Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 694
SYLVESTER B. KIBLER

A highly respected resident of Woodbine, Harrison county, Iowa, is Sylvester B. KIBLER, whose name for many years has been intimately associated with the financial affairs of Woodbine, at all times to Mr. KIBLER's personal credit and to Woodbine's material advantage, as Mr. KIBLER holds the welfare of the town very close to his heart. He for years has been engaged in the mercantile and real estate business in Woodbine, and much of the town's present prosperity can be traced directly to his good offices.

Sylvester B. KIBLER was born July 22, 1846, in Portage county, Ohio, the son of Martin and Marguerite J. (CARD) KIBLER, who were natives, respectively, of Virginia and Ohio. Martin KIBLER moved to Ohio with his parents when he was a very small child, and in the spring of 1854 the family came to Iowa, traveling by rail to Wellsville, Ohio, and thence down the Ohio river and by way of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to Kanesville, or Council Bluffs, as it is now known. At the time of their arrival there was only a cluster of log houses and one frame house in the settlement, offering a rude contrast with their Ohio home. They had left home April 19 and arrived May 19. From Kanesville to Harrison county the family proceeded in wagons, and as the loads were heavy, the mother and children walked the greater part of the way.

Paying one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre for a preemption on eighty acres of timber land, Martin KIBLER paid again one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre after the land was opened for entry. During the winters of 1856-7, the family suffered from the severe cold and snow.

A subscription school was established near the KIBLER home and here Sylvester received the most of his education, living at home until his marriage, January 28, 1868. Before his marriage his father had given him forty acres of land and he purchased forty acres of tax-title land. Soon after he paid eight dollars per acre for forty acres of railroad land, receiving a liberal cash discount.

Mr. KIBLER continued farming until 1873, in which year he engaged in the general merchandise business at Woodbine with his brother, buying out the latter's partner, William MCHENRY. Mr. KIBLER and his brother continued in business until 1901, when he bought out his brother and took in his son, L. W. KIBLER, and his son-in-law, F. L. HUPP, after which the firm was known as KIBLER & Sons. On November 2, 1908, Mr. KIBLER and his sons traded their entire stock for land and real estate located near Denver, Colorado. Mr. KIBLER and his brother have also dealt in real estate, and they own considerable property in and near Woodbine. Some of the brick and stone buildings in Woodbine have been built by Mr. KIBLER, who was actively engaged in the mercantile business for about thirty-six years.

Sylvester B. KIBLER married Carrie I. ELLISON, who was born September 5, 1844, in Pike county, Illinois, the daughter of Isaac and Cinderella (CLARK) ELLISON, who were natives of Virginia and who had gradually moved west until in 1851 they arrived in Harrison county and settled at Six Mile Grove in Cass township, in the same locality with Mr. KIBLER's family.

To Mr. KIBLER and his wife four children were born, Lyda, L. W., Irvin E., and Maggie Pearl, the two latter being deceased. Lyda married W. B ROOT. L. W. KIBLER married Maud SWAIN and the two have had four children, Helen Loene, Marguerite Lucyle, Swain Burdette (Jack), and Earline Gretchen, the latter of whom died in infancy. Irvin E. died in infancy on October 6, 1872. Maggie Pearl, who married F. L. HUPP in 1893, died on April 9, 1896, leaving one child, Gladys Pearl, who now lives with Mr. KIBLER.

In his politics Mr. KIBLER has always been a Republican, and for four years he was township assessor. He also has served on the town council for nine years in succession. Mr. KIBLER is a member of the High Priest Order, and he and his family are members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Mr. KIBLER is a man of strict business integrity and has never engaged in a transaction which violated the dictates of his conscience. This fact alone recommends him to those who appreciate strong moral fiber and a fine sense of justice.

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