USA > Illinois > Cass County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Cass County, Volume II > Part 59
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On September 14, 1894, Mr. King was united in marriage with Lula Kirkendell, a danghter of George and Susan Kirkendell, and they have one child, Irene, who has been a student at Bel- mont College, Belmont, Tenn.
KING, Marcus B., one of the enterprising farmers of township 18, range 10, is an excellent exam- ple of what an energetic man can accomplish if lie has perseverance. He was born in Wilson County, Tenn., January 11, 1840, a son of John
H. and Sarah (Chandler) King, natives of Smith Connty, Tenn., and Wilson County, in the same state. In 1861, these parents came to Cass County, traveling through Arkansas on the way. The father rented farms for ten years and then they moved to Missonri, where he died. The mother then returned to Cass Connty where she passed the rest of her life.
Marcus B. King never received much school- ing, but made the most of what he had, and has learned through experience. On December 1, 1SG1, le enlisted for service in the Civil war, in Company H, Fifty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was at Fort Donelson and Pitts- burg Landing, and from there was sent to Springfield, Ill., to do gnard dnty. In June, 1863, he went with his regiment to Cairo, Ill., then to Padncah, Ky., and from there to Mem- phis, Tenn., and on to Vicksburg. He was also in the Red River Expedition, and was in the engagement with the enemy on Pleasant Hill. During 1864 his regiment traveled 5,000 miles. During June and July he was with the regi- ment at Vicksburg, then in Arkansas, next at Memphis, Tenn., and in several more expedi- tions, one being to Westford, Kas. From there the regiment was sent to St. Louis, and then to Nashville, where it was engaged in battle two days. In December, 1864, the regiment marched to Eastport, Miss., and then north to Chicago, and Mr. King was discharged February 7, 1865, and returned to Cass County, Ill. Here he rented land for three years, then bought land 'in Morgan County, Ill., remaining on it for four years, then sold, and in 1872 came to town- ship 18, range 10, Cass County, where he bought eighty acres of land, twenty-five acres of which was cleared. During the time he has operated his farm he has put it all under cultivation, erected the present buildings and made many other improvements.
On January 30, 1866, he was married to Mar- garet Spicer, born October 30, 1845, in Cass County, a daughter of Jesse and Margaret (Baine) Spicer of Virginia. Their children have been as follows: Jesse, who is of Vir- ginia. Ill., married Lucy Kirkendall, and they had one child, Irene: Dora E. and Clara, twins, live at Springfield and Jacksonville respectively, Clara being now the wife of William E. Smith and had one child, Dora L., now deceased ; Addie, who is Mrs. Frank Gaines, of Virginia, Ill., has one daughter, Rena ; and Alma, who is at home. Mr. King has served as school di- rector and also as road commissioner. In pol- itics he is a Republican. A man of progressive ideas, he has put them to practical use on his farm. and his property shows the effect of the care bestowed upon it.
KIRCHNER, William F. (deceased) .- In his time William F. Kirchner, whose industrions and prosperous life came to an end after a duration of seventy years, was one of the most extensive farmers in Cass County, Ill., and he cultivated one of the most desirable tracts of land in the Sangamon River bottoms. Like many other
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successful men of his calling in the early his- tory of this region, he was of German origin, having been born in Saxony, January 19, 1834. On emigrating to the United States, he located in Chicago, where he was employed in driving a team for two years. This was in 1854, and then, making up his mind to undertake agricul- tural pursuits he came from Cook County to Cass County and bought a farm on the bottom lands along the Sangamon River, and in the course of time engaged in farming on a large scale. In 1SSS he purchased 320 acres in Sedg- wick County, Kas., which is now rented ont. Of the bottom lands in Cass County there still remains in the family possession 130 acres, con- stituting a very choice farm. At the time of his most extensive farming operations he was the owner of 700 acres, much of which he sold. He died December 20, 1903.
The marriage of William F. Kirchner took place at Beardstown, Ill., on December 28, 1857, at which time he wedded Elizabeth Yeck, who was born in Wurttemberg, Germany, Jannary 22, 183S. Mrs. Kirchner came to this country with one of her sisters, and located at Beardstown, settling on the Sangamon bottoms after her marriage, where she still resides. The children resulting from their union were as follows : Mary (Mrs. Richard Schuman), of Chicago; Louis, of South Dakota ; Matilda, deceased, who was Mrs. John Schaad; Elizabeth (Mrs. Lin- coln Fielding), of township 18, range 10, Cass County ; Frank, deceased: Ann (Mrs. Joseph During), deceased; and Emma (Mrs. J. R. Sligh), of Virginia, Cass Connty, Mr. Sligh hay- ing served as assessor and treasurer of Cass County.
Mr. Kirchner was a very upright, honorable, and useful member of the community. His re- ligious connection was with the Lutheran church. Politically he acted with the Demo- cratic party. His widow and the entire family are much respected and have a wide circle of friends.
KNIGHT, Robert Haywood, now living on a por- tion of his father's homestead, is a recognized leader in agricultural matters in Cass County. He was born in Hickory Precinct, Sangamon bottom, this county, February 23, 1862, a son of Thomas and Emeline D. (Haywood) Knight, natives of England. Thomas Knight, the pa- ternal grandfather, came to Cass County at an early day, settling in the Sangamon Valley where he owned a large property. Mrs. Knight came to Cass County alone. After their mar- riage, Thomas Knight and wife settled in the Sangamon bottom and there resided until Mr. Knight retired from active labor, when they went to Beardstown, and there he died in Au- gust, 1902, and she in February, 1913. Their children were as follows: May, who is de- ceased ; Robert H. : Minnie, who is Mrs. Fay Post, of Beardstown ; John A., who is of Beards- town; Myrtle C., who is Mrs. L. W. Berry ; Harry, who is deceased; and Edwin S. and Lloyd, who are both of Beardstown.
Robert Haywood Knight attended the district schools and Brown's Business College, Jackson- ville, during 1882-3. After his marriage he moved to a farm six miles southwest of Vir- ginia in Monroe Precinet, comprising 170 acres then owned by his father, and he lived in a log cabin there until 1891, when he built a fine modern residence on a natural building site well supplied with forest trees. He does general farming and hog raising and has been very suc- cessful. He was later given a part of the home place, and has added to it until he has 270 acres in one place, and has also 160 acres in township 17, range 10, and operates all his land.
On February 26, 1885, Mr. Knight married Hannah Alethia Thevagt, born in Cass County, December 10, 1859, a daughter of Henry and Minnie (Engle) Thevagt, natives of Germany, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Knight have had the following children : Carroll T., who was born June 7. 1891: Orville H., who was born March 2, 1893, is of California ; Russel B., who was born September 16, 1895 ; and Adah Eliza- beth, who was born October 23, 1896. Mr. Knight belongs to Providence Presbyterian church and has served it as a trustee since 1902. He is a Democrat and has held public office, was road district clerk, and also has been a school di- rector. He is a man of wide interests and is influential in his neighborhood, ever foresighted and progressive in his farm industries, and his success is well merited.
KOEPPING, Richard E .- At Virginia, Ill., some of the most substantial and highly valned men are those who can claim as their birthplace some portion of the German Empire. One of these men is Richard E. Koepping, a prosperous baker of Virginia. He was born in Saxony, Germany, August 29, 1870, a son of William and Leonore (Gebhart) Koepping. Although only seventeen years old when he came to the United States, Mr. Koepping had already learned the trade of a baker, and locating im- mediately at Jacksonville, found employment in that city, later leaving it for Springfield in the same state, where he worked for six years-prior to his coming to Virginia. This occurred in April, 1913, when he formed a partnership with Albert J. Link, and bought the bakery and lunch room owned by John Seiler. This con- nection continued until September, 1913, when Mr. Koepping bought out his partner, since then continuing alone, having his place of business on the west side of the square at Virginia. Mr. Koepping makes bread, cakes, pies, cookies, buns and other bakery goods, and specializes on all kinds of fancy baking. for banquets and par- ties, and also conducts a general lunch room and restaurant.
On April 6, 1896, Mr. Koepping married Lena Hoover, a daughter of Frederick and Barbara (Bebley ) Iloover, and they have had six chil- dren born to them, namely : Louis, Marie, Louisa, Fred, Matilda and Panline.
Fraternally Mr. Koepping belongs to the order of Ben Ilur, and to the Modern Woodmen of
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
America, and the Odd Fellows. Religiously, he is a German Lutheran, belonging to the church of that faith at Virginia.
KRIEG, William, one of the responsible farmers of Cass County, has done much to raise agricul- tural standards in his vicinity, and can be de- pended upon to give his assistance to those movements which he deems will work out for the benefit of all. He was born in Hesse-Darm- stadt, Germany, November 16, 1865, a son of Balthaser and Margaret (Kramer) Krieg; who were born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1831 and on February 11, 1832, respectively. The family came to the United States in 1882, and two years after his arrival the father bought twelve acres of land in township 18, range 10, and lived upon this property until his death, August 27, 1895. His widow, the mother of William Krieg, still resides upon this place, although he bought it from her.
The educational training of William Krieg was received in Germany, but after his arrival here he located first at Chandlerville, Ill., where he worked as a farm laborer by the month for four years. Having saved some money, he then bought a farm of 104 acres, and cleared it of timber and brush, improving it and erecting ex- cellent buildings upon it. He has also set out an orchard that is now very valuable. His farm now contains 104 acres.
In November, 1SS7, Mr. Krieg married Clara Anderson, born in Sweden, December 26, 1865, and they became the parents of the following children : Albert, Frederick, Howard, David, Errick, Nellie Theresa and Selma Oddel. For nine years he has been a school director, but has held no other office, and for fifteen years he has belonged to the Modern Woodmen of America. The German Lutheran church holds his membership. A hard worker, thrifty and practical, Mr. Krieg has steadily advanced and is justly recognized as one of the representative men of his neighborhood.
KROHE, Albert H., who is a well known and well-to-do farmer in the vicinity of Beardstown, is a native of Cass County, having been born on the Sangamon River bottom, township 18, range 11. n., June 9. 1864. His immediate an- cestors were early settlers in this region, where they located in 1833. and Albert Krohe himself has been for a number of years prominently identified with its farming interests, and has also taken an active part in public affairs.
August Krohe. his father, who was a son of August Krohe, emigrated to the United States from Saxony, Germany, and his mother, Mary Korfmacker, born in Lippenhausen. Prussia. April 2, 1833, came to Cass County at the age of fifteen years. They were married here about 1854, and located on the Sangamon River bot- fom. August Krohe first rented land on the river bottoms, and later bought 528 acres in the same vicinity. There he carried on farming un- til 1SSS. when he moved to Beardstown, selling the land to his children. His wife died in Au-
gust, 1894. Their children were as follows: Theodore, who died in January, 1913; Edward, who lives in township 1S, range 11, Cass County ; Matilda ( Mrs. Louis Zimmer), of Jacksonville, Ill. ; Albert H .; and Augusta (Mrs. Adam Shaeffer) of Beardstown.
Albert H. Krohe attended the Cottonwood dis- trict school, and also a school at Beardstown. He always lived on the home farm, and when the opportunity came purchased 240 acres from his father. In 1906 he built a roomy and hand- some frame house, equipped with modern im- provements, and is successfully engaged in gen- eral grain farming.
On October 1S, 1SSS, Mr. Krohe was united in marriage with Maria Witte, born in town- ship 18, range 11, Cass County, a daughter of Henry and Anna (Vette) Witte, natives of Ger- many. Their children are: Alfred, who resides in Beardstown, Ill., and Letha and Irl, both at home. Mrs. Krohe's father, Heury H. Witte, was born August 9. 1821, in Westphalia, Prussia, and became a resident of Beardstown in 1854. In 1856 he was married to Minnie Vette. He owned a fine farm in the Sangamon bottoms, where he died in 1902.
Mr. Krohe is a director of the First State Bank of Beardstown. He has served two terms as county commissiouer, and was a school di- rector for many years. He is a member of the Lutheran church.
KROHE, Frederick August, now living retired at Beardstown, was at one time one of the lead- ing agriculturists of Cass County, where he is so well and favorably known. He was born in Saxony, Germany. December 2, 1832, a son of August and Christina (Jokisch) Krohe. On January 1, 1835, the family came to the United States. landing at New Orleans, having crossed the ocean on a sailing vessel, which consumed several weeks, during which time very rough weather was experienced. From New Orleans the little party started up the Mississippi River and on arriving at St. Louis took another boat for Beardstown. The voyage during the last stage took eight days. During the ensuing win- ter. the family remained at Beardstown, but in the following spring the father went into the country and bought land in what is called Jokisch settlement, and there Frederick August was reared. The parents both died on their farm at that point.
Frederick August Krohe attended the public and German schools, but had few educational advantages, but was taught to work. When he was twenty years old. he left the farm, and came to Beardstown, remaining with his grand- father for some months, when he went to the Sangamon River bottoms, where he and his wife worked hard and earned $140 with the help of his team of mules. in one year, quite an amount of money iu those days. Following this he rented land and worked it until the death of his grandfather, when the land was sold. and he bought 10S acres in the Sangamon River bottoms, and began farming. At that time he
Jesse I. Sowers
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
had many head of horses and cattle, but prac- tically no money, but he was an excellent man- ager, and soon was able to add to his holdings until he had 208 acres of land. Later he bought 280 acres along the bluff, with some in the bot- toms, and in 1890 he purchased a lot at Beards- town, and on it had a comfortable frame house erected, in which he has since lived retired.
In 1853 Mr. Krohe married Mary Kortmacher, born in Prussia, Germany, who died about 1894, having borne him the following children: Theo- dore, who is deceased; Edward, who is of Cass County, lives on his father's old farm, which he bought; Matilda, who is Mrs. Louis Zimmer of Jacksonville; Albert H., who is of Cass County, lives on a farm he bought of his father; and Augusta, who is Mrs. Adam Shaeffer, of Beards- town. On September 15, 1901, Mr. Krohe mar- ried Minnie Reller, who was born at Beards- town, Ill., June 6, 185S, a daughter of Frederick and Louisa (Witte) Reller, he born in Hanover, Germany, and she in Prussia, Germany. They came to Beardstown when unmarried, there met and married. He was a carpenter by trade, and owned considerable property. The children of Frederick Reller and wite were: William, who is deceased; Minnie; Henry, who is of Beards- town, and Henry and Anna, both deceased. Mrs. Krohe was educated in the German and public schools of Beardstown. St. John's Lutheran church holds the membership of the family. In politics Mr. Krohe is a Democrat, and has served as school director for many years. He takes much interest in his five living children, and is proud of the fact that he has twenty- two grandchildren, fifteen of whom are boys, and eight great-grandchildren, all the boys bear- ing the name of Krohe, and may each develop into as fine a man as their great-grandfather.
KROHE, Henry C., was born in Beardstown, Ill., March 3, 184S, a son of August and Christiana (Jokisch) Krohe, natives oť Saxony, Germany, who settled in Cass County in 1835, where both died. He remained with his parents until his marriage, December 19, 1871, attending the Buck district school in his youth. At the date above mentioned, he was married to Christiana M. Menge, born in Hesse, Germany, January 20, 1852, a daughter of John Zacharias and Marie Sophia (Meyer) Menge. They were farmers, and settled in Cass County in 1853, where both died. After his marriage, Henry C. Krohe moved to a portion of his Grandfather Jokisch's sixty-acre farm that his father had secured. There he always has resided, and has added to the area of the farm until it now comprises 192 acres, situated on sections 5 and S. He carried on farming there until 1906, since which time his son, Felix Krohe, and Henry Hen- dricker have conducted it.
The children of Henry C. Krole and his wife have been : Bertha Caroline, deceased, who was Mrs. Henry Muhlert, who had a daughter, Verna C., now deceased; Lydia C. S. (Mrs. Richard Launer), of Cass County, whose chil- dren are: Ralph K., Harvey H., Marvin T.,
Everett W., Violet L. and Gilbert W .; Rosina E., at home; Felix, of Cass County, who mar- ried Ida M. Hendricker, and they have Paul F., Maria A., Henrietta J., Arthur C., Philip H. and Edna A., deceased; Paulina, who died at the age of seventeen years; and Matilda L. (Mrs. Henry Hendricker), of Cass County, whose children are : Myrtle C., Rosa S., Homer K. and Irvin H. Mr. Krohe has always been connected with the Lutheran church. In pol- ities he has acted with the Democratic party and served the public as a school director for many years.
KRUSE, David .- A favorably known and pros- perous farmer and stockraiser of Cass County, Ill., who is successfully engaged in his chosen pursuits of tilling the soil and breeding cattle, in section 29, township 18, range 10, n., is David Kruse, and he is considered by his neighbors one of the substantial members of the commun- ity. Further particulars concerning the family relations of Mr. Kruse are contained on another page of this volume, in connection with a biog- raphy of his brother, Jacob Kruse.
David Kruse is a native of Cass County, and was born January 2, 1876. His father, Mythas Kruse, was born in Switzerland in 1826, and came to this country in 1855, and his mother, Sophie (Biehl) Kruse, was a native of Cass County.
In his youth, David Kruse attended the dis- trict school of the neighborhood whenever an opportunity offered, and helped his father carry on the work on the home place. After leaving school he applied himself to farming, bought the tarm from his father's estate, and improved it himself. It consists of 140 acres of very fine land and is devoted to grain farming and the raising of choice stock, in which its owner has met with a good degree of success. The mar- riage of David Kruse took place January 1, 1914, on which date he was wedded to Ruth Carrie Maurer, born January 16, 1892, a native of Cass County. Mr. and Mrs. Kruse are well liked by their neighbors, and all speak well of their good qualities.
KRUSE, Jacob, is among the youngest of the enterprising farmers of Cass County, Ill., of whom the pages of this volume make men- tion, but if his merits are to be estimated and judged by the results of his few years of work on his own responsibility, he surely deserves a creditable place in its chapters. Although barely thirty-four years of age he has made himself well known as an industrious, enter- prising and successful agriculturist, and as an upright and useful member of the community in which he lives. He has spent his entire life within the limits of this county, and the people have had abundant opportunity to learn his good qualities and become familiar with the character of his work. No one has aught to say derogatory to him, and all his neighbors are ready with a word of commendation.
Jacob Kruse was born in Cass County, Ill.,
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HISTORY OF CASS, COUNTY
August 28, 1SS1, a son of Mathias and Sophia (Biehl) Kruse, the father a native of Switzer- land, and the mother's birth taking place in Cass County. Of nine children born to his parents, Jacob was the sixth, and he remained with them during their lifetime. The mother died about 1894, and the father's death occurred in 1907. In boyhood, Jacob Kruse attended the Union district school a short time, and after his father's death worked the share of the home farm that was his portion. At length he sold out his interest, buying 150 acres in section 29 and 30, township 1S, range 10, Cass County, which was partially improved, about twenty acres being pasturage and the rest cultivated land. Mr. Kruse is engaged in general grain farming and is besides a stock raiser. All his undertakings have been attended with success.
On March 31, 1910, Mr. Kruse was married to Pearl Davis, born in Cass County, Ill., a daughter of Frank and Jane C. (Davis) Davis. They have one son, Carlos Jacob, born Jan- uary 23, 1914. The religious connection of Mr. Kruse is with the Cumberland Presbyterian church. In politics he acts with the Democratic party.
KUHLMAN, George F., who is largely inter- ested in the business life of Beardstown, and is taking an important part in civic matters, is recognized as a representative man ot Cass County. He was born in Cass County, March 28, 1871, a son of Casper and Mary ( Stucke) Kuhlman, who were born in Lohne, Germany, and came to the United States in 1858, traveling direct to Cass County. They lived for some years in the Sangamon bottoms, and then bought a farm south of Beardstown. When his adopted country had need of his services dur- ing the Civil war, Casper Kuhlman enlisted in Company I, Third Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and served eighteen months. Later he joined the regular army and saw much active service among the Indians. During all this time his family resided at Beardstown. After his terms of enlistment expired he returned to Beards- town and resumed his farm work. His death occurred June 12, 18SS, and his wife passed away August 23, 1900. Their children were as follows : Minnie, who is deceased ; Mary, who is Mrs. August Huss, of Jacksonville, Ill .; Louisa, who is Mrs. Charles Hoffer, of Beards- town, Ill. ; Ella, who is Mrs. Benjamin Hiles of Cass County ; Henry C., who died August 29, 1907, aged forty-one years; William H., who is of Crockett, Tex. ; George F .; and Emma, who is Mrs. L. F. Crum, of Beardstown, her husband being an engineer on the C. B. & Q. Railroad.
George F. Kuhlman resided with his parents until he was twenty-three years old, and had but few educational advantages, those being confined to a short attendance in the district schools. After his marriage, he operated the homestead until 1900, when he bought the place of 320 acres, and carried on truck and general farming. In 1900 he bought his present resi- dence at Beardstown, and since coming here
was connected with the M. K. & T. Immigration Bureau, of St. Louis, Mo., until 1911; was also employed by Nelson & Finch of Peoria, Ill., in the produce business from 1900 to 1903; and trom 1903 to 1905 conducted a feed and produce business, and then branched out in the real estate business. He served two years as city treasurer, and in November, 190S, was elected county commissioner and re-elected in 1911 and again in 1914. For eleven years he was over- seer of the poor, and served for three years as a school director. Since 1909 he has been agent for the Studebaker automobiles. For years he has been a heavy shipper of watermelons and sweet potatoes. His agricultural prominence made him eligible for the secretaryship of the Chamber of Commerce, and he held that office for two years. A director of the Mutual Loan & Savings Association, he is now chairman of its appraising board, and he is also collector for the Clover Leaf Casualty Company, of Jack- sonville. Fraternally, he belongs to Beardstown Lodge No. 1007, B. P. O. E .; Ark Lodge No. 16, I. O. O. F., and the Court of Honor.
On August 24, 1893, Mr. Kuhlman married Clara Bolton, a daughter of Henry C. and Fannie (Stucke ) Bolton, both natives of Penn- sylvania. Mr. Bolton lives at Jonesburg, Mo., but Mrs. Bolton died in 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhlman have two children: Vilas C., who is now deputy county clerk of Cass County, and Gerald Lloyd, who is attending the University of Illinois at Champaign, Ill.
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