James Knapp choose an unusual and infamous bride, Elizabeth Brau or Brandtt. Elizabeth not only came with a history of being the sole survivor of her family after an attack by Native American Indians, but the small child was allegedly rescued by the James Brothers, the famous Frank and Jesse James. Together, they had 7 children until James Knapp’s death, then she married again and had 6 more children until his death, then she married again, this time to Charles Knapp, her first husband’s brother. The descendants of the Knapp children began their colorful backwoods life in Wisconsin, then migrated to Oregon and Washington State where some married into the famous Chief Seattle (Sealth) family, which in our family tree is now known as the Elwell family.
Many of my ancestors lived in Marinette County, Wisconsin, for much of their lives. The Knapp family lived in and around Taylor Rapids, a defunct logging camp town along the Peshtigo River that is now state forest land and completely regressed back to nature. It is about 10 miles south of Goodman near Strong Falls. [...]
This is another childhood story by Robert F. Knapp (1913-1994), telling about his first time he and his brother, Wayne Knapp, chewed tobacco. The Clemmens/Clemens family of Kentucky are mentioned. The story takes place in July of 1925 near Taylor Rapids in Northern Wisconsin, just south of Goodman, Wisconsin, in Marinette County, near the end [...]
The winter rain came down in sheets,
Drenching the fields, and flooding the streets,
Driven by winds that howled and screamed,
Like the nightmarish plot of a devil’s dream!
Oh, pity the soul without warmth of friends,
With no one to care if his life might end,
And without the clothing to keep him warm,
And no place of shelter from the [...]
The following is another story by Robert F. Knapp (1913-1994) of his years working on the The Skagit Chief tug boat towing logs on the Skagit River and Puget Sound in Washington State during the 1930-1950s. People mentioned include Captain Charles Elwell (captain and pilot of The Skagit Chief tug boat), Herby Camm (deck hand), [...]
The following is another story by Robert F. Knapp (1913-1994) about his childhood growing up in Marinette County in the northeastern corner of Wisconsin, in the logging camp town of Taylor Rapids, just south of Goodman. The events in this story happened circa 1925.
In Marinette County, Wisconsin, there are hundred of acres of sand plains. [...]
The Marinette Times of Marinette County, Wisconsin, has an interesting article on “Quests for family roots draw history detectives to Marinette”, a county important to my own family’s history.
It was five years ago in April that the new genealogy branch of the Washington County Public Library opened its research facility in a restored, single-story brick [...]
Ancestry.com has released the book “History of Door County, Wisconsin - the county beautiful” by Hjalmar Rued Holand for their registered members. Published in 1917, the book includes biographies of local popular and influential citizens, the history of Door County, Wisconsin, its development, and the natural wonders of the area.
There is an online FTP index [...]
It took ten years but the amazing book on the history of Snohomish County, Washington, is now available. “Snohomish County: An Illustrated History” features 432 pages packed with geological, environmental, historical, social, and political history of Snohomish County. There are 400 photographs, maps, and topical sidebars with many illustrations by local artist Bernie Webber.
Project coordinators [...]
The following is another story by Robert Knapp (1913-1994) about his childhood growing up in Northern Wisconsin, in a small logging community called Taylor Rapids, not far from Goodman. While the logging camps, homes, school, and human occupation of the area is now gone, his memories and stories keep the place and the people alive.
In [...]
Reference.com has a list of “Notable Historic Train and Rail Accidents” that includes many international train wrecks and disasters.
I have a note in a journal by Emma (Primley) Knapp about a train derailment at Glyem Spurr near Taylor Rapids and Goodman in Northeastern Wisconsin. Used by the railroads as well as residents dependent upon [...]
Do you know these people? Do you recognize them? These are some lost family and friends we are trying to identify, so check out our Do You Know These People lost and found section to help us identify these people.
