The Knebel Family of Johnson County, Iowa

ROCHUS KNEBEL, father of Reverend Henry A. Knebel, was born in Baden, Germany, and at the age of fourteen years with his parents sailed for America. They sailed from Havre in the early part of 1843, and crossed the ocean, then through the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans, thence up the Mississippi river to St. Louis, Missouri, where a stop of three months was made. At the end of three months, accompanied by his parents, Rochus went to Centerville, Illinois (now called Mildstadt), St. Clair county. He remained here for nearly seven years, then came to Iowa at the age of twenty-one years. The first stop was at Bloomington (now Muscatine). From there he came to Sharon township, Johnson county, where he bought the "old homestead" of 120 acres from the government at $1.25 per acre. After remaining in Iowa six months he returned to Centerville, Illinois, where he remained for nearly two years. He then returned again to Iowa, where he still lives.

One year after his second trip to Iowa he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Wombacher, by Father McCormick at Iowa City, Iowa.

ELIZABETH (WOMBACHER) KNEBEL was born in Bavaria, Germany, and came to America with her parents when she was five years old. Sailing from Bremen, Germany, they landed at Baltimore, Maryland, in L838, being on the ocean six weeks. She and her parents remained at Baltimore three years, then they moved to Cumberland, Maryland, where they lived for eight years. Their next move was to Wheeling, West Virginia, where they resided a short time, then took passage on a boat down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi river to Burlington, Iowa. From Burlington to Washington, Iowa, the trip was made overland by team. During three years Elizabeth, with her parents, lived just a short distance south of Washington, Iowa. Later they moved to the farm that is known as the F. Heitzman farm, about four miles north of Riverside, Iowa. Finally her parents bought the farm which is now owned by Niclaus Sueppel. Part of this farm is in Johnson county and part in Washington county. This farm was purchased from the government at $1.25 per acre, and Elizabeth Wombacher lived here until her marriage to Rochus Knehel.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

One of the most popular and successful farmers of Liberty township, Johnson county, is John Knebel, who has spent most of his life in the vicinity. He belongs to one of the earlier families of the county and was born on a farm in Sharon township, in 1862, a son of Rochus and Elizabeth (Wombacher) Knebel. The father and mother were both born in Germany, and they came to Johnson county about 1840. John was the fifth of their thirteen children and was reared on the home farm, attending the local schools and being reared to farm work, which he followed on his own account after reaching maturity.

KKSIIiKXCK ( ' JOHN KXKI'.KI.

After leaving school Mr. Knebel spent fifteen years in various occupations, making his home wherever he found employment, but then returned to his native locality, and in 1893 engaged in farming operations on his own account, in Liberty township, where he has since remained. He is well acquainted with conditions and needs of the land in his native environment, and in his chosen field of work has won a gratifying success. He has been identified with public affairs since returning to Johnson county, and has served in various local offices. He has been secretary of the school board; for eight years (until 1906) was township clerk, and then was elected a member of the county board of supervisors, which he has served as chairman. He is recognized as a citizen of enterprise and public spirit and uses his influence to secure the best possible administration of the affairs of the township and county. He has won the confidence and esteem of his fellows, and stands high in the estimation of all. It is such men as lie who have helped bring about the prosperity and progressive condition of the region.

Mr. Knebel was married February 19, 1884, to Miss Flora Rummelhart, daughter of F. X. Rummelhart, a well-known citizen of Liberty township, now over eighty-four years of age. Children as follows have been born to this union: Genevieve, is the wife of Jerome Droll and they have three children — Evelyn, Verna and Iva; Walter J., M. D., a graduate of the Iowa State University, is a prominent physician of Struble, where he has a good practice; Catherine Pauline, Luella, Luverne, Elmer, and Paul. All except Dr. Walter J. attend the Catholic church at Riverside, of which the parents are members. Mr. Knebel has been active in church matters and was a member of the building committee at the time the new church and parish house were erected at Riverside. The family are well known in church and social circles and have many friends.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

REVEREND HENRY ALOYSIUS KNEBEL

Rev. Henry Aloysius Knebel is well known for his activity in behalf of the interests of St. Mary's church, of Tipton, Iowa. He is a native of Sharon township, Johnson county, horn May 12, 187:1, tenth of the thirteen children of Rochus and Elizabeth (Wumbacher) Knebel, now living retired, at Hills. They were emigrants from Germany, and early settlers of Johnson county, coming there about 1850. Their trip across the ocean was made in a sailing vessel, which took thirteen weeks to make the trip. They became highly respected and successful farmers and reared a tine family of children to do them credit, and who remember with pleasure the pleasant life in their childhood home.

To Rochus and Elizabeth Knebel the following children were born: Louis, married Walburger Hise, and they have one son, Charles, who married Mary Dalmage, who have three children, Ambrose, Earl, and Ralph, was the first blacksmith of Hills, Iowa, where he still resides; James, of Richmond, Iowa, married Anna Dautremont, and their children are Winifred and Robert; Mary, who became the wife of Frank Dautremont, and died at her residence at Monticello, Iowa, at the age of forty-nine years, on August 9, 1907, left ten children: Adelbert, Gertrude, Margaret, Clotilde (Mrs. Murphy, who has two sons), Frank, Jr., Lillian, Leona, Leroy, Lorraine, and Verena, the last of whom was about four or five years old when the mother died; Lavina, who married Joseph N. Schnoebelen, a farmer living near Riverside, Washington county, and their thirteen children, who form a part of the congregation of St. Mary's Catholic church at Riverside, are Linus, Hubert, Guy, Stella, Hilda, Louis, Oswald, Bernadette, Verodina, Mello, Percy, Urban, and Rita; John, of Liberty township, a separate sketch of whom will be found in this work; Miss Anna lives with her parents at Hills and looks out for their comfort and welfare; George, a successful farmer of Liberty township, married Mary Hise, a sister of Mrs. Louis Knebel; Frank, formerly a partner of his brother Louis, has a lunch room at Hills, attends St. Joseph's Catholic church, Hills, married Elizabeth Gringer, and they have three children: Zeno, Mary, and Amelia; Amelia, ninth in order of birth, became a member of the order of Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, of St. Rose Convent, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, assumed the name of Sister Mary Amanda, and is at present a teacher in St. Angelns Institute, Carroll, Iowa; Rev. Henry A. is the tenth child, as mentioned above; Joseph Knebel is a prosperous farmer three miles southeast of Riverside, married Catherine Bauer, and they became parents of twins, Loretta and Claretta, the latter of whom is deceased, and two other daughters living, Celeste and Norma; Linus, married Adaline Beatsch, and they became parents of two sons, Clement and Edward, who live on the old farm in Sharon township; the thirteenth and youngest of this large family is William Knebel, who married Nellie Bauer, sister of the wife of his brother Joseph, and they have a daughter, Bertha.

The Knebel family became identified with the best interests of Johnson county and were active in promoting the general welfare and progress. They played an important part in the early history of the region ami all members of this large lam ily are devout members of the Catholic church and are earnest workers in the cause. As shown above, some of them have devoted their lives and energies to the service of the beloved cause, and have done important work in this connection.

Reverend Knebel was raised on the home farm and received his preliminary education in the district schools of Sharon township. At the age of twenty-one he entered St. Ambrose College, Davenport, where he remained six years, four of which were devoted to the classical course and two to the philosophical. One of his tutors was the Reverend R. J. Renihan, the present rector of Oxford, Iowa. In 1900 he entered the famous Kenriek's Seminary at St. Louis, where he took a three year's course in theology, beingordained to the priesthood June 13, 1903, by the Rt. Rev. J. J. Glennon, I). 1>. He received his first appointment from Rt. Rev. Henry Cosgrove, Bishop of Davenport, on July 18, 1893, being made assistant to Rev. J. P. Ryan, rector of St. Mary's church, Davenport, Iowa. He remained in that parish six years and three months. On October 27, 1909, he was appointed regular pastor at St. Mary's church, Tipton, to succeed Rev. Thomas Francis (ialligan, the appointment being made by Bishop Davis, of Davenport, successor to Bishop Cosgrove.

June 18, 1903, was a memorable occasion in the Catholic church at Riverside, Iowa, that being jointly the celebration of Father Knebel 's first mass and the golden wedding anniversary of his aged parents. The wedding anniversary should properly have occurred sooner, but the parents desired to have it occur jointly with the celebration by their son of his first mass as a Catholic priest. The church edifice was filled by the relatives and friends of the young priest and his family, and it is said that the reception and dinner, taken in connection with the religious ceremony, constituted an occasion long to be remembered. It was the first time in eighteen years that the members of the Knebel family had all met together, and these, with the classmates of the young priest, made a memorable company.

In addition to his offices as priest of the important charges of Tipton and Cedar Valley, Father Knebel is a member of the Western Catholic Union and of the Knights of Columbus. While in Davenport, Iowa, he was chaplain of the court of the Knights of Father Matthew. He takes a very active interest in the societies of his church, which are: Rosary and Altar Society, Willing Workers Society and the League of the Sacred Heart. In his religious work he is characterized by great zeal ' accompanied by extreme modesty, insisting that all the glory of his work shall be given directly to Almighty God. His congregation at Tipton consists of forty-live families and that at Cedar Valley of thirty families. Both churches are making marked progress under his vigorous and efficient administration.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.