William A. Kills

As printed in 1881

WILLIAM A. KILLS, Sz; a resident of Springfield. On the 15th day of October, 1824, Jacob W. Kills (the father of our subject) and family came into Clark County. The father just mentioned was a native of Hunnelstown, Penn., born Dec. 22, 1788. He was married to Mrs. Rebecca S. Davis (whose maiden name was Carter, Aug. 11, 1807, who was also a native of Pennsylvania, born in the year 1777. To this union were born William A., Mar, J noe Rebecca S., ae Susan O. The father was a paper manufacturer, which business he immediately connected himself with on his arrival in this county, as aforesaid. He joined David James and Lowry under the firmname of James Lowry & Co., in the manufacturing of that article in mills located in the vicinity of Donnelsville. In 1828, there was a change in the firm, it becoming J. W. Kills, Dr. A. Blunt & James Lowry, which firm left the old mill and built à mill in Springfield the same year (1828) continuing in the same business. Our subject was born at Ingham's Mill, Pennsylvania, Sept. 11, 1808. His youth was passed in and about the mill with his father. He received a fair common-school education which was obtained mostly in the school of Clark County, in the vicinity of the old mill In the year 1837 he was taken into the firm, which finally become “Jacob W. Kills & Son.” The mill was operated by them until the outbreak of the late civil war in 1861, when they succumbed to the pressure thereby brought about. The father died in the spring of 1868, one of Springfield’s early enterprising manufacturers. The mother died the summer “previous, Our subject in 1861 after “the downfall” entered the Lagonda Agricultural shops, where he has ever since been employed. He was united in marriage with Miss Charlotte Hawkins, a native of Yorkshire, England, daughter of James Hawkins, Oct. 29, 1830, by Rev. Saul Henkle. The union was blessed with the following children: Sarah A., John, William, James, Jacob (the latter fell in defense of his country in the war of the rebellion). In politics Mr. Kills is a staunch Republican, having been identified with that party since its organization. He is a man of very fine physique, being scant six feet in height, and weighing 180 pounds, masculine in the extreme, well developed and finely proportioned, and of a very jovial nature.

As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.