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JACOB AND CHRISTINA KNAPP
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Knapp
Jacob, son of John and Philippina Koerner Knapp (page 43-Jubilee Book) was born
April 3, 1897 on a farm 15 miles northeast of Eureka. Jacob's brothers were:
John and Fred; sisters were: Christina, Carolina, Paulina, Philippina,
Magdalina all deceased, and Kathrina, Portland, Oregon. Jacob and Christina Opp
were married May 5, 1921. Christina, born July 9, 1901 was the daughter of
Jacob and Katherina Neuharth Opp (page 41-Jubilee Book). Christina's brothers
were Jacob (deceased), August and Eugene. Sisters were Kathrina, Elizabeth
(deceased), Rosina, Ada (deceased), Martha, Erna, and three died in infancy.
After their marriage they rented his fathers farm until they bought it in 1924.
The following is a descriptive narrative in Christina's words about their life
on the farm.
"Farming was not easy at that time as everything was short after World War I
and everything we bought was very high compared with what little we had to
sell. We started out with five milk cows and sixteen laying hens, a few horses
and a few pieces of farm machines. Yes, we started the horse and buggy style,
there were tractors and automobiles but we could not afford these luxuries at
that time.
We sold cream for ten cents a pound, butterfat and eggs eight to ten cents a
dozen. Our rules were made right from the beginning to only buy what you can
pay cash for, so anyone can imagine how much we could do with the little cream
and egg money. We found out that we can live with very little if you have to,
we never did go hungry and always had a roof over our heads and never had to go
through the hardships our forelders had to.
The crops were meager most of the twenties and we sold wheat for 29 cents a
bushel. In 1930 we could have had a fairly good crop but then were completely
hailed out. Then came the dusty thirties with no crops, no feed for cattle; had
to get rid of everything alive but a few milk cows and laying hens.
Hay making was the toughest as all our hayland was five miles from home and
that meant get up before daylight to get the cows milked and get going by horse
and wagon in order to get back again. Many times the sun was set before we got
back then the cows had to be milked and other chores done. Then, after supper
the two loads had to be pitched on the stacks. When there was no moonshine the
unloading had to wait until the next morning. That meant getting up at least an
hour earlier.
I can remember one Saturday evening the hired man and Jacob got done haying and
Jacob said at the supper table, "Oh! what a good feeling it is that this is
done". The next day we had visitors and the boys were down the pasture checking
gopher traps. All at once we noticed a black cloud coming up in the west, we
called the boys in and they were barely in the house when it got pitch dark
that we couldn't see each other in the house and in a few seconds it had all
happened. The windows were blown in on the west of the house and rain, dirt,
hay, straw and debris from the neighbors buildings came into our house. It was
so dirty, not only the floors but walls, ceiling, dishes, bedding and
everything had to be cleaned. Most of the buildings were damaged, some were
completely demolished. The two long hay stacks were blown away all over the
pasture, only about three or four feet high was left. We were only glad that
not one of us was hurt but you can imagine how we felt. We both cried ourselves
to sleep that night to think of all the hard work we had to face the next
morning. This was August 1, 1937 and five days later our youngest daughter was
born. One thing surprised us--a turkey was brooding in an oil barrel in the
middle of the yard, was undisturbed and about a week later had a nest full of
turkeys.
Later in the forties things got better, we had fairly good crops, prices got
better and we finally had a chance to make headways. Then again in the fifties
we went to Aberdeen to a wedding and when we came back later that evening we
found another tornado went through the place, one of our barns was gone and
scattered all over the pasture to the east. The separator house was torn from
the other barn and smashed to pieces. The separator was scattered all over the
yard but we found each little piece, cleaned it and it still worked.
I must mention when we were first married, the next day Jacob had to plant corn
and I started our own housework and milked cows, that was our honeymoon.
When I walked through the pasture to round up the cows I made sure to take
along a large gunny sack to fill with dry cow chips which was all the fuel we
had to cook our meals on the kitchen range. We also made our own fuel to heat
the house during the winter that was made out of manure except when it was real
cold then we mixed it with coal. The making of fuel out of manure was a long
process and hard work, I do not want to go into that.
This is how we did our laundry. First we filled the washtub half full with
soapsuds then soaked some of the clothes in there while we scrubbed on the
washboard with a bar of homemade soap. On the kitchen range was the washboiler
about half full of homemade soapsuds. After the white wash was scrubbed clean
it was put in the boiler and boiled for a while, then back into the washtub
into clean water to rinse thoroughly; then put through a hand-cranked wringer
then out on the line to dry. In winter there were several lines drawn through
the living room and dried there. This was usually done just before bedtime so
it was out of the way and by morning it was dry if there was enough heat in the
house. Those that were lucky and had a basement could hang it there, but we had
no basement. Can you imagine what a chore it was to wash the big blankets and
all the other bedding or the men's long underwear which was all in one
piece--long legs and long sleeves and how dirty when they worked in the field.
After a few years we were able to afford a kerosene stove, oh, what a luxury
this was to cook and bake on this stove.
We always had our own milk, cream and churned our butter, had our fresh eggs,
baked our bread and raised our own meat. There were no such things as
refrigerators or freezers. Many things especially meat had to be hung down the
well to keep cold. There were no push buttons to do the laundry, the cooking,
light the rooms or watch TV.
All in all the thirty-seven years we were farming we lived through two
tornadoes, lost three fairly good crops by hailstorms and a few years no crop
at all during the 30's.
If the Lord willing we can celebrate our 65th anniversary in a few months. We
have reason enough to thank the good Lord for taking such good care of us"
Jacob and Christina were blessed with three children, nine grandchildren and
two great grandsons; one son-in-law and two grandsons have died. Orville
married Wilma Opp, their two children are, Marcia Kay and Sheila Ann. Orville
died May 1, 1986. Myra Marietta married Elmer Bentz (deceased), her children
are Jacob Dean, Carol Christina, Sara Lisa and Shirley Jean. Phillipina
Kathrina married Leon Halstead, her children are Gerald F., Christopher Alan
and Laura Luise.
Jacob and Christina are life long members of the Reformed Church. They live in
Eureka were Jacob keeps busy with yard work while Christina enjoys crocheting,
quilting and cooking.
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