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George and John Knapp were brothers

In 1827, George Knapp came to St. Louis and was placed under the guardianship of Elihu H. Shepard, a school master. George apprenticed in the office of the Missouri Republican on January 28, 1827, as an apprentice, beginning his duties by delivering newspapers to subscribers. In the next eight years he engaged in such tasks as making proofs and making up the forms of type. Thus he became an expert in the mechanical aspects of newspapering.

In 1834, at the age of twenty, he left his apprenticeship, but he was too valuable to the newspaper to leave the office. Thus he was employed at nine to ten dollars a week, and two years later he was gifted with an interest in the company's book and job department (where non-newspaper work was done for external clients).

Edward Charless and Nathaniel Paschall edited the Republican until 1837; then A.B. Chambers and Oliver Harris moved from Pike County, Missouri, to St. Louis, formed a partnership with George Knapp and bought the newspaper from Charless and Paschall. Harris left the firm in 1839, and Paschall soon returned as an assistant to Chambers.

John Knapp came in as a partner in 1856, investing a considerable amount in cash, and was made publisher.

Within two years after this change the paper was making money at a rate that astonished George Knapp and Nathaniel Paschall. The circulation was greatly increased. The advertising patronage was doubled.

After Chambers' death in May 1854, his widow sold her legacy of the newspaper to George Knapp. Soon after, George Knapp made Nathaniel Paschall managing editor of the paper and sold him one-eighth of the business, payable on terms. John Knapp, George's brother, was also taken in as a partner. In 1856 the partnership was incorporated, with John Knapp, George Knapp, and Nathaniel Paschall having equal shares.

Personal lives
The Knapp family moved from Orange County, New York, in 1820.

John Knapp died on November 18, 1868.