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Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
HERMAN A. KNACK is a farmer residing
four and one half miles southwest of Rocklyn, and was born in Germany,
August 7, 1864. He is the son of August and Lena (Mead) Knack, both
also native Germans. The father served in the war between his native
country and Austria, came to America, and died in Wisconsin, in 1873.
Mr. Knack's mother is now living with her son, our subject. She has
one daughter, Mrs. Emma Villook, living in Fond Du Lac county, Wisconsin.
Herman A. Knack came to the United States
with his parents in 1869, when the family settled at Ripon, Fond Du Lac
county, Wisconsin. When the boy became old enough he hired out as
a farm hand, and in consequence he was denied any great amount of schooling.
In 1885 he came to Lincoln county, filed a homestead claim four miles northwest
of Harrington, and at once began making improvements, which necessitated
his working for hire for a time, since he had only a few dollars in cash.
He was married on July 6, 1890, to Louisa Bursch, a native of Wabasha county,
Minnesota. Mrs. Knack's parents were August and Hattie (Mead) Bursch,
and were both born in Germany. They came to the United States and
settled in Minnesota, from which state they came to Lincoln county in 1883.
Here the father died in 1900, leaving the mother, who is still living on
their old homestead near Harrington.
The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Knack are
Mrs. Augusta Kruger, Herman, Mrs. Julia Rux, Samuel, Lydia and Rosalia.
Mr. Knack sold his original homestead, bought
his present home and removed here with his family in the fall of 1891.
He now owns five hundred and sixty acres, all choice agricultural land,
and one of the largest, most modern and best residences in the country
for miles around. He also has an unusually large barn, and fine granary
and other out buildings.
Mr. and Mrs. Knack are members of the German
M. E. church, of Rocklyn, of which Mr. Knack is a director and president
of the board. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Knack has been blessed with
five children, Elmer A., Lena H., Bertha B., Ida R., and Samuel W.
Since coming to Lincoln county, the capabilities
and perseverance of Mr. Knack have at different times been put to a severe
test. He endured all the hardships and reverses accompanying pioneer
life, suffered heavy losses in stock during hard winters, and the climax
came with the panic of 1893. The prolific crops and advanced prices
of 1897, however, reinstated him to a degree, so that practically all he
now possesses has been made since that year.
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