#5311 John William "William" Knepper ( Johann Gottfried "Gottfried" Knepper◊ • Clemens Knepper◊ • Hans Peter Knepper◊ • Tilmann Knepper◊ )
William was born May 1770 in Berlin, Brothersvalley Twp., Somerset Co., Pennsylvania. He died Aft 1841. He was buried in Wayne Twp, Columbiana Co., Ohio.
A map of original surveys for Brothers Valley Twp., Somerset Co., Pennsylvania shows four tracts of land owned by Godfrey and William Knepper. Boundaries toward the center are uncertain as the map is cut off there.
The following is a transcription of a letter from William Knepper to his sister-in-law, Mary Knepper, wife of the deceased John Knepper. I received it from Stanley Knepper.
John had stayed in Somerset Co., Pennsylvania, while Godfrey had gone to Connemaugh (a suburb of Johnstown, Pennsylvania) to try his hand and politics, and William had moved to Ohio to farm, presumably leaving the tracts mentioned above.
August the 29th, A.D. 1832Dear Sister-in-law and likewise to all the rest of the Freundshaft. Our kind compliments to you all. I embrace this opportunity of writing to you, letting you know that we are all in a considerable good state of health and strength, hoping these few lines will find you all in a good state of health and strength. Further I mean to make my excuse about not coming to you two years ago when I was at Connemaugh at Brother Godfrey's. I started at his house in the morning in full intention to go to your house, came on to the turnpike road this side of Stoyestown, about six miles, and it came so strong in my mind that there was something wrong at home, and I took the turnpike road and went home. When I came home my neighbor James Anderson had died that day when I was yonder, and he was lamenting very much for me. He said that day when he departed, he thought he would give all his money he had if he could see Daddy Knepper once more. So I think that was the reason, while he was longing so much for me, for my going home, which made me oppen sorrow since; but I expect if I live and keep my health, I hope to come and see you once more.We had good crops this summer, especially wheat, and good prospects for corn. My son Jacob is going to move this fall about thirty or forty miles from this place. The friends in general are well at this time, as so am I. Now no more at present but still with respect your friends unto death.
William and Elizabeth Knepper
Columbiana County, Ohio
Stanley goes on to describe the area in the letter:
| “ | I found a map at the Lisbon Library showing the exact location of William's farm and walked some of it hoping to find the graves or some relics of Williams life. The land had been stripped and logged leaving little hint of the rich farm land that one time had produced a good crop of wheat and good prospects for corn. The turnpike road mentioned above became the Lincoln Highway, then it was called Route 31, only to be renamed later Route 30 that most of you know well. That route later brought more generations of Kneppers westward into the fertile farm lands of Ohio. Stoyestown that was mentioned above can be found on the map today. It is about six miles from the intersection of Route 219 that turns north to Johnstown and the current US Route 30. At the time this letter was written I believe that at least parts of that road were corduroy road (small logs cut and laid side by side to form a mat that prevented wagon wheel from sinking too far into the mud). It would have been a rough ride. |
Nine years later, he wrote another letter to Mary, which follows. This was also received from Stanley Knepper.
August 9th, A.D. 1841.Dear Sister-in-law and all the rest of the friends: I take the method once more to inform you that we are in a considerable good state of health and strength, for which we are heartily thankful to God for His mercies that He has not yet forgot to (be) mindful to us, hoping that these few lines will find you all in a good state of health and strength.
This is the third letter that I wrote to you since I received your letter, and you wrote that you would write shortly to me again, while you hadn't time to write any more about the death and sickness of my brother Godfrey. I don't know whether you did not get my letters or what can be the reason you haven't written to me before.
How I would be glad to pay you a visit, but I am too old to venture so far. I am seventy-one years and three months old. I would like to see some of you if I could. We have had considerable good crops of wheat and rye and the oats is as good as can be. The cut worms cut most of our corn. Wheat sells from seventy-five to eighty-seven about here, in Maslon one dollar twelve and a half cents a bushel. Flour in Lisbon four dollars and fifty cents a barrel.
If you send me a letter, let me know about Jacob Smith and Conrad Brant, whether they are living yet or not. John Knepper and family is well. Jacob and family is well. Joseph and family is well. All is well as far as I know, and I hope you will write me as soon as you get this letter. My memory is failing me that I can't state right as I ought to do.
I have no more to write, but I commit you all to the protection of God and hoping that we might all live a sober and righteous life. If we can't see one another any more in this world that we meet in the world to come in everlasting glory and happiness.
N.B. I live in Wayne Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, four miles south of New Lisbon. I would be glad if some of you would come to see us this fall and give us a visit. No more at present but still remaining with respect your friends and well wishers,
William and Elizabeth Knepper
∞ William married #5312 Elizabeth Lindersmith.
Marriage notes |
They married 3 Apr 1792 in Berlin Evangelical Church, Brothersvalley Twp., Somerset Co., Pennsylvania. |
Elizabeth was born 1779. She died 1 Jun 1844. She was buried in Trinity Reformed Cemetery, Hanover Twp., Columbiana Co., Ohio.
She is the daughter of Joseph & Anna (Bauman) Lindersmith. Joseph came from Switzerland and fought in the American Revolution.
Children of this relationship:
| #5317 | M | i | John William Knepper | (1793–1883) |
| #5313 | M | ii | Godfrey Knepper | (4 Jul 1795–9 Oct 1877) |
| #5314 | M | iii | Daniel Knepper | (5 Aug 1798–) |
| #5315 | F | iv | Anna Catharine Knepper | (26 Apr 1800–) |
| #1321 | M | v | Jacob Knepper | (2 Oct 1803–11 Aug 1879) |
| #5318 | M | vi | William Knepper | (25 May 1805–1885) |
| #5319 | F | vii | Elizabeth A. Knepper | |
| #5320 | M | viii | Joseph Knepper | (24 Nov 1809–23 Dec 1879) |
| #5321 | F | ix | Nancy Anna "Anna" Knepper | |
| #5322 | M | x | Peter Knepper | (1814–May 1883) |
| #7339 | M | xi | Amos Knepper |
Clifford T. Wig & Dorothy H. Wig, The Knepper Family Tree, (unpublished, Apr 1997). Ref. as [Wig].
Stanley Knepper, email to Tad Deffler, dated: 21 Apr 1997.
Stanley Knepper, email to Tad Deffler, dated: 23 Apr 1997.
Line Generation: 5
Relationship: Great-Great-Great-Great-Grand-Uncle
