Albert Knappe and Teckla Scholz
Albert Knappe was born in on April 24, 1844 in Saegewitz, Germany. According to the 1900 census he immigrated to the United States in 1883 (at the time of the census he reported he had been in the United States for seventeen years, placing his age of arrival approximately at 39). He immigrated with his daughter, Hattie. He worked as a day-laborer. He married Teckla Scholz.
Alvis Knappe and Lydia Hooten
Alvis was born in Stanton Texas on August 11, 1884. He was the son of Albert Knappe and Teckla Scholz. He had lived in Big Spring, Texas since 1886. His parents had come from Germany to Marienfield, which became Stanton, Texas in 1882. He married Lydia Hooten (1896-1997). They had the following children: Techla (1912-1998), Albert (1913-1967), Henry (1916-1977), Margaret (1919-1995), Roy (1921-2005), Edward (1923-1988), Carl (1925-2015), and Dorothy (1927-1999).
Alvis was a member of the Baptist Church in Big Spring, Texas. He was a butcher by trade and ran a butcher shop for over fifty years.1 His obituary in the Big Spring Daily Herald from Friday, February 16, 1968 says:
Alvis was a member of the Baptist Church in Big Spring, Texas. He was a butcher by trade and ran a butcher shop for over fifty years.1 His obituary in the Big Spring Daily Herald from Friday, February 16, 1968 says:
A. Knappe, 83, Howard County Old Timer Dies
A. Knappe, 83, the ranking old timer of Howard County, died Thursday evening after being in failing health for several years.
Mr. Kanppe, born in Martin County, August 11, 1884, had lived in Big Spring since 1886. For a quarter of a century, he was almost as much an institution as was the Howard County Old Settlers Reunion itself.
Services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at the Nalley Pickle Rosewood Chapel with the Rev. Byron Brand, pastor of the College Baptist Church, officiating, assisted by the Rev. James Pickett, Baptist Temple pastor. Burial will be in the 100F Section of the City Cemetery.
Mr. Knappe's parents, Alvis and Techla Scholz Knappe, were immigrants who settled in the German community of Marienfeld (now Stanton) in 1882, the year after the Texas & Pacific Railway Company extended through and opened this area up for settlement.
A butch by trade, he operated his own business here for more than a century. Long before modern conveniences, he carried his wares to the doorsteps of Big Spring homes. He rigged a tripod north of town and did his slaughtering there. each day, he packed fresh meat in the bed of a wagon (later a truck) and moved about town, slicking steaks and roasts to the specifications of housewives.
Later, he constructed a frame building near his home at 2006 Nolan, then on the southern perimeter of town, and for over four decades operated this business. In later years his sons succeeded him in running the popular meat market, although Mr. Knappe continued to be around to help and give advice.
A cook of the old cowboy school, he delighted in helping with the annual old settlers reunion. Until his failing health prevented him in recent years, he helped prepare the food for the reunion. Until the Boy Scout Roundup was suspended for a time about 10 years ago, the had cooked for this every year.
Mr. Knappe had made his home most recently at a nursing home in Sand Springs. He died there at 9:50 p.m. Thursday. He was a member of the Mullen Lodge 372, 100F, and of Rebeka Lodge 284.
Surviving him are four sons, Carl Kanppe, Big Spring, Henry Knappe, Houston, Roy Knappe, Athens, Ohio, and Edward Knappe, Pecos; three daughters, Mrs. Perry Daily, Mrs. J.W. Neece, and Mrs. Peggy Vaughn, all of Big Spring. He also leaves seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Robert Currie, John Masters, Marvin Sewell, Jim Kinsey, Cecil Leatherwood, Robert Evans, O.E. Wolfe, and Jess Slaughter.
Henry Knappe and Joyce Compton
Henry was born on April 2, 1916 in Big Spring, Texas. He married Lenora Brumley in Nolan Texas on August 3, 1939. They had one daughter, Peggy Joyce, who was born December 19, 1939. They divorced in 1946. 2 He married Joyce Compton in Roswell, New Mexico on August 13, 1950. They had one son, Henry, in 1957.
He worked in his father's slaughter house business for more than 40 years. In 1967 he moved to Houston, but returned to Big Spring in 1969 after he retired. 3
His obituary in the Big Spring Herald (July 1977) states:
He worked in his father's slaughter house business for more than 40 years. In 1967 he moved to Houston, but returned to Big Spring in 1969 after he retired. 3
His obituary in the Big Spring Herald (July 1977) states:
Henry Knappe, 61, died at 3:30 pm.m. Saturday, July 16, in a local hospital. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the Loraine Cemetery. He was born April 2, 1916 in Big Spring. He was the slaughter house business in Big Spring for over 40 years with his father and brothers, in the. A Knappe & Sons Slaughter House.
He married Joyce Compton August 13, 1950 in Roswell, New Mexico.
He retired in 1969.
Sources
1. Alvis Knappe Obituary. Newspapers.com.
2. Henry Divorce Notice. Newspapers. com
3. Henry Knappe Obituary. Newspapers.com
2. Henry Divorce Notice. Newspapers. com
3. Henry Knappe Obituary. Newspapers.com