Born in Montgomery, New York, Colonel Knapp came to St. Louis in 1819 with his parents. At the age of 12 he entered as an apprentice in the Missouri Republican newspaper office. In 1836 he was presented with an interest in the book and jobbing department and when the partners sold out in 1837, he became one of the proprietors. With his associates and his brother, he introduced steam-motive power in the shop in 1846. They released the first Sunday issue of that paper in 1848. They were the first publishers in Missouri to use the telegraph extensively in collecting news. The newspaper organization they build lasted until December 4, 1919, when the St. Louis Republic, then the name of the paper, was purchased by the Globe-Democrat.He was a strong supporter of Whig principles before the breakup of that party in the 1850s, and he then became a Democrat. Although he supported the Union during the Civil War, he was always an outspoken critic of Lincoln and his policies. He was a director of the Illinois and St. Louis Bridge Company and he helped promote the building of the Eads Bridge. Because of his influence, the Republican contributed liberally to a subscription fund for building the Missouri Pacific Railroad.He was one of the organizers of the St. Louis volunteer militia in 1835 and went to Mexico in 1846 as Lieutenant Colonel of the St. Louis Grays of the St. Louis Legion. He later became Captain and then Colonel of the first battalion of the St. Louis Legion. In 1862 he organized the Missouri Republican Guards, a company composed of his employees. Brother of Edward J Knapp FindaGrave#79210970
Born in Montgomery, New York, Colonel Knapp came to St. Louis in 1819 with his parents. At the age of 12 he entered as an apprentice in the Missouri Republican newspaper office. In 1836 he was presented with an interest in the book and jobbing department and when the partners sold out in 1837, he became one of the proprietors. With his associates and his brother, he introduced steam-motive power in the shop in 1846. They released the first Sunday issue of that paper in 1848. They were the first publishers in Missouri to use the telegraph extensively in collecting news. The newspaper organization they build lasted until December 4, 1919, when the St. Louis Republic, then the name of the paper, was purchased by the Globe-Democrat.He was a strong supporter of Whig principles before the breakup of that party in the 1850s, and he then became a Democrat. Although he supported the Union during the Civil War, he was always an outspoken critic of Lincoln and his policies. He was a director of the Illinois and St. Louis Bridge Company and he helped promote the building of the Eads Bridge. Because of his influence, the Republican contributed liberally to a subscription fund for building the Missouri Pacific Railroad.He was one of the organizers of the St. Louis volunteer militia in 1835 and went to Mexico in 1846 as Lieutenant Colonel of the St. Louis Grays of the St. Louis Legion. He later became Captain and then Colonel of the first battalion of the St. Louis Legion. In 1862 he organized the Missouri Republican Guards, a company composed of his employees. Brother of Edward J Knapp FindaGrave#79210970
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