Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Knepper, Peter 1842 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 6, 2007, 3:03 pm Author: Portrait & Bios Album, 1890 PETER KNEPPER. The results of industry, thrift and wise judgment have been manifested in the career of this gentleman, who in all matters pertaining to his financial standing has fairly earned the title of a selfmade man. He owns and occupies eighty acres of valuable land on section 14, Green Garden Township, and every part of the estate gives evidence of the prudence and good judgment of its owner, and likewise betokens that he is a man of good taste and domestic instincts. It will not be amiss to devote a brief space to the progenitors of our subject ere entering upon our outlining of his own life. His father, John Knepper, a native of Luxembourg, was a farmer and stock- raiser who gained independent circumstances and a landed estate of one hundred and forty acres, which is a large farm for that country. He was a participant in the Franco-Belgian War, was Mayor of Mertzig six years and Treasurer of his home district twenty-eight years. He lived to the ripe age of eighty-two years, dying in 1885. His wife, formerly Mary Welter, was born in Platen, being a daughter of Philip Welter, a well-to-do farmer of that province. She had a brother in the Franco-Spanish War four years, and who afterward took part in the Franco-Russian War. She died in 1887 at the age of eighty one years. The parental famity comprised seven children of whom our subject is the sixth in order of birth. The first-born, Mary, is deceased; Lena, Mrs. Majarus, living in her native duchy; Anna is deceased; John is living in Luxembourg; Philip resides in LeMars, Iowa; Frank resides in Chicago. The gentleman of whom we write was born at Mertzig, Luxembourg, February 2, 1842, and was reared in his native place, having the advantages of good schools from his sixth to his fourteenth year. He acquired a more than ordinarily good education, receiving instruction in both German and French, which languages he speaks readily. The young man remained upon the home farm until twenty-seven years of age when, being desirous of securing a home of his own and land being high in his native country, he determined to come to America, where he thought he could better his financial condition. He therefore bade adieu to home and friends in 1869, and set sail from Havre, January 14, on the steamer "Manhattan" which reached Liverpool three days later. There he embarked on the steamer "Palmyra" which anchored in New York Harbor, January 28. Mr. Knepper started for Dubuque, Iowa, but when he reached Chicago was somewhat ill and so remained there some days. Mr. Eisenbrandt persuaded him to locate in this State and in Will County. He therefore came into Green Garden Township on the 2d of February, and spent the year in working for Mr. Eisenbrandt. His services was engaged by the year the second time and after that experience as an employe, he began farming for himself. Mr. Knepper rented one hundred and twenty acres from his former employer and operated it quite successfully. In 1874, he purchased the eighty acres which he now occupies and which at that time bore some old buildings. On this he engaged in the labors which have brought him a Competent support and a reputation which is creditable to his intelligence and enterprise. He at one time owned forty acres adjoining, but sold it, retaining but his first purchase. The land is all tillable, is well fenced, tiled and furnished with a full set of adequate and substantial buildings. Mr. Knepper has set out groves and orchards which add to the beauty of his home as well as to its monetary value. The residence is five miles from Frankfort. Mr. Knepper divides his attention between the raising of grain and graded stock, including Norman horses. In Joliet, October 12, 1870, the interesting ceremony took place which gave Mr. Knepper a wife. The lady with whom he was united was Miss Mary Henzpeter, who was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, and accompanied her parents here in 1869. She is well informed and has the knowledge of housewifely arts which is almost inseparable from the training of a German maiden, while her character is an amiable and loving one. Her parents, Fred and Dora (Koester) Henzpeter, have five children of whom she is the first-born and the only daughter. Her brother Fred lives in Frankfort Township; Charles, in Marcus, Iowa; John, in Joliet; and Henry in Iowa. The parents are living in Green Garden Township and the father is engaged in farming. The happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Knepper has been blest by the birth of four children, three of whom—Bertha, Clara and Charles—are at home. The first-born, Caroline, is residing in Joliet. Mr. Knepper is an active Democrat and has been a delegate to county conventions. He has served in public capacities, among them being that of Collector, which he held one year, Township School Treasurer, in which he has served during the past six years and of which office he is yet the incumbent, and School Director which position he held six years. He belongs to the Green Garden Evangelical Church. His knowledge of the English language was acquired by personal effort, his evenings being devoted to study until he had sufficiently mastered it. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/knepper1365nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 6.0 Kb