Biography of J. Harvey Knauer, pages 695/695. History of 
DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., 
Indianapolis, 1914.



The subject of this brief sketch has been largely dependent 
upon his own resources from his boyhood, and as one of the 
leading business men of the thriving village of Corunna, he 
exemplifies what is possible of accomplishment on the part 
of  one who establishes a definite aim in life and is 
willing to apply his energies and abilities toward the 
gaining of the same.  He now has one of the leading general 
stores in the town, and by energy and good management has 
gained a position of marked prosperity in temporal affairs, 
while he has so ordered his course in the various relations 
of life as to gain and retain the confidence and esteem of 
those with whom he has come in contact.  J. Harvey Knauer 
was born in Greentown, Stark county, Ohio, and is a son of 
Euramel and Mary G. (Kreighbaum) Knauer, the former a 
native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. Euramel 
Knauer left his native state and moved to Ohio, settling in 
Stark county, where he married, and in 1863 came to DeKalb 
county, Indiana, settling in Richland township. He clerked 
in a store until 1865, when he went to Eddyville, Iowa, and 
engaged in the mercantile business for two years, at the 
end of which period he returned to Corunna, and was 
similarly engaged for a like period. He then located in 
Kendallville, Indiana, where for seven years he clerked in 
a mercantile business under the firm name of J. W. Helmer & 
Company, and later engaged in business for himself, and 
here he remained until his death, which occurred on January 
15, 1902. After selling out to Mr. Helmer, he had bought a 
stock of goods at Fairfield Center, which was conducted by 
his son Harvey for two years. This stock was destroyed by 
fire and in 1886 he established the present business, which 
later became the firm of E. Knauer & Son. Since his death 
the business had been continued under the name of  J. 
Harvey Knauer. Euramel Knauer was a man of good business 
qualities and was eminently respected in the various 
communities where he lived. His wife also is deceased, her 
death occurring in January, 1887. To them were born the 
following children: Hattie, Katy, George, Jennie, J. 
Harvey, Millie and Frankie, of whom the first two and last 
two are deceased.  The subject of this sketch was reared by 
his parents, securing his education in the public schools. 
He has for a number of years been successfully engaged in 
the mercantile business at Corunna, and is numbered among 
the substantial men and public-spirited citizens of this 
thriving community, his efforts having met with a success 
commensurate with his activity, energy and correct methods.  
On October 5, 1890, Mr. Knauer married Mary Calkins, the 
daughter of Paulus and Matilda (Brown) Calkins, both of 
whom are natives of Ohio, but who came to DeKalb county 
when young and were married here. They settled in Richland 
township, where Mr. Calkins engaged in the manufacture of 
tiling and in the operation of a saw mill, in both of which 
lines he was actively engaged up to the time of his death.  
To him and his wife were born the following children: 
Horace N., Milo, Frank, Lindel, Adney, Charles (deceased), 
Mary and Rose.  Politically, Mr. Knauer gives his support 
to the Progressive party, believing that the old political 
parties have failed to meet the necessities of the American 
people.  Fraternally, he belongs to the lodge of Free and 
Accepted Masons at Kendallville and the lodge of Knights of 
Pythias at Corunna, while his religious membership is with 
the Church of Christ. Genial in manner and untiring in his 
efforts to please his customers, Mr. Knauer has long 
enjoyed his full share of local patronage and carries a 
large and well selected line of goods to meet demands of 
his customers. He is deservedly popular among those who 
know him and is numbered among the representative men of 
the community.  

Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com