Phineas F. Bresee - A Prince In Israel - Media Sabda Org

Phineas F. Bresee
A PRINCE IN ISRAEL
By E. A. Girvin
CHAPTER 8
Association and Friendship With Rev. Joseph Knotts -- They Engage in Business Enterprises
Together -- Flooding of Their Great Mexican Mine -- End of His Financial Career
During Brother Bresee's first pastorate at the Broadway church, in Council Bluffs, Rev. Joseph
Knotts, although in his middle manhood, had become superannuated by reason of ill health.
Subsequently he engaged in various business enterprises, one of which was the publication of a
religious paper, called "The Inland Advocate," of which for a time Dr. Bresee was editor. Brother
Knotts, although his lungs were so affected that he could not preach, owned a bookstore, and other
interests. He was a man of intense activity, and could not resign himself to idleness.
About this time the large hotel building in which his principal store was located, was destroyed
by fire, and his business ruined. In trying to save some of his property from the fire, his bronchial
difficulty was much aggravated.
Thus thrown out of business, and more broken in health, he began to canvass the situation, and
seek for some financial opening. With this in view, he went to Washington City, and spent the winter
in studying the political and business conditions, not only of this country, but of the entire American
continent. For this comprehensive and analytical investigation, he was well qualified, as he possessed
rare mental and moral endowments. Persistent, courageous, magnetic, sagacious, and intimately
acquainted with all the influences that affect the heart and move the will, he was a great leader of
men. He was resourceful, daring, and could bring things to pass. Like all dominating, masterful men,
he had initiative and executive ability in a rare degree.
In his moral and spiritual attainments he also far surpassed the average man. An earnest Christian,
his heart beat in sympathy with all that was good and noble. He was stubbornly loyal to his friends.
Those whom he trusted could rely upon his standing by them to the very end. Being a strong
preacher, he had held good appointments, and was a member of the same General Conference, to
which Dr. Bresee was elected in 1872. I deem it important to give this pen portrait of the man, in
view of the fact that he and the subject of this biography were so closely associated during a long
term of years.
During Mr. Knotts' stay in Washington, he concluded that Mexico, the resources of which were
beginning to attract attention, offered him the best opportunities. He did not form any definite plans,
however, until he had carefully canvassed its great mineral and agricultural possibilities.
Having influential friends at the national capital, he was appointed American Consul to the state
of Chihuahua, after which he returned to Council Bluffs, and made his preparations to start for
Mexico, with the idea of being on the alert for exceptionally good investments and business
openings.