KNAPP, Comfort Hamilton
Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 374-376

Comfort Hamilton KNAPP, one of the successful pioneers of Sauk County [WI], 
now living a retired life in the village of North Freedom, has had some 
interesting experiences in the course of his life. He was born in the town 
of Collins, Erie County, NY, 19 Feb 1829, a son of Johnson and and Deborah 
(KNAPP) KNAPP. The KNAPP family is of English origin. Sylvanus KNAPP, the 
paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of MA, and a cooper by 
trade, along which line he carried on an extensive business in Erie County, 
NY, for some years. He died in Jamestown [Chautauqua County], NY, at the age 
of 78 years. He married a Miss WINN, whose father was a Tory, and moved to 
Canada soon after the Revolutionary war. 

Johnson KNAPP, our subject's father, was born in MA, but was quite young when 
taken by his parents to NY, where he learned the trade of a blacksmith. In 
1844 he removed to Dearborn County, IN, [p 375] where he spent the remainder 
of his life with the exception of three years, when living in Sauk County, 
WI. He died in Dearborn County, IN. His wife, also a native of MA, survived 
him a number of years, and died in the town of Collins, Erie County, NY, at 
the age of 84. Her father, Comfort KNAPP, was a brother of Sylvanus KNAPP. 
He was a wholesale merchant in Boston [Suffolk County, MA] for some years, 
but meeting with misfortune in business, he moved to the town of Boston, Erie 
County, NY, where he cleared a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He 
died in Pine Grove, Warren County, PA, aged 87 years. He was a close 
communion Baptist, and served as deacon for over forty years. 

[Submitter Clarification: As given above, Sylvanus KNAPP and Comfort KNAPP 
were brothers. Sylvanus KNAPP and wife (Miss WINN) had a son, Johnson KNAPP; 
Comfort KNAPP and his wife (name not given) had a daughter, Deborah KNAPP. 
These two (Johnson KNAPP and Deborah KNAPP), first cousins, married and had a 
son, Comfort Hamilton KNAPP, the subject of this biography.]

Our subject is the only one in a family of six children who settled in WI. 
He has in his possession a picture of his mother and four of her descendants, 
each representing different generations, who were living at the same time. 
He was 15 years of age when the family removed to IN, and soon afteward began 
life for himself by working at farming and other occupations. In 1846 he 
returned to Erie County, NY, where he lived until 1855, when he came to Sauk 
County, WI, and located in the town of Reedsburg. In Apr 1859 he started 
with a company of prospectors for Pike's Peak [CO], but before reaching their 
destination they received unfavorable reports of the mining there and decided 
to go to OR, where Mr. KNAPP spent two seasons in mining with indifferent 
success. The following two seasons were spent in WA and ID, and he then 
returned east by way of the Isthmus, being 31 days in making the journey. He 
left San Francisco in Jan 1863, and at Aspinwall [where?] took passage on the 
steamer "Ariel" for NY. On the down trip this vessel had been overhauled in 
the West Indies by a Confederate vessel, and her guns, sails and other 
valuables confiscated. Owing to the prevalence of yellow fever on the 
islands, Captain SEMMES, of the Confederate steamer, allowed the "Ariel" to 
proceed with her passengers instead of putting them ashore, as was first 
intended. He admonished the captain of the "Ariel" however, that he would 
sink the vessel if he again caught her on the sea without the "treasury," or 
shipment of CA gold, which she was accustomed to bring regularly from the 
Isthmus. As the rebel cruiser was hovering about the entrance of the harbor 
in plain sight when ready for the return trip, the usual shipment of gold was 
left, and during the heavy fog the "Ariel" left the harbor at night without 
detection, and taking a different course from the one usually pursued, 
reached Key West in safety, and from there the voyage to NY was made without 
difficulty.

In 1864 Mr. KNAPP, with his family, moved to ID, and engaged in farming on 
the Boise River, 30 miles below Boise City [County, ID]. He spent one summer 
crossing the plains with ox teams and driving several cows. He joined a 
wagon train at Omaha. They had some Indian scares, but no serious trouble 
with the red men. Mr. KNAPP arrived in Boise City 11 Sep 1864, and remained 
in ID five years, and then returned to Sauk County, WI, by driving to Ogden 
[Weber County], UT, and there taking the Union Pacific Railroad. He has made 
a number of trips to the Pacific slope, and twice crossed the plains with 
teams. After his return to Sauk County, he engaged in farming in Reedsburg 
Township for some years, but since 1888 has made his home in North Freedom, 
where for a time he carried on business as a grain dealer, but is now living 
retired.

On 11 Oct 1848 Mr. [p 376] KNAPP was united in marriage with Miss Prusia 
Maria FISK, a native of Darby, VT [Derby, Orleans County, VT?], and a 
daughter of Royal and Harriet (MEAD) FISK. The father was born in the same 
place, of English origin, and the mother in Ferrisburg [Addison County], VT, 
of Scotch extraction. The first of the FISK family to come to America 
settled in RI. Royal FISK, who was a local minister of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, came to Sauk County, WI, in 1854, and first located in 
Reedsburg Township, but died in Freedom Township [Sauk County, WI], 29 Mar 
1878, aged 70 years. His wife died two years later at the same age. To Mr. 
and Mrs. KNAPP were born the following children: (1) Merritt, a resident of 
North Freedom [Sauk County, WI]; (2) Edwin, of Whitman County, WA; (3) 
Harriet, deceased wife of L. DEARBORN; (4) Frank, of Lewiston [Nez Perce 
County], ID; (5) Mary, wife of James RANDELL, of Reedsburg [Sauk County, 
WI]; (6) Laura, deceased wife of W. W. RANDELL; (7) Walter, of Whitman 
County, WA; and (8) Alma, wife of Frank MORLEY, of the town of Baraboo [Sauk 
County], WI. They also have twenty-two grandchildren living and eight great 
grandchildren.

Mr. KNAPP has been an earnest advocate and supporter of prohibition since the 
inception of the movement, and never withholds his influence from any 
enterprise which he believes will prove of public benefit. He has served on 
the town board of Reedsburg a number of years, and held other local offices 
of trust. Wherever known he is held in high regard.

Contributed by Cathy Kubly