My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES KNEPPER, publisher, post office Mansfield Valley, Allegheny county, Pa., was born Dec. 3, 1834, in Albany, Berks county, Pa., a son of Christian and Anna Mary (Lutz) Knepper. His grandfather, John Knepper, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany. Charles, the subject of these lines, spent his early life on his father’s farm, and attended the select and public schools; later he entered the Susquehanna Collegiate Institute, and graduated at Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pa. Aug. 3, 1864, he entered Princeton Theological Seminary, remaining two years; then attended Mercersburg Theological Seminary a portion of one year. Aug. 8, 1866, he married Maria M. Crouch, and their children are Esther Mary, John B., Lillie Anna, Rose Bell and Flora Jenette. Mr. Knepper taught an academy at Steinsville, Pa., in 1866 and 1867, and preached in connection therewith. He received a call from the Reformed Church of Forreston, Ill., in 1867, which he accepted, and served that congregation for three years. He was then called to the principalship of Clarion Collegiate Institute, but, his health failing, he resigned in 1871. He then moved to Mansfield Valley, Allegheny county, and began the printing and publishing business in 1872, but in 1876 his office was destroyed by fire. He started up again, however, and has been very successful. Politically he is a republican.