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Frank P. Knippling

Frank P. Knippling is engaged in general merchandising in St. Lucas, Iowa, carrying a full line of ready-made clothing, boots and shoes, gloves, mittens and hosiery, notions, crockery, willow ware, groceries and provisions. He engaged in business in this place in 1878, and has built up a good trade which he is constantly increasing.

The father of our subject was born in the Rhine province of Germany, March 14, 1849, and is a son of John Knippling, who was born in 1812, and on attaining to man's estate wedded Margaretta Kearen, who was born in 1816. They became the parents of three children - Frank, Margaret and Lizzie, and in 1854 sailed for America, locating in Dubuque, Iowa, where the family circle was increased by the birth of three sons: Our subject is the eldest; Margaret, who was born in 1850, married John H. Klinker who is engaged in the bakery and hotel business in Cascade, Iowa, and unto them have been born six children; Lizzie, who was born March 14, 1852, is the wife of F. Faha, of Dyersville, Dubuque County, where he is engaged in business as a merchant tailor and clothier, and they also have six children; Peter, who was born in 1853, died in the German Hospital in San Francisco, Cal., March 10, 1888; John, born in 1858, married Mary Wyley of Dubuque County, by whom he has four children, and follows farming near Dyersville; Henry, who was born in 1859, and is engaged in agricultural pursuits near Elma, Howard County, Iowa, married Caroline Banhause of Chickasaw County, Iowa, and unto them have been born four children. The father of this family died from the effects of a sun stroke July 6, 1860, and the mother's death occurred on the 16th of April following, from nervous exhaustion augmented by her great grief at the loss of her husband, and finding herself in a strange land with a family of children dependent upon her.

Our subject was only five years of age when with his parents he crossed the Atlantic to America. He received a limited education in Dubuque County and there remained until 1871, when he went to Winneshiek County, Iowa, where he secured a position in a woolen mill near Festina. He became a traveling salesman for the firm that owned the mill and for eight years filled that position, a fact which indicates his success, the trust reposed in him by his employers and his faithfulness to that trust. In 1879, he came to St. Lucas, Fayette County, where he has since made his home. As before stated he is engaged in general merchandising, and is one of the leading business men of the place. Since locating here he has been Justice of the Peace and Notary Public during the greater part of the time; has held the office of Township Clerk and Township Assessor for a number of years and in all his official dealings has proved himself fully competent, fair and impartial, giving satisfaction to his constituency. He is agent for the German Insurance Company of Freeport, Ill., and is doing a fine business in that line. Mr. Knippling is a worthy member of St. Lucas Roman Catholic Church and is a public-spirited and enterprising citizen, having the confidence and esteem of his fellow townsmen.