Hull, Lindley M., compiler and editor.  "A History of Central Washington,
Including the Famous Wenatchee, Entiat, Chelan and the Columbia Valleys."
Spokane: Press of Shaw & Borden Co., 1929.  p. 435.
 
FRANK E. KNAPP

     whose thread of existence has been interwoven with the growth and
development of the Entiat country, is a native of Dearborn County, Indiana, but
the greater part of his young life was spent in Illinois. In 1891, he came to
Washington, and for one year lived in different places in the Puget Sound
country including Seattle and Bremerton.  Early in 1892, he came across the
Cascades and entered the Lake Chelan country where he encountered a great stir
in mining circles, for there were seven or eight hundred men distributed through
the mountains surrounding the great lake in eager search for precious metal, and
young Knapp thought he might here find his opportunity to make a million
dollars; but the mining activity gradually subsided, and Mr. Knapp came out from
the lake country and for a time attached himself to the ferry plying across the
Columbia River at a point now known as Ribbon Cliff. In time he purchased this
ferry and improved the service by the use as motive power, of a small steam
launch that for several years had plowed the waters of Lake Chelan. This
business he operated several years, during which time he possessed a claim lying
across the coulee, through which Mr. Batty, a former occupant of this land, had
constructed a wagon road that wound its way like the trail of a monster serpent
around the rugged sides of what is now on the map as "Knapp's Hill." To
negotiate this hill with its hairpin curves in the early days struck fear to the
hearts of travelers, for the vehicles drawn by horses of uncertain temper, would
at times hover so closely on the brink of a precipice as to threaten destruction
on the rocks in the awful canyon below. But time in many ways brings marvelous
changes, and this land mark of the Columbia Highway has been transformed from a
place of terror to one of delight to the motorist, who can glide with safety and
dispatch, either up or down, and wind around the lofty cliffs that overlook the
Majestic Columbia River. The scenic attractions of this famous hill have lost
none of their charm as may be evidenced by the recent discovery of a car of
tourists standing across this highway, with the rear wheels backed close against
the high bank, from which vantage point the occupants of the car were feasting
their eyes upon the frowning mountains stretching in seried ranks far to the
north, that for untold centuries have stood guard over the mighty Columbia that
still rolls and roars its way to the sea.
     In 1894 Mr. Knapp exchanged his ferry for the Lew Detwiler land on the
Entiat. This claim with the adjoining land he had already acquired, made a
sizable ranch, from which have been carved a number of fine orchard homes.
     Our subject has been identified with many improvement schemes in the
development of the Entiat Valley, among which may be mentioned the Entiat
Telephone and Telegraph Company, which had its inception in the mind of Mr.
Knapp, for it had occurred to him that a telephone line up the Entiat Valley
would be especially useful in the shipment of fruit, and he determined to have
at least a line reaching from his place to the steamboat landing three and a
half miles away. He informed himself concerning the cost of materials, and was
convinced that the project would be feasible, for he could do much of the
construction work himself. Accordingly in the spring of 1906 he began cutting
cottonwood poles from his grove. A day or two later, Mr. D. M. Farris, who was
conducting a store on his ranch three miles further up the valley, came riding
by and seeing three axes vigorously at work, he stopped his horse and shouted:
"Hey, Knapp, what are you doing there?"   "Building a telephone line," replied
Mr. Knapp.   "A telephone line, said the astonished Mr. Farris, "what in the
name of Andrew Jackson are you talking about?" Mr. Knapp carefully explained the
project and its possibilities. Mr. Farris listened attentively, and after due
consideration declared that he thought it would be all right, and that he would
like to have the system reach his place, and if Mr. Knapp was agreeable he would
join the enterprise and stand half the expense of construction. "All right,"
said Mr. Knapp, "we have closed a deal." From this beginning the project found
favor and support, and two years later the merry jingle of the telephone bell
was heard up and down the valley for 15 miles. To properly launch this new
institution, articles of incorporation became necessary, and a committee went to
Wenatchee and laid the matter before attorney S. D. Griffith, with the
explanation that the proposed company had plenty of nerve but mighty little
money. "Well now see here," said this limb of the law, "you are not the only
people shy on cash, I'm in that fix myself, but I'll tell you what can be done;
I will write your articles of incorporation, and to keep you going straight will
serve as your attorney for one year, and all for the sum of fifty dollars."
"Well," said the spokesman of the committee, "get busy, and to show you that we
appreciate generosity, here's your fifty dollars."
     At first it was the desire of this concern to become part of the system of
the Farmers Telephone and Telegraph Company of the Wenatchee country, but the
construction expense of a twenty mile line, together with the fact that the
Pacific States Company had already secured the right of way and built their
line, shattered this dream, and satisfactory arrangements were made with this
company to handle the local long distance through the office of the Entiat
Company; and thus the Entiat people found themselves in touch with the outside
world.
     In October, 1903, Mr. Knapp was married to Mrs. Mary Goodman, a native of
Missouri, and a pioneer of Washington. Two children have been born to this
marriage: Everett Willard, July 16, 1905, and Elizabeth Jane, September 16,
1907. William R. Goodman is a son of Mrs. Knapp by former marriage. Mrs. Knapp
is an active worker in the community life of Entiat. During our part in the
great world struggle, her work was especially fine.
     Mr. and Mrs. Knapp have an ideal home in a delightful valley---- of the
finest valleys in America. So attractive are the homes of this shining vale,
that most of the old settlers cling with affection to lingering associations of
the struggles that attended the settlement and growth of this section of Central
Washington.

     
*******************

Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in July 2010 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.