Horace Knapp

Horace Knapp, an American Civil War veteran, a prospector in the Nome Gold Rush, and a strong advocate for education, was one of the pioneers that settled in and founded the community of Purdy, Washington. Knapp was born on March 23, 1845, in Titusville, Pennsylvania. His father, a carpenter, caught pneumonia while working on a roof and died before Knapp was born. His mother married a man named Claude English and gave birth to two boys. Knapp was sent to live with an aunt and uncle when he was just five years old.

Civil War

When the first call for volunteers for the American Civil War came after the firing on Fort Sumter in the Battle of Fort Sumter, Knapp went to Meadville, Pennsylvania, the county seat, and gave his age as eighteen. It was questioned, but the recruiting officer, Daniel Sickles, said, "I have known the boy since he was knee-high to a grasshopper." Knapp joined Company K of the 57th Pennsylvania Infantry Volunteers. He served three years and three months in the Army of the Potomac, and was involved in three skirmishes and thirteen general engagements. A spent ball lodged in his knee at the Battle of Antietam, which he carried the rest of his life. He was in front of Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg. His company lost 113 out of 187 men. After discharge, he spent some time at Titusville, for a few months, or perhaps a year. After the war, Knapp made his way across the United States to the Washington Territory, current day Washington (state).

Going West

Horace Knapp kept a diary and record book covering the period from 1862 while he was in the Army to 1870. The various entries cover the following dates and places. It is interesting to see a bit of his trek across the nation.

Under the heading of Deer Lodge, Montana, Knapp writes: After arriving at Virginia City, Montana, in May 1866, I went to work in the Alder Gulch mine. Sometime in June I started for Elk Creek on the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains. On May 19, 1864, I took a job and ploughed 4 acres for $40.00, for 13 days of work for $52.00 (for Frank Nodi).

October 16, 1865, I quit working in Rollin's Boarding House. October 17, 1865, went prospecting on Mammoth Gulch, Colorado. November 14, 1865, left Denver, Colorado for the Arkansas River and New Mexico. November 19, 1865, arrived at Pueblo, Colorado on the Arkansas River. The country is very desolate. Game abounds such as antelope, deer, elk, and jack rabbits.

April 18, 1866, I left Rollins, Gold Co. at South Boulder, Colorado Territory. I reached Denver, Colorado on April 21, 1866, and after 38 days of travel arrived at Virginia City, Montana. On our journey, we crossed the very cold summit of the Black Hills. On May 2, 1866, we crossed the North Platte River. On May 4, 1866, we crossed the summit of the Rocky Mountains. On May 11, 1866, we struck the old California Trail. On May 12, 1866 we made it to Fort Bridger. On May 17, 1866, traveling along the B.R. (possibly Bear River), we had to swim our horses over the river and pull our wagons across by hand, as the water was high at Thomson's Fork.

On May 18, 1866, we passed the first Mormon settlement, in Montpelier, Idaho, there were a few log cabins, a grocery store, and a black smith shop. On May 19, 1866, we followed the Bear River to Soda Springs. From there we took the East Road, striking Snake River about 130 miles from the former place. September 10, 1868, we left Silver Bow, MT for Bitterroot, MT and the Sweeney River, MT.

Washington Territory

After arriving in the Washington Territory, Knapp made his way to the shores of the Puget Sound by 1869 where he made a living as a logger or lumberjack. He married Josephine Fuller on February 8, 1885, and they moved to the Purdy area, making her the first white woman in the area. He owned two logging camps on Puget Sound. One on Harstine Island, Washington, and the other one around Purdy, Washington. The headquarters of the Purdy camp was a floating camp. It consisted of a one story building (18x36 feet) which rested on five huge cedar logs. The rear ten feet was a bedroom where Knapp's two sons were born. The remaining space was used as an office, living room and kitchen. The furniture was homemade and well-built by Knapp and his men. The interior was decorated with newspapers from which his children learned to read.

Books

Knapp was tense and just. He believed in each person standing on his own feet. "Live and let live" was his oft quoted motto. But living, to him, meant independent, active living. The broader the field of knowledge, the wider the base for freedom. His home was the center for the best books and literature. That meant reading, digesting, and discussing. It was the tense, active participation in life that was offered and demanded by Knapp. When at home, he sat at his desk, book-keeping, or studying and writing. He had a surprisingly complete library consisting of reference works such as Webster's unabridged dictionary, Chambers's Encyclopaedia, "The Principles of English Grammar" by Peter Bullions, and many other books. He had a tiny leather-bound volume of the New Testament which he apparently had carried for years. He had current periodicals from Harper's Magazine to "Littell's Living Age" by Eliakim Littell. Books were his pride and joy. He had built up years of association with books before he met his wife.

Nome Gold Rush

Knapp was a true pioneer in spirit. He spent many months and sometimes years prospecting for wealth in far places. But, his family was never neglected. He was a good provider as far as material wants were concerned. His son, Earl, remembers sitting at his mother's knee, around 1900, watching her lips spell out the words of a months old letter saying this would be the last message until the ice broke and the steamers could get within lighter distance of Nome, Alaska for the Nome Gold Rush. The tear on his mother's cheek induced no response in the heart of her young hero worshiper son who pictured his father a bold knight challenging the icy darkness.

Logging with Oxen

After log driving for years with oxen, Knapp always took unusual care in the raising and training of the calves and young bulls. Not until the young bulls had gained a heavy neck and weighty front quarters with the spirit of aggressiveness well developed did he alter them into steers. He never dehorned them because he said it dampened their spirits. It was his pride to be able to control his oxen with a gentle tone of voice. He reserved a short, sharp chirp-like whistle for emphasis. He carried a goad stick but seldem used it. He would spend hours with bull calves studying their dispositions in order to select the ones most promising for oxen. In short, he really palled with his bovine friends.

Wife was Crippled

Knapp was always "prospecting for wealth in far places". His wife's crippling accident interfered with and postponed a planned prospecting trip to Atlin, British Columbia. He had recently returned from a search for gypsum up the Green River (Duwamish River) country in the Cascade Range.

It happened on Sunday, July 3, 1898. The Spanish–American War slogan "Remember the Maine to hell with Spain" was ringing in the air. His son, Earl, was eleven years old and was swimming in the south end of a bridge that spanned the mouth of Purdy Creek. The bridge began at the point where the present oyster plant is situated and ended on the Purdy townsite near the old mill office where Marian Riley lived. The bridge was part of the first Purdy-Gig Harbor, Washington road. Their home, at that time, was standing in almost the exact spot of the present store site.

While Earl was in the water, Knapp came driving along with his well-groomed span of black mares. In the surrey, sat Josephine and Luella McKinney (a former teacher who had boarded with them). They were on their way to Sidney (now Port Orchard, Washington). They stopped for a chat with Earl and then drove on. After leaving the bridge they had to pass through a heavy stand of thistles. The blossoms were alive with honey bees. The horses were nervous and began backing and plunging about. Before Knapp could get them under control, Josephine jumped out. She fell and the wheels ran over her ankle twice, crushing the bones badly. By the time they got Dr. Steward from Tacoma, Washington, the ankle was painfully swollen and hard to set. Josephine was crippled the rest of her life. The horses were shy of bees on this occasion because they had been plowing for neighbor, Nick Gooch, the day before and had unearthed a nest of yellow jackets. The horses were stung unmercifully.

Advocate for Education

Besides teaching his sons the finer points of logging, such as sharpening and handling a crosscut saw, and felling and bucking trees, Knapp was an advocate of education. To learn by doing was Knapp's formula for acquiring an education. He had very decided ideas in regard to education. He fought for better schools at all times.

Education was something that the individual should strive for. It was a continuous process in life. Schooling could be helpful or not depending on the pupil. Even so, he donated the land for the first schoolhouse (abandoned in the 1890s) and the second Purdy Schoolhouse to be built in 1900. The second Purdy Schoolhouse stood until 2015, when it was demolished to build a new home. Better schools, better roads, and more settlers were the crying needs as Knapp saw it.

Road to Gig Harbor

Speaking of roads, a road was badly needed from Purdy to Gig Harbor, Washington. Knapp contacted Mr. Fay, who represented the district. The board told him there was but $400.00 available. If he could complete a road for that amount, he could have it. He took it. Not having time to take charge himself, he turned it over to a Mr. McLoud, who lived across from the Murry Place south of Horseshoe Lake, Washington. Bismark Burnham of Gig Harbor bid the lowest for the right of way. But, all who could, donated labor. Knapp gave freely of time and labor, including the team. A road of sorts was built from the first creek below Purdy, winding easterly through the trees to connect with the Peacock Hill road to Olalla, Washington. Knapp was civic-minded. A layman, he had a good grasp of the law, business fundamentals, and surveying. He was consulted often and responded cheerfully.

His Children

In the homestead, hanging on the wall was a shadow box frame into which Josephine had arranged her wedding wreath, beneath which were pictures of their only two children, Earl and Seth. Accompanying were these few lines composed by Knapp: "Two little boys with flaxen hair, with laughing lips and eyes. Two little spirits pure and fair, as angels from the skies."

Death and Burial

Horace Knapp died on February 1, 1913, in Gig Harbor, Washington, from pulmonary tuberculosis. He was buried on February 3, 1913, at Artondale Cemetery in the Knapp Family Plot.