Philip Knoff

Philip Knoff, deceased, was born in New Jersey, February 7, 1805, where his parents, Peter and Susan (Simmons) Knoff, then resided. In 1832 he married Miss Sarah Young, in 1845 moved to Ohio, and the following year set out for this county by wagon. On the journey hither, and after traveling forty miles, one of his horses died, when he returned to Ohio; but in the next spring made the journey and here purchased eighty acres of congressional land, built a log cabin, and entered on pioneer life. Here he resided until his death, October 11, 1876. He saw his original farm increased to 160 acres, and two survivors, of his five children, settled in life—Mrs. Kate Cross, of Toulon, and Mrs. Margaret Show, of West Jersey. In politics he was democratic. Jacob Young, brother of Mrs. Knoff, settled in West Jersey in 1846. For thirty years he was a pioneer here, and then became a pioneer of Iowa, where he now resides. Mrs. Knoff was born in New Jersey in. 1809. Her parents, John and Susan (Daly) Young, died in that state about 1824. She has been connected with the Presbyterian Church of West Jersey since her settlement here, and has always been looked upon as a most exemplary member of the community.