Bio of KNOBLAUCH, Anton (b.1860 d.1915), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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Vol II, pg 648-651
ANTON KNOBLAUCH
From the earliest period of the development of Minneapolis the name Knoblauch
has been associated with business enterprise and activity here. Anton Knoblauch
was one of the native sons of the city, born July 2, 1860, and here he remained
to the time of his death, which occurred on the 24th of March, 1915. Through
much of this period he was closely associated with business affairs and the
material upbuilding of the city, being identified for a time with the shoe
trade, while later he engaged actively in the real estate business. He was a son
of Alois and Emelie Knoblauch, both of whom were natives of Germany. Leaving
that country in 1854, they crossed the Atlantic to the new world and became
residents of Minneapolis, at which time there was but a tiny hamlet here. The
following year the father established the first shoe store of the city at what
is now No. 26 First street, North, and in this business he continued to the time
of his death, which occurred in 1898, when his son, Anton, became the head of
the shoe firm and associated with him in the ownership and conduct of the
business was his brother, Frank.
Anton Knoblauch spent his youthful days under the parental roof and was
edu­cated in the public and high schools of Minneapolis. When a youth of sixteen
years he took charge of the Knoblauch shoe store, having received thorough
business train­ing under the direction of his father, becoming most competent in
that line when still but a lad in his teens. For an extended period the
Knoblauch brothers continued to conduct shoe stores in Minneapolis, becoming
very prominent merchants in their line, operating stores at No. 41 Washington
avenue, South; No. 121 Washington avenue, South; No. 239 Nicollet; and No. 514
Nicollet, as well as shoe departments in several dep?rtment stores. In 1911,
however, they disposed of their interests in the shoe business and Anton
Knoblauch became prominently identified with real estate in­terests. He owned
and controlled much valuable property and he also negotiated many important
realty transfers for others. He had intimate knowledge of property values and
knew exactly what was on the market for purchase or sale. He was like­wise
interested in the Knoblauch warehouse and was regarded as one of the most
progressive and enterprising business men of this section of the state.
On the 4th of November, 1884, Mr. Knoblauch was united in marriage to Miss
Hattie L. Beebe, a daughter of Judge Franklin and Lavina (Thompson) Beebe, who
were natives of Norwich, New York, and who came to Minneapolis about 1855. Here
the father practiced law for many years and afterward was elected judge of the
probate court for two terms. He was prominently identified with the upbuilding
of the city in many ways and was one of its honored residents. To Mr. and Mrs.
Knoblauch three children were born: Franklin Beebe; Alice Lavinia, who is the
wife of H. C. Long of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Edith Frances, the wife of
Kern B. Fontain of Minne­apolis. The son, who is now associated with the Thorp
Brothers in the real estate business, served in the European war. He was in the
Officers' Training School, being commissioned a second lieutenant and was
transferred to Omaha in the Depot Quarter­master Department, where he remained
until the cessation of active hostilities. Fra­ternally Anton Knoblauch was a
Mason and loyally followed the teachings and purposes of the craft, making its
beneficent spirit a workable principle in his life. He belonged to the Rotary
Club. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and at one time
he was a candidate for alderman of the fourth ward but was defeated. He did not
seek, however, to fill political offices, preferring to do his duty as a private
citizen. He had much influence over public thought and action. He was elected
the first president of the Center Improvement Association, composed of business
men with interest in the lower Hennepin and Nicollet avenue district and he
cooperated most heartily in any plan or project that looked to the benefit and
welfare of his native city. The fifty-five years of his life were passed in
Minneapolis and there were few who have witnessed for a longer period the growth
and development of the city. He saw it emerge from a straggling villagehood into
an enterprising town and at length take on metropolitan proportions, with its
trade interests reaching to every corner of the globe. He always held a
justifiable pride in the city and what was accomplished here and at no time did
he fail to do his full duty in every public relation. The sterling worth of his
character was recognized by all and when he passed away he left behind him many
warm friends.