THOMAS FREDERICK KNAPPENBERGER
OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Johan Michael
(1709-1751)
V
Johan Henrich
(1744-1818)
V
Johan Henrich Jr
(1781-1833)
V
Thomas
(1809 -1857)
V
Thomas Frederick (1849 -1930) and Marie Lee Wilkes (1847-1888)
V
Harvey John (1869-1929) > 5 Children
Hattie (1870-1955)
Lillian Agnes (1873-1934) > 8 Children
Sallie (1874-1937) > 1 Child
Charles (1876-1950)
Anna (1874-1963) > 3 Children
George Henning (1877-1948) > 2 Children
Emma (1880-1881)
William (1882-1966)
Elizabeth (1884-?)
Mayme J. (1885-?) > 1 Child
Thomas Alfred (1887-1977) > 2 Children
Thomas Frederick (1849 -1930) and Lovina Adeline Levan (1851-1926)
V
Peter (1889-1969) > 1 Child
Stella V. (1894-?)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Thomas Frederick Knappenberger was born 17 March 1849 in Polk Township, Monroe County, PA and died 19 January 1930 in Berks County, PA. In the census of 1860, Thomas Frederick was listed as living with John Merwine, an innkeeper, in Chestnut Hill, PA. He first married Marie Lee WILKES, daughter of Mr. Wilkes and Esther Fenstermacher, about 1868. Maria was born 10 October 1847 in Berks County, PA and died on 14 June 1888 in Berks County, PA. Thomas and Maria had twelve children. After the death of his first wife, Thomas married Lovina Adeline LEVAN on 3 January 1891 in Kutztown, Berks County, PA. Lovina was born 16 August 1851 and died 11 October 1926 in Berks County, PA. Lovina had been married previously but her husband had died in 1882. Lovina may have been married to Edward Levan of Reading, Berks County, PA. Thomas and Lovina had two children. This couple was found in the 1910 census for Berks County when Thomas was 61 years of age, his wife, Lovina, was age 58, their son, Peter, was age 20, and their daughter, Stella, was age 16. In the 1920 census for Perry Township in Berks County, Thomas was listed as 70 years old and Lovina A. was listed as age 68. Both were living in the household of their son-in-law, William H. Northstein, and their daughter, Stella.
Thomas Frederick Knappenberger and his
two wives are all buried at Topton Union
Cemetery in Berks County, PA.
CHILDREN OF THOMAS FREDERICK KNAPPENBERGER AND MARIE LEE WILKES
HARVEY JOHN KNAPPENBERGER (1869-1929)
Harvey John was born March 1869 in Topton, Berks County, PA and died 24 January 1929 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. Harvey first married Mary Gertrude BICKEL, daughter of James P. Bickel and Rosa C. Feeg, on 1 October 1892 in Berks County, PA. Gertrude was born 30 July 1876 in Berks County, PA and died 6 May 1904 in Berks County, PA. Gertrude is buried in Heidelberg Cemetery, Robesonia, Berks County, PA. Harvey and Gertrude had five children.
After the death of Gertrude at 27 years old, the children were raised by Harvey’s in-laws, the Bickels, in Reading, PA. On 10 July 1906, Harvey married a second time to Sallie JACOBS, daughter of John and Angelina Jacobs, who was born December 1861 in Reading, Berks County, PA and died 6 November 1938 in Brooklyn, New York. Harvey and Sallie were listed in the 1910 census for Berks County, PA with two of Harvey’s children from his first marriage, Lillian and Leon, living with them – while the other children remained with his former in-laws. By 1918, Harvey had moved to Brooklyn, New York where he was a chewing gum maker. In the 1930 census for Brooklyn, New York, Sallie is listed as 70 years of age and a widow.
1. Milan Joseph Knappenberger, Sr. was the son of Harvey and Gertrude. He was born 26 February 1893 in Berks County, PA and died 1 January 1962 in Berks County, PA. Milan was a barber by occupation. His gravestone indicates that he served in World War I. Milan was buried in Fairview Cemetery in Reading, PA. He married Eva M. KRICK, daughter of T. Edward Krick and Rosa A. Schuler, on 7 July 1923 in Reading, PA. Eva had been married previous to her marriage to Milan. Eva was born 2 February 1893 in Shillington, Berks County, PA and died 6 November 1971 in Berks County, PA. Milan and Eva had two children.
a. Viola Ruth Knappenberger was born 12 January 1924 in Berks County, PA and died 14 March 1996 in Berks County, PA. She married Joseph John BASLICK, son of Maxym and Frances Baslick, who was born 21 October 1922 and died 29 July 1995 in Berks County, PA. They are buried in Fairview Cemetery, Shillington, Berks County, PA. Viola R. (Knappenberger) Baslick served during World War II with the Women’s Army Corp as a Private first class from 28 September 1944 to 19 December 1945. Her husband also served and both of their grave markers indicate that they were veterans.
b. Milan Joseph Knappenberger, Jr. was born 23 June 1927 in Berks County, PA and died on 21 June 1993 in Berks County, PA. Milan married Barbara Ann GRING, daughter of Irvin Gring and Alice Schwartz. Barbara was born 1 August 1935 in Reading, PA and died on 5 April 2007 in Reading, PA. They are buried in Laureldale Cemetery, Berks County PA. They had three children.
2. Paul Elwood Knappenberger was the son of Harvey and Gertrude. He was born 27 November 1894 in Berks County, PA and died February 1982 in Shillington, Berks County, PA. Paul was a silk weaver by trade. Paul married Louise C. LOEHRIG, daughter of August Christian Loehrig and Louise Herbst, on 20 July 1918 in Berks County, PA. Louise was born 27 August 1896 in Berks County, PA and died April 1979 in Berks County, PA. This couple is buried in Good Shepherd Cemetery in Reading, PA. They had two children.
a. Paul Henry Knappenberger, Sr. was born 1918 in Berks County, PA. He married Kathryn MEDRICK, daughter of George Medrick and Mary Rebich, on 7 December 1941 in Maryland. Kathryn was born 29 June 1921 in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA and died March 1989 in Berks County, PA. They had four children.
b. Catherine Louise Knappenberger known as “Dolly” was born 16 March 1921 in Berks County, PA and died 11 May 2010 in Berks County, PA. She first married Kenneth Owen THORNBURG, son of Edward George Thornburg and Emma Victoria Hinnershitz, on 29 September 1942. He was born 12 March 1920 and died 21 October 1959. They had 3 children. This marriage ended in divorce. She then married Thomas LAUNDRA in 1978. Thomas was born 17 November 1931 in Michigan and died 6 February 2008. They are buried in Good Shepherd Cemetery.
3. Lillian Rosa Knappenberger was the daughter of Harvey and Gertrude. She was born 24 January 1897 in Berks County, PA and died 24 February 1961 in Berks County, PA. She was a glove finisher at the time of her marriage. Lillian Rosa married Herbert Kenneth TOBIAS, son of Charles S. Tobias and Catharine S. Kramer, on 25 May 1917 in Reading, PA. Herbert was born 24 June 1897 in Berks County, PA and died December 1979 in Berks County, PA. Herbert was a barber. They are buried in Laureldale Cemetery in Reading, PA. Herbert and Lillian had three children.
a. Kenneth K. Tobias was born 6 July 1917 in Berks County, PA and died February 1986. He married Jane BOSTIAN who was born 1917 in PA. They had two children.
b. Catherine Louise Tobias was born October 1919 in Reading, Berks County, PA.
c. Herbert Kenneth Tobias, Jr. was born 12 Aug 1923 in Berks County and died there on 8 October 1924. He was buried in Laureldale Cemetery.
4. Leon Earl Knappenberger was the son of Harvey and Gertrude. He was born 20 November 1899 in Berks County, PA and died 17 May 1939 in Berks County, PA due to a car accident. Leon married Mary Rebecca TOBIAS, daughter of Charles S. Tobias and Catharine S. Kramer, 25 November 1920 in Reading, Berks County, PA. Mary was born 7 June 1899 in Reading, PA and died 1986. Leon and Mary had one daughter. Leon was a foreman for a hosiery mill in the 1930 census. Leon and Mary are buried in Laureldale Cemetery, Reading, PA. After Leon died, Mary remarried to Harry S. BARD (1901-1972).
a. Doris May Knappenberger was born 7 August 1922 in Berks County, PA and died 9 October 2005 in Wernersville, Berks County, PA. She married Donald C. NOECKER, son of William Noecker and Mable Crow, in October 1943. Donald was born 29 November 1915 in Berks County and died 12 January 1963. They had 3 children. They are buried at Christ (Yocum’s) Lutheran Church Cemetery, Berks County, PA.
5. Robert Louis Knappenberger was the son of Harvey and Gertrude. He was born 24 January 1903 in Berks County, PA and died 1980 in New York City. Robert married Helen BARRY, daughter of Thomas and Mary Barry, on 10 August 1929 in New York. Helen was born about 1907 and died sometime after 1943 when her youngest child was born. We do not have a death date for her. They had five children.
a. Robert Louis Knappenberger, Jr. was born 12 June 1930 in Brooklyn, NY and died 10 November 2007 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. He married Dorothy KAIEWE, daughter of James Kaiewe and Dorothy Lang. Dorothy was born 26 April 1932 in Brooklyn, New York and died 26 September 1998 in Brooklyn, New York. They had 4 children.
b. Edward James Knappenberger was born 2 August 1933 in Brooklyn, New York and died 27 October 1997 in Brooklyn, New York.
It seems that he did not marry.
c. Jeannette Knappenberger
d. Joseph Knappenberger
e. James Knappenberger
HATTIE KNAPPENBERGER (1870-1955)
Hattie was born 24 December 1870 in Berks County, PA and died there 22 July 1955. She married George F. Reinhard, Jr., son of George F. Einhard, Sr. and Elizabeth Warbook in July 1891 in Camden, New Jersey. George was born 15 July 1872 in Tremont, Illinois and died 12 March 1941 in Reading, Berks County, PA. He was a chiropractor. They had no children. They are buried in Laureldale Cemetery, Berks County, PA.
LILLIAN AGNES KNAPPENBERGER (1873-1934)
Lillian Agnes known as “Lillie” was born January 1873 in Berks County, PA and died 28 September 1934 in Reading, Berks County, PA. She married Mahlon Ambrose QUINTER, son of Daniel B. Quinter and Amelia E. Faber, on 24 October 1891 in Reading, Berks County, PA. Mahlon was born April 1870 in PA and died 21 October 1956 in Reading, Berks County, PA. He was a street car conductor at the time of his marriage. Lillie and Mahlon are buried in Aulenbach Cemetery, Mount Penn, Berks County, PA. The 1910 census indicates that Lillie had given birth to 8 children of which 4 were alive in 1910.
1. Daniel P. Quinter was born in May 1892 and died in August 1892. He is buried in Aulenbach Cemetery.
2. Mahlon Earl Quinter was born between 1892 and 1896 in Berks County, PA and died 28 August 1896 in Reading, Berks County, PA.
3. Lillian E. Quinter was born 19 November 1897 in Reading, Berks County, PA and died April 1986 in Berks County, PA. She married on 22 June 1917 to Ralph Henry GREISS. Ralph was born 5 January 1895 in Reading, Berks County, PA and died April 1978 in Reading, Berks County, PA. This couple is buried in Laureldale Cemetery, Berks County, PA. They had two daughters: Leona Marie Greiss (9 July 1919 – 27 April 2005) who married Ralph G. TURNBULL (10 February 1912-20 August 1987) – both buried in Forest Hills Cemetery, Berks County, PA; and Doris Greiss (born about 1927 in Reading, Berks County, PA).
4. Irene H. Quinter was born January 1900 in Reading, Berks County, PA. She died prior to the 1910 census.
5. Floyd W. Quinter was born 6 July 1901 in Reading, Berks County, PA and died December 1962. He married Jennie J. [maiden name unknown] 20 February 1926 in Reading, PA. Jennie was born 13 October 1907 and died 2 July 1999 in Reading, Berks County, PA. They are buried in Forest Hills Cemetery. In the 1930 census, they had one child: Fay M. Quinter (born about 1927).
6. Marie Elsae Quinter was born 31 October 1903 in Reading, Berks County, PA and died 15 March 1988 in Berks County, PA. She married Michael L. KREWER on 13 November 1920 in Reading, PA. Michael was born 1 April 1892 in New York state and died March 1979. They are buried in Forest Hills Cemetery.
7. Elwood Quinter was born 6 April 1905 and died 17 October 1909. He is buried in Aulenbach Cemetery.
8. Gerald Leroy Quinter was born 6 May 1908 in Reading, Berks County, PA and died 3 October 1998 in Berks County, PA. He married Myrtle H. [maiden name unknown] who was born 1916 and died 1988. This couple is buried in Forest Hills Cemetery, Berks County, PA.
9. Mildred Helen Quinter was born 13 August 1913 and 30 May 1916. She is buried in Aulenbach Cemetery.
10. Edgar George Quinter was born 19 May 1917 in Reading, Berks County, PA and died 9 December 1975 in Berks County, PA. He served with the US Army during World War II. He married Dorothy C. SHANNON who was born in Bangor, Maine on 1 July 1920 and died 21 June 2019 in Berks County, PA. They are buried in Forest Hills Cemetery.
CHARLES W. KNAPPENBERGER (1876-1950)
Charles W. was born 1876 in Berks County, PA and died 1950 in Berks County, PA. In the 1910, 1920 and 1930 censuses, he was a boarder in Reading, Berks County, PA and was single. It seems that he never married. Charles is buried in Topton Union Cemetery, Berks County, PA with his parents.
ANNA S. KNAPPENBERGER (1874-1963)
Anna S. known as “Annie” was born 1874 in Berks County, PA and died in June 1963. Annie’s first husband was David SOUDERS who was born about 1873 in Lehigh Gap, PA. He died in 1902 in Mahoning, PA after being killed on the railroad tracks at the age of 29. Annie and David had two children together. Annie later married Peter H. MOYER in 1905. Peter was born 1865 in Pennsylvania and died 1935. Annie and Peter had a daughter. Annie S. Moyer and Peter H. Moyer are buried in Topton Union Cemetery, Berks County, PA.
1. Leon Souders was the son of Annie and David Souders. He was born about 1895 in Lehighton, Carbon County, PA.
2. Wilbur Souders was the son of Annie and David Souders. He was born 9 June 1899 in Lehighton, Carbon County, PA and died August 1965. He married Elda SELTZER who was born 22 October 1904 and died July 1986 in Lehigh County, PA. They had one son.
a. Wilbur Souders, Jr. was born 3 September 1922 and died August 1986 in Lehigh County, PA.
3. Ruby Agnes Moyer was the daughter of Annie and Peter Moyer. She was born 9 February 1906 in Berks County, PA and died 12 October 1988 in Berks County, PA. Ruby Ittel is buried in Topton Union Cemetery, Berks County, PA. Ruby first married Arlington E. ZILLHART, son of Frank and Jennie Zillhart, in 1923. This marriage ended in divorce. Arlington was born 26 September 1902 and died 30 April 1992. They had a son. Ruby Moyer remarried in 1928 to George Clarence ITTEL, son of George and Henrietta Ittel. George was born 1 March 1883 in PA and died about 1933. They had two sons.
a. Rodman M. Zillhart was the child of Ruby and Arlington.
b. Frederick Moyer Ittel, the child of Ruby and George, was born 14 November 1928 and died 24 December 1998.
c. Herman Thomas Ittel, the child of Ruby and George,was born 26 January 1930 in Berks County, PA and died 13 March 1993.
GEORGE HENNING KNAPPENBERGER (1877-1948)
George Henning was born 24 March 1877 in Longswamp Township, Berks County, PA and died 8 February 1948 in Reading, Berks County, PA. He is buried in Topton Union Cemetery, Berks County, PA. George had a son with Mary Alice LONG, daughter of William Long and Elizabeth Fegely, but they did not marry. Mary Alice Long was born 4 January 1876 in Longswamp Township, Berks County, PA; married Edwin Fritch; and died 2 February 1957 in Berks County, PA. George married Mary MOYER, daughter of Jeremiah H. Moyer and Abigail A. Moyer, about 1906 in Berks County, PA. Mary Moyer was born August 1885 in Berks County, PA died between 1907 and 1910. George and Mary had two children. In the 1910 census, George was living with his brother-in-law, Peter Moyer, who was married to his sister Annie. George’s children were living in her maternal grandparents’ home in 1910.
1. Fred Charles Knappenberger, MD was the son of George Henning and Mary Alice Long. Fred was born 20 August 1903 in Berks County, PA and died 8 April 1969 in Allentown, PA. At the age of 6, he was living with his mother and maternal grandparents according to the census of 1910. Dr. Knappenberger practiced medicine in Fullerton, Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA most of his life. He was a resident physician of the Allentown Hospital Association. Fred first married Hilda B. FLORY, daughter of Irvin Flory and Mary C. Englert, 28 August 1929 in Mertztown, PA. Hilda was born 9 November 1898 in Northampton County, PA and died 30 May 1942. Fred and Hilda had two sons. Fred married again to Catharine Mae LESHER, daughter of Rutherford Lesher and Saide Winter, on 1 April 1944 in Warren County, New Jersey. Catharine was born 24 May 1918 in New Jersey and died 6 December 2011 in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Fred and Catherine are buried in Arlington Memorial Park, Lehigh County, PA. Fred and Catherine had a daughter.
Fred Charles Knappenberger from
his Keystone Normal School yearbook
1921, Kutztown PA
a. Robert Carl Knappenberger, Sr. was the son of Fred and Hilda. He was born 3 September 1930 in Lehigh County, PA and died 7 August 2001 in Newark, Delaware. He served in the Korean War. He married Shirley A. GRUVER, daughter of Russell P. and Elsie Gruver. Shirley was born 30 September 1932 in Lehigh County, PA and died 9 November 2012 in Newark, Delaware. They had two children.
b. William Frederick Knappenberger was the son of Fred and Hilda. He married Jacqueline E. JONES in June 1964. William Frederick died 6 October 2021. They had two children.
c. Mary Ann Knappenberger was the daughter of Fred and Catharine. She married Rt. Rev. Dr. Taras CHUBENKO. They had four children.
2. Clardine M. Knappenberger was the daughter of George Henning and Mary Moyer. Clardine was born 21 April 1907 in Berks County, PA and died 20 December 1985 in Kutztown, Berks County, PA. In the 1910 census, Clardine Knappenberger was 3 years old living with her grandparents, Jeremiah and Abbie Moyer, in Kutztown, Berks County, PA. In the 1920 census, she is listed as “Clardine M. Moyer” and as a daughter in that household. In the 1930 census, she is listed as “Clardine Kern”, married, and daughter of Abbie Moyer. She married Warren D. KERN who was born 23 January 1901 in Pennsylvania and died 13 August 1951 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA. They had eight children.
a. Donald R. Kern was born 1927.
b. Doris J. Kern was born 30 July 1929 in Kutztown, PA and died 5 August 2006 in Dickens County, Texas. She married Earl Robert LEIBY (18 March 1927-14 May 2007 in Dickens County, Texas) in 1949.
c. John Daniel Kern.
d. Billy W. Kern.
e. Dennis E. Kern.
f. Betty A. Kern who married Ralph BARTHOLOMEW (24 August 1926-9 November 2000).
g. Joanne L. Kern was born 1 August 1935 in Berks County, PA and died 29 January 2001 in Lehigh County, PA. She married Herman E. ZETTLE, Jr.
h. Audrey M. Kern was born 19 November 1940 and died 11 April 2009. Her first marriage was to John L. KEIM (27 May 1933-31 August 2009); this marriage ended in divorce; her second marriage was to Robert R. SELTMANN.
EMMA D. KNAPPENBERGER (1880-1881)
Emma was born January 1880 in Berks County, PA and died 8 August 1881 in Berks County, PA. She is buried in Topton Union Cemetery, Berks County, PA with her parents.
WILLIAM DAVID KNAPPENBERGER (1882-1966)
William David was born 26 June 1882 in Topton, Berks County, PA and died August 1966 in Reading, Berks County, PA. In 1940, William was living in Reading, Berks County, PA working at Moore’s Restaurant on Penn Street. He is buried in Topton Union Cemetery, Berks County, PA with his parents.
ELIZABETH KNAPPENBERGER (1884-?)
Elizabeth was born in 1884 in Berks County, PA. Nothing further is known about her. She most likely died young.
MAYME J. KNAPPENBERGER (1885-?)
Mayme J. was born in 1885 in Topton, Berks County, PA and married Caleb L. HARRISON, son of William Harrison and Sarah J. Harrison, on 8 January 1906 in Reading, Berks County, PA. Caleb was born about 1880 in Monocacy, Berks County, PA. This family lived in Chicago, Illinois during the 1920 census where Caleb was a machinist and Mayme was a saleslady in a tea store. They had one son.
1. Robert C. Harrison was born 11 August 1906 in PA and died 4 July 1989 in Cook County, Illinois.
THOMAS ALFRED KNAPPENBERGER (1888-1977)
Thomas Alfred known as “Fred” was born 31 October 1888 in Topton, Berks County, PA and died August 1977 in York, York County, PA. Fred married Mazie E. HAINES, daughter of James R. Haines and Kate Haines, on 19 June 1909 in Fleetwood, PA. Mazie was born June 1889 in Fleetwood, PA. They are buried in Mount Rose Cemetery, York County, PA. They had two sons. Fred and his two sons worked for Orinoka Mills in York, PA during the 1930s.
1. Harold Miles Knappenberger was born 23 September 1909 in Fleetwood, PA and died April 1984 in York, PA. He is buried in Mount Rose Cemetery, York County, PA. He married Mildred I. MYERS, daughter of William Myers in May 1936 in Towson, Maryland. Mildred was born 21 February 1914 in Maryland died died 20 Nov 1975 in York County, PA. She is buried in Mount Rose Cemetery, They had a daughter: Phyllis Elaine who married Ronald Lee Snyder.
2. William Alfred Knappenberger was born 19 June 1912 in Phillipsburg, New Jersey and died 11 January 1991 in York County, PA. He married Doris Mae DIETZ, daughter of John Samuel Dietz and May Smeltzer, on 29 March 1941 in Towson, Maryland. Doris was born 17 July 1916 in Hellam, PA and died 14 January 2007 in York, PA. Her obituary did not note any children. They are buried in Canadochly Cemetery, York, PA.
CHILDREN OF THOMAS FREDERICK KNAPPENBERGER AND LOVINA ADELINE LEVAN
PETER KNAPPENBERGER (1889-1969)
Peter was born 11 July 1889 in Topton, Berks County, PA and died October 1969 in Emmaus, Lehigh County, PA. He married Eva S. E. GULDIN, daughter of James Henry Guldin and Lynella Catherine Kershner, on 10 August 1914 in Kutztown, Berks County, PA. Eva was born 19 November 1894 in Berks County, PA and died December 1972 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA. In the 1930 census, this family was living in Emmaus, Lehigh County, PA where Peter worked as a loom fixer at the silk mill. They had one daughter.
1. Carol M. Knappenberger was born about 1923 most likely in Emmaus, Lehigh County, PA. She was listed as 7 years of age in the 1930 census.
STELLA V. KNAPPENBERGER (1894-?)
Stella V. was born in 1894 in Reading, Berks County, PA. She married William H. NOTHSTEIN, son of Mahlon Nothstein and Amanda Nothstein, on 10 April 1912 in Topton, Berks County, PA. William was born about 1886 in Lehigh County, PA and had been married previously but his first wife had died in 1910. William was a baker. The 1920 census indicates that this couple had no children at that time, but Thomas and Lovina Knappenberger, the parents of Stella, were living with them in Perry Township, Berks County, PA.
SPECIAL THANKS
Margaret Helminska
Michelle (Tucker) & Eric Chubenko
Additional information concerning this family would be greatly appreciated. Please contact us at jsappleton@windstream.net.