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GENERAL INFORMATION
William, the youngest child of Conrad and Barbara
Knappenberger, was born after the family moved to Westmoreland County, PA on 6 April 1791 and died
in 1839 in Tuscarawas County,
Ohio. He settled on land along Sugar
Creek in Tuscarawas County, Ohio given to him by his father, Conrad, in 1816. William was
married twice and had seven children.
From the History of Tuscarawas County: Lawrence Township
we learn,
"The first school on the west side of the river was kept in
a log cabin on Lot 2, then owned by John Kline, now by John Bender. The
house stood near a spring, in the southwest corner of the place. William
Knappenberger was the teacher, and his term was taught about 1817."
William first married Elizabeth BURCHFIELD, daughter of Mathias
Burchfield and Barbara Overholt, about 1816. [Family history notes that WIlliam married a Miss Burchfield. We are still looking for
proof that this Miss Burchfield was Elizabeth.] William
and Elizabeth most likely married in Tuscarawas County, Ohio since Elizabeth's
mother, Barbara, died there in 1813. Elizabeth was born 21 December
1800 either in Westmoreland County,
PA or Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died about 1825 in
Tuscarawas County, Ohio. William and Elizabeth had three sons and a
daughter: Henry, Wilson, John and Rebecca.
William then married Nancy (maiden name unknown at
this time) on 14 November 1826 in Tuscarawas County,
Ohio. Nancy was born about 1802-1806 in Ohio or PA. After the death
of William in 1839, she was widowed and head of household as Nancy Knapenberger
in the 1840 census for Strasburg, Tuscarawas County, Ohio with 4 males and 1
female in the household besides her self.
Nancy Knappenberger moved to Noble County, Indiana about
1848/1849 and remarried 21 October 1849 to the widower, Isaac McDevitt, who had
several children still in his household. In the 1850 census, they were living in
Perry Twp., Noble County, Indiana. Isaac died in 1851 and Nancy McDevitt
was widowed. In the 1860, 1870, and 1880 census, Nancy McDevitt continued
to live in Noble County, Indiana. In the 1860 census she had her youngest
child, William Knappenberger, age 26, living with her. But in 1870 and
1880 census she was living along.
Nancy Knappenberger McDevitt is buried in Oak Park Cemetery,
Ligonier, Noble County, Indiana with her son, William Knappenberger, who died in
1864.
Nancy and William Knappenberger (her first husband) had three
children: Michael, Mary and William.
CHILDREN
OF WILLIAM KNAPPENBERGER AND ELIZABETH BURCHFIELD
HENRY B. KNAPPENBERGER (1817-1884)
Henry B. Knappenberger was born October 1817 in Tuscarawas
County, Ohio and died April 1884 in Marshall County, Indiana. He
married Susan SARBAUGH on 25 May 1847 in Stark County, Ohio. Susan
was born 6 April 1818 in York County, PA and died 6 July 1893 in Bourbon Township, Marshall County, Indiana where she is buried with Henry in Sandridge
Cemetery. Henry was a farmer. This couple had no children.
Henry fought in the Civil War as a a member of the 4th Indiana
Cavalry/Company C. His obituary read that Henry "had served his
country, honorably, about three years as a cavalry soldier in the war of
Rebellion, receiving injuries for which he should have had a pension, but,
through the long, tedious delays in obtaining pensions, he passed to his final
reward before his pension came."
Henry and his wife were listed in the 1860 census for Bourbon Township, Marshall County, Indiana which is only a few miles west of Perry
Township,
Noble County, Indiana where his younger brother, Wilson, and his family lived
according to the 1860 census as well as his widowed, step-mother, Nancy McDevitt
and his half brother, William Knappenberger.
WALTER "WILSON" KNAPPENBERGER (1823-1901)
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Walter "Wilson"
Knappenberger's Gravemarker
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Elizabeth [Dickson]
Knappenberger's Gravemarker
(Wife Of Walter "Wilson")
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William
Knappenberger's Gravemarker
(First Son Of Walter "Wilson")
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[photos graciously provided by Mike
McCoy] |
Walter who was known by his middle name of "Wilson" was born 4 July 1823 in
Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 24 December 1901 in Noble County, Indiana where he
was buried in Oak Park Cemetery. Wilson first married Elizabeth DICKSON on 30
March 1848 in Richland County, Ohio. She was born 8 March 1823 in
Ohio and died 18 September 1866 in Noble County, Indiana. This couple lived in
Madison Township, Richland County, Ohio in the 1850 census but moved to Noble
County, Indiana in the late 1850s. Wilson and Elizabeth had 2
children: William G. Knappenberger and Griselda Belle Knappenberger. Wilson is listed in the 1870
census for Ligonier, Indiana as a horse dealer and is listed with his two
children (his wife having died in 1866).
Wilson's second marriage
was to Albina C. McDANIEL, daughter of Eli McDaniel
and Sarah Rupp, in 1871. Albina was born 13 April 1851 in Indiana and died
2 February 1938 in Noble County, Indiana. She was buried in Grace
Lawn, Elkhart County, Indiana. Wilson and Albina had 4 children:
Bert Louis Knappenberger, Teance Jennette Knappenberger, Abbie C. Knappenberger
and Ruth Day Knappenberger.
1. William G. Knappenberger was the son of Wilson and
Elizabeth. He was born May 1849 in Richland County,
Ohio and died 1926 in South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana. He is buried
in Oak Park Cemetery, Ligonier, Noble County, Indiana.
It seems that William
had a child out-of-wedlock with Rebecca Dulcena FRANCISCO, daughter of Uriah
Francisco and Anna Eliza Poyser, about 1869 named Frank W. Knappenberger. Rebecca
Dulcena was born 23 March 1849 in Ligonier, Noble County, Indiana and died
there on 23
December 1927. Frank W. Knappenberger was raised in the Uriah Francisco household and
he eventually adopted the last name of Frank W. Francisco and moved to Portland, Oregon
as an adult. We have been unable to locate further information
about him. One genealogy record indicates that he died in Oregon
and was a professional gambler. Rebecca Dulcena Francisco married John Clawson on 20
June 1871 and after his death, married John W. Goudy on 27 Aug 1899.
William married Salome A. OGDEN, daughter of Aaron Ogden and
Hannah Stites, on 6 October 1878 in Noble County, Indiana. Salome was born
November 1859
in Perry Township, Noble County, Indiana and died after 1924 (she was listed as
a survivor in her mother's obituary of 1924 stating she lived in the
"southwest"). William and Salome had one daughter:
a. Faye Knappenberger was born 27 March 1885 in Noble County, Indiana and died 27 March
1902.
Faye was buried in Oak Park Cemetery in Ligonier, Noble County, Indiana along
with her father.
In the 1880 census, William was living in Noble County, Indiana.
In the 1910 census he was living in Jackson County, Michigan and was married a
second time for 4 years to Sarah (maiden name unknown) who was born about 1843
in New York. She had been married previously and had given birth to 2
children who were both alive in 1910. By 1920, William was living
in South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana and listed as
"single." It seems that his second wife had died between 1910
and 1920. William's occupation is listed as a painter in all the census.
IF William's first wife, Salome Ogden Knappenberger, was still
alive in 1924, then we assume that this first marriage ended in divorce.
2. Griselda Belle Knappenberger known as both "Bell" and
"Etta" was the daughter of Wilson and Elizabeth. She was was born
February 1851 in Richland County, Ohio and died 1932 in Noble County,
Indiana. She married William VONDERSMITH, son of J. and Eve
Vondersmith, on 1 April 1871 in Noble County, Indiana. William was born November
1848 in Ohio and died 1914 in Noble County, Indiana. William was the City Marshall
of Ligonier City. This couple is buried in Oak Park Cemetery in Ligonier,
Noble County, Indiana. William and Bell had three children.
a. Walter
"Gary" Vondersmith was born March 1872 in Noble County, Indiana and died 1905
in Noble County, Indiana. He married
Marie E. GREEN known as "May" (the marriage ended in
divorce). They had one son: Adrian W. Vondersmith (5 August 1895 in Noble County, Indiana
- 20 March 1963 in Noble County, Indiana). Adrian married Martha A. HUTCHISON,
daughter of Melville A. and Addie M. Hutchison, on 21 March 1935 in Noble
County, Indiana. Martha was born October 1891in Noble County,
Indiana and died 17 February 1963.
Adrian and Martha are buried in Oak Park Cemetery.
b. Frank C.
Vondersmith was born 26 May 1880 in Noble County, Indiana and died 13 November
1959 in Noble County, Indiana.
Frank married Edith M. YODER, daughter of John L. Yoder and Annetta
Gerber, on 2
November 1908 in Noble County, Indiana. Edith was born 21 September
1883 and died October 1980 in Noble County, Indiana. They had one
daughter: Muriel L. Vondersmith born 17 January 1920 in Noble Co.,
Indiana and died 25 March 2005 there. She first married Newell H.
Cripe, son of Benjamin R. Cripe and Bearl Hall on 8 July 1940 in Noble
County, Indiana. The marriage ended in divorce. She married
George A. Reed, son of John E. Reed and Eva M. Linn on 25 Aug 1957 in
Noble County, Indiana. George was born 8 Jun 1918 in Noble County,
Indiana and died there on 24 Dec 2003.
c. Fred George Vondersmith was born 27 May 1882 in Noble County,
Indiana and died sometime after 1942. He married Bessie Helen ROCK
on 25 Oct 1909 in St. Joseph County, Indiana. Bessie was born 1890
in Indiana and died after 1942. They had a daughter: Helen Frances
Vondersmith born about 1914/1915 in St. Joseph County, Indiana. Fred
was a theatre musician in the 1920's. Nothing further is
known at this time.
3. Bert Louis Knappenberger was the son of Wilson and Albina. He
was born about 1873 in Noble
County, Indiana and died 11 February 1907 in Los Angeles, California. Bert seemingly never married.
He was living in Chicago in 1901 when his father passed away. A short
mention was given in the Ft. Wayne, Indiana newspaper of February 12, 1907 about
his death as follows, "Bert Knappenberger of Elkhart, Indiana, one of the
foremost jockeys of the country, who won the Chicago Derby in 1898, died last
night at Los Angeles, California, aged 33." He was
mentioned in his mother's obituary in 1938 as being "the famous jockey Bert
Knappenberger who rode racing horses for the former Czar of Russia at one
time."
4. Teance Jennette Knappenberger was the daughter of Wilson and Albina.
She was born 31 March 1876 in
Noble County, Indiana and died 26 November 1966 in San Bernardino, California. She
married William Henry LEININGER, son of William Leininger and Ella Guipe, on 5 July 1900 in Elkhart County, Indiana.
William was born 28 December 1873 in Indiana and died 14 July 1959 in Orange County,
California. William was involved in the confectionary business. They had a
daughter.
a. Kathyrn L. Leininger was born 28 October
1908 in Indiana and died 28 November 1982 in Orange County, California. She
first married a Mr. PECK about 1927 in Los Angeles County, California when she
was 18 years old. This marriage ended in divorce by 1930 when she is
listed as divorced and living with her parents. Kathryn later married a Mr. MENGES.
5. Abbie C. Knappenberger was the daughter of Wilson and Albina. She was born 13 October 1885 in Noble
County, Indiana and died 8 January 1977 in Los Angeles County, California. She married Ray
L. THORNTON, son of Lewis Thornton and Nancy E. Manning, on 10 June 1903 in
Michigan. Ray was born 5 June 1882 in Elkhart, Indiana and died 30 August 1948 in Los Angeles County,
California. Ray was also involved in the confectionary business with his
brother-in-law, William Leininger [see above]. Abbie and Ray had one son:
a. Walter Thornton was born about 1904 in Elkhart County,
Indiana. He is listed as 15 years of age in the 1920 census when the
family lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is not living with his parents in the
1930 census in Los Angeles County, California.
6. Ruth Day Knappenberger was the daughter of Wilson and Albina. She was born 27 May 1892 in Noble County, Indiana and
died 24 December 1982 in Orange County, California. She married George W. BERRY,
son of James and Minnie Berry, about 1910 in Indiana. They were living in Indianapolis in 1938 when
her mother died. Neither the 1920 or 1930 census indicates that this
couple had any children. Later, Ruth moved to Southern California.
JOHN KNAPPENBERGER (c1824-c1866)
John Knappenberger was born about 1824 in Tuscarawas County,
Ohio and died about 1866 probably in Ohio. John got married in Seneca
County, Ohio to Temperance ADAMS in 1855 and then moved to Noble County, Indiana
along with his brother, Wilson, in the late 1850s. In 1860, John and
Temperance ended their marriage by divorce in Noble County, Ohio. John returned
to Seneca County, Ohio in 1860 and enlisted in the Union Army in Sandusky
County, Ohio on 12 June 1861 and served 3 years as private in the 25th Ohio
Infantry/Company E. He lost his health and died soon after the close of
the war. It seems that John and Temperance had no children.
REBECCA KNAPPENBERGER (1825-?)
Rebecca was born about 1825 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died
sometime after 1880 most likely in Stark County, Ohio. Rebecca most
likely is a child from William's first marriage. Rebecca married John McMILLEN about 1845 in
Ohio. John was born about 1818 in Ohio and he died sometime after 1880
most likely in Stark County, Ohio. In the 1880 census for Tuscarawas
Township, Stark County,
Ohio, this family was listed with Rebecca age 55 and John age 61. While
her brothers moved onto Indiana, Rebecca stayed in Stark County, Ohio.
This couple had four children.
1. Warner McMillen was born about 1846 in Stark County,
Ohio and may have married Harriet ORRIS.
2. Dewitt "Howard" McMillen, MD was born
October 1848 in Stark County, Ohio and died in 1901 in Wayne County, Ohio. He married Alma Jerusha BRADEN,
daughter of John Braden and Eliza Brown. Alma was born 12 Sept 1854 in Mt.
Eaton, Ohio and died 27 April 1942 in Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio. They had one son:
a. Clyde Braden McMillen who was born 28 Jan 1878 in
Ohio and died sometime after 1930. Clyde married Minnie [last name
unknown though her parents were from northern Ireland] about 1903. Minnie
was born about 1877 in Indiana. They had a daughter named Virginia A. McMillen
(15 April 1907 in Illinois - July 1977 in Cook
County, Illinois).
3. Hadersah McMillen was born about 1851 in Stark County, Ohio. She married Filmore
BROWN who died between 1876-1880. In the 1880 census, Hadersah was
listed as 29 years of age and a widow living in her parent's
household. She had two children: Lillie Brown (born about 1872) and
Harry Brown (born about 1876). Her name was spelled "Hadassa" in the
1880 census. She most likely remarried.
4. Annetta McMillen known as "Etta" was born June
1853 in Stark County, Ohio and died sometime after the 1930 census. She married
Archibald.B.
CAMPBELL, MD about 1894. She was his third wife. Archibald was the
son of John Campbell and Margaret McIntyre. He was born July 1845 in
Canada. His parents were born in Scotland. the 1930 census for Orrville, Wayne County,
Ohio, Etta is listed as 76 years of age, born in Ohio and a widow. The
census indicates that she married when she was 40 years of age. It seems this couple had no children.
CHILDREN
OF WILLIAM KNAPPENBERGER AND NANCY BALES
MICHAEL KNAPPENBERGER (1830-?)
Michael was born about 1830 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
We have no further information on him at this time. He may have died
prior to 1840.
MARY KNAPPENBERGER (1832-?)
Mary was born 14 May 1832 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
She is not listed in the 1840 census.
WILLIAM P. KNAPPENBERGER (1833-1866)
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William P. Knappenberger's Gravemarker
[photo graciously provided by Mike McCoy]
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William P. Knappenberger was born January 1833 in Tuscarawas
County, Ohio and died 8 November 1864 in Noble County, Indiana. William fought
in the Union Army during the Civil War enlisting on 24 September 1861 as a member of
the 30th Indiana Infantry/Company C as a wagoner and received a disability
discharge on 11 March 1863 as a Private. William died in 1864
shortly after his return from the war most likely related to his injuries. He never
married. William was buried in Oak Park Cemetery in Noble County,
Indiana stating that he was 31 years, 9 months and 22 days old when he
died. His mother, Nancy Knappenberger McDevitt, is also buried in the
Knappenberger plot.
We continue to look for new information on this family.
If you are a member of this family, please get in contact with us at jsappleton@windstream.net
Thank You!
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