George W. Knittle
Among the well known farmers of German township, none is more deserving of mention than George W. Knittle, whose farm of 80 acres is located in section 17. He has lived all his life in Allen County. He was born in Sugar Creek township, March 3, 1856, and is a son of Jacob and Eliza (Hamilton) Knittle, and a grandson of William and Rebecca (Tester) Knittle. William Knittle came with his wife from Fairfield County, Ohio, to Allen County at a very early day, and here entered 40 acres of land from the government.
George W. Knittle was reared on his father's farm and has always been an agriculturalist, the greater part of his life having been passed in German township. On October 21, 1875, he was married to Ida Belle Tester, daughter of Frederick and Sarah Jane (Umpstead) Tester, residents of German township. Mrs. Knittle was born February 20, 1860, and has had four children, only two of whom are now living. The record is as Follows: William B., born April 16, 1876, who married Alice Snow, of Elida and is employed in the oil field; Charles Frederick, born May 5, 1879, deceased in infancy; Orla Guy, born April 22, 1889, now a student in the schools of Elida; and Beulah May, born January 19, 1897, who died at the age of seven days. When Mr. Knittle was married he bought his bride to their present home where they have lived continuously except for a period of six years, three of which were spent in Lima and the remainder in Elida. Mr. Knittle is a member of the lodge and encampment, I. O. O. F. at Lima.