JOHAN HENRICH “HENRY”
KNAPPENBERGER, JR. FAMILY
Johan Michael
(1709-1751)
V
Johan Henrich
(1744-1818)
V
Johan Henrich Jr (1781-1833) and Catharine Hechler
V
Lydia (1807-1832) > 2 Children
Thomas (1809-1857) > 11 Children
Johan Henrich “Henry” III (1811-1857) > 8 Children
Daniel A. (1813-1889) > 9 Children
George (1816-1900) > 3 Children KNAPP
Benjamin (1818-1891) > 9 Children
Catherine (1820-?)
Johan Henrich Jr (1781-1833) and Elisabeth Hess
V
John (1825-?)
Jonathan “Jonas” (1827-1862) > 4 Children
Sara Ann Carolina (1830-?)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Johan Heinrich Knappenberger, Jr., known as “Henry”, was a son of Johan Henrich Knappenberger. He was born 28 December 1781 in Northampton County (later Lehigh County), PA and died 1833 in PA. Henry married Catharine HECHLER in 1806. She died 1821 in PA. Henry and Catharine had seven children. After her death, Henry married Elisabeth HESS and had three more children. Henry and Elisabeth both died in 1833 within three days of each other leaving three young children as orphans. We do not know who raised them.
CHILDREN OF HENRY KNAPPENBERGER, JR. AND CATHARINE HECHLER
LYDIA KNAPPENBERGER (1807-1832)
Lydia was born 5 December 1807 in Northampton County (Lehigh County was formed in 1812) and died about 1832 in Lehigh County, PA. She married Henry CHRISTMAN, Jr., son of John Henry Christman and Anna Marie Roeder, in 1830. Henry was born 6 June 1807 in Christman’s Mill, Berks County, PA and died 8 October 1878 in Macungie Township, Lehigh County, PA. They had two children.
1. Sara Caroline Christman was born in October 1831 and died sometime between 1900 and 1910 most likely in Polk Township, Monroe County, PA. She married Jacob B. MEITZLER, son of Henry Meitzler and Catherine Schmoyer, on 26 January 1851. Jacob was born April 1828 in PA and died after the 1910 census in Monroe County, PA. Sara and Jacob had nine children.
a. James Henry Meitzler was born 9 June 1851 in Lehigh County, PA and died sometime after 1920. He married Cornelia H. [maiden name unknown] who was born June 1852 in New Jersey and died sometime after 1920. They had 5 children: Cora (born about 1875), Helen or Ellen (born July 1879), Annie (born February 1884), James (born July 1886), and Edith (born May 1888). In the 1920 census, James and Cornelia were living in Hereford Township, Berks County, PA and had an adopted son, Harry Master (?), age 28 and single.
b. Josiah Benjamin Meitzler, sometimes listed as ‘”Jessie”, was born about 1853 and died after 1920. He was married to Ellen J. [maiden name unknown] who was born about 1855 in Pennsylvania. They had five children: Frank (born 1880), Emma (born 1882), George H. (born 8 November 1886 and died April 1868 in Carbon County, PA), Hattie M. (born about 1889) and Frederick W. (born about 1892). In the 1920 census, this family was living in Lehighton, Carbon County, PA.
c. Florence Meitzler. Florence most likely was born about 1854/55 and died young.
d. Jacob Benedict Meitzler was born 11 February 1856 in Monroe County, PA and died sometime after 1930. He married Mary P. GREGORY on 20 September 1883. Mary was born April 1861 in PA and died sometime after 1930. Jacob’s father was living with them in the 1900 census and in the 1910 census at the age of 82. They were all living in Polk Township, Monroe County, PA in the 1900, 1910 and 1920 censuses. Jacob and Mary had three children:
- Harvey Meitzler was born March 1884 in Monroe County, PA and died 27 January 1931. He married Elmira WAGNER, daughter of David Wagner and May Alice Hawk about 1908. Elmira was born 29 March 1884 and died 4 April 1954 They had 7 sons: Wilmer Harvey (1908-1983), Stanley Wager (1910-1999), David “Allen” (1911-1999), Donald Franklin (1913-1987), Russell Albert (1916), Paul Jacob (1920-1966) and Robert Artanus (1921-2001).
- Emma E. Meitzler was born 31 August 1885 and died March 1967 in Monroe County, PA. It seems she never married.
- William C. Meitzler was born May 1887.
e. Jonas Levi Meitzler was born March 1858 and died sometime between 1900 and 1910. He married Veleria C. [maiden name known] about 1883. Veleria was born January 1862 in PA. They had four children: Carrie B. (2 September 1883-February 1968), Ada V. (born January 1885), William J. Meitzler (born August 1886), and Esther M. (born May 1889).
f. Ella Amanda Meitzler known as “Amanda” was born about 1862.
g. John C. Meitzler was born November 1864 in Monroe County, PA and died sometime after 1930. He married Emma J. [maiden name unknown] who was born about 1861 in PA. They had two daughters: Nannie or Nancy (born August 1888) and Jennie (born 1891 in PA) who married Lloyd ARNOLD (born about 1888 in PA) about 1913 and had a daughter named Marguerite Arnold (born about 1914). This family was living in Polk Township, Monroe County, PA in the 1900 and 1910 censuses.
h. Jeremiah Meitzler was born about 1866 in PA.
i. Joseph “Oliver” Meitzler was born about 1871 in Polk Township, Monroe County, PA. He married Fannie M. [maiden name unknown] who was born about 1871 in England. They had five children: Nellie M. (born about 1894), Joseph O. (born about 1898), Ruth E. (born about 1899), Hazel E. (born about 1905) who married Daniel MARVIN (born about 1897 in PA) and Pauline (born about 1911).
We are looking for more information on this Meitzler family. Please contact us at jsappleton@windstream.net.
2. Josiah Christman was born in 1832. No further information is available about him at this time.
THOMAS KNAPPENBERGER (1809-1857)
Thomas was born 4 August 1809 in Northampton County, PA and died in 1857 in Carbon County, PA. Thomas married Salome “Sarah” GRUBER on 23 June 1831. Salome was born 17 April 1814 and died 21 July 1835. Thomas and Salome had two children. Salome died shortly after the birth of her daughter, Sarah. Thomas then married Caroline GREENZWEIG, daughter of Daniel Greenzweig and Catherine. Caroline was born 24 December 1816 in Moore Township, Northampton County, PA. Together they had nine children. For more information on this family, please click on the name above.
JOHAN HENRICH “HENRY” KNAPPENBERGER III (1811-1857)
Henry III was born 3 May 1811 in Northampton County (Lehigh County) PA and died 10 August 1857 in Longswamp Township, Berks County, PA. Henry married Maria J. MILLER, daughter of Michael Miller and Susanna Schubert. Maria was born 24 March 1812 and died 20 December 1888 in Topton, Berks County, PA. Henry and Maria had eight children. For more information on this family, please click on the name above.
DANIEL A. KNAPPENBERGER (1813-1889)
Daniel was born 12 April 1813 in Macungie Township, Lehigh County, PA. He died in 1889 in Mercer County, PA. Daniel is the founder of the Mercer County PA Knappenberger Family. Daniel married Maria “Mary” RUMFELD / RUMFELT in May 1835. Maria was born 1812 in Macungie Township, Lehigh County, PA and died 1881 in Mercer County, PA. They had nine children. For more information on this family, click on the name above.
GEORGE WILLIAM KNAPPENBERGER (1816-1900)
George William was born 14 January 1816 in Lehigh County and died in 15 July 1900 in East Hanover Township, Dauphin County, PA. He married Sophia KOONS / KUHNS, daughter of David Koons and Sophia Powley. She was born about 1821 in Dauphin County, PA and died January 1880 in East Hanover Township, Dauphin County, PA. This couple is buried in Manada Cemetery in Dauphin County, PA. They had three children. This family changed the spelling of their last name to KNAPP.
1. Mary R. KNAPP who was born about 1846 in Beelzebub, East Hanover Township, Dauphin County, PA.
2. Emma Louisa KNAPP who was born 29 August 1851 in Beelzebub, East Hanover Township, Dauphin County, PA.
3. George William KNAPP, Jr. who was born October 1860 in Beelzebub, Dauphin County, PA and died 1925 in East Hanover Township, Dauphin County, PA. He married Lamentine W. LUNGREEN who was born October 1844 in Beelzebub, Dauphin County, PA and died 1925 in Beelzebub, Dauphin County, PA. This couple is buried in Shell’s Cemetery, East Hanover Township, Dauphin County, PA. They had four children.
a. Mary Maria Knapp was born 7 March 1882 in Dauphin County, PA and died 3 November 1972 in Alexandria, Virginia. She married William David HOWARD on 23 March 1901. William was born 28 December 1875 in Dauphin County, PA. This couple had two children: Alice Ruth Howard (1903-1950) and William Taft Howard (1912-1961) who married Edith Romaine NESSLER and Mary Irene BONAWITZ.
b. Alice Ruth Knapp was born January 1884 in Dauphin County, PA and died 1947. She married Moses E. MILLER who was born about 1885. They had at least two daughters: Effie I. (born about 1907) and Helen G. (born about 1909) according to the 1910 census for Lebanon County, PA.
c. James J. Knapp was born 3 August 1888 in Dauphin County, PA and died 10 January 1963 in Lebanon County, PA. He married Rosie Ellen KREISER on 2 March 1914. Rosie was born 11 August 1896 in Lebanon County, PA and died on 4 December 1985 in Lebanon County, PA. They had 13 children of which three died as infants.
d. Harvey J. Knapp was born 2 April 1893 in Dauphin County, PA and died February 1973 in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA. Harvey fought in World War I overseas and suffered shell shock the rest of his life.
BENJAMIN KNAPPENBERGER (1818-1891)
Benjamin was born 18 May 1818 in Lehigh County, PA. He died June 1891 in Rinard, Calhoun County, Iowa. Benjamin is the founder of the Northern Illinois (Dekalb County) and Southern Wisconsin Knappenberger Families. Benjamin married Anna STAUFFER on 24 July 1842. Anna was born 26 March 1820 in Longswamp Township, Berks County, PA and died 10 March 1897 in Mayfield Township, Dekalb County, Illinois. Benjamin and Anna moved their family to Illinois about 1854. They had nine children. For more on this family, click on the name above.
CATHERINE KNAPPENBERGER (1820-?)
Catherine was born 20 August 1820 in Lehigh County, PA. She married Henry MILLER during Spring 1842. Nothing further is known on this couple at this time.
CHILDREN OF HENRY KNAPPENBERGER, JR AND ELISABETH HESS
JOHN KNAPPENBERGER (1825-?)
John was born 29 March 1825 in Lehigh County, PA. He was 8 years old when his parents died in 1833. At the age of 25, John was listed in the 1850 census for Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County, PA living in the household of Henry KEYSER.
JONATHAN “JONAS” KNAPPENBERGER (1827-1862)
Jonathan known as “Jonas” was born 1 April 1827 in Lehigh County, PA and was 6 years old when his parents died in 1833. He married Sarah Ann DIEFENDERFER on 17 May 1850 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA. Sarah was born 30 June 1831 in Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, PA and died 16 April 1907. The 1850 census shows Jonathan as a tailor, age 23, with his wife Sarah, age 19. Also living in the household was his younger sister, Sara Ann Carolina, age 20. Jonathan fought in the Civil War as a Private with the 47th Pennsylvania Infantry / Company G. He died 22 October 1862 during the Civil War at Pocotaligo, South Carolina. An orphan document of Lehigh County filed 30 August 1863 indicates that they had four children and a Civil War pension for Jonas Knappenberger lists his widow as Sarah Ann. In 1880, Sarah A. Knappenberger is listed as a widow, living in Philadelphia with her married daughter, Mary Hartman and her husband, and their two children. In addition, Sarah’s two other single daughters, Annie and Lotta, were also living there. Jonas’ and Sarah’s four children were:
1. Ellen Jane Knappenberger born 21 October 1850 in Allentown, PA and died 29 August 1883 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA. She married Thomas C. FRACK, son of Thomas and Mary Frack, on 10 May 1868 in Lehigh County. They are buried in Union-West End Cemetery, Allentown, PA. They had five children.
a. Henry E.L. Frack was born 13 December 1868 in Allentown, PA and died there 5 February 1942. He married Estella JACOBS who was born 22 November 1867 and died 22 October 1925. They had two children: George T. Frack (3 August 1892-3 March 1957) and Bessie M. Frack (4 June 1896- 1 August 1958).
2. Mary M. Knappenberger was born 12 May 1854 in Allentown, PA and died sometime after 1910 when they were living in Connecticut. She married Louis M. HARTMAN, son of Sam Hartman. He was born June 1847 in PA and died after 1910. In the 1880 census they were living in Philadelphia, PA and had two daughters: Sally (born about 1874) and Daisy (born about 1876). Also living in the household was Mary’s widowed mother, Sarah, and her two single sisters, Charlotte “Lotta” and Anna Maria “Annie”. It seems that Sallie M. Hartman was raised by her grandmother, and became known as Sallie M. Knappenberger (see below).
3. Anna Maria Knappenberger known as “Annie” was born 30 August 1856 in Allentown, PA.
4. Charlotte F. Knappenberger known as “Lotte” was born 13 November 1859 in Allentown, PA and died 1 October 1890 in Philadelphia, PA. She is buried in Salem UCC Cemetery, Lehigh County, PA.
5. Sallie M. Knappenberger is listed as a daughter of Sarah Knappenberger in the 1880 census. Later in other information for her children, they list her as Sallie M. Knappenberger and not Sallie M. Hartman. Sallie was born February 1875 in PA and died 1937 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA. She married George William MOYER, son of Joseph Moyer and Lydia Reichard, about 1900. George was born 13 October 1865 in Catasauqua, Northempton County, PA and died 19 October 1941 in Allentown, PA. They are buried in Schoenersville Cemetery. Sallie and George had two children:
a. Jerry J. Moyer was born 12 March 1902 in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA and died there 14 June 1959. He married Katherina M. HAGLE about 1929 in Allentown. Katherine was born 28 June 1904 in PA and died 4 September 1991 in Allentown, PA. They are buried in Schoenersville Cemetery.
b. Thomas George Moyer was born 29 June 1910 in Allentown and died 22 August 1910 in Allentown, PA. He is buried in West End Cemetery, Allentown, PA.
SARA ANN CAROLINA KNAPPENBERGER (1830-?)
Sara Ann Carolina known as “Caroline” was born 25 May 1830 in Lehigh County, PA. She was only 3 years of age when she lost both parents in 1833. We know she was living with her brother Jonathan “Jonas” and his wife in 1850 in Allentown, PA. In the 1880 census, we find Caroline living as a single individual and age 50 in the household of Elmira Zimmerman in Ward 5, Allentown, Lehigh County, PA. We assume that she never married.
Any information on this family is most welcome. Please contact us at jsappleton@windstream.net.
SPECIAL THANKS
Robert M. Howard who provided information on the George William KNAPP family and has much more information on www.rootsweb.com.