Henry C. Knipe, one of the men who is closely identified with the business interests of Leavenworth, and who is working to develop the commerce of the city, was born there Sept. 5, 1876, a son of Hubert and Sybilla (Hensler) Knipe. His first American ancestor was Dennis Knipe, a native of Cappelen, Rhine province, Prussia. He was a farmer in the Fatherland, who immigrated to America in 1852 and settled on a farm near Weston, Mo. Herbert Knipe was also born in Cappelen, Prussia, April 17, 1845. His mother's father, Andrew Krohn, was a soldier in Napoleon's army and fought in many of the famous battles under that great general. When the family came to America Hubert Knipe was a boy of nine. They made the voyage from Havre to New Orleans in a sailing vessel called the Saxony and the voyage consumed over sixty days. From New Orleans they made the voyage to Weston by the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, reaching the new home in 1854. Two years later the family removed to Leavenworth, where the father took an active part in the border troubles of the time. During the Civil war he was a member of the Eighth Kansas infantry, but was discharged for physical disability and died in 1879. In September, 1861, Hubert Knipe also enlisted in the Eighth Kansas infantry, which was stationed at Leavenworth for six months, then joined Buell's army in the South, and took part in the battle of Perryville. Subsequently he was under Rosecrans at Stone River, Chickamauga and at Chattanooga, where he was wounded on Nov. 25, 1863, being shot through the hip, and lay in the hospital for months. In April, 1864, he was transferred to the Sixth regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps, and served until discharged, Sept. 13, 1864. On his return to Leavenworth he engaged in the grocery business and in 1870 opened a store of his own at the corner of Sixth and Miami streets, where he built up a fine business which he conducted for thirty-six years. He never aspired to hold office, but was a loyal supporter of the Republican party and treasurer of the Republican county central committee several years, and dealt extensively in real estate. He married Sybilla Hensler, who was born in Baden, Germany, and came with her parents to Leavenworth in 1865. The following children were born to them: Hubert J., who lives in Portland, Ore.; Benjamin Harrison; Henry C.; Margaret, the wife of L. M. Barney, of Denver, Cob.; Nellie, the wife of Rudolph Hinz, of Leavenworth; and Edith. Mr. Knipe retired from active business in 1902 and died July 31, 1907.

Henry C. Knipe was reared in Leavenworth, where he received the educational advantages afforded by the public schools. From 1896 to 1901 he was associated with his father in the grocery business, but in the latter year branched out for himself in the transfer, storage and coal business, in which he has been remarkably successful. His storehouses and offices occupy a building a block and a half in width. Mr. Knipe takes an active interest in all civic affairs, being a member of the board of city commissioners, of the board of directors of the Greater Leavenworth Club; the board of directors of the Fair Association, and is interested in the Sunny Side Floral Company, which is located on Fifth street with greenhouses on Twelfth and Vilas streets. In politics he is a Republican, and fraternally he is associated with the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, United Commercial Travelers and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. On June 2, 1902, Mr. Knipe married Frances Gertrude, a daughter of Anton Gabriel, of Leavenworth. They have one child, Henry.