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Biographies
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Source:
History of Darke County, Ohio
- Illustrated -
Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co.
1880.
< CLICK HERE to RETURN to
1880 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
< CLICK HERE to GO to LIST of
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES >
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Greenville Twp. -
J. C. KATZENBERGER, retired; P. O. Greenville; was born in
Baden, Germany, July 23, 1828; he received a good education in his
native country, and graduated from the College of Baden; he, with
his father and brothers, was in the revolution of 1848, after which
he came to America, landing in New York in 1850; in August of the
same year, he located in this township, and for two years was
engaged in farming; in 1852, he purchased an interest in the
Greenville Brewery; two years later, he purchased his partner's
interest, and successfully followed the above business until 1868,
at which date he disposed of his interest and purchased his present
place; he has 113 acres, located one mile from Greenville, under a
good state of cultivation; his brick bank barn was erected by him in
1873, at a cost of upward of $4,000, and is probably the best barn
in Darke Co. He is a strong Republican, and is the first
German ever nominated for office on the county ticket. On the
3d of September, 1854, he was united in marriage with Kate Ashman;
she was born in this township June 15, 1837; they have ten children
now living, viz.: Augustus H., born Aug. 18, 1856;
Ella J., Dec. 21, 1859; Anna C. Jan. 6, 1862; Leopold
H., Feb. 15, 1866; Albert R., Feb. 16, 1868; Louisa
M., Mar. 10, 1870; Joseph C., Aug. 10, 1872; Ona M.,
Jan. 18, 1875; Oscar S., Mar. 1877, and an infant born Mar.
6, 1879. Mrs. Katzenberger is a daughter of Peter
Ashman, who was one of the early pioneers of Darke Co.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 - Page 504 |
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Greenville Twp. -
GUSTAVUS A. KATZENBERGER, of the firm of Katzenberger Brothers, grocers, fishing
and hunting tackle a specialty, Greenville. The gentleman
whose name heads this sketch was born in Germany June 13, 1830, and
is a son of Joseph and Margaret Katzenberger, natives of the
same place; his father was born Aug. 27, 1788, and died Dec. 12,
1852; is mother was born in 1798, and departed this life in 1872.
Our subject emigrated to America in 1850, landing in New York, after
a tedious voyage of forty-seven days; he arrived in Greenville Aug.
24, 1850, and settled on a farm in Greenville Township, where he
remained for three yeas, when, tiring of rural pursuits, he engaged
with John Huffnagle as salesman, which position he held for
three months, when he embarked in business for himself July 27,
1853; in 1858, he visited his native place, and, after spending a
short time among relatives and friends, and looking over the scenes
of his youth, he departed for his adopted home Charles L.,
member of the above firm, was born in Germany Mar. 14, 1834; he
emigrated to America in 1854, and after a long and wearisome voyage
of sixty-three days, reached the docks of New York; upon landing, he
came directly to Greenville, where he was employed by his brother as
salesman till 1861; he then became a partner of his brother
Joseph and together did business for seven years, when he became
a partner with Andy Weinbreicht, in the grocery business,
which partnership existed three years; selling out, he entered into
a partnership with his brother Gustavus, which constitutes
the present firm. His marriage with Elizabeth Ashman
was celebrated in 1862, and to their union two children were given -
George and Mary; the latter is deceased; Mrs. K.
departed this life in 1868. Mr. K. has made three trips
to his native land - the first in 1857, the second in 18658, and the
third in 1877; thus he has crossed the ocean seven times.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 -
Page 504 |
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Washington Twp. -
ISAAC K. KAUCHER, farmer and stock-raiser,
Sec. 9; P. O. Hill Grove; was born in Patter's Township, Center Co.,
Pen., Sept. 17, 1805; went with his parents to Montgomery Co., Ohio,
in 1808; his father, Godfrey Kaucher, was born in Berks Co.,
Penn., Sept. 1, 1774, and married Christina Fay; she was born
in the same county Aug. 14, 1873; he died Nov. 13, 1850, and she
died Apr. 13, 1855; both are buried on the old homestead. The
family moved to Washington Township, Darke Co., in 1831; in his
early days, Godfrey Kaucher followed milling, but, after he
came here, farming. Isaac, the subject of this sketch,
obtained only three months' schooling in his youth, and then in a
German school; previous to 1830, be followed distilling; ever since,
has followed farming. He married Welshey Miller Dec.
30, 1835; she was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., Feb. 29, 1820; they
have five children, viz.: Margaret, born Oct. 23, 18936; she
married Alfred Bliccard; Elizabeth, Aug. 3, 1838;
Washington, Oct. 17, 1840; Sarah, Mar. 27, 1843; John,
July 14, 1845. John, the youngest, resides with his
parents, and married Sarah Emrich Sept. 6, 1868; she is
deceased, leaving two children - Cora and Isaac. Mr.
Kaucher owns 95 acres of land and a good home.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 - Page 755 |
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Washington Twp. -
MICHAEL KAUCHER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec.
9; P. O. Hill Grove; was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Aug. 13,
1813; has always followed farming; never attended any but a German
school; his father, Godfrey Kaucher, was born in Berks Co.,
Penn., Sept. 1, 1774, and married Christina Fay, who was born
in the same county, Aug. 14, 1773; they moved to Montgomery Co.,
Ohio, in 1808, and to Washington Township, Darke Co., in 1831; he
died Nov. 13, 1850, and she died Apr. 13, 1855; both are buried on
the old homestead in Sec. 9; they had nine children, viz., Jacob
(deceased), Hannah (deceased, Elizabeth (she
married William Oswald), Abraham, Isaac, Joseph,
Christina, Michael and Rebecca; the three last are living
on the old homestead. In his early days, Michael was
quite a hunter of wild game, which was very abundant; he has killed,
probably, fifty deer, and great numbers of wild turkeys and smaller
game; he owns the old homestead, 91 acres, and a good home.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago:
W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 - Page 756 |
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Greenville Twp. -
J. F. KAUFFMAN, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Greenville; born in
Cleveland, Ohio, Oct. 12, 1830. He was a son of John P.
Kauffman, who was born in Germany May 14, 1790, and emigrated to
America in 1830, and located in Cleveland; then to Columbus, and
from there to Warren and Greene Cos., and in 1863 or 1864, came to
Darke Co., and during the last three years of his life lived with
his son. He died Mar. 15, 1878. He was married in
Germany to Catherine M. Klineburgh. She was born Feb.
10, 1793; she died Mar. 12, 1859. The subject of this sketch
lived with his father until 21 years of age, when he commenced for
himself, and, in 1862, came to Darke Co. and purchased his present
place of 80 acres, where he has since lived. His marriage with
Rachel H. Stewart was celebrated Nov. 17, 1853. She
died Mar. 8, 1865. They had two children, Isaiah, born
Oct. 24, 1857, and died in infancy; Ida Bell, born Feb. 21,
1862, now living at home.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 -
Page 505 |
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Greenville Twp. -
CHARLES F. KEMPER, Catholic priest, Greenville; was born in
Prussia on the Rhine, July 6, 1851, and is a son of John and
Catherine Kemper, natives of the same place. His father
died in Germany, in 1856. His mother at present resides in
Dayton. Our subject attended school two years, in Bardstown,
Ky.; thence to the St. Mary's Seminary in Cincinnati, for some time;
thence to Einsbrook for three years; thence to Rome for one year,
where he finished his collegiate course, and returned to Cincinnati,
and was employed as teacher in the St. Mary's Seminary for two
years. He came to Greenville in August, 1877, and has charge
of the church here.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 505 |
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Twin Twp. -
HARRISON A. KEPNER, hardware and grocer,
Arcanum. The subject of this sketch was born in Perry Co.,
Penn., May 14, 1836; he was the son of a family of eleven children,
whose father, Jacob Kepner, was born in Juniata Co., Penn.,
July 21, 1806, and whose mother, Catharine (Kanawell) Kepner,
was born in Berks County, same State, Nov. 11, 1808. Having
resided in his native county in Berks County, same state, Nov. 11,
1808. Having resided in his native county until the age of 21,
he left the parental roof, and, wholly dependent upon his own until
the age of 21, he left the parental roof, and, wholly dependent upon
his own resources and energy, began the struggle of life.
Subsequently, he emigrated to Allen Co., Ohio, where he remained
about one year then finally settled in Darke Co. in the spring of
1858; on the 4th day of September in the following year, he married
Miss Sarah, daughter of George and Lydia Brumbaugh,
who were then old residents of the county; the fruits of this
marriage were four children, three of whom are now living, viz.:
Clara C., born in 1862; Harry V., born in 1867, and
Bertha N., ,born in 1877. Mr. Kepner's political
sympathies are with the Democratic party, and his influence has been
lent to the advancement of the principles which he advocates.
The party has recognized and reciprocated by bestowing upon him
various offices of trust and responsibility, which he has in every
case most creditably filled, and by his genial manners and
uprightness of character has won friends among all with whom he has
been brought in contact.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 - Page 652 |
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Greenville Twp. -
WILLIAM K. KERLIN, retired, Greenville; born
in Wayne Co., Ind., Mar. 2, 1832, and is a son of Elijah and
Malinda (Sands) Kerlin, both natives of Washington Co., East
Tenn.; they emigrated to Indiana and located in Wayne Co. in 1831;
Mrs. Kerlin died September, 1879. Mr. Kerlin now
resides in the same township where he located in 1831. They
raised a family of eleven children, eight now living. Our
subject, the second son, assisted his father in farming until he
attained his majority. Upon the 1st of December, 1853, was
united in marriage with Hannah B. Jeffries; she was born in
Wayne Co., Ind., Nov. 28, 1830. They were the parents of
eleven children, of whom ten now survive, viz., Anna E., Emma,
Oscar, Mary B., John D., William L., Edwin, Carrie, James and
Elijah. Mr. Kerlin continued farming in Wayne Co., Ind.,
until March, 1865, when he came to Harrison Township, Darke Co.,
continuing the same occupation until 1870, when he removed to
Greenville, where he has since lived; during his residence in
Harrison Township, he held the office of Justice of the Peace two
terms, and one term in Greenville; was Deputy County Treasurer from
1871 to 1875; was elected County Treasurer in 1874; re-elected in
1876, by a majority of upward of nine hundred, largely leading his
ticket; during his term of office he handled upward of $2,000,000 of
the public funds, and so satisfactory was his administration that
the press of both parties were unanimous in their approval of the
same. Mr. Kerlin is a strong leader of his
party, and has probably done as much or more in controlling the
political affairs of the past ten years, than any man in Darke Co.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 -
Page 505 |
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German Twp. -
GEORGE KESTER, farmer and wagon maker, P. O.
German. The subject of this memoir was born in Montgomery Co.,
Ohio, near Germantown, in 1809; he is of German descent and is the
son of George Kester, Sr., who was born in Pennsylvania in
1777, and emigrated to Ohio in the beginning of the present century.
The older Kester remembered having seen George Washington
at his father's private inn, in Pennsylvania. He celebrated
his marriage with Miss Julia Ann Wolfe, a relative of the
famous soldier, General James Wolfe. When he came to
Ohio, he settled in Montgomery Co., and he constituted one of its
early settlers; he served as a soldier in the war of 1812 for a
period of six months, and was at Ft. Greensville when the Wilson
children were murdered by the Indians; he in company with one or two
others gave the murderers chase; a favorite dog of Mr. Kester,
previously trained, leading them on their track; he would most
probably soon have overtaken the villians and brought them to
justice, but for the fear of the Captain of the garrison who ordered
them back to the fort. In February, 1837 he came to this
county and settled in German Township, on the southwest quarter of
Sec. 14, on a part of which a portion of Palestine has since been
built; in March, 1838, he met with a severe and what afterward,
through the negligence or rather ignorance of the attending
physician, proved a fatal accident; he was a great lover of the
chase, and, while out on a fox hunt with several more, he received a
kick from the horse of David Ketring, which completely
shattered the lower bone of his leg; from the effects of this he
died in the following May; his wife died, when our subject was about
8 years old, with a rose cancer on her face; she was a woman of more
than ordinary intelligence in her day, having received a fine German
education. Mr. and Mrs. Kester were the parents of
fourteen children. Our subject's early life did not differ
much from that of many other boys in the early period of the
settlement of this county; he remained at home till 16 years of age
devoting his time with his father on the farm; at this age, he
worked three months on the Miami Canal, which he then in the process
of construction, and th_ completion of which was looked to with
great anxiety, some believing that it would prove an invaluable
blessing to the country, and many others that it would prove equally
as great an injury; he was then apprenticed to the wagon-maker's
trade, and served a term of two and a half years; he then pursued
this occupation for several years as a journeyman, settling up on
his own responsibility, first at Sunbury, in 1833. May 10th,
1835, he was united in marriage with Miss Eve Frank, and on
the 20th of the same month he, accompanied by his wife, started to
this county to improve a piece of land which he had previously
entered; the journey was made by team and required two days; he
began at once to erect a log house, but before completing it the
privations necessarily connected with it proved too severe, and he
was prostrated with sickness; after he recovered, he returned to
Montgomery Co. with his team, after some household goods which he
could not bring on the first trip; while here, he was again
prostrated with sickness, and thus becoming somewhat discouraged
with his new home in Darke County, he was easily persuaded by his
friends to remain in his native place and resume his former
occupation; this he did till April, 1838, when he again moved to
German Township locating on the east half of his father's farm,
which he subsequently purchased for $2,000, the amount paid for the
whole quarter a few years previous by his father; at his father's
death he administered on the estate, and then made the purchase
above referred to; he remained on the farm till about nine years
ago, superintending it and at the same time carrying on his shop in
Palestine; he formerly dealt largely in fine blooded horses, his
opinion being regarded as that of an expert on such horses; about
nine years ago he moved to Palestine, where he still resides.
Mr. and Mrs. Kester are the parents of six children, three of
whom are deceased; Mrs. Kester died in 1855, lamented by all
who knew her; Mr. Kester gave his second daughter a
collegiate education, at Oxford, Ohio; she subsequently engaged in
teaching, and was united in marriage to Capt. Mikesell; two
children, a son and daughter, have been born to this union; the son
is married and had two children, one of whom has deceased; he is
much given to instrumental music, and is at present (1880) a member
of the "Palestine Brass Bank."
Source:
History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H.
Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 578 |
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Richland Twp. -
HENRY C. KESTER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec.
30; P. O. Beamsville; was born in Hesse Shaumburg, Germany, Oct. 12,
1826; his father, Henry F. Kester, was born in the same place
June 16, 1800, and married Justina Meyer; she was born
in 1802; his father and mother were Frederick and
Leonora (Meyer) Kester. Henry O, the
subject of this sketch, landed in New York July 6, 1852. and
arrived in Darke County July 14 following, with his parents; his
mother died Aug. 11, 1862, and his father is living with him on the
farm, where they moved in the fall of 1852 on the banks of
Stillwater Creek, near Beansville; in 1849. Henry C.
was drafted into the German army; he served three years, but was
granted a government passport to leave before his time expired; he
is Township Trustee, has been Supervisor, also School Director; he
had two sisters and one brother, viz. : Willmena, born Jan.
26, 1829; she married a Henry Kester; Caroline
married Louis Kuckenberg, and Ferdinand; the last two
are deceased. Henry C. married Christina W. C.
Schulte July 16, 1851; she was born in the same place as himself
Feb. 7, 1826. They have had eight children, viz.: Caroline W. C.,
born April 25, 1852. deceased; Charlotte, born Aug. 3, 1855;
Willmena. May 15, 1857; Christian H., Aug. 12,
1859; Henry F., Mar. 2, 1861; Fredrick C. L.,
Oct. 24, 1864; Harmon F., June 20, 1869, and a twin to
Charlotte died unnamed. He owns a fine farm of 180 acres, where
he resides.
Source:
History of Darke County, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H.
Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 746 |
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Greenville Twp. -
SOLOMON KESTER, merchant, Greenville.
Among the most enterprising merchants of Greenville, we take
pleasure in according the above gentleman a place in the front
ranks. He was born in German Township, Darke Co., Nov. 10,
1839, and is a son of George Kester, whose sketch also
appears in another part of this work. Our subject assisted his
father upon the farm until 16 years of age, when he began farming
for himself, and successfully followed the same until 1871, at which
date he embarked in the mercantile business in Palestine, continuing
the same successfully until February, 1880, when he located in the
city of Greenville, with one of the largest and best-selected stocks
of goods ever brought to this town. With the well-known
enterprise of Mr. Kester, his large stock, pleasing,
attentive and obliging clerks, we predict for the above firm the
largest annual sales of any firm in the dry-goods trade in Darke
Co.; he is now located in the store formerly occupied by Wilson &
Hart; a card of his business appears in the business directory
of Greenville, in another part of this work.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 -
Page 505 |
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Twin Twp. -
J. H. KRAUS, of the firm of Kraus & Clark,
Arcanum. The subject of this sketch was born in Butler Co.,
Ohio, in 1840, and is a son of Benjamin and Nancy Kraus, both
natives of Lancaster Co., Penn., and removed to New York State, in
1835, and to Butler Co., in1836, and to Montgomery Co., Ohio, in
1846, where they still continue to reside; they are the parents of
two children, viz.: Amanda C., now Mrs. D. H. Wilson,
who resides in Montgomery Co., Ohio, and J. H., the subject
of this sketch; his grandparents were natives of Pennsylvania; his
grandfather, Kraus, was born in 1778, and died at the age of
82 years; his grandmother, Kraus, was born in 1780, and died
at the age of 84 years; his grandparents on his mother's side were
Jacob and Elizabeth (Keeler) Shell, also natives of
Pennsylvania; Mr. Shell dying at the age of 77, and Mrs.
Shell at the advanced age of 80 years. Mr. Kraus
was engaged in the mercantile business for a period of five years,
and removed to Arcanum in October, 1870, and engaged in the business
he still continues to follow. He was united in marriage with
Miss C. E., daughter of Jacob and Nellie (Niswonger)
Swank June 22, 1871, her parents being residents of Montgomery
Co.,; two children have been given to this union, viz.: Harry B.,
born Aug. 10, 1876; Waldo J., born Apr. 2, 1879; he has, by
his own exertions and studious habits, succeeded in making himself
well versed in educational matters, and as a reward for his
persevering industry and popular business ways, has made life a
success, and is literally one of the self-made men of Darke Co.;
though Mr. Kraus is no political aspirant, his
fellow-townsmen have voted him a full share of local offices.
Mrs. Kraus has been a lifelong member of the U. B. Church,
and is a hard-working, consistent, Christian woman, and greatly
interested in the emulation of the Christian religion.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 - Page 652 |
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Monroe Twp. -
JOHN J. KUHNLE,
farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Gordon. The
subject of this memoir was born in Wittemburg, Germany, in 1821, and is the son of
Philip and Julia Kuhnle, natives of Germany; our subject
assisted his father in agricultural pursuits till he was 28 years of
age; in 1848, he emigrated to America; he came to Montgomery Co.,
Ohio, where he resided for sixteen years and engaged in farming,
then he came to Darke Co., where he purchased 80 acres of land in
1865; his land shows good cultivation, and his improvements are good
and substantial; in 1872, he purchased 50 acres adjoining his home
farm, and now owns 130 acres of valuable land. He was united
in marriage with Miss Mary, daughter of Mr.
Henkel, in 1851; five children have been given to his
union, viz: Elizabeth, born Mar. 31, 1852;
Caroline, Dec. 31, 1853; Eve, Aug. 29,
1857; Victoria, Mar. 5, 1864; William,
Oct. 8, 1868; Elizabeth was Apr. 1, 1872, to
Adam Kohns; Mrs. Kuhnle departed this life July 27,
1877, and her remained are interred in the Gordon Cemetery; she was
born Jan. 25, 1832.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880 -
Page 634 |
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Harrison Twp. -
THOMAS KYLE,
returned farmer; P. O. New Madison; was born Jan. 4, 1809, in Butler
Co., Ohio; remained with his parents until his marriage with
Eliza Harcrader, which occurred Oct. 5, 1835, after which he
removed to Preble Co., and purchased a farm, where he lived over
forty years, his wife's death occurring there Oct. 5, 1845; they
were the parents of six children, five of whom are now living, viz.:
Martha A., now Mrs. David McClure; Sara J., now
Mrs. William Brown, of Preble Co.; Eliza, now Mrs.
John K. McCabe; Maria, now Mrs. Shuman, of Kokomo, Ind.,
and Emeline, now Mrs. William Cheeseman of Butler Co.,
Ohio; the name of the deceased was Catharine. August
25, 1846, Mr. Kyle was married to Mrs. Maria (Hunter)
Williams; they are the parents of five children, three of whom
are living, viz: Margaret A., now Mrs. Henry Miller
and William J., both of Preble Co., and John F., of
Butler Township; the deceased are Elizabeth, Ellen and
Laura B. Mr. Kyle, now well along in years, has been an
active citizen and succeeded in accumulating considerable property,
and now owns, after helping his children liberally, 165 acres of
land in Butler Township, and 240 acres in Preble Co., all in a good
state of cultivation, also 249 acres in Cass Co., Mo., and the neat,
comfortable residence in New Madison, in which they expect to spend
the remainder of their days.
Source: History of Darke County, Ohio -
Illustrated - Publ. Chicago: W. H. Beers & Co., 1880. - Page 610 |
NOTES:
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