Orville Joseph Knapp was born on the Twenty-sixth day of April, in 1857, at Chesterton, Porter County, in the State of Indiana. He was the son of Isaac Walter Knapp, who was born in 1821, at Essex County, Ontario, Canada and Jane Whitmore, who was born in 1827, in the State of New York.
Orville Joseph Knapp worked on the railroad before marriage. it was this occupation that brought his to Springfield. Through most of his life he built and repaired stringed instruments. He could play any instrument, that he picked up. In Springfield, he built houses and taught his sons to do so.
Orville Joseph Knapp was married to Sarah Sabrina Starkey on the Twenty-first day of August, in 1886, at Springfield, Greene County, in the State of Missouri. She was born on the Second day of January, in 1871. at Bois D’ Arc, Greene County, in the State of Missouri. They were the parents of:
1.Loren Edward Knapp was born on the Nineteenth day of July, in 1887, at Bois D’ Arc, Green County, in the State of Missouri and died on the Twenty-first day of March, in 1975, at Springfield, Greene County, in the State of Missouri. He was married to Ethel Dornan. Her mother had died very early. Ethal Dornan’s father felt her with a local unrelated family. She lived with several different families, before her marriage. She took the name of each family that she lived with, at the time. Two of the families were the Stifuler’s and the Starkey’s. Loren Edward Knapp went by the nickname of Buck.
2.Florence Belle Knapp was born on the Twenty-first day of April, in 1889, at Springfield, Greene County, in the State of Missouri. She had a child with Edward Wagner. Florence Belle Knapp died in childbirth, on the Twenty-fourth day of July, in 1908, at Springfield, Greene County, in the State of Missouri.
3.Mathilda Agnes Knapp was born in 1891, at Springfield, Greene County, in the State of Missouri and died in 1892, at Springfield, Greene County, in the State of Missouri. Her nickname was Mattie.
4.Myron Joseph Knapp was born on the Twenty-eighth day of January, in 1893, at Springfield, Greene County, in the State of Missouri and died in 1966, at Springfield, Greene County, in the State of Missouri. He was married to Lois Wasson. Myron Joseph went by the nickname of Skimmer.
5.John Leonard Knapp was born on the Ninth day of May, in 1895, at Springfield, Greene County, in the State of Missouri and died on the Twenty-fourth day of November, in 1953, at Springfield, Greene County, in the State of Missouri. He was married to Nina Johnson. John Leonard Knapp went by the nickname of Jacob. As in the Bible.
6. Paul Lester Knapp was born on the Fourteenth day of July, in 1897, at Springfield, Greene County, in the State of Missouri and died on The Sixth day of February, in 1860. He was married to Cora Chella Johnson. Paul Lester Knapp was nicknamed Happy.
7. Benjamin Floyd Knapp was born on the Seventh day of December, in 1899, at Springfield, Greene County, in the State of Missouri and died on the Twenty-eighth day of September, in 1975, at Springfield, Greene County, in the State of Missouri. He was married to Bertha Owens. Benjamin Floyd Knapp was nicknamed Pete.
8. Mary Clementine Knapp was born on the Seventeenth day of May, in 1903, at Springfield, Greene county, in the State of Missouri and died on the twenty-second day of October, in 1977, at Springfield, Greene County, in the State of Missouri. She was married to Oscar Harvey and after he died, Mary Clementine Knapp married Homer Wimner. Mary Clementine Knapp was given the nickname of Sunshine.
9. Audrey Beth Knapp was born on the Seventeenth day of June, in 1912, at Springfield, Greene County, in the State of Missouri and died of the Third day of June, in 1976, at Springfield, Greene County, in the State of Missouri. She was married to Verl Reaves. Audrey Beth Knapp went by her middle name of Beth.