William Bingham "Bill" Knapp
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - January 28, 1938
EARLY SETTLER OF EAGLE COUNTY DIES AT GYPSUM. Wm. B. Knapp Passes Away Sunday--Came To This Valley in 1883 and Was a Leading Citizen of County for Over Fifty Years.
Another one of the real pioneers of Colorado and Eagle county passed away Sunday, January 23, when Wm. B. (Bill) KNAPP, died at his home in Gypsum, after a short illness of pneumonia.
Born at Belfast, Allegany county, New York, October 14, 1852, William Bingham KNAPP, heeding Horace GREELEY's advice of "go West young man, go West," came to Colorado in 1880, having first lived a year in Kansas City on his way west. He entered into the spirit of the pioneer days of the state from his arrival, and was very instrumental in weaning this rugged country from the crude state in which Nature had left it.
He first came to this valley in 1883, living for a time on the ranch now owned by Mrs. Ruth NOGAL. Following this he went to Leadville and for a number of years drove a freighting outfit between that town and the then booming mining camp of Aspen over Independence pass.
In 1896 he returned to Gypsum and has since lived here, taking part in various ways in the development of the valley and town. Bill KNAPP was a most courteous gentleman, whose friends were numbered by the score.
Surviving relatives are a nephew, William A. KNAPP of Chevy Chase, Md., a niece, Irene E. DARNELL, of Washington, D.C., and a number of grand nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held from the Lutheran church at Gypsum Wednesday afternoon, with Mortician Paul Andre in charge, and the discourse was delivered by Rev. George ELLER, pastor of the Lutheran church. Burial was made in Cedar Hill cemetery at Gypsum, the remains being followed to their last resting place by a large number of sorrowing people who had been his friends during lifetime. Pall Bearers were: Sheriff W. M. WILSON, Judge William H. LUBY, Edw. McHATTON, H. D. DAVENPORT, J. N. STEIN, and Fritz BORAH.
