Honoring Native Ancestors: Paul Knapp 1886-1943

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Paul Knapp 1886-1943

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

The Times Herald - Port Huron, Michigan, 16 Feb 1906

Indian Appointed to West Point

Benton Harbor, Mich., Feb. 16---

Paul Knapp, grandson of Pokagon, famost chief of the Pottawutomies (sic), has been appointed to a cadeship at West Point. Knapp is a half-breed. He is a son of Agnes Pokagon Knapp and Brace Kanpp. The president confers the appointment.

Father Brace Knapp died 22 May 1907 in 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.