Redding Herald
Redding, Ringgold County, Iowa
October 28, 1943

A. F. Knapp was seriously injured Tuesday afternoon while he was helping reshingle the Middle Fork Church.

Several men were helping with the work and at the time of the accident, Mr. Knapp, Wilbur Saville and H. F. Maudlin were working near the ridge roll, using as toe-holds the usual strips of timber attached to the roof. The toe-holds thet were standing on suddenly gave way and all three men stated a slide down the steep roof. Other toe-holds gave way as their weight came into contact.

Mr. Knapp was unable to check his flight in any manner and he went all the way, striking the scaffolding and then to the ground some 20 feet below, alighting in such a manner as to crush the 12th dorsal vertebrae in his back. He was immediately taken by ambulance to a Des Moines hospital, accompanied by Mrs. Knapp and Dr. Fullerton, and the latest report is that he is getting along as well as could be expected. but it is thought that it will be two or three months before he can leave the hospital.

The other men on this wild slide fared murch better. Mr. Maudlin was lucky enough to come down near where Elvin Saville was standing on the scaffold, and Elvin caught him, preventing his plunge to the ground. Wilbur was able to catch hold of the scaffold, in passing, long enough to check his speed somewhat and drop straight down, partly picking his way of landing.

Redding Herald
Redding, Ringgold County, Iowa
November 04, 1943

The men finished reshingling the church Saturday.

Richard, Duane and Merton Knapp visited their father in a Des Moines hospital Saturday and Mrs. Knapp returned home with them that evening.

Sgt. Gifford Knapp came Sunday from Texas to see his father, A. F. Knapp, injured last week in a fall from the church, now in a Des Moines hospital.

Sgt.Gifford Knapp and Mrs. A. F. Knapp visited Mr. Knapp at the Des Moines hospital Tuesday.

Redding Herald
Redding, Ringgold County, Iowa
December 02, 1943

Mrs. A. F. Knapp and sons spent Saturday with Mr. Knapp at the Des Moines hospital and report he is some better.

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2017