Biographical Sketches
J. PHILIP KNOCHE, M. D.
Who devotes his time and energies to the practice of medicine in Kansas City, is numbered among the native sons of Jackson county, his birth having occurred on a farm 3 miles from the city, July 25, 1859. The family is of German origin, and the paternal grandfather of our subject, John P. Knoche, spent his entire life in Germany, where he was killed by accident in his 65th year. He had 5 sons and 1 daughter. The maternal grandfather, John Frank Knoche, was also a native of Germany, and came to America in the winter of 1858, locating on a farm near New Santa Fe, Missouri, where he died in October, 1869, at the age of 69 years. In personal appearance he was 5 feet 10 inches tall, of heavy build, and was a warmhearted man, of kindly, generous nature. His family numbered 4 sons and 5 daughters.
The Doctor's parents were John P. and Florendina Knoche, and their family numbered only 2 children, 1 of whom died in infancy. The father was a farmer by occupation, and on emigrating to the new world took up his residence in Baltimore, in 1834, being employed there in John Wetter's distillery for 6 years. In 1839 he returned to Germany, and on again coming to the United States was accompanied by 3 brothers. They settled in Jackson county, Missouri, near Kansas City, in 1840. It was then known as West Landing. There were not near them a half-dozen houses; there was a grocery, etc. The country was wild and sparsely settled. He intended to establish a distillery, and had the building erected and a part of the machinery in when the flood of 1844 swept all away. John P. Knoche then removed to Santa Fe, Missouri, where he purchased and entered a large tract of land, engaging there in raising cattle for the Santa Fe traders. In this way he accumulated considerable wealth, but after a time disease broke out among the cattle in this section of the country, and he lost nearly all his stock, while his house and barns were destroyed by fire. Thus misfortune seemed to fall thick and fast around him. He was a man of much purpose, however, and returned to his farm in Jackson county, near Kansas City, but retained the ownership of his farm near Santa Fe, and operated both until after the war broke out. At that time he joined the home guards. His land lay between the territory occupied by Jennison's Kansas �Redlegs� and Price's raiders, who stole all his corn, hogs and hay. His wife was also frightened to death in 1861 by some of Jennison's troops! She was a member of the Lutheran church, a faithful helpmeet to her husband and a loving mother. In 1863 Mr. Knoche was again married, his second union being with Annie E. Knoche, a sister of his first wife. They had 9 children - 4 sons and 5 daughters, of whom the following-named are yet living: John H., Louis H., Joseph and Rosa A. The father died August 29, 1887, in his 75th year, but his 2nd wife is still living, on the old homestead.
The Doctor was reared on the farm in the East Bottom, near Kansas City, and acquired his early education in the country school, after which he attended the public schools of this city, and also Spaulding's Commerical College. He began the study of medicine in 1878, as a student in the Kansas City Medical College, where he was graduated in 1881. He then entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College, of New York, and after studying in special departments was graduated in that institution. For 3 years he successfully engaged in practice, when, wishing more thoroughly to fit himself for his chosen profession, he crossed the water to Vienna, Austria, and entered the university there, spending 2 years in the special study of dermatology and skin diseases. He then traveled in Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Holland, France, England, Scotland and Ireland. In July, 1886, he returned to his native land, and has since been successfully engaged in practice in Kansas City, making a specialty of dermatology and genito-urinary diseases. He is a member of the Kansas City Academy of Medicine and the State Medical Society.
In addition to attending to his large practice, the Doctor is now managing his father's estate, and is also president and general manager of the Mexican Colonization Land Company. Socially, he is connected with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Knights of Pythias, and is a member of the Theosophic Society.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.