New York, Lewis Publishing Co. 1903
Robert Kingsberry
page 448
Robert Kingsberry is a native of the bright, green isle of Erin, and with all the lively and progressive qualities of the race, he, like thousands carrying the blood of the ancient Celts in their veins, has closely identified himself with the American democracy and filled the niche of a worthy and upright citizen. He was born in the north of Ireland, county Monaghan, in the month of March, 1823. His father, Robert Kingsberry, was born in 1802 and died in 1858, and spent his whole life in tilling the soil of his native land. His mother’s maiden name was Mattie Dugan. She came to America and lived with the subject of this sketch, passing away about 1863.
Robert spent the first twenty-four years of his life on the farm of his father, and in 1848 decided to cast in his lot with the great world he had heard so much about on the other side of the Atlantic. He landed in New York on June 13 and remained there one month, acquainting himself with the ways of the new world, and then went to Cleveland and from there to Xenia, Ohio, where lived for a number of years. In the latter place he was engaged in railroading on the Little Miami Railroad for sixteen years, and for two years was engineer on a switch engine in Centerville. In February, 1864, Mr. Kingsberry enlisted in Company K., One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and until the close of the war saw much hard service in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. He was mustered out at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, with a creditable record as a soldier for his adopted country. Mr. Kingsberry dates his arrival in Iowa in the year following the war. He had previously, in 1853, purchased one hundred and eighty acres of land in this county, and here he has ever since made his home, owning at the present time two hundred and twenty acres of choice land.
On the 26th of February, 1850, Mr. Kingsberry married Miss Sarah Mills, who was living at Springfield, Ohio, at the time of her marriage. She was born in Ireland, January 1, 1828, and was reared on a farm near the home of her future husband. Her father died in 1836, and in 1847 she came to America with her mother, who died three months after landing. Mr. and Mrs. Kingsberry had eight children, of whom the six following are living: W.D., George, Mary, Robert, Jr., Jennie, and Maggie. Mr. Kingsberry was for a number of years secretary of the school board. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, holds closely to the tenets of the Republican party and is a member of the Methodist church. In all the relations of life, whether in the position of the skilled mechanic, as a soldier or as a farmer, whether in private business affairs or in the larger public interests, he has made his influence felt as a man of integrity, thorough, capable and honest.