USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 58
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KEISER, Thomas, a prosperous stock farmer of May Township, and a inan widely known and highly respected, was born in Fayette County, Ky., four miles east of Lexington, Ky., on Todd's Road, November 27, 1855, a son of James L. and Emily Grace (Stipp) Keiser.
The parents were born in the vicinity of Lex- ington, Ky., where the father became an exten- sive stock man and general farmer. Prior to the Civil War he owned two slaves while there. and his father had a number which were emanci- pated. In 1856 James L. Keiser came to Illinois, locating in May Township, Christian County, where he bought 360 acres of land, for which he paid $11 per acre. On it he built a log stable, and a two-story house 48 feet long. In the early days his corn sold for ten cents per bushel, and he had to haul it a long distance to find a market for it. When the family came to Illinois, they brought with them a car load of young mules, and when they were raised, the father and his son James drove them back to Kentucky and sold them. His death occurred in May Town- ship, March 19, 1866, when he was fifty-seven years old. The mother died January 2, 1879, at the age of fifty-nine years. In politics the father was a Democrat. The mother's parents were stockraisers in Kentucky, but subsequently moved to Illinois, buying 160 acres in Shelby County. After two years occupancy of this farm they moved back to Kentucky.
Thomas Keiser was reared in May Township, and attended its schools. After the death of his mother, he rented the homestead for five years, and then went to a Kansas ranch where he was a cowboy for two years, being connected with the 4D outfit. In the fall of 1885 he re- turned to the homestead, and is still residing on it, carrying on general farming and stockraising.
C. T. Humway.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
On May 5, 1897, Mr. Keiser was married to Miss Laura Jane Meeker, born April 21, 1879, a daughter of Levi and Melissa (Young) Meeker, of May Township, natives of Mercer County, Ill., and Tennessee, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Keiser became the parents of five children, namely : Virginia E., born October 27, 1898 ; Florence Ann. born November 23, 1902; Hazel A., born June 18, 1906; Thomas George, born November 6, 1907; and Lois A., born March 12, 1917.
Mr. Keiser is the owner of the greatest pacing team in the world, known as Lady Maud C. and Hedge Wood Boy, record double 2:284. Lady Maud C. has a single record of 2 :1/2, while Hedge Wood Boy has a single record of 2:1.
KENT, Kinsey C., one of the leading agricul- turalists of King Township, was born in this same township, June 22, 1868, a son of John H. and Mary Ann (Mallernes) Kent, natives of Harrison County, Ohio. The parents were mar- ried in their native county, but later moved to Carlinville, Ill., where the father was employed by Charles T. House on his farm for a year. Going to King Township, the father bought eighty acres, to which he added until he had 270 acres at the time of his death in 1886. The mother survived, passing away in 1912, aged sixty-two years. In politics the father was a Republican.
Kinsey C. Kent passed his boyhood in King Township, and here attended the public schools. For four years after his father's death, he re- mained at home, and then bought his present farm of eighty acres, to which he has since added until he now owns 445 acres of as fine land as can be found in the township. In poli- tics he is a Republican.
In 1890 Mr. Kent was married to Miss Addie Spratt, a daughter of William and Ella (Knotts) Spratt, of King Township. The father was born in England, and the mother in Illi- nois. The father came to Illinois in his youthi. and for a time was employed by the farmers of Ricks Township. Subsequently he bought eighty acres of land in King Township, to which he added eighty acres more, and lived on this farm until 1906 when he retired to Morrisonville, and he and the mother are both surviving. Mr. and Mrs. Kent have four children, namely : John, Harold, Myrtle and Hilda. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
KEPPERLING, David W., of Section 24, Mt. Auburn Township, is demonstrating in his every day work what can be accomplished on a small tract of land. Although he now has but four and one-half acres just outside of Mechanics- burg, he is accomplishing wonders with it, and many of his experiments are proving of immense value to his neighbors who are acting upon his results. He was born in White County. Ind., May 15, 1864, a son of Henry and Jane (Clark) Kepperling, natives of Indiana. For many years David W. Kepperling was a prosperous farmer of Sangamon County, Ill., to which he removed in young manhood, but in February, 1900, he
sold his farm and bought his present beautiful property, where he has since resided.
Mr. Kepperling was married in Menard County, Ill., to Virginia White, and their chil- dren are as follows: Alta, Eva, Harry, Katie, Edna, Ella and Glenn. He is a Republican in politics. The Methodist Church holds his mem- bership. Fraternally he belongs to the Masons and Modern Woodmen of America. A man of the highest standing, he takes an intelligent in- terest in local affairs, and is a desirable addi- tion to his neighborhood, a fact that is appre- ciated by all who have the honor of his ac- quaintance.
KESSLER, Henry A., one of the energetic farmers of Bear Creek Township, was born in South Fork Township, August 5, 1861, a son of Valentine and Emily (Downing) Kessler. Val- entine Kessler was born in Germany, and his wife was born in Logan County, Ill. When he was sixteen years old Valentine left his native land and coming to the United States, located four miles south of Springfield, Ill., where with his father he bought land and operated it for a time. Later he sold and moved near Crow's Mills, Sangamon County, and there bought a farm, and on it his father died, as did his mother a little later on. Valentine Kessler then bought land north of Pawnee, Ill., and conducted that farm for some time, but sold it and moved near Zenobia, in South Fork Township, Chris- tian County. After operating a farm he bought at this point for a number of years, he went to Texas. In the meanwhile his first wife had died, and he was married at Dallas, Tex., to Miss Betsy Painter. In politics he was a Republican, and the German Lutheran Church held his men- bership.
During a boyhood spent in Sangamon and Christian counties, Henry A. Kessler attended the several schools in these neighborhoods, and learned farming under his father's direction. His first farm comprised cighty acres in South Fork Township, and on it he remained for ten years, and then sold and bought his present farm of 120 acres of land, on which he moved in 1904. It is an excellent property and Mr. Kessler has made a number of improvem nts upon it.
On October 25, 1893, Mr. Kessler was married to Miss Clara E. Morgan, of Bear Creek Town- ship, Christian County, a daughter of George and Martha (Rape) Morgan, natives of Ken- tucky and Illinois, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Kessler have the following children, namely : George E., born April 20, 1895; Frieda C., born November 28, 1897; Dewey H., born May 1, 1898 ; Alva H., born June 9, 1902; and one died in infancy. In politics Mr. Kessler is a Repub- lican. Mrs. Kessler is a member of the Royal Neighbors.
KIMBALL, John A., one of the substantial and very successful business men of Taylorville, is known all over Christian County and adjoining territory. He is a native son of the county, having been born at Mt. Auburn, May 26, 1875,
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
and was there reared to manhood, attending the local schools. After completing his studies, for two years he was engaged in school teaching at Mt. Auburn, and then entered the contracting and building field, in which he remained until the spring of 1906. At that time he came to Taylorville, and opening a planing mill, de- veloped a flourishing business. Later he began handling the Ford automobile and has been so very successful that the volume of his sales for 1916 amounted to $115,000. His territory is a wide one, and he enjoys a personal popularity that must be extremely gratifying.
In 1902 Mr. Kimball was married to Jessie Schrantz and they have one child, Carolyn, who was born in June, 1913.
KIMBALL, Richard, one of the representative merchants and sterling business men of Mt. Auburn, was born in Warren, Washington County, Vt., May 21, 1846, a son of Nathan A. and Sarah H. (Stagg) Kimball, natives of Mas- sachusetts. The father was a miller and mer- chant. They started from there for Springfield, Ill., which they reached May 7, 1855, and left the capital city for Rochester, Ill., where the father died in 1861, and the mother died in Missouri, August 29, 1863.
Richard Kimball came to Mt. Auburn in 1863, and worked as a clerk for Stafford & Company for ten years, when he bonght the business and conducted it from 1873 to 1899. At that time he sold and is now practically retired. On February 26, 1873, Mr. Kimball was married to Frances J. Henderson, born in Madison County, Ill., a daughter of John A. and Elizabeth Henderson, natives of Virginia and Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Kimball became the parents of five children, as follows: John A., who lives at Taylorville ; Pearl, who married J. W. Chesrown of Mansfield, Ohio; Grace, wife of T. L. Montgomery; Cora Wilcox, who is at home; and Brnce, who lives at Taylorville. There are three grandchildren in the family, namely : Howard K. Montgomery, Lucille Wilcox and Carolyn Kimball. Mr. Kim- ball belongs to the Masonic fraternity. He is the oldest merchant in Christian County, having a continuous record of fifty-three years. His integ- rity and uprightness have never been questioned and his connection with a venture has always been regarded as a guarantee of its solidity and soundness.
KINCAID, Albert Rex, a successful practitioner of veterinary surgery at Stonington, is one of the skilled men of his profession in Christian County. He was born in Kansas, May 1, 1889, a son of Frank and Florence ( Perrine) Kincaid, the former of whom was born at Ripley, Ohio, May 25, 1864, and the latter at Grove City, Ill., January 8, 1862. The Kincaid family came to America and settled in Ohio and Kentucky in 1800. The paternal grandfather of Doctor Kin- caid served during the Civil War, enlisting in the Twenty-second Kentucky Cavalry at Cov- ington, Ky., in 1862, and served until the close of
hostilities, participating in General Sherman's March to the Sea, and was honorably dis- charged. In 1872, he moved from Olio to Mis- souri, and there the father of Doctor Kincaid grew up, and remained until 1880, in that year going to Kansas, and in 1887 located near Grove City, Ill.
Doctor Kincaid attended the local schools of Buckhart Township, and took a two years' course at the University of Illinois. He tlien studied veterinary surgery at the Chicago Vet- erinary College, from which he was graduated in 1914, since which time he has been practicing his profession at Stonington, He votes for the man he believes best fitted for office, and has not entered politics, although his father was a school director of Buckhart Township for twelve years, and a school trustee for six years. Doctor Kincaid has been assistant state veterinary, holding his position under civil service.
On May 26, 1915, Doctor Kincaid was married to Carrie Hartel, at Taylorville, Ill. She is a daughter of Jacob and Jane (Deeren) Hartel, and was born October 9, 1892. William Deeren, Mrs. Kincaid's maternal grandfather, was a sol- dier during the Civil War. Doctor Kincaid belongs to Fisher Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Grove City, Ill .; to the Stonington Lodge, I. O. O. F .: and the Stonington Lodge of the Knights of Pytlias. He owns his residence at Stonington, and his practice is a large and constantly in- creasing one, for he is recognized as one of the leading practitioners of veterinary surgery in the county.
KINCAID, Frank Blair, a prosperous farmer of Grove City, and a man of many interests, stands well in the estimation of his fellow citizens. He was born at Ripley, Brown County, Ohio, May 25, 1864, a son of Dyer Burges and Lavina (Nay- lor) Kincaid. The father was born near Sar- dinia, Ohio, while the mother was born near Georgetown, Ohio. Both were reared and at- tended school in Ohio, and were married in this same state. The father was a stationary engi- neer by trade, although he also followed farming In 1872 he went overland to Missouri with oxen, and worked at his trade in Clinton, that state. and assisted in surveying and building the Mis- souri, Kansas and Texas Railroad. In 1880 he went to Parsons, Kan., where he was em- ployed by this same road in building its water tanks, bridges and doing other construction work. Still later he was employed in the car depart- ment for the San Francisco Railroad from 1885 to 1888, being stationed at Springfield, Mo. On June 28, 1888, he died at the last named place, the mother having passed away at Clinton, Mo., March 26, 1875. He was a Republican, a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and of the Methodist Church. During the Civil War, he enlisted for service at Covington, Ky., in Com- pany K, Twenty-second Kentucky Volunteer Cav- alry, and served for two years, and then re-en- listed as a substitute, so serving until the close of the war. Among other campaigns, he par-
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
ticipated in the famous march to the sea, and after his discharge came back by water to his old home.
Frank Blair Kincaid had a somewhat varied experience during his boyhood, owing to his father's change of location, and profited by the experiences. He learned the machinist trade with the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, and followed it until 1890, when he went with the San Francisco Railroad, and was also with the Santa Fe Railroad and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, leaving railroad work at Horton, Kan., and coming to Christian Coun- ty. He located in the vicinity of Grove City, on the Lewis Perrine farm in Buckhart Township, and rented this property for ten years. At the expiration of this period, he bought his present farm of 160 acres, which he has improved, among other things erecting his present fine residence that is a model for convenience. On his prop- erty he carries on general farming. A Repub- lican, he has been a school director for many years, and he has also been a school trustee. For many years he has belonged to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Masonic lodge and the Methodist Episcopal Church of Grove City.
On June 27, 1888. Mr. Kincaid was married to Miss Florence Perrine, born in Buckhart Town- ship, a daughter of Lewis and Caroline (McClos- key) Perrine, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Perrine were married in Mercer County, Pa., and came to Morgan County, Ill., in 1855, renting land until they bought 160 acres in Buck- hart Township. Later they retired to Stoning- ton Township, where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Kincaid have the following children: Dr. A. R. Kincaid and Mrs. Faye Larrick of Stonington. and Mrs. Blanche Baughman of Edinburg. They also have three grandchildren : Gordon Max Lar- rick, Loren Rex Larrick, and Morris Keith Kin- caid.
KINNEY, Albert T., for many years intimately associated with leading interests at Taylorville and widely known and universally esteemed not only in Christian County but in other sections of Illinois, was particularly prominent in the field of insurance, for a protracted period ahly representing as an important official, one of the old-line companies of the country. He was born at Massena. in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., Octo- ber 18. 1846, and died in his home at Taylorville. March 30, 1915. His parents were Hart Smitli and Mary (Flint) Kinney, the former of whom was born at Bethel, Vt., October 22, 1800, and the latter at Salem, Vt., September 9, 1813.
Reared on his father's farm, Albert T. Kinney acquired his education in the country schools and an academy at Fort Covington, but as early as seventeen years left his studies in order to teach school in Franklin County, continuing to teach until 1866. In that year he came to Illinois and taught school in Whiteside County until 1867, when he entered upon his successful career in the insurance field. Locating at Rockford. Ill., he accepted the agency for the Rockford Insur- ance Company and remained there until 1871,
when he came to Taylorville as solicitor for that company, and also became state agent for the farm department of the Fidelity-Phenix Insur- ance Company, and continued his work with this company until his death, in this connection fre- quently visiting other states to adjust losses. Ile was permitted to "die in harness." as was his often expressed wish. Notwithstanding the above duties he took deep interest in all public affairs relating to Taylorville and very soon after locat- ing in this city had made lasting friendships with other forceful and progressive men that continued throughout life. As a result, he be- came identified with political reforms to some extent and was twice elected mayor of Taylor- ville, during his four years' administration bring- ing about public improvements that will stand for years as memorials.
Mr. Kinney also identified himself with nu- merous business enterprises of this locality. He was one of the promoters and for two years president of the Taylorville Coal Company, and also assisted in the organization of the Antlers Hotel and for years was its principal owner. Upon the organization of the Breeze Printing Company, in 1900, he was made president and served uninterruptedly until his lamented deatlı. A quotation from the columns of that journal in this connection gives an estimate of Mr. Kinney in the business world. "During the many years in which the Breeze grew from a country paper with a capital of $4,000, to its present book value, its president never asked one cent for bis services, one cent as a dividend, nor a single favor in its news or political columns. At the same time he would sign his name to an individ- ual note for the purchase of a lot, the erection of a building or the installation of printing ma- chinery without security or even the formality of asking the amount or the prospects of the pay- ment being met. That's the kind of a president A. T. Kinney made for the Breeze Printing Com- pany."
Mr. Kinney became the owner of several farms and supervised the renting of these, and he made some successful investments in mining stock. He was a lover of fine horses and for some years was interested in breeding thorough- breds.
In 1870 Mr. Kinney was married to Miss Frances Barnett, of Clinton, Ill., who died at Taylorville, July 29, 1892, leaving three sons : William H., Fred H. and Lloyd. The eldest son, who had become his father's partner in general insurance and was widely known, met with a fatal accident in 1914, when a railroad train ran into his automobile at Hammond, Ind. The other sons are prominent in fire insurance cir- cles. In May. 1901, Mr. Kinney was again mar- ried, in the city of New Orleans, La., to Mrs. W. H. Burch of Chicago, who survives with their two daughters : Mollie, wife of C. D. Frey of Chi- cago, and Pansy, wife of Ralph Burch of New York.
Mr. Kinney was prominent in Masonry, belong- ing to the Blue Lodge and Chapter at Taylorville,
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
and Elwood Commandery at Springfield. He was identified also with the Elks. Because of his many sterling traits of character and his genial, sunshiny nature, he was popular in every circle, being one of the companionable kind of men who attract friendship and never prove disloyal. He was the center of domestic affection and his memory is dearly cherished by wife, children and grandchildren, while in many walks of life his fellow citizens will miss for many years his happy smile, his cheery greeting and his comfort- ing optimism in times of apprehension.
KIRK, Arthur Burton, a progressive farmer and a dealer in pump supplies, lives on the farm where he was born in Section 15, Buckhart Township, August 3, 1864. He is a son of Henry and Hannah B. (McFarland) Kirk, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work, the family being an old and honored one in Christian County.
Arthur Burton Kirk was educated in Buckhart Township, and learned farming in his boyhood. On October 7, 1889, Mr. Kirk was united in mar- riage with Miss Carrie Sadler, on the farm where she was born, a daughter of Samuel J. and Mary (Coover) Sadler, and after marriage, he and his wife moved on a farm in Section 22. Buckhart Township, which farm is now occupied by a Mr. Hill. Here they lived for two years, and then moved to the old Kirk homestead of 160 acres. This farm has been his home all his life with the exception of the two years he spent on the farm in Section 22. In addition to his farming, Mr. Kirk handles the Peters double cylinder pumps, and keeps pumps and automobile supplies, and does repairing on both. He has a private telephone exchange. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk became the parents of three children, namely : Ruth, born July 28, 1893, who was married Janu- ary 19, 1916, to Ray Alexander of Mt. Auburn Township, and they have a daughter, Dorothy M., born February 8, 1917 ; Hobert, born Septem- ber 8, 1897, and died December 1, 1897; and Mil- dred, who is at home, was born June 13, 1900. In fraternal matters Mr. Kirk is a Mason. The Republican party has had his support since he cast his first vote. In him the Christian Church has a loyal and interested member.
Mrs. Kirk was born in Mt. Auburn Township, April 3, 1865. Her father was born in New York state, and her mother in Ross County, Ohio. When he was a boy, Samuel J. Sadler, Mrs. Kirk's father, left New York state, and located in Ohio, with relatives. In 1849 he went over- land to California during the gold excitement of that year, and after some time returned overland to Ohio, and was then married. It was his in- tention to return to California, but his wife was not willing to go so far away from home, so they compromised by coming to Mt. Auburn Township, this county, and bought land from the govern- nient near Grove City, where Mr. Sadler later died. Mrs. Sadler survived him and died at Stonington, where she had moved after her hus- band's death, with her children. She died Novem- ber 17, 1901, at the age of sixty-eight years, the
father having passed away December 10, 1885, at the age of sixty-five years. Mrs. Sadler was edu- cated in Ross County, Ohio. Mr. Sadler at one time owned the land on which Grove City now stands, and plowed the prairie land with oxen. Mrs. Kirk has seen many changes in Christian County, and relates numerous interesting events relative to the early days.
KIRK, Charles Dwight, who owns and operates 180 acres of land in Buckhart Township, has long been recognized as a substantial man and excellent farmer. He was born in Buckhart Township, April 20, 1858, a son of Henry and Hannah B. (McFarland) Kirk. Henry Kirk was born in Stark County, Ohio. December 19, 1829, and the mother was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1831. Growing up in his native county, Henry Kirk was there educated and there mar- ried. For a time he was engaged in farming in Stark County, and then came to Illinois, making the trip overland by wagon in 1857. The wagons used were specially constructed for the purpose, containing hiding places for the money of the party. At the time the trip was made, it was very cold, and snow covered the ground. Owing to this, Henry Kirk was taken sick from the effects of exposure, and one of the little company, John Harmond, went on with the goods and wagons. Owing to his illness, Henry Kirk forgot to tell his friend about the hiding place for the money, but his worry over this was useless, as when he recovered sufficiently to rejoin Mr. Har- mond, he found his hoard secure.
Locating in Stonington Township, Mr. Kirk prepared a home for his family who then joined him. Later he traded his homestead in Stoning- ton for a farm in Buckhart Township and im- proved his land, operating it until he retired to Taylorville, where he built a nice residence and there died, February 13, 1902, his wife, mother of Charles Dwight, having passed away on the old farm on December 31, 1869. In 1870, the father had married (second) Miss Margaret Bell Orr, of Taylorville, who survived the father for three years, and died at Taylorville, August 24, 1905. In politics the father was a Republican, and while living in Buckhart Township, served as township treasurer for a number of years. Fra- ternally he was a Mason. The Christian Church held his membership.
Charles Dwight Kirk attended the schools of Buckhart Township and those of Taylorville. being at one time under the instruction of Pro- fessor Briggs. Later Mr. Kirk worked on the homestead in the summer, and taught school in the winter, thus continuing for three years. He then located on a portion of the old homestead, and in 18SS bought 100 acres of land adjoining this farm, and moved on it. Some years later he suffered from a disastrous fire that destroyed his house, but he replaced it with a nice, modern residence, where he still resides. At present he owns 180 acres of land and carries on general farming. A Republican, he succeeded by appoint- ment, his father as township treasurer, and still holds that office, having been elected to it several
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