JOHAN GEORGE KNAPPENBERGER
AND THE WATERS FAMILY

 

Revised September 2023

 

Johan Michael Knappenberger
(1709-1751)
V
Johan George Knappenberger
(1745-1819)
V
Catherine [Knappenberger] Waters (c1791-c1835) > 3 Children

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Johan George known as “George” was born 20 October 1745 and died 16 February 1819 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA.  George’s guardian upon the death of his father was Frederich Shafer.  George served as a Captain of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Company, Northampton County Militia in the Revolutionary War.  His younger brother, Conrad,  was listed as a Sergeant in the same company.  It seems George was involved with the ferry business in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA.  George married Catharine HITTEL, daughter of Michael Hittel, Sr. and Anna Marie, in 1762 in Northampton County, PA.  Catharine was born 1746 in Northampton County, PA and died February 1829 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA.  They had one child.

 

CHILD

CATHERINE KNAPPENBERGER (1789-1835)

Catherine was born 1789 in Catawissa Northumberland County, Pennsylvania and died 1835 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA. Catherine is buried in Union Cemetery, Catawissa County, PA.   She may have married a Mr. GOODRICH and had a child named Catherine Goodrich.  She then married Samuel B. WATERS, son of Jonathan Waters and Mary Snyder.  Samuel Waters was born 1792 in Hunterdon County, New Jersey and died 20 November 1844 in Marion County, Ohio where he moved after the passing of his wife, Catherine.  Samuel is buried in Otterbein Cemetery, Prospect, Marion County, Ohio.   Catherine and Samuel had two sons.  According to a court case concerning George Knoppenberger’s estate, Catherine had a child Catherine Goodrich who was a half-sister to George K. Waters and Aaron Waters.  The court case also gave us information related to death dates and marital status.

Information related to the death of Samuel B. Waters was located on www.findagrave.com but we are having a difficult time corroborating it with other information.   There is a Samuel B. Waters in the 1840 census for Marion County, Ohio but that census does not provided any specific information.  If anyone has any other information related to this family, we welcome the update/corrections.

1. Catherine Goodrich was likely born between 1811 and 1813 in Catawissa, PA.  She died in 1846 in Columbia County, PA.  She was unmarried and with no children according to court documents.

2. George Knappenberger Waters, son of Catherine and Samuel Waters, was born in 1814 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA and died 12 February 1881 in Columbia County, PA.  George married Elizabeth BENSINGER, daughter of Michael Bensinger.  Elizabeth was born 1812 in Catawissa, Columbia County,  Pennsylvania and died 1883 in Columbia County, PA.  This couple is buried in Union Cemetery in Columbia County, PA.  They had eight children:

A.  Samuel Waters was born 14 October 1833 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA and died 19 July 1911 in Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County, North Carolina.  He had moved his family there after the Civil War around 1870.  Samuel fought in the Union Army in the 6th PA Reserves, Company A as a Captain.  He fought in the battle of Gettysburg and was later wounded in the left knee at the Battle of Bethesda Church in Virginia in May 1864.  His younger brother, George W. Waters, was also part of this unit.  Samuel married Caroline Matilda RICHARDS about 1855 in Pennsylvania.  Caroline was born 1832 in Pennsylvania and died 22 September 1870 in Pasquotank County, NC.  She is buried in Old Hollywood Cemetery, Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County, NC.  Samuel and Caroline had four children

After Samuel’s first wife died, he married Mary GREAVES (married first to a Mr. Owens)  in 1871.  Mary was born about 1822 in North Carolina and died between 1880 and 1900 in Pasquotank County, NC.  No children were born to this second marriage.

Samuel owned Waters Bottling Company in Elizabeth City, North Carolina which continued operating until the 1930s.  In his will, he mentions four grandchildren:  Lydia Hartshorn, Edna Waters, Selma Waters and Samuel Waters.   Samuel was buried in the Old Hollywood Cemetery, Elizabeth City, North Carolina.


Samuel Waters fought in the Civil War
as a Captain for the Union Army with the
6th Pennsylvania Reserves, Company A.
He fought at Gettysburg.

a. George W. Waters, Sr. was the son of Samuel and Caroline and was born 7 January 1855 in Columbia County, PA and died 20 May 1922 in Pasquotank County, NC.  George fought in the Civil War [see above]. It seems that George first married Bessie GLOVER, daughter of William and Elizabeth Glover on 4 October 1887 in Pasquotank County, NC.  Bessie was born about 1862 in NC and died 1887-1894.  We have no information on children born to this marriage.

He then  married Martha R. “Pattie” BARCLIFT,  daughter of Dempsey P. Barclift, Jr. and Mary Ann Simpson in 1894.  Pattie was born February 1864 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina and died 1900 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina.  George and Pattie are buried in Old Hollywood Cemetery in Elizabeth City, NC.  They had three children.

  • George W. Waters, Jr. was born 17 February 1896 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina and died 27 March 1961 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina.  He is buried in Old Hollywood Cemetery.  He married Geneva BENTON in 1920.  Geneva was born 2 November 1898 in North Carolina and died August 1979 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina.  George and Geneva had three sons:  George Benton Waters (born 10 November 1921 in Virginia and died March 1982 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina), Charles Edward Waters (born 6 June 1923 in NC and died 11 July 2005 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina) who married Margaret AnnHARRIS (16 Octobert 1930 – 26 April 2005),  and JohnCalvin. Waters (born1927-27 October 2012)..
  • John Glover Waters born April 1898 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina.  In the 1920 census, John G. Waters was a Corporal in the US Army and was stationed at the Navy Supply Base in Norfolk, Virginia.  He was 22 years of age at that time and single.
  • Caroline Elizabeth Waters born 6 April 1899 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina and died 5 January 1990 in Los Angeles County, California.  She first married Frank Wilson CHARLTON who was born 5 March 1882 and died 13 February 1946.  She later married a Mr. MACKEY.

b. Jeremiah Smith Waters known as “Jerry” was the son of Samuel and Caroline and was born 21 September 1858 in Columbia County, PA.  He died in 1949 in Fort Wayne, Indiana at the Irene Byron Sanatorium.  Jerry married 3 times.  Jerry first married Ella May WOODLEY in 1883 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina.  She was born January 1865 in North Carolina and died 9 January 1903 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina.  She is buried in Old Hollywood Cemetery.  Jerry and Ella May had four children

Jeremiah “Jerry” Waters married a second time to Lydia Banks, daughter of Thaddeus F. and Mary Ann Banks, on 13 December 1903 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina.  Lydia was born October 1865 in Perquimans County, North Carolina and died 1906 in North Carolina.  No children were born to this union

Jeremiah “Jerry” Waters married a third time to Laura V. White, daughter of Jethro and Mary E. White, about 1906.  Laura was born 14 November 1882 in Pasquotank County, NC and died June 1965 in DeSoto County, Florida.  This marriage ended in divorce in the 1930s.  Together they had six children.

  • Lydia Waters was the child of Jerry and Ella May.  She was born April 1886 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina and most likely died in Massachusetts.  She married Roy M. Stewart HARTSHORN about 1907.  Roy was born 12 July 1880 in Somerville, Massachusetts.  They had three children:  Margaret Hartshorn (born about 1908), H. Roy Hartshorn (born 8 September 1909 and died 13 November 1986), and George F. Hartshorn (born 22 April 1912 and died 1 June 1981).
  • Edna Waters was the child of Jerry and Ella May.  She was born in December 1887.
  • Selma Waters was the child of Jerry and Ella May.  She was born in March 1890 and married in 1910.  She was living in Norfolk, Virginia with her sister, Lydia Waters Hartshorn, in the 1910 census and her name was listed as Selma Horner.  In that census, she was listed as married for one month.
  • Samuel Waters was the child of Jerry and Ella May.  He was born January 1894 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina.
  • Edward Huddleston Waters was the child of Jerry and Laura V. White.  He was born 16 June 1908 in Cartaret County, North Carolina and died September 1991.
  • Bessie Thelma Waters was the child of Jerry and Laura V. White.  She was born 14 December 1910 in Philadelphia, PA and died in 2010.
  • Ralph Waters was the child of Jerry and Laura V. White.  He was born 1912 in Lenoir County, North Carolina.
  • Nellie Waters was the child of Jerry and Laura V. White.  She was born 6 December 1914 in Lenoir County, North Carolina.
  • Fritz Patrick Waters was the child of Jerry and Laura V. White.  He was born 14 July 1918 in Lenoir County, North Caorlina and died 13 January 2006 in Florida.
  • Bonnie Myres Waters was the child of Jerry and Laura V. White.  She was born 17 September 1920 in Lenoir County, North Carolina.

c. Wellington  Henry Waters was the son of Samuel and Caroline and was born 23 September 1864 in Columbia County, PA.   He is listed in his father’s will of 1907.  He married Florence E. SHADE, daughter of Charles Shade and sarah Elizabeth Bartlett, on 14 June 1899 in Philadelphia, PA.  Florence was born 15 April 1873 in Pennsylvania and died 9 July 1944 in Philadelphia, PS.  They are buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA.

d. Harriett S. Waters known as “Hallie” was the daughter of Samuel and Caroline.  She was born 17 December 1869 in Columbia County, PA and died 28 June 1944 in Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County, North Carolina.  She married George Fentress HORNER, son of John T. Horner and Margaret Shores.  George was born 15 March 1871 in Virginia and died 28 December 1960 in Pasquotank County, NC.   George had been married previously.  Hallie and George are buried in Old Hollywood Cemetery in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.  Hallie and George had four children.

  • Mary Waters Horner was born 26 June 1906 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina and died 29 September 1998 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina.  She married John Mark TUTTLE about 1927.  They had two children: Marion Amory Tuttle (27 September 1927 in Virginia-May 1967) and Ruth E. Tuttle (born about 1929 in North Carolina).
  • Frank Wellington Horner was born 12 March 1908 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina and died 19 November 1956 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina. He married Frances SHINE who was born 8 October 1908 and died 25 December 1987 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina.  They are buried in New Hollywood Cemetery, Elizabeth City, North Carolina.  Frank and Frances had  two children:  Frances Patricia Horner and Frank Wellington Horner, Jr. (26 January 1942-2 June 1961).
  • Bessie Doris Horner was born 14 July 1909 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina and died 9 January 1986.  She married  Marvin Woodrow CARMINE, son of Charles Carmine and Linda Brothers.  Marvin was born 10 July 1916 and died 2 May 1978.  He was buried in New Hollywood Cemetery.  They had three children.
  • Selma Irene Horner was born 11 January 1912 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina and died 9 September 1975 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina.  She married Bertran Montigue MUNDEN in 1933.  Bertran was born 12 March 1908 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina and died on 12 March 1995 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina.  They are buried in New Hollywood Cemetery, Elizabeth City, North Carolina.  They had  four children.

 

B.  Jeremiah Waters was probably born about 1837 in Columbia County, PA.  He seemingly died between 1840 and 1850 in Columbia County, PA.  Nothing further is known about him at this time.

C.  Aaron Waters was born about 1839 in Columbia County, PA.  He was living with his parents at the age of 22 in the 1860 census of Columbia County, PA.  Nothing further is known of him at this time.

D.  George W. Waters was born 22 February 1842 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA and died 19 February 1928 in Columbia County, PA.  George W. Waters served in Company A, 6th PA Reserves as did his brother, Samuel.  He married Sarah ROHRBACH, daughter of Reuben and Abigail Rohrbach, on 13 September 1867.  Sarah was born March 1847 in Pennsylvania and died 12 June 1904 in Columbia County, PA.  This couple is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Columbia County, PA.  They had three children.

a. John B. Waters, Sr. was born December 1871 in Columbia County, PA and died 26 August 1932 in Columbia County, PA.  He was a druggist by trade.  John married Florence M. TAYLOR, daughter of James Taylor and Deborah Parvin Starr, about 1904.  Florence  was born 20 October 1874 in Pennsylvania and died 7 April 1940 in Columbia County, PA.  This couple is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Columbia County, PA.  They  had two children in the 1910 census:  Deborah S. Waters (born about 1905) and John B. Waters, Jr. (born about 1909).

b. Reynolds Waters was born 1879 and died 28 January 1881 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

c. Tressa Waters was born 6 October 1881 in Columbia County, PA and died 9 November 1945 in Columbia County, PA.  She married Harry Moore HOSLER, son of George B. and Nancy Hosler, about 1902.  This marriage ended in divorce.  Harry was born 11 June 1882 in Columbia County, Pennsylvania and died January 1948 in Oakland County, Michigan.  Tressa and Harry had two sons:  John W. Hosler (24 July 1903 in Columbia County, PA-7 February 1954 in Columbia County, PA) and George Richard Hosler (1 September 1908 in Columbia County, PA-12 August 1913 in Columbia County, PA).

E. Dennis Waters was born 6 December 1844 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA and died 17 November 1915 in Columbia County, PA.  He is buried at Hillside Lutheran Cemetery in Catawissa, PA.  He first married Eleanor “Ellen” SOSSERMAN, daughter of Daniel Sosserman and Mary Millard.  Eleanor was born 31 October 1845 and died 18 August 1879 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA.  Ellen was buried in Union Cemetery.  Dennis and Ellen had six children.  After his first wife died, Dennis married her sister, Rebecca SOSSERMANon 14 October 1882.  Rebecca was born 16 March 1850 and died 1 April 1929 in Columbia County, PA.  Dennis and Rebecca are buried in Hillside Cemetery, Columbia County, PA.  Dennis and Rebecca had one daughter.

a. William Ezra Waters was the son of Dennis and Ellen.  William was born 30 December 1866 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA and died 23 April 1941 in Catawissa, PA.  He married Ella Emma “Ellie” HUBER, daughter of William Huber and Mary Loreman, 25 December 1890.  Ellie was born 15 May 1873 in Columbia County, PA and died 11 May 1911 in Catawissa, PA.  They had four children:  Helen May Waters (21 November 1891-September 1954) who married Raymond Ralph LINN (16 February 1889-18 January 1946) son of Simon J. and Emma S. Linn; Dennis William Waters (20 September 1894-February 1970) who married Lillie May KARNES; Ross Edward Waters (13 March 1899-April 1973) who married Catherine [maiden name unknown]; and Paul Edward Waters born 25 October 1908 and died January 1909 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA.  William remarried after his wife’s death to Mary Elizabeth BANKESS, daughter of Bird Bankess and Mary Knorr, on 14 March 1914.  Mary was born 3 April 1866 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA and died there 11 May 1930.   William and his two wives are buried in Hillside Cemetery, Catawissa, Columbia County, PA.

b. Charles Edward Waters was the son of Dennis and Ellen and was born 3 November 1868 in Columbia County, PA and died 23 June 1937 in Columbia County, PA.  He married Anna Maria SEITZINGER about 1894.  Anna was born 1 March 1877 in Pennsylvania and died 18 October 1956 in Columbia County, PA.  They had five children:  Maud Berninger Waters (18 May 1896-1965) who married William Lewis GEARHART (1 September 1890-April 1966), Elizabeth (aka Bessie) S. Waters (20 May 1898- 7 February 1996) who married W. Harold OHL (1898-1988, Marie Waters (4 March 1900-1905), Charles Monroe Waters (7 March 1903-7 February  1924), and Adeline Cynthia Waters (born 15 June 1906 -1 October 1988) who married John U. Ralston (1901-1964).  This family is buried at Hillside Lutheran Cemetery in Elan Memorial Park in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA.

c. Harrison W. Waters was the son of Dennis and Ellen and was born 16 December 1871 in Columbia County, PA and died 17 January 1941 in Columbia County,  PA.  He married Fannie BANKESS, daughter of Benjamin and Kate Bankess, about 1905.  Fannie was born 2 August 1884 in Columbia County, PA and died 29 September 1925 in Columbia County, PA.  Harrison and Fannie had four children: William Paul Waters (16 July 1905-6 May 1989);  Florence Alverna Waters (24 February 1909-9 March 1972), Stanley E. Waters (27 June 1911-April 1978), and Cameron Edward Waters (6 June 1915-26 May 1958).   They are buried in Mifflinville Cemetery, Columbia County, PA.

d. Clara Rebecca Waters was the daughter of Dennis and Ellen and was born 8 November 1873 in Columbia County, PA and died 13 April 1960 in Columbia County, PA.  Clara married Jeremiah J. CHERRINGTON, son of Thomas Parker Cherrington and Harriet Hower.  Jeremiah was born 23 January 1868 and died 30 October 1921 in Columbia County, PA.  Both are buried at Hillside Cemetery, Catawissa, Columbia County, PA . They had four children:  Grace Cleaver Cherrington (16 September 1893-23 August 1981); Ralph Vaughn Cherrington (18 January 1897-17 January 1974); Ruth May Cherrington (21 April 1901-21 October 1990); and John Clarence Cherrington (1 December 1903-1 July 1985).

e. Annie Elizabeth Waters was the daughter of Dennis and Ellen and was born December 1875 in Columbia County, PA and died 1964 in Pennsylvania.  She married John William BIDDING, son of Charles Bidding and Celestia Bomboy, on 31 March 1902 in Catawissa, PA. John was born 22 April 1876 and died 2 July 1945 in Northumberland County, PA.  They are buried in Hillside Cemetery, Catawissa, PA.  Annie and John had four children:  Ruth Kathryn Bidding (1 July 1903-11 February 1924), Ethel Bidding (born about 1906), Glenn W. Bidding (born about 1914) and Jack A. Bidding (26 August 1922-2 May 2009).

f. Mary Catherine Waters was the daughter of Dennis and Ellen.  Mary was born 20 September 1877 and died 3 October 1961 in Catawissa, PA.  She married Charles Arthur ROBERTS, son of William Henry Roberts and Helen Barndt, in 1899.  Charles was born  10 May 1869 and died 19 October 1939 in Columbia County, PA.  They had eight children of which five lived to adulthood:  Anna May Roberts (born 28 July 1900); Helen Rebecca Roberts (20 June 1903-8 January 1906), Caroline G. Roberts (22 October 1905-15 October 1910); Catherine J. Roberts (22 October 1905-30 October 1905); Dorothy Marie Roberts (born about 1907); Donald Charles Roberts (born about 1914), Christine Elizabeth Roberts (born about 1916) and Phyllis L. Roberts (born about 1919).  They are buried in Hillside Cemetery, Columbia County, PA.

g. Sarah Alice Waters was the daughter of Dennis and Rebecca.  She was born 28 September 1899 and died 5 January 1976 in Columbia County, PA.  She first married Pias David EVELAND, son of Leander Eveland and Sarah Berning,,about 1907.  He was born 14  January 1886 and died 31 October 1917.  They are buried in Hillside Cemetery.  Sarah and Pias had two sons: Donald B. Eveland (18 October 1907-March 1982) and Gerald Eugene Eveland (17 August 1911-November 1986).  After the death of her first husband, Sarah married Isaac Atwood SWEITZER about 1920.  Isaac was born 25 April 1893 and died January 1977.  Together they had a son named Vincent Sweitzer known as “Junior” who was born 7 October 1920  n Columbia County, PA and died 11 April 2004 in Columbia County, PA.  Isaac is buried in Hillside Cemetery, Catawissa , Columbia County, PA.

 

F. Harrison L. Waters was born 25 December 1852 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA and died 13 April 1910 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA.  He married Martha J. LONG, daughter of Joseph H. Long and Rachel Williams.  Martha  was born 12 February 1853 in PA  and died 8 September 1947 in Delaware County, Ohio.  They are buried in Hillside Lutheran Cemetery, Catawissa, Columbia County, PA.  This couple seemingly had no children.

 

G. Perry L. Waters was born 4 October 1853 in Columbia County, PA and died 15 July 1931 in Columbia County, PA.  He is buried at Hillside Lutheran Cemetery, Catawissa, PA.  He married Alverta Clara GERTON, daughter of Mathias Gerton and Catherine Faust.  Clara  was born 22 July 1861 in Columbia County, PA  and died 6 May 1949 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA.  They are buried in Hillside Lutheran Cemetery.  Perry and Alverta had three children: Lucy A. Waters (30 June 1883 and died 11 May 1952.  She is buried in Hillside Cemetery.  George Raymond Waters (25 Feb 1888 and died 8 Jan 1955 who married Jennie Catherine Earnest.  Jennie was born 14 May 1897 and died 25 March 1890.  They are buried in New Rosemont Cemetery.   Mary Catherine Waters was born 9 March 1896 and died 1 December 1975.  She is buried in Hillside Cemetery.  Mary was married to a Mr. Murphy but this marriage ended in divorce.

 

H. Mary Elizabeth Waters was born 7 February 1859 in Columbia County, PA and died 7 August 1923 in Columbia County, PA..  She is listed in the 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses as a widow.  She married John C. HEACOCK who was born 29 March 1856 in Columbia County, PA and died 19 April 1885 in Columbia County, PA.  He is buried in Union Cemetery while Mary is buried in Hillside Cemetery.  Mary and John had four children.

a. Annie Elizabeth Heacock was born 1876 and died 1 November 1947 in Columbia County, PA.  He is buried in Hillside Cemetery.  She married George A. Dreisback in 1890.  George was born in 1869 and died 1893.  She then married Byron Curtis Getkin in 1900.  Byron was born in 1872 and died 1941.

b. Perry S. Heacock was born 12  April 1878 and died 13 May 1949 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA.  He married Nora Ellen LONGENBERGER, daughter of William O. Longenberger and Harriet Fisher about 1899.  Nora was born 3 March 1880 and died 10 February 1935 in Catawissa.  They are buried in Hillside Cemetery.  They had a daughter: Hazel J. Heacock (born about 1900).

c. Mary Elizabeth Heacock was born 16 November 1880 in Columbia County, PA and died 18 August 1916.   She married Charles Franklin Hummer who was born 18 Jan 1876 and died 8 Jen 1949.   They are buried in Kast Cemetery, Northumberland County, PA.

d. Martha Jane Heacock known an “Jennie” was born 29  December1885 and died 14 January 1942 in Columbia County, PA.  About 1903, she married James Garfield HARTZELL, son of John Hartzell and Rachel Hontz, who was born 22 February 1881 and died 23 December 1950.  They are buried in Hillside Cemetery.  They  had one daughter: Helen E. Hartzell (26 January 1905-7 December 1995).

 

3.  Aaron Waters, second son of Catherine Knappenberger and Samuel Waters, was born 18 October 1821 in Catawissa, Columbia County, PA.  He was christened in St. John’s Lutheran Church of Catawissa on 28 October 1821.  At the age of 29, he was living in his older brother’s household in 1850 and unmarried working as a saddler.  No information has been discovered to indicate he ever married.  He was not living in his brother’s household in 1860.  Court records indicate that he died in November 1863 in Columbia County, PA unmarried and without children.

 

SPECIAL THANKS

Harriett Carmine and Linda Garrison for their invaluable help with the Waters Family.

 

Are you a descendant of this family?  If so, please contact us at jsappleton@windstream.net.  Thank you!