acob C. “Chick” Knapp was born in Mystic, Iowa in 1886 and as a young man, left his native state to find a future in the west. He worked in the coal mines in Montana for a number of years, and there he met and married Edith Griffin. Knapp soon tired of the coal mining business, and he and Edith moved to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, where he obtained work in the shipyards.

He had heard much about the opportunities in Alaska, so Chick decided to head north. He sent Edith back to Montana, with the promise that he would send for her as soon as he got established. He first stopped in Juneau, but found nothing of interest there. He proceeded to Anchorage in late 1920, and landed a job with the Alaska Railroad.

He was able to establish permanent employment with the railroad in 1921 as an electrician, and sent for Edith to join him. They first lived at 109 4th Avenue and later bought a log cabin at 8th Avenue and L Street. After twenty years with the Alaska Railroad, Chick transferred to the Post Engineers in 1941 and remained there until he retired in 1949.

The Knapps’ first son, John F. “Jack,” was born in 1924 and second son, Jacob C., was born in 1926. Edith kept busy as a housewife and mother of the two boys. She was active with the Pioneers of Alaska and the Eastern Star. Both sons followed in their father’s footsteps and worked for the Alaska Railroad. Jack and his wife, who moved to the state of Washington, had no children. Jacob C., Jr. married Mildred Snyder and they had three children; Eric R., Amy C. and Edith Ann. Edith died in 1957, and Jacob, Sr. died in 1961. Edith is buried in Angelus Memorial Park in Anchorage and Jacob is buried in Grants Pass, Oregon.