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 Of the Pioneers of Tampa .

 PETER 0. KNIGT

PETER 0. KIGHT is a distinguished lawyer, a skillful and ;
indomitable politician, and one of the brainiest men of Tam-
pa either in the legal, or'any other, profession. A sketch
of his-family in Florida resolves itself largely into a.per-
sonal biography of himself, for he is practically the family.
There are no others save his immediate household.
 Peter 0. Knight is a Floridian by choice, not accident.
He was born at Freeburg, Snider County, Pennsylvania, Decem-
ber 16, 1865. His father died in the early childhood of his
son, and his mother went with her son to live in Indiana,
where Petor 0. was educated. He graduated from the law
school of Valparaiso University. But a short time after his
graduation he, Tith his mother, removed to Florida, making
.his home at Fort Myers, in the present county of Lee. He
at once, though very young, took rank as one of the most en-
terprising citizens of the growing little city, taking the
lead in advocating and promoting every measure that made for
the upbuilding and advancement of the community. He was
largely instrumental in securing the incorporation of the
town, and was chosen its first mayor.
 At this time Fort Myers was still in Monroe County,
 the division not yet having taken place. At the Democratic
 county convention held in the same year that Mr. Knight was
 elected mayor of Fort Myers, he was honored by being tender-
 ed the nomination as member of the legislature from the. coun-
 ty of Monroe, but he was obliged to decline the proffered
 distinction because he was not yet of the age. required to-
 make him eligible to the position.
 Soon after the sitting of this convention the move-
 ment to secure the division of Monroe and to form the new
 county of Lee was commenced, and Peter 0. Knight took a lead-
 ing part in it. Suboess was attained in the year 1887. In
 the following year he was honored further by being chosen
 as the first delegate from the new county of Lee to the state
 Democratic convention that met at St. Augustine, and he took
 an active and prominent part in the proceedings of that body.
 At the regular election held in November of the same
 year Mr. Knight was chosen to represent Lee County in the
 state legislature, and upon the convening of that body was
 made chairman of the judiciary committee, in many particulars
 St)e most important committee of the body. At the time he !
 was but twenty-three years of age, and was, perhaps, the
 youngest man, who in the history of the United States ever
 occupied such a responsible position*
Srn all of this time Peter 0. Knight ws making
quite as rapid advancement inNiUaisen preoessiof mmww