Last week I wrote a little about William C. Knoop, Sugar Creek Trustee in 1927, and I thought it would be interesting to learn more about this gentleman, who governed our area with such knowledgeable direction, and his family.
William Knoop was born in Germany in 1841, the son of Christian and Christina Knoop, who emigrated to America and settled in Sugar Creek Township. Christian and Christina had six children: Christian, William, a daughter, Charles, Henry and August. Due to the other childrens’ deaths, only Christian and William came to America.
Christian Knoop was a miller in his native land, and after coming to this area, he purchased 120 acres of land located about two miles north of New Palestine.
The family prospered, and in about 1870, the Knoops purchased an additional tract of 40 acres. Christian died in 1888, and Christina died four or five years later.
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Son William was raised on the farm in Sugar Creek Township, and at the age of 21 enlisted in Company D, Seventy-ninth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry for the Civil War; he served until the war was over. He served in the Lookout Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Stone’s River, Franklin and Nashville battles.
He was wounded in the leg, never fully recovered and died later in 1878 at the early age of 37.
After his return from the army, he married Louisa Rosener, who was born in Sugar Creek Township in September 1844. Louisa was the daughter of William L. and Christina (Braedemeier) Rosener, both natives of Germany and among the early settlers of the area.
Louisa (Rosener) Knoop was one of eight children — four boys and four girls.
William Knoop was a devout member of the Lutheran Church. He spent his declining years on the old homestead where he was born and raised.
Louisa and William had eight children: John W., Mary, Emma, Louis, William C. and Louisa (twins), Carrie and a daughter who died in infancy. Their son John Knoop spent his boyhood on the old farm his grandfather had purchased and went to school in district No. 4, the German School. At age of 15, his father died because of his war injuries, and John was forced to stay home and be the head of the family.
He and his younger brothers managed the work of the farm.
When John was 25, he married Carrie Harvey on May 6, 1894. She was born in Buck Creek Township on April 17, 1870, the daughter of Milton and Sarah (West) Harvey.
Milton Harvey was born in Fayette County on April 29, 1833, and died at his home in Buck Creek Township on Sept. 23, 1909. He was the son of William and Jane (Eastes) Harvey, both natives of Indiana. Sarah West Harvey was the daughter of Israel West and his wife.
Carrie (Harvey) Knoop was one of a family of 10 children. After marriage, John W. Knoop and his wife took up residency on the old Knoop homestead, where they remained for a year. They then moved to the smaller east 40, but John continued to managed his mother’s 200-acre farm.
John W. Knoop was born in 1868 and died in 1955. Carrie was born in 1870 and lived to be 90, dying in 1960. They are buried in New Palestine Cemetery.
Many in the Knoop family were members of the German Lutheran Church, and for four years William C. Knoop served as assessor of Sugar Creek Township. William C. was one of the most highly respected citizens in the New Palestine area. He was born 1866 and died in 1941. His wife, Christene Hartman Knoop, was born in 1845 and died in 1912. They had three children, Edward G. Knoop, Wilbur Edward Knoop and Marie M. Knoop Ahrendt. William and his wife are buried in the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery in his beloved Sugar Creek Township.
A gentle web of families intertwined made the history of the Knoop family and the beginnings of their roots in the Sugar Creek Township area.
I found myself looking forward to looking back to a family that became an important part of this community, particularly the Zion Lutheran community.
The New Palestine Main Street and Museum is excited to be a part of the New Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Walk again this year. Come out and be a part of the season joy, Saturday, Dec. 3. See you there.
