My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES SIDNEY KNAPP, of North Wales, actively and prominently connected with the agricultural, political and social life, of Montgomery township, and later of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, possesses those qualities of genuine worth which everywhere command respect. Honorable in all trade transactions, thoroughly reliable in the discharge of public duties, and courteous and kindly in social circles, he is one of the popular and valued citizens of the county, and the circle of his friends is very extensive. He was born on his father’s farm near Montgomery Square, in Montgomery township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1837.

Abiram Phelps Knapp, father of Charles S. Knapp, was a son of Alijah and Rubie (Phelps) Knapp, and his birth occurred near Springfield, Massachusetts, where he spent his early days and acquired a good education in the common schools. About 1812, he, with Stephen Belknapp and Matthias Baldwin, who in later years became the founder of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, came to the city of Philadelphia to find their fortunes. Subsequently he removed to Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and purchased the farm upon which his son Charles S., now resides. He was cordial and kindly in disposition, and won the respect of all with whom he came in contact. On May 30, 1816, Mr. Knapp married Mary Worrell, daughter of John Hawley and Mary (Neff) Worrell, of Frankford, Pennsylvania, and their children were: 1. William Lowman, born June 29,1818; married Margaret Gilmer, of Hatfield township; resided in Philadelphia, and died March 11, 1878. 2. John Phelps, born July 27, 1821; married Mary Gilmer, sister of Margaret Gilmer, died in November, 1897. 3. Thomas J. born March 30, 1824, died February 28, 1904; married Elizabeth D. Latch. 4. Mary Ann, born August 4, 1826, still living. 5. Dr. Moses R., born November 2, 1830; he now lives and practices his profession in Gwynedd, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He married Annie R., a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Acuff, of Gwynedd. 6. Charles S., to be further mentioned hereinafter; and three who died in infancy previous to the year 1830.

Charles S. Knapp attended the free public schools of his district until his seventeenth year, his teachers being Charles S. Jenkins, who later became cashier of the Lansdale Bank, and Enoch Stewart. Mr. Stewart was the father of Mrs. R. F. Hoffecker, whose husband was the late superintendent of schools of Montgomery county. He taught at Montgomery Square for a number of years, and the dwelling part of the school building was the birthplace of General W. S. Hancock, whose father lived there and taught the school. Charles S. Knapp was a pupil of Mr. Stewart’s in this building. After completing his studies he worked with his father on the home farm, succeeding the latter in its management with his brother William Lowman. Apart from his work as a farmer, Mr. Knapp has always taken an active part in the affairs of the community. He is conservative in his judgment of men and things, but progressive and alive to whatever concerns general interest. In politics he is a Democrat, and active in the interests of his party. As justice of the peace he served for ten years, attended as delegate many county conventions of his party; served as school director of his district, and also as secretary of that body, for about twenty years. The family are members of the Baptist church of Montgomery.

Mr. Knapp was united in marriage, February 18, 1869, to Elizabeth Amanda Johnson, daughter of John B. and Catherine (Clark) Johnson, the former named having been a farmer of Gwynedd township. Their children are: 1. John Rudolph, born December 24, 1869; he attended the Montgomery Square public school, also graduated at Brunner’s Academy, North Wales, and graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in June, 1894. He is now assistant physician at the Manhattan State Hospital for the Insane, Wards Island, New York City; married Isabel O’Donnell, daughter of the late Colonel O’Donnell, of the British Army. 2. Emily, born December 9, 1870; she attended Montgomery Square public school, Brunner’s Academy, North Wales, and the West Chester State Normal School, and for a time taught school. She is now the wife of B. Franklin Solliday, son of Lafayette and Catherine Solliday. 3. May, born March 3, 1872, died July 6, 1872. 4. Florence, born October 10, 1873; she attended Montgomery Square public school, and the Friends’ School at Gwynedd; graduated at the State Normal School at West Chester in 1894, after which she taught school at Gwynedd and at Ellwyn, Delaware county, and at the present time (1904) is engaged at the branch of the Friends’ Central School, West Philadelphia. 5. Mary Catharine, born April 25, 1875; she attended Montgomery Square school, graduated at Brunner’s Academy, North Wales, in 1893, and graduated as nurse from the Germantown Hospital in 1897. She is now engaged in private practice in Philadelphia. 6. Elizabeth Johnson, born June 22, 1876; she attended Montgomery Square school, and resides on the Knapp homestead farm. 7. Annie Worrell, born January 3, 1879; she attended Montgomery Square public school, also the West Chester State Normal School, and is now engaged in teaching in the public schools of Montgomery county. She resides on the Knapp homestead. 8. Chauncey Bayard, born January 10, 1880; he attended Montgomery Square public school, also Brunner’s Academy, North Wales, and a private school in Philadelphia, and is now engaged on the homestead farm. 9. Charles Howard, born February 2, 1885; he attended public schools at Montgomery Square and Lansdale, and graduated from North Wales high school in 1904; he resides on the homestead farm. 10. Henrietta Adelaide, born December 31, 1886; she attended the public schools at Montgomery Square and Lansdale, and graduated from North Wales high school in the class of 1901 She resides on the home farm.

The old Knapp homestead now occupied by Mr. Charles S. Knapp, is over two hundred years old, and is still in a perfect state of preservation. It has been in the possession of the Knapp family since 1834. It was formerly owned by Samuel Preston Moore, and after the battle of Germantown in 1777, General George Washington made it his headquarters for three days by invitation of Dr. Moore.