Englersville Cycle, in honor of the town’s original name. While it’s hard to say for sure, given that the name Knobtown has become so ingrained in local lore, it’s possible that Englersville Cycle might not have had quite the same ring to it. But then again, who knows? With the right marketing and branding, any name can become a household name.
To understand why this is, we need to delve into the history of Knobtown, Missouri, and the man for whom it was named. Knobtown was founded in the early 19th century, and by the mid-1800s, it had become a bustling little community with its own post office, school, and general store. However, it wasn’t until the late 1800s that Knobtown received its name.
A merchant named Charlie Engler built a general store in about 1897, east of where U. S. 350 now crosses the Little Blue River. According to local lore, the town’s name is derived from an incident that occurred in the basement of his store in the late 1800s when Charlie was found hanging from a doorknob.
Engler’s body was found on the basement stairs of the store. His suspenders were wound around his neck and the knob of the basement door. Robbery was a possible motive, but the death was ruled a suicide, even though Engler left no suicide note.