|
|
* Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of
City of Toledo and Lucas and Wood Counties, Ohio.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1895
† Source: History of Northwestern
Ohio - Vol. II _ 1917 As
Always, Biographies will be transcribed upon request ~
Sharon W.
|
< BACK TO
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX > |
| JAMES G. KANEY |
| COLEMAN KEELER |
| JOHN J. KELLER |
| HARVEY KELLOGG |
JOEL W. KELSEY was born in the
state of Maine, on the 17th of December, 1819. His father,
Joseph Kelsey, and mother, Lucy (Lufkin)
Kelsey, were natives of Massachusetts. Joel
came to Toledo in July, 1845. He married Mary
Jane Ryder in August, 1849, and they had a family of four
boys, Joseph R., Edward W., Harry M.
and John M. Mrs. Kelsey died on the
15th of September, 1891.
Source:
Portrait & Biological History of Lucas Co., Ohio - 1895 ~ Page 245 |
| CHARLES H. KENNEDY |
| FRANK I. KING |
ALBERT
KIRK. There is nothing of more interest to the general
reader than a sketch of one who has won for himself both an enviable
reputation and handsome competence, though beginning without capital
or influential friends. According to this principle, a brief
account of the life of Mr. Kirk cannot fail to prove
interesting. He ranks among the retired business men of
Toledo, and has gained a sufficient amount of this world's goods to
make him easy and comfortable for the rest of his days through the
exercise of energy and sound judgment. A man of sterling worth
and superior intelligence, he has been closely identified with the
commercial and social prosperity of the city where he has made his
home since 1854.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Kirk was born in Stark
County, near the city of Massilon, Sept. 23, 1826. The family
of which he is a member originated in Germany, but has been
represented in America for a number of generations. His
parents, William and Maria (Miller) Kirk, were natives,
respectively, of Bald Eagle, York County, Pa., and Ohio, the mother
being a daughter of John Miller, one of the early settlers of
the Buckeye State. The parental family consisted of nine
children, who attained years of maturity, and of these eight are
still living.
Albert, who is the fourth child in order of
birth spent his boyhood years on the home farm, and alternated
agricultural pursuits with attendance at the district schools until
reaching his eighteenth year. Going at that time Canal Fulton,
Ohio, he served an apprenticeship of four years to the trade of a
tinner, and later spent one year in Medina County, this state, then
for three years he lived in Cleveland. The year 1854 witnessed
his arrival in Toledo, with the subsequent commercial history of
which he has been intimately associated. He began in the
manufacture of crackers with George Worts, the business at
first being very small, but as their capital increased they
increased the business until 1866, when the firm was changed to
Worts & Co., and so continued until 1873, when the firm was
changed to Worts, Kirk & Bigelow, and was operated under this
name until 1890, when it was merged into the United States Baking
Company. During these years Mr. Kirk gained a name as a
shrewd, far-seeing, discriminating and successful business man.
The plant was situated on St. Clair Street, and the machinery was
driven by a neat twenty-five horse-power engine. Constant
employment was given to thirty-or forty employes, and five traveling
salesmen represented the concern in the states of Ohio, Indiana and
Michigan prior to its becoming amalgamated with the United States
Baking Company. After having continued uninterruptedly in
business for twenty-six years, the partners finally, as stated
above, sold out their business, in 1890, still, however, retaining
their stock in the United States Baking Company, as well as their
real estate.
The lady who in 1855 became the wife of Mr. Kirk
was known in maidenhood as Miss Hannah S. Worts, and was a
resident of Toledo, being a daughter of Mannister C. Worts, a
resident of this city, but a native of England. Mrs. Kirk
was born in Detroit, and at the age of two years was taken to
Oswego, N. Y., where she was reared and educated, coming with her
parents to Toledo in 1853. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Kirk
resulted in the birth of six children, four of whom are still
living, as follows: Ezra E., Edward A., Bessie M. and
Arthur W. The family is one of prominence socially, and
is identified religiously with St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal
Church, in which Mr. Kirk has served as a Trustee for the
past thirty years. They have a pleasant home, which occupies a
valuable building site on Jefferson Street, one of the principal
residence streets of the city.
With everything pertaining to the progress of Toledo
and the welfare of his fellow-citizens Mr. Kirk is a hearty
sympathy, and his co-operation may always be relied upon to support
progressive measures. For two and one-half years he served as
a member of the City Council, and in other local positions has been
instrumental in promoting needed reforms. In his social
connections he is identified with Toledo Lodge No. 144, F. & A. M.
In politics Mr. Kirk has always been a stanch Republican.
The fine property which Mr. Kirk owns and the
comforts which surround his family are a creditable showing for one
who began in early youth with very little means and without
influence, and indicate the sturdy nature of the man top whose
determination and unflagging industry they are due. His
experiences have been diverse, his struggles hard and obstacles
many; but, undeterred by misfortune or hardship, he has worked
steadily onward, until he is now one of the well-to-do citizens of
Toledo. In all his enterprises he has received the
co-operation of his wife, a lady of refinement, to whom he owes no
small share of his success. |
| FREDERICK KLEILE |
| FREDERICK KOHLI |
CHARLES KOSCH.
Among the prosperous estates of Providence Township, Lucas County,
there is one comprising eighty acres on section 9, to which the eye
of the passer-by is at once attracted. Everything about the
place bears an air of neatness, and a complete set of excellent
buildings and the well kept fences add to the pleasing prospect
afforded by well cultivated fields. The place is owned and
occupied by the gentleman whose name opens this sketch, who was born
in Prussia, Germany, Sept. 17, 1849.
Charles F. and Henrietta Kosch, the parents of
our subject, were also born in the Fatherland, and after emigrating
to America, in 1860, located in Lucas County, on an estate in
Waterville Township. After two years' residence there, the
father purchased forty acres of timber-land in Providence Township[,
on which he erected a log cabin, making it his home until his
decease. His widow still survives, and lives on the old
homestead. Of their large family of ten children only four
survive.
Charles, who was the eldest of the parental
household, attended school for about five years prior to coming to
the New World with his parents. After arriving in this country
he attended school for part of three winters and gained a good
knowledge of the English language. He was married, May
10, 1874, to Rosa Sommer, who died June 7, of the following
year, leaving a daughter, Mary R., who was born May 20, 1875,
and who died Aug. 5 of that year. Mar. 28, 1880, Mr. Kosch
chose for his second wife Nellie Stamm, the daughter of
Philip and Eliza (Woolf) Stamm, natives of the kingdom of
Bavaria. Mr. and Mrs. Kosch's surviving children are:
Emma, who was born Jan. 18, 1883; Charles F., Nov. 17,
1885; Anna E., Mar. 21, 1888; Clara, in March, 1890;
and Alert, Aug. 28, 1893. William, the eldest,
born Oct. 1, 1881, died Sept. 19, 1893; and Nellie, born July
12, 1892, died Sept. 27, of the same year.
In 1870 Mr. Kosch made a purchase of eighty
acres of land in Providence Township, which he cleared, and erected
thereon suitable farm buildings, making of it one of the attractive
homesteads in the township. HE devotes his attention to mixed
husbandry, and thus far has been more than ordinarily successful in
the prosecution of his labors.
Prior to engaging in farm work, our subject employed on
the Wabash Railroad as a section-hand. In politics he is a
Democrat, and on that ticket he has served on two different
occasions as Trustee of his township. In 1895 he was elected
as Trustee of his township. In 1895 he was elected as Trustee
for three years. He has also been supervisor for period of
fourteen years, and in every capacity in which he has been before
the public has discharged his duties in a manner giving
satisfaction. He is a devoted member of the Lutheran Church,
and with his wife has many warm friends in this county, who highly
respect him for his upright and honorable life.
Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of
City of Toledo and Lucas and Wood Counties, Ohio.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1895 ~ Page 428 |
|
