JOHANN GEORGE KNAPPENBERGER
FAMILY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Johan Michael
(1709-1751)
V
Johan Henrich
(1744-1818)
V
Johann George
(1787-1820)
V
Anna Margaret (1814-1859) > 6 Children
Charles “Carl” (1817-1904) > 7 Children
Anna Rebecca (1820-?)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Johann George Knappenberger, known as George, son of Henry Knappenberger (1744-1818), was born 11 December 1787 in Northampton County (later to become Lehigh County) PA and died 10 November 1820 in Macungie Township, Lehigh County, PA. He married Sarah HORLACHER about 1813. Sarah was born 21 January 1791 and died 15 March 1861 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA. George died only 6 days after the birth of his third child and just before his 33rd birthday. In the 1850 and 1860 census, Sarah is listed as a widower living in the household of her son, Charles. It seems that she did not remarry. George and Sarah had three children in all.
CHILDREN
ANNA “MARGARET” KNAPPENBERGER (1814-1859)
Anna Margaret was born 2 November 1814 in Lehigh County, PA and died 25 July 1859 in Lehigh County, PA. Margaret is buried in St. Peters Church cemetery, Upper Milford Township, Lehigh County, PA. She married Solomon HEIMBACH, son of David Heimbach and Anna Meyer. Solomon was born about 1809 and died September 1860 in Lehigh County, PA. Margaret and Solomon had six children.
1. Anna E. Heimbach was born about 1837 in Lehigh County, PA and died sometime after the 1880 census. She married Jacob MILLER who was born about 1839 in Pennsylvania and died sometime after the 1880 census. They had a son, Preston Miller, who was born about 1869 in Lehigh County, PA.
2. George Tilghman Heimbach was born 11 February 1840 in Lehigh County, PA and died 21 March 1852 at the age of 12.
3. Silas F. Heimbach was born 5 January 1845 in Lehigh County, PA and died 8 February 1858 at the age of 13.
4. David J. Heimbach was born 1 March 1847 in Lehigh County, PA. In the 1880 census, David was 32 years of age and single.
5. Reuben Henry Heimbach was born 28 February 1850 in Lehigh County, PA and died 16 January 1908 in Lehigh County, PA. He married Susanna MOYER, daughter of Isaac Moyer and Mary Robarch, about 1881. She was born 21 November 1849 in Pennsylvania and died 13 March 1930 in Lehigh County, PA. They are buried in Chestnut Hill Church Cemetery, Coopersburg, Lehigh County, PA. This couple had a daughter.
a. Maggie E. Heimbach was born 11 November 1883 in Lehigh County, PA and died 7 May 1953 in Lehigh County, PA. She married Robert E. BAUDER, son of Lycurgis Bauder and Apolonia Schnell, about 1906. Robert was born 28 November 1883 in Northampton County, PA and died 9 August 1961. Maggie and Robert are buried in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Coopersburg, Lehigh County, PA. They had four children: Robert E. Bauder, Jr. (27 September 1905-5 January 1990), Mabel S. Bauder (born about 1909), Anna L. Bauder (1911-1911) and Emma Bauder (born about 1912). Susanna Heimbach, widowed, lived with them in both the 1910 census and the 1920 census in Lehigh County, PA.
6. James Heimbach was born 10 December 1852 in Lehigh County, PA and died 19 June 1864 at 11 years of age.
CHARLES KNAPPENBERGER (1817-1904)
Charles known as “Carl” was born May 1817 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA and died 17 January 1904 in Pennsylvania. Most likely he died in Northumberland County, PA when he was living with his daughter, Ellen Smink, and her family in Shamokin. He married Lucy Ann SEIP in November 1838 in Allentown, PA. Lucy was born 6 August 1813 in PA and died 21 November 1881 in Lehigh County, PA. She is buried in Union/West End Cemetery in Allentown. Carl and Lucy had seven children.
1. Sarah Ann Knappenberger was born 21 July 1839 in Allentown, PA and died 29 March 1864 in Lehigh County, PA. She is buried in Union/West End Cemetery in Allentown, PA. Sarah Ann married Nathan SCHWANDER, son of William Schwander and Anna Henry, on 6 March 1859 in Lehigh County, PA. Nathan was born 6 October 1835 in Lehigh County, PA and died 11 November 1900. Sarah Ann died at the age of 24 – only 3 days after giving birth to her third child. Tragically, her second son, William Henry, died about 7 weeks before her death and her other son, Charles William, died the next year. Nathan and Sarah had three children of which only one survived.
a. Charles William Schwander was born 1860 in Lehigh County, PA and died in 1865.
b. William Henry Schwander was born 1 December 1861 and died 1 February 1864 in Lehigh County, PA. He is buried in Union/West End Cemetery in Allentown, PA.
c. Annie Josephine Schwander was born 26 March 1864 in Lehigh County, PA and died 17 March 1945 in Lehigh County, PA. She was raised by her maternal grandparents after the death of her mother. She married Henry J. REUTER, son of Henry and Catherine Rueter, in 1883 in Lehigh County, PA. Henry was born January 1861 in Allentown, PA and died sometime after the 1930 census, They are buried in Union/West End Cemetery, Allentown, Lehigh County, PA. They had 6 children.
- Mabel Annie Reuter was born 19 July 1884 in Allentown, PA and died 1 March 1985 in Northampton County, PA. She married William Joseph SANFORD, son of James Sanford and Emma Eliza Benner on 20 April 1904. William was born 30 January 1880 in Northampton County, PA and died 23 October 1967. They had one son: William “Edward” Sanford (28 November 1905-2 August 1989).
- Helen Emma Reuter was born 16 March 1886 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA and died after 1942. She married George William DERHAMER, son of Cyrus Derhamer and Sarah J. Michel, about 1906. George was born 20 January 1886 in PA and died after 1942. They had two daughters: Jeanette Derhamer (born about 1908) and Sarah A. Derhamer (born about 1911).
- Charles Nathan Reuter was born 30 November 1887 in Allentown, PA and died March 1966 in Northampton County, PA. He married Pearl SANFORD, daughter of James Sanford and Emma Eliza Benner. Pearl was born 28 March 1886 and died 23 September 1972. No children were born to this couple.
- Frederick Henry Reuter was born 11 January 1889 in Allentown, PA and died 7 March 1890 in Allentown, PA.
- Edgar Franklin Reuter was born 31 January 1893 and died 21 July 1906.
- Raymond Robert Reuter was born 27 March 1895 in Allentown, PA and died January 1984 in Northampton County, PA. He married Estella E. RAAB who was born about 1892 and died sometime after 1930. They had a daughter: Dorothy Rueter (born about 1914) who married a Mr. ROMIG.
2. Mary Susan Knappenberger was born 6 August 1840 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA and died 11 November 1888 in Lehigh County, PA. Mary married Horace B. LEHR, son of Joseph Lehr and Louise Newhard, on 20 March 1864 in Lehigh County, PA. Horace was born October 1837 in PA and died 17 December 1915 in Lehigh County, PA. They are buried in Fairview Cemetery, Allentown, PA. The 1880 census shows this couple with two children. They are buried in Fairview Cemetery, Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.
a. William C. Lehr was born 6 December 1864 in Lehigh County, PA and died 8 February 1955 in Allentown, PA. He married Harriet FENSTERMACHER who was born October 1866 in Pennsylvania and died sometime after the 1930 census. William is buried in Highland Memorial Park Cemetery in Allentown, PA. They had eight children that we know: Edmund Bruce Lehr (7 July 1889-January 1967), Robert Owen Lehr (2 April 1892-8 September 1931), Miriam E. Lehr (born July 1894), Mary E. Lehr (born July 1895), Dorothy Lehr (born August 1896), Ruth Lehr (August 1899-14 January 1986), Lucy S. Lehr (born about 1902), and John W. Lehr (23 February 1904-April 1973).
b. Sarah E. Lehr known as “Sallie” was born 1872 in Lehigh County, PA and died 1892-1900. She married Alvin Benjamin BIERMAN on 25 December 1892. She seemingly had no children. Alvin was born 29 December 1872 in Lehigh County, PA and died 30 December 1948 in Philadelphia, PA. He remarried to Josephine Snyder about 1900.
3. Elisabeth Rebecca Knappenberger known as “Eliza” was born 9 November 1842 in Lehigh County, PA and died 14 April 1878 after giving birth to a daughter. Eliza married her sister Sarah’s widower Nathan SCHWANDER, son of William Schwander and Anna Henry, on 22 March 1866 in Allentown, PA. Nathan was born 6 October 1835 and died 11 November 1900. After Eliza died in 1878, Nathan lived with his brother-in-law, George Adam Knappenberger, but then shortly afterwards married for the third time to Elizabeth “Lizzie” Copple. Eliza and Nathan had one daughter.
a. Lucy Ann Eliza Schwander was born 13 April 1878 in Allentown, PA and died 22 May 1878 at 5 weeks of age. Her mother, Eliza, died one day after giving birth to Lucy.
4. George Adam Knappenberger was born 27 July 1845 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA and died 15 March 1884 in Lehigh County, PA. George Adam was buried in Fairview Cemetery in Allentown, PA. George was a butcher at one time and also was an employee of the police department in Allentown, PA. George married Amanda LACY, daughter of Henry Lacy and Eva Quier, on 21 October 1866 in Allentown, PA. Amanda was born 27 March 1847 in Allentown, PA and died 2 November 1931 in Allentown, PA. She is buried in Fairview Cemetery. Amanda was listed as a widow in the 1910 census which indicates that she did not remarry. George and Amanda had five children.
a. Emily M. Knappenberger was born 12 January 1867 in Allentown, PA and died 17 February 1917 in Lehigh County, PA. She is buried in Fairview Cemetery. She was living with her widowed mother in 1910 at the age of 42. We assume that she did not marry. She was a shirt maker.
b. Lizzie Cora Jane Knappenberger was born 31 March 1869 in Allentown, PA and died 25 January 1950 in Allentown, PA. In 1910, Lizzie was 38 years old, single, and living at home with her widowed mother. We believe that Lizzie never married. Lizzie was a knitter. She is buried in Fairview Cemetery.
c. Harry William Knappenberger was born 26 November 1872 in Lehigh County, PA and died 4 March 1951 in Lehigh County, PA. Harry married Sarah J. LUCAS known as”Sallie”, daughter of Walter Lucas and Adamissa Dillinger, in 1899. Sallie was born 1 November 1875 and died 20 July 1935 in Allentown, PA. They are buried in Fairview Cemetery. Harry, his wife, and his daughter were also living in the same household as his mother and two unmarried sisters in 1910. This couple had one daughter.
- Helen Lucas Knappenberger was born 21 July 1900 in Allentown, PA and died 31 August 1953 in Lehigh County, PA. She married Charles Alfred GILBERT, Sr., son of George T. Gilbert and Mary Boyer, about 1918. They are buried in Fairview Cemetery. They had four children: Charles Alfred Gilbert,Jr. (1920-1974) Paul Knappenberger Gilbert, Robert Earl Gilbert (1926-2012) , and Elizabeth MarieGilbert (1929-1995)..
d. Jennie E. Knappenberger was born 24 November 1875 in Allentown, PA and died 29 December 1936 in Lehigh County, PA. She married William C. LAZARUS, Sr., son of Henry D. Lazarus and Sarah R. Laubach, on 20 September 1900. William was born 11 January 1863 in Lehigh County, PA and died 21 June 1947 in Lehigh County, PA. They are buried in St. John’s Union Cemetery, Mickley, Lehigh County, PA. William and Jennie had one son.
- William C. Lazarus, Jr. was born 17 September 1902 and died October 1971. He never married.
e. Child Knappenberger [unknown gender] was born in 1878 and died 17 December 1878 in Lehigh County, PA. This unnamed child is buried in Fairview Cemetery.
5. Anna C. Knappenberger was born 16 February 1848 in Lehigh County, PA and died 14 March 1904 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA. She married Samuel URICH, son of Andrew and Mary Urich, on 22 July 1869 in Lehigh County, PA. Samuel was born 7 April 1840 in PA and died 12 October 1920 in New Jersey. They are buried in Fairview Cemetery, Allentown, Lehigh County, PA. This couple had five children:
a. Claude W. Urich was born 21 March 1873 in Lehigh County, PA and died 16 February 1891 in Lehigh County, PA. He is buried in Fairview Cemetery.
b. Amy E. Urich was born 24 August 1877 in Lehigh County, PA and died on 3 August 1974 in Allentown, PA. She married William H. McHENRY, son of John McHenry and Nancy Tait. William was born 9 April 1875 in Catasauqua, PA and died 17 February 1944 in Allentown, PA. They are buried in Fairview Cemetery.
c. Millicent Urich was born 6 October 1880 in Allentown, PA and died 19 February 1954. She married Charles Ernest CASHMORE who was born 21 May 1870 and died 15 November 1946. They are buried in Fairview Cemetery.
d. Robert M. Urich was born October 1883 in Allentown, PA. He married Martha M. [maiden name unknown] who was born about 1885 in PA. In the 1920 census, they were living in West Orange, Essex County, New Jersey and his widowed father was living with them. At that time they had three sons: Ralph Urich (born about 1909), Robert M. Urich (born about 1913), and Paul F. Urich (born about 1915).
6. Josephine M. Knappenberger was born 22 April 1852 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA and died 5 December 1855 in Lehigh County, PA.
7. Ellen M. Knappenberger known as “Ella” was born 9 March 1856 in Lehigh County, PA and was living with her parents in the 1880 census for Allentown, PA at the age of 24. She married William Henry Robert SMINK, son of Daniel C. Smink and Eva Kaseman, on 24 December 1880. William was a widower from Shamokin, Northumberland County, PA, who had three children with his first wife, Annie L. Guiterman (Henry G. Smink/1873-1937, Eva K. Smink/1876-1962, Anna Louise Smink /1878-1941). William was born 29 April 1852 in Shamokin Northumberland County, PA and died there on March 29, 1924. Ellen died 15 December 1937. This couple is buried in Shamokin Cemetery in Northumberland County, PA. Ella and William had three children.
a. Ellen “Rosalie” Smink was born 11 July 1882, although some sources list her birth year as 1885, in Shamokin, Northumberland County, PA and died 10 May 1966. She married John Woodward GORTNER, son of Apollus Gortner and Mary L. Morrison, about 1911. John was born 27 July 1883 in Williamsport, PA and died 23 August 1954. They had two children: John W. Gortner, Jr. (8 March 1912 in Northumberland County, PA-31 December 1995 in Florida) and Marion Ellen Gortner (born September 1915). This family was living with Henry and Ellen Smink in Shamokin in 1920 census and with Ellen who was a widow in the 1930 census. Rosalie and John are buried in Shamokin Cemetery, Northumberland County, PA.
b. Marion L. Smink was born 22 May 1890 in Northumberland County, PA and died on 11 February 1891 in Northumberland County, PA at less than one year of age. She is buried in Shamokin Cemetery.
c. William Daniel Smink was born 12 February 1893 in Northumberland County, PA and died on 7 December 1901 in Northumberland County, PA. He is buried in Shamokin Cemetery.
ANNA REBECCA KNAPPENBERGER (1820-?)
Anna Rebecca Knappenberger known as “Rebecca” was born 4 November 1820 in Lehigh County, PA. She was born one week prior to her father’s death. Anna is listed in the estate proceedings so we know that she survived her birth. Nothing further is known about her at this time.
We are always interested in learning more about this family. Please contact us at jsappleton@windstream.net