Untitled From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 866-867

ABRAHAM V. KNAPP, of Lima township, Grant county, was born in Seneca county, N.Y., June 27, 1832, a son of James D. and Louis (INGERSOLL) KNAPP, natives of the State of Connecticut, where they were born in 1800 and 1799, respectively. While both were quite young they moved with their parents to western New York, where they were married. They engaged in the mercantile business for a number of years, and later the family moved to Monroe county, Mich. where the father died in 1854. Soon after this sad event the mother and family moved to Wisconsin, settling first at Lancaster, and later at Platteville, where the mother died in 1888. Four children were born to this couple, all in the State of New York: (1) Jerusha G. never married, and died at her home in Platteville in 1898. (2) Spencer crossed the Plains to California in 1852, and died a short time after reaching that State. (3) Riley I. was a farmer, enlisted in Co. K, 47th Wis. V.I., and at the close of the war returned to his home in Wisconsin, was never married, and died at Platteville in 1900. (4) Abraham V. was the youngest son.

From early boyhood Abraham V. KNAPP has been engaged in farming. On the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, he enlisted in Co. F, 10th Wis. V.I., served as private, second and first sergeant and second lieutenant, under Generals O. M. Mitchell, Buel, McCook, Rosecrans and Thomas, participated in a number of battles, of which Perrysville and Stone River were the most important. At the latter battle he received an injury (ruptured veins in the leg) that permanently disabled him for military service, and in December, 1863, he resigned his commission, and returned to his home.

The year following his return Mr. KNAPP was married to Miss Laura E. WALDORF, of Grant county, a daughter of Jesse and Clarissa (JONES) WALDORF, who were born and reared in Trumbull county, Ohio. They both belonged to old pioneer families of that State, and came West to Grant Co., Wis., in 1840, taking up a tract of land, which they greatly improved. Mr. WALDORF was chairman of the board of supervisors for many years, and served one term in the Legislature. Two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. WALDORF, Mrs. KNAPP, and a sister Mary, now deceased, who married Amandra MINER, a resident of Iowa, and left no family. Mr. Jesse WALDORF died in 1871, and Clarissa WALDORF in 1884.

Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. KNAPP settled on the old WALDORF homestead where they now reside. To them were born ten children: Fred W., of Fennimore, a tinner by trade, married Miss Mary STREETER, of Grant county; Frank S., mentioned below; Sidney D.B.; Clara L.; Charles D.; Jesse E.; Horace H.; Lloyd P.; Edna M.; and Ernest N. Politically Mr. KNAPP has always been a Republican, casting his first presidential vote for Fremont in 1856. Both Mr. and Mrs. KNAPP have long been members of the M. E. Church. Mr. KNAPP superintended the Sunday school near his home for twelve years, and had the satisfaction of having one hundred scholars, all of whom were members of the M. E. Church.

Frank S. KNAPP was born in Grant county in February 1867, and grew to manhood on the home farm, attending the district school. Later he was a student at the State Normal at Platteville, and also at the commercial college in Madison. For a short time he engaged in teaching, and then was engaged for about eighteen months as bookkeeper for the lumber firm of W. U. TAYLOR & Son, of Platteville. During 1892 and 1893, he was enabled to pursue his chosen study, that of dentistry, at the State University of Iowa. The first location Dr. KNAPP made for the practice of his profession was in Alexandria, S. Dak., where he remained a few months; then returned to Platteville, bought Dr. DEFFINBACHER's office fixtures, and has since resided in this city, where he built up a very desirable practice. During these eight succeeding years Dr. KNAPP has become well known among his brother dentists, was for two years president of the Southern Wisconsin Dental Association, and is also a member of the State Dental Society. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and the order of Odd Fellows, and is a charter member of the K. of P. order of this city, of which he has been C.C Politically he is a Republican and is now serving his second term as alderman. The summer of 1900 Dr. KNAPP spent in Europe, visiting England, Scotland, Ireland and France, and attending the Paris Exposition. Dr. KNAPP has always attended the M. E. Church, and contributes to its support. Upright in all his dealings, thoroughly understanding his profession, pleasant in manner, Dr. KNAPP not only has attained eminence in his work, but is also very popular personally and is a young man of whom Platteville may well be proud.




This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck