PHILIP ADAM KNAPPENBERGER FAMILY

 

Updated August 2021

 

John Erhard
(1704-1776)
V
Philip Adam
(1742-1823)
V
Peter (1787-c1850s)
Catherine (1790-after 1830) > 3 Children
Veronica  (c1790 – ?)
Adam (1794-1870) > 10 Children   KNUPPENBURG
Jacob (c1795-1834) > 6 Children
Daniel (c1796-1862)
Elisabeth (1797-1873) > 1 Child

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Philip Adam Knappenberger known as “Adam” was born 23 October 1742 in Widdern, Jagstkreis, Wuerttemberg and traveled to this country in 1749 with his parents landing in Philadelphia on the Ship Christian.  He worked on the family farm in Whitehall Township, Northampton County (that later became Lehigh County in 1812), PA that was purchased shortly after their arrival in Pennsylvania.  Adam served in the 2nd Battalion, 4th Company of the Northampton County Militia during the Revolutionary War.  This was the same group in which his brother Philip Frederick served as 1st Lieutenant.  In addition to this militia service, Adam had service as a Frontier Ranger after the war.  Adam married Margaret [last name unknown] about 1783.  They had seven children together.  Adam Knappenberger died 2 October 1823 in Towamensing, Carbon County, PA.

 

CHILDREN

JACOB KNAPPENBERGER (c1795-1834)

Jacob was born about 1795 and died 17 April 1834 in Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County, PA.  He married Christiana SEIP, daughter of Peter Seip and Susanna Kregloh, about 1819 in Lehigh County, PA.  Christiana was born about 1800 in South Whitehall Township, PA and died April 1845 in Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA.  In 1820 Jacob was living in Heidelberg Township, Lehigh County, PA with a wife and one child.  Jacob and Christiana had the following six children.

1.  Karl “Charles” Knappenberger was born 14 August 1820 in Lehigh County, PA.  No further information is available about him at this time.

2. Jacob Knappenberger, Jr. was born 4 July 1822 in Lehigh County, PA and died 15 November 1862 in Lehigh County, PA.  He married Louisa Carolina RITTER, daughter of Jeremiah Ritter and Hannah Troxell, on 6 November 1853.  Louisa was born 27 March 1834 and died 12 July 1873 in Lehigh County, PA.  Jacob and Louisa are buried at Egypt Church Cemetery.  It is believed that they had two sons and a daughter.  Louisa remarried after Jacob’s death to Levi Smith and had at least two children with him.

a. Jeremiah J. Peter Knappenberger was born 17 January 1854 and died 12 February 1856 in Lehigh County, PA.

b. Franklin William J. Knappenberger known as “Frank” was born 21 June 1856 in North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA and died 23 February 1937 in Coplay, Lehigh County, PA.  He worked for 24 years for the Coplay Cement Company where he became chief engineer and general foreman of engines and boilers.  He is buried in Coplay Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.  Frank’s first marriage was to AMELIA M. FRANTZ, daughter of Reuben and Judia Frantz.  They were married in the 1880 census and lived with her parents.  Amelia was born 6 August 1849 in Lehigh County, PA and died 15 January 1888 in Lehigh County, PA.  She was buried in Neff’s Union Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.  Frank and Amelia had three children:  Edwin Knappenberger, Maggie M. Knappenberger and Charles Reuben Knappenberger.  Frank married about 1890 to his second wife, Edna Rebecca Susanna RODGERS, daughter of Edward Harrison Rodgers and Rebecca Young, in Lehigh County, PA.  Edna was born 2 December 1861 and died 22 December 1930 in Coplay, Lehigh County, PA.  She is buried in Coplay Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.  Frank and Edna had three daughters: Helen, Lillian and Pearl.

• Edwin Knappenberger, son of Frank and Amelia, was born 7 October 1879 in Lehigh County, P)A and died there 11 Nov 1879.  He is buried in Neff’s Union Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.
• Maggie M. Knappenberger, daughter of Frank and Amelia, was born 7 September 1881 in Lehigh County, PA and died 24 October 1947.  She married Charles Alfred MASTER, son of Manoah Master and Sarah Ann Rothenberger.  Charles was born 24 July 1876 in Lehigh County, PA and died 9 February 1957.  They had a daughter: Minnie May Master (10 October 1903 in Lehigh County, PA – June 1992) who married Nester John FENSTERMAKER, son of William K. Fenstermaker and Louisa F Huber about 1923. Nester was born 10 Oct 1903 and died 15 Dec 1951 in Lehigh County, PA   Maggie and Charles are buried in Arlington Memorial Park, Lehigh County, PA.
• Charles Reuben Knappenberger, son of Frank and Amelia, was born 22 November 1883 in Lehigh County, PA and died 6 May 1944 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.  He married Lydia Agnes SEARFASS, daughter of William Searfass and Mary E. Snyder, about 1902.  Lydia was born 23 May 1884 in Lehigh County, PA and died there 24 December 1918.  She is buried next to her parents in Allen Union Cemetery in N. Catasaqua, Northampton County, PA.
  Charles Reuben and Lydia had four children:  Irene A. Knappenberger (24 November 1903 in Lehigh County, PA – 26 October 1984 in Bethlehem, PA buried in Allen Union Cemetery) who married Fredrick A. MERTZ, son of Edwin C. Mertz and Meta V. Fredrick, (4 July 1902 – 12 June 1968 in Lehigh County, PA buried in Allen Union Cemetery); Anna Mae Knappenberger (13 September 1906 in Lehigh County, PA – 6 June 1922 in Lehigh County, PA and buried in Allen Union Cemetery, Northampton County, PA); Charles William “Franklin” Knappenberger (2 October 1909 in Lehigh County, PA – January 1979 in Lehigh County, PA); David Reuben Knappenberger (14 February 1914 – 27 October  2003) who married Geraldine Esther HAAS (27 March 1918 – 19 November 2020), daughter of Samuel P. Haas and Hannah E. Coll, in April 1941.
  Charles Reuben Knappenberger remarried after the death of his first wife, Lydia, to Willia C. STAUFFER, who was born about 1881 in PA.  Willia was the widow of Oliver Stauffer and had no children from her first marriage.  Charles Reuben Knappenberger died in 1940 and is buried in Allen Union Cemetery, Northampton County, PA with his first wife, Lydia, and daughter, Anna M. Knappenberger.

David Rueben Knappenberger,
Allentown High School,
Senior Class Photo, 1930
[photo graciously provided by Phyllis Reimer]

• Helen Rebecca Louisa Knappenberger, daughter of Frank and Edna, was born 14 October 1892 in Coplay, Lehigh County, PA and died 6 July 1978.  She married John Lawrence DUGAN about 1924.  John was born 5 July 1879 in Northampton County,  Pennsylvania and died October 1969 in Lehigh County, PA. They are buried in Coplay Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA. It seems that this couple had no children.
• Lillian Frances Knappenberger, daughter of Frank and Edna, was born 30 May 1895 in Coplay, Lehigh County, PA and died 1 November 1945 in Lehigh County, PA.   She married Allen Joshua LINDENMUTH who was born 31 December 1896 in Pennsylvania and died 24 January 1973 in Lehigh County, PA.   They are buried in Coplay Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.  They had nine children:  Arlene Alice Lindenmuth (12 July 1916-3 August 2005) who married Raymond George Lewis SNYER (22 April 1916-5 May 1987); Edna G. Lindenmuth (20 November 1918-13 January 1980) who married a SHOEMAKER; Allen Roger Lindenmuth (2 October 1920-30 December 1921),  Richard Francis Lindenmuth (25 January 1932-10 August 2003); Franklin J. Lindenmuth (26 April 1924-13 July 1944 in France); Emily Ann Lindenmuth (born 4 August 1924-17 April 2005) who married Harry William ROCK (18 October 1914- 30 August 1988); Donald Robert Lindenmuth (15 February 1926 – 9 February 2000) who married Eunice Lucy SCHLEICHER (19 April 1927-14 August 2015) ; Edith M. Lindenmuth (15 October 1930-2018) who married a REIGHTLER; and Shirley A. Lindenmuth (born about 1937) who married Jack WRIGHT.
• Pearl Irene Daisy Knappenberger, daughter of Frank and Edna, was born 6 April 1898 in Coplay, Lehigh County, PA and died 13 February 1977.  She married Charles Edward CASE, son of Titus and Lizzie Case, about 1923.  Charles was born 14 June 1896 in Northampton Co., PA and died May 1968 in Lehigh County, PA. They are buried in Fairview Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.   They had 4 daughters:  Joyce G. Case (8 June 1924-31 March 2008) who married Ernest E. GULDNER (23 August 1922-30 August 1999); Dorothy G. Case who married Mr. REHRIG; Irene Mae Case (1929)  who married Fred P. SCHUBERT (20 Feb 1928-29 July 1992); and Fern Case (30 December 1931-April 1982 TX) who married a Mr. WAGNER.

c. Hannah Lusinda Knappenberger was born 1 October 1858 and died 25 August 1860 in Lehigh County, PA.

3. David Knappenberger was born 9 July 1824 and died sometime after 1850 when he is listed ass 25 years of age in the 1850 census and single.

4. Sarah A. Knappenberger was born 12 July 1826 in Lehigh County, PA and died 25 August 1918 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.   Sarah married Ignatz “Isaac” WEAVER / WEBER on 20 December 1854 in Bethlehem, PA.  Isaac was born 1 August 1818 in Prussia and died 20 December 1896 in Allentown, PA.  They had six children that we know.  However, the 1900 census indicates that Sarah had given birth to 10 children of which 5 survived in 1900.

a. Adelaide P. Weaver was born 15 April 1852 in Lehigh County, PA and died  February 1940.  She  first married Charles H. LABOLD who was born about 1843 and died about 1889.  Charles fought in the Civil War.  Adelaide then married James W. KLOTZ about 1892.  James was born June 1852 in Pennsylvania and died sometime after 1910.   Adelaide had no children from either marriage.

b. Jane Weaver was born about 1856 in Lehigh County, PA.  We know nothing further about her at this time.

c. Eugene W. Weaver was born 11 August 1858 in Lehigh County, PA and died 2 March 1930.  Eugene married Matilda K. HERZOG who was born 15 November 1858 in Pennsylvania and died 15 July 1922.   The 1900 census indicates that Matilda had no children, however, in that census a son was listed named Frederick F. Weaver who was born January 1884 in Pennsylvania.   We assume that he was adopted.

d. Henry Weaver was born December 1859 in Lehigh County, PA and died sometime before 1870 as a young child.

e. Elmer Conrad Weaver was born 26 November 1866 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA and died 7 November 1931 in Allentown, PA.  He married Eliza Jane RITZ, daughter of John Ritz and Hannah Merkle, on 5 May 1889 in Allentown, PA.  Eliza was born 25 August 1869 in PA and died 26 June 1938 in Allentown, PA.  They had six children.  They also raised two grandsons after the death of their daughter, Ann Weaver Beltz.

• Edward E. Weaver was born 28 July 1889 in Lehigh County, PA and died June 1973 in Allentown, PA.  He married Elizabeth MOONEY who was born about 1885 in PA.
• Charles Isaac Weaver was born 15 September 1893 in Lehigh County, PA and died March 1963.  He married Cora I. HUBBER who was born 16 March 1899 and died August 1973 in Lehigh County, PA.  They had six children:  Thelma E., Walter F., Charles Franklin, Althea K., Margaret E. and John.
• Earl Franklin Weaver was born 11 February 1895 in Allentown, PA and died 6 September 1969.  He married Esther Mae LANDIS, daughter of Irwin Landis and Elizabeth Reinert, on 15 September 1917.  She was born 3 April 1899 in Coplay, PA and died July 1976 in Allentown, PA.  They had five children:  Georgiana Madeline, Winifred Esther (1919-1995), Elizabeth Geraldine (1920-1933), Eleanor Landis (1926-1994), and James Earl Franklin.
• Milton W. Weaver was born September 1897 in Allentown, PA and died 28 August 1898 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.
• Anna M. Weaver was born 7 July 1889 in Lehigh County, PA and died 10 July 1923 in Allentown, PA.  She married Earl BELTZ who was born 16 June 1899 and died April 1981 in Allentown, PA. They had three sons:  Reynold E. Beltz and James E. Beltz who seemingly were raised by maternal grandparents and Thomas E. Beltz who seemingly was raised by paternal grandmother.
• Florence C. Weaver was born 22 July 1909 in Allentown, PA and died 26 May 1966 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.  She married Earl SCHLENKER who was born 25 October 1906 and died 6 June 1992.

f. Alfred Weaver was born 12  January 1869 in Lehigh County, PA and died 15 February 1957 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA.  He married Martha M. CORRELL, daughter of Henry Correll, on 13 November 1906 in Allentown, PA.  Martha was born 26 October  1879 in Berks County, PA and died 15 November 1949 in Lehigh County, PA.  They are buried in Grandview Cemetery, Allentown, PA.  They  had three children:

• Harold Frank Weaver was born 19  March 1912 in Lehigh County, PA and died in 1966 in PA.  He was  married 3 times:  a.  Anna Zappe, daughter of John and Ella Zappe,  She was born 14 Feb 1909 in Luzerne County, PA and died 18 March 1934 in Lehigh County, PA.  They had a daughter:  Delores B. Weaver born 1930 in Allentown, PA.   b.   His second wife was Edna S. Ebert, daughter of Harvey Ebert.  Edna was born 21 Nov 1913 and died 20 March 2004 in Allentown, PA.  They had 3 children:  Robert Harvey Weaver (2 June 1936-19 May 1997), Jean J. Weaver and Marjorie A. Weaver.  c.  He married a 3rd time to Dorothy I. Stocker, daughter of Ernest Stocker, on 24 October 1947 in Lehigh County, PA.
• Robert Carl Weaver was born 23 Jan 1918 in Allentown, PA and died July 1986 in Lehigh County, PA.  Robert married Ellawesa A. Bowers, daughter of Wilson Bowers and Irene V. Smoyer, on 30 March 1941 in Allentown, PA.  Ellawesa was born 19 April 1920 in Lehigh County, PA and died there 21 January 1960.  They are buried in Grandview Cemetery, Allentown, PA.  They had 3 children:  Marion Weaver, Robert C. Weaver, Jr., and Fred C. Weaver.
• Alfred George Weaver (aka Fritz) was born 1 March 1919 in Lehigh County, PA and died 22 August 2010 in South Carolina.  He married Shirley J. Keller, daughter of Benjamin F. Keller, on 17 March 1951.  Shirley was born in 1927 and died in 1984.  They had 3 children:  Martha Weaver, Scott Weaver and Jeffrey Allen Weaver.

5.  Jonas Knappenberger born 15 February 1827 in Lehigh County, PA.  No further information is available about him at this time.  Sometimes this Jonas is confused with another Jonas born in the same year and county who died during the Civil War.

6. William Knappenberger was born 5 June 1832 in Lehigh County, PA and was christened in Trexlertown Union Church, Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County, PA.  No further information is available about him at this time.

 

CATHERINE KNAPPENBERGER (c1790-after 1830?)

Catherine was born about 1790 in Northampton County, PA and died after 1830 in Allen Township, Northampton County, PA.  She married Peter BARTHOLOMEW, Jr., son of Peter Bartholomew and Rosina Kern.  Peter was born 9 November 1780 in Kreidersville, Northampton County, PA and died in Petersville, Northampton County, PA sometime after 1830.  They had three children.

1.  Thomas Bartholomew was born 19 May 1808 in Northampton County, PA and died 25 September 1883 in Northampton County, PA.  He married Lydia SNYDER who was born 28 April 1817 in Pennsylvania and died 3 December 1885 in Pennsylvania.  Hannah and John are buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Howertown, PA.  In 1880, they were living in Allen Township, Northampton County, PA.  At that time they had two children living with them: Tilghman (born about 1851) and Hannah (born about 1858). Their children seemingly are the following:

a. John Bartholomew born about 1835 in Northampton County, PA.  In the 1850 census, he was listed as 15 years of age and a saddler.

b. Unnamed Son Bartholomew born 1836/1840 and died 1840/1850 in Allen Township, Northampton County, PA.

c. Unnamed Daughter Bartholomew born 1836/1840 and died 1840/1850 in Allen Township, Northampton County, PA.

d. Lea (?) Bartholomew born about 1848 in Northampton County, PA.  The 1850 census lists a female aged 2 years old.

e. Tilghman Bartholomew was born 8 January 1850 in Northampton County, PA and died 6 January 1932 in Northampton County, PA.  He married Annie C. [maiden name unknown] about 1891. She was born 17 May 1850 in PA and died 24 September 1907.  They are buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Howertown, PA.  In the 1900 census, they had no children, and, by the 1910 census, Tilghman is widowed and living alone.  We assume that no children were born to this marriage.  It seems that Tilghman raised his nephew, Frank H. Reph. [see below]

f. Fyetta Bartholomew was born about 1855 in Northampton County, PA.  She was listed as 15 years of age in the 1870 census.

g. Hannah Bartholomew was born 21 November 1857 in Northampton County, PA and died 11 August 1919 in East Allen Township, Northampton County, PA.  In the 1870 census, she was listed as 12, and, in the 1880 census, she was 22 years of age.  Hannah had a child named Frank Henry REPH.  Hannah married John SCHLEGEL on 21 November 1886.  John was born 6 December 1843 in Pennsylvania and died 28 January 1918 in Northampton County, PA.  Hannah and John had two daughters:  Savannah and Jennie.  See below.  Hannah and John are buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Howertown, PA.

• Frank Henry Reph was born 20 April 1882 in Northampton County, PA and died 26 May 1947 in Allentown, Lehigh County,  PA.  He was raised by his uncle, Tilghman Bartholomew.  He married Beulah Lydia Ann WELTY, daughter of Richard Welty and Cecelia Heydt.  Beulah was born 29 March 1885 and died 6 November 1963 in Allentown, PA.  Frank and Beulah are buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Northampton County, PA.  They had three children:  Russell R. Reph (13 November 1903-July 1980) who married Naomi LAUB; Charles Tilghman Reph (18 November 1907-30 May 1991) who married Henrietta Bridget TULLY (11 February 1913-20 May 1987); and a third son who died shortly after birth.

Howertown Evangelical Church,
Weaversville, Pennsylvania, 1920

Charles Tilghman Reph,
Henrietta Bridget [Tully] Reph,
Mary Tully, Russell Reph
Wedding Portrait, 12 June 1937

Harriet Elizabeth [Reph] Bauer
Bath, Pennsylvania, 1940
[photos graciously provided by Harriet Bauer]

• Savannah C. Schlegel, child of Hannah and John, was born February 1887 in Northampton County, PA and died 15 September 1947 in Northampton County, PA.  She married Walter Harvey Naylor, son of Louis Naylor and Mary Ann Koch, about 1908.  Walter was born 12 December 1881 and died 19 May 1955.  Savannah and Walter are buried in Greenwood Cemetery.  They had a son: Clarence A. Naylor (9 July 1912-13 June 1961).
• Jennie M. Schlegel, child of Hannah and John, was born 7 August 1889 in Northampton County, PA and died 18 April 1960 in Northampton County, PA.  She married William John Schilling, son of George Schilling and Lillie Woodring, about 1909.  William was born 27 February 1890 and died 4 November 1961.  Jennie and William are buried in Greenwood Cemetery.  They had two daughters: Irene Schilling (born about 1911) and Helen Schilling (born about 1915).

f. Thomas Bartholomew was born about 1865 in Northampton County, PA.  He is listed as 4 years of age in the 1870 census but is not listed in the 1880 census with the family.

2.  Jeremiah Bartholomew was born about 1814 and died in Laurys, PA.

3.  Charles Bartholomew was born 1819 and died in Petersville, PA.

 

PETER KNAPPENBERGER (1787-c1850)

Peter was born 23 July 1787 in Carbon County, PA and died sometime after 1850 in Columbia County, PA.  He appears in the 1850 census at the age of 64 in Fishing Creek Township, Columbia County, PA.  No further information is available at this time.

 

VERONICA (FRONA) KNAPPENBERGER (c1790-?)

Veronica was born about 1790 in Carbon County, PA and married Michael FINK.  This couple may have moved “West” at some time but nothing further is known of them at this time.  It is believed that they moved to Ohio.

 

ADAM KNUPPENBURG (1794-1870)

Adam was born 17 May 1794 in Carbon County, PA and died August 1870 in Luzerne County, PA.  In the 1840 census he is listed in Windham Township, Luzerne County, PA which later became Wyoming County.  Adam and his descendants spell their name KNUPPENBURG or KNUPPENBERG.  Adam married Eunice ALLEN, daughter of Ebenezer Dana Allen and Laodicea Vose/Vorse, on 7 May 1815 and had ten children.  Learn more about this family by clicking on his name above.

 

DANIEL KNAPPENBERGER (c1795-1862)

Daniel was born about 1795/96 in Carbon County, PA.  He is listed in Washington Township, Lehigh County, PA in the 1850 census as “Daniel Kneppenberger” living in the Daniel Newhard household and in the 1860 census for Washington Township, Lehigh County, PA living in the William Blose household.  He died in 28 May 1862 without a will.  Survivors at that time were two sisters and descendants of his brother, Jacob.  It appears that Daniel never married.  He is buried in Neff’s Union Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.

 

ELISABETH KNAPPENBERGER (1797-1873)

Elisabeth known as “Betsy” was born in 1797 in Whitehall Township, Northampton County, PA and died 31 December 1873 in Packer Township, Carbon County, PA.  She had one daughter, Mary, with William KERN.  Mostly likely Elisabeth and William never married.  It seems that Elisabeth and her daughter, Mary, lived with the Peter Rumpel & Barbara Rumpel in Packer Township, Carbon County, PA and that Mary used the last name of RUMPEL until her marriage.  In the 1850 census, Elizabeth “Notberger” was 45 years of age and living with the Rumple family next door to the Joel Eroh family.  In the 1870 census, Betsy “Noobenberger” is age 85, born in Pennsylvania, and living with the Joel Eroh family.

1. Mary Kern was born 4 July 1823 in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA and died 16 March 1873 in Packer Township, Carbon County, PA.   Mary and Joel EROH were married about 1848.  Joel was born about 1825 in Pennsylvania and was a teamster and farm laborer.  They are buried in the old Reed Cemetery in Packer Township, Carbon County, PA.  Mary and Joel had seven children.

a. William Harrison Eroh was born about 1847 in Carbon County, PA.  He married Sarah A. [maiden name unknown] who was born about 1846 in Pennsylvania.  They had three children by the 1880 census: Clara Eroh (born about 1874), Mary E. Eroh (born about 1876) and James Eroh (born about 1878).

b. David Eroh was born about 1851 in Carbon County, PA.   In the 1880 census, he was 28 years old, single and a railroad laborer living in Schuylkill County, PA with the Charles Bretz family.

c. Mary Eroh was born about 1854 in Carbon County, PA.

d. Susan Eroh was born about 1855 in Carbon County, PA.  She married David BECHTEL about 1888.  He was born about 1852, according to the 1910 census, when they lived in Lansford, Carbon County, PA.  They had one son named Charles Bechtel (born January 1891).

e. Charles F. Eroh was born 20 March 1858 in Carbon County, PA and died 21 June 1877 in Carbon County, PA.  He is buried in the old Reed Cemetery in Carbon County, PA.

f. John Eroh was born 1860 in Carbon County, PA.  In the 1910 census, he is listed as 50 years of age and living with his married sister, Susan Bechtel.

g. Alice Eroh was born about 1863 in Carbon County, PA.

 

WE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THIS BRANCH OF THE FAMILY.   IF YOU HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE CONTACT US AT jsappleton@windstream.net

 

SPECIAL THANKS

Renee Reph Reed for her help with the Hannah Bartholomew family!
Harriet Reph Bauer for her photos, documents, and history of the Frank Henry Reph family!