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[[stamped]] FROM THE FLYING PIONEERS BIOGRAPHIES OF HAROLD E. MOREHOUSE [[/stamped]]
 
A. ROY KNABENSHUE
Pioneer Balloonist - Airship Pilot

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A. Roy Knabenshue was born at Lancaster, Ohio, July 15th, 1876. Later the family moved to Toledo, Ohio where his father became editor of the TOLEDO BLADE. Facts are lacking concerning Roy's education but evidently he first started working for his father on the newspaper. 

As a boy he witnessed a free balloon ascension at Columbus, Ohio in 1881 and this interested him. [[left margin]] age 5 [[/left margin]] He saw several ascensions at [[left margin]] age 16 [[/left margin]] Toledo in 1892 and then became determined to become an aeronaut. This ambition shocked his parents, who firmly objected. 

[[left margin]] age 23 [[/left margin]] In 1899 he saw a balloon being operated on a cable at Toledo, taking people up to 500 feet and back down, for one dollar a ride. Roy observed the owner taking in considerable money with this outfit during the Fair, and as a result he bought the equipment which was shipped to him after the season was over. At the time Roy was still working for his father, and his family and relatives all protested his going into the balloon business at fairs and carnivals. 

[[left margin]] age 24 [[/left margin]] Nevertheless Roy started out during the summer of 1900 with his captive balloon outfit, and to disassociate the family name he become "Professor Don Carlos". Troubles due to inexperience and bad weather plagued him all that season and he barely made expenses, so, as a result, he decided to give up

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