The Kinley Family of Wyandot County, Ohio

FREDERICK KIN LEY was born in Baden, Germany, July 2, 1839. His parents were Frederick and Susan (Shonabarger) Kinley, also natives of Baden, and who emigrated to the United States in 1846, settling in this county, where the father died in 1875; the mother is still a resident of Upper Sandusky. Their children were Frederick, Mary, William, Henry J. Lewis, Caroline and John H. Frederick, our subject, resided with his parents until his twenty-first year; he then " worked out " two years, after which he engaged in the carpenter's trade, which he continued eighteen years. In 1863, he enlisted as an Ohio National Guard, and was called into service in 1864, being discharged in August of the same year. After buying and selling several different tracts, he established himself on his present farm of 120 acres in 1878, and has since devoted himself to agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. Mr. Kinley was married November 25, 1862, to Esther Ann Brauns,a native of this county. daughter of Abraham and Frances (Coon) Brauus. They have two children- William E. and Nora S.; and both are members of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Kinley is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and a Republican.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM KINLEY was born in Tymochtee Township February 28,

1848; he is a son of and Susanna (Sheneberger) Kinley, whose sketch appears in the Eden Township division of this work. Mr. Kinley was married, August 19, 1869, to Miss Laura A. Swinehart, a native of this township, daughter of Samuel P. and Jane (Milligan) Swinehart. Two children have blessed this union — Jerusha M. and Willard C. Mr. Kinley began housekeeping on moderate means; he rented land about seven years, and then (1876) purchased his father's homestead of forty acres (in Crane Township), which he sold in 1877; purchased forty acres in same township, and soon after sold out; purchased forty-seven acres in Tymochtee Township, and sold out in 1879, buying a farm of seventy acres in the same year. In 1882, he disposed of thirty acres to H. Griffith, leaving forty acres, which he values at 170 per acre; he has personal property to the amount of $1,500 to $2,000, all of which has been obtained by industry and economy; he has served his township in several offices, and is regarded as one of the reliable citizens of his community; he and Mrs. Kinley are members of the United Brethren Church, with which he is officially connected; he is also Superintendent of the Sabbath School.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Henry Kinley, a worthy native son of Wyandot county, is now serving as county commissioner. For more than four decades he has made his home on section 7, Crane township, and has won success as a farmer and stockman, owning two hundred and ninety-four acres of valuable land in Crane and Salem townships. His birth occurred in Tymochtee township, this county, on the 5th of December, 1849, his parents being Frederick and Susanna (Schoenberger) Kinley, both of whom were natives of Baden, Germany, the former born in 1809 and the latter in April, 1815. Frederick Kinley was one of the pioneer settlers of Crane township, Wyandot county, here buying land in 1846, that is now in possession of George Krebbs. During the remainder of his life he devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits in this county. His demise occurred on the lath of April, 1874, while his wife was called to her final rest on the 19th of September, 1906. Their children were as follows: Frederick, Mary, William, Henry, Louis C., Caroline, John H., and four who died in infancy.

Henry Kinley attended the district schools of Crane township until seventeen years of age and subsequently worked as a farm hand until 1872. In that year he took up his above on the farm which has remained his home continuously since or for more than four decades, his property now comprising two hundred and ninety-four acres of productive and valuable land in Crane and Salem townships. He raises hay, corn, oats and wheat, which he sells in the local market, and also makes a specialty of sheep, having one hundred ewes. His residence was destroyed by fire in 1885, and immediately thereafter he erected the handsome modern home which now adorns the place. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Upper Sandusky and has long been numbered among the prosperous and leading citizens of his native county.

On the 26th of March, 1871, in Crane township, Mr. Kinley was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. Tilton, a daughter of Green and Maria (Smith) Tilton of that township. The father was one of the earliest settlers of this county and became an extensive property owner here. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kinley have been born twelve children, as follows: Grant W., an agriculturist of Salem township, who wedded Miss Carrie Cope and has four children, Laird H., Gladys, Mary Evelyn and Zelma; Myrtie E., the wife of Marly Gibson, a farmer of Crane township, by whom she has four children, Inez E., Hazel, Robert and Herbert; Jay J., who wedded Miss Bertha Corb and is a mail carrier of Toledo, Ohio; Edward M., a farmer of Salem township, who married Miss Maggie Hentzel and has two children, Helen and Dorothy; Ada A.; Frederick E., an agriculturist of Crane township, who married Miss Cassie Wade and has one child, Harmon; Grover C., residing at Portsmouth, Ohio, and acting as surveyor of Scioto county, who married Miss Mabel Fritz and has one child, Imogene; Miner M., a farmer residing in Crane township, who wedded Miss Maggie Gibson and has one child, Kenneth; Inda; Bessie M. and Elva, both of whom are deceased; and one who died when young.

Mr. Kinley gives his political allegiance to the democracy and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to serve in several positions of public trust. He acted as trustee of Crane township for six years and has been a member of the school board for a period of nine years. In 1910 he was elected commissioner, making a creditable record in this connection. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Red Men and the Champion Grange.

While acquiring success in life he has also gained and retained the respect and honor of his fellowmen by his public service and private life, and all who know him feel honored by his friendship.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN H. KINLEY.

John H. Kinley, merchant and inventor, is one of the well known men in business circles of Upper Sandusky, where his name stands for progress, enterprise and strict business integrity. He has conducted a large hardware store since 1896

Voi. and his honorable methods and straightforward dealings have been rewarded by a steadily increasing success, which places him among the men of prominence and importance in the city. He is a native of Wyandot county, born in Tymochtee township, February 27, 1857, a son of George Frederick and Susanna (Soehunberger) Kinley, natives of Baden, Germany, the father born in 1814 and the mother in 1817. George F. Kinley came to the United States in 1846 and settled in Ohio, where he engaged in farming until his death on April 14, 1874. His wife survived him many years, dying on September 19, 1906. In their family were seven children. The eldest, Frederick, who passed away in 1909, engaged in farming. He married Hester A. Brown and they had two children, William E. and Nava N. William has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Laura Swinhart, who passed away in 1901. His second wife was a native of Indiana. He has three children. Henry is county commissioner of Crane township. He married Mary E. Tillen and has eight children. Mary became the wife of Frank Marks, formerly a contractor in Wichita, Kansas. He died in 1900, leaving four children. Louis married Ellen Yon Blon and after her death in 1886 wedded Amelia Weber. They reside in Upper Sandusky and are the parents of one child. Caroline married Levi Paulin, a carpenter in Santa Barbara, California. They have six children. John H. is the subject of this review and the youngest child in this family.

The last named attended district school in Tymochtee township and high school in Upper Sandusky. He supplemented this by a course in the normal school at Ada and by a few years’ attendance at Valparaiso College, after which he spent ten years teaching school. During the summers he worked at the carpenter’s trade but in 1886 secured a position as clerk in the hardware store conducted by J. A. Gottfried & Brother, and he there remained for ten years, learning the details of the business and becoming an expert in modern merchandising. In 1896 he established himself in business, purchasing a small hardware store in Upper Sandusky. His enterprise was destroyed by fire in 1909, but he immediately rebuilt and installed a new line of hardware and queensware. Mr. Kinley has here a complete, modern and up-to-date establishment, one hundred and sixty-four feet long and three stories high. His stock is well selected and his business methods are above reproach. He has patented some very ingenious appliances, known as the Kinley scoop flue stop and the Kinley victor flue stop, which he manufactures and jobs to the wholesale trade all over the United States, his profits from the sales of his inventions being a valuable addition to his income. Mr. Kinley is known in Upper Sandusky as a reliable, efficient and far-sighted business man, and these qualities have secured for him a gratifying patronage and made his name an important one in business circles.

On the 12th of May, 1881, Mr. Kinley married, at Upper Sandusky, Miss Caroline F. Stecher, a daughter of George J. and Christina (Mollenberger) Stecher, the former a gardener in Upper Sandusky. Mr. and Mrs. Kinley became the parents of five children. Harry E. is clerking in his father’s store in Upper Sandusky. He married Miss Abbie L. Lowery, daughter of W. J. Lowery. The others are George F., J. Avery, Villa C. and Everet R. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Kinley ’s fraternal connections are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Royal Arcanum and the Rebekahs. He is a stanch republican in his political beliefs and has served as councilman for the third ward, his service being distinguished by straightforward and conscientious work in the city’s interests. From 1880 to 1884 he was a member of the Kirby Light Guards. He is one of the active and progressive merchants of Upper Sandusky — a man of good business capacity and enterprise and of unquestioned integrity, enjoying in an unusual degree the confidence and good will of the community.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.