NORTHWESTERN IOWA ITS HISTORY AND TRADITION VOLUME II 1804-1926 W. S. KNAPP Among the families that through past years have been closely and actively identified with the progress and upbuilding of Sioux City, none takes precedence over the one of which Walter Sewell Knapp is a worthy representative. In all phases of community life the members of this family have stood stanchly for progress and improvement and have been potent factors in the city's substantial prosperity. Walter S. Knapp is a native son of Iowa, born in Northwood, Worth county, on the 12th of September, 1874, his parents being Clarence Albert and Sarah Elizabeth (Sewell) Knapp, the latter born at Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 1851. A sketch of Clarence Albert Knapp, deceased, amy be found on another page of this work. Walter S. Knapp received his education in the public schools, attending the high school but not graduating. He was about thriteen years of age when the family came to Sioux City and when a youth of sixteen he entered his father's hardware store. He has been actively identified with the business to the present time, being now president of the Knapp & Spencer Company. The trade of this firm has steadily increased through the years until now it is one of the largest independent wholesale hardware concerns in the northwest, selling to retailers in northwest Iowa, southwest Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana. Practically every item carried in the largest and most up-to-date hardware stores anywhere in the country may be found in this establishment. The company is housed in splendid building, six stories and basement, the large stock carried insuring quick service to buyers. One hundred and ten men are employed and the policy of the company has made friends of all who have had dealings with it. Walter S. Knapp is also a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of Sioux City. Like his honored father, he has shown as effective interest in the public affairs of his city, giving his support to all movements for the betterment of the community and contributing generously to all worthy objects. On October 18, 1899, at Unadilla, New York, Mr. Knapp was married to Miss Mary Catherine Robinson, who was there born June 10, 1878. Mrs. Knapp is active in the club and social life of Sioux City and is a member of the Woman's Club. Politically, Mr. Knapp gives his support to the republican party. He is a member of Tyrian Lodge, No. 508, A. F. & A. M.; Sioux City Chapter, No. 26, R.. A. M.; Zodok Council, No. 24, R. & S. M.; Columbian Commandery, No 18, K. T.; Sioux City Consistory, No. 5, A. A. S. R.; and Abu-Bekr Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He also belongs to the Sioux City Country Club, the Sioux City Boat Club and the Chamber of Commerce, of which he has been a director for nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Knapp are communicants of St. Thomas Protestant Episcopal church. By reason of strong and alert mentality and sound business judgment, he holds a place in the front rank of commercial interests of Sioux City. He is ably carrying forward the business so soundly established by his father and which has long been numbered among the most successful and substantial mercantile enterprises of this section of the country. Debbie Clough Gerischer Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ IAGENWEB: Special History Project: http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm Gerischer Family Web Site: http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/