What's New

Photo of the Month

Minerd.com Blog

Biographies

National Reunion

Interconnectedness

Cousin Voices

Honor Roll

In Lasting Memory

In the News

Our Mission and Values

Annual Review

Favorite Links

Contact Us

Sabina Catherine (Hall) Knopsnyder (1867-1921) was born on May 4, 1867 (or 1865 or 1866) in Fayette County, PA, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Rowan) Hall.

Unmarried at the age of about 23, in March 1891, she gave birth to a daughter, whom she named Rebecca Elizabeth "Reba" Hall.

Sabina was married at least twice. Her first husband's name is unknown. It's possible that they bore a child of their own, who died young. Sadly, he died in about 1900.

When the federal census enumeration was made in 1900, the widowed Sabina and daughter boarded in the farming household of widow Harriett Ohler and son George Ohler in Lower Turkeyfoot Township.

Then at the age of 38, on Feb. 28, 1905, Sabina married 33-year-old farmer Jacob "Wilson" Knopsnyder (April 2, 1872-1925). He was the son of Cyrus and Phoebe (Phillippi) Knopsnyder of neighboring Black Township, Somerset County. Their nuptials were held at Rockwood and were performed by Rev. W.H. Blackburn. 

At the time of their marriage, he earned a living as a log maker. The couple's marriage is recorded in Harvey Hostetler's book, Descendants of Jacob Hochstetler, the Immigrant of 1736.

The couple resided for many years on a farm near Markleton in Black Township, and Sabina's mother died under their roof in March 1907.

During the early part of the decade of the 1910s, the Knopsnyders made a major move away from southwestern Pennsylvania. Circa 1912, when the Jacob Hochstetler book was published, they  were residing in Ponoka, Alberta Province, Canada. Later they moved to Washington State, settling on a farm at Blue Slide Precinct in Pend Oreille County. 

In November 1912, the county commissioners of Pend Oreille County approved a payment to him for road work in the amount of $31.25, with his name published on a list in the Newport (WA) Miner. 

They and 28-year-old daughter Reba are shown in Pend Oreille on the 1920 federal census. Then in March of that year, they pulled up stakes and returned to their native Somerset County. Said the Meyersdale Republican issue of March 18, 1920, "Wilson Knopsnyder and family have arrived from the state of Washington and located near Markleton."

At some point Sabina suffered a stroke but she survived, and this may have prompted a return to Somerset County.

On Dec. 5, 1921, while in Black Township, she suffered another stroke overnight and succumbed at the age of 55. Burial was at Mt. Zion Cemetery. On the death certificate, which Wilson signed, he spelled the maiden name of Sabina's mother as "Round."

Wilson only lived for another three-plus years and remained in Black Township. He worked during that time as a laborer for Owen Klink. 

At age 52, he suffered from gangrene of his left foot. Then, on Feb. 2, 1925, he was stricken with paralysis ("hemiplegia") and, after lingering for a month and 21 days, died on March 23, 1925, just 10 days shy of his 53rd birthday. Funeral rites were conducted in the United Brethren Church at Markleton, by the hand of Rev. Marshall. His remains were placed into repose at Mt. Zion Cemetery. James B. Knopsnyder signed the certificate of death.

An obituary in the Meyersdale New Republican erroneously called him Jacob "Willis" and said his six surviving brothers served as pallbearers for the funeral. "He was married to Mrs. Hall, who preceded him in death about three years ago. He was a member of the United Brethren Church for a number of years."

~ Daughter Rebecca Elizabeth "Reba" Hall ~

Daughter Rebecca Elizabeth "Reba" Hall (1891-1925) was born on March 4, 1891 in Somerset County. The identity of her father is not yet known, and she was given her mother's maiden name. 

Reba trained as a nurse.

At the age of 28, in early 1920, she lived with her mother and step-father in Blue Slide Precinct, Pend Oreille County, WA. She was employed as a hospital nurse at the time.

By March of that year, she returned to Pennsylvania with her parents and settled near Markleton. They appear to have stayed for good. 

Sadly, circa February 1924, she began to suffer from epileptic convulsions. This was at a time when such an illness was considered taboo, and not publicly discussed.

Reba continued to experience her fits for 11 months until death on Aug. 14, 1925 in the Somerset County Home and Hospital. Her remains were donated to the Anatomical Society in Philadelphia.