The Knapp family is of English origin, and was first represented in the United States by one or two members who came prior to the Revolutionary War, and settled in Hyde Park, Luzerne Co., Pa. They ever delighted in the pursuit of agriculture, in which they were uniformly successful, and wherever they have located have been numbered among the prominent and highly respected citizens of the community. They have also possessed the quality of continuity in a large degree, and their first possessions in Pennsylvania are still held by their descendants.

The grandfather of our subject, Zephaniah Knapp, lived and died on a farm in what was then Luzerne, but a part of which was afterward divided off and became a portion of Lackawanna County. He lived to the advanced age of seventy-five years, and is recorded as having been particularly active and prosperous. Zephaniah Knapp reared a fine family of sons and daughters, among whom was Charles M., the father of our subject, who was born in Lackawanna County, and there grew to manhood. There also he was united in marriage with Mrs. Amy (Cole) Bradford, whose ancestry had become Americanized long before her birth. She is known to have come of substantial and reliable stock. Her father was a Methodist Episcopal preacher of prominence. After marriage Charles M. Knapp and wife located in Bradford County, where their three children were born. The eldest son, Charles M., Jr., who had become a soldier in the Union army, died in the service, Jan. 31, 1864; his regiment was under the command of Gen. S. D. Atkins. Samuel H., of our sketch, was the second child; the youngest is Mrs. Laura A., the widow of Dr. E. A. Carpenter, of Baileyville, Ill.

Mr. Knapp was a youth of sixteen years when his parents came to this State, in 1856, and located near Baileyville, on section 32, Silver Creek Township. There the mother died May 18, 1886, after having arrived at the advanced age of nearly seventy-nine years. The father is still living, making his home with our subject, and is seventy-five years old. He is still active and vigorous in both mind and body, and keeps pace with the political events of the day, being still, as he has been for the last thirty years, a stanch adherent of the Republican party.

The early life of our subject was mostly spent in the schools of his native county in Pennsylvania, and he completed his studies at Rock River Seminary, which was under the management of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was ambitious to excel and made good progress, and followed teaching for several years before his marriage. This interesting event took place on the 7th of April, 1867, his bride being Miss Laura A. Sprague, a native of East Randolph, Orange Co., Vt., and who was born Feb. 22, 1839. Her parents, Edgerton and Philena (Carlisle) Sprague, were also natives of the Green Mountain State, and descended from French and Scotch ancestry. Edgerton Sprague followed farming all his life, and in 1854, with his wife, came to Illinois on a visit to his daughter, Mrs. Knapp, at whose home he died in July of that year. The mother died in August, 1880, in Grundy County, Iowa, at the home of her son, C. M. Sprague.

Mrs. Knapp was the eldest child and daughter of her parents, of whose three children one daughter, Ida M., is now deceased. Mrs. Knapp received a good education and began teaching at an early age, which profession she followed both in Vermont and in this county before her marriage. After their marriage our subject and his wife located upon their present farm, which consists of 169 acres, is finely located and provided with good buildings. Mr. Knapp uniformly votes the Republican ticket and has served as Assessor of Silver Creek Township three times. Mr. and Mrs. Knapp have no children.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portraits & Biographical 1888 Stephenson Co IL Pg 354