In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912)
J. H. KIESS,* who has lived on his present farm of 160 acres, situated in Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., for 42 years, has owned this land for 36 of these, purchasing from Jonathan Heinlein, it then being called the old Burkhardt farm. Mr. Kiess was born in Lycoming county, Pa., a son of Jacob and Catherine (Roth) Kiess.
Christopher Kiess, the grandfather, was born in Germany and came from there in 1806 and settled in Lycoming county, Pa., where he was one of the early school teachers. In 1850 the family decided to come to Crawford county, O., and it required two weeks for the loaded farm wagons to make the long overland journey. They settled in Whetstone township and among the good citizens of this section the name is not an unusual one. The mother of J. H. Kiess died after coming to Crawford county, leaving two children: J. H. and Lydia, the latter of whom is now deceased and is survived by her husband, Lewis Cripes. Jacob Kiess married Catherine Delker for his second wife and they had the following children: Simeon, Joseph, Daniel, Samuel, W. C, Christiana and Mary Margaret.
J. H. Kiess had but meager school advantages in the English language but in Pennsylvania attended a German school. His help was needed by his father when he was yet young and he has devoted his whole business life to agricultural pursuits. He has enriched his land and carefully cultivated it and it gives bountiful returns, and his buildings are those that are found on the farms of substantial and self-respecting people, built and kept up not only for shelter but for comfortable living. Mr. Kiess makes no attempt to raise any great aiTiount of stock but always has enough for his own use.
In 1864, Mr. Kiess was married (first) to Miss Elizabeth Cook, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Kiess) Cook, and to this marriage the following children were born; Mary B., Franklin J., Ella Lucinda and Matilda, all of whom are deceased; Rebecca, who is the wife of J. P. Crawl; and Ida E., who is the wife of Samuel Keiser. Mr. Kiess was married second to Miss Rachel Cook, a daughter of George and Rebecca (Young) Cook, and they have had five children: Reuben, who is deceased; Wesley, who is a mail carrier; and Olen, Charles F and Bertha May. Mr. Kiess has frequently served in public office but it has not been any political reward as he votes independently. He has been very useful and progressive in relation to educational matters and has been equally concerned in giving the people good roads, for some years serving as road supervisor. With his family he attends the Evangelical church.
As printed in History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1912. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.