Wisconsin Genealogy Resources
Diaries, Letters, Stories, Address Books and More
-
Knapp Diaries These are the diaries of John Holly Knapp,
his wife Valeria, and his oldest son Henry.
John Holly Knapp was born on March 29, 1825 in Elmira, New
York. In 1846 he moved to what would become Menomonie, Wisconsin
and purchased a half-interest in a sawmill. This was the start
to one of the world's largest lumber companies during the
nineteenth century, the Knapp, Stout & Co., Company. His
business success provided Knapp and his family the financial
ability to travel around the world.
John Holly Knapp's diaries cover the daily activities of his
personal life as well as his participation in the management of
the Knapp, Stout & Co., Company. Highlights include anything
from fishing trips to his family's hasty evacuation from a hotel
during the Great Chicago Fire.
Henry's diaries (Henry was the son from John's first
marriage) recount a trip he and his father took to Europe in
1869-70 in an attempt to find a cure for a skin affliction
(cancer) that was troubling John Holly. Valeria's 1874 diary is
an account of a similar trip made to the southern regions of the
United States looking for a cure for John Holly's skin cancer
affliction. University of Wisconsin-Stout, University
Library.
-
Palmini, Cathleen. Across the unknown waters to Wisconsin: the
migration narratives of four women settlers, pp.
105-120. Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters,
©2000.
- Wisconsin
Documents Online [WLHN]
-
Wisconsin Electronic Reader [Wisconsin Historical Society]
-
Wisconsin Pioneer Experience A digital collection of
diaries, letters, reminiscences, speeches and other writings of
people who settled and built Wisconsin during the 19th century
- Wisconsin Stories
Transcripts [Wisconsin Public Television]