KNAPPENBERGER ORPHANS

Updating August 2023

 

 

We have a number of Knappenberger Families that we have not been able to connect to the main family tree and are asking for your help in finding their proper place.  If you can assist us in determining where these families fit, please contact us at jsappleton@windstream.net.

 

EDITH MAY KNAPPENBERGER (born about December 1918 – died before 1984)
QUESTION  Who was the father of Edith Knappenberger?

Edith Knappenberger was 1 year and 1 month old in the 1920 census for Penn Forest Township, Carbon County, PA.  She was living in her maternal grandparent’s household, STEWART and EMMA MECKES.  Her mother, JENNIE AGNES [MECKES] ANDREWS, was 23 at the time, and  married to ROBERT ANDREWS, but living with her parents.  Living just down the street were the JAMES HENRY KNAPPENBERGER and RICHARD E. KNAPPENBERGER households.  Jennie married ULYSSES SYDNEY GREEN in 1920 and, in the 1930 census, Edith is listed as EDITH GREEN living with her mother, JENNIE GREEN, and stepfather in East Mauch Chunk, Carbon County, PA.  Edith later married a Mr. WHITE.

 

ELIZABETH KNUPPENBERGER (KNAPPENBERGER?)
QUESTION  Who is Elizabeth Knuppenberger (Knappenberger)?

ABRAHAM PETERSON who was born on 11 May 1811 married at the age of 33 on 22 January 1845 to ELIZABETH KNUPPENBERGER.  This family is from Michigan.

 

JOHN KNAPPENBERGER (born about 1887)
QUESTION  Who is this John Knappenberger and who are his parents?

John Knappenberger is listed in the 1920 census for Des Moines, Washington County, Iowa as 32 years of age and born in Iowa about 1888.  The census states his parents were born in Iowa as well.  He is listed as a farm laborer.  Also in the household is his wife, IDA B., who was 27 years of age and born in Iowa about 1893 – though her parents were born in Germany.  In this census they have one child listed: GLADYS, age 6, born in Iowa (so she would have been born in 1913/14).

 

QUESTION  Who are these Knappenbergers?

This unidentified photo comes from the family photo album of Beatrice Corder Hayes.  She visited this couple in Arizona and reported that “they were very wealthy but just plain folks.”  They later gave Beatrice’s daughter (Helen Hayes) a wedding present of eight linen place mats and napkins.  The back of the photo is imprinted with “October 27, 1938 – Albuquerque, New Mexico”.  This couple is from the same generation as Beatrice Corder Hayes.