Amos K. Kidner was born in
Licking County, Ohio, Oct. 4, 1815. His parents were
Jacob Kidner and Mary (nee Simmons) Kidner; the former
died when he was about two years old, and when between
three and four years of age he was bound out to a
shoemaker, with whom he remained until his twentieth
year. He then engaged in farming. He was married to
Malinda McLain, on Nov. 5, 1840. She was born in Randolph
County, West Virginia, and was a daughter of John and
Delila McLain, nee Currense, natives of Virginia, who
settled in Clayton County in 1853. Their union has been
blessed with five children-- Elizabeth, now Mrs. Lucius
Noble; Livera, wife of Isaiah French; Jane, who married
Milton Lockhart; Nelson, and Orlena, wife of John
Culbertson. In 1850 Mr. Kidner left Ohio and removed to
Grant County, Ind., and followed farming there until the
fall of 1854, when he came to Clayton County and located
in Lodomillo Township. Of his farm of 100 acres, 75 are
under excellent cultivation, and abundantly stocked. He
is one of the pioneers and representative men of the
county, with which he has been identified since 1854. He
is a Republican, and cast his first ballot for Old
Hickory Jackson. source: History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, p. 894-895 |