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, Whetstone township
From History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912)
WINFIELD S. KIESS, who, as his father's representative, successfully operates one of the large farms of Whetstone township, Crawford county, O., 390 acres of very valuable land, belongs to a well known and highly respected family of this section. He was born in Whetstone township, Oct. 12, 1880, and is a son of Joseph and Rebecca (Haldeman) Kiess.
Joseph Kiess came to Ohio from Lycoming county, Pa., and now lives retired at Bucyrus. He married Rebecca Haldeman, who was born at Galion, O., and died March 19, 1902. They had two children: Winfield S.; Viola, who married J. A. Shearer and has three children, namely: Catherine, Eveline, Joseph. The father of the above family has always given political support to the Democratic party. He is a member of the Evangelical church, to which his wife also belonged.
Winfield S. Kiess attended the public schools and afterward the Ohio Northern
University, at Ada, O. His business has been farming but during six winter terms he made use of his decided musical talent, being director of music during that time in the public schools of both Whetstone and Liberty townships. His present farm, known as the Joseph Kiess homestead, not only now engaged all his time and attention but makes it necessary for him to keep two hired farmers and also to utilize the services of a boy, all the year round. Mr. Kiess is very enterprising, keeps thoroughly posted as to crops, stock and other matters pertaining to his business, and is numbered with the most reliable farmers of this part of the county.
In October, 1904, Mr. Kiess was married to Miss Sadie Cook, a daughter of Philip and Rachel (Nefif) Cook, the latter of whom is deceased. Mr. Cook, who is a retired farmer now living at Bucyrus, married Mary Lust for his second wife, and three children were born to them; Minnie, Bessie and Ethel. To his first marriage the following children were born: Ella, wife of William Ronk; Sadie, wife of Winfield S. Kiess; Clara, wife of William Hosterman; Emma, wife of Clarence Kelly; and Frank. Mr. and Mrs. Kiess have two bright little ones, Leona and William. They attend the Evangelical church. Politically Mr. Kiess is a Democrat and fraternally he belongs to the Maccabees. Although his father still owns this farm, its entire management and direction is in the hands of Mr. Kiess.
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.