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Source:
History of Shelby County, Ohio
and representative citizens
Publ. Evansville, Ind.
1913
947 pgs.

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  JULIUS W. C. KETTLER, a well known citizen and retired farmer, residing in Kettlersville, Van Buren township, was born in New Bremen, Auglaize county, O., in 1852, a son of William and Minnie (Donnerberg) Kettler.  His parents were natives of Germany who came to America in the forties of the 19th century.  Their family consisted of three children: Sophia, Matilda, and Julius W. C.  Sophia who became the wife of August Mauer, resides in Kettlersville, this county; Matilda married William Tangeman and resides in the state of Iowa.
     The subject of this sketch was educated in the schools of New Bremen, O., and after his school days were over obtained a position as clerk in the hardware store, subsequently working for a while in the dry goods store.  He then took a trip to Germany, and after his return was associated with his father in the store  for three years.  He then engaged in agriculture and was so occupied for a period of 34 years - from 1875 to 1909 - at the end of which time, having amassed a fair competence, he retired and took up his residence in the village of Kettlersville.  He owns a good farm of 150 acres and some favorably situated town property besides 22 lots within the corporation.
     Mr. Kettler and wife Maria have been the parents of six children, namely: Clara, Mahala, Amelia, Laura, Emma and Herbert.  Clara, who married William Mauer, resides in Kettlersville.  She is the mother of twin sons, Vernon and Ernest.  Mahala married W. Breidweiser, and they reside in New Bremen.  She has two children, Glenna, who is attending high school, and Oran, at home.  Amelia is the wife of Aerny Tangeman and resides on her father's farm.  She has two children, Marie and Helen.  Laura married William Webber and lives in Lima, O.  Emma is the wife of G. R. Brandt and lives in Dayton.  She has one child, Carl.  Herbert is a student at Ohio State University, Columbus.
     Mr. Kettler is a Democrat in politics and served as township clerk for a period of fourteen years.  He was also village clerk for four years.  A member of the Lutheran church, he has acted as a trustee, secretary, and elder for years.  He is a man highly respected throughout this part of the township.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 ~ Page 858
  JOHN CHARLES FREMONT KIGGINS, who is a retired farmer, since 1905 has been a resident of Sidney, O., .where he is well known and highly respected and was born in Shelby county, O., September 3, 1855, on a farm of forty acres, the old home place, situated in Orange township, which he disposed of at the time of retirement from active life. He is a son of John Robert and Sallie Ann (McCloskey) Kiggins. John Robert Kiggins was born in Miami county, O., and was a son of Robert Kiggins, who was a native of Ireland. After marriage John Robert Kiggins came to Orange township. and settled on the above mentioned farm and continued to reside there until his death in 1898.
     John C. F. Kiggins was reared on the home farm and spent forty-nine years there, all his life practically until 1905, with the exception of five years following his marriage, when he rented land. When he contracted to purchase the homestead he had no capital, but afterward he developed a large amount, of business sagacity which not only enabled him to honestly clear off this indebtedness but also to make other wise investments. At one time he owned a farm of seventy-two acres, situated in Logan county, which property he sold one year later to great advantage. Another farm of eighty acres, located in Jackson township, near Jackson Center, he owned for three years and then sold at a much higher price than he had paid, the difference being between $85 and $117 per acre. Mr. Kiggins then went on a prospecting tour to Houston, Tex., and in that vicinity bought 320 acres, paying $38 per acre, which he held for an advance in price, and recently sold one-half of the tract for $45 per acre, still retaining the rest of the land. Still later he purchased twenty acres, for a town site, paying $250 an acre, and this valuable property he still holds. When he decided to retire and move to Sidney, he bought his fine residence on South Miami avenue and began to consider propositions for the sale of his homestead, on which he had made excellent improvements. When he finally disposed of the forty acres he received what was regarded as a record price, $150 an acre. That the land is worth that and still more has been evidenced by a still later change of owners, ,the last pur­chaser paying $175 per acre, this giving a pretty fair idea of the general value of Shelby county farm land when it has been properly developed.
     In the fall of 1884, Mr. Kiggins was married to Miss Laura Ella Cozier, who was born at Piqua, O., a daughter of Theodore Cozier. Mr. Cozier and family lived at Piqua until Mrs. Kiggins was sixteen years of: age, when he traded his city property for a farm in Green township, Shelby county. Mr. and Mrs. Kiggins are members of the First Baptist church at Sidney, in which he is a deacon. He has been identified with the order of Odd Fellows-for many years.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page 479
  WILBER E. KILBORN, one of the representative and substantial business men of Sidney, O., treasurer and general manager of the American Steel Scraper Company, an important enterprise of this city, was born near Benson, Vt., a son of Edson S. and Martha J. (Wright) Kilborn.
     The parents of Mr. Kilborn came to Shelby county when the latter was eight years old, and later moved to a farm west of Lincoln, Neb. The father engaged in farming and there both parents died and three children survive: Wilber E.; Mrs. Lydia Funk, residing at Milford, Neb.; and Henry S., a farmer in Hamilton county, Neb.
     Wilber. E. Kilborn attended the public schools at Sidney, and afterward, for several years, taught school. In 1875 he became cashier of the Citizens Bank and continued until 1881, when he left in order to become manager of the American Steel Scraper Company, of Sidney, and ever since has remained interested in the same business way, a reliable, honorable, conservative factor in the city's life.
     Mr. Kilborn married Miss Anna Hendershott, a daughter of George W. Hendershott, an old resident of Sidney, and they have two surviving children: Helen M., who is the wife of Joseph Hagan, of Toledo; O.; and Ruth, who is a student at Smith College, Northampton, Mass. Mr. Kilborn and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal, church. In his political views he is a republican, and he is an active member of the Commercial Club. In 1912 he .erected his handsome residence on North Ohio avenue.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page 425
  JOSEPH OSCAR KING, one of the busy and successful general farm­ers of Clinton township, Shelby county, O., who operates his mother's farm of ninety-four acres, was born in this township, January 4, 1875, an<i is a son of David M. and Leah (Kauffman) King.
     David M. King was born in Miffiin county, Pa., and came to Ohio when a young man. Here he followed farming all his life dying September 21, 1911, and was. a well known and highly respected man, a leading member of the Brethren church. He married Leah Kauffman, who was born also in Miffiin county, Pa., and still resides on her farm in Clinton township. To David M. King and wife the following children were born: Alice K., who is the widow of Nicholas Kauffman; Rebecca, who is the wife of George Davis: Sadie, who is the wife of Walter Parcher; Joseph Oscar; Ida, who is the wife of Harry Tennery: and .Amanda, who is the wife of Charles Miltenberger.
     Joseph Oscar King obtained a common school education and since put­ting aside his books has devoted himself exclusively to farming and stock raising. The home farm is a valuable property and under his excellent management is very productive. He takes a good citizen's interest in public mat­ters, votes, the republican ticket and at present is a school director.
     In 1898 Mr. King was married to Miss Dora Theuer, a daughter of Martin and Anna Theurer.  Mrs. Theurer was previously married but her three children, Henry, Charles, and Dora, were born to her second union. Mr. and Mrs. King have two children: Helen and Melvin. The family, including the beloved mother, belong to the Brethren church.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913
  CHRISTIAN KIRSCH, postmaster at Fort Loramie, O., is a representative citizen of this town, of which he has been a resident for forty-two consecutive years. He was born at Troy, in Concord township, Miami county, O., May 1, 1848, and is a son of John and Christina Kirsch.
     John Kirsch was born in Hessen, Germany, while his wife was a native of Hanover. About 1855 they moved from Miami county, O., where they had first settled after coming from Germany, and afterward lived in McLean township until their death, when aged respectively seventy and seventy-six years. They were faithful members of St. Michael's Catholic church and were buried in the cemetery adjoining the same. They were well known and highly respected people!
     During boyhood Christian Kirsch attended school when his father could spare him and then learned the carpenter trade, beginning work in 1867 and continuing busy at his trade for forty-two years, coming to Fort Loramie in 1876, where he served as the first town marshal. He has been active in democratic politics and for sixteen years served uninterruptedly as a trustee of McLean township and many times has served usefully and discreetly as a member of the town council. It is through the efforts of such men as Mr. Kirsch that communities prosper for they take an interest in the progress of the town and are the agitators who bring about many useful improvements. For twenty-nine years Mr. Kirsch has been a member of the volunteer fire company and one of its early organizers. As postmaster Mr. Kirsch has served acceptably since his appointment September 6, 1907, this being a fourth class office, with one rural, delivery route.
     Mr. Kirsch was married to Miss Rachel Meyers, who was born at Fort Loramie, O, and is a daughter of Lucas and Otilda Meyers, both of whom are deceased. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kirsch, four of whom died in infancy. The survivors are: Bernard, who resides at Hamilton, O.; Albert, who resides at Dayton, O.; Adaline, who lives at Minster, in Auglaize county, O.; Anna, who is her father's capable assistant in the post office at Fort Loramie; Christian, who is a resident of Troy, O.; and Carl, who lives at Hamilton, O. Mr. Kirsch and family are members of St. Michael's Catholic church.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913
ELMER D. KISER, who is serving Shelby County most efficiently in the office of county treasurer, is one of the representatives citizens of Sidney.  He was born on the home farm in Miami county, O., not far from Fletcher, May 8, 1868, and is a son of B. L. and Mary Ann Kiser.
    
For many years B. L. Kiser was a farmer in Miami county and his death occurred just prior to his son's removal to Sidney, his decease being induced to some degree from the ravages of disease contracted while he was loyally serving as a soldier during the Civil war.  He enlisted in 1861 in Company E, Seventy-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served out his first enlistment, then reenlisted and continued until the close of the war, in the meanwhile taking part in all the important battles in the western army.  His family taking part in all the important battles in the western army.  His family consisted of three sons and one daughter:  Elmer D.; F. D., who is a practicing physician at Casstown, O.; I. C., for a number of years a physician at Fletcher, in November, 1912, was elected to the Ohio State Senate; and Minnie, who is a resident of Piqua.
     Elmer D. Kiser had only common school advantages in his youth.  For some years his father was in an invalided condition, and, as he was the eldest son, many responsibilities early fell on his shoulders.  Later on the other two younger brothers were sent to college and both became physicians.  Elmer D. Kiser, however, did not profit in this way.  His inclinations were directed by a very practical mind and after coming to Sidney, in 1895, he sought a business opening and after working in one of the manufacturing plants for a short time, opened a butcher shop and continued a dealer in meats until his election to his present responsible office, in the fall of 1910, to which, in November, 1912, he was reelected by the largest vote received by any candidate in Shelby county.  Mr. Kiser is a prominent factor in the democratic party in this section of the state.  He has long been recognized as an upright citizen and public approval ha been given of his management of the county finances.  To the management of public matters he has applied the sound business principles that he has found secures the best results in his own affairs.
     Mr. Kiser was married in 1888, to Miss Lulu D. Bird, a daughter of S. R. and Celina J. Bird.  Mrs. Kiser was born and reared on a farm in Green township, Shelby county, but her parents moved to Sidney in 1894 and here her father died in the following year.  Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kiser: Dale, who died at the age of sixteen years; John B., who continues his father's meat market at Sidney; and Hilda L., who lives at home.  Mr. Kiser is well known and valued in fraternal circles, having membership with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, lower branch and Encampment, the Knights of Pythias and the Red Men.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page 795
  JOHN M. KLASE*, one of the well-known and busy men of Loramie township, Shelby County, O., who not only carries on farming but also is in the general contracting line, was born in Darke county, O., May 23, 1864, and was reared and educated there.
     John M. Klase continued to live in his native county until he was twenty six years old, when he married and came to Shelby county and settled on his present finely improved farm of eighty acres and with the exception of one year passed at Versailles, O., when he conducted a butcher shop, he has resided here.  This land is particularly well adapted to raising stock and Mr. Klase pays considerable attention to that profitable industry.  He is a general contractor in brick and cement work and in this line does a very considerable amount of business annually.  He takes only a good citizen's interest in politics, keeping thoroughly posted but not desiring office for himself, and always votes the democratic ticket.  His farm is easily reached on account of its favorable location, lying three miles southwest of Houston.
     Mr. Klase married Miss Lizzie A. Johnston, who was born and reared in Loramie township, and they have four children: James, Joseph, Leonard and Mary.  Mrs. Klase belongs to the Odd Fellow's lodge at Greenville and to the encampment at Sidney, O.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page 835
  WILLIAM KLIPSTINE, a representative business man of Sidney, O., a dealer in lumber, coal and building materials, with office and yards on South Walnut street, has been a resident of this city for more than ten years, but his birth took place in Darke county, O., March 13, 1867, and he is a son of William and Louisa Klipstine, both of whom were born in Germany.
     The Klipstine family was founded in America by William Klipstine, the grandfather, who came to Ohio and purchased a farm in Darke county when his son William was a child. The maternal grandfather, William Haack, also came from Germany and purchased land in Darke county, and on the above farms the parents of William Klipstine, of Sidney, were reared, together attended the district schools and subsequently married. They reared a family of three sons and one daughter and both are now deceased, the father passing away in 1894, when aged sixty-seven years. The mother survived until the fall of 1909, her age being seventy-eight years. Their children were: Louis, who is connected with the Peoples Bank at Versailles, O.; Caroline, who is the wife of George H. Worch; of Versailles; William; and Amos, who is a farmer residing on the old homestead near Versailles.
     William Klipstine attended the public schools in the vicinity of his father's farm and later the Versailles high school, and remained engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1889, when he went to Quincy, Logan county, O., where he engaged in the lumber business until 1901, when he came to Sidney as manager of the lumber business of his brother-in-law,  George H. Worch, which business he subsequently purchased.  Mr. Klipstine operates a planing mill and deals in all kinds and grades of merchantable lumber and builders' supplies, including hardware, paints and wire fencing, and has a commodious and expensive plant, in 1909 erecting his mill, office and storage room. Constant employment is afforded for from ten to twelve men and title business may be included with the very prosperous ones of the city.
     In 1889 Mr. Klipstine was married to Miss Mary Grove, a daughter of Hiram Grove, of Perry county, O., and they have a happy family of six children, evenly divided, as follows:. Roy, Charles, Ruth, Caroline, William and Mary. The eldest daughter possesses great artistic talent and it is being cultivated at Roanoke College, Roanoke, Va. Mr. Klipstine and family belong to St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, at Sidney. Fraternally he is identified with the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a democrat and has served two terms as a member of the city council, during which period his sound business judgment frequently assisted in the solving of civic problems of importance.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913
  L. L. KNOOP, whose well improved farm of seventy-one acres, which he purchased and improved himself, is situated six miles southeast of Sidney, O., has spent the larger part of his life in this part of Shelby county. He was born in Orange township, three-fourths of a mile north of his own farm in Green township, in August, 1871, and is a son of John and Margaret (Martin) Knoop.
     John Knoop is a highly respected retired citizen of Shelby county. He was born in Miami county, O., and at the age of seventeen years enlisted in the Civil war, and saw much hard service during the following two-years as a member of the 110th O. Vol. Inf., including imprisonment in Libby prison. After his release he continued in the service as a teamster. When his term of enlistment was over he returned to Miami county and there engaged in farming until his marriage to Margaret Martin, when he came to Shelby county and located on the old Martin farm of forty acres. He also engaged in carpenter work and became well known all through this section. In 1909 he removed from the house he had occupied for so many years, to another house on the same farm and now lives in comfortable, retirement and is the owner of 203 1-3 acres of land, which his sons operate. Mrs. Knoop passed away March 30, 1889, survived by five children, namely: Samuel, who lives one mile above Port Jefferson; L. L., who lives on his farm six miles southeast of Sidney, O.; John W., who lives east of Sidney; William, who is located on the homestead; and Mrs. Dora Leckey, who resides north of Plattsville.
     L. L. Knoop attended school in Orange township and afterward worked on the home farm until his marriage, when he came to his present property, where general farming and stock raising have been carried on ever since. He has improved the property with modern and substantial buildings and has all his surroundings comfortable and attractive.
     Mr. Knoop was married January 11, 1894, to Miss Viola Hunt, daughter. of P. R. Hunt, of Green township, near Plattsville, and they have two children: Bertha May and Harley Thomas. Mr. Knoop has served two terms as a trustee of Green township, elected on the Republican ticket, and is recognized as one of the solid and reliable citizens of this community. He is serving as a member of the county fair board and takes a hearty interest in every public movement to advance the interests of this section. Fraternally, Mr. Knoop is a Mason, a Knight of the Golden Eagles and an Odd Fellow, in the last named organization belonging to both the Encampment and the subordinate branch.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913
  JOHN C. KOENIG, whose business interests are largely centered at Botkins, O., where he is in the hardware line, being the senior member of the firm of Koenig Bros., proprietors of the Botkins Hardware Company, was born on a farm in Auglaize county, O., one and one-half miles north of Botkins, Sept. 19, 1880.  His parents are John H. and Margaret Koenig, who are well-known and highly esteemed residents of Botkins.
     John C. Koenig was reared on the home farm and attended the country schools.  His first business experience away from home was as a traveling salesman for the international Harvester Company, of Fort Wayne, with which corporation he continued for two years, when he came to Botkins to make a permanent business establishment, in which commendable undertaking he was associated with his brother, Michael Koenig, and they, under the firm style of Koenig Bros., bought the hardware business then conducted by Jacob Paul.  For the past seven years they have operated their present store, enlarging their stock as demand has arisen and probably  have one of the largest and best equipped stores in the general hardware line, in this part of Shelby county.  John C. Koenig is a member of the Catholic church and is identified with the Knights of Columbus at Sidney.  Mr. Koenig is unmarried.
Source: History of Shelby County, Ohio and representative citizens - Evansville, Ind. - 1913 - Page 649

 

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