Draft:T.J. Knabb

Thomas Jefferson Knabb(c. May 11th, 1880- October 12th, 1935) was a Floridian banker, businessman, and politician

Personal Life
T.J. married his wife Leona Howard in 1902. They had no children, but raised their nephew Lucious Knabb.

Political Career
T.J. was a senator for four sessions(1921, 1923, 1929, 1931) representing the 29th district. During his time in office he helped to pass the bill that created the first teachers pension in the state.

Turpentine Business
Turpentine was a large industry in the north of Florida and T.J along with his brothers owned Knabb Turpentine a large turpentine manufacture with 200,000 acres of pineland. This land was worked by prisoners from Baker, Bradford, and Alachua counties. These prisoners worked as slaves and their labor was bought from the counties for as little as $35 a month. In 1923 a prison inspector and sheriff visited the camp calling it a "a human slaughter pen".