JOHN KNAPPENBERGER SUCCUMBS TO PARALYSIS
Tuesday evening the hearts of the people of Brunswick and many elsewhere, were grieved by the information that John Knappenberger, one of the oldest and most honored citizens of Chariton county had passed away at his home in this city.
Some three months since while attending to business on the street, Mr. Knappenberger was stricken with paralysis and since then had been confined to his home, but was thought to be improving and his family and friends hoped for his entire recovery. But fate deereed otherwise and on Monday evening last at 7 o'clock while in the midst of his family he was suddenly stricken for a second time. Medical aid was immediately summoned but all that medical skill and loving hands could do was of no avail. The patient rapidly grew worse and died on the following evening at 6 o'clock.
Mr. Knappenberger was born in Westmoreland county, Penn., October 13, 1829, and was reared and received a common school education in that county. Impressed with the conviction that the West offered better opportunities for young men of energy and intelligence to make their way in the world successfully, at the age of 21 years he came out to Illinois, them comparatively a new State, and became a resident of McDonaugh county, (Illinois) where he was married to Miss Mary J. Ross, originally from Indiana. On January 11, 1853, and but a few months were needed to have ended the cycle of a half century of blissful wedded life enjoyed by this couple.
To them were born eight children, four of whom survive: James Edgar, of DeWitt, Meredith Archer, of Brunswick, Nellie L. (now Mrs. J. F. Kennedy), of Carrollton, and Miss Eva, of Brunswick. These with the mother mourn the death of the father and husband who was so reverently esteemed and devotedly loved by the entire family.
Being a man of strong personal character, Mr. Knappenberger early became identified with the interests of McDonough county on its formation, and in 1855, without any effort or solicitation on his part, he was elected to the responsible office of county treasurer, which office he held by successive re-election for ten years, and until he declined to occupy it longer, inasmuch as he expected to remove to Missouri. This he did in 1866, locating in Brunswick, where he engaged in the real estate and insurance business, which he successfully conducted to the time of his late illness, under the firm name of Knappenberger & Son.
In 1871 Mr. Knappenberger was elected to the office of mayor of this city, which he held for two terms. He was treasurer and collector of Chariton county for four years, retiring January 1, 1901. Was a member of the school board for twenty-five years, a prominent member of the Christian church, also a member of the Masonic lodge, a true and tried Democrat and at the time of his death a member of the Board of Aldermen of this city.
The funeral was held at the family residence Thursday afternoon at 1 o'clock and was the largest ever held in the county.
At the conclusion of the services the remains were taken in charge by Eureka Lodge, No. 73, A. F. & A. M., and the funeral cortege, including over 300 school children, proceeded to Elliott Grove cemetery, where all that was mortal of John Knappenberger was consigned to its final resting place.