Frank Kniffin

Frank and Florence Kniffin arrived in Napoleon, Ohio, February 8, 1917, bride and groom; he was from Stryker, Ohio, and she from Lawrenceburg, Indiana.

A small bus met us at the Wabash Depot to take us to the Wellington Hotel, where we lived until we set up housekeeping.

Frank C. Kniffin, Member of Congress 5th Ohio District.

Shortly before, Mr. Kniffin had been appointed Official Court Reporter for Henry and Williams Counties. He held that position until 1930. Meanwhile he was admitted to the Bar in Ohio and practiced law with Mr. D. D. Donovan.

We were so impressed with the beautiful little city and the friendly residents; we became a permanent part. Frank became secretary to the fund raising project to start a hospital. The Heller Memorial Hospital came into being soon after.

We found ourselves embroiled in the First World War at that time. Frank was chairman of three Liberty Loan Drives, with Rega Reagan as his secretary. With great effort and time the quotas were reached and Napoleon had the distinction of the "First Ones Over the Top" in the United States for one of the drives.

Being interested in government and politics, he served as Democratic Chairman of Henry County. Later he entered the race for Congress and was elected in 1930. This district comprised Henry, Williams, Fulton, Putnam and Van Wert Counties.

He was appointed Majority Whip of the House and served on the Naval Affairs Committee; also on the Reorganization Finance Committee during the Depression until 1939. Then he was appointed to the Federal Court System as Referee in Bankruptcy, for the Northwest District of Ohio. During that time he was President of the National Referee's Association.

He died in 1968.

Two sons were born, Frank Charles, 1921, and Robert, 1925.

Charles is Federal Agent for the Wildlife Service - living in Miami, Florida. He married Patricia Gilpin of Napoleon and they have two daughters. Hope Kniffin is married to Thomas H. Covey, M.D. He is a surgeon in Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri. They have two daughters - Joda, 10, and Emily, 6. Jane Kniffin is a physical therapist in a hospital in Asheville, North Carolina.

Robert is in private law practice in Malibu, California. They have three children: Jeffrey 22, Nancy 18 and Muriel 14.

Nowhere could we have found a happier life than in Napoleon, Ohio.

Submitted By Florence Kniffin