History of Somerset, (Windham County) Vermont United States of America

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Lyman Enos Knapp, governor of Alaska, was born in Somerset, Vt., Nov. 5, 1837; son of Hiram and Elvira (Stearns) Knapp; grandson of Cyrus Knapp, who removed to Dover about the beginning of the nineteenth century; and great2 grandson of Capt. Joseph Knapp, who commanded a company in Colonel Titcomb's regiment during the Revolution. His first ancestor in America emigrated from England in 1640 and settled in Brighton, and subs, equently at Paunton, Mass. Lyman attended school at Manchester, Vt., and was graduated at Middlebury college in 1862. He enlisted as a private in 1862; was promoted captain in the 16th Vermont volunteers; was subsequently transferred to the 17th Vermont volunteers, and rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was wounded at Gettysburg, at Sportsylvania and at the capture of Petersburg. He was brevetted colonel for gallantry at Petersburg, and at the close of the war he settled in Middlebury, Vt. He was married, Jan. 23, 1865, to Martha A. Severance, of Middlebury, Vt. He was editor and publisher of the Middlebury Register, 1865-78, and also contributed editorial articles to the American Law Register and the Chicago Inter-Ocean. While thus engaged he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1876, and practised in Middlebury. He was clerk of the Vermont house of representatives, 1872-73, and judge of the probate and insolvency courts, 1879-89. He was appointed governor of Alaska by President Harrison, April 12, 1889, and resided at Sitka. He was succeeded, Jan. 9, 1893, by James Sheakley and engaged in the practice of law in Seattle, Wash. He received the degree of LL.D. from Whitman college in 1898, and became a member of the Institute of Civics and of various patriotic and learned societies.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Somerset, (Windham County) Vermont

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