F S Kendall

KENDALL

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/10/2009 at 10:22:17

F S Kendall, near the town of Ogden, on Sec 6 Peoples township, lives, F S Kendall, who is classed among the wide awake and energetic farmers of Boone county. His place of 170 acres is a monument to his life of industry and thrift. He was born in Madison county, Ohio, March 18, 1833, and come of an old Virginia family. His father James Kendall was born in Virginia, but when a young man removed to Kentucky, and later crossed the Ohio river into the state of Ohio, establishing his home in Madison county among its early settlers. The greater part of that region was coved with a dense growth of timber, the trees standing in their primeval strength, but soon the monarchs of the forest fell before his sturdy strokes and he continued the task of clearing his land until the sun shone down upon the rich fields of golden grain. He was married in that county to Margaret Seltzer, with her parents both of whom were natives of Germany. Mr Kendall reared his family upon the farm there and made it his home continuously until his life’s labors were ended in death in the year 1848.
F S Kendall of this review was only fifteen years of age at the time of his father’s demise. He was reared on the old family homestead, which he had aided in clearing and in cultivating. His school privileges were limited for the education al advantages of the neighborhood were then of a primitive character and he also had little time even then to attend school, his aid being needed in clearing and improving the farm. At length he attained his majority and then he desired to establish a home of his own. To this end he was married on January 1, 1854, to Ann Eliza Huffman, whose birth occurred in Germany. The young couple began their domestic life upon the old Kendall homestead, which continued to be their place of residence for a few years, during which time four children were born unto them.
In 1865 our subject came to the west and first took up his abode in Polk county, Iowa where he rented a farm, but later bought land in Boone county. This was raw prairie, having never been reclaimed for purposes of civilization. He also purchased a tract of land in Dallas county, near Perry, and with characteristic energy began the task of clearing and developing his fields. He farmed there for two years and then came to his present home, where he has since erected a good house. He at first built a little barn, but this was replaced in time by a large barn, one of the best in Peoples township. His labors, too, wrought a great change in the land, which was transformed into a rich and arable tract. Today his valuable farm of 170 acres is equipped with all modern accessories and the efforts of the owned result in gaining good harvests as a return for his labors.
The home of Mr and Mrs Kendall has been blessed with eight children who are yet living: John A is now a substantial farmer of People township, Alva J follows farming in Yell township, George is living in Ogden, Fred is a farmer of Peoples township, Ada is the wife of Ben Treloar, a resident farmer of Mason township, Maggie is the wife of James Phillips, a worthy citizen of Boone, Iowa, in the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company, Margaret is the wife of Rev Joseph E Treloar, a minister of eh Baptist church, and Dora is a successful teacher of the county. The family is one of prominence in the community, and have a respect of one and all.
Mr Kendall belongs to the Peoples Baptist church, becoming a charter member upon its organization. In fact, it was organized in his home and for many ears he has been one of its deacons. He has served for a number of years on the school board and the cause of education found in him a warm advocate and friend. He has filled the position of justice of the peace and his fair and impartial rulings have won him high commendation. He was also elected and served for nine years as township trustee in Peoples township and since casting his first presidential vote for John C Fremont in 1856, he has given his ballot at each presidential election for the candidates of the national Republican party. In this part of the state J S Kendall is numbered among the pioneer settlers who took up their abode in this region when Boone county was upon the western frontier. His interest in public progress has led him to put forth every effort in behalf of his adopted county and his hearty cooperation is given to all measures for the general good.

1902 Boone County History Book