Knox migrated to California with his wife Sarah Knox-Goodrich in 1850, and co-founded the South Yuba Canal Water Company in Nevada County.
Knox and his brother-in-law, T. Ellard Beans, opened Santa Clara County's first bank in 1866.
[6][7] In 1865, Knox was elected to the California State Senate for Santa Clara county.
The bill read: "Any married woman may dispose of all her estate by will, absolutely, without the consent of her husband, either express or implied, and may alter or revoke the same in like manner".
[9] William and Sarah had one child, Virginia, who married Cabel H. Maddox of San Francisco.