John H. Kinley

As printed in 1913

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 Past and present of Wyandot County, Ohio; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement; (1913). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.