This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Knapp, Rowley, Taylor, Wilson, Bradfield, Hutton, Putnam Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VRB.2ACE/1785 Message Board Post: SOURCE: Biographical Review of the Leading Citizens of Livingston and Wyoming Counties New York Boston, Biographical Review Publishing Company, 1895 MAJOR JACOB W. KNAPP, who died a few years since at his home in Warsaw, N.Y., where he had spent the larger part of his entire life, having been born in this town August 20, 1813, was a descendant of sterling pioneer stock, his father, grandfather, and several other members of the KNAPP family having settled in this section of the county in the early part of this century. His grandfather, William KNAPP, was born in Canaan, Columbia County, N.Y., January 4, 1758, and died in Warsaw in 1817. He married Olive ROWLEY, who bore him ten children – Daniel; Olive; William; John R.; Mima; Sally; Esther; Orson S., Bethiah; and Harley. Daniel, the eldest child, was the first one to make his way to this part of the State. He had previously spent a short time in Orville, VT., coming from there to Warsaw in 1806, and bringing with him a part of his numerous family, he having been thrice married. He and two of his brothers, William and John R., were engaged in the War of 1812, the two former as officers. All of the children rounded out a full period of years; and Esther who married Abel TAYLOR of Attica, lived to the venerable age of ninety-four years. John R. KNAPP, the fourth child named above, was born in Canaan, N.Y., July 7, 1787, and removed from the place of his nativity to Rutland, VT., where he was united in wedlock to Melinda WILSON. In 1812 he joined his father and brothers in Warsaw, brining his family and goods with teams, often cutting a path through the woods. For thirty years he lived in Warsaw, then removed to Marion, Ohio, where the death of his wife occurred in 1848, when fifty-seven years old. She bore him six sons and three daughters, of whom the following are now living: William L., a retired wagon manufacturer in Howell, Mich.; and John R., Jr., who was a Lieutenant in the late Civil war, and has since held a position in the Second Auditor’s Office in Washington, D.C. On June 24, 1849, Mr. KNAPP was married to Lydia BRADFIELD; and of their union, one son was born, James B. KNAPP. The father died at his home in Marion, March 8, 1864; and his widow still occupies their Ohio home. Jacob W., son of John R. KNAPP, was educated in Warsaw, and in early life learned the blacksmith’s trade, which he followed for some years, but afterward established a grocery business in the town of Warsaw, and from 1852 until 1861 was the village Postmaster. During the recent civil conflict his valuable services as a brave commanding officer won him his title of Major. Through his efforts Company D, of the famous First New York Dragoons, was recruited, in September, 1862; and he was elected Captain of the company, serving as such until January, 1865, when for his brave conduct he was promoted to the rank of Major, being subsequently in command of the regiment more than half of the time. In December 1853, while still a captain, he led the regiment into battle, and won distinction as a commander; and his intrepid charge at Culpeper, VA., is noted in the war records. Three of the sons of Major KNAPP – Augustus, Lucien, and Thomas, all now deceased � 3 were members of his regiment. In 1837 Major KNAPP was united in marriage to Miss Elvira PUTNAM, of Warsaw, a daughter of Edward and Rachel (HUTTON) PUTNAM; and their happy wedded life extended over a period of fifty-one years. Three daughters and four sons were born of their union, of whom the following are not living: Augustus, Lucien, Thomas, John R., and Margaret. The surviving are: Miss Caroline KNAPP; and Harriet, the widow of Orson C. KNAPP, who died April 15, 1877, leaving three children – Clarence Wilson, Frederic H., and Edward M., the first of whom is engaged in the laundry business, while the other two sons are students at Hobart college, in Geneva. The sisters occupy the family home on Geneseo Street. Orson D. KNAPP was also a soldier in the late Rebellion, having enlisted as a private in the thirty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and being afterward promoted through the various grades to the rank of Captain, having command of Company I. He was formerly Indian Agent at Fort Klam! ath, Fla., and after the close of the war was a soldier in the regular army until the fall of 1870, when he resigned; and in the following December his nuptials with the daughter of Major KNAPP were celebrated. In politics the Major was always a stanch Democrat, and for more than forty years was a Justice of the peace. He and his family were communicants of the Episcopal church.