The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-01
THE BISHOP is DEAD
THE RT. REV. DAVID BUEL KNiCK-
ERBACkER SUDDENLY EXPIRES.
His Work at Head of Episcopal Do
cese of Indiana-Of a Distin-
guished Family.

Bishop d. 3. Knickerbacker Of the Epis-
copal Diocese of Indiana, is dead The de-
mise occurred at 3:45 o'clock yesterday
afternoon at his home on North Pennsyl-
vania street. He was taken i'll
on the street last Friday and
went home suffering from an at
tack of heart failure and the first stages
of pneumonia. His condition became serious
Saturday, and his suffering all that night
was so acute that his family and the cler-
gymen of his church became alarmed. On
Sunday, however, he seemed much better,
and the heart trouble apparently had yield
ed to treatment. The pneumonia seemed to
be under control. His temperature was nor
NAL. In his condition yesterday morning and
up to early yesterday afternoon there was
nothing that was not accounted favorable
to recovery. Mrs. Knickerbacker went down
town in the morning and made some pur-
chases for him, remarking to inquiring
friends that she thought her husband had
passed the critical point in the attack.
There no with him except Mrs.
knickerbacker and the nurse when he died.
They heard him breathe hard several times,
gasp, and then sink into relaxation. Death
had interviewed in the twinkling of an eye,
probably from some fibrous clot from the
lungs stopping the action of the heart.
Bishop David Buell. Knickerbacker was
born at Schaghticoke, Rensselaer, county,
New York, Feb. "a, 1888, being the youngest
son Of Herman Knickerbacker widely
known in his day as prince" Knickerback-
er, noted lawyer of the Empire State.
The latter is alluded to by Washington r.
wing as my cousin, the Congressman he
having served as a Federalist in the Elev-
enth Congress from 1909 to 1911. He lived
and practiced his profession in Albany N
Y, and his place was famous for his lavish
hospitality. The prince was afterward a
member Of the Legislature, and served a
Judge. On another occasion he was pre-
sented to President Madison by Washington
Irving as my cousin, Diedrich Knicker-
hacker, the great historian of New York.
His son was born in Irving's home town.
and attended Union Academy there. After
ward the son entered Trinity College and
was graduated in 1853. He then spent two
years in the General Theological Seminary
in the city of New York. He was ordained
deacon by Bishop Potter in Trinity Church
in June 1856, and Immediately went to Min
to the priesthood by Bishop KeInper in
Gethsemane Church in Minneapolis in July,
1851 Twenty years later, while rector of
this same church, he was elected mission
airy secretary to Arizona and New Mexico,
but he declined the honor. During his long
residence in Minneapolis he founded six
parishes, beside st. Barnabas's Hospital and
the Sheltering Arms Orphanage. He spent
a great deal of time in the early days of
the twin cities among the Indians and was
a favorite with them. He helped them to
organize parishes at White. Earth and other
points. In 1864 he was appointed by the Sec
rotary of the Interior as an Indian COM
missioner for a special purpose. He saw
Minneapolis and st. Paul grow from ham,
lets to large cities.
His election to the episcopate of Indiana
srk Ia rs1s IN in october
of that year. The service was conducted by
A Cleveland Coke, bishop of western New
souri,; John Medley, bishop of Fredericton;
H. B. Whipple, bishop of Minnesota; VIII
liam w. Niles. bishop of New Hampshire,
and George Gillespie, bishop of western
The dead Bishops strength in his work
did not lie in pulpit elOQuence, though he
was recognized as one of the most vigorous
thinkers in the church. His success was due
to his executive ability. Possessed OF wealth,
he went to work with his material
sources as we'll as his intellectual and spirit
d daa ai the diocesa and d
the acquaintance at once Of the church
leaders with view to imbuing them with
churches and extended the influence of the
church in every way. He founded ST. Marys
School the Church Home and Orphanage,
in this city. st. Stephens Hospital, at
Richmond and several other extensions of
church work. He was also editor of the
The funeral will be held in this city, at
st. Paurs Church, on Friday afternoon.
terry where only two weeks since the Bish-
op purchased lot. He was then, as far as
KNOWN, IN 1rSt-claSS nedlLn. Inc IOlIOWllB
bishops have been invited to attend the
funeral and one of them will be elected to
conduct the service: Bishop McLarin, of
Chicago; Bishop Seymour. of Springfield,
ILL.,: Bishop Burgess, of Quincy, ILL.,; Bishop
Hale, of Cairo, ILL.,; Bishop Dudley, of Ken
lucky; Bishop Gillespie of western Michi-
gan; Bishop Davis, of Michigan; Bishop
Whipple, of Minnesota; Bishop Leonard. of
Ohio; Bishop Vincent, of Ohio; Bishop
The family of the dead bishop consisted
only of himself and wife. They had three
children born to them while living in Min
nesota, but they died in their infancy.
Bishop Knickerbacker had much of the
ndomitable will and ability that marked
his distinguished ancestors. Els grand
father was no less distinguished than his
Johannes Knickerbocker (the Bishop SPELL
ing the family name with an "a" instead
of an "o") was soldier, born in
Schaghticoke in 1749, and died there in 1927.
He was a descendant of Herman Jansen
Knickerbocker, of Friesland, Holland, one
of the earliest settlers of the State of New
York. Johannes Inherited the Knicker-
city of Albany, to whom it had been con-
veyed by the Duke of York. The old home
stead is still standing on the site OF the
old fort built by the Duke of York as a
defense against the French and Canadian
Indians. At that time the fort was the eX-
IRENE northern outpost of the colony In
the immediate vicinity of the homestead
Governor Dongan in the presence of the
friendly Indians. Johannes Knickerbocker
was a colonel in the revolutionary war,
and was present at the surrender of Bur-
goyne at Saratoga.