Knowlton's Drug Store (1890 - pre 1940)
Knowlton's Drug Store is shown in the callout on the left. It can be identified in the historical photographs by the distictive awning and by its location next to the double bay windows of the building to the west.
A History of Knowlton's Drug Store in Coquille
R.S. Knowlton moved to Coquille from
Empire City, opening his drug store on January 1, 1890. Newspaper accounts of
the day indicate that he purchased the store from Judge Nosler, who had been
running a drug store in this same location since at least 1885. The store was
consumed by fire in the 1892 fire that burned much of downtown Coquille, but
was quickly rebuilt.
Knowlton's Drug Store was known for carrying a
wide selection of items, including school books, writing tablets, lead
pencils, and ink. In later years, Mr. Knowlton added Kodak cameras and
accessories to his inventory.
Ad from Polk's City Directory of 1916-1917
Newspaper Clippings
Mr. Knowlton, our new druggist who [bought] Judge Nosler out, arrived New
Year's and is opening a complete new stock of drugs.
Coquille Valley Herald, January 7, 1890
Old Established Drug Store Sold
Marshfield, Or. - July 19.-- (Special)-- The R.S. Knowlton drug store, conducted by the owners for 31 years in Coquille,
has been purchased by F.C. Hudson of Montana. The Knowlton drug store is the oldest in the county save one, the Lowe store
at Bandon, which was conducted by the same owner over a long period of years.
Morning Oregonian, July 20, 1921
Biography of Rudolphus S. Knowlton
One of the most prominent and highly respected citizens of Coquille is Rudolphus S. Knowlton, who beside conducting
a flourishing drug business in the city is president of the Farmers & Merchants Bank and a stock holder in various other
important enterprises. He gives most of his attention, however, to his drug store, which is one of the finest in Coquille
and which he has made expand and grow by constantly following progressive and upright methods. Mr. Knowlton was born in
Tennessee in 1855 and is a son of Horace C. and Mary Agnes (Stone) Knowlton, the former a native of Vermont and the
latter of Tennessee. The father of our subject was of New England ancestry, his people having settled in Massachusetts
at an early date. His marriage, however, occurred in Tennessee, and in that state he owned a large plantation which he
operated for a number of years. He later followed the blacksmith's trade, which he had learned under his father, and
afterward engaged in the saw milling business. He was left almost bankrupt after the war and engaged in farming until
his death. He and his wife had nine children: Mary C., the widow of Dr. M. C. Wells; Horace C.; Rudolphus S., of this
review: Charles, deceased; Emerson E.; John D.; William; Bruce, who died at the age of eight; and Leila, the wife
of John Cate.
Rudolphus S. Knowlton grew up upon his father's plantation in Tennessee and assisted his father in the work of the
fields for a number of years. He was not yet twenty- one years old when the family moved to Arkansas and in that
state he took a course in the Searcy Academy. He broadened his knowledge by making use of every opportunity and by
constant and well selected reading and fitted himself for teaching, following this occupation in the country schools
for two years. He afterward studied pharmacy and while he was taking this course worked in a local drug store. After
some time he took charge of a similar enterprise in Lonoke, Arkansas, managing the store for its owner, who was a
practicing physician. He lived in that city for seven years and then secured a position in a pharmacy in San Francisco.
After two years he came to Coos bay, settling at Empire, which was then the county seat, and clerked in a drug store for
two years, saving his money until he was able to establish himself in business in Coquille. He took charge of his
enterprise in 1890 and two years afterward lost his entire savings in a fire which devastated the town. However, he
immediately rebuilt, purchased a new stock and reopened his business, which he has continued since that time. He was
one of the organizers of the Farmers & Merchants Bank, which opened its doors on March 10, 1909. He was elected
president at that time and has held this office ever since.
On May 2, 1892, Mr. Knowlton was united in marriage to Miss Annie Hayter, a native of Coos county and a daughter
of W. L. Hayter, one of the earliest settlers on the Coquille river. He crossed the plains from Missouri at an early
date and settled in Polk county, coming in 1865 to Coos county and locating on the Coquille river, where he died in
1908, at the age of eighty- five years. Mrs. Knowlton is one of a family of fifteen children, namely: Dosia; Richard M.;
Melvin; James T. ; William R. ; Annie; Cora; Ella; Robert; Edith; May; Wilbur O.; Charles A., who was accidentally killed
in March, 1909; Andrew J.; and Elizabeth, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Knowlton have three children, Owen H., R. Clay
and Naomi.
Mr. Knowlton gives his allegiance to the democratic party but never seeks public office. He is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church, South. His business ability, his belief in the future of his section, his interest in local growth and
improvement, all entitle him to his present representative place among the citizens of Coquille.
Centennial History of Oregon: 1811 - 1912 by Joseph Gaston, 1912. p. 493