USA > Ohio > Wyandot County > The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns general and local statistics, military record, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 71
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LEVI W. KELLER, dealer in groceries, provisions, queensware, etc., Upper Sandusky, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, January 22, 1824. He is the son of Henry and Christina Keller, natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Dauphin County, and the latter of Northampton County. They were married in Piqua County, having removed there in an early day, and were the parents of seven children, namely: Elizabeth, Levi M., John M.,
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Mary A., Jacob, Henry and Alfred. In 1823, they removed to Seneca County, where they both died-the mother in 1840. aged forty years; the father, in 1853, aged fifty-six years. Levi W. Keller, the subject of this sketch, was reared upon the farm, and educated in the common schools of Seneca County. At the age of eighteen he went to Wooster, Ohio, and learned the painter's trade, operating in Wooster and Tiffin until twenty- eight years of age. He then removed to Upper Sandusky, working at his trade about three years, after which he removed to his farm, formerly pur- chased, and engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1880. He then moved back to Upper Sandusky and engaged in the real estate and butchering business until 1882, when, in partnership with his son, he purchased the grocery store of G. G. Kramer, in which occupation he is still engaged, carrying a stock valued at $6,000. In 1881, he disposed of his farm to J. F. Myers, for a consideration of $11,000. Mr. Keller was married December 17, 1851, to Margaret Schriver, of Seneca County, and six children have blessed their union, namely: Prudence C., born September 27, 1852; Levi, F., February 18, 1854; Sarah A., July 8, 1855; Mary A., November 6, 1856; Lewis H., February 24, 1858; and Emma C., February 14, 1860. Mrs. Keller was born August 4, 1822. Mr. Keller has amassed a large amount of property, located in different parts of the county. He served as a public minister in the Church of God forty years, all his family being now connected with that organization.
DAVID R. KELLY, merchant tailor, was born in Wayne County, Iowa, December 4, 1854, son of George B. and Sarah (Blackburn) Kelly, natives of Pennsylvania, who removed to Iowa in 1853, returning to Upper San- dusky in 1860. David Kelly obtained a good education in the schools of the above city, completing his studies at the age of eighteen and accepting a clerkship in the dry goods store of J. A. Maxwell, in whose employ he remained eight years with credit to himself and profit to his employers. In 1880, he formed a partnership with F. P. Kenan in the grocery and provis- ion trade, and April 1, 1882, his present tailoring business was established. He enjoys a good trade, usually employing eight to ten workmen. His marriage to Clara Andrews, of Upper Sandusky, occurred June 27, 1882. Mrs. Andrews is a daughter of Robert and Adaline (Patterson) Andrews and was born April 9, 1858. They have one child, Howard, born Septem- ber 9, 1883. Mr. Kelly is a Republican politically, and, with his wife, a member of the Presbyterian Church.
ALVIN KENAN, of the firm of Kenan Bros., real estate dealers, Up- per Sandusky, was born in Tymochtee Township, April 26, 1832. He is the eldest son of Samuel and Minerva (Earl) Kenan, of Irish, German and English ancestry. Samuel Kenan was born in Ohio County, Va., July 6, 1806. Alvin Kenan was educated in the Tymochtee Schools and remained upon the farm with his parents till his twenty-fourth year. In 1860, he entered into a partnership with his brother in the shipping of live stock, and continued in this occupation twelve years. In 1875, he abandoned his agricultural and other pursuits, and established a real estate office in Upper Sandusky, in partnership with his brother, George Kenan, in which occu- pation they are still engaged, doing the most extensive business in that line
of any firm in the county. Mr. Kenan was married in October, 1856, to Miss Olive E. Torey, daughter of Joseph F. and Elizabeth (Wright) Torey, early settlers of Tymochtee Township. They are the parents of eight children-six living, Ernest E., born October 6, 1857; Cora M., June 16, 1862; Myrtie, November 18, 1864; Earl T., January 21, 1868; Jessie R.,
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May 30, 1875; Dudley D., October 19, 1877. The deceased were twins, born in 1860, and died the same year. Mr. Kenan is a member of the Knights of Honor, and a Republican in politics. Himself and wife are both members of the Universalist Church.
FRANKLIN P. KENAN, proprietor of grocery store, Wyandot avenue, Upper Sankusky, was born in this county September 25, 1850, He is the son of Samuel and Mary (Cutting) Kenan, natives of Virginia and Vermont respectively. Franklin P. our subject, was educated in the district schools of Tymochtee Township, closing his educational pursuits in the schools of Upper Sandusky at the age of twenty-one. He engaged in agricultural pursuits for a few years, teaching school during the winter months, remov- ing to Upper Sandusky and embarking in the mercantile business in the spring of 1875. He engaged as clerk with S. J. Wirick, one and one-half years and with Harper & Waters one year, purchasing their stock of grocer- ies in 1880, and forming a partnership with D. R. Kelly. He subsequently purchased Mr. Kelly's interest and has since conducted the business inde- pendently. He carries a $1,500 stock and keeps a full line of everything usually found in a first class grocery store. He is a Republican in politics.
GEORGE KENAN, of the firm of Kenan Bros., was born in the vil- lage of Tymochtee October 18, 1837. He is the son of Samuel and Mi- nerva (Earl) Kenan, they being the parents of six children, four of whom now survive, viz., Alvin, Amanda, George and James. The deceased are Samuel and Joel The father is still living, in his seventy-eighth year; the mother died in 1843. George Kenan, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the village school at Tymochtee, remaining on the farm with his parents until eighteen years of age. He engaged in teaching during the winter months, and farmed during the summers for five years. In 1860, he began buying and shipping stock in connection with his agricultural business, and continued in this occupation twelve years, being the largest shipper in the county. In 1873, in partnership with his brother Alvin, he opened a real estate office in Upper Sandusky, and is still engaged in that business on an extensive scale. He was married, July 22, 1867, to Ella Ayres, daughter of William and Harriet (Quick) Ayres, and three children have been born to them-Eva, born September 2, 1868; Grace, born May 20, 1870; Clara A., born March 18, 1878. Mr. Kenan is a member of the Knights of Honor, the Royal Arcanum and the Universalist Church. In politics, he is a Republican.
SAMUEL KENAN. This worthy and respected pioneer was born in Ohio County, Va., July 6, 1806. His parents were James and Catharine (Yhoast) Kenan, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of New Jersey. They were married in Virginia, and after several removals settled in Wyandot County in 1830, subsequently migrating to Illinois, but return- ing to Fremont, Ohio, where he died, aged seventy-four years; Catharine, his wife, survived him about four years, her death occurring in Knox County, Ill., in her seventy fifth year. Samuel Kenan was reared on the farm, and educated in the common schools of Virginia. He resided with his parents till twenty-four years of age, making his way to this county, and settling in Tymochtee Township in 1829. He was married to Minerva Earl May 19, 1830, and six children resulted from this union, four now living-Alvin, Amanda, George and James. Samuel and Joel are deceased. The death of Mrs. Kenan occurred in May, 1844, and Mr. Kenan was again married the following October to Mary Freet, whose death occurred in March, 1845. In August, 1855, his marriage to Mary Havens occurred. She was the
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widow of Benjamin Havens, and by this marriage had four children, namely, Elizabeth, Frank P., Hiram and Henry, twins, deceased; the latter was accidentally killed by the cars at Pittsburgh in 1865; Hiram died at the age of seventeen. Mary Kenan, the third wife died in May, 1877, and Mr. Kenan was married May 2, 1883, to Lucy M. Pool, widow of Ira Pool. He has always devoted his attention to agriculture and has accumu- lated a large amount of property, at one time owning 425 acres of land. He is highly esteemed as a citizen, having served as Treasurer of Tymochtee Township seven years and as member of the School Board twelve years; he is a member of the Universalist Church, and in political sentiment a Re- publican.
GEORGE G. KENNARD, manufacturer of and dealer in harness, sad- dles, trunks, etc., Upper Sandusky, was born in Marion County, Ohio, Feb- ruary 15, 1857, son of Gilbert and Elizabeth (Lyon) Kennard, natives of Ohio, and of English and Scotch ancestry. They first settled in Marion County, but removed to this county in 1871, rearing a family of three chil- dren-George G., Charles W. and Thomas J. George G., our subject, was educated principally in the Finley Schools, his parents, after several re- movals, locating at Finley, and later at Carey, this county. He closed his studies at Carey, and began the harness trade at the age of fifteen, working with his father four years. In 1876, he engaged in agricultural pursuits for the benefit of his health, and in 1878, he opened a harness shop at Carey, where he remained till September, 1882, when he removed to Upper Sandusky. He was married April 22, 1881, to Ada M. Paul, daughter of Rev. William S. and Hannah (Norton) Paul, now residents of Forest, Ohio. They have one child, Olive E., born April 25, 1882. Mrs. Kennard was born September 9, 1854. Our subject is a prominent member of the F. & A. M. at Carey, a Democrat in politics, and, with his wife, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JAMES KERR, retired house carpenter, was born near Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland, April 16, 1818, son of Thomas and Jane (Crawford) Kerr, natives of the same county. James Kerr remained with his parents on the homestead until his sixteenth year, attending the schools of his native county. He then acquired the trade of house carpenter, and continued this occupation until 1877. He was married, in Ireland, January 19, 1845, to Jane Ellis, a native of County Antrim, born May 9, 1823. They had eight children, six now living. Mr. Kerr emigrated April 10, 1847, and settled in Upper Sandusky, where he has since resided. He has amassed consider- able property, owning eight acres of land adjacent to his residence on Eighth street, a two-thirds interest in the Upper Sandusky Flouring Mill, and other town property. He is well respected as a citizen, himself and family being associated with the Presbyterian Church, to which he is a liberal contributor.
ROBERT E. KERR, one of the proprietors of the Upper Sandusky Flouring Mills, was born in the above city February 26, 1854, son of James and Jane (Ellis) Kerr. He was educated in his native town. After com- pleting his education, he engaged in teaching, working at the carpenter's trade during summer seasons till 1876, when his father purchased an interest in the Upper Sandusky Flouring Mills, and placed him in charge The firm is now composed of James and Robert E., the former having had the principal supervision of the mills since 1876. They do an extensive busi- ness, their mills having a capacity of twenty-five barrels per ten hours; the building is a three-story frame, main room 30x40 feet. They employ three
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men, and merit the large trade which their careful attention to business has secured to them.
COL. MOSES H. KIRBY. This prominent pioneer and lawyer was born in Halifax County, Va., May 21, 1798. He is the son of Obadiah and Ruth (Hendrick) Kirby, natives of Virginia aud of English and German parentage respectively. His father died in his native State in 1809, his widow, the mother of our subject, removing to Highland County, Ohio, in 1815, where she resided three years. She subsequently removed to Marion County, where she died in 1839, aged about sixty-five years. They reared a family of four children, all reaching the age of manhood. Their names are as follows: John, Moses H., Jacob and Pleasant, the second and third being twins. Moses Kirby, the subject of this sketch, obtained a classical education in the University of North Carolina, graduating with honor in 1820, then being in his twenty-third year. To attend this college Col. Kirby rode his own horse from Hillsboro, Ohio, a distance of 450 miles, and there sold it for means to defray current expenses. At the end of the term he returned home, walking the entire distance. After completing his col- legiate course, he returned to Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio, and began the study of law under Richard Collins, a prominent member of the bar of that place, and was admitted to practice in 1823. His first case offered was that of a man accused of mail-robbery. From his client's statement he saw but little chance of his acquittal, and promptly so informed him. The client said he would pay him $100 if he " cleared him." The Colonel told him that for half that sum he would do his best, and when the trial was had be- fore Judge Byrd, of the United States District Court, the client was acquit- ted and the Colonel received $50, refusing to accept more from the delighted client. That sum was a big fee and even stupendous to the young lawyer. The same year (1823), he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney for Highland County, which office he filled with credit and ability for seven years. In 1826, while holding this position, he was elected Representative of High- land County by a large majority of its votes. In 1828, he was re-elected to the same office, serving till 1830, when his popularity and reputation raised him to the more exalted position of Secretary of State. Acting in this ca- pacity three years, his term of office expired and he returned to the practice of law in Columbus. In the prominence of his life at this period, his good nature made him the prey of friendly indorsements, which engulfed a handsome farm and considerable money-which losses he took philosophi- cally. Being elected to the office of Prosecuting Attorney of Franklin County in 1838, he performed the duties of this office two years, when he was appointed Receiver of the Land Office of the United States by President Tyler, with headquarters at Lima, Ohio, where he remained from October, 1842, to the summer of 1843, the office at the latter date being removed to Upper Sandusky. As an illustration of the difference between that and the present time, Col. Kirby employed a wagoner to convey the public money, a large sum in coin, to Upper Sandusky, and this was done in a large two- horse wagon without guards, the Colonel not even accompanying the car- rier, and when it reached its new station it was kept in an old oaken trunk, and this unlocked as well as the doors of the old Council House, the new office. After the expiration of his term of service as Land Receiver, he again resumed the practice of his profession at Upper Sandusky, and in 1845 was appointed Prosecuting Attorney of Wyandot County, serving in that capacity at intervals as follows: 1845 to 1852, 1856 to 1858, 1860 to 1862, 1868 to 1879-in all twenty-two years. As a public prosecutor he
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never had an indictment quashed In 1858, he was elected Probate Judge of this county, serving two terms, and in 1879, the people in his senatorial district manifested their high appreciation of his character and statesman- ship by choosing him State Senator. He was re-elected to this office in 1881, and in this, as in all other positions to which he has been elected or appointed, he performed his duties with the utmost integrity, and in a man- ner entirely satisfactory to his constituents. He was at least ten years the senior of the oldest member of the Senate. Col. Kirby was married in June, 1832, to Miss Emma Minor, daughter of Judge Minor, of Columbus, one of the most prominent citizens of Franklin County. Seven children resulted from this union-five sons and two daughters, of whom but two survive, viz .. Isaac M. and Thomas. The deceased are George, William and Henry (twins who died in infancy); Emma, the wife of Curtis Berry, who died July 31, 1983; Anna, who died on board a steamboat on her way from New Orleans. Emma, the mother, departed this life in October, 1852. Col. Kirby is a member of the F. & A. M., and the oldest member of the fraternity in Ohio, having been associated with the order since 1820. He has been a resident of this county since 1843, and though now in his eighty. seventh year, and as the senior member of the law firm of Kirby & Close, is still well preserved, physically and mentally. He possesses a retentive memory, and is remarkably correct in all his statements in regard to facts, figures and dates. He is among the last and most worthy of the pioneers of the county, and has a record unstained in social, political and official life Col. Kirby is erect and tall in stature, with a dignified carriage, has handsome and firm features softened by innate benevolence, and presents a striking appearance, and this superb physique, coupled with a silvery elo- quence, made him an effective orator often likened to the late Gov. William Alleu. Possessing the sterling qualities of probity, independence and considerate regard for the feelings of others, he is essentially a gentle- man of the old school. His life among the people of Upper Sandusky and Wyandot County has been one which reflects upon him the highest honor. He has lived not so much consulting his own interests, as indulging the kindness of his sympathetic nature in behalf of others, and his life is rich- ly freighted with neighborly acts, and no one ever appealed in vain to Col. Kirby for advice or assistance. In keeping with a frequently heard remark, he has been an indulgent father to all of us, ever cherishing as his highest aspiration the doing of good and the making of life brighter and better by his existence. No man is better known and respected in the county than he, nor whose memory will be more cherished and revered
GEN. ISAAC M. KIRBY, the subject of this sketch, was born in Column- bus, Ohio, February 10, 1835. He is the son of Col. Moses H. and Emma (Miner) Kirhy, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Gen. Kirby obtained the rudiments of an education in the old log schoolhouse in the Indian village of Upper Sandusky, and is the only living member in the county who attended the first school in those pioneer days. He closed his educational purenits at the Hillsboro Academy when in his sixteenth year, and began the study of civil engineering, joining a corps with which he operated till the beginning of the Jate war, when he volunteered as a private soldier in Company I, Fifteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, going into active service in West Virginia. He was soon after made Captain of his company, and at the re-enlistment, at the expiration of the three months' service, was made Captain of Company D, holding this command till May, 1862. He then resigned to recruit Company F, One Hundred and First Ohio
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Volunteer Infantry, and remained in command of this company till Decem- ber, 1862, when he was promoted to Major, by mutual agreement, over a number of senior officers of the regiment. After the deaths of Col. Stem and Lieut. Col. Wooster, in the battle of Stone River, Maj. Kirby was im- mediately promoted to Colonel of the regiment, receiving his command in January, 1863, and retaining the same till June, 1864, when he took com- mand of the First Brigade, First Division, Fourth Army Corps, holding this position till June, 1865. In 1865, he received his commission as Brigadier General in January, 1865, in which capacity he acted until the close of the war. Having served from the beginning to the close of the war, he returned home in June, 1865, and engaged in the hardware trade in partnership with G. W. Hale, and continued in this business thirteen years. In 1879, Mr. Kirby assumed charge of the hardware exclusively-Mr. Hale retiring from the firm with the stock of stoves and tinware-and in 1881 admitted Adam Pontius, the business since having been conducted under the firm name of Kirby & Pon- tius. They are doing a flourishing business, and are recognized as leaders in their Jine. Gen. Kirby was married June 6, 1867, to Miss Anna White, daughter of the Rev. J. W. and Anna (Williams) White, residents of New- ark, now of Delaware. They have four children-John W., born May 3, 1868; Mary E., December 10, 1873; Anna C., January 22, 1879; Thomas M., December 4, 1880. Mr. Kirby moved from Columbus to Upper San- dusky in 1843, and has been identified with its commercial interests and enterprises ever since. He is an honored member of the G. A. R. and F. & A. M., and a stanch Republican politically.
GUSTAVUS G. KRAMER, retired groceryman, was born near Spring- field, Ohio, March 1, 1841. He is a son of John W. and Maria T. (Bosse) Kramer, natives of Germany, in which country they were united in mar- riage. They emigrated to America in 1833, and became the parents of ten children, of whom six still survive -Amelia F., Henry W., Gustavus G., Henrietta T., Maria and Christiana. The father died in September, 1880, aged seventy-eight years; the mother still survives, residing on the old homestead, two miles east of Upper Sandusky, in her seventy-sixth year. G. G. Kramer, our subject, was reared on the farm in Crane Township, and educated in the district schools. His parents located in the above township in 1852, and with them he remained till his marriage in 1863. In March, 1864, Mr. Kramer enlisted in the civil war, Company K, One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served with his regiment through Virginia, but was taken sick near Alexandria and sent to the hospital at that place, from which he was discharged June 7, 1865, on account of disability. He returned home, and, after five years in agricult- ural pursuits, removed to Upper Sandusky in 1872, and established himself in the grocery and provision trade, where he continued till 1882, turning his attention largely to the buying and shipping of produce, poultry, etc. In 1882, he disposed of his stock to Levi F. Keller, and retired from business. In the spring of 1884, he again embarked in the grocery and provision trade, doing a wholesale and retail business. Mr. Kramer was married November 12, 1863, to Maria Hoffman, daughter of Michael and Rosanna (Hipp) Hoffman, of Hamilton, Ohio. They have five children- Charles W., born October 18, 1864; Elenora C., July 18, 1865; Ida P., April 14, 1868; Clara W., January 17, 1870; and Gustavus F., November 19, 1876. Mr. Kramer has served as Township Trustee, Township Treasurer and Corporation Treasurer, and in politics is a liberal Democrat.
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FREDERICK KROMER was born in Baden, Germany, February 5, 1819, son of Fredlen and Mary A. (Ohm) Kromer. who both died in Ger- many. Frederick emigrated to this country in 1852; stopped in Bucyrus one year, and settled in Eden Township in 1853. In 1850, he purchased his present farm of forty-three acres, which he has since improved and on which he erocted a fine brick residence in 1876. He was married at Bucy - rus, April 18, 1853, to Barbara Huft, who died in 1864. They had three children, but one living-a daughter, Caroline, born November 8, 1856. Two sons died in infancy. His daughter was married, March 27, 1883, to Louis A. F. Margraf, son of William and Eugenia (Kark) Margraf, and he is now engaged in agricultural pursuits on the farm of his father-in-law. Mr. Kromer is a member of the German Lutheran Church, and votes in the interests of Democracy.
SAMUEL KUENZLI, farmer and cheese manufacturer, was born in Wyden, Switzerland, December 14, 1822. His parents were Samuel and Elizabeth (Parmserier) Kuenzli, natives of Switzerland, who emigrated to the United States in 1834, settling in Holmes County, Obio, where the father died in 1864, and the mother in 1872. Of their twelve children, but nine are living. The subject of this notice, Samuel Kuenzli, was reared on a farm and educated in the district schools of Holmes County. He re- moved to this county on April 10, 1847, purchased lands at $2.80 per acre, which he has cleared and improved; he now has 160 acres, valued at $75 per acre. Mr. Kuenzli was married in Tuscarawas County, April 3, 1847, to Mary Sicrest, and nine children were born to them, eight living-Sam- uel E., Anna E., Sophia, Henrietta, Rosenia, John F., Christian H. and William G. Mrs. Kuenzli's death occurred August 9, 1862, and he was re- married October 30, 1862. to Angeline Hefler, by whom he has seven chil- dren, viz., Martha J., George F., Charles P., Ezra J., Laura E., Ernest and Reuben H. Besides his farming interests, Mr. Kuenzli is a stockholder in an extensive cheese factory, manufacturing 30,000 to 40,000 pounds of cheese per year. Himself and wife are members of the Evangelical Church.
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