USA > Ohio > Fulton County > The County of Fulton: A History of Fulton County, Ohio, from the Earliest Days, with Special Chapters on Various Subjects, Including Each of the Different Townships; Also a Biographical Department. > Part 48
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in Section 35, Gorham township, erecting a frame house on the prop- erty and working at his trade, and he hired men to fell the timber and clear his farm. On this homestead, to which he greatly added in the passing years, he passed the remainder of his life, and the place is the present home of Mr. and Mrs. Kanauer, the latter having been an only child. Her father died at the age of seventy-six years and her mother at the age of eighty-three. To Mr. and Mrs. Kanauer was born a son, Martin A., born February 15, 1876, on the old home- stead where he was reared and educated. On May 31, 1899, he was married to Miss Etta Miller, daughter of Christopher K. and Alice (Ritter) Miller, whose sketch appears in this work. Martin A. Kanauer owns a fine farm of 100 acres in Gorham township, and as- sists his father in managing the old homestead farm. To these par- ents have been born one child, Gwendolin, born May 26, 1904.
DAVID KELSEY .- Among the most prominent and successful farmers and stock-raisers of Swan Creek township is David Kelsey, who was born in Huron county, O., on September 19, 1839. His parents were John and Cornelia (Morris) Kelsey, both natives of Canada. About the year 1837 they removed from New York, to which State they had previously come from their native country, to Huron county, where they engaged in general farming and spent the rest of their days, both dying in middle life. David Kelsey has been self-dependent practically since his ninth year, his mother dying when he was only three years old. For about eleven years he made his home with the family of F. C. Payne, and during that time ac- quired such an education as the common schools afforded. On Octo- ber 2, 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Frances A. Glas- ford, who was born near Ogdensburg, St. Laurence county, N. Y., on October 27, 1836. She is the daughter of John and Cynthia (Hodges) Glasford, both natives of Canada, who removed in an early day to Huron county, O., and there ended their days, the former dying July 5, 1854, aged sixty-five years, and the latter in February, 1874, aged eighty-one years. Of the twelve children born to these parents, the only ones now known to the living are Mrs. Kelsey, the youngest, and Mrs. Anna Potter, who resides at Bowling Green, O., aged ninety-three years. After their marriage David Kelsey and wife located on the Glasford homestead, where the latter spent forty years of her life. In 1881 they removed to Henry coun- ty, O., where they spent three years. For the next nine years they resided on a farm near Wauseon, and about 1893 removed to their present farm in Swan Creek township. While living near Wauseon Mr. Kelsey operated a fruit and garden farm with unusual success, which business he is to some extent still following. Since the mar- riage of their youngest son, Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey have been left alone for the first time in fifty years, as the mother of the latter had made her home with them for some years after their marriage. In poli- tics David Kelsey is a straight Republican. He never sought or held public office except that of school director and clerk of the board in Huron county. Both the Kelsey and Glasford families, the
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former of Irish and German extraction and the latter of Scotch and German stock, have long been established on American soil. John Glasford, the father of Mrs. Kelsey, was a soldier in the Canadian army in the War of 1812. To Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey there have been born three sons. They are: Charles K., who married Miss Mary Ann Baker, a sister of A. D. Baker of the Baker Manufactur- ing company; Timothy Hodges, an insurance agent of Toledo, O., who married Miss Maude G. Harrison, and Frederick C. of Swanton, a rural free delivery mail-carrier, who chose as his wife Miss Adeline Harrison, a sister of his brother's wife. The grand-children are: Har- rison David, son of Timothy Hodges, and Laurence, the son of Charles K.
ELIAS KESLER is properly accorded a memorial tribute in this publication, for he was one of the honored pioneers of Fulton county and is here represented by many descendants. He was born in the State of Virginia about the year 1819, and while he was a boy his parents removed from the Old Dominion State to Ohio, settling in Fairfield county, where he was reared to manhood, securing such educational advantages as the primitive schools of the locality and period afforded. His vocation throughout life was that of farming, though as a young man he devoted several years to teaming or freighting, driving a five-horse team to. Cincinnati, Columbus, Chil- licothe and other Ohio cities. In 1847 he removed to that part of Lucas county which is now included in Fulton county, taking up his residence upon the southeast quarter of Section 20, York township, where he resided two years, after which he purchased the southeast quarter of Section 29, same township, where he passed the remainder of his life, reclaiming his land from the virgin forest and developing a good farm. The entire section (29) had been entered from the government by his father-in-law, George Pontius, who had served in the War of 1812 and who had thus been granted a soldier's privi- lege of entering claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land for each of his children. Mr. Kesler died in 1866, honored by all who knew him. He was a stanch Republican in his political adherency and his religious faith was that of the United Brethren church, of which his wife also was a devoted member. In Fairfield county was solemnized his marriage to Miss Sarah Pontius, daughter of George Pontius, previously mentioned, and she survived her husband by many years, passing away in 1902, at the advanced age of eighty- four years. This worthy pioneer couple became the parents of five children, namely: Margaret, who died at the age of one year; Laura A., who is the widow of Calvin Williams and who resides in Wau- seon; Delilah C., who is the wife of Hugh Murray, of York township; Clara Ellen, who is the wife of Samuel A. Biddle, of York township; and George, who is a successful farmer of York township.
ISAAC R. KINDALL, D. D. S., a successful dentist and highly- respected citizen of Swanton, is the representative of a distinguished family that located in Monroe county, O., in an early day, his grand-
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father being Reason Kindall. On the maternal side his ancestors came to Ohio from Maryland, also locating in Monroe county. He is the son of Elias and Elizabeth (Scarborough) Kindall, the former a disabled war veteran and pensioner, living a retired life at Harriets- ville, Noble county, O., and the latter dying when Isaac R. was an infant nine months old. Isaac R. Kindall was born in Monroe county on July 23, 1869, reared in the family of his maternal grandparents and educated in the public schools of his native county. Dr. Kin- dall's professional history is somewhat peculiar. He mastered the required curriculum of study without a preceptor. Being successful in his chosen profession, he was easily enabled to comply with the legal requirements and was enrolled on the list of practitioners in the State in November, 1902. He first engaged in practice in 1889 at Tedrow, a village of Fulton county, where for nine years he met with unusual success. Then he removed to Toledo and for five years conducted a very extensive practice. In 1904 he sold his practice at Toledo and located in Swanton, where he has succeeded by once his most sanguine expectations. Being a skillful artist and a thor- ough master of his profession, success has naturally. crowned his ef- forts. In political views he is untrammeled by party lines, support- ing men rather than measures, especially in local' elections. He is actively identified with the organizations of the Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen. On February 27, 1896, he was wedded to Miss Mamie A. Hay, orphaned when a child, and reared in the family of her uncle, the Rev. Robert Shepherd of Tedrow. Mrs. Kindall has one brother and one sister living. They are: Edward, an engi- neer in the State of Oregon, and Lillian, the wife of Collin Brown, a coal-mine operator of Scranton, Kas. John Kindall, an only broth- er of the subject of this sketch, is a well-to-do farmer of Monroe county. He was united in marriage with Miss Florence Bates. To this union there have been born four children. Dr. Kindall is a zealous student, both of professional literature and general reading, and is the proud possessor of a large and carefully-selected private library.
ELIAS O. KING .- In the front rank of successful farmers and. stock-raisers of Swan Creek township stands Elias O. King, of Ger- man extraction and a native of Stark county, O., born on April 28, 1843. He is the son of John M. and Sarah (Baughman) King, both deceased. John King followed the occupation of milling for twenty- two years, after which he devoted all of his time to agricultural pur- suits, meeting with unusual success. In 1851 he changed his resi- dence from Stark to Henry county, O., where he spent the balance of his days. He was thrice married, Elias O. King, the subject of this sketch, being a son by his second wife. To this union there were born four sons and one daughter, as follows: Wilson S., a retired farmer residing in Wauseon; Jesse T., a civil engineer of Cleveland; Elias O .; Mahlon P., a farmer residing near Goshen, Ind., and Sarah, the wife of Ira Butt, a farmer of Elkhart, Ind. Mrs. King died September 13, 1851, and on August 15, 1852, Mr. King
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was married for the third time, the lady of his choice being Ruth Mccullough, who survived her husband many years, dying Decem- ber 18, 1892. By his first marriage he had ten children. He died September 28, 1858. Elias O. King grew to manhood on the home farm and acquired a fair common-school education in the schools of Henry county. After the Civil war he took a commercial course at Hartsville, Ind. On December 7, 1863, he enlisted as a private of Company G of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry and was honorably discharged on July 17, 1865, by reason of the end of the war. His regiment, a part of the Twentieth Army Corps, was put on detached duty, guarding the prisoners at John- son's Island, near Sandusky, O. After his father's death he re- mained for one year on the homestead and then devoted his time to various occupations, among them teaching, railroading, clerking in a warehouse and operating a stone-quarry. In 1869 he located on his farm of eighty acres, which he had previously purchased. At the time he bought this land it was wholly unimproved and largely covered with water. By a thorough system of ditching and under- tiling, he has brought it to a high degree of fertility. The fertility of the soil and the substantial residence and out-buildings erected upon it make the farm one of the most desirable ones in the county. With but little assistance from hired help, Mr. King has practically unaided done all of this arduous labor. No labor was too hard and no day too long for him. While in former years he devoted much attention to stock-raising, of late he has utilized his land almost wholly for the growing of grain. In politics he is one of the leading Republicans of the township, having served on the township and county central committees, as assessor for several terms and as trus- tee for three terms prior to his present term. As a veteran of the war, he is the recipient of a liberal pension from the government that he helped to defend. A "free thinker" by profession, he is not identified with any religious organization. On June 2, 1868, in Swan Creek township, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Baker, born in Tuscarawas county, O., the parental home being located on the line between Tuscarawas and Stark counties. She is the daughter of Henry and Catherine (Bender) Baker. Of the six children that were born to Mrs. King's parents all are still living. They are: George W., a resident of Stark county; Mrs. Elias O. King; Esther, the wife of Amos Mays; Eli, a farmer of Swan Creek township; John and Adeline, twins, the former a resident of Stark county and the latter the wife of W. S. Kline of Fulton township. Mrs. King's mother dying in middle life, her father contracted a second marriage, and this union was blessed by the birth of three sons. Henry Baker died on November 5, 1904, aged eighty-four years. Mr. and Mrs.,King have no children.
ALBERT J. KLINE, V. S., is one of the representative members of his profession in Fulton county and is successfully established in practice as a veterinary surgeon and dentist in Wauseon. The Doc- tor was born in Ridgeville township, Henry county, Ohio, on the
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30th of December, 1872, and is a son of Abraham and Alice J. (Gibbs) Kline, the former of whom was born in Pennsylania and the latter in Wyandot county, Ohio. Joseph Kline, father of Abraham, took up his residence in Henry county in 1849, there purchasing land and engaging in farming. He eventually removed to Missouri, where he passed the remainder of his life. The mother of Dr. Kline was a daughter of John P. and Catherine Gibbs, who came to Ohio from New Jersey, first settling in Wyandot county and later taking up their residence in Ridgeville township, Henry county. Dr. Kline secured his preliminary education in the public schools of his native township and later attended the normal school in Wauseon. Having finally determined to adopt the profession of veterinary surgeon and dentist, he entered upon the work of preparation under the most favorable circumstances. On the 7th of February, 1893, he was graduated in the veterinary dental school in Toronto, Canada, and on the 24th of March, 1894, he was graduated with honors in the Ontario Veterinary College, in the same city, receiving his degree of Doctor of Veterinary Surgery. He further fortified himself for his profession by taking post-graduate work in "Farmer" Miles' school, a well known institution at Charleston, Illinois, being there grad- uated on the 8th of June, 1897. In this school special attention is given to teaching the most effective method of castrating ridgling horses, and since completing his course in the school mentioned Dr. Kline has performed successful operations on many fine animals of this class. On the 20th of July, 1897, he passed a most successful examination before the Ohio State board of veterinary examiners, and August 13, 1904, he passed a similar examination before the Michigan board. He is a member of the Veterinary Society of the Ontario Veterinary College, and is also identified with the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Kline initiated the active prac- tice of his profession by locating in Hicksville, Defiance county, Ohio, where he continued in successful practice until July 30, 1896, when he removed to Wauseon, which city has since been his professional headquarters. He has built up an extensive practice, which extends through Fulton and adjoining counties, his reputation being that of a highly-qualified and successful member of his profession. When he located in Wauseon he was the only graduate veterinarian in Ful- ton county, and though there are now a number of graduate prac- titioners here his business has steadily increased in scope and im- portance, indicating the popular appreciation of his skill and ability. He is certainly deserving of much credit for his effective service in popularizing in this vicinity the profession of which he is so able a representative. When he located in Fulton county the veterinary work was largely in the hands of empirics, but the people soon realized the value of skilled service as taken in contra-distinction to that of the self-trained novice, and Dr. Kline has maintained the strongest hold on the confidence and esteem of the local public, both professionally and personally. Dr. Kline is an appreciative member of the Masonic fraternity and also of the Knights of Pythias, and his po- litical allegiance is given to the Republican party. On the 8th of
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June, 1898, Dr. Kline was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie E. Swingle, daughter of Frank Swingle, a prominent music-dealer of Hicksville, Ohio.
WINFIELD SCOTT KLINE has been a resident of the old Buckeye State from the time of his birth and is numbered among the representative farmers and stock-raisers of Fulton township. He was born on the family homestead, across the road from his present farm, on the 21st of July, 1853, and is a son of Michael and Nancy (Fashbaugh) Kline. He was but three years of age at the time of his mother's death, in 1856, and shortly afterward was taken to the home of his maternal grandmother, in Tuscarawas county, where he was reared and educated. In the spring of 1876 he came to Fulton county and purchased his present farm of seventy-seven acres, where he has thus maintained his home for nearly thirty years. Within this period he has made excellent improvements on the place, erect- ing his attractive residence, as well as the stock and produce barn and other buildings, and he has developed his farm into one of the fine places of this section. His elder son is associated with him in the operation of the farm, and they make both the agricultural and stock interests of the same profitable sources of income, utilizing progressive ideas and bringing to bear much discrimination and energy. In politics Mr. Kline is a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Republican party, and he is identified with Swanton Lodge, No. 555, Free and Accepted Masons, and with Berry Grange, No. IIII. It may be said that his father devoted the major portion of his life to farming, his death having occurred August 23, 1894, at which time he was a resident of Stark county, O. The Kline family is of stanch German extraction, the original American ancestors. having located in Pennsylvania. October 16, 1875, Mr. Kline was united in marriage, in Tuscarawas county, to Miss Adeline Baker, who was born in that county, in 1856, and to them have been born four children: Arthur A., who is associated with his father in the management of the homestead farm, married Miss Amanda Ickes, and they have two children-Homer J. and Opal A .; Mahlon is in bad health at home; Clara A. is the wife of Frederick McKimmie, of Sylvania, Lucas county; and Mary died at the age of twelve years. Mr. and Mrs. Kline are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
FRANK MATTHIAS KNAPP, one of the representative farmers and stock-growers of Amboy township, is a native son of Fulton county and a scion of one of its sterling pioneer families. He was born on the farm which he now owns and occupies, the date of his nativity being September 24, 1857, and he is a son of Samuel P. and Fanny M. (Herrington) Knapp, both of whom were born and reared in the State of New York, where their marriage was solemnized. In 1845 they embarked, at Buffalo, N. Y., for Toledo, Ohio, on the steamship "Robert Fulton," and two days after they left port the vessel was wrecked, but they were rescued and continued their way westward. They first settled in Rome Center, Lenawee county,
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Mich., and in 1852 they came to Fulton county and took up their residence in Amboy township, locating on the west half of the south- east quarter of Section 20. The father cleared and otherwise im- proved his farm, which continued to be his home until 1892, when he and his wife removed to Lenawee county, Mich., where he died in the year 1895, at the venerable age of eighty-four years, six months and twenty-four days. His widow still survives him, and is eighty- seven years of age (1905). They reared six children: Miles A. is a resident of the West; Samuel W., who was a member of the Six- ty-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry in the Civil war, died as the result of disease contracted while in the service; Fanny is deceased; Emma is the wife of George H. Nelson; Frederick H. is a resident of Pike township, Fulton county, and Frank M. is the youngest of the family. Frank M. Knapp was reared to manhood under the sturdy and invigorating discipline of the homestead farm, was ac- . corded the advantages of the public schools of the locality, and his entire life has been one of intimate identification with the great basic art of agriculture. In 1895, by inheritance and purchase, he came into possession of the old homestead, which is endeared to him by the associations of the past, and he is keeping the farm up to the highest modern standard, being one of the enterprising farmers and loyal citizens of his native township where his friends are in number as his acquaintances. He is a Jeffersonian Democrat, is identified in a fraternal way with the Foresters of America, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Knapp has been twice married. May 12, 1878, he wedded Miss Ella E. John- ston, who died April 11, 1880. February 18, 1883, Mr. Knapp was united in marriage to Miss Della A. Wilber, daughter of William M. and Julia (Murry) Wilber, of Amboy township, and four children have been born of this union-Fanny A., Frank A., Della A., and Samuel A.
JACOB KRAUSS is incumbent of the office of postmaster at Pettisville, where he is also engaged in the general merchandise business, being one of the prominent and popular citizens of this section of the county. He was born in Wayne county, Ohio, No- vember 15, 1842, being a son of Frederick and Catherine (Leinniger) Krauss, the former of whom was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, December 31, 1814, the latter in Alsace, France, now a portion of Germany, on the 18th of March, 1818, and she came to America with her parents, in 1836, the family locating in Wayne county, in which county Frederick Krauss took up his residence in 1841, his marriage being solemnized in that year. In 1844 he came with his family to Fulton county, becoming one of the pioneer farmers of German township, and he also worked at the shoemaker's trade in early years. He died on the 14th of February, 1892, and his wife passed away in October, 1891. They were devoted members of the German Lutheran church. Frederick and Catherine Krauss be- came the parents of ten children, namely: Jacob, subject of this sketch; Margaret and Mary, both deceased; Kate, wife of Frederick
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Markt, of Toledo; Pauline, wife of Jacob Siggs, of Clinton township; George, deceased; Simon, a farmer of this county; Christopher, a resident of Toledo; Caroline, wife of Jacob Nidhardt, of German town- ship; and Frederick, deceased in infancy. Jacob Krauss was about two years of age at the time of his parents' removal from Wayne county to Fulton county, and he grew to manhood under the invigor- ating discipline of the home farm, in German township, where he secured such advantages as were afforded in the common schools. In initiating his independent career he continued in the line of en- terprise to which he had been trained, becoming the owner of a well-improved farm in German township and giving his attention to the cultivation of the same until 1893, when he took up his residence in the village of Pettisville, where he operated a grist-mill for three years, and he has been postmaster of the town during practically the entire period of his residence here, having received his appointment in 1893; and in 1897 he engaged in the general merchandise trade, having a select stock, which is in the same quarters as the postoffice. He is a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Republican party, and he served nine years as justice of the peace, two terms as constable of German township, five years as township assessor, and as land-ap- praiser in 1900. Both he and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church. November 27, 1866, Mr. Krauss was united in marriage to Miss Christena Stiriz, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March 11th, 1846, being a daughter of Gottfried and Eliza- beth (Richtley) Stiriz, the former of whom was born January 1, 1815, and the latter October 28, 1809, and they immigrated to Amer- ica in 1850, settling in Fulton county, where they passed the remain- der of their lives. Of their two children Mrs. Krauss is the elder. Her brother, Gottlieb, is a successful farmer of York township. Mr. and Mrs. Krauss became the parents of ten children, namely: Fred- erick, who died in infancy; Katie, who resides in Toledo; Frederick, who is a farmer of Clinton township; Caroline, who remains at the parental home; Charles, who resides in Huron, Ohio; Albert, who is a resident of Toledo; Otto, who resides in Pettisville; Emma, who is the wife of Charles Wenger, of Wauseon; Edmund, who remains at the parental home; and Cora, who died in childhood.
ELMER ELLSWORTH KUEBLER is one of the prosperous and progressive young farmers of Fulton township, and was born on the farm where he now lives, on the 28th of August, 1879, being a son of Martin and Anna (Estell) Kuebler, the former of whom was born in the fair little republic of Switzerland and the latter in Germany, and their marriage was solemnized in Fulton county, Ohio. They forthwith' located on the fine farmstead which is represented in the Kuebler estate at the present time. Martin Kuebler was well and favorably known in Fulton county, having been a man of sterling integrity and one of marked industry and productive energy. At the time when he located on the homestead the same was wholly unimproved, much of the land being under water, and no road had been constructed to afford access to the place. The farm is now
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