In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. A few names of people born after 1905 are withheld for privacy. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1868, Whetstone township
From History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912)
SIDNEY ELLSWORTH KIESS, a general farmer who has been very successful in his agricultural operations, resides on his own farm of eighty acres and is interested with his father in 160 acres, both properties lying in Whetstone township, Crawford county, O. He was born in Whetstone township, July 25, 1868, and is a son of Simeon and Catherine (Kile) Kiess.
Simeon Kiess was born in Lycoming county, Pa., a son of Jacob and Catherine Kiess, of German extraction, and for many years was a farmer in Whetstone township and now lives retired at Bucyrus. He is a Democrat in his political views and both he and wife are members of the Evangelical church. He married Catherine Kile, who was born in Whetstone township, a daughter of Tobias and Catherine Kile, and they have three children: Sidney E.; Harvey E., who is cashier of the Farmers and Citizens Bank, Bucyrus; and Verne E., who is a farmer in Whetstone township.
Sidney E. Kiess attended the public schools and assisted his father on the home farm until he was 22 years of age and afterward engaged in farming for himself. In 1900, in partnership with his father, he bought 160 acres of the old Elias Lavely farm and in the spring of 191 1, purchased the remaining eighty acres. This is considered a fine property, the land being well situated for both farming and stock raising and improved with substantial buildings including two houses and two barns. Mr. Kiess is an intelligent and progressive farmer, a member of the local Grange, and he is also one of the leading Democrats of the township and served for seven years as township trustee. On Jan. 29, 1891, Mr. Kiess was married to Miss Amanda M. Cook, a daughter of Fred and Rosanna (Wagner) Cook. They were both born in Lycoming county. Pa., their parents being George and Margaret Cook and John and Catherine Wagner, and they now live retired at Bucyrus and are members of the Evangelical church. They have three children: Mrs. Kiess; Harvey W., who is a farmer in Whetstone township; and Earl E., who is assistant cashier of the Second National Bank at Bucyrus. Mr. and Mrs. Kiess have two interesting children, a son and daughter, Harold Raymond, who was born Nov. 29, 1901, and [name withheld], who was born June 13, 1910. They attend the Evangelical church. Mr. Kiess is one of the township's substantial as well as reliable citizens and is a stockholder in the Farmers and Citizens Bank at Bucyrus.
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.
Named in this biography: Elias Lavely (b. 1823)
The printed record stops around 1912. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.