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OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS
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WELCOME to
ALLEN COUNTY, OHIO
HISTORY & GENEALOGY
BIOGRAPHIES
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JOHNZEY
KEETH (deceased), whose portrait appears in this work, was
born in Baltimore County, Md., June 20, 1817. His early life was
spent at home receiving the benefits of the country schools and
assisting in tilling the soil on his fathers farm. In 1834 he
accompanied his parents to Madison County, Ohio, and soon after to
Van Wert County, where on arriving at the age of twenty-one, he
engaged upon his career in life as a farmer. In 1853 he went to
Mercer County, and three years later came to this county, settling
in Amanda Township. He commenced farming, a poor man, but by
honesty, industry and economy he gradually increased his land and
business interests, until he became the most extensive stock
dealer, and was considered the wealthiest farmer, in Allen County,
owning at one time about 2.000 acres of land in Amanda and Spencer
Townships. In 1869 he removed to Spencerville, and engaged in
several business enterprises, but still retained his farm and
stock interests. At one time he owned and operated two grist
mills, a woolen mill and a saw mill. When the Chicago & Atlantic
Railroad was talked of, Mr. Keeth took an active interest
in securing right of way, as well as making personal donations to
the company. As monuments of his thrift and enterprise, many fine
buildings are standing, among which may be mentioned his late
residence and a fine three-story brick block called the Keeth
House, which was not quite completed at the time of his death.
which occurred July 12, 1883. He was a prominent Democrat, and in
addition to filling several of the township and town offices, he
also served the people of the county as commissioner four years.
June 22, 1841, our subject married Priscilla Arnold, who
was born in Fayette County, Ohio, June 26, 1822, and to this union
were born nine children : Rachel E., widow of Henry
Backus; John, surveyor of Allen County, a resident of
Lima; Samuel, a farmer of Amanda Township; Anderson;
Jacob A.; Frank M; Mary Ann, Albert, and Emma—deceased.
(Source #2) |
FRANK M.
KEETH, proprietor of the Keeth House. Spencerville,
was born in Amanda Township. Allen Co., Ohio, October 14. 1860.
His father, Johnzey Keeth, was born June 20,1817, in
Maryland. Our subject received a common school education, and in
1877 entered the employ of the T. D. & I. R. R. Co. as station
agent at Spencerville. After remaining with this company over two
years he engaged as railroad express agent with the United States
Express Company about two and a half years. He then embarked in
the drug business in which he continued about a year.
On October 13, 1884, he became proprietor of the "Keeth
House," and, although young in years and experience, he performs
the duties of "mine host" in a genial and courteous manner. He was
united in marriage, June 22, 1882, with Miss Jennie Renner,
who was born in North Baltimore, Ohio. December 11, 1861. To them
was born on September 8, 1884, a son—Grover.
(Source #2) |
GEORGE H.
KEPHART, proprietor of saw-mill and handle factory at
Spencerville, was born in Amanda Township, Allen Co., Ohio,
October 31, 1846; son of Ormond and Ann A. (Hayes) Kephart,
the former of whom, an influential farmer and early settler of
this county, died in 1856; the latter, a native of New York, still
survives him, the mother of five children: Cordelia,
Oscar M., Alexis E., Ormond, and George H. Our subject
graduated in the scientific course at Lebanon, Ohio, in 1809, and
entered upon his career in life as a teacher, but eventually
embarked in the lumbering business. He commenced a poor boy, and
by energy and perseverance has accumulated property. He first
entered a saw mill in 1875, and two years later came to
Spencerville. In 1880 he purchased a woolen mill and for a while
also operated it, and in connection with the same started a handle
factory, which he still runs, but has traded the woolen machinery
for land in Mississippi. Mr. Kephart was united in
marriage, September 18,1870, with Ellen A. Tone of Allen
County, formerly of Delaware County, Ohio, and by her has had
three children: Clarence E., Albert N. (deceased) and
Myrtle May. Mr. Kephart is a Republican in politics and
has served as mayor one term. He is a F. & A. M.; a member of the
Baptist church.
(Source #2) |
NICHOLAS KILL,
farmer, P. O. Landeck, was born in Germany, January 22, 1835; son
of Jacob and Mary (Thorn) Kill, also natives of Germany and
parents of six children, of whom only three came to America. Our
subject obtained a common school education in his native land, and
has made farming the principal occupation of his life. He came to
America in 1858 and located near Tiffin, Ohio, where he remained
till 1863, when he came to this county and in 1865 to the farm
which is still his home, and which from a state of nature he has
placed under high cultivation, proving himself to be an energetic
man. He erected the second brick dwelling in the township, which
stands as a monument to his enterprise. His property is the result
of his own efforts, and today he is considered one of the
substantial farmers of the township. He has held several offices
of trust and is one of the leaders of the Democratic party in
Spencer Township. Mr. Kill was married, April 16, 1861, to
Elizabeth Rahrig, born in Seneca County, Ohio, May
8,1838, daughter of Philip and Annie (Myers) Rahrig,
who came to America in about 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Kill
have ten children: Vincent, Mary, Joseph, Treca, Sylvester,
Lucy, Lizzie, Katie, Julia and Lewis. He and his wife
are consistent members of the Roman Catholic Church.
(Source #2) |
CHRISTOPHER
T. KOENIG, undertaker, Spencerville, was born in
Germany, November 8. 1846. He was educated in his native land, and
when nineteen years of age came to America and located in
Cincinnati, Ohio, where for nearly two years he was engaged in the
wholesale factories at his trade, that oil cabinet making, which
he had learned in Germany. He came to Spencerville in 1868 and
embarked in the furniture and undertaking business. His capital
was limited, but he has increased his stock in proportion to the
demand until he now has quite an extensive stock, and a steadily
increasing trade. His marriage, which occurred November 18, 1869,
was with Miss Elizabeth Kleinhans, also a native of
Germany, born November 18, 1844. To them have been given live
children: Edward, Clara. Bertha, Theodor and Minnie.
Mr. Koenig has served the people as a member of the school
board, and is now one of the council, an office he had held
several times previous to this term. He is a stanch advocate of
the principles of the Republican party. For a number of years he
has been a consistent member of the German Reformed Church. Mr.
Koenig is virtually a self-made man, having by his own energy
and industry, together with his obliging manner of waiting upon
his customers, made his property, and in all his business
transactions has won for himself the reputation of being an honest
and upright man.
(Source #2) |
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