HISTORY OF THE KNELL FAMILY of CARTHAGE, MISSOURI
Mary Knell Colvin came from a very historic and distinguished family, her great grandparents being born and raised in the area of St. Gallen, Switzerland. They later moved to Bayfield, Canada where her grandfather Edward Knell was born. At the time Edward was 10, the family returned to Switzerland. Then 5 years later, he returned to the United States, settling in Davenport, Iowa.
At the age of nineteen years, started a furniture and upholstery business of his own. He was successful and met with encouraging results from the start. His good business methods, his attention to details, and his strict rule to have everything exactly as represented, made friends and permanent patrons for his establishment. Men learned to know that if E. Knell made a statement regarding his goods, that statement was true in every detail. He scorned a falsehood and despised a man who would make a mis-representation. That early business training has followed him through life and made his business a success in Carthage.
At the age of twenty-one, Mr. Knell was married to Miss Susan L. Wheelock, daughter of C. E. Wheelock, who was at that time interested in the Moline Paper Company, of Moline, Illinois. From this union were born four children, Miss Emma and Lucy, Fred and Frank, (Mary's father)
In 1882, on account of the severeness of the winters in Illinois, Mr. Knell and family moved to Carthage and he started a furniture and undertaking business in the Burlingame & Chaffee building on the south side of the square. He was the first to introduce the art of embalming in Jasper county. He made the undertaking business the study of his life, just as soon as he became interested in it. There was in death something sacred to him. To properly care for those who passed away so as to take away in a measure, the horror of death from the loved ones remaining was to him a subject of constant thought. He gave his time and money in perfecting himself in the art and succeeded beyond his highest expectations. His presence in a chamber of death was a solace and comfort to the surviving friends of the dead. His life study was crowned with success and bringing happiness to him to know he was appreciated by his friends.
Mr. Knell has not only built the undertaking business up to the top-most in Jasper county, but he was one of the first ones to bring to Jasper county standard bred horses.
In 1902 E. Knell invested $21,000 in the developing the fairgrounds in Carthage. The first fair given was in 1902 and was for two years known as the Jasper County Fair, but since it was conducted by Mr. Knell the newspapers and people in general over the country referred it as the Knell fair and in 1904 the catalogues appeared with the fair name "BIG KNELL FAIR." In 1905, the fair having grown to such large proportions that it was impossible for Mr. Knell to handle it alone, he incorporated it and some of the best citizens of Carthage and farmers of Jasper County subscribed liberally for the stock. After having incorporated, Mr. Knell continued as manager until the year 1908, when because of health problems, it was turned over to his daughter Miss Emma and several other town associates to manage and operate. This fair was a favorite attraction for many years.
After their father's death in 1910, The Knell Undertaking Company, later known as Knell Mortuary came under the leadership of the four Knell children. All were licensed embalmers, and Miss Emma and Lucy held the distinction of being the only women in Jasper county, Missouri to hold embalmers licenses. Their father, E. Knell was the first licensed embalmer in Jasper county, Missouri, holding the seventh license to be issued in the state of Missouri.
Fred Knell passed away in 1921, Mary's father Frank W. Knell, Sr., died March 31, 1943.
Emma R. Knell, died September 19, 1963 and Lucy Knell Buckwell was active in operation of Knell Mortuary until March of 1949, when she sold her interest to her nephews, Frank W. Knell and Robert H. Knell, who continued management of the firm. Lucy died in 1973.
The Knell generations of family has continued to operate Knell Mortuary over the years with the same principles set forth in the 1880's by founder Ed Knell established in the early days of his business.
Mary Knell Colvin came from a very historic and distinguished family, her great grandparents being born and raised in the area of St. Gallen, Switzerland. They later moved to Bayfield, Canada where her grandfather Edward Knell was born. At the time Edward was 10, the family returned to Switzerland. Then 5 years later, he returned to the United States, settling in Davenport, Iowa.
At the age of nineteen years, started a furniture and upholstery business of his own. He was successful and met with encouraging results from the start. His good business methods, his attention to details, and his strict rule to have everything exactly as represented, made friends and permanent patrons for his establishment. Men learned to know that if E. Knell made a statement regarding his goods, that statement was true in every detail. He scorned a falsehood and despised a man who would make a mis-representation. That early business training has followed him through life and made his business a success in Carthage.
At the age of twenty-one, Mr. Knell was married to Miss Susan L. Wheelock, daughter of C. E. Wheelock, who was at that time interested in the Moline Paper Company, of Moline, Illinois. From this union were born four children, Miss Emma and Lucy, Fred and Frank, (Mary's father)
In 1882, on account of the severeness of the winters in Illinois, Mr. Knell and family moved to Carthage and he started a furniture and undertaking business in the Burlingame & Chaffee building on the south side of the square. He was the first to introduce the art of embalming in Jasper county. He made the undertaking business the study of his life, just as soon as he became interested in it. There was in death something sacred to him. To properly care for those who passed away so as to take away in a measure, the horror of death from the loved ones remaining was to him a subject of constant thought. He gave his time and money in perfecting himself in the art and succeeded beyond his highest expectations. His presence in a chamber of death was a solace and comfort to the surviving friends of the dead. His life study was crowned with success and bringing happiness to him to know he was appreciated by his friends.
Mr. Knell has not only built the undertaking business up to the top-most in Jasper county, but he was one of the first ones to bring to Jasper county standard bred horses.
In 1902 E. Knell invested $21,000 in the developing the fairgrounds in Carthage. The first fair given was in 1902 and was for two years known as the Jasper County Fair, but since it was conducted by Mr. Knell the newspapers and people in general over the country referred it as the Knell fair and in 1904 the catalogues appeared with the fair name "BIG KNELL FAIR." In 1905, the fair having grown to such large proportions that it was impossible for Mr. Knell to handle it alone, he incorporated it and some of the best citizens of Carthage and farmers of Jasper County subscribed liberally for the stock. After having incorporated, Mr. Knell continued as manager until the year 1908, when because of health problems, it was turned over to his daughter Miss Emma and several other town associates to manage and operate. This fair was a favorite attraction for many years.
After their father's death in 1910, The Knell Undertaking Company, later known as Knell Mortuary came under the leadership of the four Knell children. All were licensed embalmers, and Miss Emma and Lucy held the distinction of being the only women in Jasper county, Missouri to hold embalmers licenses. Their father, E. Knell was the first licensed embalmer in Jasper county, Missouri, holding the seventh license to be issued in the state of Missouri.
Fred Knell passed away in 1921, Mary's father Frank W. Knell, Sr., died March 31, 1943.
Emma R. Knell, died September 19, 1963 and Lucy Knell Buckwell was active in operation of Knell Mortuary until March of 1949, when she sold her interest to her nephews, Frank W. Knell and Robert H. Knell, who continued management of the firm. Lucy died in 1973.
The Knell generations of family has continued to operate Knell Mortuary over the years with the same principles set forth in the 1880's by founder Ed Knell established in the early days of his business.
HISTORY OF THE KNELL FAMILY of CARTHAGE, MISSOURI
Mary Knell Colvin came from a very historic and distinguished family, her great grandparents being born and raised in the area of St. Gallen, Switzerland. They later moved to Bayfield, Canada where her grandfather Edward Knell was born. At the time Edward was 10, the family returned to Switzerland. Then 5 years later, he returned to the United States, settling in Davenport, Iowa.
At the age of nineteen years, started a furniture and upholstery business of his own. He was successful and met with encouraging results from the start. His good business methods, his attention to details, and his strict rule to have everything exactly as represented, made friends and permanent patrons for his establishment. Men learned to know that if E. Knell made a statement regarding his goods, that statement was true in every detail. He scorned a falsehood and despised a man who would make a mis-representation. That early business training has followed him through life and made his business a success in Carthage.
At the age of twenty-one, Mr. Knell was married to Miss Susan L. Wheelock, daughter of C. E. Wheelock, who was at that time interested in the Moline Paper Company, of Moline, Illinois. From this union were born four children, Miss Emma and Lucy, Fred and Frank, (Mary's father)
In 1882, on account of the severeness of the winters in Illinois, Mr. Knell and family moved to Carthage and he started a furniture and undertaking business in the Burlingame & Chaffee building on the south side of the square. He was the first to introduce the art of embalming in Jasper county. He made the undertaking business the study of his life, just as soon as he became interested in it. There was in death something sacred to him. To properly care for those who passed away so as to take away in a measure, the horror of death from the loved ones remaining was to him a subject of constant thought. He gave his time and money in perfecting himself in the art and succeeded beyond his highest expectations. His presence in a chamber of death was a solace and comfort to the surviving friends of the dead. His life study was crowned with success and bringing happiness to him to know he was appreciated by his friends.
Mr. Knell has not only built the undertaking business up to the top-most in Jasper county, but he was one of the first ones to bring to Jasper county standard bred horses.
In 1902 E. Knell invested $21,000 in the developing the fairgrounds in Carthage. The first fair given was in 1902 and was for two years known as the Jasper County Fair, but since it was conducted by Mr. Knell the newspapers and people in general over the country referred it as the Knell fair and in 1904 the catalogues appeared with the fair name "BIG KNELL FAIR." In 1905, the fair having grown to such large proportions that it was impossible for Mr. Knell to handle it alone, he incorporated it and some of the best citizens of Carthage and farmers of Jasper County subscribed liberally for the stock. After having incorporated, Mr. Knell continued as manager until the year 1908, when because of health problems, it was turned over to his daughter Miss Emma and several other town associates to manage and operate. This fair was a favorite attraction for many years.
After their father's death in 1910, The Knell Undertaking Company, later known as Knell Mortuary came under the leadership of the four Knell children. All were licensed embalmers, and Miss Emma and Lucy held the distinction of being the only women in Jasper county, Missouri to hold embalmers licenses. Their father, E. Knell was the first licensed embalmer in Jasper county, Missouri, holding the seventh license to be issued in the state of Missouri.
Fred Knell passed away in 1921, Mary's father Frank W. Knell, Sr., died March 31, 1943.
Emma R. Knell, died September 19, 1963 and Lucy Knell Buckwell was active in operation of Knell Mortuary until March of 1949, when she sold her interest to her nephews, Frank W. Knell and Robert H. Knell, who continued management of the firm. Lucy died in 1973.
The Knell generations of family has continued to operate Knell Mortuary over the years with the same principles set forth in the 1880's by founder Ed Knell established in the early days of his business.
Mary Knell Colvin came from a very historic and distinguished family, her great grandparents being born and raised in the area of St. Gallen, Switzerland. They later moved to Bayfield, Canada where her grandfather Edward Knell was born. At the time Edward was 10, the family returned to Switzerland. Then 5 years later, he returned to the United States, settling in Davenport, Iowa.
At the age of nineteen years, started a furniture and upholstery business of his own. He was successful and met with encouraging results from the start. His good business methods, his attention to details, and his strict rule to have everything exactly as represented, made friends and permanent patrons for his establishment. Men learned to know that if E. Knell made a statement regarding his goods, that statement was true in every detail. He scorned a falsehood and despised a man who would make a mis-representation. That early business training has followed him through life and made his business a success in Carthage.
At the age of twenty-one, Mr. Knell was married to Miss Susan L. Wheelock, daughter of C. E. Wheelock, who was at that time interested in the Moline Paper Company, of Moline, Illinois. From this union were born four children, Miss Emma and Lucy, Fred and Frank, (Mary's father)
In 1882, on account of the severeness of the winters in Illinois, Mr. Knell and family moved to Carthage and he started a furniture and undertaking business in the Burlingame & Chaffee building on the south side of the square. He was the first to introduce the art of embalming in Jasper county. He made the undertaking business the study of his life, just as soon as he became interested in it. There was in death something sacred to him. To properly care for those who passed away so as to take away in a measure, the horror of death from the loved ones remaining was to him a subject of constant thought. He gave his time and money in perfecting himself in the art and succeeded beyond his highest expectations. His presence in a chamber of death was a solace and comfort to the surviving friends of the dead. His life study was crowned with success and bringing happiness to him to know he was appreciated by his friends.
Mr. Knell has not only built the undertaking business up to the top-most in Jasper county, but he was one of the first ones to bring to Jasper county standard bred horses.
In 1902 E. Knell invested $21,000 in the developing the fairgrounds in Carthage. The first fair given was in 1902 and was for two years known as the Jasper County Fair, but since it was conducted by Mr. Knell the newspapers and people in general over the country referred it as the Knell fair and in 1904 the catalogues appeared with the fair name "BIG KNELL FAIR." In 1905, the fair having grown to such large proportions that it was impossible for Mr. Knell to handle it alone, he incorporated it and some of the best citizens of Carthage and farmers of Jasper County subscribed liberally for the stock. After having incorporated, Mr. Knell continued as manager until the year 1908, when because of health problems, it was turned over to his daughter Miss Emma and several other town associates to manage and operate. This fair was a favorite attraction for many years.
After their father's death in 1910, The Knell Undertaking Company, later known as Knell Mortuary came under the leadership of the four Knell children. All were licensed embalmers, and Miss Emma and Lucy held the distinction of being the only women in Jasper county, Missouri to hold embalmers licenses. Their father, E. Knell was the first licensed embalmer in Jasper county, Missouri, holding the seventh license to be issued in the state of Missouri.
Fred Knell passed away in 1921, Mary's father Frank W. Knell, Sr., died March 31, 1943.
Emma R. Knell, died September 19, 1963 and Lucy Knell Buckwell was active in operation of Knell Mortuary until March of 1949, when she sold her interest to her nephews, Frank W. Knell and Robert H. Knell, who continued management of the firm. Lucy died in 1973.
The Knell generations of family has continued to operate Knell Mortuary over the years with the same principles set forth in the 1880's by founder Ed Knell established in the early days of his business.
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