My Genealogy Hound

JOHN T. KNOOP, farmer; P. O. Troy; was born in Miami Co., Jan. 22, 1841, and is a son of William and Rachel A. (Kerr) Knoop. He is a native of this county, and she of Virginia, coming with her parents to this county in 1825. John Knoop, the grandfather, came to this county in 1798, and was a native of Pennsylvania, his mother coming from Switzerland; he was one of the few pioneers who first settled in Miami Co., at the place where Staunton Village is now located; they erected a block-house, in which they placed their families for safety, while they selected and opened out their farms and built their log cabins. In 1800, John, the grandfather, occupied his cabin, and commenced to make a farm and a home. This cabin is still standing on the old Knoop place, now eighty years since its erection, and is in a very good degree of preservation. The grandfather, John, and wife, Barbara, were parents of seven children; viz., George, Jacob, John, Elizabeth, Nancy, William and Thomas. Jacob Knoop was born in the block-house Nov. 30, 1798, being the first white child born in Miami Co. This family of the grandfather are now all passed away “to that bourne whence no traveler returns;” their works and labors remain to be cherished by their children, and their lives, like Washington’s, will never die, but will be remembered and cherished by the descendants yet unborn. One incident should yet be recorded, showing the sacrificing spirit of the noble old pioneers and grandfather. In the early settling of this county, there came a season of scarcity, especially in the corn crop, but John had a good supply of old corn in store. His neighbors all around him were in want, so he visited them all, and ascertained how much they each one needed, and agreed to furnish them at 75 cents per bushel. In the meantime, grain buyers and speculators were coming there to buy his corn, and offered him $2 per bushel, but he refused their offer and manfully stood by his contract, supplying all his neighbors as he promised. William Knoop, the father, passed his entire life in this county; he was Justice of the Peace for twenty years, and Clerk of the township for several years. When the war of the rebellion came, he was one of the patriots who went to his country’s defense, serving for about sixteen months, when he was discharged for disability. He departed this life in November, 1874, being 64 years of age, having, like his father before him, passed an active and energetic life, devoted to the public good of his county and country. His wife is still living on the home place where he died. They were parents of eight children, viz., James M., Henry C., deceased, being killed at the charge on Ft. Wagner, in South Carolina; John T., Mary B., now Mrs. William R. Saunders; Mark K., Frances C., married to Thomas Scott, but now deceased; Emma, now Mrs. George W. Scott, in Troy; Olive A., now Mrs. Hance. John T., the subject of this sketch, lived with his father till 20 years of age, when he enlisted in the 42d O. V. I., at the commencement of the rebellion, and served through the war. Here we remark that the patriotism of the Knoop family was fully exhibited by their works, by the father and four sons all entering the service, one, Henry C., being sacrificed upon the altar of his country, and the others returning with honorable discharges to their homes. Mr. Knoop was united in the holy bonds of matrimony in May, 1868, with Elizabeth Farver, daughter of John and Margaret Farver, he being born in Maryland and she in Ireland. He first located on the place where he now resides with his father-in-law, where he remained two years, thence to one of the Knoop farms, where he lived about five years, till the death of his wife’s father, when he moved back to the old farm, his present place of residence. Mr. Knoop is now serving as Land Appraiser. Politically, he is a stanch Republican.