Historic Event--The Trials of Isaac Knapp

    

     Amy Johnson Crow has a 52 Ancestors Week blog challenge which I have decided to give a try for the second year. 

     The prompt for week # 12 (March 19-25) is Historic Event.

     Continuing the Brothers Knapp story of Isaac shooting Walter to death on September 1, 1877 at the family home in Riley Township, Sandusky County, Ohio.     Family Secret--The Knapp Brothers.

The Clyde Sentinel
Clyde, Ohio
November 23, 1877
page 6

     Isaac was apprehended that day and taken to the city of Fremont jail.  According to an article in Twentieth Century History of Sandusky County Ohio (Meek, 192), Isaac appeared before Judge T. P. Finefrock in the Court of Common Pleas and a jury at the October Term 1877.  The jury returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the second degree and Judge Finefrock sentenced Isaac to the penitentiary for life.  He was taken to the Ohio Penitentiary on October 18, 1877.

The Stark County Democrat
August 11, 1883
Front Page

     While incarcerated, Isaac devised a plan to be released from prison.  He began to eat only soap and after awhile he was sent to the penitentiary hospital thinking he had consumption and I have also read,  tuberculosis.   

     Isaac was pardoned on October 19, 1882 by Governor Charles Foster based on certification of the penitentiary and Fremont doctors.  They felt that Isaac was going to die and should be returned to his home.     

The Clyde Enterprise
Clyde, Ohio
February 1, 1883
page 3

     Isaac spent time at home recuperating and when his health was fully restored, continued his life of crime in Fremont.  He bragged that he had fraudulently obtained his release.  Residents of Fremont wrote to the Governor letting him know that Isaac had gained his release by fraud and misrepresentation.  The Governor declared that Isaac's pardon was void and sent officials to Fremont at the end of January 1893 to arrest him and return him to the penitentiary.  

Reports of Cases Argued and Determined
in The Supreme Court of Ohio
Volume 39
pages 377-398

     

     Isaac filed a case of habeas corpus with the Ohio Supreme Court and they declared that the pardon grated him in 1882 was irrevocable even if obtained by fraud and he was released.   

The Clyde Enterprise
Clyde, Ohio
February 1, 1883
page 3

     What made the Isaac Knapp case is historical event was that it was the only time in the State of Ohio where a Governor revoked an unconditional pardon.  The Isaac Knapp case became precedent in Ohio legal case history.  

       Getting out of Dodge, he and his mother, Catherine Huffine Knapp, removed to Bristol, Elkhart County, Indiana in the spring of 1883.  Catherine had been enumerated with her son, John W. Knapp, living in Sandusky Township, Sandusky County, Ohio on the 1880 Ohio census. 

 

     In the end Isaac learned the lesson, if you live by the sword, you die by the sword.  From announcements of his death, it appears that Isaac continued with his disorderly behavior.

     There is one obituary that paints a "born again" picture of Isaac.  I wonder if his mother provided the information.  😇

Democratic Messenger
October 11, 1883

     He died in Bristol, Elkhart County, Indiana on July 26, 1883.  Two different versions of the death are presented in various accounts.  One is consumption perhaps caused by his soap eating days.  The other is dying from a knife wound after pulling a gun on another Bristol citizen.  To date, I have not located an actual death record.

     He was buried at Oakridge Cemetery, Bristol, Elkhart County, Indiana.  He has a respectable grave marker.  Begs the question--who paid for it?  

     Addendum:  Isaac Knapp's behavior was salacious news of the day.  I was surprised when I searched in the Historical Newspaper site that it was covered from the murder until his death in many newspapers across the United States.

     

Works cited 

Meek, Basil ed, Twentieth Century History of Sandusky, Ohio and its Representative Citizens, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co, Chicago, 1909, page 192-193

    

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2025, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser



Brick Wall--Death of Nancy Agnes Cannon Orr McCormick

     

     Amy Johnson Crow has a 52 Ancestors Week blog challenge which I have decided to give a try for the second year. 

     The prompt for week # 11 (March 12-18) is Brick Wall.

     For decades I have been trying to find any information on the death of my maternal great great grandmother, Nancy Agnes Cannon Orr McCormick, the mother of my of maternal great grandmother, Lucinda Bell Orr Frederick.  

     Nancy's first husband, William Morland Orr died at age thirty-five on February 11, 1849 in Elkrun Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.   The Orr Family was living on a farm in Elkrun Township, probably land owned by Nancy's aunt, Jane Fife Cannon.   

     There were numerous family members in close vicinity to Nancy to assist with the farm and the children, ages twelve, eleven, nine, seven and four.  

     On the 1850 Ohio census there is a twenty-seven year old farmer, Elijah McCormick enumerated with the family.  

     Sometime in 1850, thirty-three year old Nancy married twenty-seven year old Elijah.  They had a daughter, Arabella McCormick in 1851.  Elijah McCormick died at age thirty on September 6, 1853.  

     On the 1860 Ohio census, son Matthew, is working the farm.  By 1870, Nancy and Arabella have moved to a house in New Lisbon Center, Columbiana County, Ohio.  Arabella has $900 in real estate, perhaps from the estate of her father.  On the 1880 Ohio census Nancy and Arabella are still living in Centre Township, New Lisbon, and Nancy is employed as a tailoress.  

     Arabella McCormick died at age thirty-eight on or about February 1889.  She had an estate probated in April 1889.  

     Nancy had three known children living in Columbiana County following Arabella's death.  Whether she continued to live in New Lisbon or was taken in by her married children is unknown.

     By 1900, she was enumerated with her daughter, my maternal great grandmother, Lucinda Bell Orr Frederick, in the Borough of Esplen, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.  

     And there stood my brick wall for over a decade.  When and where did Nancy die and where is she buried.  Neither she or Arabella have grave markers.  

     Then, this year on February 15, I hit a genealogy mother lode.  😀  I was noodling around in my Ancestry newspaper subscription using Alfred Frederick in Pittsburgh newspapers and up came Mrs. Alfred Frederick's mother's death.  Eureka!!!

Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette
May 12, 1903
page 6

     I was able to track down a website that gave me access to the Esplen record of deaths, unfortunately the years 1901 through 1903 are missing.  The death notice was valuable for the date of her death and that her body was transported back to Lisbon and buried there.  Her son, Matthew Thomas Cannon is buried in Lisbon Cemetery and my guess is that both Nancy and Arabella are also there without a grave stone.

 

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2025, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser



Transcription of the Will of Ezekiel Mott, Jr.

Section of Ezekiel Mott's Will

  Ezekiel Mott's Will, Portage Co., Ohio:

In the Name of God, Amen, I, Ezekiel Mott of the township of Streetsborough in the county of Portage and State of Ohio, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following, to wit.  First, I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Polly Mott the use and benefit of one equal third part of seventy acres of land wherein I now live and the mansion house and all the furniture thereof together with all the cattle belonging to me on said land during her natural life, and at her decease she may dispose of it at her pleasure.  I do also give and devise my son James Mott the one equal third part of all the land belonging to me whereon I now live and at the decease of his mother Polly Mott, the one equal half of her third so that at her death he the said James shall have the one equal half of seventy acres of land in common with his brother Samuel Mott.  I do likewise give and bequeath to my son Samuel Mott the one equal third part of all the land belonging to me whereon I now live and at the decease of his mother Polly Mott the one equal half of her third, so that at her death he the said Samuel shall have the one equal half of seventy acres of land in common with his brother James Mott, in consideration of the above bequest the said Samuel Mott and James Mott are to take the necessary care of (?) of their brother Elisha Mott if he should prove to be unable to take care of himself.   I do hereby appoint Samuel Mott and James Mott executors of this my last will and testament and also to receive money which is due me from Richard Paul of Granger township County of Medina & State of Ohio and pay over to Benj. Doolittle, Esq. for the above described land and the balance if any to be for the benefit of the widow and family.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal at Streetsborough this 18th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight.
(Signed)  Ezekiel Mott.

 

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

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The Country School--An Essay by Lida Edna VanGilder

     What hopes and fears and ambitions come to minds when we think of the little country school house in which we received our early education.

      How much we owe to the country school and how little some of us appreciate it.  While sailing on the sea of life how many times we are aided by the lessons learned in the country school.  How little we dreamed while learning our lessons they would be of so much value to us while fighting our battles.  While in school we had many hard trials and thought we had the worst teachers to contend with, but if we could only know what our forefathers and mothers had to endure.

      Just look at the contrast:  a little log cabin with slabs for seats and no backs, a leaf fastened to the wall that could be raised when anyone wanted to write.  Usually a cross ill tempered man for instructor, who tried to beat reading, writing, spelling and a little bit of arithmetic into their brains with a rod.  In olden times the teacher who could whip the most was considered the best teacher.  

     Their sessions were usually three months.  As the population and the wealth of the country has increased, the educational advantages have increased until today some very good work is being done in our country schools.            

     The country school work is the foundation for higher education.  What a man becomes depends upon how he builds this foundation and upon what kind of ground he builds it.  If he has a good foundation he need have no fear while building the remainder of his temple of education, however grand he should chose to build it.  What we make of ourselves depends upon how hard we study and try and not upon the school we attend.  And we can study in the country schools as well as the city.  

     Our life's struggle does not depend altogether either upon what we learn in the schoolhouse.  Some of our best lessons are learned on the playground.  The playground is a little world.

     We must learn to take the "knocks and bumps" with a good face, and learn to take care of ourselves.  What a fine opportunity to study character.   How much one's disposition is displayed on the playground.  We learn to deal with our companions and that helps us to deal with our fellow-men.  

     One should feel proud that they have had the advantage of a course in the country school.  We may not have had the same advantage along the line of study as we would get in the city school, but we are thrown with people in a different way, and to learn how to deal with people is one of life's greatest lessons.   

     The men who have been the most prominent in the United States received their education in the country school.  Some of the strongest men never received any higher education.

     Who has done more service for their country than Abraham Lincoln?  Who would now work like he did to get education?  If there were more boys who would shave up their father's wooden shovel*  to work sums on we would not need to have a compulsory school law.  

     When we think of Benj. Franklin's hard struggle and what came of it, we should have a deep feeling of shame that we have done so little when our advantages are so great.

     Ben King represents the average boy of today in his few verses called "Jane Jones:"

     "Jane Jones keeps talkin' to me all the time
     An' says you must make it a rule
     To study your lessons, an' work hard and learn
     An never be absent from school
     Rememer the story of Elihu Buritt
     An how he clum' up to the top
     Got all the knowledge 'at he ever had
     Down at the back smithing shop,
     Jane Jones says it is so,
     Meeby he did--I dunno!
     O' course whats a keepin' me 'way from the top
     Is not never havin' no black smithing shop."

     "She said that Ben Franklin was awfully poor
     But full if ambition an' brains;
     An' studied philosophy all his hull life
     An' see what he got for his pains.
     He brought electricity out of the sky
     With a kite, an' a bottle an' key
     An' we're owing him mor'in anyone else 
     For all the bright lights 'at we see
     Jane Jones, she honestly says it is so
     Mebby he did,--I donno!
     O' course what 's allers been hinderin' me
     Is not havin' any kite, lightening er sky."

     "Jane Jones said Abe Lincoln had no books at all
     An' used to split rails as a boy,
     An' General Grant was a tanner by trade

     An' lived way out in Illinois.
     So when the great war in the south broke first broke out
     He stood on the side o' the right,
     An' when Lincoln called him to take charge o' things
     He won nearly every blamed fight.
     Jane Jones, she honestly says it is so
     Mebby he did,--I donno!

     Still I aint to blame, not by a big sight

     For I aint never had any battles to fight."

     She said 'at Columbus was out at the knees

     When he first thought up his big scheme
     An' told all the Spaniards an' Italians, too
     An' all of 'em said 'twas a dream,
     But Queen Isabella jest listened to him
     'Nd pawned all her jewels o' worth,
     'Nd bought him Santa Maria, 'and said
     'Go hunt up the rest o' the earth."
     Jane Jones, she honestly says it is so

     Mebby he did,--I donno!

     O' course that maybe, but then you must allow,

     There aint no land to discover jest now.

     Our country school has advanced in the last few years until one can leave it and enter the preparatory school for college.  

     As the new studies are added it requires a better knowledge to teach them than the ordinary country teacher has.

     To become a good teacher requires preparation as well as to become a good lawyer, minister, engineer or president of the United States requires preparation.  

     The trustees of schools do not like to hire a teacher who has not but attended country school, unless they have a great deal of experience, so the teacher that takes the school first is the one with the most experience or educational advantages.  But with the wages even the best teacher receives for five months teaching how long could he attend any college or training school?

     We might become good teachers from experience of several years but look what the schools must suffer while one is getting his experience, and by the time one has enough experience to become a good teacher they are old enough to drop from the profession.

     If we could get the necessary training before we commence we would spare the schools and ourselves much unnecessary trouble.  But we can not do this very well unless we know we will get enough salary to pay our expenses while doing so.  The deficiency of teachers this year is because of low wages.  The teachers can make more money at other work.   

     It is hoped that teachers wages will increase parallel with other advancements.

     The addition of General History, State History, Civil Government,  Book-keeping and Fryes Geography has undoubtedly raised the standard of the country school and if wages will permit the teachers to keep pace, it may not be but a few years until Algebra, Geometry, Latin and Literature will find their place on the list of studies.  Then the country school will be on par with the town school and it will be a great thing accomplished.

May the good work go on!

Lida Edna Van Gilder 

UNDERLINED NOTE: Shave up their father's shovel   

* "Part of his evening he (Abraham Lincoln) would spend in writing and ciphering.  His father, Thomas Lincoln was very poor and could seldom afford to buy paper and pens.  So Abe had to get on without them.  He would take the back of the broad wooden shovel to write on and a piece of charcoal for a pencil.  When he covered the shovel with words or sums of arithmetic, he would shave the shovel off clean and begin over again.

When his father complained that the shovel was getting thin, Abe would go out to the woods, cut down a tree, and make another one."

 

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

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Siblings--Lida VanGilder and Emma VanGilder teachers

School photograph
Easton School, Easton, Monongalia County, West Virginia
November 23, 1911

     

     Amy Johnson Crow has a 52 Ancestors Week blog challenge which I have decided to give a try for the second year. 

     The prompt for week # 10 (March 5-11) is Siblings.

     I'm certain that many, of not all of us, have seen ancestors who were employed in the same occupation throughout the years as ourselves and thought.....it must be genetics.  I certainly have.  This blog covers such a thought.  

     It is not a new surprise to me, just one I have only touched on when blogging about my two paternal great-grandaunts, Lida Edna VanGilder Farrar, Emma Leona VanGilder Williams and my paternal great-grandfather, George Ethelbert VanGilder.  All three siblings were teachers in country schools in the greater Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia.  The ladies taught in the late 1890's and early 1900's at Union School in Easton, Monongalia County, West Virginia and my great-grandfather in the Woodlawn School #2, Monongalia County, West Virginia circa 1888.  

History of Monongalia County, West Virginia
Samuel T. Wiley, page 657

     

     Education was an essential part of all the VanGilder family's lives.  Their father and my paternal great great grandfather, John Oliphant VanGilder was the president of the Morgantown School Board in 1883 and my paternal great grandfather, George Ethelbert VanGilder was the secretary of the Board in 1883.  

     Four of the VanGilder kids attended West Virginia University and three became teachers in the country school system in Monongalia County, West Virginia.  This blog will cover two of my great-grandaunts.  The fourth VanGilder, Lena Gertrude VanGilder also attended West Virginia University.  I have not found information as to whether she graduated.

From the Morgantown newspaper
Researched by Dr. Robert Poole Wilkins

     This hand typed mention of both Emma and Lida as teachers at the Union School in Easton, West Virginia was my first information regarding the teachers in the VanGilder family.  

Emma Leona VanGilder

     Emma Leona VanGilder, daughter of John Oliphant VanGilder and Mary Louise Hill, was born on November 26, 1870 in Monongalia County, West Virginia.  I have not to date found any West Virginia University enrollment documents for Emma.  I only know of her teaching school from the newspaper mention shown above and from the 1900 West Virginia census where her employment is that of teacher.  

1886 map
VanGilder farm, Woodland School and
Easton School are all marked in red

     Easton, West Virginia is a fairly straight ride from the VanGilder farm.  I would imagine the two sisters either road horses or took a wagon or buckboard to work.  All would be available on the VanGilder farm.   

     I decided to post Emma's page in her brother and my paternal great grandfather's autograph book.  Beautiful hand writing and an academic sentiment. 

     I have no knowledge what grade Emma taught or how many years.  She married Harvey Strother Williams on August 23, 1903 and may have stopped teaching then.         

Lida Edna VanGilder

     Lida Edna VanGilder, daughter of John Oliphant VanGilder and Mary Louise Hill, was born on April 26, 1873 in Monongalia County, West Virginia.  Unlike her sister, Emma, Lida had numerous listings in the West Virginia University catalogues.  

West Virginia Argus
February 27, 1896
page 4

Misspelled first name
Lida E. VanGilder
A.B. 1897

Lida VanGilder A.B. 1897 (Mrs. H.T. Farrar)

Athens, Ohio

     Russell Dwight VanGilder, A.B. 1921, another teacher.  Grandson of John Oliphant and Mary Hill VanGilder and nephew of both Emma and Lida.  

     It is possible that Lida began teaching after she graduated.  She married Henry Theodore Farrar on July 23, 1902 and probably stopped her teaching employment.

     Lida presented a paper at the Teachers Institute at Easton on January 17, 1902.  The topic was "The Country School".  I have transcribed the newspaper article which appeared in the Morgantown Post newspaper on Thursday, February 6, 1902, page 2.

     Lida's autograph album page in her brother's book.  The George Ethelbert VanGilder Autograph Album is a family treasure.

     Three of the VanGilder siblings taught school in the late 1800's and early 1900's in the Morgantown, West Virginia area.  

     My two brothers and I also became teachers.  I was a preschool teacher for decades from 1969-2006.  I held the positions in Head Start as teacher, lead teacher and center coordinator in four centers.  I transitioned to a day care center, private day care, nursery school (teacher and administrator) and taught a preschool theater for ten years.  

     My brother Ken taught in elementary school for years in the Orlando, Florida area, moved north and taught two elementary grades in the Elyria, Ohio school system and adult education after he retired from teaching public school. Ken holds teaching certificates from Pennsylvania, Florid and Ohio.

     Brother Jeff came into teaching later in life.  Following a career in the law, he was a health coach, taught spinning classes and currently is teaching English as a second language, citizenship to pass the citizenship exam, GED and Entrepreneurship and adults whose first language is not English.

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2025, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser



Walter D. Knapp of Riley Township, Sandusky County, Ohio

     I blogged about Walter D. Knapp, my husbands paternal great great great grandfather back in 2010.  Walter and his brother, Isaac Knapp, both sons of Benjamin and Katherine Knapp removed to the Detroit area of Michigan before coming to Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio circa 1814.  Their exploits in the War of 1812 and as early mail carriers in the area are retold in numerous Fremont/Sandusky County history books in on Flipside.  

     This year I have been working to blog about my husband's family.  I have bits and bobs on Flipside; however, have not tied them all together.  The time of Knapp has arrived, although I am working backward.  I have covered Walter's wife, Catherine Huffhine Knapp and several of their children, but not the patriarch of the family.  

     As mentioned earlier, Walter found a home in Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio as early as 1814.  He has a War of 1812 document, although I have not found him on any Ohio or Michigan War of 1812 Rosters or the name of his Captain.

     Unfortunately, there is not much information regarding Walter Knapp, his more illustrious brother, Isaac Knapp, was very active politically in Sandusky County, Ohio.

     Walter is MIA in the 1820, 1830 and 1840 census enumerations.  He may have been enumerated with a family and not under his name.

1841 Pickaway County Ohio Marriage Record
page 38

    

     Walter was present in Pickaway County in 1841.  At age forty-one  he married twenty-seven year old Catherine Huffhine (Huffine) on Mat 27, 1841.  Catherine was the daughter of Isaac Huffhines and Eleanor Hendrickson.  

     During the first decade the Knapp family grew by five children.  Together they had eight known children:

1. Ellnor (Elinor, Ellen) Knapp 1841-1927
2. John W. Knapp 1843-1906
3. Joseph C. Knapp 1845-
4. Drusilla Knapp 1848-1925 (my husband's great great grandmother)
5. Walter Knapp 1849-1877
6. Ezra Knapp 1850-1931
7. Hannah Knapp 1854-
8. Isaac Knapp 1859-1883

1850 Ohio Census
Madison Township District 38
Franklin County
November 11, 1850

Walter Knapp, age 51, male, farmer born in Canada

Catherine Knapp, age 30, female, born in Ohio

Elinor Knapp, age 10, born in Ohio

John Knapp, age 7, born in Ohio

Joseph Knapp, age 5, born in Ohio

Drusilla Knapp, age 3, born in Ohio

Walter Knapp, age 1, born in Ohio

History of Madison Township
including
Groveport and Canal Winchester
Fulton County, Ohio
page 470

     There is a curious record regarding a Hannah K. Knapp daughter of Walter and Druscilla Knapp.  She was born in 1836 and died in 1858.  On Find A Grave, Walter Knapp born in Canada is listed as her father and Druscilla Knapp, possibly deceased by 1850, her mother.  Could this mean that Walter was married before Catherine and had children by this marriage?  Or was the reading of this tombstone after so many decades not accurate?  My husband's paternal great great grandmother was one of Walter and Catherine's children and she was named Drusilla.  Where did that name come from?

     It is my understanding from the book this information was taken from  actual readings done in the spring of 1899.  And Water and Catherine did have a daughter named Hannah who was born in 1854.  She is enumerated at age six on the 1860 census; however is not enumerated on the 1870 census.  

     Sometime between 1850 and 1860 the Knapp family removed from Franklin County to Sandusky County.  In 1860 Walter was farming in Ballville Township and by 1870 they were in Riley Township.

1860 Ohio Census
Ballville Township, Ballville Post Office
Sandusky County
July 15, 1860

Walter Knapp, age 68, male, master farmer, born in Canada

Catherine Knapp, age 38, female, born in Ohio

John W. Knapp, age 15, male, born in Ohio, attended school

Joseph Knapp, age 12, male, born in Ohio, attended school

Rusilla Knapp, age 11, female, born in Ohio, attended school

Walter Knapp, age 10, male, born in Ohio, attended school

Azro Knapp, age 8, male, born in Ohio, attended school

Hannah Knapp, age 6, female, born in Ohio, attended school

Isaac Knapp, age 1, male, born in Ohio

     Continuing to reside in Sandusky County, Walter moved to a cabin in Riley Township before 1870.

1870 Ohio Census
Riley Township, Fremont Post Office
Sandusky County
June 6, 1870

Knapp, Walter, age 71, male, married, day laborer, no stated real or personal estate, born in Canada, both parents foreign born, male citizen of 21 years

Knapp, Catherine, age 64, female, married, keeping house, born in Ohio, cannot write.

Knapp, Isaac, age 11, make, single, at home, born in Ohio, father foreign born, attended school, cannot write

The Democratic Messenger
November 2, 1871
page 4

     Walter kept a pretty low profile throughout life following his early days as a mail carrier and escape from a Canadian prison.  There are very few mentions in newspapers or history books.  I was happy to find this 1871 mention as a hired ditch digger for the Sandusky County Infirmary.  

Cited below

     Walter Knapp was enrolled as a pioneer member living in the original Sandusky County, Ohio boundaries between 1830-1845.  The Isaac's widow also highlighted, is the wife of Walter's brother, Isaac Knapp.

     On September 1, 1877 the Knapp Family became infamous from the details of their youngest son, Isaac, killing his brother Walter over a debt owed.  Isaac was tried and convicted of second degree murder and sent to the state penitentiary.  The murder occurred in the cabin of Walter Knapp with both Walter and Catherine present.  

     Walter D. Knapp died at age eighty-four from consumption on February 8, 1878 in Sandusky County, Ohio.  The record is on the Family Search database, Ohio, Deaths and Burials 1854-1997. 

     To date there is no record of Walter D. Knapp's burial or that of his son, Walter Knapp.

Works Cited

Baries, Geo, History of Madison Township Including Groveport and Canal Winchester, Franklin County, Ohio. Geo. F. Baries, Publisher, 1902

Meek, Basil ed, Twentieth Century History of Sandusky, Ohio and its Representative Citizens, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co, Chicago, 1909, page 222

 

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2025, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser



Family Secret--The Knapp Brothers

     Amy Johnson Crow has a 52 Ancestors Week blog challenge which I have decided to give a try for the second year. 

     The prompt for week # 9 (February 26-March 4) is Family Secret.

     I am not sure how secret this family story is.  Certainly it was known by family and community members because it was covered in the local newspapers; however, like many stories, it faded over the decades.  Years back, when I was researching the family, I was surprised to find this account of my husband's family.  It has all the ingredients of a juicy family secret:  debt, anger, murder and prison.

     My husbands parental great great great grandfather, Walter D. Knapp, was born in Canada in 1794.  Walter's early life in the United States has been covered in one of my blogs.  He and his family removed from Ontario, Canada to Detroit, Michigan and then he and his brother, Isaac removed to Fremont, Ohio.

Pickaway County Marriage Record
1840
page 38

     On May 27, 1841 forty-seven year old Walter D. Knapp married twenty-seven year old Catherine Huffhine, daughter of Isaac Hoffhines and Eleanor Hendrickson, in Pickaway County, Ohio.  The couple was married by a Justice of the Peace.  

     Walter and Catherine had eight known children who survived childbirth and their early years.  I have had some success researching the Knapp siblings, others I have hit the proverbial brick wall.  The children were all born in Ohio; however, a variety of counties are given.  Walter was a farmer and by 1870, the family was living on a farm in Riley Township, Sandusky County, Ohio with Fremont, Ohio as their post office.

  Children of Walter and Catherine Knapp 

Note:  years of birth differ from census reports and death certificates of some of the children.

1. Ellnor (Elinor, Ellen) Knapp 1841-1927
2. John W. Knapp 1843-1906
3. Joseph C. Knapp 1845-
4. Drusilla Knapp 1848-1925 (my husband's great great grandmother)
5. Walter Knapp 1849-1877
6. Ezra Knapp 1850-1931
7. Hannah Knapp 1854-
8. Isaac Knapp 1859-1883

     The subjects of the family secret are brothers Walter Knapp, Jr. and Isaac Knapp.  There are numerous newspaper articles outlining the events of the morning and what lead up to the murderous family event.  I have a separate blog, The 1877 Knapp Case, with the actual article scanned.

      The Knapp family lived in a small log cabin north of the town of Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio in Riley Township.  The two young men lived with their parents; however, a dispute irrupted between the brothers and Walter left home to live with neighbors.   

     The issue was a debt Water owed to his brother in the amount of $11.00 for work Isaac did on the farm where Walter was living.  Isaac purchased a gun (later described as a rifle) and spent time practicing his shooting.  He then sued his brother for the money.  A constable picked up Walter and took him to his father's house.  Isaac and Walter had a violent argument and Walter left going back to the farm where he was living and working. 

     The next morning, Saturday, September 1, 1877, Walter headed back to his parents house and was shot by his brother Isaac.  The only people present at the time of the shooting were the parents, Walter and Catherine Knapp and a little girl.  

     The  parents version of the shooting was inconsistent and contradictory at the trial.  Catherine Knapp had breakfast started and called Isaac down to the table.  Walter had been in the family barn having come home earlier, talked with his mother.  He came back into the house, in a belligerent mood, sat down at the table and asked Isaac the amount he owed.  He then denied the amount and began a fight saying he was going to kill Isaac.  Catherine tried to pull Walter back and Isaac was pulled back by his father, Walter, Sr.  Walter tired to hit Isaac with a chair and fearful for his life shot Walter through the heart with his rifle.      

     

     Twenty-eight year old Walter died immediately from the gunshot wound at his parent's cabin in Riley Township, Sandusky County, Ohio on September 1, 1877.  Isaac was eighteen years old when he murdered his brother.

     I do want to mention that in a newspaper article in the Sandusky Register, the amount of the debt owed is $6.00 and the weapon was a pistol.  

     Henry M. Klopfer, a resident in Fremont, went to the scene of the murder with Constable Martin Renschler.  He was also present for the autopsy.  At that time the constable deputized Henry Klopfer and Henry took Isaac Knapp to Fremont after he had been put under arrest.  

     Henry Klopfer became a policeman and in 1911 he was made Chief of Police in Fremont, Ohio.  At his death in 1937 he had served fifty years with the department.  

    There is a very lengthy accounting of the Knapp murder in the newspaper, Fremont Courier, a German newspaper. I wish it could be translated.  I believe there is mention of where young Walter was buried; however, there is no cemetery by that name in or near Fremont.  The cemetery name looks to be Dalwood.  There is an Oakwood Cemetery in the area.  Neither Walter Knapp,  Sr. or his son, Walter Knapp, Jr. are listed on Find A Grave.  Their burial place is one of my brick walls. 

     To be continued........The Trials of Isaac Knapp

     

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