John Knapp

KNAPP, MANSER, BQABCOCK, CHESLEY, PARISH, BROWN

Posted By: Diane (email)
Date: 3/18/2002 at 20:44:48

John Knapp settled on section 8 in 1867, where he now lives. He purchased of Martin Manser. The farm was entered by E. W. Babcock. Mr. Knapp was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1839. He went to Illinois when 18 years of age; enlisted in the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, Company G. He served two years and three months in the army; was wounded at Beverly Ford, Virginia; being disabled, he was discharged, and came to Iowa in 1865, settling on section 4, in this township. He afterwards removed to section 6, where he lived one year, then to present location in 1867. He made all the improvements on his farm. His father came here in 1866, and died at the residence of his son, in 1874. His mother died September, 1867.
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Mrs. Knapp’s maiden name was Emma Chesley, daughter of Nathaniel Chesley, who settled on section 3, of this township, in 1855. Mr. Chesley was born in Vermont, moving to the State of New York, where he married Phoebe Parish; they moved to Ohio, where they lived eight years, and thence to this county. They had 12 children, eleven of whom are still living, only two of whom are residents of this county – Mary J., wife of Henry Brown, of Monroe township, and Mrs. Knapp; all the others live in Clay and O’Brien counties, except George, who resides in Fall City, Nebraska. Mr. Chesley removed to Clay county, with his family , in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Knapp have three children – Elon J., Cora A. and Andrew Guy. Mr. Knapp’s farm contains 80 acres.
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Source: History of Butler and Bremer Counties, Iowa
Union Publishing Co., Springfield, IL, 1883
Pages 422-423