Francis J. Plym was once knighted by Sweden’s king

Niles Daily Star Series

What do King Gustav of Sweden, plate glass windows, Kansas City, Berkley and the Niles Daily Star have in common? The answer is the Knight of Silverbrook Cemetery: Francis J. Plym.

Plym was born in Sweden on Sept. 16, 1869. When he was two years old his family came to the United States where his father continued working his trade of cabinet making.

As was often the case, Plym appeared to have been following in his father’s footsteps, working as a skilled carpenter, that is, until he visited the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. One can only imagine the wide-eyed young man, with a sixth grade education making his way through the exhibits of new and expanding technology of the historic fair.

It is nearly impossible for children today to imagine the world without huge factories and computers in every classroom and yet this was the dawn of the industrial age. Young Plym wanted to be a part of it all.

Click here to read the full article at the Niles Daily Star.

Published Oct 17th, 2009