From "A History of Northwest Missouri"

Capt. Frank Knickerbocker, who was an incumbent of public office during the entire forty years of his residence at Savannah, was born near Rochester. New York, January 22, 1831, a son of Richard W. and Patience (Smith) Knickerbocker, the former being a native of the Mohawk Valley, New York, a member of the famous old Empire State family so prominent in history, and a nephew of Diedrich Knickerbocker. The captain's parents came West to Michigan in 1836, traveling considerably over the state in searching a suitable location to take up the 160-acre land grant which Richard W. Knickerbocker had received from the Government as a reward for his faithful services as a soldier during the War of 1812. Eventually they decided upon a tract fifteen miles west of Detroit, eighty acres being located on each side of the Village of Wayne, in Wayne County. The father cleared forty acres from the heavy timber, erected a log cabin, and there experienced all the hardships and privations incident to settling in a new country. When the Michigan Central Railroad was built through that part of the country it crossed the two eighties, and these accordingly increased greatly in value. There the parents spent the remaining years of their lives in the peaceful pursuits of farming, passed away at the homestead, and were buried in the Wayne Cemetery. They wei'e devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in political matters the father was a whig. They were the parents of nine children, as follows: Samuel, who is deceased; Mrs. Mary Tyler, deceased, one of whose sons, Richard W., enlisted in the Union army during the Civil war, rose to the rank of major, subsequently became a well-known officer in the regular army, and died at Washington, D. C.; Chauncey W., who became one of the most prominent Universalist preachers of Michigan, had charge of the parish at Lansing, and there erected a church and organized a large congregation; Daniel, who was a farmer and died at the age of thirty five years; Ursula, who married Henry Fargo, who served in the Semi nole war and subsequently met a soldier's death during the Civil war, and she is also deceased; Capt. Frank, of this review; Smith, who entered the ministry, became prominent in the Upper Iowa Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died at Cedar Falls, Iowa, at the age of seventy years; Phoebe Ann, who died at the age of nine years; and Richard, who died in infancy and was buried with his mother, who passed away a few days later.

Capt. Frank Knickerbocker was given an ordinary public school education in Michigan, where he was taken by his parents as a lad. and in his youth learned the trades of carpenter and wheelwright. These he followed for some years in Michigan, in the meantime remaining under the parental roof until his marriage in 1851, at Ypsilanti, Michigan, to Miss Eunice E. Durkee, who was born at Utica, New York, in 1833, and died at Fillmore, Andrew County, Missouri, 1867. After his marriage Captain Knickerbocker removed to Delaware County, Iowa, where he followed his trades for a short time and then returned to Michigan. In 1859 Captain Knickerbocker came to Andrew County, Missouri, and settled in the vicinity of Fillmore, where he at once began to be engaged in the carpenter trade and the contracting business, erecting many buildings and bridges in this and adjoining counties, his operations in this line extending over a period of thirty years and being rewarded by the greatest success.

It was while living at Fillmore that the Civil war broke out and Captain Knickerbocker secured his title. Entering the Missouri State Militia, the state being under martial law, he rose from the rank of private to that of orderly sergeant, and then was promoted to captain of Company G, a rank which he held throughoxit the remainder of the war. He made an excellent record as a soldier, his services being confined to guard duty, although at times he was called upon to act with the United States troops.

Prior to the outbreak of the war, Captain Knickerbocker had taken up the study of law, and in 1862 took the examination before Judge Parker at Savannah, and was admitted to the bar. He continued to be engaged in practice at Fillmore until 1874, in which year he was elected state's attorney, and was from that time a resident of Savannah. He served one term as state's attorney, was subsequently employed by the county to build bridges for several years, and in 1888 was appointed postmaster of Savannah, under the administration of President Benjamin Harrison, and held that office four years. He has also been mayor of Savannah eight years, having been elected to that office on four different occasions, served as justice of the peace for five years and as city attorney for five years, and also served four years in the capacity of public administrator of Andrew County. Such a long service, unmarked by stain or blemish of any kind, denotes the possession of superior abilities. He was a lifelong republican and consistently supported the presidential candidates of his party ever since his first vote was cast for Taylor. He was a Presbyterian in his religious faith, and fraternally a Master Mason, a Mason for fifty years, was master of Round Prairie Lodge at Fillmore during the greater part of his residence there, and an "Ancient Member" of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Captain Knickerbocker was the last one of his parents' children to pass away. His death occurred January 27, 1915, and with the exception of his own children and those of his brothers he knew of no other Knickerbockers. By his first union Captain Knickerbocker was the father of six children: Lewis, who is a resident of Fall City, Nebraska; Florence May, who married L. M. "Woodcock and is a resident of Seattle, Washington; Cora, who married M. S. Ingersoll of Seattle, Washington; June, who is a resident of Savannah; Charles, who died at the age of two years; and Peter, who died when eighteen months of age.

Captain Knickerbocker was married a second time in 1868 to Sarah Jane Warner, who was born in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 25, 1833, and came from that state to Illinois with her parents. To this marriage there were no children born.

As an expression of the high esteem in which Captain Knickerbocker was held by his fellow citizens, it may not be inappropriate to quote the following, which appeared in a local publication, in closing this all too brief review of one of Northwest Missouri's most representative citizens: "Among those who have been active in commercial and political affairs of Andrew County for the past half century, there axe none more worthy than Capt. F. Knickerbocker, whose officeis in the courthouse of Savannah. At an advanced age he is still active and strong, mentally and physically, now serving a term as justice of the peace, having been elected after finishing the term of the late Captain Mercer by appointment. Captain Knickerbocker is a lawyer of ability, is a notary public and has an insurance agency representing six old-line companies. He was a captain in the State Militia service during the entire Civil war. While a resident of Pillmore he was elected county attorney several years, was appointed postmaster by President Harrison, serving four years, including two years of Cleveland's administration. He is known as a pioneer citizen of ability and integrity, reliable in all business dealings, and is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens here, purely upon his merit as a citizen, thoroughly capable and deserving. His life is worthy of emulation by the younger set."