Jonas Knerr
(1814-1895)
Susanna Muehlhausen
(1819-1893)
Solomon Diehl Jr.
(1827-1891)
Sarah Ann George
(1826-1905)
Elias Henry Knerr
(1849-1909)
Sarah Isabella Diehl
(1854-1941)
Blaine Jonas Knerr
(1882-1921)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
1. Elsie Mira E. Austin

Blaine Jonas Knerr 2 3 4 5 6

  • Born: 23 Nov 1882, Weidasville, Lehigh, PA 4 7 8
  • Marriage (1): Elsie Mira E. Austin on 7 Dec 1912 in Yonkers, Westchester, NY 1 2
  • Died: 12 Nov 1921, Rockville Centre, Nassau, NY, USA at age 38 4 9
  • Buried: Leather Corner Post: Morgenland Church Cemetery, Lehigh, PA 4

   FamilySearch ID: K8Q9-B6W.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Newspaper: Allentown Leader: Morgenland School Report, 23 Jan 1899, Allentown, Lehigh, PA. 10 The following is the report of the Morgenland school for the third month, L. G. Heilman teacher: Adam H. G. Geiger, Richard J. Schneck, Lizzie E. Knerr, Emma S. E. Schneck, Annie K. L. Schneck, Eva G. I. Buchman, Katie I. Knerr and Elsie S. Geiger attended every day. Jesse A. Guth, George B. Heilman, Blaine J. Knerr, George A. J. Buchman and Emma L. Knerr missed but one day. The number of pupils is 31 and the percentage of attendance 93.

2. Census in 1900 in Lowhill Twp., Lehigh, PA. 7 The census listed E. Henry Knerr, age 50, head of the household that included Isabella (46, born March 1854); Carrie S. A. (19, January 1881); Blaine J. (17, November, 1882); Katie I. (15, December 1884); Emma S. (13, March 1887); Lizzie E. (11, August 1888); and Isabella's mother, Sarah Diehl (73, November 1826). Isabella is listed as having 9 children, 6 still living. Her mother, Sarah, had 13 children and 11 were still living. Henry and Isabella are listed as being married for 27 years. Everyone and everyone's parents are listed as being born in Pennsylvania.

3. Newspaper: Allentown Leader: Jolly Eight of Morgenland, 24 Feb 1903, Allentown, Lehigh, PA. GRAND ENTERTAINMENT.
The Jolly Eight of Morgenland, assisted by the Male Quartet of the same place, will give a grand entertainment on Saturday evening, Feb. 28, in the Morgenland Church for the benefit of the church, when the following program will be rendered: Greeting song, Jolly Eight; song, qaurtet; "Murder Will Out," Jolly Eight: solo, G. A. J. Buchman; "A Modern Solo," Carrie S. A. Knerr; "Gertrude Mason," Jolly Eight; song, quartet; solo, B. J. Knerr; "The Sweet Family," Jolly Eight. Admission 10c. Should the weather be unfavorable the entertainment will be held on the following Saturday evening.

4. Newspaper: Allentown Democrat: "Blaine J. Knerr has accepted a position with the Allentown Spinning Co.", 30 Mar 1904, Allentown, Lehigh, PA. 11

5. Newspaper: Allentown Leader: "Blaine J. Knerr, son of E. H. Knerr, has entered the employ of H. Leh & Co.", 4 May 1904, Allentown, Lehigh, PA. 12

6. Newspaper: Allentown Leader: Misses Knerr Gave A Party, 24 Jan 1905, Allentown, Lehigh, PA. 13 The MIsses Knerr of 218 North Twelfth Street entertained a large party of friends. The evening was pleasantly spent in playing games of various kinds. Piano solos were rendered by Miss Lichtenwainer and Mr. Bernhard. Refreshments were served. Those present were Emma Knerr, Robt. Grim, Savilla Wagner, Blaine Knerr, Edna Rex, John Knerr, Lizzie Knerr, Frederick Schmoyer, Stella Knerr, John Schubert, Katie Knerr, Joseph Geisinger, Carrie Lichtenwainer, Harold Bernhard, Annie Knerr and Mr. and Mrs. Diehl, Mr. and Mrs. Knerr, Miss Carrie Knerr and Mrs. Solomon Diehl.

7. Residence: on 30 Apr 1909 in Tarrytown, Westchester, NY. 5

8. Residence: 15 Windle Park, Tarrytown, New York in 1910 in Tarrytown, Westchester, NY. 14

9. Occupation: accountant in 1912 in Yonkers, Westchester, NY. 1

10. Newspaper: Allentown Leader: B. J. Knerr Wedded in Yonkers, 13 Dec 1912, Allentown, Lehigh, PA. 2 Blaine Jones Knerr [sic], formerly of this city, was last Saturday evening united in marriage with Miss Elsie Mira Austin, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. K. A. Austin, 40 Purser Place, Yonkers. The marriage took place at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Yerks, 19 Philipse Place, Yonkers, with the Rev. Henry Olmsted of St. Andrew's Memorial Episcopal Church officiating. A vested choir of ten boys, under the leadership of Harry Woodstock from All Angels Church, New York city, sang. Mr. and Mrs. Knerr left on a honeymoon trip to the South and upon their return they will reside at 34 Cliff Avenue, Yonkers. Mr. Knerr, who was formerly of this city, is in business in New York.

11. Residence: 34 Cliff Avenue, Yonkers, New York. Occupation: auditor in 1913 in Yonkers, Westchester, NY. 15

12. Newspaper: Horseless Age: Blaine J. Knerr a founder and auditor of MotoKart Co., 16 Apr 1913, New York, New York, NY. 6 Old U. S. Motor Men Launch New Company
Papers have been filed at Albany covering the incorporation of the Motokart Co., a $250,000 concern recently organized for the purpose of building light commercial automobiles. The new company will be headed by A. R. Gormully, recently of the United States Motor Co., as president. Wallace Odell, of Tarrytown, N. Y., a newcomer in the industry, is named as vice president and treasurer, and B. J. Knerr, auditor of the United States Motor Co., as secretary. The company will start with stock subscriptions of $50,000. They have taken under three year lease a shop at Tarrytown, giving them a floor space of over 30,000 square feet, and have established general offices in the United States. Rubber Building, 1790 Broadway, New York City. Trade notices will be given in the near future.

13. Census in 1915 in Yonkers, Westchester, NY. Blain J. Knerr and wife Elsie M., https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K957-JS2 : accessed 05 Nov 2013), Blain J Knerr, 1915.

14. Newspaper: Horseless Age: MotoKart Co. Bankruptcy, 26 May 1915, New York, New York, NY. 16 MotoKart Plant Brings $6,000
After a career extending over a period of two years and which was marked by one change of name and two reorganizations, The MotoKart Co. Inc. virtually passed out of existence on May 19th when Charles Shongood, United States Auctioneer for the Southern District of New York, in Bankruptcy disposed of the assets of the bankrupt company at Peekskill, N. Y. The plant machines for the manufacture of automobiles parts tools etc. as well as the trustee's right to the real estate and factory building were sold at public auction and brought a total of $6,000. Many bidders attended the sale and the property was knocked down in lots to a number of individuals. The company was formed in April, 1913, by A. R. Gormully, Wallace Odell, and B. J. Knerr, with a capital stock of $250,000. Gormully and Knerr were formerly connected with the defunct United States Motor Co. The MotoKart company manufactured a 400 pound light delivery wagon.
.

15. Residence: 507 Philip , Detroit, Michigan on 12 Sep 1918 in Detroit, Wayne, MI. 8

16. Occupation: Assistant Comptroller, Maxwell Motor Co. on 12 Sep 1918 in Detroit, Wayne, MI. 8

17. Census in 1920 in Detroit, Wayne, MI. 17

18. Newspaper: New York Daily News: While Wife Awaits Auto He Hangs Self in Garage, 13 Nov 1921, New York, New York, NY. 18 While Wife Awaits Auto He Hangs Self in Garage
Leaving to get the automobile in which he and his wife were to drive to Florida, Blaine Jonas Knerr, thirty-nine, former assistant controller of the Northwestern Moto Company of Detroit, went to the garage at 69 Atlantic Avenue, Oceanside, L. I., yesterday afternoon and committed suicide by hanging himself to a beam. Mr. Knerr suffered a nervous breakdown several months ago and his failure to get well quickly is believed to have been the cause of his act.

19. Newspaper: New York Times: "KNERR -- Suddenly, on Saturday, Nov. 12, 1921, Blaine J. Knerr, at the age of 39. Funeral services at his late residence, 47 Davis St., Rockville Centre, L. I., Monday at 8 o'clock. Burial private. Detroit, Yonkers papers please copy.", 13 Nov 1921, New York, New York, NY. 9

20. Obituary: Morning Call: obituary of Blaine J. Knerr on 14 Nov 1921 in Allentown, Lehigh, PA. 19 BLAINE J.KNERR DIES IN LONG ISLAND, N. Y
Native of Lowhill Twsp.
Manager of Detroit Auto Manufacturing Co. Dept.
Blaine J. Knerr, a native of Lowhill township, died Saturday at Rockville Center, Long Island, where he had gone to recuperate from a nervous breakdown, according to word in this city by relatives. He would have been 39 years old, had he lived until the 23rd of this month.
Mr. Knerr was a son of Isabella, nee Diehl, and the late E. Henry Knerr.
At one time he taught in the schools of the county, later taking up clerical work. Mr. Knerr received his education in the schools of the county and also attended the Schnecksville Normal! school.
At the time of his death he was manager of the insurance department of the Consolidated Automobile Manufacturing Company at Detroit, Michigan. There his health began to fail, and in September he went to Lake Rangely, Maine, from where he went in October to Long Island. After giving up the profession of school teaching, Mr. Knerr came to Allentown in 1903 from Weidasville. He was then employed as a salesman in the H. Leh and company shoe department, later joining the office force of the Allentown Spinning company, leaving there for a position with the Bethlehem Steel company, in the accounting department. In 1911, he went to Tarrytown, N. Y. with the Maxwell automobile company, where he remained for seven years, going to Detroit in 1918, where he has since resided.
Mr. Knerr was confirmed into the Reformed church by Rev. E. J. Fogel of Fogelsville. He was also affiliated with the Masonic lodge and several other organizations, among which was the Lowhill Mutual Aid, of Morgenland.
Besides his mother, Mrs. Isabella Knerr of this city, there survives his widow, Mrs. Elsie, nee Auskins, Knerr, of Yonkers, N. Y. and these sisters: Mrs. Ray Mohr and Mrs. Eugene Miller, both of Allentown; Mrs. Frank Bury, Bethlehem; Mrs. Geo. Jaker and Mrs. William Schatzing, both of New York City.
It had been expected that the body would arrive in this city Sunday evening at 9 o'clock, when funeral arrangements were to have been made. Delay somewhere, however, made this impossible.

21. Newspaper: Morning Call: Deny Story Blaine J. Knerr Committed Suicide, 15 Nov 1921, Allentown, Lehigh, PA. 20 Deny Story Blaine J. Knerr Committed Suicide
The widow of Blaine J. Knerr, who died in Rockville Centre, Long Island, on Saturday, telephoned to Mr. Knerr's relatives in this city yesterday denying the telegraphed news story sent out by the I. N. S. to the effect that Mr. Knerr had committed suicide by hanging in the garage at their country place there.
The remains arrived in this city yesterday and will be given private interment here.


Blaine married Elsie Mira E. Austin, daughter of Charles H. Austin and Anna Katherine Stengel, on 7 Dec 1912 in Yonkers, Westchester, NY.1 2 (Elsie Mira E. Austin was born on 14 May 1887 in Yonkers, Westchester, NY 1 17 21 and died on 23 Feb 1984 in Saint Petersburg, Pinellas, FL 21.)


Sources


1 FamilySearch.org, New York, County Marriages, 1908-1935, https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FFTS-9HF Blain Jonas Knerr and Elsie Mira E Austin, 1912.

2 The Allentown Leader (Allentown, PA) (Allentown, Lehigh, Pennsylvania), 13 Dec 1912, page 6. Marriage of B. J. Knerr and Elsie Mira Austin.

3 Ancestry.com I324.

4 Knerr, Katie Isabelle, Notes of Katie Isabelle Knerr (Handwritten notes of her family history, in possession of her daughter, Isabel Beacher.).

5 The Allentown Leader (Allentown, PA) (Allentown, Lehigh, Pennsylvania), 30 Apr 1909, page 1. Death of E. Henry Knerr.

6 Horseless Age: The Automobile Trade Magazine (New York, New York.), Vol. 31. 16 Apr 1913. Online https://books.google.com/books?id=3EH55Br8y9YC&pg=PA679&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&sig=ACfU3U1ss58Zdvd2nLLdJaUXomtKf-MByA&ci=19%2C780%2C292%2C377&edge=0.

7 1900 United States Census, Pennsylvania, Lehigh County, Lowhill Township Visit 128.

8 United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K6XM-4DJ Blaine Jonas Knerr, 1917-1918; citing Detroit City, Michigan, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509.

9 New York Times (New York, New York. Some articles online at http://query.nytimes.com/), 13 Nov 1921, page 22. Death notice for Blaine J. Knerr.

10 The Allentown Leader (Allentown, PA) (Allentown, Lehigh, Pennsylvania), 23 Jan 1899, page 1.

11 Allentown Democrat (Allentown, PA), 30 Mar 1904, page 3.

12 The Allentown Leader (Allentown, PA) (Allentown, Lehigh, Pennsylvania), 4 May 1904, page 6.

13 The Allentown Leader (Allentown, PA) (Allentown, Lehigh, Pennsylvania), 24 Jan 1905, page 2.

14 Ancestry.com, U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, 1910 Tarrytown City Directory.

15 Ancestry.com, U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, 1913 Yonkers City Directory.

16 Horseless Age: The Automobile Trade Magazine (New York, New York.), Vol. XXXV, No. 21, 26 May 1915. Online https://books.google.com/books?id=PIVMAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22b.%20j.%20knerr%22&pg=PA696#v=onepage&q=%22b.%20j.%20knerr%22&f=true.

17 1920 United States Census, https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MZ7T-P5V Elsie A Knerr in household of Blaine J Knerr, Detroit Ward 2, Wayne, Michigan, United States; citing sheet , family 25, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1820803.

18 New York Daily News (New York, NY), 13 Nov 1921, page 6.

19 Morning Call (Allentown, PA), 14 Nov 1921, page 5. Obituary of Blaine J. Knerr.

20 Morning Call (Allentown, PA), 15 Nov 1921, page 7.

21 FamilySearch.org, Florida Death Index, 1877-1998, Elsie Knerr, 13 May 1887, Pinellas, FL.



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