History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 140

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 948

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II > Part 140

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In 1848, Mr. Knerr purchased the interest of his brother-in-law, and afterwards was actively engaged in business there as a general country store-keeper until 1884, when he retired, having had his son, Richard, as a partner since 1865. During his early business career he purchased large quantities of produce from the surrounding store-keepers at Lyon Valley, Lentz's, Saegers- ville, Lynnville, Seiberlingsville, and Hynemans- ville, and hauled it weekly to New York City, though the distance was gradually shortened as the railroad was extended from that place towards Easton and Allentown, and on his return he brought general merchandise of all kinds.

In 1840, Mr. Knerr married Abigail Brobst, daughter of Jacob Brobst, of South Whitehall. They had six children: Richard J., Calvin, and Levi, and three who died in infancy. Mr. Knerr died Feb. 20, 1908, aged 90 years. Mrs. Knerr was born April 7, 1822, and died Nov. 24, 1903. They were buried in the private cemetery of the family on the homestead, where a handsome granite monument has been erected, with a simple and appropriate inscription. Like his father and grandfather, he was a staunch Democrat, and upon the birth of first child, a son, he named him after Richard Johnson, a prominent Democrat of the state, whose character he very much admired.

Richard Johnson Knerr, merchant and post- master at Claussville, in Lehigh county, for nearly fifty consecutive years, was born at Claussville, in the home erected by his grandfather on the opposite corner of the road from his store, on Sept. 21, 1842. He was brought up there and he received his preliminary education in the local schools and his higher education in the Millers- ville State Normal School, and in the Allentown Seminary, after which he followed teaching in the public school for three terms, having taught in Upper Macungie township, in the building near Fogelsville. He then entered the general store of his father as a clerk, and after continuing there for several years, until April 1, 1865, he became a partner in the business. The partnership was carried on very successfully under the firm name of Knerr & Son, until 1884, when the father re- tired, and the son has continued the general store business for himself until the present time. The extent and character of his own business affairs

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

having required his constant care, he was not able to devote any attention to public affairs.

In 1864, Mr. Knerr was married to Louisa Lentz, daughter of Peter Lentz, a country store- keeper who carried on a general mercantile busi- ness in Lowhill, about four miles from Clauss- ville, several hundred feet from where "Bittner's Corner" has been established. She died Nov. 29, 1866, without children. Some time after- ward he married her sister, Elemina Lentz, and they have two children: Wilbur J .; and Lillie L., married to Jesse K. Ziegler, one having died in infancy.

WILBUR J. KNERR, son of Richard J., was born at Claussville Nov. 29, 1867, where he was reared and received his preliminary education. He then attended the West Chester State Normal School

Dr. Calvin Knerr, second son of Levi, is one of the leading homeopathic physicians in Phila- delphia. He married a daughter of Dr. Constan- tine Herring, president of the Allentown Homeo- pathic College from 1835 to 1842, and has three sons, two of them physicians, and one a well known cartoonist.

Dr. Levi Knerr, youngest son of Levi, is a physician in Philadelphia.

Magdalena Knerr, daughter of John, was born July 1, 1779, and married John Eisenhard.

Abraham Knerr, third son of John, Sr., was born Oct. 7, 1781. He married, June 24, 1804, Mariga Hunsicker, and removed to Union coun- ty. A son, Joshua, resided at Hartleton.

John Jacob Knerr, fourth son of John, Sr., was born March 18, 1784. He married, Aug. 17,

KNERR FAMILY GRAVEYARD, NEAR CLAUSSVILLE

and also the Allentown Business College. When only fourteen years of age, but large, strong and capable, he began teaching, and he taught public school for two terms in the building near Clauss- ville, and when sixteen years old, he entered his father's store and has continued with him since, assisting particularly in buying produce and se- curing orders from the surrounding territory for upwards of ten miles. Since 1897 he has also been engaged as a dealer in horses for himself, in which he has been very successful. He was married to Laura V. Henninger, daughter of Charles, of South Whitehall, and they have two children : Hilda, who graduated from the Lowhill schools in 1906, also from the Keystone State Normal School in 1910, and since then has taught public school in the borough of South Allentown; and Ralph J., who was graduated from the Lowhill schools in 1912, and post-graduated in 1913.

1806, Susan George. They had children: Thomas, who died in the Seminole War; Wil- liam, of Ohio; Samuel; and two daughters.

Andrew Knerr, fifth son of John, Sr., was born April 22, 1788. He married Miss Hart- man, and removed to near Danville, Pa.

John Daniel Knerr, seventh son of John, Sr., was born Aug. 14, 1790. He married Elizabeth Shiffenstein, and had children: Jonas, of Ohio; Aaron ; Thomas, of Rossville, Indiana ; Levi, who married Mary Hunsicker, and had children : Eu- gene M., Henry, Alfred, and Penrose, and also eight daughters.

John Christian Knerr, eighth son of John, was born Dec. 9, 1792. He lived in Weisenberg, where he married Magdalena Fries. He died sud- denly, in January, 1856. He had seven children : Solomon ; Jonas, who married Miss Buck ; Eliza- beth, who married Jonas Knerr ; Joseph, married

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

Mary Merkel ; Amandus, married Angelina Derr ; Angelina, married Rev. Derr; and William.

Solomon Knerr, son of John Christian, was a farmer of Weissenberg township, where he was born in 1825. He served the township as a school director, supervisor and assessor, and the Seiber- lingsville church as deacon and trustee. He died in 1905. His first wife was a Miss Knerr, with whom he had one son, Charles W., who died in 1911, aged 62 years. His second wife was Judith Bachman, a daughter of John Adam Bachman, of Weisenberg. They had eight children :: James A., married Eliza Fenstermacher; Frank L .; Amandus P., married Mary Baily and died in 1911, aged 57 years; Sarah A., married Alvin Werley; Helena S., married Frank Heller, and died in 1895 ; Solomon P., married Louisa Hunt- zinger, and died in 1910, aged 50 years ; Alvin J., who died at the age of two years; and Jane C., married William Bleiler.

FRANK L. KNERR, farmer of Weisenberg township, son of Solomon, was born Oct. 31, brought up on his father's farm until he became 1852. He was educated in the local school and the age of twenty years, when he learned the trade of a carpenter and followed it for seventeen years. In 1889 he began farming and is still en- gaged in that calling. He served as supervisor for six years, and as school director for six years. He married, in 1877, Fianna, daughter of Joel Loch, a farmer of Weisenberg township. They had nine children: Cora F., married Edwin Bortz; John W., married Rosa Bortz; Ida J., married Charles Kuhns; Estella E., married Franklin Titlow; Emma B., married Constant Zimmerman; Gertrude Fianna, died in infancy ; Edward S .; Ellwood R .; and Virginia H.

Mrs. Knerr's father, Joel Loch, married Bar- bara Fisher, and had five children: Sarah, mar- ried Franklin Bear ; Amos, married Hattie Die- trich ; Amanda, married Levi J. Werley; Fianna, and Tilghman, who married Ella Oswald, and lives on the Loch homestead in Weisenberg, near the Seiberling's church.

Salome Knerr, fourth daughter of John, was born April 30, 1795. She married Martin Sei- bert. The two youngest children of John Knerr, Sr., were Benjamin, born in 1799; and Cath- arine, born Nov. 27, 1801.

Benjamin Knerr, born Feb. 19, 1799, lived at Claussville as a young man, and later became a boatman. He died in 1838 and is buried near Tamaqua. He married a daughter of Tobias Heilman, and had four children: Amos, of Bitt- ner's Corner; Hannah, who married Daniel Mohr, many years a justice of the peace in Upper Macungie ; Mary, who married Enoch Heiberger ; and Wilson.

Wilson Knerr was born Oct. 23, 1833. His early life was spent upon the farm in Lowhill and Upper Macungie. Since 1866 he lived at Chapman Station. For a number of years he fol- lowed the trade of a shoemaker. He became a member of the Jordan Lutheran church, in which he held the offices of deacon and elder. He mar- ried Angelina, daughter of Reuben and Eliza (Wotring) Scharadin, of Schuylkill county. Mrs. Knerr was born March 3, 1840, and died July 30, 1904. They had children: Ellen I., and Elemina, who both died in infancy; Sarah, born July 16, 1862, died April 14, 1881; and Mor- gan W.

DR. MORGAN W. KNERR, of Coplay, a native of Upper Macungie township, was born Feb. 19, 1864. He was educated in the public schools, the Keystone State Normal School, and the Belle- vue Hospital Medical College, where he gradu- ated in 1893, after which he took a post-graduate course at the Medico Chirurgical Hospital. He began practice at Breinigsville on April 15, 1891, and continued there successfully until Sept. 28, 1898, when he removed to Coplay, where he has built up a large practice, and has established a reputation as an expert in diseases of the lungs. He has been the physician for the Board of Health of Coplay since 1899, and is also examining phy- sician for a number of insurance companies. He is a public-spirited citizen and is interested in everything looking towards the betterment of the community. For a number of years he served the borough as school director. He is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, of Macun- gie ; P. O. S. of A., at Trexlertown; Jr. O. U. A. M., of Coplay, and Modern Woodmen of America. He and family are members of Trinity Reformed church.

Dr. Knerr married, in 1893, Jennie E., daugh- ter of Charles and Ellen (Stephen) Dubbs, of East Texas. They had three children: Myrtle E. and Mabel A., who graduated from the Cop- lay high school in 1911 and 1912, respectively, and are now students of the Allentown College for Women; and Maggie E. A., who died in infancy.

Isaac Knerr is said to have been another son of John, Sr., and settled in the West.

Mary Eva Knerr, second daughter of Abra- ham, Sr., was born March 27, 1746, and died Dec. 3, 1802. She married Philip Fenstermacher and had eleven children.

Anna Barbara Knerr, born Jan. 13, 1749, third daughter of Abraham, Sr., married John Adam Geiss and had four children. They moved to Menallen township, Adams county, where she died, March 6, 1831.

Abraham Knerr, Jr., fourth son of Abraham,

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Sr., lived near Lyon Valley. He died in 1778. He and his wife, Eva Elizabeth, had four chil- dren: Anna Elizabeth, born Nov. 20, 1772; Andrew ; Abraham ; and Susanna, born July 31, 1777, married John Adam Bear. Andrew was born Feb. 23, 1774. He married, Feb. 23, 1794, Mary Eva Hartman, who died about 1807. They had eight children: Catharine, born Nov. 23, 1794; Elizabeth ; Susanna, born Aug. 26, 1802; Lydia ; Michael, of Sugar Valley; David ; Solo- mon, born June 14, 1806, of Sugar Valley; and George, of Allentown, a twin of Solomon, who married Elizabeth Schuler and removed to Allen- town. Andrew Knerr's second wife, Gertrude, had several children. She lived to a great age, and was married several times.

Capt. David Knerr, of Weisenberg, son of Andrew, was a tailor and lived near Ziegel's church. He died at the age of 83 years. He married (first) Susanna Derr, and (second) Maria Derr. Among his children were Jonas, David, Daniel, and Henry.

David Knerr, son of David, was a farmer and shoemaker in Upper Macungie and also hauled iron ore from the mines. He was for twelve years supervisor of roads for Lower Macungie. At one time he was a deacon of the Reformed church at Fogelsville and in politics was a Republican. He died aged 77 years. He married Mary, daugh- ter of George Smith, of Walbert's Station. She died at the age of 72 years and was buried at Lehigh schurch with her husband. They had six children: Maria, wife of Alfred Haas, of Al- lentown; George, of Allentown; Louisa, wife of Isaac Hummel, deceased, of Allentown; Cath- arine, deceased, who married Elias De Long; Henry; and Ida, deceased, who married Morris Sherer.

HENRY KNERR, of Alburtis, son of David, was born Sept. 11, 1856, in Upper Macungie. He was educated in the public schools and from the age of 8 years worked on the farm, later having been employed in a stone quarry and for two years in hauling iron ore. In 1875 he entered the em- ploy of the Thomas Iron Company, at their Lock Ridge furnace, Alburtis, as a laborer, and has worked in all departments of the furnace for the past 39 years. In 1910, he became superin- tendent of the furnace and has charge of 75 men, a position he still fills most acceptably. He was for one year at Troy, N. Y., where he started a plant for the same company.

Mr. Knerr is a member of Zion Reformed church, Alburtis; of Friendly Lodge, No. 85; I. O. O. F .; Washington Camp, No. 97, P. O. S. of A .; and is a Republican in politics. He mar- ried (first) Louisa, daughter of George Gordon, now deceased. They had four children: Walter,

of Philadelphia; Mary, of New York; George and Katie, of Alburtis. He married (second), Dec. 25, 1889, Caroline, daughter of Francis and Lydia (Gordon) Boger. They have three children: William, a clerk for Wm. H. Taylor & Co., of Allentown; Warren, a school teacher at Alburtis; and Harry, a student.

Abraham Knerr, son of Abraham, Jr., was born Nov. 26, 1775. He married, in 1795, Mariga Hartman, and after her death married the second time. He was called "The Black," and specu- lated considerably in land. He had a large num- ber of children, among them: Jonathan, born 1795 ; Benjamin, born 1798; Mariga, born 1800; and Willoughby, whose daughter married Austin E. Bush, of Allentown.

Susanna Knerr, fourth daughter of Abraham, Sr., was born Dec. 13, 1751, and died June 30, 1813. She married Peter Hartman, who died about 1788. He had six children: Eve; Su- sanna; Philip, born 1778; Andrew, born 1781; Catharine and Peter, who were heirs to his 146- acre tract in Heidelberg. William L. Hartman, of Allentown, is a descendant.

Dorothea Knerr, fifth and youngest daughter of Abraham, Sr., was born Aug. 11, 1756, and died March 15, 1818. She married, Sept. 5, 1779, Philip Stettler, and had three children: Mariga, Catharine, and Philip.

Andrew Knerr, youngest son of Abraham, Sr., was born June 5, 1758. He lived on the home- stead in Lowhill township, which he received from his father and which he farmed until his death. He served several terms of enlistment in the Revolutionary War, enlisting first as a private at the age of 19, in 1777, in Captain John Horn- er's company, and later as a fifer in Captain Andrew Dapper's company, in 1780, under the command of Col. Henry Geiger. He was a mem- ber of the Reformed congregation at Unionville, where he and his wife are buried. He died in Lowhill, Dec. 13, 1840. Rev. Joseph S. Dubs conducted the funeral services. At his death, 52 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren sur- vived him. He married, Dec. 29, 1781, Cath- arine Elizabeth Schall, daughter of George Schall and his wife, Catharine Newhard. She was born in Oley township, Berks county, March 4, 1764, and died April 30, 1850. They had ten children : Abraham, Catharine, Andrew, John, Peter, Anna Maria, Elizabeth, Salome, David, and Elizabeth.

Abraham Knerr, the eldest, was born Jan. 16, 1783. He married Gertrude Smith, and removed to Saegertown, Crawford county, where he died. His widow died there, Oct. 1I, 1839, in her fif- tieth year.

Catharine Knerr, born Dec. 23, 1784, married

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

Paul Kramlich and removed to Pickaway county, Ohio. They had eight children: Jonas, Stephen, David, Elizabeth, Catharine, William, Thomas, and Mary. T. E. Cromley, of Ashville, Ohio, is a son of William.

Andrew Knerr, Jr., born Feb. 17, 1787, died in June, 1865. He married Elizabeth Kocher, who died in 1861. Their children were: Amos, who died in Kalamazoo, Mich., in 1883; Jonas; Mary, married Moses Heilman; Owen; Aaron, who died at Allentown; Stephen;, of Michigan ; and Alvin, who died unmarried, at Schnecksville.

Jonas Knerr, son of Andrew, Jr., married Su- sanna Muehlhaus, a daughter of Henry, from Hesse, Germany. They had three children: Wil- loughby, married Martha Schlicher and had chil- dren: Lillian, George, Robert, John, Sally, Min- nie, Eva and Grace; E. Henry, a justice of the peace in Lowhill, married Isabella Diehl and had six children: Daisy; Blaine, of Yonkers, N. Y .; Carrie ; Katie ; Emma; and Lizzie E .; Catharine, married (first) J. B. Heller, and (second) Chas. Benner, and had two children: Mary, wife of Henry Semmel ; and Laura, wife of Oliver Bal- liet.

Owen Knerr, son of Andrew, Jr., was a farmer in Lowhill, and married (first) Susan Geddes, They had six children: Samuel, of San Fran- cisco, Cal .; William, a miller, of Fargo, N. D., whose sons are Frank and Lloyd; James E., an enterprising dealer in farming implements and carriages, of Kreidersville, who was born June 3, 1846, married Amelia Wanamaker, and has children: Edgar E., born June 16, 1874, mar- ried Salome J. Steiner ; Raymond S., born Aug. 15, 1885; and Lizzie F., born Dec. 22, 1887, married Edgar L. Smith; Lizzie, married Byron Ruppert ; Ada, married Willoughby E. Miller ; Asa G. Knerr, a rural letter carrier, of Allen- town, who married Laura Knauss, and has chil- dren: Asa, Harry, Clarence, Estella, Mabel, Ada, and Effie.

Owen Knerr married (second) Mary Hart- man and had seven children : Milton J., a lumber- man, of Mill City, Oregon, who married Tena E. Pauls and has four children: Althea, born July 5, 1887; Gertrude D., born Dec. 18, 1888; Amy E., born Feb. 4, 1891; and May L., born June 13, 1898. Albert E., superintendent of the Yakima Milling Company, of North Yakima, Wash., who has two children: Alice, a graduate of Oberlin College ; and Lola ; Webster C. Knerr, born April 1, 1864. As a marble architect he erected many fine buildings in San Francisco and is now a retired farmer of Deer Park, Wis. He married, in 1889, at Seattle, Wash., Carrie E. Krogh, and has four children : Owen C., born Jan. 29, 1896 ; William E., born March 1, 1898;

Victor H., born Sept. 17, 1900; and Elsie M., born April 8, 1906.

Mary Jane, married Oscar M. J. Herman.

Calvinus Knerr, merchant and justice of the peace, of Coplay, whose children are: Luther, Ernest, Walter, Margaret, Ruth, and George.

Amelia M., married Harvey R. Bernhard.

Mrs. Ida E. Wadsworth, of Mill City, Ore.

John Knerr, son of Andrew, born April 19, 1789, died Dec. 10, 1806, is buried at Union- ville.

Peter Knerr, born Nov. 15, 1792, died Aug. 22, 1797, is buried at Unionville.

Anna Maria Knerr, born Feb. 10, 1796, mar- ried Jacob Brobst. They removed to Crawford county, where she died Feb. 23, 1830. They had two daughters: Matilda, the wife of Charles Craig, of Allentown; and Abbie, the wife of Levi Knerr.

Elizabeth Knerr, born Aug. 27, 1798, married Peter Kuhns, of Lowhill township. Their daugh- ter, Mary, married the late Col. Edw. B. Young, father of E. M. Young, of Allentown.

Salome Knerr, born Aug. 21, 1800, died Jan. 21, 1861 ; married George Braucher.

David Knerr, born Sept. 29, 1803.

Elias Knerr, born April 1, 1806. Elias mar- ried Miss Pfeiffer and removed to Crawford county.

David Knerr, son of Andrew, was born on the homestead in Lowhill township, Sept. 29, 1803, and was baptized by Rev. Abraham Blumer. He farmed the land which his forefathers had cultivated and was an active citizen of the town- ship, serving as a captain of a company of Light Horse Cavalry for some years, and was one of the first advocates of free schools. He was a member of the Unionville Reformed congregation. He died Dec. 10, 1864. He married, July 8, 1827, Sarah, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Hertz) Horn, of Allentown. She was born Nov. II, 1808, and died Aug. 25, 1884. They had eleven children: Moses, Sarah, Elizabeth, Caroline, Joseph, Hiram, Mary A., David F., John A., Charles C., and Louisa C.

Moses Knerr was born Nov. 15, 1830, on the old homestead in Lowhill, which he farmed until 1902, when he removed to Allentown. He was an elder of the Morganland Reformed church and in politics a Democrat. He died in 1913. He married Amanda Clauss and had 13 children, of whom two, John A. and Edwin M., are de- ceased. The eleven living children are: Gran- ville D., a tailor, of Allentown, who married (first ) Jane Hoffman, and (second) Laura Masters, and has children: Willis, Mamie, Stella, and Russell; Alexander D .; Tilgh- man J., of Philadelphia, for 25 years a clerk with

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the L. V. R. R. Co .; George F .; Harry O .; Cora A .; Emma S. J .; Louisa M .; Lizzie M .; Ella E .; Anna A.

GEORGE F. KNERR was born on the home- stead, Dec. 17, 1866. He was educated in the public schools, and in the American Business College. He farmed the homestead for some years, and in 1901 was elected recorder of deeds for one term of three years. He is the owner of the old Abraham Knerr home and farm, which he has kept in excellent condition. In 1908 he erected a new barn and has installed modern methods of agriculture. He resides in Allentown, where he is a member of Salem Reformed church, and a director of the Citizens' Trust Company. He is a member of the Lehigh County Historical Society and a Democrat in politics. He married, Oct. 31, 1904, Cora A. E., daughter of Milton M. and Sarah ( Helfrich) Kline.

Sarah Knerr, married (first) Jonas Hollen- bach and had five sons and one daughter, and (second) Franklin Herber, and had one son and one daughter.

Elizabeth Knerr, born May 28, 1832.

Caroline Knerr, born Oct. 8, 1833, married April 2, 1854, Jonathan Kemmerer, and moved to Iowa, where she died.

Joseph Knerr was born in Lowhill, Oct. 16, 1835. He was a carriage-maker by trade, which he followed for fifteen years, at Schnecksville, when in 1865 he moved to Allentown. While there, he was employed in the grain house of A. T. Stover estate for twenty-two years. He retired in 1902, owing to ill health. He resided at No. 222 North Seventh street since 1865, where he died, May 13, 1913. He was a member of Bethany U. E. church. In politics he was a Democrat, and also served as registration assessor of the Fourth ward for three years.

He married in 1860, (first) Fietta Quier, daughter of Manasses and Julia (McHose) Quier. She died in 1877, aged 34 years, and is buried in West End cemetery. To them were born seven children: Walter L., a printer, of New York City; Nevin, who died aged eight years ; Charles F., of Allentown; Ida, deceased, married N. Scheid; Sallie, who died in her seven- teenth year; Harvey H., the printer, of Allen- town ; and Edgar E. He married (second) Ma- tilda Witmeyer, widow of Charles Goranflo.

EDGAR E. KNERR, secretary of John Taylor & Co., of Allentown, was born June 8, 1875. He was educated in the public schools, and the Amer- ican Commercial School, after which he became a bookkeeper. He entered the employ of Clelland, Simpson and Taylor in 1890, as errand boy. Later he became their bookkeeper and gradually rose from one position to another, until 1907 he was

admitted into the firm, and was made its secre- tary.

In politics he is a Democrat, and served as common councilman from the Tenth ward. He is a member of Allentown Lodge, No. 130, B. P. O. E .; Allen Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 71; Unity Encampment, No. 12; and Knights of the Golden Eagle.

He married Sallie Beidler, daughter of Wilson Beidler, of Allentown. They have one daughter, Erma.

Hiram Knerr, born Oct. 24, 1838, married, Dec. 2, 1860, Leanna Roeder. His son, Lewis Roeder Knerr, was born Feb. 10, 1861, and is the European buyer for H. B. Claflin & Co., of New York. He married Cora Snyder, and lives in Brooklyn.

Mary Amanda Knerr, born Oct. 4, 1840, mar- ried, Nov. 7, 1858, Lewis P. Peters. They had three children: Ambrose F .; Charles E .; and Sallie L., wife of Alfred Fritz.

David Franklin Knerr, born Oct. 14, 1842, married (first ) Helen Wetherhold, and (second) Mrs. Sarah Newhard, nee Gruver. He enlisted in Company I, 47th Penna., on Sept. 10, 1862, and was mustered out June 1, 1865. He was many years a member of the firm of John A. Knerr & Co., and died at Allentown Nov. 22, 1912.

JOHN A. KNERR was born in Lowhill town- ship, Oct. 2, 1844; his sponsors at baptism were Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Baer. He was educated in the public schools of his native township and in his youth was confirmed as a member of the Unionville Reformed congregation by Rev. J. S. Dubbs. On March 11, 1862, he enlisted in Co. E, 176th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was honorably discharged at Philadelphia, Aug. 18, 1863. He married, June 9, 1865, Sarah Sophia Wetherold, a daughter of Nathan Wether- hold and his wife, Maria, a daughter of John Mosser. In the spring of 1870 they removed to Allentown and he entered upon a clerkship in D. H. Wannemaker's grocery store. This was the beginning of an honorable and successful business career. In 1879, he obtained a partner- ship in the business and is now the head of the firm of John A. Knerr & Co. Thus for almost a half century he has been engaged in the same business.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 140

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 948

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 948