Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 1137.
 
RICHARD BAXTER KNAPP

     president and treasurer of the agricultural implement firm of Knapp,
Burrell & Co., of Portland, Oregon, an enterprising and public-spirited citizen,
was born in Geneva, Ohio, July 28, 1839. His father, Auren Knapp was a native of
Connecticut, and descended from Puritan ancestry, from whom he inherited
qualities of energy, perseverance and great tenacity of purpose.
     In 1817, when twenty-two years of age, Auren Knapp drove an ox team from
Connecticut through the wilderness to Ohio, accepting in default of cash for
compensation, a piece of timber land near the present village of Geneva. This he
perseveringly improved, and after completing the simple home accommodations of
the pioneer, he was married in Sheffield, Lorain county, Ohio, to Miss Sarah
Maria Burrell, a native of Massachusetts.  They had seven children, of whom the
subject of this sketch was the youngest.
     Richard was reared on the farm, and his principles of honesty, integrity
and justice, were strengthened by the influence of a father, who was rigorous
and exact, and a mother of strong and serious mind. The home circle was imbued
with that religious influence which pervaded the Puritan home in which his
parents had been reared.
     Richard took upon himself at an early age the light duties of farm life,
and his education was a combination of work and study, attending the public
schools at intervals until he was sixteen years of age, followed by three years
at a high school; thus securing a fair English education. Completing his studies
in the fall of 1858, and being of an adventurous and enterprising disposition,
he determined to go West. Accordingly, he went to Wisconsin, where lie spent the
winter, and in the spring of 1859 started for Oregon, via New York and the
Isthmus of Panama, to join his brother. Jabez B. Knapp who emigrated to Portland
in 1852 and commenced business there, handling farm products, seeds and farm
implements in a limited way.
     In the summer of 1857 M. S. Burrell came into the house as a clerk, and
upon the arrival of E. B. Knapp, in 1859, he also was employed in a similar
position until March 1, 1860, when a partnership was formed between J. B. Knapp,
M. S. Burrell and R. B. Knapp under the firm name of Knapp, Burrell & Co. From
that date the produce business was gradually closed out, and more particular
attention was given to the implement business, which was increased with the
growth and development of the country.
     J. B. Knapp, the founder of the house, a man widely known and highly
respected, having met with reverses in milling and other enterprises, retired
from the firm in 1870, and took up his residence on a dairy farm which he owned
on the Columbia river, situated some twenty miles below Portland, where he has
resided ever since, following an agricultural life.
     Since 1870 the time and attention of the firm has been entirely devoted to
the sale of farm machinery, engines, wagons and vehicles of every description.
Mr. Burrell continued as a partner in the business until his decease in April,
1885.  Mr. R. B. Knapp the surviving partner, then organized a stock company,
which was incorporated in November, 1885, under the corporate title of Knapp,
Burrell & Co. and commenced business January 1, 1886. Mr.  Knapp has continued
as the principal stock-holder, and has been president and treasurer of the
corporation since its organization.
     Beginning in the days of small things, the influence of the house has
attained vast proportions, and besides the parent house in Portland, they have
some fifteen branch houses located at the most desirable points throughout
Oregon and Washington, besides agencies for the handling of their goods at all
the principal points in Oregon and Washington.
     Mr. Knapp was married in Sail Francisco in 1867 to Miss Minnie A. Knapp, a
daughter of his eldest brother's second wife, who being adopted, assumed the
family name. They have one child, Lawrence H., born June 4,1869, who has already
identified himself with the interest of his father's business.
     Mr. Knapp takes a deep interest in the development of his adopted city, and
is a generous contributor to all local enterprises. He is a member of the
Masonic order, in which he has taken all the degrees except that of Knight
Templar. He is a member of the Scottish Rite, and belongs to the Royal Arch and
Mystic Shrine. He has been for many years a contributor to all local charities
and benevolent institutions, without regard to sect or creed.

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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.