Knapstein, Henry

Other Events:

• Immigration: 9 Mar 1855, New York, New York, New York, USA; on the ship Hampton from Antwerp
• Political Office: Abt 1897; Mayor of New London
• Biography: 1911; History of Outagamie County, Wisconsin Page 0868

Notes:

Immigration:
Parents left Germany with him and two siblings, journey took 104 days, he had another brother born on ship. On ship Hampton, out of Antwerp (3/9/1855 migh be daparture date with arrival NY 104 days later)

Biography:
HENRY KNAPSTEIN, mayor of New London, Wisconsin, and one of the leading business men of this place for many years, is now retired from business activities. He is a native of Germany, born November 17, 1852, a. son of Mathias and Anna Marguerite (Kreutsberg) Knapstein. Mathias Knapstein was born in the Fatherland and came to the United States in 1854 bringing with him his wife and three children: Theodore, Anna and Henry, and on the voyage, which took 104 days to accomplish, another child, William, was born. Landing at New York City, the little band of emigrants made their way at once to Wisconsin, the father buying land in Greenville township, Outagamie county, on which fourteen acres had been cleared, and here the mother died March 13, 1893. Mr. Knapstein continued to reside on this property until 1893, when he came to New London and lived with his son Henry until his death, August 25, 1894. There were. five other children born to Mr. and Mrs. Knapstein after locating in Wisconsin: Peter, who died at the age of ten years; Elizabeth, who married Jacob Stoesher of Sherwood; Barbara, who married Michael Schaller; Margaret, who married Ferdinand Reitzner of Bear Creek; and Conrad, who died in 1911. Henry Knapstein received his education in the district schools of Greenville township, and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he came to New London and with his brother as a partner founded a brewery business, which, from a small beginning, had grown to be one of the large business houses of New London at the time of Mr. Knapstein's retirement in 1908. The business is still carried on by Theodore Knapstein. On January 27, 1880, Mr. Knapstein was married to Isabella Steffen, daughter of John Jacob and Anna Mary (Schommer) Steffen of Hortonville, and six children have been born to this union, namely: Josephine, Margaret, Anna Rose, Cecelia, Helen and Beatrice. In 1897 Mr. Knapstein was elected mayor of the city of New London, having served as alderman for three years before that time, and acted in the chief executive's seat for two years. Again in 1910 he was elected to that office on a non-partisan ticket. In addition he has been a member of the county board for eight years. He and his wife are consistent members of the Catholic Church at New London.

Henry married Steffen, Isabella 27 Jan 1880. Isabella (daughter of Steffen, John Jacob and Schommer, Mary Ann) was born 14 Jun 1857; died Abt 1934. [Group Sheet]