St. Clair County Missouri
Biographies

K

KELLY, James R.
James R. Kelly, farmer and stock raiser, section 16, was born in Cooper County, Missouri, and was the son of William J. Kelly, one of the first settlers of that county. The maiden name of his mother was Martha Mocklin. When James was six years old his parents moved to Cole County, where they resided for about eight years, afterwards locating in Benton County, where James was reared to manhood. In 1857 he went to California and followed teaming until 1861, when he returned to Benton County and farmed until 1865. Then he moved to Kentucky and was engaged in farming until 1868, when he settled in St. Clair County, Missouri. He owns a farm of 100 acres, well improved. Mr. K. was in the Missouri State militia during the late war. September 3, 1865, he was married to Mrs. J. D. Townsland, a native of Missouri. They have six children: Matilda B., William J., Maud, Caroline, Maggie E. and Ore L. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

KIDD, Daniel B.
Daniel B. Kidd, farmer and stock raiser, section 16, one of the representative citizens of St. Clair County, was born in Madison County, Kentucky, August 22, 1833. His parents were Allen and Mildred (Gorland) Kidd, both natives of Virginia. When Daniel B. was about one year old they moved to Columbia, Boone County, Missouri, and in 1840 to Pettis County. In 1841 Johnson County became their home, they going thence in 1843 to Lexington, Lafayette County. In 1848 they located in Henry County, Missouri. Allen Kidd was an excellent carpenter and worked in these various points on public buildings. Daniel B., having learned the trade of wool carding in Henry County, located at Osceola, St. Clair County, in 1853 and was engaged in following that business for four years. The succeeding two years he was occupied in farming, and then for one year gave his attention to wool carding at Taberville and then in Sedalia, where he was engaged in manufacturing wagons and speculating. In 1867 he returned to St. Clair County and here has since been interested in farming and raising stock. His landed estate consists of 3,600 acres, his home farm being well improved. He is feeding 123 head of beef cattle and 200 head of stock cattle. He also makes a specialty of fine blooded stock, having a superior herd of short horns. He is a member of the Christian Church and belongs to the I.O.O.F. November 6, 1856, Mr. Kidd was married to Miss Mary Ledbetter, a native of Tennessee. She was born December 29, 1836. They have five children: Christopher C., Daniel B., Jr., Charles B., Marion and Logan C. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

KINCHELOE, Moses B.
Moses B. Kincheloe, M.D. Among the well known professional men of St. Clair County may be mentioned the subject of this sketch. He is a native of Spencer County, Kentucky, and was born October 6, 1845. His father, Almanyor Kincheloe, was also born in that county February 6, 1816, and his grandfather, Jesse, an eminent physician, was a native of Virginia. The mother of Moses, formerly Elvira Buckner, was born in Spencer County July 4, 1821. She was a daughter of Moses V. Buckner, who was born in that county April 12, 1799. Moses B. was the second child of a family of five children. His mother's death occurred in October, 1856, and his early life was spent in acquiring his primary education and working on a farm. In 1868 he took a literary course at the Georgetown College of Kentucky. In 1869 he taught school and passed his leisure hours in reading medicine under Dr. H. D. Rodman. He attended the Medical University of Louisville, Kentucky, and afterward settled in Bullitt County, Kentucky. In 1873 he attended another course of lectures and was graduated in the spring of 1874. In 1879 he came to Appleton City, Missouri, and opened an office. In the spring of 1880 he formed a partnership with Dr. W. E. Shelton, this relation existing till January, 188i, since which time he has been alone. Dr. K. was united in marriage July 7, 1881, to Mrs. Nannie Neeley, whose maiden name was Royce, a native of Richmond, Kentucky. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

KINCHELOE, Thomas
Thomas L. Kincheloe -- Thomas L. Kincheloe was a veteran of the Civil War, in the service of the Confederacy, a private in E Company of Wood's Regiment of Missouri Cavalry, in the Trans-Mississippi Army, and served until his command was surrendered at Shreveport, La., June 9, 1865. Mr. Kincheloe then came up the river to St. Louis and thence returned to his home in LaMine Township, where he spent the rest of his life, successfully engaged in farming. He died April 19, 1910. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, namely: William J., deceased; Victoria, who married Capt. L. J. Sites and is now deceased; Tasso, deceased; Anna, widow of the late William P. Harris, of LaMine Township; Thomas Ludwell, Jr., deceased; Mrs. Catherine Lucas, of Colorado; Jesse L., the subject of this sketch, and his twin sister, Mrs. Margaret Smith, and Mrs. Bettie Diggs, of LaMine Township. Jesse L. Kincheloe received his schooling in the district schools and as a young man became engaged as a farm hand for the first three years, working for W. B. Collins and losing but 18 days during that period. Following his marriage in 1894, Mr. Kincheloe rented a farm and began farming on his own account and in 1901 bought a farm. Since then he has bought and improved five or six different farms, in each instance selling to advantage, and now has a well-improved farm of 80 acres on which in addition to his general farming he gives considerable attention to the raising of pure-bred Aberdeen-Angus cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs. Mr. Kincheloe is a democrat. He and his family are members of the Baptist Church and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Jan. 18, 1894, Jesse L. Kincheloe was married to Louie Lee Eades, who was born in this county, Dec. 24,1873, and to this union four children have been born: Thomas Collins, deceased; Margaret May, Eugene Fields and Jessie Lee. Mrs. Kincheloe is a daughter of Horace and Eugenia (Brisco) Eades, who came to this county from Kentucky years ago and who are now living retired at Blackwater. -- History of Cooper County Missouri by W. F. Johnson

KING, Edward M.
Edward M. King. dealer in books, stationery, confectionery, toys, etc., was born in Brown County, Ohio, February 7, 1846. He was reared to manhood in his native county and in 1861-2 he attended the Antioch College, of Yellow Springs, Ohio. During the terms of 1862-3-4, he was a student at the Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, and in 1864-5 he took a commercial course at Bryant & Stratton's College. of Cleveland. In January, 1865, he went to Thibodaux, Louisiana, where he was engaged in the grocery and provision business until the spring of 1868. Returning to Ohio, he remained at home until the fall of that year. he then came to Missouri, settling in Hudson, Bates County, where he was occupied in trade, till the fall of 1869, when he moved his stock of goods to Appleton City. The firm was at that time known as King & Hodkins. They erected one of the first buildings in the place and were occupied in the grocery trade till the spring of 1872. In the spring of 1873, Mr. King embarked in his present business, which he has made a great success. He was united in marriage January 28, 1880, with Jennie M. Burton, a native of Randolph County, Missouri. They have one child, an infant. He is a member of the Masonic order, and of the Presbyterian church. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

KING, Richard T.
Richard T. King, section 2, was born in Washington County, Tennessee, November 28, 1817. He was reared in his native county till twenty years of age. His parents, James and Lydia (Tilton) King, were of Scotch-English descent. The death of the former occurred in March, 1856, his widow dying in June, 1859. When twenty years old James, with the family, removed to McDonough County, Illinois, where he resided twelve years. Going to Warren County, Illinois, he was prominently occupied in farming, and there he still owns land. In September, 1879, he came to St. Clair County, Missouri, and in February, 1879, bought and settled where he now resides. He has 160 acres of well improved farm land and is one of our substantial farmers. Mr. King was married November 28, 1839, to Miss Martha A. Holden, a native of Ohio. They have eight children: Phoebe, William, James M., Jonathan H., Mirah H., Isabel L., Franklin T. and Charles W. While a resident of Warren County, Illinois, Mr. K. was supervisor of Pleasant Township and a justice of the peace for twelve years. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

KIRK, James A.
James A. Kirk, section 1, was born in Morgan County, Kentucky, September 25, 1830, and is a son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Nickell) Kirk, both Kentuckians by birth. James A. passed his youth on a farm, and was married in Rowan County, in October, 1855, to Miss Telitha Clark, a native of Fleming County, and a daughter of Dixon Clark. After his marriage Mr. Kirk resided in Rowan County about eight years and in 1863 removed to Missouri and located first in Linn County, residing there some nine years. Selling out he went to Texas, spent one season then he returned to Missouri and settled in St. Clair County. He came on his present farm in the spring of 1881 and now has 160 acres all in cultivation. He makes a specialty of feeding cattle for the market. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk have seven children: Sarah E. (wife of Wesley Griffith), Adella F., Philip, Dixon, Emma, Herbert, and Walter. Mr. Kirk is one of the substantial men of this locality. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

KIRKPATRICK, Edgar T.
Deer Creek Township - Edgar T. Kirkpatrick, editor of the Adrian Advertiser, was born in Johnson County, Missouri, June 28, 1855. His father, Edgar C. Kirkpatrick, who was a musician and school teacher by profession, was a native of Ohio. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Johnson, originally from Kentucky. Edgar T. was the fourth of five children. While an infant his parents came to Bates County, and remained at West Point until 1861, when they removed to Johnson Court House, Ohio. After a short time in that locality, they returned to Missouri, and lived in Sedalia until 1866, when they again came to Bates County. In 1867 the subject of this sketch embarked in the newspaper business with O.D. Austin, on the Record at Butler, remaining with him about one year, when he accepted a position in the Democrat office. Here he was employed four years. In 1875 he took a trip west, when he bought an interest in the Canon City Avalanche, which he published until 1876. From there he went to Lake City and worked on teh Silver World for a time. Mr. K. stayed in the west until 1879, occupied in mining and in the newspaper business. In September, 1881, he took charge of the Appleton City Journal, which position he held until April, 1882, when he removed to Rich Hill, when he began editing the Daily Gazette. In August, 1882, he sold this paper to the Greenback party, and on September 9, he issued the first number of the Adrian Advertiser, a neat, eight column paper, devoted to the town of Adrian and vicinity. It is a model paper, typographically, and one of the ablest edited papers in the county. Mr. K. is a member of the I.O.O.F., belonging to Butler Lodge, No. 180. -- History of Bates County, Missouri, 1883

KLEIN, Joseph
Joseph Klein, of the firm of Klein Bros., merchants at Appleton City, is a native of Austria, and was born April 18, 1848. When he was nine years old the family emigrated to America and settled in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was educated in the common schools of that city. When eighteen years of age he began to learn the confectionery trade and was so engaged for four years. For eighteen mouths thereafter he was occupied in the rope works in New St. Louis. There he was employed as salesman for different firms until 1870 when he engaged in the clothing business. In 1873 he came to this city and clerked for S. Klein & Bros. In 1876 he became a member of the firm. Mr. K. was married April 11, 1880, to Miss Helen Wolman, a native of Germany. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to Queen City Lodge, No. 258, I.O.B.B., of Sedalia, Missouri. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

KLEIN, Joseph & Phillip
The firm of "Klein Brothers" Dry Goods, composed of Phillip and Joseph Klein, has been engaged in the dry goods and clothing business in Appleton City since 1872 and their establishment has grown from a little stock of goods in a frame shack to one of the largest and most important mercantile institutions in the city, occupying both floors of a two-story brick building in the business center of Appleton City. As businessmen and citizens the gentlemen occupy an exalted position. They are live men in a live town and are ever ready to lend hearty assistance to every undertaking that is calculated to result in public benefit. In their store rooms you will find an elegant stock of goods suitable to the wants and needs of all classes of customers. For all these years they have made a study of the wants of the people and in selecting their goods buy such as will meet the demands of their customers. It is such men as Kleins' that have made Appleton City what it is today and will continue to push along the car of progress. The gentlemen are ably assisted behind the counter by Edward Grob, one of Appleton City's most exemplary young men. -- Appleton City Journal,
28 March 1901

KLEIN, Philip
Philip Klein, of the well known establishment of Klein Bros., came originally from Austria, where he was born February 27, 1850. When he was about seven years old the family came to America and settled in St. Louis, Missouri. When sixteen years old he became engaged in the trade of baker in St. Louis, working for thirteen months. Then for two and a half years he was occupied with his father in the pottery business. After being employed as a clerk in a clothing store until 1863, he started in the clothing business with his brothers in St. Louis. In 1867 he went to Vicksburg, Mississippi. In March, 1870, he came to Appleton City, and with his brother, S. Klein, established himself in business. Mr. K. was married April 6, 1881, to Miss Sarah Sicher, of St. Louis. He is a member of Queen City Lodge, No. 258, I.O.B.B. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

KNIGHT, Josephus W.
Josephus W. Knight, a Kentuckian by birth, was born October 11, 1836, his parents being William and Eglentine (Winchester) Knight, the former born in 1814 in North Carolina, and the latter, a native of Kentucky, born in 1818. They were married in 1835, and of their family of four sons and three daughters, all survive but two sons. In 1850 they emigrated from Kentucky to this county, settling in Chalk Level Township, where Mr. Knight still resides, his wife having died in January, 1851. Four years later he married Miss Mary Boots, of St. Clair County, and to them have been born five sons and six daughters. When twenty years of age Josephus W. took the overland trip to California, remaining there for three years. July 2, 1860, he was married to Miss Mary M. Short, of this county and they had three children: Emma J., born July 27, 1870; Jennie Lee, February 16, 1872; and Eva E., born December 21, 1874. Mrs. Knight died December 20, 1875, and Mr. K. was again married March 22, 1877, to Mrs. Servia Sherman, widow of John H. Sherman, also of St. Clair County. She had by a former marriage three sons and three daughters, of whom two sons and two daughters survive. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Sixteenth Regiment Volunteer Infantry as a private and served until the close of the war, when he was discharged in Camden County, Arkansas. After the war he settled in Saline. County, Missouri, and four years later came to this county. He subsequently took a trip to Texas, but upon returning settled on his present place of 86 acres. He is a member of the A. F.&A.M. fraternity and in politics a Democrat. Himself and wife are connected with the M.E. Church, South. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

KNOWLES, Elijah S.
Elijah S. Knowles, section 16, is a native of Gibson County, Indiana, and was born December 18, 1834. When three years old he was brought by the family to Logan County, Illinois, where they resided till 1844. They then removed to Menard County, Illinois, and there our subject was engaged in farming with his father till the spring of 1856. Going to McClennan County, Texas, he resided in that locality till 1864, when visited Mexico. he traveled extensively through that country, and in November, 1864, returned to Menard County, Illinois, where he remained till February, 1866. Coming thence to Butler County, Missouri, he farmed till the fall of 1868, and then, after a short residence in Iron County, Missouri, settled in Washington County, Missouri. November 13, 1872, he came to St. Clair County, and in the spring of 1873 located on his farm, which consists of 120 acres. Mr. K. is a class leader in the M. E. Church, and a well known Sunday School worker. He is also a member of the I.O.O.F. fraternity. He was married November 21, 1858, to Miss Mary J. Taylor, of Illinois. They have eight children: Charles E., Robert S., Albert D., James T., Mary E., Adam, Virgil W. and Gracie. -- History of St. Clair Co., Missouri, 1883

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