SAMUEL AUGUSTUS FAMILY
OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Updated January 2024
Johan Michael
(1709-1751)
V
Conrad
(1748-1818)
V
J Philip
(1783-1867)
V
John
(1809-1885)
V
Samuel Augustus
(1840-1920)
V
Anna Lydia (1865-1913) > 4 Children
Minta Alice (1867-1944)
Lottie M. (1869-1956)
John Murry (1874-1965) > 12 Children
Dovie (1875-1876)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Samuel Augustus Knappenberger, son of John Knappenberger and Anna Marie HILL, was born 2 September 1840 in Kiskiminetas Township, Armstrong County, PA and died 19 July 1920 in Indiana County, PA. Samuel married Mary Matilda MILLER, daughter of John Miller and Lydia FULMER, on 10 March 1864 in Armstrong County, PA. Her sister, Sarah Ann Miller, married Jacob Knappenberger, Samuel’s brother. Mary was born 1 November 1844 in Kiskiminetas Township, Armstrong County, PA and died 28 September 1932 in Armstrong County, PA. This couple is buried at Spring Church Cemetery, Armstrong County, PA. Samuel was a millwright and a farmer. Samuel and Mary had five children.
Samuel Augustus Knappenberger in 1906, on the reverse is written “Uncle Gust”
[photo graciously provided by Dorothy Hamilton Knepshield]
Samuel Augustus Knappenberger and, his wife,
Mary Matilda [Miller] Knappenberger’s gravemarker Spring Church Cemetery
Armstrong County, Pennsylvania
[photo graciously provided by Sue Appleton]
CHILDREN
ANNA LYDIA KNAPPENBERGER (1865-1913)
Anna Lydia known as “Annie” was born 16 March 1865 in Armstrong County, PA and died 18 October 1913 in Armstrong County, PA. She married George B. REMALEY, son of Rueben M. and Lucinda E. Remaley. George was born 5 December 1864 in Indiana County, PA and died 28 October 1895 in Armstrong County, PA. In the 1910 census, Annie and two daughters were living in the Samuel Augustus Knappenberger household. After Annie and George died, the children were raised in other households. Annie and George had four children.
1. Lloyd Tyson Remaley was born 24 April 1889 in Armstrong County, PA and died on 5 October 1905 in Armstrong County, PA. He was accidentally killed in a shooting accident on the Samuel Augustus Knappenberger farm (see below). Lloyd is buried in Spring Church Lutheran Cemetery, Kiskiminetas Township, Armstrong County, PA
Lloyd Tyson Remaley
[photo graciously provided by Dorothy Hamilton Knepshield]
2. Myrtle Lenora Remaley was born December 1890 in Armstrong County, PA and died 1970 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York. She married Elder Kelly ECKMAN, Sr., son of George McClellan Eckman and Martha Ann Knepshield, on 12 June 1913 in Vandergrift, Westmoreland County, PA. Elder was born 3 June 1891 in Burrell Township, Armstrong County, PA and died 30 August 1967 in Buffalo, NY. They had six children.
a. Walter G. Eckman was born 29 March 1914 in Pennsylvania and died 5 August 1995 in Rochester, Monroe County, New York.
b. Lloyd Herbert Eckman was born 18 November 1916 in Pennsylvania and died 13 February 2005 in Miami County, Ohio. He married Eva Pearl BROWN who was born in 1917.
c. Francis Arvada Eckman died in 1921.
d. Velva L. Eckman was born 24 December 1923 in Erie County, New York and died 15 September 2002 in Niagara County, New York. Velva married Charles G. SOURS, son of George and Gertrude Sours. Charles was born 27 June 1921 and died 14 May 2000 in Niagara County, NY. they are buried in Elmlawn Cemetery, Buffalo, NY.
e. Elder Kelly Eckman, Jr. was born 14 April 1925 in Erie County, New York and died 17 November 1998 in Fairhope, Baldwin County, Alabama. He married Louise SULLIVAN.
f. Eugene Eckman was born about 1930 in Erie County, New York. He married Hildagard.
Myrtle Lenora Remaley
[photo graciously provided by Dorothy Hamilton Knepshield]
3. Jennie Pearl Remaley was born October 1893 in Armstrong County, PA and died at the age of 1 year, 1 month and 22 days on 2 December 1894. She is buried in Spring Church Cemetery, Kiskiminetas Township, Armstrong County, PA.
4. Grace M. Remaley was born 2 March 1895 in Armstrong County, PA and died July 1983. She married Anthony V. HAAS, son of Joseph A. and Margaret Haas, was born 24 March 1897 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 26 December 1984. Grace was raised in her maternal grandparents’ home after the death of her father in 1895 and the death of her mother in 1913. Grace and Anthony had a son.
a. Blaine H. Haas was born 2 February 1931 in Kiskiminetas Township, Armstrong County, PA and died 16 January 1989 in Lackawanna, New York. He is buried in Spring Church Lutheran Cemetery, Armstrong County, PA.
MINTA ALICE KNAPPENBERGER (1867-1944)
Minta Alice Knappenberger known as “Minnie” was born 3 February 1867 in Armstrong County, PA and died 16 November 1944 in Armstrong County, PA. She was married to William S. BAIR of Indiana County, PA on 11 April 1905 – but the marriage ended shortly thereafter in divorce. William S. Bair, son of Jacob and Eliza Bair, was born about 1851 in Indiana County, PA and was a widower with three children at the time of his marriage to Minta. Minta was living in her father’s household in 1910 and 1920 and was buried as Minta Alice Knappenberger in Spring Church Cemetery, Armstrong County, PA.
LOTTIE M. KNAPPENBERGER (1869-1956)
Lottie M. Knappenberger was born 24 December 1869 in Armstrong County, PA and died 23 October 1956 in Armstrong County, PA. She married John Pitt MANNERS, son of James L. Manners and Emmaline Pitt, on 7 January 1918, at the age of 48. John was born 26 April 1865 in Pennsylvania and died 28 June 1929 in Indiana County, PA. Lottie had no children of her own, but John had 10 children from his first marriage. Lottie and John are buried in Spring Church Cemetery in Armstrong County, PA.
JOHN MURRY KNAPPENBERGER (1874-1965)
John Murry Knappenberger known as “Murry” was born 2 July 1874 in Mateer, Kiski Township, Armstrong County, PA and died 27 February 1965 in Armstrong County, PA. He first married Daisy Juliet UNCAPHER, daughter of Albert Uncapher and Hannah M. Carnahan, on 24 December 1902. Daisy was born 8 December 1882 in Armstrong County, PA and died 15 May 1939 in Armstrong County, PA. John Murry and Daisy had twelve children. John and Daisy are buried in Spring Church Cemetery, Armstrong County, PA. After Daisy died in 1939, John Murry later married Gertrude O. McDERMOTT, daughter of George E. McDermott and Elizabeth Freeman. Gertrude was born 19 January 1915 in Avonmore, Westmoreland County, PA and died 26 June 1967 in Indiana County, PA. Gertrude is buried in Mt. Tabor Cemetery, Blairsville, PA. John owned a farm near Mateer and also worked as a shearman at the Apollo Steel Company until 1943.
Daisy Juliet [Uncapher] Knappenberger
1931 Mateer Farm
LEFT TO RIGHT Mary Matilda [Miller] Knappenberger, Albert Augustus Knappenberger,Sr.,
John Murry Knappenberger, and, baby, Daisy Viola Knappenberger
BACK Albert Augustus Knappenberger, Sr., Daisy Viola [Knappenberger] Frerotte
SITTING John Murry Knappenberger holding Michael J. Frerotte
[photos graciously provided by Terri Evans]
“Killed in Burglar Hunt” from The Sun (New York) on October 5, 1905
This 1905 newspaper article is about Lloyd Remaley being accidentally shot and killed by his uncle, Murray Knappenberger. In the article, it says that this happened at the home of Jacob Knappenberger and calls Lloyd Remaley his grandson. This is incorrect. It would have happened at the home of Samuel Augustus Knappenberger who was Lloyd Remaley’s grandfather. In the article, it seems to indicate that Lottie Knappenberger who was also accidentally shot would not recover from her wound, but in fact a later article says that she was shot in the thigh. Lottie did not die until 1956.
1. John Addison Knappenberger was born 12 November 1903 in Burrell Township, Armstrong County, PA and died in Butler County, PA on 11 January 1979. John served in the Army during World War II. He never married. John is buried in Spring Church Presbyterian Cemetery in Armstrong County, PA.
2. Albert Augustus Knappenberger, Sr. was born 25 June 1907 in Armstrong County, PA and died in Los Angeles County, California on 19 February 1984. Albert is buried in Green Hills Memorial Park, Palo Verde, California. Albert married Amy Louise MOORE, daughter of James William Moore and Viola S. Shaffer, on 24 December 1928 in Westmoreland County, PA. Amy was born 8 March 1909 in McKean County, PA and died 13 July 2006 in Paradise, California. Albert, Sr. and Amy had three children. Albert Augustus Knappenberger, Sr. also had a son with Thelma Ermadean SCOTT. Thelma was born in 1916 in Apollo, Armstrong County, PA and died in August 2001 in Armstrong County, PA. Albert and his family moved to California in 1937.
a. Daisy Viola Knappenberger, daughter of Albert and Amy, was born 21 November 1929 in Salina, PA and died 11 July 1994 in Ford City, Armstrong County, PA. Daisy married James Lorenzo FREROTTE, son of Gustave H. Frerotte and Marcella Marie Tomer, on 26 November 1949. James was born 15 February 1928 in Ford City, Armstrong County, PA and died 29 December 2011 in Ford City, Armstrong County, PA.
b. Albert Augustus “Knappy” Knappenberger, Jr., son of Albert and Amy, was born 29 March 1933 in Apollo, Armstrong County, PA and died 9 February 2001 in Paradise, California. He married Joan Carroll WARD, but this marriage ended in divorce. Albert then married JoAnn SHIELDS in 1967. Albert served in the military during the Korean War.
c. Richard Harvey Knappenberger, son of Albert and Amy, was born 13 June 1936 in Apollo, Armstrong County, PA and died 26 September 2005 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Rockford, Illinois. Richard married Barbara Louise BEALS, daughter of Jacob Lloyd Beals and Elizabeth Louise Dobson, on 21 May 1966.
d. Albert Eugene BURNS, son of Albert and Thelma, was born in 1936 in Armstrong County, PA.
3. Ethel Mary Knappenberger was born 10 September 1908 in Burrell Township, Armstrong County, PA and died in Winter Park, Florida on 21 December 1978. She married Carl Rudolph SCHWOLGIN, son of John and Amelia Schwolgin, on 29 November 1928. Carl was born on 15 December 1903 in Germany and died 13 September 1974 in Apollo, Armstrong County, PA. Carl came to the United States in 1905. They had two sons.
a. Rudolph John Schwolgin was known as “Rudy”. He married Sarah Elizabeth BIRCH, daughter of William Mace Birch and Ruth Abel, in 1958 in Florida.
b. Robert Carl Schwolgin was born 27 January 1934 in Armstrong County, PA and died August 1986. He married Nancy.
4. Edna Margaret Knappenberger was born 24 July 1910 in Burrell Township, Armstrong County, PA and died 1 January 2009 in Richlandtown, PA. Edna married Dwight Rodger SHUPE, Sr. known as “Bill”, son of Omer Shupe and Anna Mary Scott, on 16 January 1933. Dwight was born 8 December 1909 in Vandergrift, Westmoreland County, PA and died 2 December 1991 in Natrona Heights, Allegheny County, PA. They are buried in Spring Church Lutheran Cemetery, Armstrong County, PA. They had four children.
a. Dwight Roger Shupe, Jr.
b. William “James” Shupe
c. Paul Oliver Shupe
d. Mary Alice Shupe
5. Murry Owen Knappenberger was born 2 July 1912 in Burrell Township, Armstrong County, PA and died 23 September 2004 in Cave City, Sharp County, Arkansas. He first married Retta Willivine SHELLHAMMER, daughter of Robert Beatie Shellhammer and Anna Mary Fulton, on 3 June 1934 in Westmoreland County, PA. Retta was born 29 September 1916 in Armstrong County, PA and died in Evening Shade, Arkansas on 10 November 1977. [Retta was the sister to Goldie Shellhammer who married Paul Uncapher Knappenberger – see below.] Retta was buried in Spring Church Cemetery, Armstrong County, PA. Murry and Retta had eight children. Murry later married Beatrice B. BARNES, daughter of Albert F. Barnes and Ola Stockton. Beatrice was born 20 July 1911 in McDonald County, Missouri and died 12 October 1993. Beatrice known as “Bea” and Murry are buried next to each other at the Pineville Cemetery, McDonald County, Missouri.
a. Murry Owen Knappenberger, Jr. known as “Sonny”.
b. William Bryon Knappenberger was born 22 March 1937 in Armstrong County, PA and died 24 April 1938 in Armstrong County, PA.
c. Wilda Margaret Knappenberger was born 11 May 1938 in Allegheny County, PA and died 5 January 2004 in Jonesboro, Craighead County, Arkansas. She first married Robert Richard WILSON, son of Edward Wilson and Twila Kerr, in 1954. This marriage ended in divorce. Wilda then married Clyde Owen RUSH and then later married Amos Ray RUSH who was born 28 July 1918 in Melbourne, Arkansas and died 27 August 1995 in Evening Shade, Arkansas.
d. Cecil Carl Knappenberger
e. Paul Robert Knappenberger (1941) married Janet JOHNSON and had at least four children: Cliff Knappenberger (5 October 1964-13 June 2014), Scott Knappenberger, John Knappenberger, and Leann Knappenberger who married a Mr. CROSBY . This marriage ended in divorce. Paul Robert Knappenberger married Virginia Ann SNEED who was born 21 March 1949 in Arkansas and died 23 October 2023. They were married for 48 years.
f. Sandra Willivine Knappenberger
g. Goldie Mae Knappenberger. Goldie married Stephan Lee GOODMAN in 1976. Stephen as born 14 February 1953 in Arkansas and died 29 March 1990 in Arkansas.
h. Veda Rose Knappenberger.
6. Rosena May Knappenberger was born 11 December 1913 in Burrell Township, Armstrong County, PA and died 15 November 2002 in Armstrong County, PA. She first married Finley Abner BARR on 2 August 1934. Finley was born 19 August 1910 in Gilpin Township, Armstrong County, PA and died on 16 July 1964 in Armstrong County, PA. He is buried in Laurel Point Cemetery, Parks Township, Armstrong County, PA. This couple had four children. Rosena later married Paul LINSENBIGLER. Paul was born 22 November 1900 in PA and died January 1974 in Westmoreland County, PA.
Rosena May [Knappenberger] Barr Linsenbigler
[photo graciously provided by Rebecca M. Barr Hepler]
a. Betty Jane Barr was born 1 March 1935 in Ford City, Armstrong County, PA and died 23 November 2011 in Monroeville, PA. She married George M. SAXION, son of Harry S. Saxion and Laura E. Guss, on 12 January 1953. George was born 18 May 1934 in Armstrong County, PA and died in Butler County on 6 July 2008. They are buried in Riverview Cemetery, Apollo, PA.
b. Clair Eugene Barr known as “Eugene” was born 21 April 1936 in Armstrong County, PA and died 15 November 2005 in Monroeville, PA. He is buried in Greenwood Memorial Park, Westmoreland County, PA.
c. Clara Lucille Barr
d. Earl Leroy Barr was born 18 November 1942 in Armstrong County, PA and died 15 June 1997 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA. He is buried in Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County, PA.
7. Lucy Priscilla Knappenberger was born 24 June 1915 in Burrell Township, Armstrong County, PA and died 7 April 1965 in Armstrong County, PA. She married Robert Carl KLINGENSMITH, son of Frank E. Klingensmith and Mary J. Almes, in 1936. Robert was born 17 March 1917 in Armstrong County, PA and died on 14 April 1993 in Armstrong County, PA. This couple is buried in Spring Church Cemetery, Armstrong County, PA. They had three children.
a. Robert Carl Klingensmith, Jr. who was born 4 April 1937 in Kiskiminetas Township, Armstrong County, PA and died 22 May 2007 in Pinehurst, Moore County, North Carolina. He first married Bonnie LYNCH; this marriage ended in divorce. He later married Diane BERNER.
b. Nancy Lee Klingensmith
c. Norma Jean Klingensmith
LEFT Lucy Priscilla [Knappenberger] Klingensmith and Robert Carl Klingensmith
CENTER Lucy Priscilla [Knappenberger] Klingensmith
RIGHT Robert Carl Klingensmith, Jr., Norma Jean Klingensmith, Nancy Lee Klingensmith
[photos graciously provided by Nancy Klingensmith Neff Dunn]
8. Verda Viola Knappenberger known as “Verdie” was born 18 November 1916 in Burrell Township, Armstrong County, PA and died on 7 January 1998 in Parks Township, Armstrong County, PA. She married Dale Alexander SCOTT, son of Alexander Scott and Jeannette Beamer, on 1 March 1935. Dale was born 1 October 1911 in Kiskiminetas Township, Armstrong County, PA and died on 20 November 1995 in Armstrong County, PA. This couple is buried in Greenwood Memorial Park in Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County, PA. They had 2 children.
a. Doris Jean Scott
b. James Clarence Scott
9. Earl Oliver Knappenberger was born 29 March 1919 in Burrell Township, Armstrong County, PA and died 8 May 1995 in Armstrong County, PA. Earl served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Earl is buried in Fairview Cemetery in Spring Church, Armstrong County, PA. He married Evelyn “Pauline” KINTER, daughter of Samuel Paul Kinter and Evelyn Roberts, on 6 January 1947. Pauline was born 6 January 1926 in Leechburg, Armstrong County, PA and died 11 June 2011 in Erie, Pennsylvania. They had one son.
a. David Earl Knappenberger
10. Paul Uncapher Knappenberger was born 19 August 1921 in Mateer, Armstrong County, PA and died on 17 February 1998 in Armstrong County, PA. Paul married Goldie Elizabeth SHELLHAMMER, daughter of Robert Beatie Shellhammer and Anna Mary Fulton, on 29 June 1947. Goldie was born 10 March 1924 in Kiskiminetas Township, Armstrong County, PA and died in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA on 26 January 2008. Paul served in the Army during World War II. They had one son.
a. Paul Uncapher Knappenberger, Jr.
11. Vearl Lloyd Knappenberger was born 2 June 1924 in Burrell Township, Armstrong County, PA and died in Los Angeles County, California on 9 October 1992. He is buried in Green Hills Cemetery, Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Vearl enlisted in the military service on 20 March 1943 in Pennsylvania. Vearl married Norma May BASH, daughter of Carl Bash and Violet Slicker, on 16 May 1948 in Apollo, PA. Norma was born 14 February 1928 in PA and died 26 February 2016 in Torrance, Los Angeles County, California. She is buried in Green Hills Cemetery. They had four sons.
a. Ricky J. Knappenberger (twin) born 20 April 1952 and died 20 April 1952. Buried in Spring Church Lutheran Cemetery.
b. Randy L. Knappenberger (twin) born 20 April 1952 and died 20 April 1952. Buried in Spring Church Lutheran Cemetery.
c. Kevin Ray Knappenberger (twin)
d. Keith Leonard Knappenberger (twin)
12. Clair Elmer Knappenberger, Sr. of Burrell Township, Armstrong County, PA was born 16 July 1927 and died 10 February 2019. He enlisted in the Army on 20 December 1945 and served from 1945 to 1948, stationed in Germany. He married Helen Ruth BECK, daughter of Gladys WILCOX Beck, on 20 June 1949. Helen was born on 28 January 1933 and died 4 October 2020. They had three children.
a. Val Jean Knappenberger
b. Ilene Knappenberger
c. Rev. Clair Elmer Knappenberger, Jr.
DOVIE KNAPPENBERGER
Dovie was born 9 June 1875 in Burrell Township, Armstrong County, PA and died 7 September 1876 in Armstrong County, PA.
SPECIAL THANKS
• Dorothy Hamilton Knepshield – for preserving her family Bible, numerous precious photographs, and much fine memorabilia.
• Ann Knappenberger Rowland
• Al Burns
Do you have additional information that you care to share on this family? If so, please contact us at jsappleton@windstream.net