Source: T.B. Helm, History of Wabash County (1884), p. 293

MICHAEL KNOOP (deceased) was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, and was a son of Benjamin and Christena (Holsteim) Knoop, who were native of Pennsylvania and of German descent. At the age of nine months, he accompanied his parents to Miami county, Ohio, where the family settled upon a farm and began agricultural pursuits. Young Michael attended the subscriptions schools, such as were common in this country during pioneer days, and received a fair education, which was afterward materially improved by home reading. His parents ended their days on the old homestead in Miami County. If the identity of the pioneer men of a county with its growth and improvement is inseparable from its history, the same is true, in quite as marked a degree, of its pioneer women. Their earnest, willing assistance, their fortitude, and their words of encouragement in the struggle with the wilderness, and the hardships of life in its midst, had much to do with cheering the hearts of their sturdy husbands. They had their own burdens to bear, and at the same time shared those of the companions with whom they had linked their destinies by the ties of matrimony; and, if their influence upon the development of the country was quiet, it was none the less potent, and quite as commendable as the trying physical labor of their husbands, by whose hands the forests were cleared away and the wilderness transformed into fertile fields. One of this class was Nancy, the wife of Michael Knoop. She was a daughter of Andrew and Catharine Sheets, and was born May 20, 1797, in Bedford County, Penn. During the year 1806, she went with her parents to Tennessee where they remained until in 1812, when they moved to Miami County, Ohio. At the age of twenty-one years, November 2, 1818, she gave her heart in marriage to the companion whose memory she is still spared to bless. She was ever a true helpmate to him, and by her economy and careful management contributed greatly to his worldly prosperity. She was a devoted wife and mother, a kindly, helpful neighbor, and has endeared herself to the hearts of all who know her. From Miami County, they moved to Darke County, Ohio, in 1833, finally coming to Wabash County, Ind., in 1835, and settling upon a farm a short distance west of where the city of Wabash now stands. Here they remained until in February, 1836, when they located upon the old homestead farm, three miles north of North Manchester. About 1840, Mr. Knoop became engaged in mercantile pursuits, and established a general store upon his far, which he conducted two years. He then moved the stock to North Manchester, and was associated in business with William Thorn. After the partnership of Knoop & Thorn was dissolved, Mr. Knoop gave his attention to agricultural pursuits. He served several years as County Commissioner to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Mr. Knoop was a firm believer in the Universalist's faith; he was conscientious to the extreme, and exemplified his religion in his daily life. In social life, he was courted and appreciated. Affable and sympathetic, of fine address and courteous manners, his presence and influence added a charm to social assemblages, and his untimely death, which occurred December 15, 1869, caused a void and cast a pall over the hearts of a large circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Knoop were the parents of eleven children, ten of whom grew to maturity and nine still survive. They are all married, with the exception of George W.; Oliva married Henry Walker; Ann married Samuel Bussard; Benjamin married Malinda Sheets; Andrew married Susan Oldfather; Sarah married Joshua Bowersock; martha married Jacob Kyler; Lydia married Jonas Bussard, and Jane married Joe Amiss. Elizabeth died in infancy. Isaac S. was married, but died at the age of thirty-four years, and was the father of four children.