Born in Danbury, Conn., on the 9th of July, 1822. The family was originally from England, and were early settlers of the Province of Connecticut. When Mr. Knapp was twelve or thirteen years of age, the family moved to Sheldon, Wyoming county, N. Y., and three years later to Clarksville, Huron county, Ohio, where Mr. Knapp was for some time a student of the Norwalk Institute in that county. In 1840 he went to Alabama, and clerked in a store for several years in Montgomery; and in 1846 he was elected Lieutenant of a company, which offered its services for the Mexican war, but was not called out. He engaged in business for himself about that time, which he followed until the "gold fever" began to rage all over the country and early in 1849 he went to California. There he mined and traded for between three and four years, arriving in New York City, on his return, in December, 1853. Proceeding to Alabama, he spent the winter there, and in April, 1854, he came to Hardin County, and purchased a farm, which lay on both sides of the Iowa River. Mr. Knapp continued to improve his farm until after the commencement of the civil war. In 1862 he was elected Sutler of the 32d Iowa Infantry, serving in that capacity till the winter of 1864, when he resigned. Soon after, he sold his farm and settled in Iowa Falls. He was in the general merchandise business until 1870, when he closed this branch of trade, and in 1873 he opened a hardware store, in which business he continued for a number of years. Mr. Knapp was a member of the General Assembly in 1866 and in 1868, taking an active part in both sessions. During one of them he was Chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings; during the other, of the Committee on Public Lands. In 1868 he was one of the committee appointed to visit the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Cedar Falls. He has been in the local Council or on the School Board for many years. Mr. Knapp aided in organizing the Republican Party in Hardin County; was a Delegate to the first Republican State Convention. Religiously, he has long been connected with the Baptist Church. His wife was Mrs. Louisa Hoover, of Mount Vernon, Iowa.

Born in Danbury, Conn., on the 9th of July, 1822. The family was originally from England, and were early settlers of the Province of Connecticut. When Mr. Knapp was twelve or thirteen years of age, the family moved to Sheldon, Wyoming county, N. Y., and three years later to Clarksville, Huron county, Ohio, where Mr. Knapp was for some time a student of the Norwalk Institute in that county. In 1840 he went to Alabama, and clerked in a store for several years in Montgomery; and in 1846 he was elected Lieutenant of a company, which offered its services for the Mexican war, but was not called out. He engaged in business for himself about that time, which he followed until the "gold fever" began to rage all over the country and early in 1849 he went to California. There he mined and traded for between three and four years, arriving in New York City, on his return, in December, 1853. Proceeding to Alabama, he spent the winter there, and in April, 1854, he came to Hardin County, and purchased a farm, which lay on both sides of the Iowa River. Mr. Knapp continued to improve his farm until after the commencement of the civil war. In 1862 he was elected Sutler of the 32d Iowa Infantry, serving in that capacity till the winter of 1864, when he resigned. Soon after, he sold his farm and settled in Iowa Falls. He was in the general merchandise business until 1870, when he closed this branch of trade, and in 1873 he opened a hardware store, in which business he continued for a number of years. Mr. Knapp was a member of the General Assembly in 1866 and in 1868, taking an active part in both sessions. During one of them he was Chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings; during the other, of the Committee on Public Lands. In 1868 he was one of the committee appointed to visit the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Cedar Falls. He has been in the local Council or on the School Board for many years. Mr. Knapp aided in organizing the Republican Party in Hardin County; was a Delegate to the first Republican State Convention. Religiously, he has long been connected with the Baptist Church. His wife was Mrs. Louisa Hoover, of Mount Vernon, Iowa.