JOHN H. KNAPP PASSES AWAY
Civil War Veteran--Pioneer Settler of Rawlins County--Had Resided Here since 1886
John H. Knapp passed away at six o'clock Monday evening at his home six miles northwest of McDonald. He had been in failing health for about six months but was around as usual until about four weeks ago when he became confined to his home with dropsey and heart trouble and other complications, growing gradually weaker until the end.
John H. Knapp, son of James and Elizabeth Knapp, was born at Montezuma, Pike County, Illinois on March 15th, 1846, and passed away at his home near McDonald, Kansas, November 18, 1929, aged 83 years, 8 months, and 3 days.
On May 7th he enlisted in the Union army at Winchester, Ill., and was mustered into service in Company E, 13th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, at Camp Wood, Quincy, Ill., on June 5, 1864. On August 25th of that same year he was taken by the enemy as a prisoner, near Memphis, Tenn. He was mustered out of service as a private and paroled prisoner of war detachment muster out roll February 3rd, 1865, at Springfield, Ill., being at that time only 19 years of age.
On November 16, 1865 he was united in marriage to Lucy E. Tolen. In 1870 they moved to Richardson County, Nebraska where they lived for fifteen years. In the spring of 1884 they came to Rawlins County where he resided until his death. Mrs. Knapp passed away February 19, 1926. They were the parents of twelve children, three of whom preceded them in death: Willie, who died in infancy, Florence Vanpatton and Laurabelle. Those who are living are, James H. and Thomas C. of Burlington, Colo., George W. and Levi A. of Rangley, Colorado, Mrs. Lulu Lee of Gallatton, Mo., John O., Charles E. and Fay M. Knapp, and Mrs. Daisy Hubbard of McDonald. These with fourty-one grandchildren and thirty great-grandchildren remain to mourn the loss of a kind and loving father and grandfather.
Thus, briefly we speak of the life of John H. Knapp--yet it was by such sturdy characters as he that the frontier was builded. Living in Illinois in his boyhood during the days preceeding the Civil War, when human slavery was the paramount question of the times, he must have been inspired by the eloquence of Douglas, the logic of Lincoln. When but a boy he answered the call to the colors and offered his life upon the altar of this country that the states might "remain one nation, indisoluble." A frontiersman, he was a quiet, reserved nature which so often marked the pioneer, yet friendly in the way that meant real friendliness in time of need and distress. All the experience and hardships of pioneer life were his. He came to Nebraska when that country was on the rim of civilization, moving to Kansas before the railroad was built, when this was an unbroken expanse of prairie, the soil unsubdued. Coming here in the fall of 1884 he staked his claim, built a sod house and put up feed for his return in the spring, then going back after his family in Nebraska. When they returned they found other settlers had used the house for a barn and fed the feed. When his horses died he, with undaunted courage, broke the prairie with a horse and ox. When crops failed year after year he turned to stock raising, building up his herds through the years until his stock and land holdings made for him a competency in his old age. Later generation owe much to men like John H. Knapp. He filled every relation of life, soldier, husband, father, neighbor and friend, and filled them well, he was a real man.
Funeral service was held at the Federated church Wednesday at 3:00 o'clock, in charge of Rev. J. S. Coppoc, former pastor of the church who came from Larned to conduct the service. Interment was in Grace Cemetery.
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to our friends and neighbors who so willingly and kindly assisted us during the illness and at the death of our father, John H. Knapp. Also for the flowers and the singers.
The Children