Knief, Fred

PAPE, KATZ, TIMMERMAN, MATTHIAS, DIEKMANN, HUEBNER, POOCK, BAYER, PRIETER, HESSE, HAASE, PIPHO, BUHMAN, HEIDEMAN, SCHWAKE, POOCK

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 1/14/2010 at 11:33:46

Fred Knief has been a resident of Maxfield township during his entire life and has made many substantial contributions to the general development of this locality through his able management of his eighty acre farm on section 2. He was born November 1, 1863, and is a son of George and Wilhelmina (Pape) Knief, natives of Germany, the former born August 2, 1826, and the latter July 13, 1843. They were among the early settlers in Maxfield township and the father died in this locality October 8, 1910. He is survived by his wife. In their family were the following children: Mrs. Minnie Katz; William, a farmer in Maxfield township; Mrs. Louisa Timmerman, of Waterloo; Mrs. Carolina Matthias, of Maxfield township; Mrs. Dora Diekmann, of Readlyn; George, deceased; Mrs. Huebner, of Tripoli; Henry , deceased; Mrs. Emma Poock, of Maxfield township; and Fred, of this review.

Fred Knief grew to manhood in Maxfield township and acquired his education in the district schools. When he began his active career he turned his attention to farming and has since been connected with agricultural interests. He owns one of the finest eighty acre farms in the county and give a great deal of time to its development, having provided it with a modern, well furnished home and substantial barns and outbuildings.

On the 3d of October, 1889, Mr. Knief was united in marriage to Miss Mary Bayer, who was born in Jefferson township, this county, August 25, 1867, a daughter of William and Mary (Prieter) Bayer, natives of Germany and early settlers in Bremer county. The father died in Jefferson township in October, 1902, and the mother in Denver in March, 1911. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bayer; William, who resides in Harmon, Minnesota; Rudolph, of Elma, Iowa; Louisa, of Denver; Mrs. Hannah Hesse, of Blackhawk county; Mrs. Lena Haase, of Mason City, Iowa; Mrs. Knief, wife of the subject of this review; Mrs. Anna Pipho, of Dayton township; Mrs. Sophia Buhman, of Jefferson township; Mrs. John Heideman, of Blackhawk county; John, residing in the state of Washington; Mrs. Frederika Schwake, of Howard county, Iowa; and Amelia, who makes her home in Denver. Mr. and Mrs. Knief became the parents of six children: Mrs. Amelia Poock, who was born August 27, 1890, and who is now residing in Blackhawk county; Hilda, who was born November 25, 1892, and died in October, 1896; Martha, who was born October 18, 1894, and died in October, 1896; Fred W., born June 18, 1898; Clara, whose birth occurred May 23, 1902; and Della, born July 20, 1905. The family are members of St. John's German Lutheran church of Maxfield township.

Mr. Knief gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and is now serving as clerk of Maxfield township, discharging his duties in a practical and able manner. He is widely and favorable known in his native township, for his business interests have been carefully conducted, his duties of citizenship capably performed, and he has been at all time true to the obligations and responsibilities which have devolved upon him.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914