KNAPPENBERGER FAMILY REUNIONS
Does your branch of the Knappenbergers (or a related family) have a reunion planned? Provide us with information about the reunion [date, time, place, etc] and we will let others know about it here on our family website. It’s a great way to spread the word. Perhaps sometime in the future we could have an ALL KNAPPENBERGER Family Reunion! Email us at jsappleton@windstream.net.
Centennial Quilt constructed by G. Knappenberger, who was probably Gertrude Wendling Knappenberger (1815-1888), about 1876 in Pennsylvania commemorating our nation’s 100th birthday. It was exhibited at The Quilt Gallery [19 East 80 Street, New York City], published in a calendar for the 1976 US Bicentennial, and is now owned and displayed at the Folk Art Museum of New York City.
Eastern Pennsylvania Knappenberger Reunions
Reunions of the Eastern Pennsylvania Knappenbergers were held on a regular basis and included relatives who traveled from Indiana and elsewhere to get together with their cousins. Paul Vance Kunkle, PhD, the speaker at the 1949 reunion, was born 28 May 1903 in Allentown, PA and died 29 November 1974 in Lehigh County, PA. He was the son of Edgar Franklin Kunkle (1855-1937) and grandson of Catharine Clarissa Knappenberger (1826-1895) and great-grandson of Philip Knappenberger, Jr. (1800-1884).
Conrad Knappenberger Descendants Reunion
Looking back over early reunion correspondence, it seems there was a family reunion for Knappenbergers held every year early in the 20th century with the last ones held in 1928 and 1938. These were typically held in Western PA and primarily for descendants of Conrad Knappenberger.
For instance, the Seventh Annual Reunion was held for the Conrad Knappenberger Family on 15 June 1912 at Lenape Park in Ford City, PA – which would indicate that they started in 1906. In 1918, there was a special reunion at Denmark Manor Church commemorating the 100th anniversary of Conrad’s death in 1818 with the unveiling of a new headstone that was entitled “Conrad Knappenberger 1747-1818” Knappenbergers from all over the country were typically invited and many sent letters of regret for not being able to make the journey.
Are you interested in a family reunion for descendants of Conrad Knappenberger? To hold such a reunion will require months of planning and assistance from many cousins. If you would be willing to help with such a reunion, please contact Sue Knappenberger Appleton at jsappleton@windstream.net.
70th Birthday party for Jacob Knappenberger, Jacob Knappenberger Farm,
Girty, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, 17 February 1906
STANDING 5th From Left: Samuel Augustus Knappenberger
STANDING 4th From Left: Mary Matilda Miller Knappenberger
SITTING 2nd From Left: Lucinda Knappenberger Klingensmith
SITTING 3rd From Left: Henry Clay Knappenberger
SITTING 4th From Left: Jacob Knappenberger
SITTING 5th From Left: Daniel Knappenberger
[photo graciously provided by Dorothy Hamilton Knepshield,
great granddaughter of John Knappenberger of Armstrong County]
Seventh Annual Conrad Knappenberger Reunion,
Lenape Park, Ford City, Pennsylvania, 15 June 1912
[graciously provided by John D. Knappenberger,
great-great-great-grandson of Conrad Knappenberger]
This photo depicts the Conrad Knappenberger reunion. Those pictured could come from many different branches
of the family of western Pennsylvania but primarily from the John and Anna Marie Knappenberger family.
SEATED (first row – left to right)
Joseph Emmitt Knappenberger (1878-1968) son of Jacob Knappenberger (1836-1922)
John Hester Knappenberger (1869-1939) son of Jacob Knappenberger (1836-1922)
POSSIBLY John A. Klingensmith (1868-1961) OR William Frantz Klingensmith (1871-1946)
both sons of Lucinda Knappenberger Klingensmith (1843-1929)
George Marlin Knappenberger (1875-1931) son of Jacob Knappenberger (1836-1922)
John Lester Knappenberger (1876-1951) son of Henry Clay Knappenberger (1846-1932)
Earl Lewis Knappenberger (1885-1971) son of Henry Clay Knappenberger (1846-1932)
STANDING (second row – left to right)
Frank Lee Knappenberger (1875-1946) son of Daniel Knappenberger (1833-1912)
Mary Belle Knappenberger Flickinger (1867-1957) daughter of Jacob Knappenberger (1836-1922)
Elida Zee Knappenberger Hamilton (1883-1958) daughter of Jacob Knappenberger (1836-1922)
POSSIBLY Nancy Catherine Knappenberger Silvis (1873-1952) daughter of Jacob Knappenberger (1836-1922)
POSSIBLY Lottie M. Knappenberger (1869-1956) daughter of Samuel Augustus Knappenberger (1840-1920)
POSSIBLY Minta Alice Knappenberger (1867-1944) daughter of Samuel Augustus Knappenberger (1840-1922)
POSSIBLY Maggie Mae Knappenberger Cramer (1890-1956) daughter of Henry Clay Knappenberger (1846-1932)
Knuppenburg-Turner Family Reunion
Saltsburg, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, 1911 or 1912
PICTURED ABOVE
David Howard Turner, Lula (Adams) Turner, Albert Leroy Turner, Lodica (Knuppenburg) Turner Byers, Laura (Turner) Buckwalter, Jonah Buckwalter, Joseph Miles, Melissa (Turner) Miles, William Duncan McTavish, Robie (Turner) McTavish, Sally Turner or AudreyTurner, Lois (Turner) Lindeman, Velma (Turner) Wyant Bowser, Albert Leroy Turner Jr., Milton Bailey Buckwalter, Margaret (Buckwalter) Plummer, Howard Buckwalter, Mildred (Buckwalter) Wesley, Ruth Buckwalter, Russell Buckwalter, Leslie Paul Buckwalter, Emily (Hill) Knuppenburg, Delbert Miles, Robie Miles, James Mirrel McTavish
[photo graciously provided by Gail McTavish Perrone,
great great granddaughter of Emily Knuppenburg who is seated in the middle of the photo]