Marshall County >> 1912 Index

Past and Present of Marshall County, Iowa
by Judge William Battin. 2 vols. Indianapolis, Ind.: B. F. Bowen, 1912.

K

Albert Kiesewetter

Although yet a young man, Albert Kiesewetter, farmer of Timber Creek township, has shown by his persistency and eminently worthy career what can be accomplished by the man who has thrift, energy, tact, force of character and honesty of purpose.  He is, as his name would indicate, of foreign blood, and he is peculiarly entitled to proper mention in this work with other leading and honorable foreign-born citizens of this county, who have cast their lot with us and proven to be such desirable citizens by their labor in developing the communities where they have located and by their loyalty to our institutions.

Mr. Kiesewetter was born in Germany on May 21, 1870.  He is the son of Ernst and Nathalie Kiesewetter, natives of Saxony, Germany, and still residents of the fatherland, the father being a farmer by occupation.  He was a student many years and is well educated and influential in his locality.

Albert Kiesewetter grew to maturity on the home farm in Germany and received a good education in his native land.  After serving the prescribed time in the German army, he emigrated to America, believing that the free republic of the West held greater opportunities for one of his tastes.  He came to Pulaski county, Missouri, in 1893, later going to Texas and the Indian Territory.  In 1895 he came to Marshall county, Missouri (sic) (probably should say Iowa), and began working for Justin Crabtree by the month.  He rented one year of a Mr. Hulbert.

Saving his money, the subject was enabled to buy one hundred and thirteen acres of land to which he has added, as he has prospered, until he is now the owner of an excellent, well tilled, well kept and valuable farm of three hundred acres, which he manages in such a manner as to reap the best results possible.  He has two sets of good buildings on his land and has a beautiful and well furnished home. He devotes much attention to stock raising and feeding, being an excellent judge of live stock.

Politically Mr. Kiesewetter is a Democrat, but does not find time to take a very active part in party affairs, preferring to spend his time looking after his large farming and stock industries.  He is liberal in his religious views.  He is a scholar and always a student, is well informed on all subjects and is a brilliant conversationalist.  He believes in keeping abreast of the times along all lines, and is a vigorous as well as an independent thinker.  He has developed the esthetic side of his nature, giving considerable attention to music, and is regarded as one of the best musicians in the county.  He is an
able instructor in band music and is proficient on the piano, flute, violin and other instruments.

Jacob H. Kinzer

All credit is due the man who wins success in spite of obstacles, and by persistency and energy gains a competence and a position of honor as a man and citizen. The record of Jacob H. Kinzer, of Bangor township, Marshall county, is that of such a man, for he came here in the pioneer days of the county and here worked out his way to definite success and independence.

Mr. Kinzer was born near New London, Howard county, Indiana, April 12, 1850, and is the youngest of a family of nine children, the son of Jacob and Charity (Owen) Kinzer. The father was born in Virginia June 7, 1805, and the mother in Indiana, January 9, 1809. He was the son of Adam and Christina Kinzer, natives of Germany, from which country they emigrated to Virginia near the first of the nineteenth century and from thence to Ohio in 1812, beginning life there as pioneers, making their home and spending the remainder of their days in Highland county.

The father of the subject went to Indiana when a young man an settled in Hendricks county and later removed to Howard county. In the autumn of 1855, the pioneer spirit still in him, he with his family came to Iowa, the wife and mother dying at Muscatine, November 2d, before they reached their destination in Liberty township, Marshall county, where they established a new home. On February 22, 1860, he united in marriage with Fanny Kinsey, of (what is now) Conrad, Grundy county. His death occurred in Marshalltown, while serving as a member of the grand jury, December 1, 1875. He was a good and useful man and was honored by all who knew him.

Jacob H. Kinzer of this review was reared on the home farm and as a boy he assisted with the general duties about the place, attending the public schools during the winter months until he received a very good education, which has since been supplemented by wide reading at home. He also put in some months of study at Iowa City and Grinnell, thus equipping himself for the duties and responsibilities of a member of our great commonwealth. Most of his life has been spent in Liberty and Bangor townships as a farmer and stock raiser.

On March 1, 1876, Mr. Kinzer was married to Hannah Howard, who was born in Harrison county, Ohio, October 14, 1852. She is the daughter of James R. and Talitha A. (Covington) Howard, a well known pioneer family of this county. The father was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, March 22, 1814, and the mother in Harrison county, Ohio, September 6, 1818. In 1853 they came to Johnson county, Iowa, and in the spring of 1855 located in Liberty township, Marshall county, and in 1875, having disposed of their large land interest in Liberty, they removed to Bangor township, where his death occurred January 13, 1881, and his wife's August 1, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Howard were worthy members of the communities in which they lived and their lives were "blessings by the way" to others. Mrs. Kinzer is a well educated woman and was for a number of years prior to her marriage a teacher in the public schools of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Kinzer are the owners of a well improved and neatly kept farm where they reside, also a diary farm and other interests in the state of Washington. They have a very pleasant home, where the "latch string is always out" to their many friends. Their children are R. J., of Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Addie Mooney, of Wenatchee, Washington; Horace G., of Kent, Washington; John C., of Moscow, Idaho; Cora, Henry and Marjory, at the paternal home.