OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS

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DEFIANCE COUNTY
OHIO

BIOGRAPHIES

These biographies have been extracted from
Commemorative Biographical Records of Northwestern Ohio
including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams & Fulton.
Published at Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1899.

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M
N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

NOTE:  If you are interested in any of the names listed below, please contact me
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* KARR, Thomas L.
* KEHNAST, William August
* KERR, Joseph D.
* KERR, Robert Fillmore

* KETTERING, Peter
* KINKEAD, Michael P., Rev.
* KINMONT, Thomas C., M.D.
* KLEIN, Ludwig

* KOPP, William G.
* KYLE, Cornelius W., M.D.
 
REV. FATHER MICHAEL P. KINKEAD.  Father Kinkead, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, at Defiance, has for twenty-two years ministered faithfully to the spiritual needs of his people, and given powerful and effective aid to all influences which work for the advancement of the community.  Revered and beloved by his own flock, he has also won the honor and esteem of all others who have seen his devotion to his noble calling.
     Father Kinkead's family is of English origin, but his ancestors left their native land for Scotland, later, about 1648, removing to Ireland, during the "Cromwellian settlement."  They located in the parish of Knocklog, County Limerick, where they have ever since been represented, their descendants occupying useful and honorable positions.  There our subject was born September 28, 1851, a son of James Kinkead, a farmer, an his wife, Sarah Cunningham.  His elementary education was secured at the parish national school, about two miles and a half from his father's home, these schools being similar to our common schools, except that they were generally under the supervision of the parish priest. At the age of sixteen he entered a classical school at Kelteely, County Limerick, and after three years there he went to the college at Mt. Milleray, in County Waterford, and was graduated from that institution in his twentieth year. One year was then spent at All Hallows' College, in Dublin, in the study of philosophy. In August, 1871, he came to the United States, and on September 1, of that year, he entered St. Mary's Seminary at Cleveland, Ohio, as a student of theology. On the completion of his course he was ordained, the ceremony taking place October 8, 1875, and after a short vacation he was appointed November 1, 1875, to the post of assistant pastor of St. Malachi's Church, in Cleveland, on the corner of Detroit and Washington streets. There he remained until January 1, 1877, when he was given his present charge.
     The church building, which is Gothic, was erected in 1874 and 1875, dedicated in January, 1876, and cost over thirty thousand dollars. It is one hundred and thirty feet long, by fifty-five wide, built of brick with Berea sandstone trimmings and contains about one thousand seats. At the time of  Father Kinkead's appointment there was a heavy debt, but he applied his energy and ability to the task before him with such zeal that this was soon cleared, and in 1886, under his inspiration and supervision, a commodious brick school building of modern style was completed at a cost of seven thousand dollars, and opened for the accommodation of the children of the parish, of which there are now about two hundred in attendance. In 1892 the church spire was completed, and a new pipe organ procured at an expense of five thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. In 1897 the interior of the church was redecorated in oil colors. The ceiling is finished in purple with very rich gold damask work, and around the sanctuary and side walls is a series of excellent and most artistic paintings representing scriptural and sacred subjects. The stations of the Cross are also very beautiful works of art, and harmonize thoroughly with the other decorations. The painting of the interior and the stations cost over three thousand five hundred dollars. Three new altars and two shrines of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help—the patron of the church—were also procured in 1897, and a new heating apparatus, with other improvements, were added.  The altars and shrines were donated by the ladies of the parish. They are white and gold, and exceedingly beautiful, and cost three thousand dollars. These improvements make the interior of the church one of the most beautiful in northwestern Ohio, and pastor and congregation are justly proud of their place of worship.
     The church property is located on the southeast corner of Jefferson and Arabella streets, occupying the entire block except one small lot. Under Father Kinkead's ministry the congregation has been increased from eighty-four families to more than two hundred families, but these figures, or indeed any estimate of material progress, give no indication of the great work which he has done in molding and shaping to higher issues the lives of those to whom he gives his best thought.
     The cause of temperance has found in him an earnest and eloquent advocate, and he has spoken effectively on that theme on various occasions and in different places. Broad in his views and sympathies, a friend of the poor and oppressed, ever ready with helpful counsel for the perplexed or sorrowful, Father Kinkead has a wide field for labor, and well does he discharge its arduous and sacred duties.
 
LUDWIG KLEIN
     The industry, enterprise and thrift which characterize the German race are well illustrated in the career of his gentleman, who is a prominent resident of Mark township, Defiance county.  Coming to this county when a lad of eighteen, he has made his way to an enviable position in life, and the esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens is shown by the numerous positions of trust and responsibility that he has filled.
     Mr. Klein was born Oct. 21, 1851, in Bavaria, Germany, a son of Joseph and Mary (Desloch) Klein, both of whom were natives of the same province, passing their lives there, the father being engaged in agricultural pursuits.  Our subject, who was the tenth in a family of eleven children, was reared to farm work under his father's direction.  At an early age his thoughts began to turn to America, and in June, 1869, he crossed the Atlantic, landing in New York City.  He already had some knowledge of the blacksmith's trade, and coming to Ohio, he located at Bryan, where he quickly found employment.  For about five years his time was mainly spent in that town, and during that period he met and married Miss Mary Huber, a native of Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, the ceremony being performed in Bryan on December 31, 1874.  In February, 1876, he removed to Mark Center, Defiance county, where he followed his trade successfully for about seventeen years.  In 1893 he settled upon a farm of eighty acres, which he had purchased some time before, and this he has improved as a homestead, building substantial and commodious buildings, and enlarging the farm from time to time until he now owns one hundred and sixty acres.
     As a citizen, Mr. Klein has shown much public spirit, taking an active part in various progressive movements in his locality.  He has served four terms as township trustee and three terms as township treasurer, filling both offices most acceptably, and he is now serving his second term as county commissioner, having been elected first in 1893 and re-elected in 1895.  His sympathies are with the Democratic party, and he is an ardent and influential worker for the success of that organization.
 
WILLIAM G. KOPP.  The endeavor to excel in a chosen line or lines of effort is characteristic of the men who win success in these days of close competition, and the subject of this sketch, a well-known resident of Highland township, Defiance county, has evidently made practical application of the fact in his various business enterprises.
     Mr. Kopp is a native of Ohio, having been born in Crawford county, July 21, 1859, but his ancestry on both sides is of  German blood.  His father, the late Charles Kopp, and mother, Mrs. Louise (Stahl) Kopp, were born at Wurtemberg, Germany, and came to America early in their married life,  in 1854.  In 1862 they settled in Highland township, Defiance county, where the father died January 3, 1897.  The mother now resides with our subject.
     Our subject was the fourth in a family of eight children, and as the son of a busy farmer was trained from boyhood to habits of industry.  When he was about eighteen years old he left home to learn the blacksmith's trade at New Washington, Crawford county, where he spent about two years.  He then went to Lansing, Michigan, but after nine months returned to Defiance county, securing employment with the Turnbull Wagon works at Defiance.  He remained with this company fourteen months, and then engaged in business on his own account in Section 11, Highland township, where he has since resided.  While conducting his blacksmith shop he became interested in a sawmill in the same locality as a partner of his brother Frederick, who was accidentally killed in the mill March 23, 1889.
     Soon after this event Mr. Kopp gave up his blacksmithing business and took charge of the mill, and also engaged in farming at his present homestead of forty acres, upon which he has made many improvements.  His farm buildings are comfortable and attractive, and his management of the place is scientific, his inclination for securing the best possible results being shown in many ways, and notably in the keeping up of a herd of thoroughbred Poland-China hogs.  In connection with his other work he now operates a tile factory on his farm.  With all these cares he might be supposed to be too busy to take an active part in local politics, but his fellow-citizens have too high an opinion of his abilities and judgment to permit him to remain entirely out of politics.  For many years he has been one of the leading advisers of the Democratic party in his locality, and in the spring of 1896 he was chosen as a member of the Central Committee of Defiance county.  On May 7, 1898, he was appointed jury commissioner of Defiance county, and served one year from May 23,  He is interested in all movements that promise benefit to the community, and is prominent in religious work as an active member of the Lutheran Church.
     On October 16, 1881, Mr. Kopp was married near Lansing, Michigan, to Miss Louisa Oppanlander, who was born September 12, 1861, in Wurtemberg, Germany.  Nine children blessed this union, their names and dates of birth, etc., being as follows: Frederick W., October 16, 1882; Elizabeth P., May 24, 1884; Sophia M., November 25, 1885; J. W. Webster, March 30, 1887, Edith A., October 7, 1890; Bertha M. P., February 22, 1892; Amelia A., September 22, 1894; Charles W. J., May 16, 1896, and John H., May 10, 1897, died August 13, 1898.
 
CORNELIUS W. KYLE, M. D.  The world has little use for the misanthrope.  The universal truth of brotherhood is widely recognized, also that he serves God best who serves his fellowmen.  There is no profession or line of business that calls for greater self-sacrifice or more devoted attention than the medical profession, and the successful physician is he who, through love of his fellowmen, gives his time and attention to the relief of human suffering.  Doctor Kyle, who is an able representative of this noble calling, has for several years successfully engaged in practice in Sherwood, Defiance county.
     A native of Ohio, our subject was born in Stark county, Dec. 1, 1838, a son of Peter Kyle, a farmer and blacksmith by occupation.  He was reared on his father's farm, acquiring his early education in the common schools of the neighborhood.  For several years during early life he lived at Massillon, with his uncle, Doctor A. Metz, who was for ten years a professor in the Cleveland Medical College, and with him our subject began the study of medicine.  He continued his researches along that line under direction of Doctor Coombs, the present auditor of Defiance county, and has made his home in Defiance county.
     During the Civil war Doctor Kyle manifested his patriotism by enlisting in September, 1861, in Company E, Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but after serving for seven months he was discharged on account of physical disability.  However, he afterward re-enlisted, this time in Company I, First Ohio Heavy Artillery, and was later detailed as hospital steward at Washington, D. C., serving in that capacity some sixteen months.  He then returned to Ohio, and in June, 1871, commenced the practice of medicine in Defiance county, locating in Sherwood about 1880.  He is one of the leading physicians of the community, and in the village and vicinity has built up a large and lucrative practice.  He is a representative of the "old school."
     In Seneca county, Ohio, Doctor Kyle married Miss Marietta Smith, a native of that county, born Dec. 6, 1842, by whom he has two children: Alma, now the wife of Johnson Miller (they have one daughter, Ethel); and Homer, telegraph operator and train dispatcher at Van Wert, Ohio.  He married Beatrice Miller of Sherwood, and they have one daughter, Fern.
     Mr. Kyle
, wife of Doctor Kyle, is a daughter of William T. and Catherine Ann (Boucher) Smith, the father a native of Pennsylvania, the mother of Ohio, in which latter State they were married.  Eight children were born to them - five sons and three daughters - of whom are deceased four sons, the survivor being John B. Smith of Alvada, Ohio.  The daughters are:  Elizabeth (Mrs. Amos Mohler of Fostoria, Ohio), Marietta (Mrs. Kyle), and Sevilla A. (Mrs. J. A. Boley), of Upper Sandusky).  Mrs. Kyle opened the first millinery store in Sherwood, and has been in the business since 1884.  She is a member of The Temple Church, and of the Woman's Relief Corps, No. 282.
     Doctor and Mrs. Kyle have a nice home in Sherwood, where hospitality reigns supreme.  Socially he is an honored member of Hancock Post, No. 579, G. A. R., of which he is past commander, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and other societies.  He takes a deep interest in the welfare of his adopted county, giving his support to all enterprises which he believes will advance its educational or moral interests.  Wherever he goes he wins friends and has the happy faculty of being able to retain them.
~pg. 506
 
 
 
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