Paul Jay Knapp was born 21 Feb 1886 in Hartford, Van Buren, Michigan. He was the son and only child of Brace Knapp and Agnes Pokagon.
1900 Federal Census - Benton Harbor, Berrien, Michigan
Paul married Anna Cushaway on 17 Aug 1908 in Ludington, Mason, Michigan
St Joseph Daily Press, 5 Oct 1909
QUIGNO AGAIN CHOSEN CHIEF
HEAD OF POTTAWATOMI BAND WINS BY CLOSE MARGIN OF ONE VOTE.
CLING TO OLD CUSTOM
Have Primitive Way of Electing Their officers---Four Candidates For Leadership of Tribe---New Secretary Elected at Gathering in Dowagiac.
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Dowagiac, Oct. 5---Chief Isaac Quigno of Hartford, who for the past eight years has been at the head of the little band of Pottawatomie Indians, the majority of whom reside in southwestern Michigan, was again elected to that position at the meeting of the tribe.
The other officers elected are as follows:
Chairman of Business Committee---Thomas Topash, of Silver Creek, re-elected
Secretary---Frank Hamilton, So. Bend, succeeds Paul Knapp
Members of the business committee---Paul Knapp, Fern, Mich.; Joseph Motley, Hartford; John Williams, Silver Creek; Peter Persons, Silver Creek' and Chas. Allexis, Toguin.
The Pottawatomies still clilng to the primitive way of electing their officers.
They probably have their reasons for so doing, but the custom seems odd indeed, to one accustomed to the more modern methods, viz, the ballot.
The candidates for a certain tribal position are nominated, to which nomination the candidates respond with a speech appropriate to the occasion.
The candidates then thake their positions in separate parts of the hall and the members of the tribe who are eligible to vote (all males over 21 years of age) flock to the side of the one they desire for the place.
The heads are then counted and the result anounced by the chairman, who also gives the result of the election.
There was considerable interest manifested in the choice of the offiecrs, especially that of chief.
Four candidates were named to chief: Isaac Quigno, Paul Knapp, Peter Persons and Sam Weesaw.
There was much electioneering done, and it reminded one of the days before the Australian ballot system was adopted. The candidates worked in their own behalf, going out of doors and taking the less interested ones inside to vote.
The vote for chief was a tie until Quigno himself led in the man whose vote decided the contest. There were 47 vots cast for chief, quigno receiving a bare majority of one over all.
There were sharp contests over each, even to the last member of the committee.
Since the Pottawatomies have laid claim to the lake front, Chicago, there are may Indians now claiming membership to the tribe who heretofore have been inactive.
1910 Federal Census - Hartford, Van Buren, Michgian
Paul registered for the draft Sep 1912 in Ludington, Mason, Michigan
1920 Federal Census - Rivertown township, Mason, Michigan
1930 Federal Census - Hartford, Van Buren, Michigan
Wife Cecelia Anna died 21 Apr 1933
The Herald-Palladium 22 Apr 1933
The Ludington Daily 2 May 1933
1940 Benton Harbor City Directory
1940 Federal Census - Arthur Hotel, 220 Water Street, Benton Harbor, Berrien, Michigan
Paul registered for the draft 27 Apr 1942 in Benton Harbor, Berrien, Michigan
Paul died 13 Dec 1943 in Berrien Center, Berrien, Michigan
He was buried at Crystal Springs Cemetery in Benton Harbor, Berrien, Michigan
The Herald-Press, St. Joseph, 13 Dec 1943
The Herald-Press, St. Joseph, 15 Dec 1943
The Herald-Press, St. Joseph, 17 Dec 1943
The Herald Palladium, 15 Jan 1944
Copyright (c) 2022 Vicki Wilson
