KISSINGER, Benjamine F. - 1914

KISSINGER, HAINES, POWELL, SMAYLES, BALDWIN, WILLIAMS

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/5/2009 at 03:28:54

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

BENJAMIN F. KISSINGER.

Benjamin F. Kissinger, who on July 9, 1904, died in Washta, where he had spent the later years of his life retired, enjoying the fruits of his long connection with agricultural interests of this section of the state, was born in Pennsylvania, November 22, 1842. He was a son of John and Elizabeth (Haines) Kissinger, natives of Pennsylvania, where the father engaged in farming for a number of years. He later moved to Dubuque county, Iowa, and there operated a farm during the remainder of his life.

Benjamin F. Kissinger was reared in Dubuque county and remained with his father until he was twenty-one years of age. He afterward worked in a drug store for three years, at the end of which time he went to Woodbury county and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land to which he later added one hundred and twenty acres adjoining, turning his attention to general farming. For fifteen years thereafter he cultivated and improved his property, erecting there substantial barns and outbuildings and installing modern machinery. He followed the best and most progressive agricultural methods and was rewarded by a gratifying measure of success, becoming in time one of the leading agriculturists of his locality. In 1903 he retired from active life and moved to Washta where he lived until his death.

On December, 29, 1867, Mr. Kissinger was united in marriage to Miss Martha Powell, a daughter of George and Anna (Smayles) Powell, natives of England. The parents came to America at an early date and located in Dubuque county, Iowa, where the father purchased land, which he operated during the remainder of his life. He died January 11, 1890, having survived his wife since April 5, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Kissinger became the parents of eight children: Belle, the wife of Robert Baldwin, a farmer in Cherokee county; George, engaged in agricultural pursuits in Woodbury county, Iowa; Edwin and Bert, who operate a shoe store in Washta; Mary, who married George Williams, of Washta; Frank, engaged in farming in Holt county, Nebraska; Charles, a farmer of Ida county; and Louis, who is farming in Holt county, Nebraska. Mrs. Kissinger survives her husband and is well known in social circles of Washta, belonging to the Order of the Eastern Star and the Rebekahs.

Mrs. Kissinger is a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Kissinger was connected fraternally with the Masonic order and gave his political allegiance to the democratic party. During the period of his residence in Washta his lie sure enabled him to form a wide acquaintance and all with whom he came in contact recognized his splendid qualities and gave him their respect and goodwill.