Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Paul F. Knapp


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features Paul F. Knapp and three of his descendants down to the third generation.


First Generation
1. Paul F. Knapp,1 born 12 May 1918 in Fremont, Steuben County, Indiana, the son of Vyrle Knapp and Luella Brouse;1, 2, 3 died 5 October 1981 in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan.2, 4 Paul married, 12 August 1939 in Steuben County, Indiana, Cora H. Miner1 (born 18 April 1922 in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan, the daughter of William Edgar Miner and Florence Belle Crippen;1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Cora died 16 August 1979 in Quincy, Branch County, Michigan5, 9). Their marriage ended in divorce on 4 December 1946 in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan.6 Paul is buried in Bronson Cemetery, Bronson, Branch County, Michigan.4 Cora is buried in Lake View Cemetery, Quincy, Branch County, Michigan.5

Children of Paul F. Knapp and Cora H. Miner:

+2i. Paula Jean Knapp, born 17 August 1942 in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan; died 6 September 2008. Married Willis David Phair.
+3ii. Diana Lee Knapp, born 15 June 1943 in Michigan. Married (1) _____ Risch Married (2) Homer Ray Draper Married (3) James John ‘Radar’ Bolitho.

  1. Indiana Marriages, 1811-2018/2019, Application for Marriage License and Certificate of Marriage, Paul Knapp, born: 12 May 1918 in Fremont, Indiana; laborer; father: Merle Knapp, laborer, born in Angola, Indiana; mother: Luella Brouse, born in Ray [?], Indiana, occupation: factory; first marriage; Cora Miner, born: 18 April 1920 in Coldwater, Michigan; father: Wm. Miner, born in Bethel, Michigan, city employee; mother: Florence Crippen, born in Lawrence, Michigan; first marriage; married on 12 August 1939 in Steuben County, Indiana.
  2. Michigan Deaths, 1971-1996; Paul F. Knapp, died: 5 October 1981 in Coldwater, Branch [County], Michigan; born: 12 May 1918.
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1950, Michigan, Branch County, Quincy, E.D. 12-31, Sheet No. 7, Paul Knapp, 32, Indiana, divorced; Paula Knapp, 7, Michigan [they are lodgers in the household of Anna Springstead and family].
  4. Find a Grave (website). Bronson Cemetery, Bronson, Branch County, Michigan, Paul F. Knapp, born: unknown; died: 5 October 1981 (from record).
  5. Find a Grave (website). Lake View Cemetery, Quincy, Branch County, Michigan, Cora H. Miner Halferty, born: 18 April 1922; died: 16 August 1979 (from record, which provides the names and links for her parents and two husbands).
  6. Indiana Marriages, 1811-2018/2019, Application for Marriage License and Certificate of Marriage, Leon Baird, born: 6 May 1912 in La Grange County, Indiana; laborer; father: Walter Baird, born in Illinois, laborer, deceased; mother: Dora Olive Burkheart, born in DeKalb, Indiana; first marriage; Cora H. Knapp, born: 18 April 1922 in Branch County, Michigan; father: William Miner, born in Bethel, Michigan, farmer; mother: Florence Crippen, born in Bangor, Michigan; married once, divorced on 4 December 1946 in Coldwater, Michigan; married on 9 May 1947 in Steuben County, Indiana.
  7. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, Michigan, Branch County, Coldwater, E.D. 12-8, Sheet No. 8B, William E. Miner, 34, Michigan, first married age 21, laborer, feed and coal co.; wife Florence B. Miner, 32, Michigan, first married age 17; daughter Marjorie B. Miner, 14, Michigan; daughter Ruth E. Miner, 11, Michigan; daughter Cora H. Miner, 8, Michigan; daughter Liliun [sic, indexed as Libium] A. Miner, 6, Michigan; daughter Florence A. Miner, 5, Michigan; daughter Lemoyne E. Miner, 10/12, Michigan.
  8. U.S. Federal Census, 1950, Michigan, Branch County, Quincy, E.D. 12-31, Sheet No. 74, Leon Baird, 37, Indiana, truck driver; wife Cora Baird, 27, Michigan.
  9. Obituary, Battle Creek Enquirer, Battle Creek, Michigan (available at newspapers.com), Friday, 17 August 1979, Mrs. Max Halferty, Mrs. Cora H. (Miner) Halferty, died: Thursday [16 August 1979] in Quincy [Michigan]; born in Branch County [Michigan]. The article provides vital and biographical details and the names of her two husbands, two daughters, one son, one step-daughter, and three sisters.
Second and Third Generations
2. Paula Jean Knapp2 (Paul1), born 17 August 1942 in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan;1, 2, 3 died 6 September 2008.2 Paula married, 8 October 1958 in Angola, Steuben County, Indiana, Willis David Phair1 (born 4 April 1936 in Quincy, Branch County, Michigan, the son of Willis R. Phair and Catheryn Clugg;1, 4 Willis died 20 June 20154). Willis is buried in Woodlawn Memorial Park, Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas.4

3. Diana Lee Knapp2 (Paul1), born 15 June 1943 in Michigan.5, 6 Diana married, first, _____ Risch (born ____, parents not determined). Diana married, second, 1990 in LaGrange County, Indiana, Homer Ray Draper8 (born 13 November 1941, parents not determined;7 Homer died 14 February 20117). Diana married, third, 15 February 2004 in Clarkston, Oakland County, Michigan, James John ‘Radar’ Bolitho9 (born 19 May 1951 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, parents not determined;9 Radar died 7 December 20229). Homer is buried in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Sturgis, St. Joseph County, Michigan.7

Child of Diana Lee Knapp and _____ Risch:

 4i. James Ray Risch, born 14 September 1968.6

  1. Indiana Marriages, 1811-2018/2019, Application for Marriage License and Marriage Certificate, Willis David Phair, born: 4 April 1936 in Quency [sic, Quincy], Michigan; occupation: factory; never married; father: Willis R. Phair, farmer, born in unknown; mother: Catheryn Clugg, school teacher, born in Michigan; Paula Jean Knapp, born: 17 August 1942 in Coldwater, Michigan; never married; father: Paul F. Knapp, laborer, born in Indiana; mother; Cora H. Miner, born in Michigan; married on 8 October 1958 in Angola, Steuben County, Indiana.
  2. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Family Search (website), Paula J. Fee, died: 6 September 2008; born: 17 August 1942; state: Michigan; last place of residence: Muldrow, Sequoyah, Oklahoma.
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1950, Michigan, Branch County, Quincy, E.D. 12-31, Sheet No. 7, Paul Knapp, 32, Indiana, divorced; Paula Knapp, 7, Michigan [they are lodgers in the household of Anna Springstead and family].
  4. Find a Grave (website). Woodlawn Memorial Park, Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas, Willis David Phair, born: 4 April 1936; died: 20 June 2015 (from record, which provides the names and links for his parents).
  5. U.S. Federal Census, 1950, Michigan, Branch County, Coldwater, E.D. 12-16, Sheet No. 13, Vyrle [indexed as Cyrle] W. Knapp, 52, Michigan, carpenter, building contracting; wife Luella Knapp, 48, Indiana, sewing machine op[erator], garment factory; son Donald C. Knapp, 25, Indiana, riveter, sled factory; daughter Beverly L. Knapp, 14, Michigan; granddaughter Diana L. Knapp, 6, Michigan.
  6. This is publicly viewable information found in various public information repositories, people finding websites, and/or social media.
  7. Find a Grave (website). Oak Lawn Cemetery, Sturgis, St. Joseph County, Michigan, Homer R. Draper, born: 13 November 1941; died: 14 February 2011 (from record, which includes a note: Married to Joy E. Draper, Son, Homar Tay Fox Draper).
  8. Indiana, U.S., Marriage Certificates, 1960-2012 (available at ancestry.com), Homer Ray Draper, born in 1941; father: Lloyd Draper; and Diana Lee Risch [Diana Lee Knapp], born in 1943; father: Paul Knapp; mother: Cora Knapp; married in 1990 in LaGrange County, Indiana.
  9. Obituary, Muir Brothers Funeral Home Lapeer (website: muirbrotherslapeer.com), James “Radar” Bolitho, Sr., died: 7 December 2022; born; 19 May 1951 in Detroit. The article provides vital and biographical details and the names of his parents, wife, and children.