My Genealogy Hound

HENRY KNAUB, one of the representative men of Monroe township, Cumberland county, Pa., and one of the highly esteemed men of his community, is a son of Samuel and grandson of Henry Knaub.

The great-grandfather of our subject was born in Germany, but came to America and settled in York county, Pa., and there died. Henry Knaub, son of the emigrant, was born in York county, about three miles southeast of York city. There he became the owner of a farm, which he sold, and then moved to Dillsburg, where he followed farming until his death.

Samuel Knaub, son of Henry, Sr., and father of Henry, was born in 1812, in York county, Pa., and there he received a common school education. He married Sarah Harper, also of York county, whose father was a miller by trade, and a soldier in the Revolutionary war, who, at his death, was buried with military honors. In 1837 Samuel Knaub came to Cumberland county, and located at Shepherdstown. After two years he returned to York county, then came back to Cumberland and settled in Monroe township, where he bought a small tract of land, remaining upon it for five years. His next change was made to Adams county, where once more he purchased a small farm, and there he died aged seventy-five years. His wife also passed away there, aged sixty-five years. Their children were: Henry; Mary, who married Jacob M. Comfort, and lives in York county; William, who married Sarah Herman, and lives in Dauphin county; Joshua, who died at Ashland, Schuylkill county in 1904; Lydia, who married Jacob Brandt, and lives in South Middleton township; James, who died in 1857, in York county, aged four years; George, who married Edna Trimmer, and lives near Dillsburg, York county.

Henry Knaub was born Oct. 19, 1836, in York county, and there was educated in the common schools. He worked for his father until he was twenty-one years of age, and a year later he started out in life for himself. He then married Catherine Diller, a daughter of Solomon Diller and Oct. 8, 1858, the young couple located at Churchtown, Monroe township, where they still reside. For a number of years, Mr. Knaub was successfully engaged in basket making, manufacturing all kinds of baskets, making a specialty of those of willow, and he had a large sale for his goods throughout Cumberland and surrounding counties, and in adjoining States, even as far as Kansas, where he had an extensive trade, and he built up a large business, continuing until 1903. At present he is the agent, for Cumberland county, of the Western Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Knaub were: Sarah Ellen, born Dec. 28, 1860, died at the age of eight months; Lillie, born in 1863, died when thirteen days old. In politics Mr. Knaub is a Republican, and both he and his excellent wife are consistent members of the United Brethren Church of Boiling Springs.

Solomon Diller, father of Mrs. Knaub, was a son of Casper Diller, the latter of whom came from Lancaster county and settled near Churchtown, Cumberland county. Solomon Diller had the following family: Simon Peter married Mary___, who came from Mexico, Pa.; Samuel Alexander married Sadie Leib of Mt. Holly Springs; William Elisha; Mary married Henry Pentz of Dillsburg; Julia married Jacob Duey; Catherine, Mrs. Knaub; Rachael married Frederick Cornman: Ann Rachel; Sarah Jane; and Ida Cordelia married Henry Eshleman, of Cumberland county. Solomon Diller lived to the advanced age of eighty-four years, while his wife passed away at the age of eighty-three years, and both were very estimable people.

Mr. Knaub is now sixty-eight years of age, but is active, energetic and ambitious, performing the duties of his position with the ability of a much younger man. In May, 1852, Mr. Knaub was converted, and four years later joined the church of which he and his wife are such faithful members, earnestly endeavoring to follow themselves, and lead others in the Master’s footsteps. Their gentle, charitable, kindly lives teach a noble lesson to those about them, and point a moral all can read. Few men have less to regret in their lives than this broad-minded, kind-hearted, Christian man, who carries his religion into his daily business life, and who believes in the teaching of Him who laid down the rulings for our constant use, to the extent that he will not do anything, however small, which he believes will in any way encroach upon them, or reflect upon his duty as a member of the Church in Christ.