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JOHAN GEORG KNAPPENBERGER FAMILY

of CRAWFORD COUNTY, OHIO

UPDATED   July 29, 2008

GENERAL INFORMATION

Johan Georg Knappenberger was born 28 February 1820 in Schornbach, Germany and died 15 August 1859 in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio after being kicked in the head by a horse.  Johan married Rosina BAHLER, daughter of Johan Georg Bahler and Katharina Aupperle, on 20 June 1843 in Germany.  Rosina was born 3 November 1823 in Steinach, Germany and died 15 April 1906 in Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio.

Johan George and his wife, Rosina, applied to emigrate from the Schorndorf district of Wuertemberg in April 1847.  Included in their application were two children, Johan Adam Knappenberger and Anna Rosina Knappenberger.   They settled in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio prior to 1850.  Johan Georg and Rosina had eight children in all.

This family descends from the same Wuerttemburg family that the Knappenberger immigrants of the 1700s descend: Seuffert (born about 1569), Andreas (born about 1608), Johannes Kasper (5 July 1628), Johan Jacob (6 January 1673), Johan Georg (6 February 1703-22 January 1761), Johan Friedrich (10 January 1747-15 March 1823), Johan Georg (18 September 1783-17 December 1840) who is the father of Johan Georg Knappenberger (28 February 1820-15 August 1859) who came to America.

CHILDREN

JOHAN ADAM KNAPPENBERGER (1844-1923)

Johan Adam known as "Adam" was born 23 March 1844 in Schornbach, Wuertemberg, Germany and died 24 January 1923 in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio.  He married Sarah Ann KIESS (or KEISS) , daughter of John Keiss and Mary Cook,  on 17 March 1870 in Crawford County, Ohio.  Sarah was the sister of William Keiss who married Pauline Knappenberger (see below).   Sarah was born 8 July 1850 in Lancaster County, PA and died 9 August 1927 in Crawford County, Ohio.  They had two children.

1. Matilda Lenora Knappenberger (known as Tillie) was born 28 January 1871 in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio and died 15 September 1908 in Crawford County, Ohio.  She married David George ULMER, son of John Gottlieb Ulmer and Barbara Treftz, on 13 January 1897.  David was born 3 August 1862 in Liberty Twp., Crawford County, Ohio and died 10 November 1941 in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio.  They did not have any children.

2. John Wesley Knappenberger (known as Wesley) was born 25 April 1874 in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio and died sometime after 1930.   He married Lydia Louisa LAYER, daughter of Daniel Layer and Barbara H. Eppley, on 20 December 1898.  Lydia was born 30 November 1878 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 19 October 1957.   They had one daughter.

a.  Altha Lucille Knappenberger was born 13 October 1903 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 25 April 1933 in Grafton, West Virginia.  She married James Cornelius HOLT, son of John Homer Holt and Marie Isabel Chaney, on 6 June 1926.  James was born 20 February 1887 and died 13 December 1964.

ANNA ROSINA KNAPPENBERGER (1846-1915)

Anna Rosina known as "Rosina" was born 8 February 1846 in Schornbach, Germany and died 7 August 1915 in Crawford County, Ohio.  Anna Rosina married Jacob "Philip" WALTHER, son of Christopher Walther and Elizabeth Doll, on 30 October 1866 in Crawford County, Ohio.  Philip was born 17 October 1838 in Baden, Germany and died 11 November 1925 in Crawford County, Ohio.  This couple is buried in Yeiter Cemetery, Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio.  They had four children.

1. George Walther was born 1 November 1867 and died 12 March 1868 in Crawford County, Ohio.

2. Sarah Anna Walther was born 6 January 1869 in Crawford County, Ohio and died there on 5 October 1936.  She married John William BITTIKOFER, son of John Bittikofer and Susanna Harley, on 31 December 1891.  John was born 8 April 1865 in Ohio and died 13 April 1922 in Crawford County, Ohio. They had six children.

a. Talmage John Bittikofer was born 14 May 1892 in Crawford County, Ohio and died June 1986 in Crawford County, Ohio.  He married Edythe CARLSON in 1919.   Edythe was born 30 Nov 1892 and died March 1975. 

b. Genevieve May Bittikofer was born 5 August 1893 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 5 November 1939 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio.  She married Arthur Jacob STAHL, son of Jacob Stahl and Clara White.  Arthur was born 16 Sept 1892 in Marshallville, Ohio and died 23 Dec 1952 in Montgomery County, Ohio.

c. Arthur Lee Bittikofer was born 9 January 1896 in Crawford County, Ohio and died November 1977 in Charleston, West Virginia.  He married Bertha M. CAMPBELL who was born 10 march 1916 and died 26 Sept 2001 in Lake County, Florida. 

d.  Lelia Belle Bittikofer was born 7 January 1899 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 24 March 1992 in Crawford County, Ohio.

e. Carrie Marguerite Bittikofer was born 27 May 1903 in Crawford County, Ohio and died in Richland County, Ohio on 25 April 2004.  She married Dalton Carlyle TANNER who was born 24 May 1901 in Ohio and died 9 May 1975 in Richland County, Ohio.

f.  Edward D. Jacob Bittikofer was born 7 February 1908 in Crawford County, Ohio and died September 1950 in Crawford County, Ohio.

3. Amanda Mary Walther was born 29 December 1871 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 6 Dec 1939 in Crawford Co., Ohio.  She is buried in Brokensword Cemetery.  She married Winfield Scott SPIEGEL, son of John A. Spiegwel and Amanda Miller, about 1895.  Winfield was born 6 May 1871 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 15 Jan 1933 in Crawford County, Ohio.  They had two daughters.

a. Rosa M. Spiegel was born December 1898.

b. Alberta M. Spiegel was born about 1903.    

4. Alfred Reuben Walther was born 2 June 1876 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 9 February 1918 in Liberty Twp., Crawford County, Ohio.  He married Catherine A. YEITER, daughter of Emmanuel Yeiter and Sophie Lust,  about 1899.  Catherine was born 21 April 1877 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 19 Nov 1946 in Crawford County, Ohio.  They had two children.

a. Talitha G. Walther was born about 1903.

b. Arthur A. Walther was born 12 February 1909 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 25 December 1979 in Crawford County, Ohio.

JOHANNA KNAPPENBERGER (1848-1863)

Johanna was born 21 December 1848 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 23 August 1863 in Crawford County, Ohio at 14 years of age.

PAULINE  KNAPPENBERGER (1850-1923)

Pauline Knappenberger known as "Polly" was born 22 March 1850 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 27 September 1923 in Crawford County, Ohio.  She was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Crawford County, Ohio.  She married William KEISS, son of John Keiss and Mary Cook, on 22 October 1881 in Bucyrus, Ohio.  William was born 23 March 1857 in Ohio and died 28 February 1886 in Crawford County, Ohio.  They had one child.

1. Amanda Jane Keiss was born 27 January 1883 and died 25 September 1924 in Crawford County, Ohio.  She married Reuben C. LEIMENSTALL, son of Charles Leimenstall and Sophia Linn, on 5 October 1905.  Reuben was born 24 April 1880 in Ohio and died 1 August 1953.   They had a daughter.

a. Marguerite V. Leimenstall was born 5 July 1913 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 13 December 1981 in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio.  She married Oscar Franklin LEUTHOLD who was born 19 January 1909 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 30 January 1999 in Crawford County, Ohio. 

KATHARINE KNAPPENBERGER (1852-1929)

Katharinea was born 18 October 1852 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 22 October 1929 in Liberty Twp., Crawford County, Ohio.  She is buried in Moffitt Cemetery.  She married Joseph Benjamin DURR known as "Benjamin", son of John Jacob Durr and Elizabeth Jacoby,  on 11 March 1873 in Crawford County, Ohio.  Benjamin was born 6 June 1851 in Ohio and died 2 February 1886 in Crawford County, Ohio.  They had two children.

1. Joseph Jesse  Durr born about 1874 in Crawford County, Ohio 

2. Bertha A. Durr born 2 July 1876 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 20 July 1957.  She married George "Jefferson"  JACOBS about 1895.  He was  born 30 October 1869 in Liberty Twp., Crawford County, Ohio and died 7 March 1936 in Liberty Twp., Crawford County, Ohio.  They had four children.

a. Elwood Floyd Jacobs was born 20 September 1897 in Crawford County, Ohio and died May 1983 in Marion County, Ohio.   He had been married and was widowed at the time of his death.

b. Miriam M. Jacobs was born 5 October 1899 in Crawford County, Ohio.

c. Florence K. Jacobs was born about 1904 in Crawford County, Ohio.

d. Eveline Elizabeth Jacobs was born 14 September 1910 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 21 Nov 1994 in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio.  she was married to a Mr. Zeigler who had died prior to her death.

ELIZABETH B. KNAPPENBERGER (1854-1932)

Elizabeth sometimes known as "Lizzie" was born 24 February 1854 in Bucyrus, Crawford Co., Ohio and died 18 May 1932 there.  She married Jacob SCHIEBER, son of Christopher and Lydia Schieber, on 24 January 1876.  He was born 13 December 1849 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 11 October 1925 in Crawford County, Ohio.  They are buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Crawford County, Ohio.  They had four children.

1. Ellen L. Schieber (known as Ella) was born 5 December 1877 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 3 October 1956.  Ella married John Jacob NEFF, son of Joseph Neff and Sophia Dorothea Yeiter, on 15 June 1898.  He was born 7 January 1875 in Ohio and died 21 April 1952 in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio.  They had three children.

a. Waldo J. Neff was born 25 January 1900 in Holmes Twp., Crawford County, Ohio and died 22 December 1985 in Crawford County, Ohio.  He married Norma B. (maiden name unknown) who was born 19 Oct 1902 in Ohio and died 16 Feb 1985 in Crawford County, Ohio.

b. Emmett J. Neff was born 14 March 1903 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 13 May 1973 in Greene County, Ohio.

c. Helen Louise Neff was  born 14 Aug 1908 in Crawford County, Ohio.

2. Emma Rosanna Schieber was born 15 September 1880 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 26 February 1963.  She married Edward  J. CRALL who was born 16 November 1877 in Ohio and died 22 June 1960 in Crawford County, Ohio.  They had four children:

a.  Harry E. Crall was born 27 July 1903 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 14 May 1971 in Crawford County, Ohio.

b.  Lois A. Crall was born about 1906 in Crawford County, Ohio.

c.  Barbara Elizabeth Crall was born 22 June 1908 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 3 April 1991 in Crawford County, Ohio.

d.  Richard S. Crall was born about 1913 in Ohio.

3. Amelia M. Schieber was born 2 April 1885 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 26 January 1981 in Stark County, Ohio.   She married Walter R. BEALL who was born November 1887 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 10 January 1959 in Crawford County, Ohio.   They had four children:

a.  John J. Beall was born about 1916 in Crawford County, Ohio.

b.  William H. Beall was born about 1919 in Crawford County, Ohio.

c.  George Beall was born about 1923 in Crawford County, Ohio.

d.  Elizabeth Beall was born about 1925 in Crawford County, Ohio.

4. Pearl Louisa Schieber was born 5 May 1889 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 8 July 1988.  She married Herbert Dewit CALDWELL, son of Thomas Caldwell and Mary Wentz, about 1910.  Herbert was born 4 February 1890 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 15 February 1920 in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio. They had two children:

a.  Mary E. Caldwell born about 1916 in Liberty Twp., Crawford County, Ohio.

b.  Thomas Caldwell born about 1919 in Liberty Twp., Crawford County, Ohio.

JOHN GEORGE KNAPPENBERGER (1857-1928)

FRONT ROW John George Knappenberger and Elizabeth [Layer] Knappenberger
BACK ROW Jesse Joseph Knappenberger, Edith [Knappenberger] Doan, Edward Jesse Knappenberger, 
Walter Benjamin Knappenberger, Ruben Wilburt Knappenberger, George Harvey Knappenberger
[photos above and below graciously provided by Melinda Knappenberger Ault]

John "George" was born 20 January 1857 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 16 September 1928 in Bucyrus, Ohio.  John married Elizabeth LOYER, daughter of John Adam Layer and Mary Green, on 28 November 1880 in Bucyrus, Ohio.  Elizabeth was born 3 July 1857 in Lowell, Michigan and died 25 April 1943 in Crawford County, Ohio.  They are buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio.  They had seven children.

1. Jesse Joseph Knappenberger was born 19 September 1881 in Liberty Twp.,Crawford County, Ohio and died 16 January 1953 in Crawford County, Ohio.  He married Anna L. LOYER, daughter of Gottlieb and Barbara Loyer, about 1907.  Anna was born 26 February 1883 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 7 April 1945 in Crawford County, Ohio.  They are buried in Oakwood Cemetery.  This couple had three children.

Jesse Joseph Knappenberger, Anna [Loyer] Knappenberger, John Howard Knappenberger

a.  John Howard Knappenberger was born 8 March 1908 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 3 December 1977 in Newark, Ohio.  He married Mildred Georgia BARNES, daughter of Abraham Barnes and Mary James.  Mildred was born 3 October 1913 in Shawnee, Oklahoma and died November 1983 in Newark, Ohio.

b. Dorothy Knappenberger was born 1914 in Crawford County, Ohio.  She married Edgar L. TIDABACK, son of Thomas and Katty Tidaback.  Edgar was born 31 January 1919 in Ohio and died 9 February 1974 in Crawford County, Ohio.

c. Kenneth Loyer Knappenberger was born 4 February 1919 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 9 September 1992 in Crawford County, Ohio.  He married Mary E. DAIBER, daughter of Frank Daiber and Edith E. Reiter, on 30 March 1951.  Mary was born 24 September 1921 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 22 September 2005 in Crawford County, Ohio.   They are buried in Oakwood Cemetery.  Kenneth served  with the US Army Airborne and landed at Normandy during the invasion of Europe by the Allied troops in World War II.

2. George "Harvey" Knappenberger  was born 3 August 1883 in Bucyrus, Ohio and died 17 December 1960 in Eustis, Lake County, Florida.  George married Cora Estella ROBISON, daughter of Andrew Jackson Robison and Dianah Belle Heller, on 24 December 1905.  Cora was born 16 September 1886 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 10 April 1979 in Crawford County, Ohio.  George and Cora had two children.

a. Cleo Walter Knappenberger was born 2 June 1908 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 29 September 1986 in Gainesville, Florida.   Cleo married Catherine SHAMBERGER, daughter of Charles Hume Shambarger and Cora Wallick, on 31 July 1931 in Cleveland, Ohio.  Catherine was born 24 March 1907 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio and died 3 March 1980 in Lake County, Florida.  Cleo's son, John George Knappenberger, is a veteran of the Pay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba.

b. Kathryn Elizabeth Knappenberger was born 18 March 1914 in Ohio and died 8 August 1988 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.   She married Rodger Ellis ALEXANDER who was born 1910 and died 4 June 1962 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

3. Nettie Edna Knappenberger was born 2 November 1885 and died 6 March 1887 in Crawford County, Ohio.

4. Edward Jesse Knappenberger was born 20 June 1888 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 11 August 1937 in Crawford County, Ohio.  He married Grace Verna  LEICHTENWALTER, daughter of William H. Leichtenwalter and Alice Ramsburger.  Grace was born 9 June 1887 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 15 May 1933 in Crawford County, Ohio.  This couple had two children.

a.  Robert Edward Knappenberger DVM  was born 21 November 1918 in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio and died 6 November 1992 in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio.  He married Margaret Pauline HILDERBRAND on 4 May 1944.  Margaret was born 24 August 1914 and died 20 September 1974 in Crawford County, Ohio.  They are buried in Oakwood Cemetery.   They had two daughters.

b. Evelyn L. Knappenberger was born 18 April 1921 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 28 January 2004 in Crawford County, Ohio.  She married Richard P. CULVER, son of Pearl S. and Fuchsia Culver,  on 9 October 1943.  Richard was born 17 November 1920 and died 5 November 1985 in Crawford County, Ohio.  They are buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Bucyrus, Ohio.  They had 4 children.

5. Edith Knappenberger born 2 June 1891 in Crawford County, Ohio and died March 1967 in Ashtabula County, Ohio.  Edith married Chester C. DOAN, son of Peter D. and Sarah E. Doan,  on 28 November 1912.  Chester was born 26 January 1886 in Ohio and died 14 July 1973 in Ashtabula County, Ohio.  Edith and Chester had two children.

a. Doris Doan was born in 1917.

b. Charles L. Doan was born 10 February 1925 and died 12 November 2004.

6. Reuben "Wilbert" Knappenberger was born 31 January 1895 in Crawford County, Ohio and died August 1969 in Wayne County, Ohio.  Wilbert also known as "Wilbur" was a World War I veteran.  Reuben married Arline L. FIRST, daughter of James T. First and Margaret E. Brown.  Arline was born 10 December 1898 in Wayne County, Ohio and died April 1983 in Wayne County, Ohio.  They had two children: Roland J. Knappenberger (12 Sept 1921-18 Sept 1921) and Jean Knappenberger (1924).

7. Walter "Benjamin" Knappenberger was born 1 May 1899 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 14 January 1933 in Crawford County, Ohio.  Walter married Alma Alloy COVER about 1922.  Alma was born in 7 April 1903 in Ohio and died 4 November 2002 in Crawford County, Ohio.  They had two children:  Carol  A. Knappenberger and Donald  W. Knappenberger.

SARAH KNAPPENBERGER (1859-1937)

Sarah was born 2 January 1859 in Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio.  She was only 7 months old when her father was killed in an accident.  Sarah died 14 September 1937 in Crawford County, Ohio.  She married Reverend Aaron LUST, son of Gottlieb Lust and Alice Rowena Kintzer, on 6 January 1881.  Aaron was born 31 May 1852 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 12 November 1924 in Crawford County, Ohio.  Aaron and Sarah had eight children.

1. Lillian M. Lust born 17 January 1882 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 20 November 1956 in Crawford County, Ohio.  She never married.

2. Ezra Jay Lust was born 27 November 1883 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 23 December 1960 in Crawford County, Ohio..  He married Pearl May HERSHBERGER, daughter of John W. Hershberger, about 1910.  Pearl was born May 1889 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 16 February 1971 in Crawford County, Ohio.  They had two daughters:

a.  Carol Lust born about 1914 in Crawford County, Ohio

b.  Dorothy May Lust born about 1926 in Crawford County, Ohio.

3. Rosa Cecilia Lust was born 14 January 1886 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 27 September 1966 in Seneca County, Ohio.   She married John Wentz CALDWELL, son of Thomas Caldwell and Mary Wentz.  John  was born 28 Oct 1887 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 6 October 1967 in Crawford County, Ohio.  They had 2 daughters:

a.  Mary Pauline Caldwell born 7 Jan 1913 in Crawford County, Ohio and died there on 23 Marsh 200a.  She married a Mr. SCHIEBER.

b.  Irene Caldwell was born about 1923 in Crawford County, Ohio.

4. George Edwin Lust was born 20 July 1889 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 18 July 1978 in Crawford County, Ohio.  He is buried in Brokensword Cemetery.  He married Mabel C. BRAUSE, daughter of John Godfried Brause and Elnora Bartholomew.  Mabel was born February 1890 in Crawford County, Ohio and died December 1987 in Crawford County, Ohio.  They had five children:

a.  Orrin G. Lust born November 1916 in Crawford County, Ohio.  He married Esther Lucille BERG in 1942 in Duval County, Florida.  Esther was born 30 October 1917 and died 4 June 2000 in Lucas County, Ohio. 

b.  Luther B. Lust born in 1918 in Crawford County, Ohio.

c.  Kathryn M. Lust born about 1921 in Crawford County, Ohio

d.  Calvin A. Lust born about 1924 in Crawford County, Ohio.

e.  Alice M. Lust  born 1929 in Crawford County, Ohio.

5. Gilbert Aaron Lust was born 14 February 1891 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 20 October 1973 in Clyde, Sandusky County, Ohio.   He is buried at Oakwood Cemetery.  He married Elizabeth L. (maiden name unknown) about 1916.  Elizabeth was born about 1894 in Ohio.   No children were born to this couple.

6. Harry Lust was born 5 July 1893 and died 2 March 1894 in Crawford County, Ohio.

7. Francis Winfield Lust was born 2 November 1895 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 20 December 1979 in Ohio.  Francis fought in World War I.   He never married.  He is buried in Moffet Cemetery, Crawford County, Ohio.

8. Carl Raymond Lust was born 17 July 1899 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 18 February 1974 in Bucyrus, Ohio.   He married Mabel E. SHELLHORN who was born 7 January 1904 in Ohio and died 29 December 1993 in Crawford County, Ohio.   They had 3 children that we know:

a.  Carl Raymond Lust born 4 Feb 1923 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 18 Feb 1974.  He is buried in Brokensword Cemetery.  

b.  Franklin A. Lust was born about 1928 in Liberty Twp., Crawford County, Ohio.

c.  Ruth Ardella Lust was born 2 Feb 1935 in Crawford County, Ohio and died 18 Oct 2004 in Columbus, Ohio.  She married William E. BURRIS on 9 May 1954.  William was born 20 June 1934 and died 22 march 2002 in Marion County, Ohio.  

If you would like further information or have family information to share, please contact us at jsappleton@windstream.net

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