SOLOMON B. KNAPPENBERGER
FAMILY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Updating February/March 2024
Johan Michael
(1709-1751)
V
Conrad
(1748-1818)
V
John
(1774-1863)
V
Solomon B.
(1805-1897)
V
John Joseph (1832-1900) > 8 Children
Mary (1834-1893)
Magdalena (1836-1916) > 5 Children
Hannah (1838-1842)
Henry (1840-1841)
Elizabeth S. (1843-1936) > 3 Children
Lydia (1846-1898)
Jeremiah William (1848-1919)
Susannah (1848-1867)
Caroline (1849-?)
Martha (1850-1923)
Solomon B. “Buz” (1853-1929) > 4 Children
GENERAL INFORMATION
Solomon Knappenberger, son of John Knappenberger, was born 15 April 1805 in Franklin Township, Westmoreland County, PA. He died on 10 February 1897 in Delmont, Westmoreland County, PA. He married Elizabeth WALTON, daughter of George Walton and Magdalene Blose, on 29 April 1830 in Westmoreland County, PA. Elizabeth was born 28 August 1809 in Franklin Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died 28 February 1886 in Salem Township, Westmoreland County, PA. From Vinnie Knappenberger’s 1916 family history we learn, “John’s son Solomon married Elizabeth Walton and settled on a farm in the Beaver Run Valley of Salem Township, not far from Manor Valley. Solomon, like many of the Knappenbergers, was a carpenter and contractor. Solomon became the father of twelve children. Solomon and his wife worshiped all their lives in the Denmark Manor Reformed Church where they brought up their children to be true to the teachings and ideals of the Christian church. Here they and many of their children lied buried. Solomon’s descendants have played their part in the work of their several communities.”
Gravemarker for Solomon Knappenberger
and his wife, Elisabeth [Walton]Knappenberger,
at Denmark Manor Church Cemetery
in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
[photo graciously provided by Allen Knappenberger]
CHILDREN
JOHN JOSEPH KNAPPENBERGER, SR. (1832-1900)
John Joseph was born in 1832 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 29 May 1900 in Delmont, Westmoreland County, PA. From Vinnie Knappenberger’s family history, we learn that “John J. who first married Lavina Saul and at her death married Sarah Jane Walker, was the father of eight children. He was a carpenter and contractor all his life. He lived all his life in or near Greensburg, PA and is buried in Delmont, PA along with both of his wives.” John and his wives are buried in Eastview Union Cemetery in Westmoreland County, PA. John first married Lavina Annie SAUL, daughter of Solomon and Mary Saul, on 7 September 1854 in Westmoreland County, PA. Lavina was born in 1835 and died in 1866 in Westmoreland County, PA. Lavina and John had two children who as minors, after her death, petitioned the court for Solomon Knappenberger, their grandfather, to be their guardian in August 1872. Upon the death of Lavina, John also married a second time to Sarah Jane WALKER known as “Jennie” on 21 January 1869 in Westmoreland County, PA. Sarah, daughter of Alfred Walker and Lavina Butterfield, was born 21 September 1840 in Indiana County, PA and died in Greensburg, PA on 4 October 1935. Sarah and John had six children.
Gravemarker for John Joseph Knappenberger,
his first wife, Lavina Annie [Saul]Knappenberger,
his second wife, Sarah Jane [Walker] Knappenberger,
and two of his children,
Henry “Edward” Knappenberger
and Maggie Belle Knappenberger,
at Eastview Union Cemetery in Delmont,
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
[photo graciously provided by Sue Appleton]
1. Anna Mary Knappenberger, child of Lavina and John, was born 1855 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 1896 in Westmoreland County, PA. In 1900, her two daughters were living with her widowed step-mother. She married James “Carson” BLAIR on 20 February 1879 in Westmoreland County, PA. Carson was born 1853 in Salem Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died 1885. They are buried in Delmont Presbyterian Cemetery, Westmoreland County, PA. Anna and Carson had two daughters.
a. Mary E. Blair was born 20 January 1881 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 11 July 1942 in San Bernardino County, California. She married Frank Fuller LORD, son of Charles Fuller Lord and Emma Josephine Cowden. Frank was born 27 July 1880 in Pennsylvania and died June 1972 in Riverside County, California. They had two sons: Frank Blair Lord (known as Blair) who was born 5 March 1914 in Riverside County, California) and died 28 June 2011 in California. The other son was Robert E. Lord born 22 November 1919 in Riverside County, California.
b. Bertha “Mabel” Blair was born 5 May 1883 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 21 March 1976 in Zanesville, Muskingum County, Ohio. She married Bernard Von Horne SLACK, son of William H. Slack and Mary E. Tachiffely, on 1 August 1911 in Greensburg, PA. Bernard was born 27 March 1884 in Muskingum County, Ohio and died 25 June 1932 in Muskingum County, Ohio. They are buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Zanesville, Muskingtum County, Ohio. They had two children: William Von Horne Slack (30 March 1914 in Ohio – 5 December 1992 in Ohio) and Sarah Elizabeth Slack who was born 11 February 1917 in Ohio and died there on 3 May 2004. These two children are buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Muskingum County, Ohio.
2. Henry “Edward” Knappenberger, child of Lavina and John, was born in 1857 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 6 July 1877 in Westmoreland County, PA. He was buried in Eastview Union Cemetery at the age of 19 years, 8 months and 23 days. Edward was unmarried.
3. Lavinia “Vinnie” Elizabeth Knappenberger, child of Sarah and John, was born 21 June 1870 in Salem Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died 2 November 1966 in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, PA. Lavinia was best known as “Vinnie” Knappenberger who wrote the Knappenberger family history of 1916. Vinnie graduated in 1895 from the Pennsylvania Normal School in Indiana, PA where she studied to become a teacher. Vinnie was a high school teacher for many years in Wilkinsburg, PA. She never married. Vinnie was instrumental in maintaining the Conrad Knappenberger family information as well as continuing the Conrad Knappenberger family reunion. Vinnie died at the age of 96 in the Sour Rest Home in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA. Her obituary stated in part that “she was a member of the DAR. She taught in Greensburg grammar school and Latrobe and Wilkinsburg high schools, retiring in 1934. She was a member of the Trinity United Church of Christ where she taught Sunday School for more than 50 years.” Vinnie was buried at Westmoreland County Memorial Park in Greensburg, PA.
Vinnie Knappenberger
[photo graciously provided by Tom Veltman]
Vinnie Knappenberger’s DAR Medal
4. John “Joseph” Knappenberger, Jr., child of Sarah and John, was born 3 April 1873 in Salem Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died 10 March 1963 in Westmoreland County, PA. He is buried in Westmoreland County Memorial Park cemetery. He was a lawyer in general practice for 50 years in Greensburg, PA. He lived with his mother and two sisters in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA and did not marry until late in life. He married Gertrude Dale GREAVES, daughter of John Dale Greaves and Laura Ida Lawrence, sometime between 1940 and 1945. Gertrude was born 9 May 1907 in PA and died 21 September 2001 in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA. Gertrude had previously been married to a Mr. Rhea and had a son named Richard H. Rhea. Joseph and Gertrude had a son.
a. John Joseph Knappenberger III was born 1946 in Westmoreland County, PA and lived in Michigan. John married Linda H. JACKSON, daughter of Janet E. Linda was born 10 August 1947 in New Jersey and died 18 May 2002 in Oakland County, Michigan. She was buried in First Presbyterian Church Columbarium. They had two sons: Jay Warren Knappenberger and Thomas Dale Knappenberger both born in Michigan. John the III married again in 2014.
5. Bertha Jane Knappenberger, child of Sarah and John, was born 27 May 1874 in Salem Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died 26 January 1963 in Westmoreland County, PA. She married William J. MCFAUL on 15 June 1905 in Greensburg, PA. William was born 22 March 1872 in Niagara Falls, Canada and died 19 June 1940 in Westmoreland County, PA. This couple is buried in Westmoreland County Memorial Park in Greensburg, PA. They had no children.
6. Grace Alma Knappenberger, child of Sarah and John, was born 24 April 1876 in Salem Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died 12 November 1954 in Westmoreland County, PA. Grace never married and was a high school teacher like her sister, Vinnie. Grace, Vinnie, and their brother, Joseph, lived with their widowed mother for many years in Greensburg, PA. Grace is buried in Westmoreland County Memorial Park in Greensburg, PA.
7. Florence Edna Knappenberger, child of Sarah and John, was born 31 July 1878 in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA and died 21 June 1964 in Westmoreland County, PA. She married David Merton RHEA on 12 June 1912 in Westmoreland County, PA. David was born 10 November 1875 in Waynesboro, Franklin County, PA and died on 13 August 1942 in Westmoreland County, PA. This couple is buried in Westmoreland County Memorial Park, Greensburg, PA. They had two daughters and a son.
a. Sarah “Jane” Rhea was born 12 December 1913 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 9 May 2000 in Greensburg, PA. She married Carl Henry SCHEMAN, Jr., son of Carl H. Scheman, Sr. and Ethel Palmer, on 22 April 1939. Carl was born 19 July 1915 in Polk County, Iowa and died 15 August 1995 in Chester County, PA This marriage ended in divorce.
b. Anne Elizabeth Rhea known as “Annie” was born 22 May 1915 in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA and died 11 January 2009 in Upper Nyack, New York at the age of 92. She married John Bell ADAMS known as Jack who was the son of William W. Adams and Bertha Adele Bell on 12 December 1942 in Manhattan, New York City, NY. Jack was born 29 July 1909 in Rockland County, NY and died there 6 November 1990. They are buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Nyack, Rockland County, NY. They had 2 children: John Jeffrey Adams and Anne Adams.
c. David Merton Rhea, Jr. was born 17 June 1922 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 17 July 1937 in Westmoreland County, PA. He is buried in Westmoreland County, Memorial Park, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA.
8. Maggie Belle Knappenberger, child of Sarah and John, was born October 1883 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 1885 in Westmoreland County, PA. She is buried in Eastview Union Cemetery in Westmoreland County, PA. She was 2 years of age upon her death.
MARY KNAPPENBERGER (1834-1893)
Mary was born about 1834 in Westmoreland County, PA and died in Manor Township, Westmoreland County, PA on 15 November 1893. She was 45 years of age and single in the census of 1880. We assume that she never married.
MAGDALENA KNAPPENBERGER (1836-1916)
Magdalena known as “Mollie” was born April 1836 in Westmoreland County, PA and died on 4 November 1916 in Westmoreland County, PA. She married John “Michael” KEPPLE, son of Jacob Kepple and Margaret Deemer, on 12 June 1862 in Westmoreland County, PA. Michael was born 7 April 1832 in Westmoreland County, PA and died on 3 March 1911 in Westmoreland County, PA. They are buried in Union Cemetery, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA. Magdalena and John had five children.
1. Ida Kepple was born January 1864 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 1 September 1949 in Greensburg, PA. She married John M. JOHNSTON who was born November 1864 in Illinois and died 1936 in Westmoreland County, PA. They are buried in Union Cemetery in Greensburg, PA. They had seven children.
a. Bessie M. Johnston was born 1886 in Westmoreland County, PA and died there in 1899. She is buried in Union Cemetery, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., PA.
b. Archie Sylvester Johnston was born 14 February 1888 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 31 December 1957. He is buried in Golden Gate National Cemetery. He was a veteran from World War I.
c. Clara Johnston was born 30 November 1889 in Westmoreland County, PA and married Leroy CLINE. Clara died 4 December 1963 in Sacramento, California.
d. Clarence Offut Johnston was born 3 April 1893 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 9 January 1937 in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA. He is buried in Union Cemetery.
e. Hillis Kepple Johnston was born 2 September 1895 in Westmoreland County, PA and died there on 22 December 1942. He is buried in Union Cemetery. He married Myrtle Myers who was born 22 Deb 1894 and died February 1969. She is buried in Union Cemetery.
f. Martha Johnston was born April 1897 in Westmoreland County, PA.
g. Meredith Irene Johnston was born 5 July 1901 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 2 December 1985 in Sacramento, California. He married Wesley PERMAR.
2. Edward Solomon Kepple was born 23 December 1865 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 12 April 1947. He is buried in Union Cemetery, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA.
3. Clara E. Kepple was born 27 July 1867 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 11 January 1892 in Westmoreland County, PA. She is buried in Union Cemetery, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA. Inscription appears to read July 27, 1867 January 11 1892. Aged 24 years 5 months and 14 days.
4. Margaret J. Kepple known as “Jennie” was born 16 August 1872 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 15 March 1941. Jennie married Leroy Stephen NICHOLS, son of William and Eliza Nichols, about 1898. Leroy was born 16 March 1876 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and died 16 January 1942. They are buried in Union Cemetery, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA. They had a son.
a. Charles L. Nichols was born in 1903 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 1948 in Virginia. He is buried with his parents in Union Cemetery, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA.
5. Ezra William Kepple was born 14 January 1878 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 14 November 1966 in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA. Ezra married Bessie J. WELTY who was born February 1880 and died in the 1920s in Westmoreland County, PA. Ezra is buried in Union Cemetery, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA. They had two daughters.
a. Mabel Magdaline Kepple was born about 1902 in Westmoreland County, PA.
b. Mary Louise Kepple was born about 1909 in Westmoreland County, PA.
HANNAH KNAPPENBERGER (1838-1842)
Hannah was born September 1838 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 25 November 1842 in Westmoreland County, PA. She was buried in Denmark Manor Church Cemetery where her gravemarker reads, “Hannah d/o Sol & Elizabeth died 25 November 1842 at the age of 4 years, 2 months and 3 days.”
HENRY KNAPPENBERGER (1840-1841)
Henry was born March 1840 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 19 February 1841 in Westmoreland County, PA. He was buried in Denmark Manor Church Cemetery. His gravemarker reads that he was the son of Sol & Elizabeth Knappenberger and that he died at the age of 11 months on 19 February 1841.
ELIZABETH S. KNAPPENBERGER (1843-1936)
Elizabeth S. was born 15 December 1843 in Salem Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died 8 January 1936 in Jeannette, Westmoreland County, PA. She married John STUMP, Jr., son of John Stump, Sr. and Elizabeth Reichert, on 29 March 1864 in Westmoreland County, PA. John was born 22 January 1835 in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died 28 November 1924 in Jeannette, Westmoreland County, PA. John was a farmer. He served during the Civil War with the Union Army. This couple and many of their family members are buried in Denmark Manor Church cemetery in Westmoreland County, PA. Elizabeth and John had three children.
1. Ellen Elizabeth Stump was born March 1865 in Penn Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died sometime between 1930 and 1940 most likely in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. She married John C. McWILLIAMS, son of A. and Mary J. McWilliams, about 1891. John was born September 1862 in Penn Township, Westmoreland County, PA, and died sometime after the1940 census most likely in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. John and Ellen were pioneers in Oklahoma when the lands were opened to settlers. The 1900, 1920 and 1930 censuses have the family living in Stella Township, Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. There they were farmers and raised stock. Ellen and John are buried in Rosehill Cemetery in Hazelton, Barber County, Kansas. Ellen and John had four children.
a. Harry McWilliams was born 4 September 1891 in Oklahoma and died prior to the 1900 census. He is buried in Rosehill Cemetery, Hazelton Cemetery, Barber County, Kansas.
b. Mary J. McWilliams was born August 1894 in Oklahoma. In the 1920 census, she was single, age 25, living with her parents. However, she was not living with them in the 1930 census.
c. John C. McWilliams was born 29 October 1899 in Oklahoma and died August 1971 in Kansas. He married Lulu [maiden name unknown] about 1925 who was born 25 August 1899 in Kansas and died 10 April 1990 in Kansas. This couple is buried in Rosehill Cemetery in Hazelton, Barber County, Kansas. No children were listed for them in the 1930 census when they lived in Hazelton, Barber County, Kansas.
d. Charles Leroy McWilliams was born 16 July 1905 in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma and died June 1974 in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. He married Susan WHITEHEAD, about 1927. She was born about 1908 in Oklahoma. They are buried in Rosehill Cemetery, Barber County, Kansas. In the 1930 census, they were living in Stella, Oklahoma next door to his parents. Susan died when the children were young and Charles remarried to Goldie [maiden name unknown] who raised the children. There were 3 children: Harold Dean McWilliams (1928-2005), Charles Leroy McWilliams, Jr. (1930-2014) and Lula “Imogene” McWilliams (1931-2011).
2. Mary E. “Gertrude” Stump was born December 1875 in Penn Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died 1949 in Westmoreland County, PA. Gertrude married William Henry CUNKELMAN, son of Amos Kunkleman and Sarah Jane Staymates, about 1905 in Westmoreland County, PA. William was born 29 November 1869 in Penn Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died in 1941 in Westmoreland County, PA. They lived in Jeannette, PA in the 1940 census. They are buried in Brush Creek Cemetery, Irwin, Westmoreland County, PA. Gertrude and William had three children.
a. Sarah “Elizabeth” Cunkelman was born 20 May 1906 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 9 September 2000 in Pennsylvania. She was a school teacher and single in 1930 and in 1940. Later she married Francis KELLER and was principal of Jeannette Junior High School for many years. Francis Keller was born 1 December 1909 and died March 1986 in Westmoreland County, PA. There were no children.
b. John “William” Cunkelman was born 30 October 1908 in Westmoreland County, PA and died February 1982 in Sarasota, Florida.
c. Margaret Gertrude Cunkelman was born 2 October 1914 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 13 March 2001. She married Allen Edward CENIS on 5 May 1936. Allan was born 1916 and died 11 August 1959. They had two sons: Allan Edward Cenis, Jr. and John William Cenis (2 September 1950-14 August 2005). In 1975, Margaret remarried to Martin H. POTISECK who was born 10 March 1914 and died May 1986.
3. Harry John Stump was born 16 November 1878 in Penn Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died 27 August 1941 in Jeannette, Westmoreland County, PA. John married Myrtle Lizzie KISTLER, daughter of Barney and Elizabeth Kistler, on 20 June 1907 in Westmoreland County, PA. Myrtle was born 13 February 1879 in Penn Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died 30 June 1955. John and Lizzie had six children.
a. Virginia Mae Stump was born 27 June 1908 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 26 May 1996. She married Frank Frederick FISCHER on 29 June 1937. Frank was born 20 February 1907 in Louisville, Kentucky and died 11 June 1991 in Cincinnati, Ohio. They had 7 children.
b. Helen Irene Stump was born 9 August 1909 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 13 March 2003 in Guilford County, North Carolina. She married Benjamin Wesley STEINER who was born 8 October 1913 in PA and died 30 July 1945 in Los Angeles County, California. After the death of her husband, she returned to Pennsylvania with her daughter and later in life moved to North Carolina. She is buried in Denmark Manor Church Cemetery, Westmoreland County, PA
c. Florence Stump was born 15 December 1910 in Westmoreland County, PA. She died as an infant.
d. Gertrude Katherine Stump was born 14 March 1912 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 5 March 2006 in High Point, Guilford County, North Carolina where she had lived with her sister, Helen. Gertrude never married. She is buried in Brush Creek Cemetery, Westmoreland County, PA.
e. Lucille Marie Stump was born 10 October 1913 in Westmoreland County, PA and died in September 1972. She married James Edwin OWENS. They had no children.
f. Harry Howard Stump was born 16 March 1916 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 15 March 1998 in Pennsylvania. He married Margaret Clare WARGO who was born 29 November 1913 and died 17 May 2008 in Lehigh County, PA. They had four children.
LYDIA KNAPPENBERGER (1846-1898)
Lydia was born 1846 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 26 June 1898 in Manor Township, Westmoreland County, PA. In the 1880 census, Lydia sometimes spelled “Liddia” was living with her parents at the age of 36 and unmarried. We assume that she never married.
REV. JEREMIAH WILLIAM KNAPPENBERGER (1848-1919)
Jeremiah William oftentimes referred to as “J. William” or “J.W.” was born 31 July 1848 in Salem Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died 30 May 1919 in New London, Connecticut. He was listed as Jeremiah, age 2, in the 1850 census. He became a pastor of the Congregational Church in Niantic, Connecticut where he met and wed Ellen Lucina SMITH on 11 June 1879. Ellen known as “Nettie”, the daughter of James Denison Smith and Abigail Cecelia Harvey, was born 24 October 1850 in Meriden, Connecticut and died 4 January 1952 in Groton, Connecticut. They are buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery, New Haven County, Connecticut. Reverend J. William Knappenberger graduated from Franklin & Marshall College in 1873 and seminary from the same school in 1876. He taught at Livermore Academy in 1874 and Sewickley in 1875. He was vice principal of Greensburg Seminary one year and pastor of Zion’s Reformed Mission, East End, Pittsburgh, PA for five years. He was a professor of Greek, Mathematics and Natural Science at Mercersburg College for two years. He was elected president of Allentown College for Women 1892-1904. His wife was listed as Principal for the Allentown College for Women in the 1900 census. This couple had no children.
SUSANNAH KNAPPENBERGER (1848-1867)
Susannah was born 31 July 1848 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 1867 in Westmoreland County, PA. She was buried in Denmark Manor Church Cemetery. Susannah was the twin of Jeremiah William [see above]. She was 19 years old upon her death.
CAROLINE KNAPPENBERGER (1849-?)
Caroline was born about 1849 in Westmoreland County, PA. She is not listed in the 1850 census so we assume that she died very young. Nothing further is known of her.
MARTHA KNAPPENBERGER (1850-1923)
Martha was born 28 November 1850 in Salem Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died 18 January 1923. She was living with her parents in 1880 at the age of 30. In 1910, at the age of 59 and single, she was living with her niece Edna B. Christy, Solomon B., Jr.’s daughter, in Turtle Creek, Allegheny County, PA. In the 1930 census, Martha was working as a servant at the Reformed Orphan Home in St. Joseph, Indiana. Martha never married. She is buried with her parents at Denmark Manor Church cemetery in Westmoreland County, PA.
Gravemarker for Martha Knappenberger at
Denmark Manor Church Cemetery
in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
[photo graciously provided by Allen Knappenberger]
SOLOMON B. KNAPPENBERGER, JR. (1853-1929)
Solomon B. known as “Buz” was born 3 July 1853 in Salem Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died 13 April 1929 in Jeannette, Westmoreland County, PA. Solomon was a farmer, carpenter and contractor. He married Amanda Susanna LAUGHNER, daughter of Reuben Laughner, on 30 May 1876. She was born 10 March 1853 in Penn Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died 28 June 1925 in Westmoreland County, PA. They are buried in Eastview Union Cemetery, Delmont, Westmoreland County, PA. Between 1905 and 1910, Buz purchased 119 acres in South Dakota. It seems that he and his daughter, Elizabeth Emma, and her husband, Harry Saul, with their children, may have moved to South Dakota about 1910 – but returned within a few short years. Buz and Amanda had four children.
Grave marker for Solomon B. Knappenberger,
his wife, Amanda S. [Laughner] Knappenberger,
and his daughter, Cora Lillian Knappenberger,
at Eastview Union Cemetery in Delmont, PA
(Death date for Cora absent on the marker
because Cora is actually buried in
Greenwood Cemetery in San Diego, California.)
[photo graciously provided by Sue Appleton]
1. Cora Lillian Knappenberger was born 17 March 1877 in Delmont, Westmoreland County, PA and died 28 March 1955 in San Diego, California. Cora seemingly never married. Cora moved to California in the 1930s with her youngest sister. She is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, San Diego, California.
2. Edna “Blanche” Knappenberger was born 23 May 1878 in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA and died 7 November 1949 in Grove City, Mercer County, PA. She graduated in 1901 from the Pennsylvania Normal School for teachers in Indiana, PA. She married Cyrus Moats CHRISTY, son of John Christy and Emma Moats, on 14 September 1905 in Greensburg, PA. Cyrus was born 18 December 1872 in Salem Township, Westmoreland County, PA and died 5 July 1947 in Grove City, Mercer County, PA. This couple moved to Turtle Creek, Allegheny County, PA and later to Grove City, Mercer County, PA. Edna and Cyrus had five children.
a. Frank Stark Christy was born 24 May 1907 in Fayette County, PA and died October 1975 in Arizona. He is buried in East Lawn Palms Cemetery, Tucson, Arizona. Frank married Vera Elizabeth ZEIGLER, daugher of Jacob F. Zeigler and Elizabeth Bixler, on 16 November 1929 in Columbiana, Ohio. This married ended in divorce. Vera was born 27 August 1908. Frank later married Frances E. (maiden name unknown at this time).
b. Jean K. Christy was born about 1909 in Allegheny County, PA.
c. Martha E. Christy was born about 1910 in Allegheny County, PA.
d. David Christy was born 1915 and died 1916 in Westmoreland County. He is buried in East View Cemetery, Delmont, Westmoreland County, PA.
e. William Paul Christy was born July 1917 in Westmoreland County,l PA and died in 1967. He married June Elizabeth HARRY.
3. William Owen Knappenberger was born 29 December 1879 in Delmont, Westmoreland County, PA and died 20 April 1969 in Riverside, California. He married Bertha A. WATERS, daughter of William and Lydia A. Waters, who was born 22 February 1884 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 4 January 1970 in Los Angeles, California. William and Bertha had four children.
a. Gladys Louise Knappenberger was born 4 March 1903 and died in 30 December 1906 in Westmoreland County, PA. She is buried at Eastview Union Cemetery in Delmont, Westmoreland County, PA.
b. Richard John (or John Richard) Knappenberger was born 19 November 1904 and died 19 August 1906 in Westmoreland County, PA. He is buried at Eastview Union Cemetery in Delmont, Westmoreland County, PA.
c. Charles “Robert” Knappenberger was born 27 February 1908 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 7 May 1962 in San Bernardino, California. He married Rachel Rosalie BARKER, daughter of Elmer Taylor Barker and Sarah Starling Allen, on 25 December 1934. Rachel was born 5 September 1915 in Findlay, Ohio and died 28 January 2010 in Shelby, Cleveland County, North Carolina. They had two children: John William Knappenberger (12 February 1936-7 July 2021) who married JoAnn PEAVY (29 December 1936-3 March 2001) and Barbara “Ann” [Knappenberger] McDaniel.
d. Lillian “Jane” Knappenberger was born 12 April 1917 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 16 February 2001 in California. She married Glenn Marion DICKASON who was born 14 August 1919 in Marion, Ohio and died 3 March 1994 in Los Angeles County, CA. This marriage ended in divorce. They had a son: Dennis Glenn Dickason (born 1 December 1949 in California and died 18 April 2005 in Lamar, Colorado).
4. Elizabeth Emma Knappenberger known as “Bess” was born 31 March 1882 in Jeannette, Westmoreland County, PA and died 3 August 1972 in San Diego, California. She married Harry Nevin SAUL, son of William Rowe Saul and Elizabeth Longsdorf, on 18 April 1908 in Westmoreland County, PA. Harry was born 28 January 1883 in Delmont, Westmoreland County, PA and died 13 August 1945 in San Diego, California. This couple is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, San Diego, California. Elizabeth and Harry had nine children.
a. William Donald Saul was born 13 December 1908 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and died 15 September 1966 in San Diego County, California. He married Kathryn Louise HUTCHINSON on 12 October 1932. Kathryn was born 22 September 1911 and died 17 December 2000 in San Diego County, California. They had a daughter: Janet Elaine Saul.
b. Ruth Lucinda Saul was born 1910 in Perkins County, South Dakota and died in 1912 there.
c. Dorothea Elizabeth Saul was born 19 November 1912 in Lemmon, Perkins County, South Dakota and died 21 April 2006 in Eugene, Lane County, Oregon. She married Thomas “Vincent” JEFFERSON, son of Thomas E. Jefferson and Pearl LaGest, on 22 February 1942 in San Diego, CA. Thomas was born 11 September 1915 in North Dakota and died 16 September 1998 in Lane County, Oregon. They had two children: Judith Jefferson and Thomas Gordon Jefferson.
d. Richard Eugene Saul was born 1914 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and died 19 May 1989 in San Diego, CA. He is buried in El Camino Cemetery, San Diego County, California. . He married Carla Joan RONNING on 11 August 1963.
e. Edith Amanda Saul was born 6 May 1916 in Westmoreland County, PA. She first married Charles Stewart LIVESEY in El Cajon, CA. Charles was born 21 March 1909 in New Bedford, MA and died 6 June 1960 in San Diego, CA. They had two children: James Nevin Livesey and Joan Cheryl Livesey.
Edith married her second husband William Dale JAMES on 14 February 1965 in San Diego, CA. William was born 8 May 1910 in Illinois and died April 1972 in San Diego County, CA.
Edith’s third husband was Zebulon Vance JOHNSTON, Jr., who was born 17 November 1916 in North Carolina and died 22 June 1998 in El Cajon, San Diego County, CA.
f. Olive Esther Saul was born 2 February 1918 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 20 August 2010 in Kern County, CA. She married John Stone VARNER in 1944. John was born 21 October 1914 in Brandenburg, Texas and died 4 January 1993 in Kern County, California. They are buried in Hillcrest Memorial Park, Bakersfield, California. They had no children.
g. Florence Lilian Saul was born 3 April 1919 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 10 November 2009 in Battleground, Washington. She married Ja Walker SHAFFER on 20 February 1944. Ja was born 12 September 1921 in South Dakota and died 17 March 2000 in the state of Washington. They are buried in Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. They had 3 sons: Donald Jay Shaffer, Ronald Eugene Shaffer and Richard Clair Shaffer.
h. Helen Louise Saul was born 1925 in Westmoreland County, PA and died as an infant in 1925.
i. Mary Jane Saul was born 10 August 1926 in Westmoreland County, PA and died 14 November 2002 in San Diego County, CA. She married Deane Andrew EBNER on 28 November 1947. Deane was born 4 December 1925 in Hennipin County, Minnesota and died 3 April 2007 in San Diego, CA. They had four children: Denise L. Ebner, Curtis C. Ebner, Gregory P. Ebner and Steven J. Ebner. They are buried in Fort Roscrans National Cemetery, San Diego County, California
SPECIAL THANKS
• Andrew Scott who provided invaluable information on this family.
• Tom Veltman of Wichita, Kansas for the photo of Vinnie Knappenberger.
• Carl Bennett of California for his assistance with the Magdalena “Mollie” Knappenberger & John “Michael” Kepple family.
• Lisa Cottingham of Virginia for her assistance with the Stump family.
• Sandra Steiner Duez for her assistance with the Stump family.
• Bill Lutz for his continued assistance in research.
If you have any additional information on this family, please get in touch with us at jsappleton@windstream.net