Surnames: KNOOP BEYER DUGE

----Source: NEILLSVILLE PRESS (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 12/16/1926

Knoop, Ferdinand (30 OCT 1842 - 3 Dec 1926)

Ferdinand Knoop, one of the oldest residents of the town of Pine Valley, Clark County, Wis., passed away at his home on Friday evening, Dec. 3, 1926, after an illness of nearly two weeks. He was born in Leba, Province of Pommern, Germany, Oct. 30, 1842, and was therefore 84 years, 1 month and 4 days old. He grew to manhood in Germany; in 1869 he came to America, staying at Port Washington about 6 months, then coming to Clark County. He worked in this locality in lumber camps and other occupations. In June 1876 he was married to Bertha Beyer, and they began housekeeping on the place in Pine Valley, which he had purchased a short time previously. It was still a wilderness and their home was only a cabin, but they both worked hard and later it became a fine farm and well provided with the comforts of life. Eight children were born to them, three of who died in infancy. Those living are Clara of Neillsville; Louis of Chili; Emma staying with her brother at Chili; Elsie, Mrs. Wm. Duge of the town of Grant, and Frank at home on the farm.

Besides the wife and children, he leaves 5 grandchildren, and a brother, Albert Knoop, at Butternut, Wis. Mr. Knoop, before his marriage, had traveled widely, seen many lands in his travels goring around the world. He was always a great reader and while not expressing his ideas freely at all times, he was a man of keen intelligence. He did not take much part in public affairs, but was for some time a member of the school board. He was a man of fine moral principles, a kind father and husband, and a good neighbor.

The funeral was held at St. John's Lutheran Church on Wednesday, Dec. 8, Rev. H. Brandt officiating. Those from away who attended the funeral were (Rev.) Carl Otto of Brownsville, Mrs. Rudolph Knoop of Brownsville, Mrs. Charles Heibling and daughter Madeline of Merrillan and Lige Wallace of Rice Lake.