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 1866) in Fayette County, PA, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Rowan) Hall.

Unmarried at about age 25, in about 1892, she gave birth to a daughter, whom she named Reba E. Hall.

Sabina was married at least twice. Her first husband, name unknown, died in about 1900. She remained a widow for about five years.

Then at the age of 38, on Feb. 28, 1905, she 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, the Knopsnyders were residing in Ponoka, Alberta, 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.

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. 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. His remains were placed into repose at Mt. Zion Cemetery. James B. Knopsnyder signed the certificate of death.

Daughter Reba E. Hall (1892- ? ) was born in about 1892 in Somerset County. The identity of her father is not yet known, and she was given her mother's maiden name. At the age of 28, she lived with her mother and step-father in Blue Slide Precinct, Pend Oreille County, WA. Whether or not she returned to Pennsylvania with her parents in the early 1920s is not yet known. More will be added here when learned