W. T. Kendall

KENDALL, BYER, GOSLIN

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 2/1/2010 at 04:48:21

W. T. KENDALL

W. T. Kendall, deceased, established a store and served as postmaster on the site of Thompson before the town was platted and continued in his dual capacity as storekeeper and postmaster in the new town until his demise in 1898. He was born in Michigan in 1837 and on his father's side was descended from an old American family, while on his mother's side his ancestry was French. The father was a minister in Michigan until his demise, and the mother also passed away in that state.

W. T. Kendall received his education in the common schools and in early manhood spent a few years as a railway station agent. Later he owned the steamboat High Water, which plied on Spirit Lake, Iowa, and which he commanded as captain for a considerable period. In the later '70s he removed to Forest City and conducted a hardware store there for a short time. In 1890 he established a general store in King township, Winnebago county, and he also acted as postmaster, so continuing after the town was laid out by Mr. Thompson, of Forest City. At length he sold all his stock save the furniture, but continued in business as a furniture dealer until he passed away in 1898. He also served as postmaster untii his demise, and his record was one of efficient and public-spirited service.

In 1891 occurred the marriage of Mr. Kendall and Miss Anna T. Byer, a daughter of Joseph and Magdalene Byer, natives of Vienna, Austria, where they passed their entire lives. When seventeen years of age Mrs. Kendall came alone to the United States and for twelve years lived in New York. She was employed as a German governess in the families of several millionaires of that city and while acting as governess made five trips to Europe. On leaving the east she joined a brother and sister in Garner, Iowa, and lived with them until her marriage in 1891. She has two children. William Thompson, who was the first child born in the town of Thompson, for which he was named, is married and resides in Altoona, Iowa. May married C. W. Goslin, and they reside in Clarion, Iowa.

Mr. Kendall gave his political allegiance to the republican party, but aside from filling the office of postmaster never took an active part in public affairs. He was a representative of the Masonic fraternity, whose teachings concerning the brotherhood of man were exemplified in his daily life. Rosehill cemetery, in which he is buried, was chosen and named by him at the founding of the town and the money for purchasing the land was raised by Mrs. Kendall, who still serves as president of the Cemetery Association. She is a resident of Thompson, where she is held in high esteem. The demise of Mr. Kendall was deeply regretted throughout the county, for he had a wide acquaintance and a large number of loyal friends.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 148-149.