950.
Name: Rose Knox
Born: November 18, 1857
Died: 1940
Rose Knox, Markward, aka Mrs Charles B. Knox (November 18, 1857 - 1940) was
an American businesswoman, who ran the Knox Gelatin Factory in Johnstown, New
York, USA after her husband died. She won wide respect as one of the leading
businesswomen of her time.
Rose was one of three girls born to David and Amanda Markward of Mansfield, Ohio.
In the late 1870s, Rose and her family moved to Gloversville, New York, where
she lived until 1896. Rose met her husband, Charles Briggs Knox, in 1881: they
married on February 15, 1883. Together Rose and Charles had three children: one
girl who died in childhood, and two sons, one of whom died in early adulthood.
Rose took her husband's last name, Knox, on marriage. In 1896 the family moved
to Johnstown to set up a gelatin business after Charles Knox watched Rose making
homemade gelatin in her kitchen. The Charles B. Knox Gelatin Company was located
in a large four story factory building. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Knox were very
close: Charles shared all his business affairs with his wife, making them
partners in the business. Rose wrote recipe booklets promoting Knox's gelatin
product, over a million of which were distributed each year.[1] Mr. Knox also
allowed his wife a weekly allowance which she could do with as she pleased. This
taught Rose how to handle and budget money, which came in handy when she was
running the Gelatin Business herself.
Mrs. Knox became a businesswoman when her husband died in 1908, taking over his
Knox Gelatin Factory. She made notable changes in the business. The first day
she was there she permanently closed the back door of the factory, stating that
all men and women were equal and that was the way she was going to be treating
them: there was no need to have two separate doors. She also requested one of
her husband’s top executives to resign after he was overheard saying he would
not work for a women. Throughout the years to come, Mrs. Knox made many other
changes. One of the most famous things she did was to create a five day work
week for her workers, and she also gave them two weeks of paid vacation,
something that was unheard of before. Mrs. Knox survived the Depression without
having to release any of her workers. She was a Prebyterian in religion and a
Republican in politics. She died aged 93, in 1950.