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BIOGRAPHIES
 Source:
History of Shelby County, Ohio
Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So.
1883
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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 |
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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 |
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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. |
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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 |
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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 |
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Cynthian Twp. -
DANIEL KILLIANSource: History of Shelby County,
Ohio - Publ. Philadelphia, PA: R. Sutton & So. - 1883 -
Page 276 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Perry Twp. -
ELISHA KISER. Peter 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 |
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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 |
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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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