J N Kirkendall

KIRKENDALL

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/20/2009 at 01:26:13

J N Kirkendall who is more familiarly known to his friends and acquaintances as “Jasper: is a representative of one of the families who early settled in Boone county, casting their lot with the courageous pioneers who sought homes in the west, that they might gain a comfortable competence for themselves and pave the way for the future prosperity of the commonwealth, which their descendants would participate in.
Mr Kirdendall was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, September 16, 1852, and is a son of Uriah and Mary (Weese) Kirkendall, the former of Ohio and the latter of the Keystone state. After their marriage they moved to Hamilton county, Indiana, where the father engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1854, when, thinking to better his prospects he, with his family, removed to Boone county and settled on Sec 16, Yell township on what is now a part of the farm owned by our subject. Here he resided until a few years ago, when he went to Oklahoma to spend his remaining days with his daughter. He is now living, at the advance age of eighty-four, while his first wife was taken from him by death at the age of forty-four years. After she died, he was united in marriage for the second time, to Mrs Nancy Lawrence, who is now also living. By his first marriage he became the father of eight children, three of whom are now living: John who resides in Kansas, Mahala who married William Thompson and lives in Pilot Mound, this county, Jasper N the youngest child by the first union. By his second marriage Uriah Kirkendall became the father of four children, only one of whom is now living: Belle, who is the wife of Noah Feagan, residing in Oklahoma. The children received their educational privileges in the common schools of Boone county.
On arriving at years of maturity, Mr Kirkendall, whose name introduces this record, chose as a helpmate for the journey of life Miss Cornelia Pugsley, a native of the Empire state, and they became the parents of twelve children, eight of whom are still living, and they are: Alvin, Laura, George, Myrtle, William, Henry, Alice and F, Those who are now deceased are as follows: Maude, Austin, Lieura, and Olive.
After his marriage Mr Kirkendall removed to Kansas, where he remained for one year only. He then returned to Boone county and settled on a part of the old homestead. Here he lived for two years, but later removed to Nebraska, living there for one year, when he returned to his old home in Yell township, the ties of association being too strong to keep him long a wanderer, and has ever since made it his home. He is now a landed proprietor on quite an extensive scale on Sec 16, Yell township, also 120 acres of river land, which is a source of substantial income to him well repaying him in golden harvests his life of industry and toil. The work of tilling the ground, and cultivating the fields has been his life occupation and to what one industry does the township, county and state owe more of its prosperity and advancement than to the useful, important but unobtrusive toiler in the industrial and commercial fields of the world, the farmer? To say that Mr Kirkendall is a highly honored and respected citizen of his township is but repeating a well known fact which is cordially acknowledged among his associates. In early years he was a Republican in his political views, but having a strong desire to lend his aid to measures that will tend to make this country temperate he joined the ranks of the Prohibition party and is earnest in his advocacy of its principles. Both he and his wife are valued members of the United Brethren church of Bethel. Mr Kirkendall is one of the substantial citizens of Boone county, esteemed by all who know him.

1902 Boone County History Book