Kinsley, Guy 1825 - 1921

KINSLEY, KRAMER, ELLSWORTH

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 1/14/2018 at 13:26:56

Elkader Register, Thur., 31 Mar. 1921.

Mr. Guy Kinsley, one of the very oldest pioneers in all of Northeastern Iowa, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L. N. Kramer, at McGregor, March 21st, aged ninety-six years. He was born at Fletcher, Vt., Feb. 12, 1825. His earliest American ancestors came to Massachusetts Bay Colony with Governor Winthrop in 1630. Both of his grandfathers fought in the Revolution and his father was wounded in the War of 1812. In recognition of the services of the latter, he was given a quarter section of wild Iowa land.

Mr. Kinsley resided among the Vermont hills until 1853. March 15 of that year he married Miss Lucinda Ellsworth at Cambridge, Vt. The following November he came to Iowa, going down the St. Lawrence and through the great lakes to Chicago. From Waukegan, Ill., he walked to Clinton, Iowa, thence passed up the Mississippi to the mouth of the Wisconsin river. There Alexander McGregor ferried him over to McGregor's landing. He liked the locality so well that he purchased 240 acres in the woods on what is now known as Pleasant Ridge and he has made his home there ever since. His first years were spent in splitting rails and making hoop poles, as the farm was located in a wooded section.

Eleven children were born, of whom all except one are living. Mrs. Kinsley died thirty-two years ago.

As far as known, there is no Clayton county pioneer who began farming in Clayton county as early as Mr. Kinsley.
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(In the McGregor column of the same paper and date.)

Rev. A. E. Cutler officiated at the funeral of Mr. Guy Kinsley yesterday afternoon, interment being made in the Council Hill cemetery beside his wife and daughter, Prue.