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