Knox County ILGenWeb

From the 1878 History of Knox County, Illinois published by Charles C. Chapman.  [Submitted by Joan Achille.]

JAMES WESLEY KAYS.  A farmer, he is the son of William and Elizabeth (Bracken) Kays of Kentucky.  He was born Nov. 17, 1831, in Indiana.  His early life was spent on the farm and his education was obtained in the district school.  He came to Abingdon, IL in 1834.  He enlisted in the Union Army in Oct. 1861, private, and remained until the close of the way.  He was promoted to Captain on Aug. 14, 1864, when he went home on a furlough.  He married Sabina Reed [the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists a James W. Keys marrying a Sebina High in Knox County on August 14, 1864] by whom he has one son and one daughter.  He has been a member of the Protestant Methodist church since 1865.  P.O., Abingdon.

From the 1886 Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago.  [Submitted by Bob Miller.]

DAVID T. KENNEDY.  Page 696.

From the 1878 History of Knox County, Illinois published by Charles C. Chapman.  [Submitted by Joan Achille.]

George W. KENNEDY.  Farmer, P.O. Douglas; son of George and Nancy Kennedy, natives of Tennessee; born in 1833 in Indiana.  His early life passed on the farm; removed from Tennessee to Illinois, coming to Knox Co, IL, in 1844.  Has been School Director six years.  In 1857, he married Elisia Darnell.  He made a profession of religion in 1865 or '66.  Democrat.

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From the 1886 Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago.  [Submitted by Bob Miller.]

George W. KENNEDY.  Pages 395 396 and 349.

From the 1886 Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago.  [Submitted by Bob Miller.]

JOHN T. KENNEDY.  Pages 956 and 957.

[Submitted by great granddaughter Jean Kennedy Berchtold.]

Matthew George Kennedy.  Born 7/12/1844 in Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland.  Parents were Thomas & Mary Kennedy.  Spouse was Virginia Catherine Jacobs.

From the 1883 History of Greene County, Missouri.    [Contributed by Todd Walter.]

THOMAS W. KERSEY.  Mr. Kersey is the son of Benjamin and Amanda (Van Gilder) Kersey, and was born in Knox county, Illinois, June 28, 1851.  He was educated at the State Normal University, and at Eureka College.  He entered the law office of F. A. Willoughby, at Galesburg, Ill., and next in the office of Robert Dollard, at Yates City, Ill.  He was admitted to the bar September 10, 1874, at Ottawa, Ill., before the Supreme Court.  In November, 1874, he came to Springfield, Mo., and is now of the firm of Kersey & Price, attorneys.  He was married April 25, 1876, to Miss Lizzie Powell, daughter of A. A. Powell, of Springfield.  Their union has been blest with three daughters.  Mr. Kersey is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and his wife are members of the Calvary Presbyterian church.  His parents are living in Springfield.  They had but two children.  The firm of Kersey & Price enjoy a good practice and deserve the confidence they receive.

From the 1878 History of Knox County, Illinois published by Charles C. Chapman.  [Submitted by Joan Achille.]

Andrew Jackson Kightlinger, farmer, son of Jacob and Maria Kightlinger of Pennsylvania; was born in this county, Dec. 29, 1845; spent his early life on farm, and at country schools; was married to Anna Shelton Feb. 11, 1875; one child, Floyd, has blessed the union.  Democrat.  P.O., Yates City.

From the 1878 History of Knox County, Illinois published by Charles C. Chapman.  [Submitted by Joan Achille.]

Jacob Kightlinger, one of the old settlers of Knox, was born Nov.15, 1800; came to the county in 1837, settling in Elba Township, where he lived for many years, being a live, enterprising citizen.  He then moved to Yates City, where he now lives.  Respected by all.

From the 1878 History of Knox County, Illinois published by Charles C. Chapman.  [Submitted by Joan Achille.]

L. C. Kightlinger, farmer; P.O., Yates City; is a son of Jacob and Maria Ann Kightlinger, natives of Pennsylvania.  L. C. was born in Knox co., in 1849; was raised on farm, and has continued the business with success; he attended the common schools; was married in 1873 to Miss Laura E. Hurlbutt.

From the 1886 Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago.  [Submitted by Todd Walter.]

R. M. KIMBER, conductor of the C. B.& Q. R.R., resident of Galesburg, was born in Portage County, Wis., Aug. 24, 1851.  His father, Frederick F. Kimber, is a native of England, and his mother, whose maiden name was Clarke, was born in the State of Ohio.  They reared two sons, the subject of this sketch being the eldest.  He spent twenty years upon a farm in Lake County, Ill., whither his parents removed from the Badger State in 1853.  The common schools of Illinois afforded our subject opportunity for a fair education, and in 1875 he began work for the "Q" as train brakeman.  At the end of 23 months the company placed him in charge of a train as conductor, and here he has since been found.  He was married at Clayton, this State, May 15, 1876, to Miss Emma Thompson [the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists a Richard M. Kimber marrying a Emma A. Thompson in Adams County on May 15, 1877]; the one child born to them is named Harry Francis.  Mr. Kimber is one of the most popular members of the Order of Railway Conductors, as he is also of the I.O.O.F.

From the 1912 History of Knox County Illinois published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, page 578.  [Contributed by Pat Thomas.]

Ambrose L. King.  One of Knox county's patriotic citizens who donned the blue and went to the front during those troublesome days in the '60's is Ambrose L. King.  He is now and has been for a long period engaged in general farming and stock-raising in Victoria township, where he has resided for fifty-eight years.  His birth occurred in Wyandotte county, Ohio, on the 27th of December, 1843, his parents being Ambrose and Harriet (Porter) King.  The father was born in the state of New York, in 1798, and there he was reared and educated.  In his early manhood he went to Pennsylvania, locating in the vicinity of Erie, where he met the lady who later became his wife.  During the early years of their domestic life they removed to Ohio, residing there until 1853.  In the latter year they crossed the prairies of Indiana to Illinois, settling in Victoria township, a mile east of our subject's farm, where the father acquired six hundred and forty acres of land.  Here closed his active and useful life in its eightieth year, while the mother was only sixty-six years of age at the time of her death.  They were both members of the Seventh Day Adventist church and he was a stanch advocate of the political principles of the republican party, but never held an office.  The family of Mr. and Mrs. King numbered six, as follows: Nelson; Herman; Homer; Ambrose, our subject; Sarah and Corwin.

Ambrose L. King was only a lad of ten years when he removed with his parents to Knox county, where he was reared to manhood, completing his education in the common schools of Victoria township.  He had early been impressed with a fine appreciation of patriotic duties and responsibilities toward one's country, so when the nation's chief sent out a call for volunteers in the early days of the war, it aroused his fervor and he responded by enlisting in Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry.  During the period of his service he participated in several of the notable conflicts of the war but was never wounded or captured by the enemy.  When mustered out he returned to Knox county and resumed the duties of civil life as an agriculturist and has always continued to be identified with this vocation.  He now owns eighty acres of land located on section 5, Victoria township, where he has resided ever since. his marriage.  Here he engages in general farming and stock raising and has met with lucrative returns from both.  He is a man of practical ideas and progressive methods, who uses intelligence and discretion in the direction of his undertakings and is recognized as one of the capable agriculturists of the community.

The lady who now bears the name of Mrs. Ambrose L. King was known during her girlhood as Miss Sarah Collinson [the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists a Ambrose King marrying a Sarah Collinson in Knox County on March 7, 1869].  She was born and reared in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, whence she removed with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Collinson, to Lynn township, Knox county.  Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. King, as follows: Ivy, the wife of Charles Spencer, of Williamsfield; Ida, who married Fred Grant, of Victoria township; Kate, who became the wife of Homer Patty, of Riverside California; Sarah; Ora, who married Bert Thomas; and Avery, who is at home.

Mr. King votes with the republican party, considering its policy best adapted to subserve the highest interests of the country.  He takes a deep interest in the development of the community and its political activities, but he has never aspired to public office.  During the long period of his residence in Knox county he has been an interested observer of its development and increasing prosperity, having witnessed the introduction of modern methods and inventions that in rapid evolution and on-march have completely revolutionized commercial, industrial and agricultural life.  His early manhood covered that formative period in the state's agricultural progress when pioneer methods were being superseded by modern conditions, following the advent of a newer and higher form of civilization that developed after the war.

From the 1912 History of Knox County Illinois published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, page 918.  [Contributed by Pat Thomas.]

Hugh King, who is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on one hundred and sixty acres of land in Victoria township, eighty of which, located on section 25, he owns, was born in Victoria township, Knox county, on the 20th of December, 1873.  His parents were Corwin and Mary King, who removed from Victoria township to Kansas during the childhood of our subject, and there resided until 1886, when they returned to Knox county and engaged in farming.

The education of Hugh King was obtained in the common schools of Kansas where he resided with his parents from early childhood until he was a youth of thirteen years.  After acquiring such knowledge as was deemed essential to enable him to pursue an agricultural career, he laid aside his studies and gave his entire attention to the work of the fields and care of the stock on the home place.  Soon after his marriage he located on his present farm, which was known as the Andrew Anderson farm.  Mr. King is industrious and practical in his ideas and gives his personal supervision to all the work about his place.  He has brought his fields into a high state of productivity and in connection with his general farming he raises horses and hogs, and is meeting with lucrative returns from both.

Mr. King has been twice married, his first union being with Miss Mary Anderson, now deceased, a daughter of Andrew Anderson.  The lady who know bears the name of Mrs. Hugh King was formerly Miss Emily Sandquist.  She was born and reared in Knox county, a daughter of Andrew and Augusta (Burg) Sandquist.  The father was born in Sweden on the 20th of May, 1841, and there he was reared and educated.  When he attained the age of twenty-five years he determined to come to the United States, believing that he would find better opportunities for advancement here than in his native land.  Upon his arrival in this country he came directly to Illinois, locating in Henry county, where he was foreman in a coal mine for four years.  There he was married in 1870 to Miss Burg, also a native of Sweden, whence she immigrated when a child to America with her parents, Andrew and Mary Charlotte Burg.  They settled on a farm in Henry county and there they both passed away and were buried in Dayton cemetery.  Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sandquist settled on twenty acres of land south of their present place.  The father industriously applied himself to the cultivation of this property, extending his holdings from time to time as he was able until he had eighty acres, that is now owned by Oscar Anderson.  Later he bought eighty acres of land on section 21, Victoria township, where he is now living, but owing to his advance age, he found the cultivation of this tract to be too arduous, so sold forty acres to Lewis Ostrum.  He still owns the remainder and there he and his wife now make their home.  The family of Mr. and Mrs. Sandquist is as follows: William, who is a stockdealer in Victoria; Esther, the wife of Eldon Hammond of Victoria township; Emily who married Hugh King of Victoria township; Hazel, who is keeping house for her brother at Victoria; Frances, who is clerk for a coal company at Galesburg; and Edna, who is still in school.  In connection with general farming, Mr. Sandquist engages in stock-raising feeding all the grain he raises.  He is a republican in his political views and served for nine years as school director and road commissioner for three.  Mr. and Mrs. King have two children: Francis Willard and Hiram Andrew.

Both Mr. and Mrs. King are members of the Swedish Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which they take an active interest, Mr. King having been treasurer of the Sunday school for the past year.  Fraternally he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and in politics he is a republican.  He was a school director for three years and now he is a member of the board of trustees.  In addition to his property interests, Mr. King is a stockholder in the Mutual Telephone Company, of which he has been president for two years, and is connected with other local enterprises.  He is energetic and progressive and is constantly increasing the value of his homestead by the addition of various modern conveniences and improvements, and now has one of the best equipped farms in the community, where he has erected a very comfortable and attractive country residence.

From the 1899 Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Knox County, Munsell Publishing Company, page 950.  [Submitted by Todd Walter]

Adam Kinser; Farmer, Soldier, and Miner; born in Haw Creek Township, March 1, 1839, and educated in Maquon.  His father, Jesse Kinser, and his grandfather Elisha Kinser, were born at Lynchburg, Virginia.  Mr. Jesse Kinser was a farmer who went to Indiana where he married Phoebe Housh, a native of Lawrence County, Indiana, and the daughter of Adam Housh.  Mr. Jesse Kinser came to Knox County in 1837 and settled in the northeast corner of Chestnut Township.  Mr. Adam Kinser was engaged in farming until his enlistment in Company A, Fourteenth Illinois Calvary.  After an honorable discharge at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, December 13, 1864, he returned home and has since been granted a pension for injuries recieved during the war.  In the Spring of 1866, he journeyed overland to Virginia City, Montana, his company having several skirmishes with the Indians enroute.  After six years of rough but enjoyable mining life he returned to Knox County, but went West again to Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas, where he successfully invested some money in a threshing machine and dealt in real estate for several years.  November 27, 1872, he was married to Olive Straley at West Point, Missouri.  She is the daughter of Elias and Elizabeth (Edge) Straley, of Virginia and Ohio, respectively.  Elias Straley kept a hotel in Independence, Missouri, and then began farming in Miami County, Kansas.  Mr. and Mrs. Kinser have six children: William C., Alva A., Maud May, Emma Myrtle, Robert L., and Cecil K.  On the death of his father, he returned to Knox County and has resided in Maquon since 1880.  After a short period of business life he retired and in 1897, was re-elected Police Justice, an office which he has filled with great tact and ability.  In politics, he is a republican.

From the 1878 History of Knox County, Illinois published by Charles C. Chapman.  [Submitted by Joan Achille.]

JESSE KIRKHUFF,  farmer, P.O., Maquon; born in Warren co., N. J., on Jan 1, 1816; his parents were Jesse and Charlotte Kirkhuff, natives of New Jersey; he received a limited education, and his early life passed on the farm; Oct 15, 1836, he was married to Caroline Kirkhuff; they are the parents of 6 children, of whom 4 are living; removed from New Jersey in 1848.  Democrat.

From the 1878 History of Knox County, Illinois published by Charles C. Chapman.  [Submitted by Joan Achille.]

EDWIN KNOX.  P.O. Ontario, a farmer, he was born in North Salem, NY.  His parents, Thomas and Mary (Hobly) Knox, were natives of New York.  Edwin was educated at New Hartford, and moved to Whitestown, NY, in 1840, and to Knox County, Illinois, in 1854.  He married Rachel Stewart Wetmore on Aug 24, 1853.  They have two children, son and daughter.  He united with the Baptist Church in 1850.  He is a Republican.  His circumstances are moderate.

From the 1878 History of Knox County, Illinois published by Charles C. Chapman.  [Submitted by Joan Achille.]

JAMES KNOX.  Deceased, and whose portrait appears in this book, was born in Montgomery Co. NY, July 4, 1807.  He was the son of James and Nancy (Elile) Knox.  He prepared for college in Hamilton Academy, NY, and entered Hamilton College at Clinton, NY in 1827, and then went to Yale, where he graduated.  He was admitted to the bar in 1833.  In 1836 he came to Knoxville, IL, where he soon assumed a prominent position, and took a a leading part in developing the interests of the town and county, and opening up avenues of communication with other portions of the country.  He was one of the prime movers in the construction of the Peoria & Oquawka R.R., and was it's first president.  In 1847, he was elected a member of the State Constitutional Convention, and to Congress on the Whig ticket in 1852.  He married Prudence H. Blish in 1840, who died childless in 1846.  During the last years of his life he made a number of very liberal donations to collegiate institutions.  He died Oct 9, 1876.

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From the Biographical Directory of the American Congress: 1774-1961, page 1177.  [Submitted by Carma Wallace]

JAMES KNOX, a Representative from Illinois; born in Canajoharie, NY, July 4, 1807; attended Hamilton College, Clinton NY and was graduated from Yale College in 1830; studied law; and was admitted to the bar in 1833 and commenced practice in Utica, NY; moved to Illinois in 1836 and settled in Knoxville, Knox County; and continued to practice law; also engaged in agricultural pursuits; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1847; elected as a Whig to the Thirty-third and Thirty-fourth Congresses (March 4, 1853-March 3, 1857); continued to practice law until his death in Knoxville, IL, October 8, 1876; internment in City Cemetery.

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From the 1899 Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Knox County, Munsell Publishing Company, page 873.  [Submitted by Carma Wallace]

JAMES KNOX was born July 4, 1807, in Montgomery County, New York and was the son of James Knox and Nancy Ehle. He died October 9, 1876, at his home in Knoxville, Illinois, and was buried in the cemetery in that city. He studied at Hamilton Academy, in Madison County, New York, and entered Hamilton College in 1827, where he remained one year. He matriculated at Yale University in 1828 and graduated in 1830. He studied law with Maynard and Spencer, in Utica, New York and was admitted to the bar in 1833. In 1836, he came to Knoxville and entered his brother's store, which he managed after the latter's death in 1839. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1848 and in 1852 and again in 1854, was elected to Congress as a Whig. In Congress, he was Chairman of the Committee on Roads and Canals. He was public-spirited and was the first President of the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad. He bequeathed a large sum to found an agricultural school in Knoxville. This money was to be available only in case $40,000 in addition could be subscribed in Knox County for the school. As this was not done, the bequest reverted to Yale and Hamilton Colleges and to St. Mary's School. His eyesight failing, he made several trips to Berlin for relief, in 1861, from 1865 to 1869, and again in 1872-1873. In 1840 he married Prudence H. Blish, who died in 1846, leaving no children.