In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, the Town and Country newspaper is proud to introduce you to Henry Kniep – better known as Chief

Henry Kniep, aka Chief Knippapoo, was born in South Dakota and a descendent of the Sioux Rosebud Tribe.  He moved to Red Hill in 1932 where he lived with his family in a home he built on Main Street.

Knippapoo.

            For almost one hundred years Americans of all stripes have urged that there be a special place on the calendar--permanently designated by the nation--to honor the contributions, achievements, sacrifices, and the cultural and historical legacy of the now United States' original inhabitants and their descendants: the American Indian and Alaska Native people.

            Since the 1970s, Congress has enacted legislation and subsequent presidents have issued annual proclamations designating a day, a week or a month to celebrate and commemorate the nation's American Indian and Alaska Native heritage.

            In 2009, Congress passed--and the President signed--legislation that established the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving Day of each year as Native American Heritage Day and, in October, President Trump issued a proclamation designating November as National Native American Heritage Month.

            Chief Henry Knippapoo was a descendant of the famous Rosebud Tribe of the Sioux.  Known to his Red Hill neighbors as Henry Kniep, he was born in South Dakota in 1862, and, after an event-filled life, he retired in 1929 to a house in the 800 block of North Main Street.  A house he built with his own hands.  He previously lived in Upper Milford Township.

After Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show ended, Chief Knippapoo gave lectures to many area student and scout groups throughout the years.  His talks on Native American culture included his experiences.

            In 1884, when he was 22-years-old, Chief Knippapoo became a technical interpreter for the famous Wild West show of William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill).  Cody originally staged an outdoor show in 1883 called the "Wild West Rocky Mountain, and Prairie Exhibition" in North Platte, Nebraska.  The show was a success and he realized he could make it better by expanding his theater show into an outdoor extravaganza.

            Chief Knippapoo traveled extensively with the show through the United States and England.  He became fluent in seven languages.  While traveling with the show, and during the occasion of Queen Victoria's Fiftieth Jubilee, he had the opportunity to meet her.

            Buffalo Bill's shows ran for 11 seasons.  Henry entered the lecture platform directly from the Wild West Shows.  His talks centered on his experiences as well as Indian culture.  He often spoke to local student and scout groups.

            In the 1920s Chief Knippapoo operated the "Knippapoo Wild West Show" which included educational programs descriptive of Native American life over the years.

            He was described as a cultured gentleman who was also a talented musician, photographer and painter.  He studied art in Paris under the tutelage of Monx La Chaue and became noted for his talent as an artist.  His was particularly known for his oil

Final resting place of Henry Kniep (Chief Knippa- poo) and his wife Dina in St. Paul's Church Cem- etery.

paintings in Indian motif.

            Kniep passed away at his Red Hill home in December of 1932.  The final resting place of Henry and wife Dina is in the St. Paul's Church Cemetery.