Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/537

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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Peter Knickerbocker was born in 171 1. He married Margaret Bane, and settled near Mount Ross. Dutchess county, New York. Children : Pliilip, Lawrence, Peter, Benja- min. James, mentioned below, John, Hugh, Elizabeth, Margaret.

James Knickerbocker married Maria Den- nis, and among their children were two sons: I. Jonas, born 1814, was for many years a partner of Colonel Silas Harris in the manufacture of scythes at Pine Plains, New York. He continued the business for two years after the death of Colonel Harris, and in 1864 built a store at Pine Plains, which he conducted until 1886, when he retired with a competence. 2. Adam, of whom further.

.Adam Knickerbocker was born in 1823 at Pine Plains, Dutchess county. New York. In 1852 he removed, with his family, to Calumet county, Wisconsin, where he was among the first settlers in that section of the state. He protected his household from the Indians, cleared the original forest, and through the pursuit of agriculture won from the fertile native soil a good living for his family during the remaining forty-one years of his life. Of sturdy character and un- wavering integrity, he was loved and re- spected far and wide, to a degree beyond that which falls to the lot of most men. He died in 1893. He married Catherine Blake- man, in 1847, and their children were: Mary Amanda, born September 25, 1848; Frederick, August, 1850: Cornelius, April, 1853, died January 10. 1877; Laura Eliza- beth, January 5, 1856; Edward Elbridge, August 19, 1864. All are living at the pres- ent time but Cornelius.

Major Frank Eugene Skinner, son of Wil- liam E. and Mary A. (Knickerbocker) Skin- ner, was born July 5, 1870. in Calumet county, \\'isconsin. He was fourteen years of age when his parents removed to Wash- ington, D. C, in 1885. He attended the public schools of the District of Columbia ; for four years was a member of the Wash- ington High School Cadets, and retired as colonel ; subsequently took a course in me- chanical engineering at George Washingfton University, from which he received the de- gree of B. S. in 1899. He also completed a special course in engineering at Cornell Uni- versity. Under his father's instruction he received a full course of training in archi- tecture and practical construction. From

1894 to 1906 he was a teacher in the high schools, and by this means was enabled to complete his course at the university. In 1898 he joined the National Guard, as a member of the Second Regiment of the Dis- trict of Columbia, and was elected first lieu- tenant. Subsequently he was commissioned as second lieutenant in the First District of Columbia Volunteer Infantry, for service in the Spanish war, and went to Santiago, Cuba, where he remained until the close of hostilities. \\'ith his regiment he was pres- ent at the surrender of Santiago, and on his return to Washington was mustered out of the volunteers. He then resumed his ser- vice with the National Guard, and was pro- moted to captain, which position he resigned I^'ebruary I, 1906, when he became attached to the Soldiers' Home at Hampton, Virginia. His first station was that of commissary of subsistence, with the rank of captain, and on September 12, 1907, he was made quar- termaster, with the same rank. On Febru- ary I, 1912, he became treasurer of the home, with the rank of major. Major Skinner is a member of the George W^ashington Alumni Association, of the Society of the Army of Santiago de Cuba, and of Henry W. Lawton Camp, No. 4, United States War Veterans, of the Spanish war. He is a faith- ful member of the Presbyterian church, and is regarded with esteem and respect in all the relations of life.

Major Skinner married, June 23, 1902, Marie Sipe, daughter of Edward H. and Emma S. (Bender) Sipe, of Pennsylvania, and \\'ashington, D. C. They have two children : Dorothy Bender, born March 26,

1907, and Frank Edward, born August 19,

1908, at National Soldiers' Home, Virginia. Mrs. Frank E. Skinner is also descended from an old Dutch family, founded by Jacob Bender, who came from Germany and settled at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1693. His son, Jacob Bender, born 1724, was a captain of horse in the colonial wars, and was the father of John Bender, born in 1755- He served as a soldier of the revolu- tion. He died in 1818. Both he and his wife were Quakers in religion. His son, John Bender, was the father of John Bender, whose daughter, Emma S. Bender, born 1846. died 1890, married Edward H. Sipe, who was born in 1835, died in 1905. Their daughter, Marie Sipe, became the wife of Major Frank E. Skinner.