THE HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, OHIO
1883 - By Leggett, Conaway & Co.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
K
(1907-MARION COUNTY, OHIO HISTORY - LETTER - K)
BYRON KANABLE (Pleasant Township) is one of the substantial, energetic men of Pleasant Township. He was born March 8, 1836, in Richland County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Elizabeth Kanable, who came from Pennsylvania in 1830, stopping in the above county twelve years, thence to Marion County. locating two miles east of Marion. Having raised a family of five children, and having served through the late civil war. the father died, 1866, aged sixty-four. The mother still survives, aged eighty-five, living with our subject. The Kanables originated in Germany. One Daniel Kanable was in the war of 1812. Byron. having obtained a moderate education, enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Ohio National Guard, serving four months near the city of Washington, receiving an honorable discharge. In 1860, he and others bought the old stone Methodist Church at Marion, and converted it into a sash and blind factory. They disposed of it to Huber & Co. in 1865. Thence he went to Green Camp with George Foster and built a grist mill and saw mill, conducting them until 1870. In 1872. he purchased his present home, of eighty acres of heavy forest land, paying $4,000. He has made all the improvements, building house and barns and clearing sixty acres. The past two years our
subject, with A. C. Mounts, has been building a pike from Marion to Prospect, repairing the Marion & Owen portion. Their work gives entire satisfaction. Mr. K. first married Sarah Free, daughter of Michael Free. She died in 1867, leaving two children-Willis and Harvey. In 1870, he married Almiretta D. Parmenter, daughter of Rev. C. O. Parmenter, of the Baptist Church. She died in 1878, leaving one surviving child, Carrie. Our subject is still a widower, and has affiliated with the IOOF at Marion.
JACOB KEILER, (Marion Township) (1907)owner and operator of the planing mill, was born in Berlin County, Penn., January 1, 1832. His parents were Jacob and Catharine (Cook) Keiler; the former died in Columbia County, Penn., in 1858, and the latter in Delaware County, Ohio, in July 1870. When a boy, our subject learned the miller's trade with his father. When of age, he took up the carpenter's trade in Lycoming County, Penn., and worked two years. In 1857, he went to Marshall County, Iowa, where he worked at his trade until October 1861, when he enlisted in Company H, Twelfth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry; he served in the Army of the Tennessee, and participated in the following leading battles. Shiloh, Corinth, siege of Vicksburg and in all the arrangements of the Atlanta campaign, including Atlanta, where he was taken a prisoner, July 22, 1864. He was confined in Andersonville Prison two months and Florence, S. C., until December 12, 1864, when he was paroled. He was discharged at Davenport, Iowa, July 3, 1865. He came to Delaware and purchased an interest in the Delaware Flouring Mills; a year later he came to Marion and engaged in lumbering, and subsequently erected his planing mill, at a cost of $4,000. In October 1868, he was married to Miss Sarah C. Harder, who died in October 1877, leaving two children, Frank S. (1907)and Grace. His second marriage took place in June 1881, with Mrs. Martha P. Elliott, widow of J. S. Elliott; she had two children by her former husband, namely, Lowell and Charles H.
CARL FRIEDRICH KELLER, (Waldo Township) (1907) farmer, P. O. Waldo, is a native of Zaisersweiher, Wuerttemberg, Germany, where he was born November 10, 1843, His parents, John Ulrich and Christina C. (Kull) Keller, John Ulrich was born in Gudelbach, Wuerttemberg and Christina was born in Zaisersweiher, Wuerttemberg. They emigrated to America in 1847 and settled in Waldo Township, this county. Here John Ulrich Keller bought eighty acres of land, all excepting ten acres covered with forest. Our subject's father died October 6, 1875, aged nearly seventy-six, and his mother died in Pleasant Township May 23, 1847, aged forty-three. Their family numbered eight children, six living, of whom our subject is the youngest. He was reared on the homestead and received a common school education. He was married February 9, 1869. to Mary E daughter of Rudolph and Margaret (Sulser) Hecker. She died June 17, 1874, leaving two children-John and Rudolph D. Our subject subsequently, married the second time on January 28, 1875, Barbara, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Sulser) Gattner. To this union were born four children Charles H., Mary R., Emma E. and Bertha C. Mr. and Mrs. Keller are members of the German Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is Steward. Mr. Keller owns 157 acres in Waldo Township, 110 acres in this county and forty-seven east. Besides engaging in farming, he is interested in stock-raising, making thoroughbred Norman and Clydesdale horses a specialty. On September 20, 1864, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Eightieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served in the Army of the Cumberland and fought near Kingston, N. C. He was honorably discharged at Newbern, June 8, 1865, and returned home. In politics, Mr. Keller is a Republican.
GOTTLOP KELLER (Green Camp Township) was born December 18, 1839, in Zaisersweiher, Wuerttemberg, Germany, the son of John Ulrich and Christena C. (Kull) Keller. They settled in Waldo Township in 1847, upon eighty acres of land, paying about $6 per acre, where they lived and died, Christena May 24, 1847. Gottlop, Keller, growing to man's estate, married, March 24, 1870, Miss Rose, daughter of Henry and Hannah Dettwiller, natives of Germany, who came from the Fatherland in 1847, settling in Waldo Township upon a 100-acre farm. This he improved, and removing to Delaware County, Ohio, died there. His widow still survives, living near Green Camp. Mr. and Mrs. Keller rented the first five years of their life, then purchased their farm of 2481 acres, now numbering 2551 acres. He has cleared a portion of this himself, and it is all well cultivated. It is a valuable farm and the result of their hard labor. He is a worthy citizen, a Democrat, and a Trustee of the township, elected April 10, 1883.
TIM KELLEY, (Marion Township) a native of County Limerick, Ireland, was born June 16, 1844; his parents, Timothy and Ellen Kelley, were natives of the same county and both died there, the former in 1848 and the latter in 1849. Mr. Kelley, the subject of this biography, in 1852 came to America with his brother, Jeremiah Kelley, and stopped in Queen's County, Lung Island; remained there until 1856, then went to Albany, N. Y., and in December 1861, came to Bucyrus, Ohio, and subsequently to Marion. He worked on a farm until August 16, 1882, when he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served in the Eleventh Army Corps under Gens. Sigel and Howard till September 1863, when he joined the Twentieth Army Corps and served as Orderly to Gens. Hooker and Slocum until his discharge in June. 1865. Among the leading battles of the war in which he participated were Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and from the latter place to Knoxville, Resaca, and in all the engagements of Sherman's Atlanta campaign and march to the sea. He marched through the Carolinas to Richmond; thence to Washington, D. C., where he witnessed the grand review. He was wounded at New Hope Church. After the war closed, he returned to Marion, and afterward to Albany; then back to Marion. He clerked three years for T. Fahey; then engaged in business for himself. In April 1876, he removed to his present rooms, where he carries a stock of groceries and provisions, tobacco, cigars, foreign and domestic liquors, to the amount of $15,000 to $20,000, *and does a wholesale and retail business. He is also a stockholder in the Huber Manufacturing Company; was a member of the City Council 1873-74, and is also a member at the present time. October 16, 1873, Mr. Kelley was united in marriage with Miss Norab, daughter of Pierce Keating, formerly of Marion County. She was born in Rochester, N. Y., June 4, 1848. They have five children, viz., William P., James K., Edward D., Mary E. and Maggie.
GEORGE KELLOGG (Tully Township) is an old gentleman, seventy-four years of age, having been born January 7, 1809; he is a native of Ulster County, N. Y., and a son of Josiah and Catherine Kellogg, who came to Medina County, Ohio, 1830. At the early age of ten or twelve years, George took to the son, coasting along the Atlantic shore, visiting the West Indies and the Islands; he continued this for seven years; before he quit sailing entirely, he coasted lakes Ontario and Erie one season. He spent many years working on an engine; he was in Columbus several years and was with Gen. Gregory for a time. Today he owns some seventy-seven acres, having owned at one time 140 acres, and having cleared forty acres of forest land. He is a bachelor; a Democrat of the Jacksonian persuasion; has accumulated a good property.
W. H. KELLOGG (Tully Township) is the son of Perry and Harriet Kellogg, and is living with and caring for his uncle, George Kellogg. His birth took place March 2, 1847. Having acquired a fair, practical education, he married May 30, 1872, Miss Emma Humphrey, daughter of John and Rebecca Humphrey, of Ashland County, Ohio. Four children have been born to them-Henry P., Ralph H. (deceased), Harriet R. and Mary B. His present farm of twenty-four acres, purchased in 1876, giving $2,040 for it; his residence he built in 1877, at a cost of $1,000; he makes a comfortable living by renting farms in the neighborhood; his place is supplied with good stock. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Caledonia, and was its Treasurer at one time; is also a member of the IOOF, of the same place. He has been Trustee of the township five successive years.
BENJAMIN G. KEMPER (Montgomery Township) was born January 31, 1837, in Perry County, Ohio, the son of Wesley and Sophia (McElheny) Kemper, the former of Welsh, and the latter of Irish descent; they moved from the above county to Montgomery Township in 1842, rearing a family of five children-Joel L., David N., Benjamin G., Samuel H., and Charles W, who died from a disease contracted during the civil war. Mr. Kemper married, June 4, 1867, Helen McClellan, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Cushman) McClellan, of Scotch and English ancestry, and natives of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Kemper are the parents of four children-Lucy F., Ernest M. G., James B. F. and Blanch E., aged (1883) fifteen, twelve, ten and two years respectively. Mrs. K. commenced life with nothing but his own resources, and by industry and perseverance owns at present 100 acres of arable land, valued at $75 per acre. Recently he erected a fine frame house. He makes a specialty of stock-raising; he is a Republican in politics, and with his wife. a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
J. W. KENNEDY (Tully Township) (1907) is the son of W. K. and Margaret Kennedy, born in November 1853. He received a good education at Bucyrus, and taught two terms of school. He married Miss Emma Holverstott, daughter of P. W. Holverstott. an able farmer of Madison. The name of their child is Mabel Edna. He keeps good stock and is worth about $8,000; his residence is just across from his father's in Crawford County.
THADDEUS C. KENNEDY (Scott Township) was born June 29, 1838, in Richland County, Ohio, but his parents, John and Maria Kennedy, came to Scott in 1846, buying 400 acres, where T. C. Kennedy now lives. His father died in 1853, aged fifty-five years, but his mother still lives, aged seventy-two years, hale and vigorous July 25, 1860, he married Miss Martha Walton, daughter of David and Louisa Walton. He enlisted in Company D, Eighty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served eighteen months. He was engaged in the battles of Cedar Creek, Cedar Mountain, Bull Run (second battle) and McDowell, under Gen. Sigel. He moved to his present home in 1874, farming 138 acres. Owing to poor health, Mr. K. has been engaged for many years in buying stock. His experience with horses has been disastrous to himself, having his ribs broken on both sides, also collar bone, and front teeth knocked out.
W. K. KENNEDY (Tully Township) is financially one of the most prosperous men in Tully Township. He began life by working for $6 a month, and is worth $60,000. He was born February 16, 1818, in Mifflin County, Penn., and is the son of Thomas and Nancy Kennedy, of Irish descent, who came to Crawford County, Ohio, in 1832. The common school gave Mr. Kennedy his education. In 1843, he purchased eighty acres of land, paying $400 cash, wages he had previously earned working by the day or month. His subsequent labors were greatly prospered, having owned at one time 820 acres of good land; he owns 650 acres of land, 375 acres of homestead and 115 acres timbered land in Tully Township, eighty acres in Polk Township and eighty acres in Dallas Township. His stock of thirteen horses is valued at $1,500. ten steers at $500, and 200 sheep at $1,000. As an index of his labor, we note that he cleared 100 acres of timber land. As a citizen, he has been quiet and successful, never suing or being sued at the bar of justice. Mr. Kennedy contracted his first marriage May 28, 1844, with Miss Margaret Shank, daughter of Jacob and Lydia Shank, of Crawford County, Ohio. Nine children have blessed their union, two dying in infancy; the living are Lydia J. (wife of Samuel Baker). Thomas S., Martha (wife of George Watts), J. W. (at home), Emma (wife of Madison Roberts), Auzilla, arid Ella (wife of John Hill). His wife's decease occurred June 23, 1860. In 1862, he married Miss Mary Lance. Their one child, Samira, is the wife of Elsie Jones, of Iberia. Air. Kennedy is the grandfather of twenty-six children; his attractive home cost $5,000.
MRS. JANE KERR (Tully Township) is the widow of James Kerr, and the daughter of William and Arniel Noble, who came from Rome, Ireland, soon after their marriage, about 1790. Mrs. Kerr's marriage occurred August 13, 1832, in Tully Township, where she now resides. Mr. Kerr entered 160 acres. She recalls vividly to mind the owls, wolves and suspicious Indians frequenting her door. Her husband's death took place in 1841, leaving five children, all less than seven years of age, for his widow to care for. She bravely labored, and, like a true heroine, conquered. Following are the names of her children: Elizabeth (wife of Alexander Cochran), Andrew (who died from disease contracted in the war), Augustine (at home), William (of Illinois) and Mary Ann (deceased). This mother, with her little boys, cleared fifty to sixty acres of timber land. Since 1830 she has been a faithful, consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, and is now only waiting for the Master's call, "Come up higher."
ROBERT KERR. (Scott Township) (1907) This well-known pioneer of Marion County was born in Mifflin County, Penn., October 27, 1807. and is the son of James and Betsy (Arbuckle) Kerr. The grandparents on both sides were natives of Ireland, named respectively James Kerr and William Arbuckle. Robert Kerr's father was a farmer, and migrated with his wife and family to Knox County, Ohio, in 1818 where he bought a farm of 160 acres in Clay Township. His wife Betsy died on this farm, aged forty-two years; he subsequently sold this farm to his son Robert, and moved to Licking County, Ohio, where he resided with his son-in-law, Aquilla Barber, until his death, at the age of eighty-seven years. Robert Kerr remained with his parents until nineteen years of age, receiving scarcely any advantages for securing an education. He now began to learn the tanner's trade, at Martinsburg, Ohio, and completed his apprenticeship in two years and five months. At the end of this time, he hired out to drive hogs through to Baltimore, Md., at three shillings a day and board, excepting dinner, which he had to furnish himself, if he had any. On his return to Ohio, he found employment at general work around a sawmill for several months, at $11 a month. While employed in the following harvest, he was prostrated by a fever. This
sickness, with the expenses attached to it, soon took the greater part of his earnings on his recovery, and for some time thereafter, lie followed the business of clearing up land for different parties, at from $2.50 to $3 per acre. His part of the contract was complete when everything was cleared up within twelve inches of the ground; 113 or more acres of land was cleared up by him in that mariner. While clearing this land he cut 1,000 cords of wood and upward, at 20 cents per cord, and made many thousand rails at 50 cents a hundred. About this time, or a little before, he had bought two eighty-acre pieces of land, then in Scott Township, Marion County. but now in Crawford County; for the first eighty acres he paid $100, and for the other $200. He was married, August 29, 1833, to Matilda Swaggert, a daughter of Daniel and Betsy (Coonrod) Swaggert, and at once commenced keeping house on his 160 acres of land. From this time he gave his attention to farming, clearing $100 cash the first year. About the third year on the farm he began handling stock, which turned out tolerably well. He now, with what money he had made, purchased 360 acres of land in Scott Township for $1,500, on five years' time, at six per cent interest, payments to be made of $300 yearly. He stocked this land with sheep, and made enough money to meet his payments promptly as they fell due. He was then told by an old Pennsylvanian, one Stephen Ulery, that he could make more money by raising sheep than in anything else, and Mr. Kerr. acting upon his advice, bought quite a large number. The first year he sold his wool for 21 1/2 cents per pound. The second for 22 1/2 cents, the third crop at 29 cents, the fourth crop at 331 cents, the fifth crop for 40 cents, the sixth for 50 cents, and the seventh crop at 80 cents a pound. The last season his receipts from the sale of wool and sheep amounted to $33,000. After this the price of wool decline to 50 cents, and kept going lower, and Mr. Kerr sold out all his sheep and quit the business. Up to 1876-77, his principal business had been handling sheep and stock, and he now owns (1883) a herd of 1,024 head of cattle in the Indian Territory, 1,059 acres of land in Crawford County, 443 acres in Wyandot County, and 2,573 acres in Marion County. He was one of the original stockholders of the Farmers' Bank of Marion, Ohio, and of the Nevada Deposit Bank, of Nevada, Ohio, and now owns a large amount of stock in each; he is also a stockholder in a bank at Winfield, Kansas, which has but recently been established. He built, and still owns, the Kerr House at Marion, at a cost of $60,000, and the Kerr House, at Nevada, at a cost of $18,000, both fine buildings and ornament to the towns where they are located, and monuments that speak well for the enterprise of the builder. He has made various donations of considerable amounts, one of about $53,000 to Hiram College, and another of $23,000, to Bethany College, of Virginia, and various minor amounts to other institutions. He is the wealthiest citizen and largest landholder in this section of the country. He has 4,007 acres of valuable land, free of incumbrance, and other property, which, at a cash valuation, would amount to $600,000. This large property was acquired by fifty-four years of untiring energy, combined with excellent financial ability and strict integrity in all business transactions. He was formerly a member of the Disciple Church for many years; but, for what he considered unchristian conduct of some of the members, he withdrew from that church, and has not been a member of any Christian denomination since. His wife, Matilda, died in February 1859. By this marriage there were eleven children, six of whom are living, named Elizabeth, Sarah, Stephen, Mary,.John and Amanda. Mr. Kerr was married the second time, in July 1861, to Martha Williams, by whom there was one child-Addie. On New Year's Day, 1883, Mr. Kerr met with a serious accident at Caledonia, while walking down the street, which was very icy; he slipped and fell, causing a fracture or dislocation of the hip joint on the left side, and has not been able to walk since (September 1883), and has made his home at Nevada, Ohio. He lived for forty-four years on tile place where he first commenced keeping house, but for the ten years previous to the accident above mentioned, had lived in a house erected on his land in Scott Township, a short distance from his old home. Barring his inability to walk; he is enjoying good health for a man of his years. He is now seventy-six. We give Mr. Kerr's portrait in this work.
GEORGE KEY (Marion Township) was born in Scotland December 30, 1838. Having obtained an ordinary education, he sailed for America in 1866, stopping in Akron, Ohio, until 1870, when came to Marion. In trade, Mr. Key is a blacksmith, having a shop on South Street. He served an apprenticeship of four years, beginning when aged fifteen; he now has all he can do, and owns a house and lot on West Street. August 4, 1869, he married Miss Margaret Davidson, daughter of John Davidson, of Scotland, and of their six children four are living, namely, William B., John A.(1907), George F. and Amy V. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church; Mr. Key also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed the Chancellor's chair. In politics, he believes in the principles of the Democracy.
GEORGE W. KEYES (Claridon Township) was born in Darby Township, Union Co., Ohio, May 20, 1840, the son of Daniel and Betsey (Carr) Keyes, the former a native of Now Hampshire, the latter of Pennsylvania. They were married in Union County, where they passed the majority of their days. Mrs. Keyes was born April 26, 1804, and died September 20, 1849. Mr. Keyes survived her until July 9, 1878, in his seventy-sixth year. George W. was educated in the schools of Darby and Jackson townships, in his native county, removing to the latter when fifteen, and living with John C. Jolly. He enlisted, September 15, 1861, in Company B, Thirty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, to serve three years. He participated in the following engagements: Cross Keys, June 8, 1862; Harper's Ferry, September 15, l862, and in a battle that occurred after dark, during which 120 men of their regiment were either killed or wounded in the short space of a minute and a half; the remainder of the regiment was instantly captured, paroled and transferred to Chicago, remaining four or five months. Going then to Camp Cleveland, Ohio, they were sent to three battles-Port Gibson, Raymond, siege of Vicksburg. Big Shanty, and through the entire Atlanta campaign, participating in all the battles. At the expiration of his term of service, he was honorably discharged at Atlanta. Ga., September 15, 1864. Returning to Jackson Township, he married, September 5, 1865, to Sophia E. Herrin, daughter of Louis and Catherine (Leysinger) Herrin, natives of Pennsylvania. They were pioneers of Fairfield County, Ohio. where he died in 1867, aged seventy-five years. Mrs. Herrin survives him at present a resident of Circleville, Ohio. George W. Keyes is the father of three children-Celestia. born November 8, 1866; Emily A, October 31, 1869, and Sylvester E., October 25, 1872. Their mother was born September 22, 1842. Mr. Keyes removed, after marriage, to Claridon Township, where he has since resided. His farm of 109 acres is valued at $70 per acre. He is a sound Republican, and, with his wife and daughter, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Claridon, to which he has freely contributed.
JOHN KIBLER (Green Camp Township) is a native of Wuerttemberg, Germany, born October 3, 1827, son of Johanis and Christena (Wolford) Kibler, who left the Father land in 1833, settling in Trumbull County, Ohio, upon a twenty-five acre farm, covered with a dense forest. They cleared and sold it, coming to Green Camp, buying 112 acres, for less than $3 per acre. They were married in 1857, and bad seven children-John, Catherine, Mary, Gottlieb, George, Rachel and Daniel. The first two are living. The subject of this sketch has been a farmer since his boyhood. He went to the war in the fall of 1864, entering Company H, One Hundred and Eightieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with Capt. Bowers. His company was engaged in guarding military stores and bridges. He engaged in one skirmish at Kingston, N. C., lay in a hospital fifteen days at Charlotte, same State, and was honorably discharged in July 1865, at Columbus, Ohio. His farm, to -which he has made several additions, numbers at present 300 well improved acres. As a citizen, he is worthy; as a Republican, true; as a Christian, faithful to the Methodist Episcopal Church, which he serves in the capacity of local minister. He was wedded, December 4, 1851, to Caroline Gottliebine Keller. She was born June 13, 1828 in Zaiserweiher, Wuerttemberg, Germany the daughter of John Ulrich and Christena C. (Kull) Keller.
A. L. D. KING, (Salt Rock Township) farmer, was born in Salt Rock Township in 1836. His father was a native of the State of Delaware, whence he came to Pickaway County, Ohio, where he was married to Miss Hessy Hopkins. He came with his family to Marion County in 1823, and entered 160 acres of land, and afterward made additions to this land until he owned 448 acres. He served in the war of 1812, and died in Salt Rock Township January 10, 1857. He was an influential and respected citizen. His widow died in 1874. The subject of this notice is a grain and stock farmer, owning a farm of 117 acres. He is a member of the Grange and of the Presbyterian Church, and is also a Democrat.
GEORGE J. KING, (Salt Rock Township) (1907) farmer, was born in Salt Rock Township March 31, 1852. During his minority, he secured a good practical education, and followed the occupation of teaching for a short time. He was married, November 16, 1875, to Annie Alkire, and Dow resides on his farm of 133 1/3 acres in Salt Rock Township. Mr. King is a prosperous farmer, and has served the township in the various local offices. He is a member of the Grange, and in politics is a Republican. Mr. King's mother, Jane, was the first white child born in Salt Rock Township.
JAMES KING (Marion Township) was born in County Derry, Ireland, August 28, 1828, the eighth child of eleven children born to John and Catherine (Riddle) King. Their ancestors were originally from Scotland. James came to America in 1848, stopping two years in Crawford County, Ohio. March 25, 1850 he came to Marion Township, working two years by the month, then "sharing" the same length of time. He bought a farm of eighty acres in 1856, moving upon it in the following spring. In 1856, he added eighty acres more and in 1879, another eighty-acre lot, making in all 240 acres, in a high state of cultivation. For a number of years, he has been engaged in rearing and brooding English and Clydesdale horses, having at present thirteen head. He is an annual exhibitor at the county fair. May 15, 1847, he married Sarah J. McPherson, a daughter of John and Mattie He Pherson. She was also a native of Ireland. Politically speaking, he is a Republican.
JOHN KING (Montgomery Township) was born August 10, 1801, in Sussex County, Del, son of James and Nancy (Farquhar) King. His father was a native of same State, born 1752, one of the first children of that State, and died about 1818. His mother died 1852, aged eighty-eight years. Mr. King was married, March 30, 1822, to Sarah Reed, daughter of Nathan Reed, and three children were born to them, one living, Julia A. His wife died December 28, 1825. He again married, September 16, 1830, Mary Vesey, daughter of William and Patience (Waples) Vesey, who died September 1868, leaving four children; their names are David, William, Robert and Margaret. Mr. King came to Ohio in 1828, settling first in Salt Rock Township when but, a few families were there. He has ever been an active prominent citizen. He is an enthusiastic Democrat, was Clerk of Montgomery Township for twenty successive years, Chief Magistrate of the township, and elected Treasurer of the county in 1859. He holds a membership with the, Free-Will Baptist Church. He still lingers, one of old and greatly respected pioneers of the county.
SAMUEL H. KING, (Salt Rock Township) (1907) farmer, was born in this township June 5, 1827. He inherited from his father forty acres of land, where he now lives. He has increased his possessions, and now owns 155 acres. He was married, November 7, 1850, to James Thompson. Mr. King is a stock and grain farmer, and makes sheep a specialty. He is a Republican, and is now serving as Justice of the Peace. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is an ardent sportsman, and while on a hunting trip in Michigan in 1881 he killed eighty-nine deer, and last fall, 1882, besides other game, killed a black bear in the same State.
WILLIAM KINNAMON (Claridon Township) was born in Ross County, Ohio, April 24, 1846, the son of George and Hannah (Downs) Kinnamon, of English stock, and natives of Virginia and Ohio respectively. The former was born in September 1809. They were early settlers in the above county, and the wife died there. George K. survived her until July 4, 1878, dying in Canaan Township, Morrow Co., Ohio. They had ten children, five living Mary J., Elizabeth, Harrison, William and John. The deceased were Lucinda, Nelson, George, Harriet and Eliza. The subject of this memoir secured a fair learning from the common schools of Ross and Morrow Counties, and continued with his father until he attained his majority. He wooed and wedded, December 24, 1868, Miss Maria J., born December 3, 1847, a daughter of Hezekiah and Rachel (Henry) Weeks. They have had six children--Ella M., born May 1, 1870; Charles W., January 29, 1874; Flora E., October 27, 1875; Oliver W., October 9, 1877; Frank W., January 31, 1882, and Ada B., April 5, 1872, dying July 23, 1873. Mr. Kinnamon was a hundred-day man in the late war, enlisting in 1864, in Company A One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment Ohio National Guard. His regiment spent the most of its time in the District of Columbia. He commenced in life with very limited resources, but owns today seventy-five acres in Morrow County, and other property to the amount of $7,000. In connection with his extensive farming, for the past fifteen years he has boon buying and shipping stock, with considerable not profit. As a citizen, he is exemplary, as a Republican, strong, and as a Christian, influential and benevolent. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN KINSLER (Kunzler) (Marion Township) is a native of Singen, Baden, Germany, born March 15, 1830, the son of John and Christina Kinsler; he was reared and educated in the common schools of his " fatherland. " In June 1854, he landed in America, living one year in Cattaraugus County, N. Y. In the fall of 1855, he came to Marion, living here ever since, save five years-from 1862 to 1867-when he resided in Grand Prairie Township, four miles from Marion, engaged in farming. He has always been following this business, together with stock-raising, renting land all the time. April 2, 1864, he married Margaret Ambruster, who was born in Ispringen, Baden, Germany, in 1827, the daughter of Charles and Margaret Ambruster. They have four children-John H.(1907), Charles, Louisa, wife of Wesley Romoser, and Jennie. Mr. Kinsler owns a little home of three and one-half acres, is a Democrat, and he and family are members of the Lutheran Church.
JOHN H. KINSLER, (Marion Township) (1907) eldest son of John and Margaret (Armbruster) Kinsler, was born in Baden, Germany, January 17, 1851. He came across the Atlantic Ocean with his people when two years of age; he passed his youth in Marion, going to the union schools. At twenty years of age, he began to serve an apprenticeship of three years at stone masonry, under the direction of William Trone. He has since followed his trade, employing live men and doing a good business. His marriage to Miss Mary Leonhart was solemnized December 3, 1878; she is the daughter of Michael and Catherine Leonhart, and was born in Waldo Township July 12, 1854. Three children blessed their home, Elmore A. alone living, born August 17, 1882. Samuel C. was born December 25, 1880, and died January 1, 1881; a daughter died in infancy. Mr. Kinsler is a Republican in politics. Besides his house and lot, he owns two town lots. The family hold a membership in the German Methodist Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM KIRTS, (Prospect Township) farmer, was born in Prospect Township, March 5, 1827; his parents' Dames were Michael and Elizabeth (Simpson) Kirts, natives of Pennsylvania, near the Maryland State line. They were of Scotch and German parentage; axe both Dow deceased and buried in the Otterbein graveyard in Prospect Township. They came to Marion County in 1826, locating near Prospect Village. and subsequently bought the farm now owned and occupied by William B. Thomas and cleared it up. The buildings on this farm were erected by them. They had ten children-Mary Ann; George; Henry, deceased; Julia Ann, deceased; William; Daniel, deceased; David and Jane (twins), Matilda and Isaac. Himself and wife are members of the United Brethren Church and were much respected. William Kirts, the subject of this sketch, lived with his father until twenty-one years of age, when went to Upper Sandusky and worked at making rails and gathering cranberries for two years. During that time he made 28,000 rails and helped to clear 100 acres of land. He then came home and farmed his father's place for three or four years, when he bought 106 acres of land, at $6 an acre, where he now resides. The land was then covered by a dense forest. He immediately made a clearing and erected a log cabin; the same year (1853) he was married to Ruth Ann Williams, a daughter of John Williams, one of the early settlers of the county. They moved into the log cabin February 27, 1854. He has since added to the home farm, so that it now consists of 230 acres, of which 190 acres are cleared. He has 110 acres in Union County, fifty:of which are cleared. The old log cabin has been superseded by a fine frame residence, surrounded by convenient barns and out-buildings, with a fine well of water. This lust was very expensive to obtain, as Mr. Kirts dug seventeen different wells before securing a good one; and, as he says, among all of his improved Meats it has cost as much as any one of them. He has assisted in rolling logs at thirty-one places in one spring. Mr. Kirts is one of the self -made men of the county; he acquired all his home farm by hard work and industry, though afterward he received a legacy of $2,500 and forty acres of land from his father's estate. Mr. and Mrs, Kirts have the following children: Mary Ellen, Albin D., Elizabeth Sivonia, John Michael, Silas Spencer, Eva, Ada Thalia, Thomas Edwin. Mary Ellen, who married Frank Butts, lives with her husband on her father's farm in Union County. Elizabeth married Samuel Johnson, and lives on the home farm; Eva Florence married Fuller Johnson; the rest of the children are living with their parents.
JOSEPH KLINEFELTER, (Pleasant Township) a respected citizen of Pleasant Township, was born January 9, 1842. His parents were Rev. Jacob and Susannah Klinefelter, who came from Pennsylvania in 1826, settling where Joseph now resides, and entered 160 acres. His father was known far and near as a pioneer preacher of the "Albright " faith. He reared a family of seven children, and departed this life in 1856, aged sixty-two years. The mother still survives, aged seventy-eight years. Their ancestors came from Germany. Joseph was educated at the common schools. In 1862, he enlisted in Company H. Eighty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He engaged in the severe battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. In the latter, he received a severe wound in his thigh. and was then honorably dis. charged. He was married, December 5, 1873, to Susannah Dreisbach, daughter of Rev. Abraham E. and Mary A. Dreisbach, of Tiffin, Ohio. This union has resulted in five children-Clara M., Iva A., Benjamin F. and Lillie M. (twins) and Emma S. Mr. K. bought his farm of 160 acres (inheriting one-seventh) in 1868, which is today valued at $80 per acre, Near his house stands a fine bank barn, built in 1880 at a cost of $1,000. He anticipates erecting a good house the coming year. He and family belong to the Evangelical Association, of which he has been class leader for the past six years; also Superintendent of Sunday school for the past twelve years and Church Trustee for four years. He has been Treasurer of the township one term. During the past year, he has been confined to the house through a debilitated state of health.
AMOS H. KLING, (Marion Township) (1907) one of the wealthiest and most influential citizens of Marion County, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., June 15, 1833, the son of Michael and Elizabeth Kling, of the above State. They came to Richland County, Ohio, and then to Lucas County, Ohio, where the old gentleman died in 1877; the mother is still a resident of the latter county. They were the parents of nine children, six living, of whom the subject of this notice is the third. Amos H. Kling was reared in his native place, obtaining an education in the common schools. He attended, however, W. W. Granger's commercial college at Mansfield, Ohio, graduating in the fall of 1854. When aged seventeen years, he commenced to learn the tailor trade, and plied it until he came to Ohio. Having obtained his commercial degree, he kept books for J. W. Bain, a hardware merchant, remaining with him three years. In 1857, he engaged in the hardware business, following it nine years, when he retired on account of ill health. He then commenced negotiating in papers and real estate, continuing in that business to the present time. During the Paris Exposition in 1867, he visited the old country for the purpose of purchasing Norman French horses. The next trip was made in 1868 and a third in 1870. The first importation was made by Wallace, Watkins & Kling, and the subsequent importations by the Marion County Importing Company, of which Mr. Kling is still a member. He was a stockholder in the Columbus & Toledo Railroad from its incipiency, and a Director until it was sold to the present syndicate. He is a part owner of the Hotel Marion, one of the finest institutions of its kind in this part of the State. He has been a Trustee of the Marion Cemetery Association, and member of the School Board, now serving his second term, was a member of the Agricultural Society a number of years, and its President one year. He was appointed by the court a member of the building committee for the new court house. He is also a member of the IOOF. His marriage occurred in the autumn of 1859, to Louisa M. Bouton, a daughter of Harvey and Emily Bouton, the latter & native of Fairfield County, Conn. The names of their children are Florence M., Clifford B. and Vetallis H. It is needless to remark that Mr. Kling is a successful business man. Every enterprise he has undertaken has grown tenfold, and his large fortune is wholly the product of his excellent business ability. Mr. Kling is an energetic and public-spirited citizen and his name has been prominently associated with every public improvement of the town. He aided in securing railroads to the place, besides other important public enterprises.
ADAM KLINGEL (Richland Township) was born April 11, 1844, a native of Richland Township, and the son of Lucas Klingel and Doratha (Harsch) Klingel. He came from Ersingen, Baden, Germany about 1825, settling in the southwestern part of the township. They were owners in time of nearly 200 acres there; he cleared about seventy-five acres. In his early days, he was both a tailor and shoe maker; his death occurred in 1872, aged fifty-nine years. The mother still survives, aged sixty-eight years. Our subject received a common school education, and in 1864 enlisted in Company K, Seventy-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry; his principal engagements were at Decatur, Ala., battle of the Cedars, Overall's Crook and Kingston, N. C.; he served mostly under Gen. Schofield. For two weeks he was confined at Fortress Rosecrans in the hospital. He continued until the close of the war, being honorably discharged in July 1865. April 25, 1867, he married Miss Mary E. Firstenberger, daughter of Frederick Firstenberger. Six children have been born to this union-William H., Charles W., John F., J. Wallace, Henrietta L. and Emma M.. He rented his farm a number of years, but purchased it in 1876. It consists of 100 acres, valued at $80 per acre; he paid $6,500. Our subject has been Treasurer of the township for four years. The family belong to the German Reformed Church, with which he has been officially connected.
LUCAS KLINGEL, (Waldo Township) farmer, P. O. Waldo, was born on the old Klingel homestead in Richland Township, Ohio, April 7, 1848, and is the fifth son and child in a family of ten. His parents were Johann Lucas (1907) and Dorotha (Harsch) Klingel. He was reared on the old homestead, and received a common school education. He remained at home till 1872, aiding in clearing up the farm. From 1872 to 1876, lived with his father-in-law, Jacob Kalber, and then bought 114 acres of land, on which moved the same year. On March 14, 1872, he was married to Christina S., daughter of Jacob and Caroline Kalber. She was born in Baden, Germany, January 27, 1852. To this union four children have been born-Charles Wesley, born February 3, 1873; Rosa C., born March 7, 1876; Lydia C.. born August 8, 1878, and Emma J., born March 28, 1880. Mrs. Klingel's parents came to America in 1853, and settled in Richland Township, this county. Our subject and his wife are members of the German Reformed Church. He is owner of ninety-four acres of land, and is, in addition to farming operations, much engaged in stock-raising, keeping a good grade of cattle, etc. In politics, he is a Democrat.
JAMES W. KNAPP, (Montgomery Township) of the firm of J. W. & M. S. Knapp, La Rue, Ohio, was born in Logan County, Ohio, October 14, 1833, the youngest son Benjamin and Sarah (Sutton) Knapp. He came with his parents to -Marion County about 1838, settling one mile west of La Rue. He remained with big parents until his twenty-fifth year, obtaining a fair education , when he engaged in various occupations. He enlisted in the late war, August 6, 1862, in Company E, Ninety-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, participating in the following battles: Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Vicksburg (including its surrender), Jackson, Carrion Crow and Sabine Cross Roads. At this place, he received a severe wound, and was carried a prisoner to the hospital at Mansfield, La., where he lay ten weeks; partially recovering, he receiving a parole. He then went to New Orleans, and was given a furlough. His honorable discharge dates Camp Denison, Ohio, December 16, 1864. Since the war, he has given his attention to business of various kinds; but in 1873 he engaged in the mercantile trade. His labors have been attended with such prosperity that during 1882-83 he erected a fair brick store, in which he is conducting an extensive business. He is a member of the IOOF, the F. & A. M., the G. A. R. and the Presbyterian Church. He is an active temperance man, and an enthusiastic Republican.
EMMANUEL KNACHEL, (Prospect Township) meat market, Prospect Village, was born June 22, 1830; his parents were George and Maria (Aulsebouse) Knachel, who came to this county in 1841 and settled on wild land in the woods, one and a half miles west of Prospect. The father died in the spring of 1879, aged seventy-seven years: the mother is still living, aged seventy-eight years. Our subject passed his youth on his father's farm. In 1850, he went to California, where he prospected and mined for gold, meeting with fair success. He returned in 1852, and in 1853 was married to Rosina Tyler, a daughter of Richard Tyler, of this county and formerly of Virginia. From this union there are three children--Bertha R., born March 28, 1858; Wilson F., October 24, 1860: Jennie P., August 9, 1866. Mr. Knachel enlisted as a soldier in 1864, in Company 1, One Hundred and Seventy-fourth. Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry to serve in the war of the rebellion, and took part in the battle of Kingston, Tenn., August 26, 1864. At the close of the war in 1865, he was honorably discharged and mustered out of service. He is a Republican.
CHRISTIAN KNICKEL. (Waldo Township) (1907) farmer, P. O. Waldo, was born at Huttengesass, Hessen- Nassau, Germany, August 21, 1834, and is a son of Henry and Anna Marie (Bender) Knickel, of Huttengesass, Hessen-Nassau, Germany. They came to America with their family in 1853, and settled in Prospect Township, Marion County, Ohio, where Mr. Knickel bought 100 acres of woodland. The family had to live in a primitive cabin till they were enabled to build a log house, hewing the timber from the dense forest that surrounded them, and cutting out a road, as an approach to the farm, three-quarters of a mile in length. Our subject's father died about the year 1873, aged sixty-four, and his widow now resides in Green Camp Township (this county), at the age of seventy-three. They had five children, of whom Christian is the second. He was reared in Germany, and received a common school education. He learned the weaver's trade, which he worked at till he was nineteen years of age, when he came to America with his parents. He assisted in clearing some forty acres of the homestead, and lived with his mother till 1867, when he moved to his mother-in-law's farm in Waldo Township. Here he remained till 1873, when he bought 100 acres, and, in 1878, an additional piece of land of fifty-one acres, all well improved and cultivated. In 1878, he built a two-story house at a cost of $2,000, and has laid on his farm 300 rods of tile, and ditched 100 rods. Mr. Knickel was married, in September 1860, to Theresa Klingel, daughter of Jacob and Eve Klingel. She was born in Waldo Township. To this union were born five children, three living --Christian H., Anna and Laura. Wesley and Mary are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Knickel are members of the German Reformed Church. He is a member of the IOOF, No. 588, of Waldo. In politics, is a Democrat; has served as Trustee of Waldo two years, and as School Director seven years. As a stock-raiser, our subject has met with considerable success. He keeps Cotswold sheep, French horses, Poland-China and Chester-White hogs, besides short-horn cattle, all of high grade. In his exhibits of horses and sheep at county fairs, etc., he has taken first premiums. He has been successful with his farm also. In 1880, he had twenty-one acres which yielded 672 bushels of wheat.
HENRY KNICKEL, (Pleasant Township) son of Henry and Anna Mary (Bender) Knickel, was born in Huttengesass, Hessen-Nassau, Germany October 12, 1832, and emigrated with his parents to America in 1852. They settled in Prospect Township, purchasing 100 acres of land at $9 per acre. This farm is to day in a high state of cultivation. They were the parents of five children, three living-Henry, Christian and Margaret; Mary and Philip are deceased. Our subject remained with his parents until he was married, September 15, 1858, to Minnie, daughter of John and Barbara (Brack) Haberman, also natives of Huttengesass, Hessen-Nassau, Germany. They came to this country in 1844, and had a family of thirteen children four surviving-Margaret, Elizabeth, Catherine and Minnie. Mr. and Mr. Knickel have seven children-- Henry, John, Christina, Mary, Philip, William. and Minnie. Mr. K. moved upon his present farm in the spring of 1882, purchasing it at $60 per acre. He keeps it in good repair. He enjoys the respect of his neighbors, is a Democrat, politically, and he and family are members of the German Reformed Church.
CAPT. HIRAM KNOWLES (Scott Township) was born in New York State January 16, 1811, and was the son of Seth and Mary Knowles, who came to Delaware County, Ohio, in 1816; thence to Knox County, Ohio, until 1828, when they came, too Scott Township, settling upon the Kennedy farm, then consisting of 160 acres. They reared a family of eight children. The old gentleman died in 1864, aged seventy-seven years. Our subject has been a strong, healthy man all his life. He purchased eighty acres before marriage, but increased that number to 510 acres, being worth at one time $25,000. From his fortieth to his sixty-fifth year, he was known far and near as a stock speculator, having once $30,000 invested in a single drove. He served as Treasurer of the township twenty-five consecutive years, also as Constable for fifteen years. He was County Commissioner two terms. Has seen all of the wilds of a new country, besides the hardships attached thereto. Indians by the score, wild deer by the hundred, wolves by the score, and foxes and all other wild animals of a new country were plenty.
JACOB KOLB, (Bowling Green Township) only son of Jacob and Catherine (Kammerer) Kolb, was born in Singen, Baden Germany April 10, 1829. He obtained a good education in the Fatherland, and emigrated to America, locating at Marion, this county, in 1856, where he worked and lived about twenty years. He was married, August 25, 1868, to Mary Katharina "Katie" Fullmer (Vollmer), born in Rosswag, Wuerttemberg, Germany November 18, 1836, a daughter of Simon and Susanna Dorothea (Vollmer) Vollmer, both natives of Germany, where her parents died. Mrs. Kolb came to America, locating in this county, in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Kolb's children are Jacob W., John, Charles, William, Frank, Arthur, Susie and Marv, all of whom are living. George and an infant unnamed are deceased. In November, 1876, Mr. Kolb bought eighty-three acres of land in Bowling Green Township, where he has resided with his family ever since. This farm is well improved, sixty acres under cultivation, and he has erected a comfortable residence and other outbuildings. Mr. Kolb is a well-to-do farmer; he and family are members of the Lutheran Church. He is a Democrat.
HIRAM A. KOONS, (Claridon Township) plasterer, was born in Richland County, Ohio, November 27, 1836. the son of John and Ann B. Koons. His father is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1810. His mother was born Jan. 12, 1816, in Cumberland County, of the same State, and died January 15, 1843. His father, still living aged (1883) seventy-three years, has spent nearly all his life working at his trade, shoe-making. Hiram A., our subject, having a fair practical education, began, in his twentieth year, to learn the trade of plastering, under the direction of Thomas J. White, of Crestline, Ohio. He came to Caledonia in 1858. May 10, 1860, he married Sarah E. Bell, a daughter of Benjamin and Eleanor (Thorp) Bell, both deceased. His union has been crowned with three children- Sheridan C. was born December 16, 1864; Cora A. was born May 27, 1861, and an infant, August 11, 1863, both deceased. Mr. Koons enlisted in the civil war July 10, 1863, Company 1, Eighty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of the struggle, performing guard duty at Camp Chase and Columbus, Ohio. For eight months, at Camp Chase, his duty was to inspect rebel letters at the prison office. His discharge dates July 3, 1865. Mr. K. has eight acres of farm land near the village, and a good residence on the corner of Liberty and Water streets. He is a member of the IOOF, of the L. of H., of the G. A. R. and is a Republican.
WILLIAM C. KRAMER (Kraemer) (Richland Township) (1907) is one of the stirring, leading men of Richland Township. His birth took place the 30th of September 1837, in Germany; his parents, Christian and Christina Margaret (Keiser) Kraemer. emigrated to America in 1849, settling in Richland Township. They bought first forty acres, but added later sixty-one acres more. They reared but two children-our subject, and Charles C., who was an engineer, was killed near Bellefontaine, upon the Quincy curve. These parents are still living, aged eighty-three and eighty years respectively. Our subject's education was commenced in the German schools, but he finished it in our common schools. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Linius daughter of William Linius, of Galion, Ohio, March 9, 1869. Seven children have been born to them. The names of the living are William H. and Ida (twins), John C., Marv A., Henry A. and Augusta D. He purchased his present home in 1872, then containing forty acres; he now owns 120 acres, well-fenced and drained and with good buildings. Mr. R has fine stock; his work horses are the Norman and English drought, and he owns a registered English drought horse; his merino sheep are the best in the township. During the war, Mr, K. was in the Quartermaster department of the Government, working at Nashville, Tenn. He and family are members of the M. E. Church.
CHRISTIAN KRANER (Kroener) (Marion Township) is a native of Wilferdingen, Baden, Germany, born January 15, 1813, the son of Michael and Eva (Kroener) Kraner, who sailed for America in 1830, settling, October 15, in Pleasant Township, having entered 160 acres of land. He cleared that land with the assistance of his son Christian. He had seven children, three sons living. He died in 1860, aged eighty-five years; she died at the same time, aged eighty-three years. Christian Kraner obtained such an education as the schools of the day afforded. He helped to make a number of the first roads in Pleasant Township, and was instrumental in building churches and schoolhouses there. In 1872, he, bought 123 acres of his present farm, much of which was covered with a forest. He cleared this away and built the same year a two-story house, 22x28 feet, costing $4,000. February 15, 1842, he was married to Catherine Shin, a daughter of John Shin, and their family numbers seven children-Christian, John, William, Sophia, Catherine, Caroline and Mary, all members of the Lutheran Church. He aided in building two churches at Bethlehem, contributing liberally.
ALEXANDER KRIDLER (Montgomery Township) was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, August 7, 1836, the son of Daniel and Jeannette (Campbell) Kridler, of German and Irish ancestry respectively, and natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio severally. They came to Ohio when young, were married in Trumbull County, and settled in Hardin County in 1853. They had twelve children, three surviving-Alexander, Marilla and Julia A. Mr. Kridler became a prominent farmer, owned 140 acres, and died at the old homestead in 1864, his wife preceding him two months. Alex. Kridler acquired his education in the common schools, and remained with his parents till his twenty-fifth year, when he commenced life independently, working upon a farm three years, then engaging in the mercantile business three years, abandoning that on account of ill health. He has a good property, of some $10,000, and is a prominent farmer, coining here in 1870. April 23, 1868, he married Sarah A. Anderson, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Clark) Anderson, and one child was born to this union-Annie, born October 25, 1870, and died November 9, 1881. He has been Trustee of the township two years, is a Democrat, and belongs, with his wife, to the Christian Church.