LOYAL EDWIN KNAPPEN

(1854-1930)

JUDGE OF UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS (6th Circuit)

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

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DESCRIPTION:  PHOTOGRAPH - LOYAL EDWIN KNAPPEN (1854-1930)

The Photograph being sold in this auction appeared in the book, Bench and Bar of Michigan: A Volume of History and Biography, by George Irving Reed, A.M (The Century Publishing and Engraving Company, Chicago, 1897, pgs. 367-368) along with a biography on Judge Loyal Edwin Knappen.  The illustration from the book is also being shown for reference only.

LOYAL E. KNAPPEN
     A Barry County man who has gone out into other fields and attained success, but who still cherishes a lively and sympathetic interest in the county of his nativity, is LOYAL E. KNAPPEN, of Grand Rapids, United States Circuit Judge for the sixth circuit.
     Loyal E. Knappen was born at Hastings, January 27, 1854.  His father, EDWIN KNAPPEN, was a merchant at Hastings and a member of the merchantile firm of H.I. & E. KNAPPEN, both members of which firm died of typhoid in the epidemic of 1854, Edwin Knappen dying only a few months after the birth of his son, Loyal.  The mother was SARAH M. (NEVINS) KNAPPEN and is now the wife of MARCUS W. RIKER.  She now lives in Grand Rapids.  Both of Mr. Knappen's parents were born in Vermont, his paternal grandfather having moved to the Green Mountain state from Connecticut.
     Young Knappen attended the Hastings public schools until he was fifteen years of age, when he entered the University of Michigan, graduating in 1873 with the degree of B.A. and receiving his M.A. three years later.
     After receiving his bachelor's degree, Mr. Knappen was assistant principal of the Hastings High School for six months.  He then re-entered the law office of Hon. James A. Sweezey at Hastings as a law student, having previously spent some time in the same office.  He was admitted to practice in 1875 and became at once the law partner of Mr. Sweezey, continuing in this connection until 1878, when he formed a partnership with his brother, CHARLES M. KNAPPEN.
     In 1883 Mr. Knappen became associated in practice with Christopher H. Van Arman.  Five years latter he removed to Grand Rapids, associating himself with WILLIAM J. STUART, now Judge of the Superior Court of that city.  The firm of STUART, KNAPPEN & VAN ARMAN was thus formed with offices at both Grand Rapids and Hastings.  Mr. Van Arman died in 1890 and for about a year thereafter Charles M. Weaver was a member of the firm and had charge of the Hastings office.  Upon Mr. Weaver's retirement from the firm in 1891, the office at Hastings was closed and Mr. Knappen's direct connection with Barry County affairs was, of course, materially lessened, although he has always, as mentioned above, been greatly interested in his old home.
     While in Hastings, Mr. Knappen held a number of of public offices.  From 1879 to 1883 he was prosecuting attorney for Barry County, and from 1880 to 1888 he was United States Commissioner.  He was also a member of the Hastings Board of Education for three years, being president one year.
     After the closing of the Hastings office, Mr. Knappen continued as a partner of Mr. STUART until 1893, the firm name being STUART & KNAPPEN.  In 1893 Mr. Knappen became associated with Messrs. Taggart & Dennison under the style of Taggart, Knappen & Dennison.  This firm continued six years.
     In 1899 Mr. Knappen entered into partnership with George P. Wanty and continued in this relation until his partner was elevated to the federal bench.  He then became associated with Jacob Kleinhans in the firm of Knappen & Kleinhans.  Later Mr. Knappen's son, STUART E., was taken into the firm, which was then styled KNAPPEN, KLEINHANS & KNAPPEN.  It was while Mr. Knappen was still a member of this firm that there came to him, in 1906, an honor for which he was universally held to be splendidly equipped.  This was his appointment as United States District Judge for the Western District of Michigan.  That this appointment was a fitting one was well shown when a little more than three years later Mr. Knappen was made United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth District, which position he still holds.
     Besides his judicial offices Mr. Knappen was a member of the Grand Rapids Board of Education for two years, 1898-1900.  For seven years, from 1904 to 1911, he was regent of his alma mater, the University of Michigan, and in 1905-6 he was president of the Grand Rapids Bar Association.
     Mr. Knappen is a Mason and a Knight of Pythias.
     In 1876 Mr. Knappen married AMELIA I. KENYON, of Hastings.  There are three children, all living in Grand Rapids, STUART E., FRED M., and FLORENCE, who is MRS. ARTHUR D. PERRY.
--Potter, Hon. W.W., HISTORY OF BARRY COUNTY, with Prominent Sketches of Prominent Men by Ford Hicks and Edward Butler, The Reed-Tandler Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1912, Pgs. 144-148.

JUDGE KNAPPEN DIES...
Death Comes for Jurist of U.S. Appellate Court Bench After Active Day
Heath Was Impaired for Months, but End From Heart Attack is Shock; Was Elevated in 1910
     Hon. LOYAL E. KNAPPEN, retired judge of the United States circuit court of appeals, a prominent figure in state, county and city judicial circles and a former regent of the University of Michigan, died of a heart attack at 11:30 last night at his residence, 330 Washington st., SE.  He was 76 years old.
     Judge Knappen served on the Sixth circuit bench from 1910 to 1924, when he retired from regular duty.
     Although Judge Knappen had been in impaired health for several months, his death was unexpected.  He had gone to his office as usual yesterday morning and appeared to be in good health prior to the heart attack which resulted in his death.
NATIVE OF HASTINGS.
     In addition to the prominence which Judge Knappen attained in state judicial circles, he was a distinguished public servant in the county and city, having served as president of the Grand Rapids Bar association, member of the board of education.
     Judge Knappen was born in Hastings, Barry county, Jan. 27, 1854, son of EDWIN and SARAH (NEVINS) KNAPPEN.  He received his elementary education in the Hastings schools.  He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1873 and three years later received his master's degree.  In 1913, subsequent to his regency, he received his LL.D.
     In Hastings Judge Knappen was married on October 23, 1876, to AMELIA ISABELLA KENYON the year following his admission to the bar.  While practicing in Barry county he served as prosecuting attorney of Barry county from 1879 to 1883.
     Removing to Grand Rapids in 1888, Judge Knappen entered into a law partnership with his brother-in-law, the late JUDGE WILLIAM J. STUART.  During this partnership, which lasted until 1893, Judge Stuart was appointed prosecutor of Kent county and Judge Knappen served as deputy prosecutor.
NAMED BY ROOSEVELT
     In 1893 Judge Knappen became associated with Edward Taggart and Hon. Arthur C. Denison in a law firm known as Taggart, Knappen & Denison.  Upon dissolution of the partnership Judge Knappen formed a partnership with the late Judge Wanty in the firm of Knappen & Wanty.
     In 1901 Judge Wanty was appointed to the United States circuit court bench and Judge Knappen formed a partnership with the late Jacob Kleinhans.  STUART EDWIN KNAPPEN, Judge Knappen's son, was admitted later to the firm which continued until 1906, when Judge Knappen was appointed by President Roosevelt to the United States district court, western district of Michigan.
     President Taft advanced Judge Knappen to the circuit bench in 1910.
     The sixth federal circuit court of appeals which Judge Knappen was a member comprises the states of Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan and Tennessee.  Judge Arthur C. Denison of Grand Rapids and Judge Knappen were associates.
REGENT 1904 TO 1911
     Judge Knappen served on the board of education from 1898 to 1900, was regent of the University of Michigan from 1904 to 1911 and president of the Grand Rapids Bar association from 1905 to 1906.
     Despite his retirement from regular active service on the bench in 1924, Judge Knappen did considerable judicial work, principally in the circuit court of appeals, until a short time before his death.
     He was a member of the University club and the Peninsular club.  Besides STUART EDWIN KNAPPEN, he is survived by another son, FRED MASON KNAPPEN, and a daughter, MRS. FLORENCE PERRY.
-- THE GRAND RAPIDS HERALD, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Thurs., 15 May 1930, Pg. 1, Cols. 1&2 and Pg. 5, Col. 3, Art. 2

PHOTOGRAPHER:  LE CLEAR, 145-147 Monroe St., Grand Rapids, Mich.

DATE:  c. 1897

SIZE:  Approx. 4" x 5½" Image on Approx. 4¼" x 6½" Mount

CONDITION:  No bumps on corners of mount; two very minute white spots on right cheek; no fading; photographer identified on front bottom of mount; subject identified on reverse side of mount [Loyal E. Knappen]; clean - See Detailed SCANS Above.

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PROVENANCE:  This cabinet card photograph was purchased on 27 August 2007 at the Estate Sale of SYLVIA (SPRING) KNAPPEN HYMA (1909-2007), in Grand Rapids, MI.  Sylvia passed away on August 4, 2007.  She was born to Cornelius and Jessie [nee FIRST] Spring on May 30, 1909.  Sylvia was preceded in death by her two husbands, C. Loyal Knappen and Peter Hyma.  Mrs. Hyma taught school for several years in Bad Axe and Dowagiac, MI, until her marriage to Loyal Knappen brought her to Grand Rapids, where she taught for many years and was principal of Covell Elementary School for fifteen years.  She was blessed by a capacity for joyful friendships often spanning four generations including many young people and former students.  She appreciated other's achievements and talents and saw great inspiration and beauty in nature.  She maintained a life-long interest in children, art, music, literature, poetry and flowers.  She was a long time member of Delta Kappa Gamma.  Burial was in Napoleon, MI.  --Excerpted from the Grand Rapids Press, 6 Aug. 2007

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