SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Carl Knocke, Page 232

CARL KNOCKE, of Sheboygan, is a well known citizen and veteran soldier of the late Civil War.  He is a native of Hanover, Germany, having been born March 19, 1842.  In 1860 his father, Henry Knocke, emigrated with his family to the United States.  They came directly to Sheboygan and settled in what is now the Eighth Ward of that city.  The death of Mr. Knocke, Sr., occurred on November 21, 1881.  The mother now resides with her son Carl.

    The subject of this sketch is one of a family of nine children, comprising four sons and five daughters.  The surviving members are eight in number, a daughter, Christine, having died at the age of eleven years.

    Mr. Knocke enlisted on the 1st of August, 1862, in Company E, Twenty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry, and served over three years, or till some time after the close of hostilities.  He was constantly with his regiment during all that time, participating in almost constant marches, campaigns and battles, except for a period of ninety days, when, on account of illness, he went home on a furlough.  The regiment went from Milwaukee to Columbus, Ky., pursued the army of Gen. Price northward into Missouri, and took part in the famous Vicksburg campaign, under Gen. Grant, in 1863.  On the close of that campaign, the regiment went to Helena, Ark., and thence to Little Rock, from which place they started to join Bank's Red River expedition early in 1864, but were just in time to come in contact with a portion of the rebel force that was following Bank's retreating army.  After some severe fighting the regiment returned to Little Rock.  Here he was taken sick and received the furlough above mentioned.  Returning, he took part in the attack and capture of Ft. Blakely and of Spanish Fort.  The regiment was mustered out of the United States service at Brownsville, Tex., on the 29th of August, 1865.  The final discharge took place at Madison, Wis., on the 17th of September following.

    After the close of the war, Mr. Knocke was in business in Sheboygan Falls for a time, and then returned to Sheboygan and engaged in his present business, the conducting of a meat market at No. 1029 Eighth Street.

    On May 16, 1868, Mr. Knocke was married in Sheboygan to Miss Sophie Harms, a daughter of Herman Harms.  The bride was born in Hanover, Germany, and came to this country with her parents when an infant.  Mr. and Mrs. Knocke are the parents of eight children, five sons and three daughters.

    Mr. Knocke is a Republican in politics, and cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, at Little Rock, Ark.  He is a prominent member of the Sons of Herman, Gustav Wintermeyer Post, and of the Saenger Society of Sheboygan.  Our subject is numbered among the substantial business men of the Evergreen City.  He was a gallant soldier in the cause of the Union, and is a respected and worthy citizen.