Hawthorne, Julian.  "The Story of Oregon."  Vol. 1. New York: American
Historical Publishing Co., 1892.  p. 261.
 
RICHARD BAXTER KNAPP

     is a native of Geneva, O., where he was born, July 28th, 1839. His father,
Auren Knapp, was a Connecticut man, who moved west to Ohio in 1817, and settled
down as a farmer. Sarah M. Burrell, his mother, belonged to an old and highly
respected Massachusetts family. The elder Mr. Knapp was a man of vigor and
determination, so he went to work on his homestead, and soon brought his little
tract of wilderness under cultivation. Eventually he married, reared a fine
family, and performed the arduous labors of an agriculturist for fifty years.
Money was exceedingly scarce in those early times, and most business
transactions among farmers were carried on by means of barter or exchange. Auren
Knapp, however, accumulated wealth rapidly. He worked hard all the time, and was
a man of strong religious convictions. His children were brought up carefully,
and he spared no pains to make them honest, good, and true. By precept and
example he impressed those dependent on him with the firm belief that real
happiness can only be attained by rigorous devotion to duty. Richard was brought
up on the farm under the constant supervision of parents, who were determined on
making a man of him. His mother, a strong-minded yet kind and charitable woman,
had much influence in the formation of his character. He was naturally bright,
and did well at his early studies, which, after the rigorous ideas of the times,
were alternated with hard work on the farm. From the beginning the young fellow
displayed considerable self-reliance, and was eager to see with his own eyes
what the outside world really is. His parents desired him to qualify himself for
a profession by entering college ; but, though he did not despise knowledge, he
was not a lover of books, and preferred to take an active part in the battle of
life, away from schools and teachers. Perhaps in after days he may have
regretted his youthful indifference to learning ; yet, without possessing a
large amount of book knowledge, he ultimately acquired wealth and distinction—a
fact that goes to show that worldly success does not always depend on erudition.
Books are excellent teachers, but the experience of every-day life is the
greatest teacher of all. Young Knapp went to Wisconsin in the fall of 1808,
spent the winter there, and started for Oregon the spring afterward, by the way
of New York and Panama. At that time Portland had a population of about three
thousand. There were no railroads or telegraph, and those who desired to
communicate with the outside world were obliged to depend on the fortnightly
steamer from San Francisco. Jabez B. Knapp, the eldest son of Auren, had gone to
Oregon in 1852, and, recognizing the magnificent possibilities associated with
the climate and natural resources of the country, arrived at the conclusion that
if his brother Richard did not care to continue his studies, it would be best
for him to take his chances in Oregon. He accordingly wrote home, and the result
was his youngest brother's arrival at Portland. Jabez hail done well in
business. On Richard Knapp's arrival in Portland, he got employment in his
brother's store at $25 a month. He owed considerable money—mainly the expenses
of his trip —but by assiduous attention to business and by strict economy he was
enabled to discharge all his obligations in a few years. Starting out with less
than nothing, from a financial point of view, he set himself sternly to work,
conquered all his difficulties, and ultimately attained a commanding position
among the leading commercial men of Oregon. The great firm of Knapp, Burrell &
Co. started on modest foundations. After 1870, however, their business advanced
rapidly. During that year Jabez retired from the concern and withdrew to his
dairy farm on the Columbia River, about twenty miles below Portland. Mr.
Burrell, a man of sterling character, continued as partner until his decease, in
1885. The business was then reorganized under the corporate title of Knapp,
Burrell & Co. Such of the employes as had been a long time with the house, and
had filled important positions, were afforded an opportunity of becoming
stockholders, and Mr. Knapp, in several instances, gave pecuniary assistance to
those who were temporarily unable to take advantage of the offers made to them.
Mr. Knapp has had more influence on the prosperity of the farmers of Oregon for
the last thirty years than any other man in the State. This may seem a
paradoxical remark, nevertheless it is true. The wonderful change that has come
over Oregon in a quarter of a century is mainly due to three agencies, namely,
the farmers themselves, the manufacturers, and the intermediate agents, the
dealers or traders. In this direction Mr. Knapp has had close connection with
agricultural interests. Through his firm, he has been a 'powerful aid to farmers
and farming. He has always had the confidence of the agricultural community, and
the implements sold to the fanners have not only been well made and of excellent
material, but they have vastly contributed to the increase of agricultural
products. By co-operating with the cultivators of the soil, and by studying
their interests and wishes, Mr. Knapp has been enabled to do solid and enduring
work. The farmers of Oregon and Washington appreciate highly the merits of this
excellent man of business, and rejoice with him in the wonderful success that
has crowned his efforts. A man of great information, obtained in his contact
with the world, Mr. Knapp is a most agreeable companion, lie has traveled
extensively in both hemispheres, and has availed himself of every opportunity to
add to his stock of practical knowledge. His residence in Portland is an
ornament to the city, and furnishes indisputable proof that its owner is a man
of architectural taste, for it was built under his personal directions. In
politics Mr. Knapp is a Republican of decided views, though he does not actively
participate in partisan matters. He does not desire public office, his sole
ambition being to attend to his private concerns. At the same time, he is a
generous contributor to local charities and enterprises. Mr. Knapp married, in
1807, Miss Minnie A. Knapp, the adopted daughter of his brother's second wife,
though, of course, no blood relation. This good lady is highly educated and
refined.  She reads much, and is well versed in literature.  They have one
child, Lawrence H. Knapp, born in 1869.  The young man devotes himself to
business, and is a true son of his father in the affairs of Oregon, and
particularly Portland, Mr. Knapp has always taken great interest.  He is a
public-spirited man, who delights in seeing the people around and about him
doing well.  In private life he is kind and courteous, considerate of the
feelings of others, and never forgetful of the duties of true manhood.  Of a
fine personal appearance, he moves about among his fellow-men, ever received
with welcome wherever he goes, and universally honored. His splendid business
qualities, his fine private character, his unexampled success, these form a
portion of the history of Portland, and will permanently endure in the annals of
the city.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2009 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.