FRANCIS CHARLES KNAPPENBERGER
FAMILY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

 

Johan Michael
(1709-1751)
V
Johan Henrich
(1744-1818)
V
Johan Philip
(1776-1851)
V
Philip Jr
(1800-1884)
V
Francis Charles
(1837-1929)
V
Mary J. (1864-1875)
Priscilla E. (1866-1938) > 9 Children
Walter F. (1867-1869)
Louisa M. (1869-1937)
John P. (1870-1949) > 1 Child
Charles H. (1874-1885)
Edward George (1875-1923) > 2 Children
Melissa S.A. (1877-1959) > 2 Children
Albert (1878-1888)
Harvey W. (1880-1959) > 2 Children
Clara M. (1882-1951) > 3 Children

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Francis Charles Knappenberger was born 6 December 1837 in Lehigh County, PA and died 13 December 1929 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.  Frances was a carpenter as well as a farmer.  He married Sarah A. WEIAND, daughter of Jonathan Weiand and Elisabeth Gaumer, in September 1864.  Sarah was born 30 November 1847 in Lowhill Township, Lehigh County, PA and died 29 October 1929 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA – six weeks before her husband.  They are buried in Cedar Union Church Cemetery in Cretonia, Lehigh County, PA as are many of their children. This couple had twelve children.

 

CHILDREN

MARY J. KNAPPENBERGER (1864-1875)

Mary J. was born 2 December 1864 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA.  She died 23 November 1875 in Lehigh County, PA – dying at about the age of 11.

 

PRISCILLA E. KNAPPENBERGER (1866-1938)

Priscilla was born June 1866 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA and died 9 July 1938 in Lehigh County, PA.  She married Joseph Edward XANDER, son of Joseph Xander and Susannah Frankenfield, about 1886 in Lehigh County, PA.  Joseph was born 9 September 1859 in Lehigh County, PA and died 27 May 1928 in Lehigh County, PA   This couple had 9 children.  They are buried in the Jordan UCC Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.

Priscilla Knappenberger Xander remarried sometime in the early 1930s to Lewis P. STEPHENS, son of Alfred Stephens and Elemina Troxell.  Lewis was born 24 September 1865 in Lehigh County, PA and died 11 September 1937 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.  He is buried in Jordan UCC Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA with his first wife.

1. Lucy S. Xander was born 5 July 1886 and died 3  March 1975 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA. She married Preston Samuel  RITTER, son of William H. Ritter, about 1909.  This marriage ended in divorce. Preston moved to Detroit, Michigan and worked in an auto factory.  Preston was born 4 August 1884 in PA and died in 1949 maybe in Michigan.  He is buried in Neffs Union Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.  They had one  child.

a. Raymond H. Ritter was born 25 March 1909 in Lehigh County, PA and died in Allentown, PA in January 1975  He married Margaret E. [maiden name unknown] who was born about 1900 in PA.  They had two children: LaRue V. Ritter and Dale C. Ritter.

2. John Edward Xander was born 13 March 1888 in Lehigh County,PA and died 26 July 1959 in Allentown, Lehigh County,  PA.  He married Edna M. HEIMBACH  who was born 11  April 1891 and died 16 May 1966 in Lehigh County, PA. Thee 1920 and 1930 census listed no children  They are buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.

3. Milton F. Xander was born 22 October 1889 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA and died 4 March 1956 in Lehigh County, PA.  He married Florence S. KRAUSE, daughter of John F. Krause and Ellen O. Hoffman,  about 1912.  Florence was born 17 April1894 in Lehigh County, PA  and died 9 May 1961  in Allentown, PA.  They are buried in Unionville Church Cemetery, Neffs, Lehigh County, PA . Milton fought in World War I as a 1st Lt., in Company C 109 Machine Gun Battalion of the 28th Division.  No children are listed for this couple in the 1930 census.

4.Beulah M. Xander was born 11 August 1891 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA and died 27 May 1916 in Lehigh County, PA.  She married John Nelson BASTIAN who was born 20 September 1894 in PA and died 24 December 1974 in Lehigh County, PA.  Beulah is buried in Jordan UCC Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.  She died in childbirth.  No children survived.

5. Norman Lee Xander was born 14 January 1894 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA and died February 1966 in Lehigh County, PA.  He married Sadie M. SEMMEL, daughter of Benjamin Semmel and Matilda Bertsch, about 1916.  Sadie was born 30 May 1894 in PA and died 12 February 1966 in Lehigh County, PA.  They are buried in Egypt Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.  They had five children: Paul Joseph  Xander (4 February 1918-April 1980), David Daniel. Xander (1 March 1920-22 April 1998), Althea B. Xander (26 May 1923-22 June 1982),  Joyce June Xander (2 June 1926-14 November 1998)  and Gladys Viola Xander (born about 1932) -all born in Lehigh County, PA.

6. Herbert George Xander was born 21 January 1896 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County,PA and died 8 February 1951 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.  He seemingly never married.  He is buried in Jordan UCC Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.

7. Maude C.L. Xander was born 11 May 1900 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County,PA and died 29 August 1930 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA  In the 1930 census she was 19 years of age, living with her widowed mother and working in a box factory. She married George Henry DELP who was born 12 July 1899 and died 22 March 1978 in Lehigh County, PA.  They are buried in Cedar Church Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.  They had one son:  Wilbur Henry Delp (12 August 1921 in Lehigh County, PA – 11 July 1984 in Lebanon County, PA) who married Roseann RECKER (13 March 1925-1951) and later Joyce W. WOLFE (6 December 1927-19 November 2008).

8. Lillian Viola Xander was born 6 June 1905 in Lehigh County, PA and died 17 April 1906 in Lehigh County, PA.  She is buried in Jordan UCC Cemetery.

9. Franklin Walter Xander was born 27 August 1909 in Lehigh County, PA and died 9 November 1909.  He is buried in Jordan UCC Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.

 

WALTER F. KNAPPENBERGER (1867-1869)

Walter F. was born 13 November 1867 in Lehigh County, PA and died 27 December 1869 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA – at the age of 2.

 

LOUISA M. KNAPPENBERGER (1869-1937)

Louisa M. was born 16 May 1869 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA and died 8 January 1937 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.  Louisa married Charles M. FRIES, son of Solomon Fries and Catherine Miller, on 29 November 1890 in Lehigh County, PA.  Charles was born 9 September 1869 in Lehigh County, PA and died 17 March 1940 in Lehigh County, PA.  The 1910 census lists Louisa and Charles as 40 years of age with no children.

 

JOHN P. KNAPPENBERGER (1870-1949)

John P. was born 29 October 1870 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA and died 19 May 1949 in Lehigh County, PA.  John was a carpenter.  He married Callie Melissa MARCKS, daughter of John Marcks and Emma Held, on 4 November 1893 in Lehigh County, PA.  Callie was born on 27 August 1874 in Lehigh County, PA and died on 9 June 1959 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.  They are buried in Cedar Union Church in Cetronia, Lehigh County, PA.  They had one daughter.

1. Verna Knappenberger was born on 27 June 1899 in Allentown, Lehigh County,PA and died February 1991.  In the 1920 census, she was 20 years of age, single, living with her parents.   She married Hugh E.  JONES, son of William and Ellen Jones who were both born in Wales.  Hugh was born December 1895 in PA.  In 1930, they were living with Verna’s parents with no children

.

CHARLES H. KNAPPENBERGER (1874-1885)

Charles H. was born 7 April 1874 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA and died 17 January 1885 in Lehigh County, PA – at almost 10 years and 9 months of age.

 

EDWARD GEORGE KNAPPENBERGER (1875-1923)

Edward George was born 29 April 1875 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA and died 10 August 1923 in Lehigh County, PA.   Edward married Evaline M. Miller known as “Minnie”, daughter of Jacob A. Miller, on 11 April 1896.  Minnie was born March 1881  in Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County, PA.   By 1910, the marriage must have been dissolved because Edward G. was listed as living with his parents while Evaline M. is listed as the wife of N.C. Sauerwine with two children listed as Bulah M. Knappenberger, age 11, and Nichie (William) F. Knappenberger, age 9.

1. Buelah M. Knappenberger known as “Betty” was born 4 June 1899 in Krocksville, Lehigh County, PA and died 10 May 1986 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.  Betty was first married to William Edwin DRUCKENMILLER who was born 24 October 1889 in Berks County.  Betty and William had a daughter.  This marriage ended in divorce.  Buelah later married Earl BACH who was born 13 September 1896 and died December 1966 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.

a. Mae I. or  J. Druckenmiller was born 12 August 1917 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA and died 23 January 2002 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.  She married Paul J. MARCKS, son of William J. Marcks and Catherine Reuland.  Paul was born 10 March 1913 and died 27 January 2004  They had a son, William P. Marcks.

2. William F. Knappenberger was born 24 April 1901 in  Lehigh County, PA and died 1 October 1925 from an automobile accident.  William is listed in the 1920 census living with his sister, Buelah and her husband, William Druckenmiller.  He married Margaret WILCOX in 1921.   William and Margaret had a daughter.

a. Gloria Betina Knappenberger was born 16 June1922 in  Allentown, Lehigh County, PA  and died 3 April 2001 in Fountain Hill, PA.  She first married Percy LICK and had a son:  Dennis L. Lick (1941-1995).  Gloria later married Clare E. SINGLEY, son of Harry and Rose Singley.  Clare was born about 1918 and died 7 May 1999 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.

 

MELISSA S.A. KNAPPENBERGER (1877-1959)

Melissa S.A. known as “Lizzie” was born 21 January 1877 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA and died 14 May 1959 in Lehigh County, PA.  She married Victor J.J. HINKEL, son of John Hinkel and Rosillia Rupp, on 26 October 1895.  Victor was born on 8 June 1872 in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County, PA and died on 19 June 1938 in Lehigh County, PA. They are buried in Cedar Church Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.   Victor and Lizzie had two children.

1. Herbert J. Hinkel was born 9 September 1901 in Lehigh County, PA and died February 1985 in PA.  He married Margaret [maiden name unknown] who was born 16 June 1902 and died June 1979 in PA. They are buried in Cedar Church Cemetery, Cetronia, Lehigh County, PA.  They had a daughter, Virginia perhaps nicknamed “Regina” Hinkel (born about 1926 in PA).

2. Mabel S. Hinkel was born 9 December 1907 in Lehigh County, PA and died 6 October 2000 in Lehigh County, PA.  She married Howard O.  BERNHARD.  Howard was born 25 April 1910 in PA and died January 1987 in Lehigh County, PA.  They had two children: Robert Fredrick  Bernhard (3 March  1929-16 November 2004) and Kenneth F. Bernhard (23 April 1935-June 1975).

 

ALBERT KNAPPENBERGER (1878-1888)

Albert was born 21 September 1878 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA and died 4 December 1888 in Lehigh County, PA – at 10 years and 2 months of age.

 

HARVEY UNIDON KNAPPENBERGER (1880-1959)

Harvey U. Knappenberger was born 12 April 1880 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA and died 5 December 1959 in Lehigh County, PA.  He married Lulu S. MILLER, daughter of Charles  Miller and Ellen Wagner.  Lulu was born 1 July 1882 in Lehigh County, PA and died 3  February 1957 in Lehigh County, PA.  They are buried in Grandview Cemetery, Macungie, Lehigh County, PA.  They had two children.

1.Luther C. Knappenberger was born 26 September 1903 in Macungie, Lehigh County, PA and died in Allentown, PA on 20 April 1984.  He is buried in Grandview Cemetery  It seems that he never married.

2. Ellen S. Knappenberger was born 4 July 1910 in Lehigh County, PA and died 22 February 1988 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.  She married Paul P. HEIL, son of Preston P. and Annie L. Heil.  Paul was born 15 February 1906 and died April 1983 in Lehigh County, PA.   Ellen and Paul had a son.

a. Harold Knappenberger H. Heil who was born 17 October 1928 and died 20 April 1992 in Lehigh County, PA.  His obituary indicates that he had no survivors.

 

CLARA M. KNAPPENBERGER (1882-1951)

Clara M., sometimes listed as Clarissa M., was born 11 January 1882 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA and died 19  February  1951 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.  She married Wilson Aaron KEISER, son of John Keiser and Emma Hangen, on 17 January 1903 in Lehigh County, PA.  Wilson was born 2 July 1882 in Longswamp Township, Berks County, PA and died 26 June 1958 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.  They are buried in Cedar Church Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.   Clara and Wilson had three  children.

1. Roy Wilson Keiser was born 3 August 1903 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA and died December 1970 in Philadelphia, PA.  Roy first married Mary L. who was born 23 July 1908 and died January 1978 in Philadelphia, PA.  This marriage ended in divorce.  Roy then married Nina S. SNYDER on 14 November 1923 in Lehigh County, PA.  Nina was born 1904 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA  The order of spouses may be incorrect; more research needs to be done.

2. Philip J. Keiser was born 11 May 1906 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA and died January 1975 in Jackson, New Jersey Philip married Goldie [maiden name unknown] who was born about 1906 in Pennsylvania.  They had two sons: Philip J. Keiser, Jr. (26 September 1926-April 1983) and Ronald Wilson Keiser (15 October 1927-30 April 1982).

3. A baby daughter was born, but her dates are unknown, and she is buried in Cedar Church Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA

 

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