My Knigge Family

At present I am able to trace my Knigge family back eight generations to JOHANN DIEDERICH KNIGGE, who was born 30 November 1688 in Basse, Hannover, Germany. Basse is a small village about five miles northeast of the city of Neustadt a. Rubenhagen. Basse does have a Lutheran church, where most of my Knigge family members were baptized. I do not know who Johann Diederich Knigge married but he did have at least one son.

JOHANN BURCHARD KNIGGE, the son of Johann Diederich Knigge, was born 25 June 1729 in Scharnhorst, Hannover, Germany. He married ILSE MAGDALENA NAGELS on 30 December 1759 in Basse. She was the daughter of Heinrich NAGELS and was born 17 January 1734-1735 in Scharel, Hannover, Germany. Scharnhorst and Scharel are both small communities, each about three miles from Basse.

JOHANN HEINRICH KNIGGE, born 3 March 1760 in Basse, Hannover, Germany, was the son of Johann Burchard Knigge and his wife, Ilse Magdalena, nee Nagels. He married CATHARINE MARIE SEGELKE on 5 November 1790 in Basse. She was born about 1754 iin Helstorf, Hannover, Germany, the daughter of Hinrich SEGELKE and Catharina, nee LOOSE. Johann Heinrich Knigge died 31 May 1833 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany. His wife, Catharine Marie, died 27 April 1809 in Suttorf. Suttorf is a small community about one and a half miles south of Basse, and Helstorf is located about five miles north of Basse.

JOHANN HEINRICH FRIEDRICH KNIGGE was born 28 February 1794 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany, the son of Johann Heinrich Knigge and Catharine Marie, nee Segelke. He married CATHARINE MARIE "DOROTHEE" HOGREFE in Basse on 29 December 1817. She was the daughter of Johann HOGREFE and Ilse, nee ZETTEL and was born 12 January 1798 in Suttorf. Johann Heiinrich Friedrich Knigge served in the German army at the battle of Waterloo against Napoleon. He died 10 July 1842 in Suttorf. His wife died 2 January 1838 in Suttorf. Johann Heiinrich Friedrich Knigge and Catharine Marie, nee Segelke had nine children, one daughter and eight sons. It is this generation that came to America in 1847. Though we can not prove the reasons as to why the daughter and three of her brothers came to America, it is my thought that after the death of the father in 1842, the farm was probably given to the oldest son, Heinrich Knigge. The daughter, Dorothy, had married six months before the father passed away. I imagine that she helped take care of her younger brothers. At the time of their father's death, the children ranged in age from 24 years of age down to 9 years of age. There was a major crop failure in the 1840s in Germany which I expect also strengthened their desire to come to America. So in 1847, Dorothy, nee Knigge, Feddeler and her husband, Heinrich Feddeler, and their baby, Dorothy, came to America and settled in Lake County, near Lake Zurich, Illinois. Also coming with them were three of Dorothy's brothers, August Knigge, Ludwig Knigge and Wilhelm Knigge (my great great grandfather.)

Heinrich Feddeler bought land in Ela Township in Lake County, Illinois from the US government. The three brothers went to DuPage County, Illinois and worked on farms as farm laborers and also worked for the railroad which was being developed in the area at that time. All three were married by the 1860s, though Ludwig was killed in a railroad accident in 1857. Wilhelm and August Knigge bought farms in Lake County, Illinois, in Ela and Fremont Townships.

The children of Johann "Heinrich" Friedrich Knigge and his wife, Catharine Marie "Dorothee", nee Hofrefe were:

.....1. JOHANN "HEINRICH" PHILLIP KNIGGE, born 21 February 1818 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany.

.....2. ILSE MARIE "DOROTHEE" KNIGGE, born 12 December 1819 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany.

.....3. HEINRICH "FRIEDRICH" PHILLIP KNIGGE, born 3 June 1822 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany.

.....4. JOHANN FRIEDRICK "AUGUST" PHILLIP KNIGGE, born 18 August 1824 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany. Died 2 July 1905 at Lake Zurich, Lake County, Illinois. Married to "MARIE" LOUISE BLUME in DuPage County, Illinois about 1852. Marie Blume was born in November 1832 in Neustadt, Hannover, Germany and died 6 July 1914 at Lake Zurich, Lake County, Illinois.

.....5. HEINRICH CHRISTIAN "LUDWIG" KNIGGE, born 5 July 1826 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany. Died 12 June 1857 in DuPage County, Illinois. Married CATHERINE MUELLER about 1855.

.....6. JOHANN HEIINRICH "DIETRICH" KNIGGE, born 14 May 1829 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany. Died 10 December 1829 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany.

.....7. "DIETRICH" HEINRICH PHILLIP KNIGGE, born 16 January 1831 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany.

.....8. DIETRICH HEINRICH JULIUS "WILHELM" KNIGGE, born 20 December 1833 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany. Died 1 June 1908 in Rockefeller, Lake County, Illinois. Married CAROLINE SCHMIDT about 1856. Caroline was born 18 November 1838 in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany and died 22 April 1915 in Mundelein, Lake County, Illinois.

.....9. DIETRICH HEINRICH "PHILLIP" KNIGGE, born 10 February 1837 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany.

August and Wilhelm Knigge helped to organize St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Lake Zurich, Lake County, Illinois. They were both charter members of the church, which was organized in 1864. Many members of the family are buried in the church cemetery, directly behind the church building.

I. JOHANN "HEINRICH" PHILLIP KNIGGE was born 12 Januray 1818 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany. He died in Germany before 1891. His baptism record was found at the Lutheran Church at Basse, Hannover, Germany. The baptismal sponsors were: Johann Heinrich Knigge, Johann Heinrich Hogrefe and Heinrich Philipp Busing. Nothing else is known about him or his descendants.

II. ILSE MARIE DOROTHEE KNIGGE was born 12 December 1819 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany. She is the only daughter of Heinrich and Dorothee, (nee Hogrefe) Knigge. She married Dietrich "Heinrich" FEDDELER at Basse, Hannover, Germany on the 21 January 1842. He was born 2 July 1819 in Buren, a village near Basse. The baptismal record for Dorothee indicates the baptismal sponsors were: Ilse Margarethe Hogrefe, Dorothee Busing and Marie Dorothee Hetel. Dorothee Knigge Feddeler died the 16th of June 1893 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. Her husband, Heinrich Feddeler died the 10th of December 1878 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. Both Heinrich and Dorothee are buried at St.Matthews Cemetery, Lake Zurich, Illinois. They had five children:

.....1. DOROTHY (DORIS) FEDDELER, born 28 May 1846 in Hannover, Germany. Died: 15 November 1925 in Lake County, Illinois. Married: Peter LICHTFELD in 1866.

.....2. HEINRICH FEDDELER was born 15 February 1849 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. Died: 6 January 1910 in Lake County or Cook County, Illinois. He married Amelia GRAUNKE on the 10th of January 1871.

.....3. MARY FEDDELER was born in 1851 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois.

.....4. LOUISA ELIZA FEDDELER was born in 1855 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois.

.....5. WILHELM KARL HEINRICH FEDDELER was born 12 August 1859 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. Died: 15 March 1936. He married his cousin, "Emilie" Dorothea Marie Sophie KNIGGE on the 28th of June 1882.

III. HEINRICH "FRIEDRICH" PHILLIP KNIGGE was born 3 June 1822 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany. He married Marie Dorothee Sophie Wilhelmine OHLEMDORF, a widow in Suttorf on the 30th of May 1851. She was born 12 October 1822 in Wulfelade, Hannover, Germany. The baptismal record from the Lutheran church at Basse, Hannover, Germany indicates the baptismal sponsors for Friedrich Knigge were: Friedrich Hetel, Philipp Stunkel, Christian Langrehr and Heinrich Reinfeld.

IV. JOHANN FRIEDRICH "AUGUST" PHILLIP KNIGGE was born 28 August 1824 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany. Died: 2 July 1905 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. August owned a farm north of Lake Zurich, Illinois on what is now Gilmer Road. August Knigge came to America in 1847. He worked as a farm hand in DuPage County, Illinois for a while and can be found on the 1850 Federal census in DuPage County. He married Marie BLUME about 1853. Marie was born 16 November 1832 in Neustadt, Hannover, Germany and died 16 July 1911 in Lake County, Illinois. Both August and Marie Knigge are buried in St.Matthews Cemetery, Lake Zurich, Lake County, Illinois. They had ten children:

.....1. CHRISTINE "MARIE" DOROTHEA LOUISE KNIGGE was born 16 March 1854 in DuPage County, Illinois. Died: 20 July 1916 in Lake County, Illinois. Married Johann EGGERS in 1874.

.....2. "CAROLINE" MARIA MARGARETHA DOROTHEA KNIGGE was born 11 February 1856 in DuPage County, Illinois. Died: ?? . She married Louis PETERS about 1875.

.....3. EMILIE KNIGGE was born 11 August 1857 in DuPage County, Illinois. Died: 1947. She married Heinrich KLIPP about 1879.

.....4. "AUGUST" HEINRICH FRIEDRICH KNIGGE was born 26 March 1859 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. Died: 16 February 1883 at St. Louis, Missouri.

.....5. MARIA DOROTHEA "SOPHIA" KNIGGE was born 11 November 1860 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. Died: 17 June 1913 in Lake Zurich, Lake County, Illinois. She married Wilhelm CONSOER about 1880.

.....6. DOROTHEA CHRISTINE SOPHIA "LOUISE" KNIGGE was born 13 April 1862 in Russels Grove, Lake County, Illinois.

.....7. "MATILDA" LOUISE KATHERINE WILHELMINE ELISE KNIGGE was born 31 January 1865 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. Died: 27 March 1953 in Lake County, Illinois. She married Heinrich WEBER the 15th of November 1888.

.....8. "WILHELMINA" DOROTHEA CAROLINE LOUISA KNIGGE was born 2 April 1867 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. Died: 9 January 1929 in Lake Zurich, Lake County, Illinois. She married Friedrich Christian "Heinrich" MEYER on the 11th of December 1890.

.....9. ANNA WILHELMINA MARIA KNIGGE was born 11 January 1869 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois.

.....10. HEINRICH "WILHELM" KNIGGE was born 11 October 1871 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. Died: 13 July 1944. He married Emma GERKE on the 18th of April 1895.

V. HEINRICH CHRISTIAN "LUDWIG" KNIGGE was born 5 July 1826 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany. Died: 12 June 1857 in DuPage County, Illinois. He was killed in a "railroad accident". His baptismal record at the Lutheran church a7t Basse, Hannover, Germany indicates the sponsors were: Heinrich Philipp Busing, Christian Langrehr and Ludwig Knigge. He married Catharina MULLER about 1855. They had two children:

.....1. SARAH ROSE KNIGGE was born 12 September 1855.

.....2. MARIA LOUISE KNIGGE was born 5 October 1857.

VI. JOHANN HEINRICH "DIETRICH" KNIGGE was born 14 May 1829 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany. Died: 10 December 1829 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany. His baptismal record at the Lutheran church at Basse, Hannover, Germany list his sponsors as: Johann Heinrich Knigge, Johann Heinrich Hogrefe and Dietrich Heiinrich Gercke.

VII. "DIETRICH" HEINRICH PHILLIP KNIGGE was born 16 January 1831 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany. His sponsors on his baptismal record are listed as: Heinrich Philipp Busing, Dietrich Lengrehr and Dietrich Heinrich Knigge. Nothing else is known about Dietrich at this time.

VIII. DIETRICH HEINRICH JULIUS "WILHELM" KNIGGE was born 20 December 1833 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany. His baptismal sponsors were: His Majesty King Wilhelm IV, Dietrich Schulz, Heinrich Langrehr and Wilhelm Heidemann. A decree had gone out that King Wilhelm IV would be a god-father to the seventh son born unto any soldier in his service, and that the parents should receive $20. Wilhelm was the seventh son of Heinrich and Dorothy, nee Hogrefe, Knigge and the church records show that King Wilhelm IV was indeed named as god-father. Wilhelm Knigge came to America in 1847 with two brothers and his sister. Wilhelm worked as a farm hand in DuPage County, Illinois for several years and also worked on the railroad there. About 1856 Wilhelm Knigge married Caroline SCHMIDT, daughter of Johann and Louisa Schmidt. Caroline was born 18 November 1838 in Mecklenburg, Germany. Wilhelm Knigge began farming for himself in 1856 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. In 1890 he opened a general mercantile store in Rockefeller, (now known as Mundelein) in Lake County, Illinois. For a time he was the Poatmaster of Rockefeller. Wilhelm Knigge died 1 June 1908. His wife, Caroline, died 22 April 1915. Both are buried in St.Matthews Cemetery, Lake Zurich, Lake County, Illinois. There children were:

.....1. DOROTHEA CAROLINE LOUISE "EMMA" KNIGGE was born 3 April 1858 at Lake Zurich, Lake County, Illinois. Died: 11 June 1929. She married Johann RODER on the 23 of September 1877 .

.....2. WILLIAM HEINRICH SAMUEL KNIGGE was born 16 July 1860 at Lake Zurich, Lake County, Illinois. Died: 12 November 1864 at Lake Zurick, Lake County, Illinois.

.....3. EMILIE DOROTHEA MARIE SOPHIA KNIGGE was born 1 April 1862 at Russels Grove, Lake County, Illinois. Died: July 1941. She married Wilhelm FEDDELER on the 8th of June 1882.

.....4. FRANK C. KNIGGE was born 3 April 1865 at Lake Zurich, Lake County, Illinois. Died: 2 October 1946. He married Lillian "Georgiana" KRAMER on the 24th of February 1897.

.....5. HERMAN HEINRICH JOHANN KNIGGE was born 26 January 1867. Died: 26 December 1945. He was married twice. 1) to Carolina Wilhelmina Catharina Gertrude "Hannah" MEYER on the 18th of December 1888. 2) to Elise DRUEHL about 1895.

.....6. CAROLINE WILHELMINE MARIE MAGDALENA KNIGGE was born 6 December 1869 at Lake Zurich, Lake County, Illinois. She married DeWalt KRAMER.

.....7. HEINRICH WILHELM KNIGGE was born 21 September 1871 at Lake Zurich, Lake County, Illinois. Died: 14 October 1881.

.....8. ANNA ELISE DOROTHEA KNIGGE was born 3 August 1874 at Lake Zurich, Lake County, Illinois. She married Herman KUBLANK on the 15th of November 1908.

.....9. CARL JOHANN "ALBERT" KNIGGE was born 11 January 1878 at Lake Zurich, Lake County, Illinois. Died: 28 November 1945. He never married.

IX. DIETRICH HEINRICH "PHILIPP" KNIGGE was born 10 February 1837 in Suttorf, Hannover, Germany. Died: 2 October 1841 at Suttorf, Hannover, Germany.

Generation VI

II -1. DOROTHY (DORIS) FEDDELER was born 28 May 1846 in Hannover, Germany (probably in either Suttorf or Basse). She was just a year old when she came to America with her parents. In 1866 she married Peter LICHTFELD, who was born 1 April 1840 in Schleswig-Holstein. The family lived in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. Dorothy died 15 November 1925 in Lake County, Illinois. Her husband, Peter Lichtfeld died 20 December 1905 in Lake County. Both are buried at St.Matthews Cemetery,Lake Zurich, Illinois. Peter and Dorothy Lichtfeld had 7 children. They are:

.....1. LOUIS LICHTFELD, born September of 1866 in Lake County, Illinois. Died: 1944. Married: Minnie E. (last name unknown).

.....2. LOUISA CORDELIA LICHTFELD, born February 1868 in Lake County, Illinois. Died: 1942. Married in 1891 to Thomas J. MC BRIDE.

.....3. HENRY LICHTFELD, born 1 November 1872 in Lake County, Illinois. Died: 21 March 1954. Married in 1903 to Anna NUMSEN.

.....4. MARIA ELISE LICHTFELD, born 25 March 1875 in Lake County, Illinois. Died: 1956. She married Franklin Smith KERN.

.....5. ALBERT WILHELM LICHTFELD, born 3 April 1877. Died: 1948.

.....6. WILHELM DETLAF FRIEDRICH LICHTFELD, born 18 June 1879 in Lake County, Illinois. Died: 31 May 1897.

.....7. CARL FRIEDRICH HERMAN LICHTFELD, born 31 May 1890.

II - 2. HEINRICH FEDDELER, born 15 February 1849 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois is the son of Heinrich Feddeler and Dorothy, nee Knigge. On the 10 of January 1871 at St.Matthews Lutheran Church near Lake Zurich, Illinois he married Amelia GRAUNKE, who was born in Prussia on 8 November 1854. Heinrich and Amelia lived in Ela Township most of their lives. Heinrich Feddeler died 6 January 1910 and his wife, Amelia, nee Graunke died twelve days later on 18 January 1910. They had eight children:

.....1. AUGUST WILHELM CHRISTIAN FEDDELER, born 30 September 1871 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. Died: 2 August 1872 in Ela Township.

.....2. FRED EDDIE FEDDELER, born 10 March 1873 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. Died: 12 March 1873 in Ela Township.

.....3. GEORGE FEDDELER, born in March 1874 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. Died: 9 May 1877 in Ela Township.

.....4. FRIEDRICH PETER FEDDELER, born 2 February 1877 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois.

.....5. HEINRICH EDWARD FEDDELER, born 29 December 1878 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. Died: 1970.

.....6. ANNA DOROTHEA CAROLINA WILHELMINE SOPHIA FEDDELER, born 1 May 1880 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois.

.....7. CAROLINE MARIA EMMA FEDDELER, born 23 December 1886 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois.

.....8. ELLA EMILIE LOUISE FEDDELER, born 29 August 1892 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois.

II - 5. WILHELM KARL HEINRICH FEDDELER, son of Heinrich Feddeler and Dorothy, nee Knigge was born 12 August 1858 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. He married his first cousin, Emilie Dorothea Marie Sophie KNIGGE, daughter of Wilhelm and Caroline, nee Schmidt, Knigge, at St.Matthews Lutheran Church near Lake Zurich, Illinois on 28 June 1882. She was born 1 April 1862 in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois. Wilhelm Feddeler died 15 March 1936 and his wife, Emilie, nee Knigge, died in July 1941. Both are buried at St.Matthews Cemetery near Lake Zurich, Illinois. They had 6 children:

MORE TO COME LATER.

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