Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Knapp, Almeron K 1836 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 20, 2006, 7:27 am

Author: Bio/Gen Rec LaSalle/Grundy Counties 1900

Almeron K. Knapp

The able man of affairs whose name is above has been the most prominent 
business man in Minooka, Grundy county, since 1865, and he conducts the grain, 
lumber and barking business of the town. He is a native of the Empire state, 
having been born in Chenango county, New York, in 1836, and is of New England 
lineage. Simeon Knapp, his father, was born in Connecticut and went to New 
York state while yet a young man and there married Caroline Root.

When Almeron K. Knapp was a mere lad the family removed to Steuben county, New 
York, and located near Bath, one of the two seats of justice of that county, 
and there Simeon Knapp died at the age of sixty-five years. His wife survived 
him a number of years. Young Almeron received his primary education in the 
public schools near his home and later took an academic course. He then 
entered upon a business career and had considerable experience in 
merchandising before he came west.  He located in Illinois in 1865; and was 
married, at Lockport, to Miss Pamelia Griswold, who came from Connecticut to 
Illinois in 1836.

Minooka is the distributing point for an extensive and rich tributary 
territory, a country of large and productive farms and of successful business 
enterprises of all kinds. Mr. Knapp was not long in acquiring a monopoly of 
the grain trade at this point, and his business in that line is an extensive 
one, his grain shipments amounting to about seven hundred thousand bushels 
annually. He handles large quantities of lumber, and the financial department 
of his enterprise brings him in close touch with the business interests in all 
directions round about Minooka.

Not only is Mr. Knapp a successful business man but he is also a public-
spirited man, a most estimable citizen, and he possesses in an eminent degree 
the esteem and confidence of all who know him. His liberality in the support 
of church interests and public enterprises having for their object the best 
interests of the community is recognized by all. 

Politically Mr. Knapp is a thoroughgoing Republican, though he cast his first 
vote for Stephen A. Douglas, the great war Democrat.  He is not personally a 
seeker for political preferment, but exerts a not uncertain influence upon 
local political affairs.  He was made a Mason many years ago and has advanced 
to the thirty-second degree, becoming a Sublime Price of the Royal Secret, 
Ineffable Degrees of the Scottish rite.  Mr. Knapp’s only surviving brother, 
George Knapp, is a well-to-do farmer living in Steuben county, New York.  He 
has three sisters.

Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p580-581

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