WORLD WAR I
ALBERT ALEXANDER KNAPPENBERGER (1891-1959)
Albert Alexander was born 6 September 1891 in Mason County, West Virginia and died 15 August 1959 in Columbus, Ohio. He was the son of William Scott Knappenberger (1869-?) of West Virginia and grandson of Jacob Knappenburger (1814-1898). He enlisted in the Ohio National Guard on 11 July 1917 and was assigned to Truck Company 3 Supply Train ONG. He held the rank of Corporal in November 1917 and Sergeant in March 1918. He served at Meuse-Argonne; Ypres-Lys; Defensive Sector with the American Expeditionary Forces from 28 June 1918 to 27 March 1919. He received an honorable discharge 17 April 1919.
ALVIN FLOYD KNAPPENBERGER (1891-1980)
Alvin Floyd “A.F.” was born 11 September 1891 in Clarion County, PA and died 13 October 1980 in Young County, Texas. He served in World War I but at this time we have no further details. He was involved in the oil industry in Texas.
CHARLES W. KNAPPENBERG (1885-1952)
Charles W. or “C.W.” Knappenberg was born 20 January 1885 in Livingston County, New York and died 1952. He was the son of John “Adam” Knappenberger (1842-1917). During World War I, he served in the Student Army Training Corps.
CHESTER WILLIAM KNAPPENBERGER (1890-1936)
Chester William was born 18 March 1890 in Westmoreland County, PA and died in Trumbull County, Ohio on 27 April 1936. He was a son of George Washington Knappenberger and brother of Moses Thamar Knappenberger who also served in World War I [see below]. Chester entered the service on 22 December 1917 at Fort Leavenworth and was attached to the Medical Corp. He was honorably discharged on 28 July 1919.
CLARENCE KNAPPENBERGER (1895-1970)
Clarence was born 12 March 1895 in Earlsboro, Oklahoma and died May 1970 in Watonga, Blaine County, Oklahoma. He was the son of Henry A. Knappenberger (1837-1914) and grandson of Henry Knappenberger of Westmoreland County, PA (1798-1854). Clarence served in World War I and was a Captain in the National Guard in Oklahoma in 1925 in the 8th Corps Troops, 189 FA Regiment, Company Medical Dept. Clarence was a pharmacist.
ERWIN AMBROSE KNAPPENBERGER (1892-1967)
[photo graciously provided by Karen Fratrik Earls]
Erwin was born 21 March 1892 in Nesquehoning, Carbon County, PA and died September 1967 in Bucks County, PA. He was the son of William Abraham Knappenberger (1858-?) and grandson of Abraham Knappenberger (1833-1904). There is a military marker on Erwin’s grave at Mechanicsburg Cemetery, Bucks County, PA. Erwin was a Private with Company A 22nd Battalion serving with the U.S. Army during World War I.
GEORGE CHALMERS KNUPPENBURG (1889-1980)
George Chalmers Knuppenburg just prior to his leaving for France during World War I
[photo graciously provided by Lois Ostrosky Minnick]
George was born 13 September 1889 in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania and died August 1980 in York County, PA. He was the son of U.S. Grant Knuppenburg and the grandson of Hiram Knuppenburg who fought in the Civil War. George served in the military in World War I and fought in France.
GEORGE EDWIN KNAPPENBERGER, SR. MD (1888-1948)
George was born 29 March 1888 in Blandinsville, McDonough County, Illinois and died 27 December 1948 in La Jolla, San Diego County, California. He was the son of Frank and Belle Knappenberger of Kingman County, Kansas and grandson of George W. Knappenberger. George (known as Ned to his family) attended Kansas University School of Medicine in Kansas City. He served with the US Army Medical Corps from 1917-1918 during World War I. He later became one of the principal founders of St. Lukes Hospital in Kansas City.
HARVEY J. KNAPP (1893-1973)
Harvey J. Knapp was born 2 April 1893 in Dauphin County, PA and died February 1973 in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA. He was the son of George William Knapp, Jr. and the grandson of George William Knappenberger, Sr. Harvey fought overseas in World War I and suffered shell shock the rest of his life.
HERMAN ROSCOE KNAPPENBERGER (1895-1933)
Herman Roscoe was born 16 October 1895 in Sciota, Mcdonough County, Illinois and died 5 June 1933 in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona. He was a Private with the 161st Depot Brigade with the U.S. Army. Herman died from tuberculosis after seeking treatment at the VA Facility in Tucson, Arizona. Herman was the son of Charles D. Knappenberger (1860-1940) and grandson of George W. Knappenberger (1827-1897).
MERLE K. KNUPPENBURG (1896-1976)
Merle K. Knuppenburg was born 22 July 1896 in Kalamazoo county, Michigan and died 31 January 1976 in Osceola County, Michigan. He was with the US Army as a Private during World War I. Merle was the son of John Preston Knuppenburg (1839-1922) who fought with the New York Cavalry during the Civil War [see above].
MOSES THAMAR KNAPPENBERGER (1892-1972)
Moses Thamar was born 13 March 1892 in Jeannette, Westmoreland County, PA and died August 1972 in Trumbull County, Ohio. He was the son of George Washington Knappenberger (1856-1942) and grandson of Moses Knappenberger (1826-1898) of Westmoreland County, PA. Moses was a medical doctor with the Medical Corp. He became a Captain on 26 September 1916 until his discharge in 1919. He was part of the American Expeditionary Forces from 7 December 1917 to 22 February 1918 and received an honorable discharge 30 June 1919.
PAUL KNAPPENBERGER (1895-1969)
Paul was born 17 August 1895 in Cleveland, Ohio and died October 1969 in Polk County, Florida. He was the son of Philip Knappenberger, Jr. (1854-1911) and grandson of J. Philip Knappenberger (1783-1867) of Ohio. Paul enlisted in the Ohio National Guard on 10 April 1917 and was assigned to Company D, 4th Infantry ONG until 4 August 1918. He was later assigned to 10th Infantry Intelligent Department until his discharge. He was a Private First Class on 1 September 1917; a Corporal on 1 October 1917 and a Sergeant 1 April 1918. He was involved in the Defensive Sector of the Champagne-Marne and Aisne-Marne with the American Expeditionary Forces from 18 October 1917 to 20 August 1918 and received an honorable discharge 9 January 1919.
REUBEN WILBERT KNAPPENBERGER (1895-1969)
Reuben Wilbert “Wilbur” Knappenberger, 1918
“Souvenir de France”, handsewn patch given to GIs during WWI
[images graciously provided by John G. Knappenberger]
Reuben Wilbert also known as “Wilbur” was born 31 January 1895 in Crawford County, Ohio and died August 1969 in Wayne County, Ohio. He was the son of John George Knappenberger (1857-1928) and grandson of Johann Georg Knappenberger (1820- 1859) who came to the USA from Germany in the 1850s. Wilbur enlisted 25 May 1918 in the Army and was assigned to the 19th Company, 5th Battalion, 159 Depot Brigade until 17 June 1918. He then was part of the Machine Gun Company, 153 Infantry on 17 October 1918 and then Company D, 316 Machine Gun Battalion until his discharge as a Private. He fought at Meuse-Argonne and was wounded severely in action on 1 November 1918. He was part of the American Expeditionary Forces from 6 August 1918 to 3 March 1919. He received an honorable discharge 15 April 1919 with a 10% disability.
RALPH MARTIN KNAPPENBERGER (1895-1987)
Ralph Martin was born April 19, 1894 in Hensingersville, Lehigh County, PA and died In Allentown, Lehigh County, PA on 22 February 1987. He was the son of Alvin Knappenberger (born about 1870) and grandson of Benjamin K. Knappenberger (born about 1842) of Lehigh County, PA. According to Ralph’s obituary in the Allentown Morning Call, he was an Army veteran of World War I.
RAYMOND H. KNAPPENBERGER (1897-1982)
Raymond H. Knappenberger, France, 1918
[photo graciously provided by Jay & Nancy Knappenberger
who were given the photo by Jackson Penrose Serfas]
Raymond H. known as “Ray” was born 19 June 1897 in Berks County, PA and died July 1982 in Emmaus, Lehigh County, PA. He was the son of Penrose Miller (1847-1917) of Henry III (1811-1857) of Henry Jr (1781-1833) of Henry (1744-1818) of Johan Michael (immigrant). Ray served as a soldier in the US Army in the “Engineers of First Division” and spent some time in France.
WILLIAM F. KNAPPENBERGER (1899-1959)
William F. was born 30 May 1899 in Allegheny County, PA and died 4 August 1959 in Allegheny County, PA. He is buried in Uniondale Cemetery in Pittsburgh, PA. He was the son of Robert J. Knappenberger (1863-?) and grandson of Levi Knappenberger (1836-1923). They descend from Conrad Knappenberger of Westmoreland County, PA. William served from June 27, 1917 to March 4, 1919 as a Private with Company A., 1st Battalion.
JOHN W. YOHE (1897-1918)
John W. Yohe, the son of Mary Lillian [Knappenberger] Yohe (1862-1900/1910) and William Washington Yohe (1861-1900/1910), was born 23 December 1897 in Northampton County, PA and died 30 July 1918 in Chateau-Thierry, France while fighting in World War I. He was a Private in Company M, 110th Infantry and was killed in action. His body was brought home in 1922 where he was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Allentown, Lehigh County, PA with full military honors. John W. Yohe was a descendant of Johan Michael (1709-1751) who immigrated from Germany.