August Christian Knabe (1828-1903)

August Christian Knabe
Born	4 Mar 1828 Hamburg
Died	14 Feb 1903 Adelaide, South Australia
Nationality	Hamburger 1828-1861 British Subject 1861-1903
Occupation	upholsterer mattressmaker

Residences in the City

Dates	Place	Current Address	Co-ordinates

Work in the City

Dates	Place	Current Address	Co-ordinates

Published Obituaries

From the Advertiser and Express and Telegraph, both on Monday 16 February 1903:

The death occurred, after a lingering illness extending over 10 years, on Saturday, of Mr. August Christian Knabe, of Elizabeth-street, Adelaide. He was born at Hamburg, Germany, on March 4, 1828, and having lost his parents came to Australia in the ship Steinwerder, arriving on January 12, 1849. His life for the first few years was one of many hardships, until the Victorian diggings were discovered, and with many others from South Australia he decided to seek his fortune over the border. He was, however, not very successful. He afterwards went into business in Morphett-street, Adelaide, as mattress and bedding manufacturer, and remained there for 33 years. In 1886 he was obliged, owing to failing health, to give up business, and had from that time till his death lived a quiet life, He was connected with the Pirie-streèt Methodist Church from the day of its opening, 51 years ago, and with the exception of the last year or two had been a constant attendant. He was of a retiring disposition and never took an active part in public matters. He left a wife, three daughters, and two sons. One son is Mr. J. H. Knabe, of Messrs. Pengelley & Knabe, and the other is Mr. Ernest Knabe. The daughters are Mesdames George Edwards, Jos. Dixon, and Thomas Skuce. At the Pirie-street Church last evening fitting reference was made to the death of Mr. Knabe, and the hymn "The Christian's good-night" was sung by the choir.

From the Australische Zeitung, Wednesday 18 February 1903:

Herr August Christian Knabe, aus Hamburg gebürtig, wo er im Jahre 1828 geboren wurde. In 1848 wanderte er nach Südaustralien aus und hat seitdem fast ununterbrochen in Adelaide gewohnt. Der Verstorbene hinterläßt eine Witwe, 3 Töchter und 2 Söhne, Herrn Ernst C. Knabe und Herrn Johann Heinrich Knabe, welcher Teilhaber der bekannten Leichmbestatterfirma Pengelley & Knabe ist.

[Translation by Benjamin Hollister: Mr. August Christian Knabe, native of Hamburg, where he was born in 1828. He emigrated to South Australia in 1848 and has lived in Adelaide almost continuously since then. The deceased leaves behind a widow, 3 daughters and 2 sons, Mr. Ernst C. Knabe and Mr. Johann Heinrich Knabe, who is a partner in the well-known undertakers Pengelley & Knabe.]

From the Adelaide Observer, Saturday 21 February 1903:

Mr. August Christian Knabe, an old resident of Adelaide, died on Saturday, after a lingering illness extending over 10 years. The deceased gentleman was bom at Hamburg, Germany, on March 4, 1828, and came to South Australia in the ship Stinwerder on January 12, 1849. For the first few years he worked on farms. Afterwards he went to the Victorian diggings, but was not very successful in the search for gold. He finally settled in Morphett street at his trade of mattress and bedding manufacturer, and after 33 years in business, which was characterized by strict integrity, he secured a competency. Owing to failing health he was obliged to retire from business in 1886, and since then had lived a quiet and secluded life. He was a member of the Pirie Street Methodist Church since the opening day, 51 years ago, and until the last year or two was a constant attendant at that place of worship. Mr. Knabe has left a widow, three daughters (Mrs. Edwards, Mrs. Dixon, and Mrs. Skuce), and two sons (Messrs. Hernest C. Knabe and John Henry Knabe, of the firm of Pengelley & Knabe). Reference was made in the Pirie Street Church on Sunday evening to the death of Mr. Knabe.