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.
Born 1880
From History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912)
VERNE E. KIESS,* who is one of the enterprising and successful agriculturists of Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., operating 200 acres of farming land belonging to his father, was born in Whetstone township, April 30, 1880, and is a son of Simeon and Catherine ( Kile) Kiess. The father was born in Pennsylvania and the mother in Ohio, and they now live retired at Pucyrus. Three of their children died in infancy and three survive: Sidney, llarvey and Verne E.
Until he was 19 years of age, Verne E. Kiess attended school every winter and a portion of the time the summer sessions as well, hut as he became strong enough his help was needed on the home farm, where ploughing, seeding, having and harvest taxed the endurance of his father and brothers, lie remained at home until his marriage, in 1904, and then took charge of the farm that he has been managing ever since. Like other members of his family he is a Democrat in politics hut has never been a seeker for office.
On Oct. 20, 1904, Mr. Kiess was married to Miss Rebecca Neff, who is a daughter of John and Emma ( McKinstry) Nell, farmers in Marion county, O. Mr. and Mrs. Neff had seven children: Rebecca, Kinsel, Lena, Laura, Paul, and two who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Kiess have two daughters: Marjorie, who was born Dec. 7, 1905; and Marion, who was born July 14, 1908. They attend 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.