Simon G. Knaur (1825–1896) and his brother George Ernest Knaur Sr. (1831–1892) were patriarchs of a large clan that had a major impact on
the development of Denison beginning around 1880. The brothers were born to parents who had immigrated to the United States from Germany and married in Ross County, Ohio, in 1821.

The Knaur brothers lived in Warren County, Indiana, until moving to Texas in 1879. At that time, Simon was 55 years old and George was 48. It is unclear what the brothers did during the Civil War. In 1860, they were farming in Pine Township, near Rainesville. In 1870, they were still there. They moved their families to Honey Grove, Fannin County, in 1879. A year later, in 1880, the group moved to Denison, in Grayson County.

George Ernest Knaur Sr. married Catherine Prather Foster (1836–1917) in Fountain City, Indiana, in 1852. Family members moving to Texas were George, Catherine, five sons, and two unmarried daughters.

1.    William Elbridge Knaur (1855–1934) married Grace Ruth Carpenter (1865–1944) in 1888. They had three daughters: Lula Ruth, Nellie Catherine, Bertha. All graduated from Denison's Educational Institute or Denison High School and married.

2.    John Simon Knaur (1858–1933) married Grace E. Clifford (1866–1948) in 1889. They had five children: George Clifford, Helen Elizabeth, John Sherman, Grace Marion, Catherine Ann.

3.      Elizabeth Mary A. Knaur (1861–1922) married Frank B. Bright (1860–1929) in 1891. They returned to live in Warren County, Indiana. No children.

4.    Eva Florence Knaur (1863–1910) married Louis R. Wright (1858–1939) in 1894. Lived in Dallas and had three children: Newell Knaur Wright, Bernice, Louis F.

5.    Abraham Lincoln Knaur (1865–1930) married Ireline Walker (1864–1922) in 1899. He married again after Ireline's death: Ada Emily Sandel (1881–1979), in 1924. There were no children.

6.    Schuyler Colfax Knaur (1869–1955) married Bertha Helena Boone (1879–1969) in 1900. They had no children.

7.    George Ernest "Ernie" Knaur Jr. (1873–1916) married Lillie Beatrice Shannon Knaur (1873–1954) in 1897. Apparently there were no children.

Various members of the family founded or were involved with businesses in Denison. These were active until around 1945. They include:

1.      Denison Foundry Works, aka Denison Foundry and Machine Shops, aka Rogers & Knaur, aka Knaur & Howe

2.      Diamond Ice Company

3.      J. S. Knaur Company, Real Estate

4.      Knaur Grain Company, aka Knaur Brothers (cotton gin and corn mill), aka Knaur-Lindsey Grain Company, aka J. S. Knaur & Company

5.      Knaur Cheese Factory

6.      Knaur's Grocery, aka A. L. Knaur's Grocery aka Knaur-Brown Grocery

It is interesting to contemplate how these family businesses worked together to help family members adapt to changing conditions. They centered on supplying construction materials and on trade in agricultural products and foodstuffs. They clustered on Chestnut and then Crawford Streets, with storefronts on Main Street from time to time. Remnants of the industrial buildings can still be seen today.

George E. Knaur Sr. & Catherine P. Foster Knaur
Monument in Fairview Cemetery, Denison Texas

Christmas Reunion

[Source: December 27, 1904, Dallas Morning News Historical Archive]

"Mrs. C. P. Knaur and Many Relatives Sit Down to Dinner"

Christmas reunion brought together at the residence of L. R. Wright, 145 Second Avenue, Mrs. C. P. Knaur of Denison and more than twenty members of
her family, consisting of her children, their wives and husbands, and her grandchildren. Mrs. Knaur is the mother of Mrs. Wright and with all this group around her for Christmas celebration, she refused to admit that she is properly to be called old.

Besides Mr. and Mrs. Wright and their children, there were present at the dinner yesterday, Mrs. C. P. Knaur, William Knaur, wife and three daughters, John Knaur, wife, two sons and one daughter, A. L Knaur and wife, S. C. Knaur and wife, and George E. Knaur and wife, all of Denison.

Knaur Family History