Rev. Alfred Knoll (1863-1921)

KNOLL, HUNT

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

From Nevada Representative October 25, 1921 (page 1)

REV. KNOLL IS BURIED TODAY

Funeral Services Being Held From the Methodist Church

This afternoon at the Methodist church occurred the funeral services for the late Rev. Alfred Knoll, who passed away last Thursday morning at his home on Avenue K, where he had been living with his wife and son of the past few weeks, since he had been forced to give up his ministerial work at Kent. For several months he had been suffering from leakage of the heart, and at the last session of the Des Moines conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, at Red Oak, he took the retired relation and moved to Nevada.

Mr. Knoll had been in the Methodist ministry since 1891, and was a graduate of Simpson college at Indianola in the early nineties. During the years of his labors for the church he had always been one of the most conscientious workers and was always ready and dependable.

Interment will be made in Nevada cemetery.

The Rev. Alfred Knoll, son of Valentine and Elizabeth Knoll, was born in Black Hawk county, Iowa, May 13, 1863. He died in Nevada, Story county, Iowa, Oct. 20, 1921. He had been a sufferer with a weak heart for some time; was n the Iowa Methodist Hospital at Conference time, where a message of sympathy from his brethren was sent him. Was removed to Nevada, a week ago last Saturday, lingering but a few days until the peaceful end came. He leaves to mourn his death a wife and son. He was a quiet, noble child of God. He worked faithfully in many difficult fields, his faith faltering not before discouragement and service.

His father was born in Germany; reared a Roman Catholic. He was converted in Pennsylvania. There are twelve children in the family; Alfred being next to the youngest of the boys. Mathias, his oldest brother, preached 40 years, in the German Evangelical church; another brother, Charles Knoll, five years older, is a (Continued to page 4.)

**There is no page four of this issue available on microfilm but the article picks up on page 4 of the October 26, 1921 issue.

retired member of Des Moines conference, living in Des Moines. Two other brothers, are local preachers, another an exhorter in the United Brethren church.

Before entering the traveling ministry he was a farmer and school teacher. Converted at twenty, he served in official capacity in the church at class leader, Sunday school superintendent, steward and trustee. After his conversion a year, he was given an exhorter's license; a year later, a local preacher's license, and supplied Lacona, Russell and Summerset charges, under the Elder. He was ordained deacon at Creston, in 1888 by Bishop Goddsell; and Elder, in 1892, at Perry, by Bishop Andrews.

His parents dedicated his life to God in infancy. He entered the traveling connection, joining the Des Moines conference, September 18, 1893, at Audubon. He was admitted into full membership at Indianola, September 27, 1895. His college training was made in Simpson college, from which he graduated in 1893, his seminary work was taken in Garrett Biblical Institute, where he took his degree in 1899. Various Bishops appointed him to charges as follows: Trinity, Council Bluffs, 1893; Modale, 1894; City Missions, Des Moines, 1895; left without appointment to attend one of our schools, but serving as a supply pastor, Lanning, Ill., 1896; Creston, Ind., 1897; Ottawa, Ill., 1898; supplying Woodward until conference; Collins, 1899-1900; Davis City, 1901-02; Milo, 1903-04; Blockton, 1905-06; Tingley, 1907; Cambridge, 1908; Thurman, 1909; supernumerary but supplying San Rito, New Mexico, 1910; Little Sioux, 1911-12; Luther, 1913; Churdan, 1914; Braddyville, 1915; Villisca Circuit, 1916; Nevinville, 1917-18; Fontanelle, 1919; Kent, 1930. The record of a diligent, faithful stewardship ends here. His work was difficult but he loyally plodded on in his lot of toil making others rich through his self denial and service.

He was united in marriage in Collins, Iowa, August 29, 1901, with Miss Ada Hunt, who had taught for ten years in the Collins schools by Rev. Oscar F. Shaw. A son, John Alfred, born October 26, 1905, in Des Moines, Iowa.