George Knauss, Jr. - Son of George Knauss, Sr. and Sarah Staples was born December 14, 1879 at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. His folks came to North Dakota when he was young and they lived on a farm near Lakota. He helped haul grain from their farm (by team) across frozen Stump Lake to market at Lakota in the winter.
He married Mary Ellen Brown on July 15, 1900. They lived on a farm with his folks for a while and then moved to Binford, where he worked in an Elevator with Fred G. Lewis. Here, they had a son, Ralph C. Knauss born February 24, 1902. They moved to Rogers, North Dakota where he worked in an Elevator and Rachel Lillian joined the family in July of 1903. Later, they moved to Hannaford, which became their permanent residence. Here, Fred was born in 1908, Harry L. in 1910, Elizabeth and Margaret, twins, in 1912, (were delivered by Dr. R. D. Benson), Donald in 1914 and Helen in 1916.
The Knausses lived in the Tom Swingen home when they first came to Hannaford and in the fall bought their home across the road from Dr. O. H. Hoffman's dentist office where they lived for sixty-eight years. One of the lots of the Knauss home was given to the Lutheran Church for a parsonage and one sold to M. H. Lunn. The old home remains on the comer lot.
While in Hannaford, George managed the Farmers Elevator for thirty years, during which time he saw many good crops brought in and also strived through the lean years of the depression. He became Postmaster in 1937 and was in office until he retired at age 72.
George was an avid baseball fan, a Presbyterian, democrat, Mason, worked on the town board and was Griggs County Commissioner for many years. He was a sportsman and spent many hours waiting for the geese to fly in to the old slough. The other hunters wondered why he could sit in the boat so long, not knowing he had lined his pants with fur. Another favorite pastime in later years was fishing for the big ones on Lake Ashtabula with "Bill" Weller and "Steiner."
While George was busy with all his activities, Mrs. Knauss (Mae) wasn't loafing, taking care of the family of eight healthy, vigorous children. George did cut their hair and put soles on all those shoes.
Ralph Knauss, graduated from Jamestown College, and married Alice Hempstead at Jamestown in 1925. They lived in Hannaford for a short time and then he went to work for Armour & Company, West Fargo, St. Paul and Indianapolis. He later worked for Thorp Real Estate, Minneapolis. They now reside at 1888 Juliet Ave., St. Paul, Minnesota
Rachel Knauss, attended Jamestown College, taught school, married Berlin Day, Spiritwood. He died in 1945. She later married Rollin Day. Two children were born to her and Berlin:
John Day, MacArthur, California
George Day, Minneapolis, Minnesota Rachel now resides at Burney, California
Fred G. Knauss attended school in Hannaford, married Lucile VanScoik of Jamestown. They farmed and he later became Postmaster of Hannaford until his retirement in 1974. They now reside at Cooperstown. Children:
Phyllis (Mrs. John Nelson), Burns, Oregon
Patricia (Mrs. Duane Baukol), Cooperstown
Fred, Portland, Oregon
Mary Jane, Dazey
Rebecca (Mrs. M. S. Moe), Mt Ayr, Iowa
Harry L. married Eleanor Peterson of Sutton. They lived in the Hannaford area for a number of years, moved to Anaconda, Montana and later to Spokane, Washington where he works for the Burlington Railroad Children:
Donald, Idaho
Caroline (Mrs. Pat Michielli, Jr.), Spokane, Washington. He is now married to Barbara Jones and they reside in Spokane.
Elizabeth married Carl Lyngby of Hannaford, December 24, 1931. They lived at Cooperstown, North Dakota where he worked with Greenland and Lunde (John Deere) and Mrs. Lyngby (Bess) worked at the Extension Office. They now reside at Grand Forks where Carl works for John Deere and Mrs. Lyngby for the Extension Service. Children:
Joan (Mrs. Rick Brown), Grand Forks
Allison Winslow, Germany.
Margaret Knauss - married Tupper Howden, Cooperstown, June 1940. Tupper owned and operated the Howden's Drug Store for many years. They reside at Cooperstown and Mesa, Arizona in the winter. Children:
Diane (Mrs. Dennis Larson) Mayville, North Dakota
Richard, Denver, Colorado
Jean (Mrs. Jerome A. Marshke) Valley City
William (Bill) Denver, Colorado.
Donald Knauss married Letha Kolberg, Hannaford, in 1933. They farmed, operated a store in Hannaford for many years and have been residing in Valley City while he worked for the State Highway Department. Children:
Dona Lu (Mrs. Lowell Thompson), Grand Forks
James, Cincinnati, Ohio
Ronald, Duluth, Minnesota
Donald, Jr., Verona, North Dakota
Helen Knauss - married to Olaf Broten, Hannaford on December 15, 1940. Helen was the first clerk of the Griggs Company Draft Board in October 1940. They have farmed at Dazey since 1941. Children:
Linda (Mrs. Vernon Schuler), Valley City
Louise (Mrs. Paul Henderson), Tower City
James, District Manager, Clark Equipment Company, Grand Forks
Judith Ann, Dazey, North Dakota
Mr. Knauss died in March of 1970 and Mrs. Knauss, age 92, lives with her daughter, Helen on the farm at Dazey, where she still keeps an eye on the Knauss family.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 145