Martin Knapp was born and raised in Vestre Toten, Norway.  He immigrated to the United States as a young man and in 1895 was married to Clara Evinrude, who was also born in Vestre Toten, Norway.  She came to the Cooperstown area in 1893.  The couple moved to Binford in the fall of 1899, where Mr. Knapp, in partnership with Joseph Buchheit, built and operated a general store, which later became known as the Buchheit-Bakken store.  He also built the family home, which is now occupied by Reverend and Mrs. J. Deering Risk and their family.

On October 24, 1904, Mr. Knapp met his death by drowning while hunting with two companions, Fred Lewis and Ernest Amidon, at Stump Lake.

Mrs. Knapp sold her interest in the store to her husband's brother, John Knapp, but continued to live in Binford except for a year spent in Norway shortly after her husband's death.  She was a charter member of Trinity Church, (then known as the Norwegian Lutheran), and all her children were also confirmed members.

Martin and Clara Knapp were the parents of four children: 

1.     Agnes died at the age of seventeen years. 

2.     Ivar and Manfred who passed away in their late fifties, and

3.     Olaf who lives in Fargo, North Dakota.