Mills County, Iowa
Biographies

K

KAHL, WILBERT “BUD”
      Wilbert “Bud”Kahl was born November 22, 1907, the son of Louie and Laura Deitchier Kahl. He had three brothers, Ed, Roy and Joe, and a sister, Elda Hayward. Louie Kahl was the son of William and Johanna Lau Kahl. William came to Iowa from Germany around 1868, and he farmed near Mineola for years. Laura Deitchler Kahl was the daughter of Henry and Mary Jurgens Deitchier, a blacksmith in Mineola for years. His father, John, originally came from Germany in the early 1800’s.
      On August 23, 1930 Bud married Opal Miller at Rockport, Missouri. Opal was born December 15, 1912 at Emerson, Nebraska (See Detlef Miller history). They moved northeast of Silver City on the John Taylor farm and rented and farmed there for seventeen years. In 1948 they bought the place where they now live known as the Dr. McCue home.
     On September 11, 1949, a daughter, Cindy, was born to them. She married Jim McCollester on September 6, 1969 and they have a son, Chad, born July 22, 1975.

KEESEE, SAMUEL EDWARD
      Samuel Edward Keesee was born June 19, 1891 at Albany, Missouri. He came to Silver City in 1917 where he and Mrs. Keesee were telephone operators from 1918 to January 1939 when the dial system was put in. He also was a paper hanger and painter and was a mail carrier for a time. He and Mrs. Keesee had 4 children: Ardis, Truman, Thurl and Billie, Mr. Keesee died March 26, !941 and Mrs. Keesee died 1961.

KEHOE, MAURICE
      Maurice Kehoe was born January 25, 1868 in Washington, Virginia, the son of Martin and Susan Kehoe. He came to Council Bluffs 1887, went to Omaha 1890, Minneapolis 1891 and Silver City 1893, where he married Serepta Greenwood on June 14, 1894. They went to Blue Springs, Nebraska in 1900 where he managed a lumber yard and returned to Silver City in 1908, when he became cashier of Silver City State Bank. Mr. Kehoe was identified with this Bank either as Cashier or President until he retired in 1939. He was a member of the Methodist Church and Masonic Lodge. He died May 20, 1940 and Mrs. Kehoe died December 13, 1933. They had three children: a daughter died young, Grace and Horace. Grace graduated from Silver City High School and received higher education at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois. She married Grover Goos. Horace graduated from Silver City High School and the School of Dentistry, St. Louis, Missouri and the University of Iowa.
 

KIERSCH, ARNOLD N.
      Arnold N. Kiersch was born October 13, 1918, in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, on a farm near Mineola. He is the second of three children of Harry and Margaret Hilbert Kiersch. In the late fall of 1945, he came to Silver City and started up a blacksmith shop, now known as Kiersch Welding.
      On August 11, 1945 he married Lucille Thieschafer. They had a daughter who died in infancy in 1946. They have a son, Larry Arnold, who was born in 1949.
      On August 2, 1958, Lucille passed away. On February 12, 1961, Arnold married Carrie Stortenbecker Lucas, widow of the late Harry Lucas, who farmed in the Silver City area. In 1970 Carrie adopted Larry as her son. On August 2, 1978 Carrie passed away. Arnold and his son, Larry, still live in their home on Main Street in Silver City, and own the welding shop.

KINDIG FAMILY
       Mary M. Russell, daughter of Tom and Mary (Thompson) Russell, was born at Gloryford, Ireland, March 9, 1867 and came to America to the home of her aunt, Mrs. Elizabeth (Robert) Stewart, near Henderson at the age of 18. On February 23, 1888 she married Adino Barclay Kindig, born 1853 in Illinois. They located in Henderson, where he was a photographer, Adino’s parents were Benjamin W. (1808-1887) and Elizabeth True (Page) Kindig (1812-1868). Both lived in Illinois and married there in 1844. His paternal grandfather was Benjamin Kindig; maternal grandfather John Page. Later Mary and Adino moved to Hastings, Nebraska:
he was still working as a photographer, until a severe drought hit the area. They returned to Henderson area. They were the parents of seven children: Goldie (died in infancy) Clara, Russell, Harry, Addison, Maymie and Clarence. Adino died January 1906, age 53, leaving Mary to support and raise the six living children alone. She died October 1946.
     1) Clara L. Kindig born December 29, 1891, married Claude Maynes on January 12, 1912; five children: Mary D. “Della”, Effa, Earl, Russell and Darwin (see Claude Maynes family).
     2) Russell Kindig b. August 1893; m. Myrtle Fleming (1901-1977). Three children: Thelma (d. infancy), Dwain and Velma (Mrs. Robert) Bath.
     3) Harry Kindig (1894-1930), m. Mrs. Maude Perkins Harvey (1891-1973). One daughter, Dorothy (Mrs. Bill) Peters.
     4) Addison Kindig (1898-1954), m. Lillian Johnson (deceased). Three sons: Harold (deceased), Donald and Earl.
     5) Maymie Kindig b. July 1900, m. Dewey Guffey (deceased). Three children: Janice (Mrs. Robert) Anderson, Elwyn and Delvyn.
     6) Clarence Kindig b. June 1904, m. Lena Wiley. Four children: Wanda Gillenwater, Melvin, Ila (Mrs. John) Richardson, and Marsha (Mrs. Barry) Palmer. The two older children: Wanda and Melvin were born at Silver City, where Clarence and Lena farmed the
Dick Bada land on the west edge of town in the 1930’s.Ila, the third child of Clarence and Lena has a daughter, Cynthia, who married Mark Wilkens; they are living in Silver City now.

KIRLIN, HARRY
      Harry, born February 17, 1890, and Clara Rairden, born August 6, 1892, moved from Warsaw, Illinois to rural Silver City in the fall of 1936, moving into town the following spring. They brought with them 100 hives of honey bees and three small children: Carroll, Emma and Ida. Harry Kirlin remained in business in Silver City until his death in December 4, 1943. He operated the bee business from first the American Legion Building and then the old Silver City Opera House.
      Carroll, Emma and Ida graduated from Silver City High School and Carroll continued the family business, operating 600 hives of bees in the area until his death on August 13, 1970. The honey extracting and storage building was moved to the Chevrolet garage building, from which many tons of honey moved out of Silver City. The business remained in the family until the spring of 1979 when it was sold to Johnson Honey farms of Mosby, Missouri.
      Carroll J. Kirlin, born May 11, 1929, married Charlene Bryant, born December 4, 1932. They resided in Silver City and had three children: Harry T., born October 13, 1951; Linda D., born August 2, 1954; and Kathy S., born June 8, 1956;
     Harry married Maria Nolasco and lives in Council Bluffs. They have two children: H. Thomas Kirlin, born August 24, 1975, and Christopher A., born February 2,1978.
     Linda married Roger C. Young and they reside in Glenwood. Kathy married Michael D. Herbranson and lives in Glenwood, Ia. They have one daughter, Kari A., born August 23, 1978.
     Emma M. Kirlin, born July 11, 1931, married D. Gene Bolton, born January 1, 1930. They resided in Henderson, Iowa. Emma died in December 1977. They had three children: Mary Jo, born October 25, 1954, Barbara J., born 1958 and Monty C., born July 11, 1959.
     Mary Jo married Terry Ungry and lives in Red Oak. Iowa. They have two children: Aaron J., born February 13, 1977, and Jay J., born May 6, 1979.
     Ida A., born January 29, 1933 married LeeRoy Allbery, born November 6, 1928. They had four children: William L., born August 13, 1955, Larry E., born December 31, 1957, Jerry W., born 1960, and Carroll T.. born August 1, 1962.
     Larry E. married Dawn Glasshoff and lives in North Platte, Ne.

KNIGHT, WILLIAM S.
       William Silas Knight, born October 5, 1819 in Georgia, moved to Kentucky with his parents when a small boy. When a young man he migrated to Adams County. Illinois where he was married to Lydia Skidmore. To this union eight children were born: Alonzo who married Amanda Chapman and had three children; Mars who married John Harding and had five children: Charles C. whose wife was Elma Eva Stone (see Stone) and had two children; Milton S. Knight who married Emma Grant Stone (see Stone) and had five children: Clara Eleanor who married George Dobney and had five children; Mattie A. who married Millard F. Lewis and had three children; John N. who married Sarah Patrick and had five children; and Albert Knight who died when young. In the fall of 1853 William Silas Knight left Illinois with his family, settling in Fremont County. In 1870 they moved to Macedonia, Iowa. In the spring of 1874 he moved to Mills County, Ingraham Township. In the spring of 1887 he moved to a farm three miles north of Tabor, Iowa, and in his last years he made his home with his daughter, Clara Dobney. He lived to be 94 years old.

KOCHENDERFER, HOWARD CLIMBER
       Howard Climber b. 7-15-1864 Altoona, Pa. son of David and Mary Kochenderfer went to Nebraska with his parents and came to Silver City about 1902. He was a businessman here many years owning and operating a butcher shop, a restaurant and later a general store. He married 2-26-1888 Eliza Belknap. They had four chil­dren: (1) Bessie married Guy Parker — two children John “Corwyn” and Betty Hawkins, (2) Clara married Charles Saar, (3) Flo married Tom Caudell daughter, Betty Benton, (4) Willard of Omaha, married, wife deceased, one son, John.

KRUSE, CHARLES H.
     Charles H., born September 25, 1865 in Mills County, married Martha Schoening on March 10, 1892, He farmed near Mineola for several years coming to Silver City 1900 where he was a hog buyer and owned part of the stock yards pens. In 1901 he went into partnership with Webster Mains in the grain and coal business. He bought Mr. Mains out in 1912, did some remodeling 1912-1914 and continued in this business until 1941 when he sold the elevator to John Wailer and the coal business to Harry Gearhart. He was a stockholder in the Silver City State Bank for 36 years, served as Vice-President for many years holding that office at the time of his death, 6-11-1946. He was a member of the Lutheran Church and Masonic Lodge. Martha Kruse died in 1955.
     Mr. and Mrs. Kruse had 10 children; 3 died young, Carl and Margaret died in childhood, John William, Chris H., Edward W., Joseph H. and Raymond F.
      John William was born January 13, 1893 near Mineola and graduated from Silver City High School and Mosher and Lampman Business College of Omaha. He worked in Omaha and was Assistant Cashier of Silver City State Bank and Cashier of Randolph State Bank. He went to California in 1928 where he was employed by the Super Degister Products Company in Pasadena. He served in the armed forces in World War I and is a member of the Masonic and Shrine Lodge. He married Irene Miller of Pasadena in 1927. They have 2 children, John W. Jr. and Marvin.
     Chris was born August 28, 1894 near Mineola and graduated from Silver City High School and Mosher and Lampman Business College in Omaha. He worked in Omaha several years and in Butte and Helena, Montana and farmed with his brother Ed on the home place for a number of years. He served in the armed forces during World War I and was a German prisoner for about 3 months. He was a member of the Methodist Church and the American Legion. He married 1933 Edna Williams, the daughter of William and Ethel Williams. They have three children; Harold, Phyllis and Dean. Harold Eugene was born 1935 and graduated from Glenwood High School. He married Melva Jean Arnold, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Arnold of Pacific Junction, Iowa. Harold and Melva have two children, Jeffrey Lynn (age 14) and Joel Glen (age 12). Phyllis Darlene was born 1937 and married William Paul Wilson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Wilson of Glenwood. Phyllis and William have four children, Bennett Brian (age 20), Kristy Dawn (age 18) Amy Ernestine (age 15) and Diana Margariete (age 12). Bennett married Lynette Crowl, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Crowl of Pacific Junction. Kristy Dawn will marry Gregg Stoppel of Glenwood on April 12, 1980. Dean Eldred was born 1942 and married Janice Shelby, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Shelby. Dean and Janice have two children, Kent Duane (age 12) and Shelley Deann (age 10).
      Edward W. was born January 28, 1898 near Mineola and graduated from Silver City High School and Boyles Business College. He worked in Omaha and farmed with his brother Chris. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and lives in Silver City.
      Joseph H. (see Joseph Kruse History)
     Raymond was born April 7, 1905 in Silver City and graduated from Silver City High School and Boyles Business College. He was assistant cashier at Randolph and later farmed with his brothers and later farmed alone. He has lived in Glenwood since 1950. He married Lola Howser in 1933. They have two children; Myron and Russell.

KRUSE, ED C. AND MILDRED  FAMILY
      Someone once wrote “Life is tolerable only if we make a careful selection of our memories.” For the Americans who are fortunate enough to grow up in the cradle of the Midwest, memories are bountiful.
     Ed Kruse and Mildred Sell were married on May 19, 1928. They built their home place and moved in, farming some 120 acres. Robert Edward was born April 28, 1929 and Bonnie Louine was the depression baby; June 25, 1932.
     Through hail, floods, droughts, and all the other variations of Iowa growing seasons, the Kruse clan managed to survive. Ed was an early riser, determined, and dedicated to the land. Mildred, a youthful 74 years now during our Centennial year, still hops out of bed at 5:00 A.M., tends a huge garden, mows her own yard, bakes bread twice a week, and can feed a table-full of haymen with little hassle.
     One thread weaving the fabric of the family was the faith which Ed always held: if the weather happened to be dry, it was “good for the corn”. On the other hand, if heavy moisture fell every day, they ‘needed the rain.” Coupled with that faith was Mildred’s support and determination, which she exhibits yet today.
     Robert grew up learning to tend the land. Seasoned with morning and nights of chores, and well trained in plowing straight furrows, he faithfully farms the ground which was Ed’s legacy.
     Bob completed his first eight years of education at Silver Creek District No. 8, walking or riding horseback the mile to school each day. One entry in the school register, written by teacher Lillian Bradley in 1936, documented “He is a very good student, a better student probably not to be found in the county.” Bob lived up to that prophecy, and graduated from Silver City in 1946, valedictorian of his class. After attending Iowa State, he returned home to assist in the responsibility of the farm. Uncle Sam then called, so he chose duty in the Air Force, serving in Newfoundland, with the Aircraft Warning and Control Division. After discharge, he continued farming, met Eloise Price from Omaha; they were married at the Little Brown Church in the Vale at Nashua, Iowa, on September 13, 1958. Their daughter, Karen, was born on February 9, 1960, and began her life as a farm girl. However, as the school years approached, Bob and Ellie decided to move to Malvern so Karen wouldn’t spend her days riding a school bus! Bob commuted to the farm daily; Ellie worked for Dr. Scheffel for some time; she assisted in the Bud Hertz home, and currently does bookkeeping.
     Karen graduated from Malvern in 1978, and followed family tradition by being Valedictorian of her class. She was awarded the President’s Scholarship from Wayne State College, where she has proclaimed a major in education; she works summers at the Malvern pool as a lifeguard.
     Bonnie Kruse followed in her brother’s footsteps to Silver Creek District No. 8 until eighth grade, and then transferred to city school, since she could catch a ride in the Model A with Bob every day! She graduated from Silver City as Salutatorian of the ‘49ers, and with a goal to be a teacher. After two years at Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls, she accepted a position in Shenandoah. Two years later, Bonnie applied in Omaha, where she taught second grade, and attended University of Nebraska at Omaha to complete her Bachelor’s Degree, and Master’s Degree in Elementary Education.
     In 1957, Bonnie married Roy Dean Mansfield and moved to Malvern, conveniently across the street from the school house. Barb was born October 29, 1960, and Bob joined them on May 9, 1964. Barb graduated just 30 years after Bonnie, and was also proclaimed Salutatorian of her class. She has worked at both Malvern and Glenwood Rest Homes, and has been accepted at Nebraska Wesleyan University in their School of Nursing, a recipient of the President’s Scholarship. Bob is a Sophomore in Malvern High School, pursuing photography as a hobby and has his goal in life to be a pilot.
     RD. (Butch) is Sales Representative for Douglas Furniture in Iowa and Nebraska, and was proclaimed Salesman of the Year in 1978. Bonnie has branched out into the Learning Disabilities field, and has just completed a Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Northern Iowa. She teaches multi-categorical Resource Room in Malvern.

KRUSE, JOSEPH H.
     Joseph H. Kruse, son of Charles H. and Martha Kruse, was born in Silver City, October 17, 1902. He graduated from Silver City High School and Boyles Business College in Omaha. He served in the banking business for 45 years, two years in Sidney, two in Randolph and the remainder in Silver City State Bank. During the years, he served on the local school board and town council as councilman and secretary. He has been town treasurer for a number of years. In 1928 he married Essie Walker of Randolph. She was a graduate of Iowa State Teacher’s College and taught a number of years, including Silver City School during the war years. She served as librarian in the City Library for over 20 years and still maintains an active interest in library work. Their family consists of two children, James and Carita; both graduated from S.C. High School. James graduated from Ames in Electrical Engineering. He married Elveta Garcia of Kansas and they have one son Eric. They reside in Derby, Kansas. He is employed by Boeing Airplane Co. in Wichita. Carita attended business school in Omaha then married Clinton Frank of Red Oak. They reside in Arlington, Virginia where he is employed by a travel agency. Carita is a legal secretary in the Justice Department in Washington, D.C. They have four children David, who graduated from Call Tech in Pasadena and is in his 3rd year at Harvard where he is a research physicist working toward his Doctor’s degree. Gary is majoring in Architecture at Iowa State College. Kevin attends Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Stephanie is a High School Senior in Arlington where she is a member of the National Honor Society.

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