BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Portage County, Ohio
Vol. 2
by Warner, Beers & Co.
1885
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Randolph Twp. -
JOHN A. KELLER, farmer, P. O. Randolph, was born in
Randolph Township, Portage Co., Ohio, July 14, 1846, son of Thomas (a
farmer and shoe-maker), and Paulina Keller, natives of Germany,
former born Sept. 4, 1821, latter born June 27, 1825. They arrived in this
county Oct. 25, 1845, where they have since remained. They had a family of
ten children. Our subject worked for his father till he was twenty-one
years of age, commencing the trade of painter in1859, and at this he worked
until three years ago, when he turned his attention to farming exclusively.
He was married, Dec. 26, 1871, to Susan Rupright, born in Stark County,
Ohio, Oct. 3, 1852, daughter of William and Mary Rupright, natives of
Pennsylvania, and who located in an early day in Stark County, Ohio, where they
have remained ever since. To this union have been born five children, four
now living; Cora L., born Nov. 22, 1873; Dela A., born Jan. 19,
1876; Mary A., born Jan. 21, 1879, and Eva Elizabeth, born Oct.
25, 1884, Gerty A., born Dec. 11, 1872, died Jan. 4, 1873. Mr.
Keller has met with good success in life, and owns about seventy-eight
acres, where he and his family reside. He is a member of the School Board,
and in 1882 was Supervisor. Our subject is a member of the Catholic
Church. His wife belongs to the German Lutheran denomination.
Source: History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner, Beers & Co. - 1885
- Page 796 |
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Atwater Twp. -
JOHN KENNEDY, section foreman
Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad, P. O. Atwater, was born in Tipperary, Ireland,
in 1819; son of John and Ann Kennedy. He crossed the ocean in 1851
and began the struggle of life, possessing a vigorous constitution, strong
ambition and an honest heart as his only capital. He made his way to the
"West" and worked for two months on the Akron branch of the Cleveland, Mt.
Vernon & Delaware Railroad. In 1852 he was appointed to his present
position, and has proved, by the careful application to business, one of the
best, as he is one of the oldest, men in the company's employ. He was
married first to Miss Mary A. Sebrell, who died in 1871, leaving four
children: Ellen, Ann, John and Patrick. He was married on
second occasion, to Mrs. Margret Coats, who died in Marcy, 1883.
Mr. Kenedy, who has ever been temperate and frugal in habits, in 1864, was
enabled to purchased his present farm, consisting of 128 acres of land.
Source: History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner, Beers & Co. - 1885
- Page 582 |
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Aurora Twp. -
ZENO KENT, farmer, P. O. Aurora,
was born on his present farm in Aurora Township, this county, Feb. 20, 1821, son
of Zeno and Emily (Granger) Kent, natives of Connecticut, who made a
permanent settlement in Aurora Township, this county, in 1810. They were
the parents of eight children, three of whom are now living: Julius, a
farmer in Chagrin Falls, Ohio; Zeno, and Delight, wife of Mr.
Gillman, of Iowa. Mr. Kent died Mar. 27, 1837, and his widow,
Feb., 1865. Our subject was reared on the farm, and received such an
education as could be obtained at the schools of Aurora and Ravenna in those
early days. In 1848 he was married to Miss Almira, daughter of
Thomas and Rebecca Gould,, who were natives of Vermont. Mrs. Kent
died Nov. 27, 1867, leaving six children: Helen H.; Leroy Zeno; Charles
E.; Emily D., wife of Arthur Stanton; Dora and Nora. Keno
Kent is one of the oldest living residents and natives of this township.
He has followed the occupation of a farmer during his life, and is now owner of
340 acres of good land, besides having given each of his sons a farm to start
then in life.
Source: History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner, Beers & Co. - 1885
- Page 597 |
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Atwater Twp. -
WILLIAM W. KETTRING, farmer, P.
O. Atwater, was born in Atwater Township, this county, in 1842; son of Jacob
and Rachel (Petrie) Kettring,, natives of Baden Germany, the former born in
November, 1815, the latter in 1822, the respective families immigrating to
America in 1831. They were the Parents of six sons: William W., George,
Joshua, Jacob, Caleb and Eli. Jacob Kettring, Sr. cleared forty
acres of land in Atwater Township, this county, where he engaged in farming till
his death. His widow, who survives him, is a resident of Atwater, this
county. Our subject was brought up on the farm, and has always followed
agricultural pursuits. In 1862 he joined the Union Army, enlisting in
Company C, One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving till the
close of the war. He participated in the battle of Stone River, siege of
Knoxville, the Georgia and Atlanta campaigns, Franklin, Ft. Fisher and Nashville
under Thomas, and received an honorable discharge as Corporal in July,
1865. Returning to peaceful pursuits he was married, in 1867, to Miss
Lucy A., daughter of Thomas Gilson, of Atwater Township, this county.
Six children were born to this union, all now living: Henry, Clara.
Source: History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner, Beers & Co. -
1885 - Page 583 |
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Brimfield Twp. -
HENRY KING, farmer and iron manufacturer, P. O. Kent, was
born in Franklin Township, this county, in June, 1833, son of Robert and
Rhoda (Bishop) King, who had a family of three children: Henry, Charles
and Helen A., wife of Henry Heyd. His paternal grandfather,
William King, a native of Hampden County, Mass., settled in Ravenna,
Portage Co., Ohio, in 1811. He was the owner of a large tract of land in
Charlestown Township, which he had purchased of the same parcels. He
returned to Ravenna in 1814, and engaged in hotel business up to 1839, and was
one of the best known landlords in this part of the State at that time. He
died in 1843, aged about sixty-five years. He had four children:
Robert, deceased; John B., deceased; Eli P., deceased, and
Mary, wife of Dr. A. Woodworth, now of St. Louis. Robert,
his eldest son, resided in Ravenna nearly all his life. He was a prominent
farmer and business man, and was at one time engaged in banking, dealing also in
live stock on an extensive scale. His wife was a daughter of Deacon
Bishop, of Blandford, Mass. Our subject was reared in Ravenna from
five years of age, and there received a liberal education for his day being
principally educated by Mr. Calhoun, a Yale graduate and relative of
John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina. In 1850 he was engaged in the
Civil Engineer Corps of the C. & P. R. R., with whom he remained one year, and
then was employed in the locomotive works at Cleveland for four years. He
was married Feb. 11, 1856, to Rebecca, daughter of Thomas and Sarah
(Antrim) Sharp, of Salem, Ohio. In 1855 Mr. King went to Salem,
Ohio, and embarked in the foundry and machine business there for fifteen years,
and during that time, in connection with Pittsburgh parties, was also engaged in
the manufacture of pig iron in Columbiana County, Ohio, and in Armstrong County,
Penn., in which he is still interested. He was a resident of Pittsburgh
for ten years, and in the fall of 1883 located in Brimfield Township, this
county, on the farm where he now resides. In politics Mr. King is a
Republican.
Source: History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner, Beers & Co. - 1885 -
Page 608 |
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Ravenna Twp. -
GEN. JOHN B. KING, (deceased), son of William King,
whose sketch appears above, was born in Blandford, Mass., Mar. 30, 1807, and was
about four years of age when his father settled in this county. During his
youth he attended the public schools of Ravenna and there laid the foundation of
a good education. Subsequently he took a classical course in the Western
Reserve College. He entertained a desire to become a lawyer, and for some
time he was engaged in the study of that profession at Ravenna, though never
admitted to the bar. When twenty-three years of age, Feb. 7, 1830, Mr.
King was married to Miss Caroline M. Selby, a native of Palmyra, N.
Y., and a daughter of Judge Ira Selby, from that State. Judge
Selby at this time kept the Globe Hotel at Ravenna, and as Gen. King
and his young wife's parents were both hotel-keepers, it was that business our
subject adopted, and he soon after became proprietor of the Exchange Hotel,
which he carried on for six and seven years. He then purchased a farm
adjoining the village of Ravenna and followed agricultural pursuits, buying and
selling stock in connection the remainder of his life. Gen. King
was a Democrat in politics, and he took an active part in all public affairs.
He served the township in some local offices, and was always an earnest advocate
and supporter of the educational interests of the county. In religious
convictions he was a Universalist, and he assisted largely in the
organization of the society in Ravenna, contributing liberally toward it, and
furnishing most of the timber used in erecting the present church building at
Ravenna. On the construction of the Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad he was
one of the incorporators, a large stockholder and a Director. In his
younger days he was an enthusiastic member of the State militia, serving in the
ranks, and rose subsequently through every official grade to that of
Major-General. During the civil war, at the time of Morgan's raid, he
organized a company of volunteers called the "Squirrel Hunters," which went to
Cincinnati, Ohio, but the emergency having passed over they were disbanded and
returned home. This company was made up of men of over forty-five years of
age, and each of them received a lithographed "Squirrel Hunter's" discharge,
embellished with the portrait and characteristic autograph of His Excellency,
Gov. Tod, one of which is now in possession of J. D. King His
first wife dying in 1852, Mr. King was married the second time,
Sept. 18, 1855, to Phebe Warner, daughter of Judge Jonathan Warner,
of Jefferson, Ashtabula County, who bore him one child - Flora L.
Gen. John B. King died Apr. 2, 1864, leaving seven children in all:
William L., Ira S., Joseph D., Henrietta L. (now Mrs. Clinton C.
Canfield, of Cleveland, Ohio), Frances B., John B. and Flora L.
The widow now resides in Cleveland.
Source: History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner, Beers & Co.
- 1885 - Page 834 |
Joseph D. King |
Ravenna Twp. -
CAPT. JOSEPH D. KING, a son of Gen. John B. King, was born Mar. 21, 1836,
at Ravenna, this county, and passed his youth on his father's farm adjoining
Ravenna, during which period he attended the village schools, graduating at the
Union Schools of that place. Subsequently he attended Tappan Seminary.
He read law in the office of John L. Ranney, intending to teach school at
intervals in order to obtain the money wherewithal to continue his studies, but
his health having failed he was obliged to discontinue his legal studies, and
shortly afterward made a visit South for his health, extending over a period of
eighteen months. Returning from Texas in June, the following September he
went to Vassalboro Township, Kennebec Co., Me., where, Sept. 19, 1860, he was
married to a former schoolmate at Tappan Seminary, Miss Lucy L., daughter
of Benjamin and Elizabeth Homans of that place, and returned with his
bride to Portage County. Two children were the result of this union:
Stephen G. O., born Dec. 26, 1867, and Frederick B., born Mar. 5,
1872. He engaged in farming near Campbellsport. The war breaking out
in 1861, our subject was among the first to offer his services in defense of the
Union, and organized a company of artillery, which was afterward consolidated
with Company I, First Regiment Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery, of which he was
elected First Lieutenant. They reported soon afterward for service at
Charleston, W. Va., on the Kanawha River. In June, 1862, he and his
cousin, William King, were taken prisoner by a detachment of Ashby's
Rebel cavalry. They were kept prisoners at Lynchburg, Staunton, Va.,
Salisbury, and from Salisbury were moved to Libby Prison, at which place they
were confined ten days, when they were fortunate in being paroled and thus
escaped the horrors of that prison. Mr. King was then ordered to
Columbus, Ohio, and was put in command of the paroled prisoners' camp, where he
remained until his resignation in November, 1862. He then returned home
and embarked in the milling business at Campbellsport, this county; also in
company with his brother built the Atlantic Mills at Ravenna, and was engaged in
this industry two years, since when he has given his entire attention to
farming. He owns 100 acres partly in the partly adjoining the village
corporation, where he resides. In politics Capt. King is
Democratic. He is a member of the Universalist Church.
Source: History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner, Beers & Co.
- 1885 - Page 835 |
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Ravenna Twp. -
PETER KING, grocer and provision dealer, Ravenna, was born
June 29, 1813, in County Clare, Ireland, where his parents, Michael and Ellen
King, resided until their death. Our subject there married, Feb. 15,
1835, Ellen Reidy. In 1848 he came to America to make preparations
for his family, then sent for them to join him fifteen months thereafter.
After spending some time in Chittenden County, Vt., they came to Earlville,
Ohio, in 1851, and finally located in Ravenna, Nov. 9, 1854. Here Mr.
King worked about seven years on the Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad, and
was about three years engaged in draying. He then established his present
business, which he has ever since carried on. Of the eleven children born
to Mr. and Mrs. King, two died in the mother country, and four in
America. Those now living are Mrs. Mary Carny, Mrs. Bridget Donahue,
Mrs. Ellen Gallagher, Mrs Maggie Hopper, and Elizabeth, a graduate of
St. Mary's Academy, Notre Dame, Ind., and who has been for several years
successfully engaged in teaching. Their son, Michael, was killed in
an explosion on the Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad, at Hanover, Ohio, Mar.
11,1862. He was an upright and promising young man, and left many friends.
Mr. King and his entire family are members of the Catholic Church, of
which he is one of the pillars, and was largely influential in establishing and
building it up at Ravenna.
Source: History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner, Beers & Co.
- 1885 - Page 836 |
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Ravenna Twp. -
WILLIAM KING (deceased). Among the early settlers,
and the first of this family who located in this county, was William King,
a native of the town of Blandford, Mass., of Irish descent. He moved with
his wife and two children, Robert and John B., and arrived in
Charlestown, Portage Co., Ohio, in 1811, where he located, bought a farm and
resided for several years. Subsequently he removed to Ravenna, and
commenced keeping the Exchange Hotel on the south side of the Square, east of
Court House (now used for business purposes). Afterward he kept hotel in
another building, and remained in that line of business until he retired from
active life. He died June 20, 1842, leaving a family of four children:
Robert, John B., Eli P., Mary A., now the wife of Dr. A. B. Woodworth,
of St. Louis, Mo. His widow, Betsey (Black) King, died in1853.
Mr. King was exceedingly energetic and pushing in business affairs, and left
a comfortable property.
Source:
History of Portage County, Ohio - Vol. 2 - by Warner, Beers & Co. - 1885 -
Page 834 |
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