Johnson County >> 1883 Index

History of Johnson County, Iowa
Iowa City, Ia.: [s.n.], 1883.

K

Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Mary Hitchcock.

Joseph Karbulka, a farmer residing in Monroe township, post-office Danforth; was born on January 8, 1822 in Austria; came to America in 1864, landed in New York City, and the same year settled upon the farm upon which he now resides. He was married July 18, 1844 , to Miss Theresa Novtuy. They have three children: John, Josephine and Anna. The family are members of the Catholic Church. He is a Democrat in politics, and voted against the prohibitory constitutional amendment. He is a quiet, hard working, hones man, a trait characteristic of the Bohemian people.

Amos Keeler , farmer, post-office Lone Tree; was born in Summerset county PA , June 10, 1840 . When ten years of age he went to Ohio with his father, where he spent his early life, until he was twenty-two years of age. He then emigrated to Johnson county IA in 1862, where he has since resided, and now owns 120 acres of fine land which he has improved from wild prairie. He was married December 15, 1863 to Mrs. Catharine Henry, formerly Miss Swink. They have four children, viz: Mary J., Theodore, Amos, and Benjamin. Mr. Keeler and wife are members of the Baptist Church .

Jacob Keim , a resident of Iowa City,and the proprietor of the new Boston bakery, on Dubuque Street; came to America in 1857, and to Iowa City in 1869. He was married in March 1868, to Miss Elizabeth Fisher, of Germany . They have five children: Jacob, Mary F., Frederick W., Peter and Margaret. He is a democrat in politics.

Michael Kelley , a farmer and resident of West Lucas township; post-office Iowa City; was born August 29, 1825, in Kings county Ireland; came to America and landed in New York, April 1, 1852 and settled in Iowa August 17, 1856, and engaged in farming. He was married in Cincinnati OH August 15, 1856 to Miss Helen Maloy. They have no children.

Rev. Fergus L. Kenyon , the present minister of the Congregational Church of Iowa City; was born December 4, 1835 , in the parish of Sobly, Wigton Shire , Scotland . He graduated at Princeton College , NJ , in 1859, and was tutor of Greek in that college for two and one-half years; studied theology at Princeton Seminary and graduated in 1864. He was married in April 1865, to Miss Hattie A. Squire, of Graften , OH . He had charge of a congregation in East Orange , NJ , and then in Elyria OH and labored in St. Joseph MO and in September 1878, took charge of the Congregational Church in Iowa City .

Fidel Kessler, farmer, post-Office, Solon; was born in Germany, March 26, 1818 and there learned the cabinet-maker trade, and emigrated to America in September, 1834, and lived in Muskingum Co. OH, until the fall of 1850, when he came to Iowa and settled in Big Grove township, where he has improved a farm of 125 acres. He was married February 25, 1845, to Mary Corus, a native of Ohio. This union has been blessed with eleven children; Frances and Nicholas F., (twins), Louisa C., William, Mary J., Edwin, Alice, Caroline, Mary, Charlie, and Maggie also twins. Mr. Kessler is a member of the Catholic Church.

Frank S. Kessler, farmer, post-office, Solon; was born in Muskingum Co. OH, March 3, 1846 and came to Iowa with his father, Fidel, in 1852; he has followed farming, and now owns 133 acres of well improved land. He was married September 14, 1872, to Mrs. Mary A. Stiles, nee Hoffman, a native of Germany. This union has been blessed with 3 children; Mary E., Harvey and Rolland R. Sabinas Stiles, Mrs. Kessler’s first husband, was born in NY and was a son of Warner Stiles, who came to Johnson Co. in 1839 and married Mary A. Hoffman, November 23, 1854; he dying April 15, 1868, leaving five children; Laura A., now Mrs. Taylor; Sarah E., now Mrs. Corrigan; George L., Emma A., and Cora I.

George W. Kettlewell , a resident of Iowa City , a blacksmith doing business on East Washington Street . Was born December 30, 1821 , in Washington county, PA; came to Iowa City September 5, 1856 , and has been engaged at his trade since. He was married January 23, 1852 , to Miss Hannah Jackson of Warren OH; she was born in Yorkshire England . This union is blessed with six children: William A., Alice, Charles, George W., Eva., Eda, and an adopted daughter, Ida K. Haines, a sister's child, is a member of his family. He is a member of the M. E. Church of Iowa City; a member of the I.O.O. F. societies of Iowa City and among the oldest members of that order. He is a democrat in politics, and has held several offices of honor, profit and trust at the hands of his party; he has served as member of the school board of Iowa City , and in the city council in 1863, as a member from the third ward.

Peter Kettles , farmer, Washington township, post-office Frank Pierce. Was born in Germany , April 29, 1839 ; came to America in May 1858,; landed in New York City . Settled in Johnson county IA , in June 1858, and worked in Sharon township. He enlisted in the First Wisconsin Infantry for three months, April 16, 1861 ; and August 23, 1861 , enlisted in the Fourth Missouri Cavalry, and was discharged in November 1865. He enlisted as a private, and was promoted from private along the grades of office from corporal to first lieutenant in June 1863, holding all the non-commission officer's ranks.

He was married March 19,1867 to Miss Rebecca Oldacker. They have one child, Fredrick, born April 20 th 1868 . Mr. Kettles is a republican in politics; has held the office of township clerk for two years, and has been re-elected.

Jacob Koenig , farmer, residing in Liberty township, post-office Bon Accord. Was born in Germany , August 24, 1834 ; came to America in 1855; and bought the farm upon which he now resides in 1862. He was married July 4, 1862 to Miss Mary Fisher, of Iowa City . They have seven children: Gotlieb, Fritz, John, George, Frank, Mary and Louisa. He is a democrat in politics, and voted against the amendment.

KISHKEKOSH submitted by Darrell Manrique

KISHKEKOSH was a war chief or leader who had won his rank by such deeds of blood as his nation delighted to honor, just as civilized nations give military rank to successful warriors who many not have been born of the ruling class. He was tall, straight, active, wiry; an expert in every athletic exercise engaged in by the men of his tribe, such as running, leaping, dancing, paddling a canoe, climbing, riding a pony, throwing the tomahawk, etc. By this means he won great repute and influence, especially among the younger portion of his people. But he was also a fluent and eloquent speaker in his native tongue, and a man of sober habits. His age was about ten years younger than Poweshiek, from whom he differed in every respect, both of physical and mental quality. He possessed in full measure the natural cunning, shrewdness and trickery which belonged as a race characteristic to the Indian tribes. He had no sense of honor, at least not as toward white men; would lie, steal, cheat, betray, murder, without scruple. He was feared, hated and distrusted by all the whites; in fact it was believed that he committed several murders of white men, although it could not be proven. Kishkekosh was a "bad Injin."

J. F. Koler, publisher Reaper, Solon: was born in Austria, November 7, 1856 and emigrated to America with his parents in 1862, and settled in Iowa City and commenced the printers trade in August 1874, on the Iowa City Republican; in 1878 he went to Marengo for a period of two years, then to Council Bluffs. In April 1880, he was married to Miss Hattie LeGrange, of Pleasant Valley township, Scott county, at Davenport; lived in Council Bluffs a short time, then went over to Omaha and worked in the Herald job rooms; in June 1881 went to Des Moines and engaged with the State Journal Printing Company, from there to Reinbeck and edited the Reinbeck Times in company with another man; as he did not like the partnership, only remained there a few month. He then came to Solon and engaged in the publication of the Solon Reaper. The first number made its appearance July 28, 1882 , just when there was a great demand for Reapers. The farmers now all have the Reaper once a week, sunshine or rain, cold or warm, throughout the year. The Reaper is well patronized and is a staying stone for the future in Solon.

Paul A. Korab , farmer and teacher, Jefferson township post-office Shueyville; was born on the 30 th day of July 1857 in Linn county IA ; is the son of Paul and Catharine Korab, who were born in Bohemia . In 1854 they left the old country for America, and landed in Iowa on the 10 th day of August, and settled in Linn county, where they purchased land and resided until 1866, when he sold his land there and purchased 140 acres in this county in sections 9 and 16, where he lived up to his death, which occurred on February 3, 1879. He had two children: Josephine, married to Wesley Yanish, February 21, 1882 , and Paul A., the subject of this sketch, who was raised on his father's farm, and now resides with his mother on the home place. He received his education at Western College , having attended four terms, aside from common schools; has taught five terms of school in his township, and is one of the present trustees. He is quite a young man, and has a promising future before him. There is at present an old gentleman living with him named Joseph Jacobetz, 82 years old, said to be the oldest man in the township.

Alexander Koser , farmer and stock dealer; is a native of Cumberland county, PA, where he was born September 27, 1820, where he lived until 1848, he then went to Harrisburg, where he followed butchering and buying and selling stock until 1870, he then emigrated to Johnson county, and settled at Coralville, and now owns 470 acres of land and deals in stock. He has been married twice; first February 2, 1841 to Miss Hettie A. Atchley, she dying April 24, 1865 ; and the second time, June 15, 1869 to Mrs. Caroline Hart, her maiden name being Gould. There were seven children by the first marriage, viz: Mary, Elizabeth, Susan, Agnes, John, Charlie, and Dolly; and by the last marriage there are, Edward, Alexander, Carrie, Iowa, Minnie, Hayes, Filey and Manley. He is a member of the Lutheran Church and also of the I.O.O. F.

Jacob Kramer, of Iowa City , in the boot and shoe business, No. 24, Dubuque Street ; was born September 4, 1833 in Bavaria . Came to America in 1852, landed in New York and settled in Iowa City in June 1856. He learned the shoe maker's trade in Germany and has worked at his trade thirty-six years. He was married March 20, 1858 to Miss Scheilling of Iowa City . They have six children: Wilhelmina, wife of William Kue; John C., Emma El, wife of William Hauke; Christopher G., William F. and Jacob S. the family are members of the Lutheran Church. A member of the German Lodge No. 185, A.O.U.W.

John Kraus , a resident of Iowa City; born May 7, 1829 in Williamsburg, NY; settled in Iowa City 1865. He lived in Wilksbarre, Luzerne county PA before he came to Johnson county, was engaged in farming and farmed a while in this county, and now keeps the Sunny Side barber shop, on Iowa Avenue, east of the post-office. He is a democrat in politics, and voted against the prohibitory constitutional amendment.