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SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO

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BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
History of Shelby County, Ohio
Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So.
1883

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
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Dinsmore Twp. -
  LEWIS KAH.  It is proper and fitting at this point to speak of one of the founders of Anna - a man who has at all times looked and labored towards the growth of the village, and the improvement of the entire township.  This man is Lewis Kah, a type of that German Protestant stock which seeks the elevation of the people through the channels of education and art.  It is a stock which once entertaining an opinion, dares stand by that conviction single handed, irrespective of mercenary considerations.  Mr. Kah was born in Lichtenan, a village of Braden, Sept. 29, 1819.  In the spring of 1845 he came to the United States, and being a musician, readily secured a position with the band of a travelling show.  He was thus engaged during the summer, or show season, of seven years, while the winter seasons were passed in teaching cornet bands in different sections of Ohio.  In this way he instructed about twenty-five bands in Eastern Ohio alone.  During this period, or in 1849, he came to Dinsmore Township, and purchased a piece of land, which he looked upon as a promising investment, as land was then looking upward in value in this section at that time.  He did not locate here at this time, but continued his profession of music until 1862, when he entered the 20th Ohio Regiment as a musician.  He remained in this capacity about two years, when he withdrew from the army, and in 1865 settled on his farm in Dinsmore Township.  The next year, in company with Therkield Brothers, he erected the first building in the newly laid out town of Anna.  This building was a store-room, in which the proprietors conducted the drygoods trade about one year.
     Mr. Kah then formed a partnership with Messrs. Elliott & Finkenbein, under the firm style of Kah & Elliott, for the purpose of conducting the drygoods and gain business.  For this enterprise buildings were erected as the town was yet new.  Late in 1866 William Flesher erected and opened a hotel in Anna, known still as the Anna Hotel, which was purchased by Mr. Kah in 1867.  He then, and from time to time afterwards, remodelled the building, and managed the hotel business from the year the building was purchased until August, 1882, when he leased the property to Clemens Stuve.  The house has ever enjoyed the reputation of being one of the very best village hotels in Western Ohio.  Mr. Kah continued in business with Mr. Elliott until 1875, when he sold his interest and withdrew from the firm.  In 1873 he had entered into partnership with John Winter, under the style of Kah & Winter; the purpose of the firm being the erection of a factory which should comprise a saw and planing mill.  In 1876 Winters withdrew, and left the whole concern in the hands of Kah.  He then changed the nature of the enterprise, which became a saw-mill and steam flour mill; this being the first and only flouring mill in the village.  The mill is still owned by Mr. Kah, and operated by his son-in-law, Albert Markland.
    
Such are some of the interests with which Mr. Kah has been identified.  More than this, it must be added that he was largely instrumental in securing the location of the D. & M. Railroad station at Anna.  In this interest he collected $98, and contributed $55 toward the erection of the little station.  Again, he was chiefly instrumental in securing the location of the German Lutheran church at this village, as he, in a few days, collected the sum of $2500 for building purposes.  The village and township owe him a debt of gratitude for his labors in behalf of the community.  Since his location here he has contributed in every possible way to the advancement of the best interests of the town.  As a musician he has freely taught the youth of the community, for he is a staunch believer in education and art.  Since the Columbus convention in 1854, which organized a new state party in Ohio, Mr. Kah has been an ardent Republican.  To-day he still believes it the party of popular liberty, civil rights, and living principles.  In religious affairs he has devoted to the doctrines and teachings of the Lutheran denomination.  Of his family relations it may be said he was  married Nov. 18, 1846, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Miss Sarah Ludwig, who was a native of Germany.  Their children were named Caroline, who became Mrs. Fletcher now of Dinsmore Township; Louisa, now Mrs. George Fogt, of Dinsmore Township; Sarah, who married Wm. Stark, but is now dead; Julia, now Mrs. Albert Markland of Anna; Mary, now Mrs. Moses Ailes of Botkins; and Lena, who is still with her parents.  Since Mr. Kah leased his hotel he has lived in a somewhat retired way in the vilalge of Anna, his farm, hotel, and mills being all managed by responsible parties.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page
248
  Van Buren Twp. -
WILLIAM KETTLER was born in Prussia in 1828.  In 1845 he came to the United States and located in New Bremen.  Two years later he sent for his parents, who came over.  His first employment was laboring on a farm, at five dollars per month, which he followed some three hears.  He then clerked in a store four years, at the end of which time he bought a stock of goods for himself and sold goods about thirteen years.  In connection with his store he bought an packed pork; also bought and shipped grain.  In 1851 he married Minnie Donnerberg.  By this marriage there were three children, viz., Julius, Sophia, and Matilda.  In 1865 he sold his store in New Bremen, and bought 400 acres of wild land in Van Buren Township, where Kettlerville is now located.  This land he has improved and made one of hte fine farms of the township.  Having acquired a competence, he has retired from active life, and is enjoying the fruits of his past hard labor.
     JULIUS KETTLER, a son of the above, was born in New Bremen in 1852.  In 1874 he married Mary Wuebbenhorst, a daughter of Henry and Minnie Wuebbenhorst, of Auglaize County.  They reside on the homestead of his father in Kettlerville.  They had born to them three children, Clara M., Mahala E. M., and Amelia S.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 252-253
  Perry Twp. -
JOHN KEY was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1816.  His father, John Key, was born in Virginia in 1781, came to Montgomery County about 1800, where he died in 1815, leaving a wife and four children.  John, the fifth child, was not born until some six months after the death of his father.  His mother remained in Montgomery until 1836, when she came to Shelby County and located in Jackson Township.  The subject of this sketch came with his mother and remained about one year, then returned in Montgomery, where he lived until 1840, when he made his permanent home in this county.  In 1841 he married Miss Lillie Lucas, by whom he had two children, Norman and John H.  Mr. Key's wife died July, 1846.  He then married Anna Rhinehart in 1847.  By his second marriage he has seven children, viz., Amanda, born 1848; Rachel, born 1850; Elizabeth, born 1853; Jane, born 1856; David R., born 1858; Sherman born 1864; and Orlando B., born 1870.  Mr. Key, when he first came to the county, had fifty dollars, with which he entered forty acres of land in Jackson Township.  He then went to work by the day and month until he had saved one hundred dollars, with which he entered eighty acres in Indiana.  He then worked on until he saved one hundred dollars more, with which he entered another eighty acres in Indiana.  These two eighty-acre lots he traded for the eighty-acre lot he now lives on.  It was nearly all in the woods.  This he has cleared and improved, and has since added to it two other eighty-acre lots, making his home place consist of 240 acres, all of which is well improved with a good brick dwelling.  Beside his home place he owns 300 acres more of improved land in Perry Township.  Altogether, with what he has given to his boys, he owned 743 acres in Perry Township.  Beside this he has 141 acres in Champaign County, and property in the towns of Sidney and Millerstown.  All this has been accumulated by his own industry and that of his family.  There are but few, if any, in the county who have done more hard work than Mr. Key.
  Perry Twp. -
JOHN H. KEY was born in Perry Township in 1843.  He is the second son of John Key by his first wife.  In 1866 he married Miss Hannah C. Lane.  Wm. Lane, the father of Mrs.. Key was born in Oxfordshire, England, came to America in 1838, first stopped in Canada, where he was immediately drafted in to the British army, in which he served nine months.  At the expiration of his time he came to Dayton, Ohio, where he remained a short tie, then came to Shelby County, where, in the year 1843, he married Miss Eliza Jackson, a daughter of Jacob Jackson, who settled in the county in 1822.  They raised a family of five children.  Mr. Lane died January, 1868.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page  222
  Perry Twp. -
NORMAN KEY the eldest son of John Key, was born Feb. 1842.  In Feb., 1865, he married Miss Sarah P. Rike (daughter of Enoch Rike).  They have two children, viz., William F., born 1867, and Olla May, born 1871.  They are located on section 22.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page  222
  Cynthian Twp. -
DANIEL KILLIAN

Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 276

  Jackson Twp. -
MICHAEL A. KING
was born in Clinton Township, Shelby County, Mar. 28, 1856. He is a son of Michael and Catharine King.  In April, 1817, he began working at the blacksmith trade with Newton Epler, and, after serving as an apprentice about two years and a half, or until August, 1880, he went to Pontiac, Orange Township, this county, where he carried on the business of blacksmithing until March, 1881, when he returned to Jackson Centre and became the successor of his old employer, Newton Epler, in the business of blacksmith and general repairing, where he has since been conducting the business with success.  On the 11th of November, 1880, he married Miss Malinda R. Hohn, of Clinton Township, this county, daughter of Lewis Hohn.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 234
  Clinton Twp. -
MICHAEL H. KING was born in Mifflin County, Pa., in 1843.  HE is a son of Joshua and Catharine (Miller) King.  He came to Shelby County in 1860.  In 1861 he enlisted in the 20th O. V. I., and served his time of enlistment.  In 1867 he married Elizabeth Kauffman, who also was a native of Mifflin County, Pa.  She was born in 1838.  Mr. King is a farmer, and resides in Clinton Township.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 389
  Perry Twp. -
BENJAMIN KISER was born in Montgomery County, O., in 1800.  He is a son of Peter Kiser, and was the tenth of fourteen children.  In 1823 he was married to Elizabeth Baker, with whom he lived seven years, when she died, leaving four children.  About two years after he married Mary Knoop, with whom he lived twenty-one years when she died, leaving no children.  Shortly afterward he married Nancy Knoop, a sister of his second wife.  By this marriage there were two children.  He lived with his third wife fourteen years, when she died.  He then married Rebecca Fannestock (née Rebecca BenderI, with whom he has been living some fourteen years.
     Mr. Kiser was among the early settlers of Perry; he has been an industrious and energetic man; has been one of the strongest men of his day; was a great woodman, both with the axe and gun; has cut and split his four hundred rails in a day.  He has been noted as a hunter, as also was his father before him.  Mr. Kiser is now in his eighty-third year, being born in the year 1800.  He has spent a long life of hard toil.  For thirty years of his life he has been in the ministry of the German Baptist church, to which he is fondly attached.  About six years ago Father Kiser had his thigh broken, form which he has never recovered, being compelled to walk with crutches.  He now spends his time reading his Bible and other books and papers.  He has seen the same place where he used to meet the red man, become the site of the church and schoolhouse.  Many were the deer and wolf that met their fate at the crack of his rifle; also, the catamount and other wild animals.

Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 216
  Perry Twp. -
ELISHA KISERPeter Kiser was born in Virginia in 1755, came to Montgomery Co., O., abut 1799, where in 1802 Elisha Kiser was born, being the eleventh of fourteen children.  They lived in Montgomery County until 1807, when they moved to Miami Co. where he lived until 1829, when he married Amilla Corben, and the same year moved to Shelby Co. and located on sec. 7, Perry Township.  The land on which he located was all in timber, without a road to or near it.  It was here with his new wife he located on sec. 7, Perry Township.  The land on which he located was all in timber, without a road to or near it.  It was here with his new wife he located in a rude cabin without any means of support, except as he earned it by days' work, having to go to Miami Co. to get work to do.  He cleared his own land at intervals as fast as he could, and in a few years had a comfortable home, living happily in their self-made home until 1850, when his wife died, leaving him with seven children, viz., Susan, Thomas, Orrin, Laban, Elisha, Ann and Matilda Jane.  In 1851 he married Mary A. Wilkinson, his present wife, by whom he has five children, viz., Wm. R., Sarah E., Emma A., Mary B., and Alta M.  John C. died 1880, aged twenty-four.  Mr. Kiser had four sons and one son-in-law in the late war, who served their full time of enlistment.  In 1878 Mr. Kiser retired from the farm, and is now living in Pemberton in the enjoyment of the fruits of his hard labor.  May his last days he has happiest.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 217
  Dinsmore Twp. -
JOHN KRAFT, deceased, son of Michael Kraft, was born in Germany, Oct. 1, 1802.  He emigrated to America in 1832, and located in Medina County, Ohio, where on the 1st of January, 1833, he married Miss Catharine, daughter of Jacob and Christina Frank.  Miss Frank was born in Germany, Dec. 17, 1809, and came to America with her parents in 1831.  Mr. and Mrs. Kraft settled in Medina County, remained until 1835, when they moved to Crawford County, Ohio, remained five years, or until in 1835, when they moved to Crawford County, Ohio, remained five years, when they came to Shelby County, and settled on the banks of the Miami River, about half way between Sidney and Port Jefferson.  Here they remained one year, when they came to Dinsmore Township, purchased and moved on forty acres of land in the northeast quarter of section 27, remained until in December, 1853, when he sold his land in section 27, purchased, made improvements and moved on the northeast quarter of section 19, same township, on which he passed the remainder of his days.  He died Sept. 12, 1878.  His widow is living on the home farm with her son, Wm. R. Kraft.  They reared a family of ten children, viz., Rachel, John, Caroline, Mary, Jacob, Catharine, Christopher, Elizabeth E., Sarah J., and William R., two of whom are now dead.  Christopher and Mary.  Christopher died in Kentucky, while serving in the war of 1861.  John Kraft served near three years in the war of 1861.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 247
  Dinsmore Twp. -
WILLIAM R. KRAFT, son of John J. and Catharine Kraft, was born on the farm where he now resides, in section 19, Dinsmore Township, this county, July 2, 1854.  He has made farming his vocation, and now owns a farm of eighty acres of land, a part of which is the home farm, on which he is now living.  On the 12th of September, 1875, he married Miss Hannah E., daughter of John and Lydia Kleinhaus, who was born in Dinsmore Township, July 25, 1854, by whom he has three children, John H. Minnie F., and George L.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 - Page 247

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