Biographies

Source:
Portrait & Biographical Album
of DeWitt and Piatt Counties, Illinois
Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches
of Prominent and Representative Citizens
of the County
Together with Portraits and Biographies of all the
Presidents of the United States
and Governors of the State
Publ. Chicago: Chapman Bros
1891

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y- Z

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	Jacob S. Keller is industriously conducting his farming interests in Willow Branch Township, Piatt County, his well-cultivated farm lying on section 3, and he is contributing his quota to the material prosperity of Piatt County as well as to its social and religious advancement.  Mr. Keller is a Pennsylvanian by birth, born in Dauphin County, February 7, 1828.  Samuel and Catherine (Shoop) Keller were his parents, and they were likewise natives of Pennsylvania and of German origin.  Of their nine children the following are living:  Jacob S., Elizabeth, wife of Moses Landes, of Dauphin County, Pa.; Catherine, wife of William Worsley, of Monticello; Mary, wife of Jacob Slack, of Middletown, Pa.; Samuel, a resident of Dauphin County, Pa.; Lydia, wife of Jacob Hocker, also of that county.      The early days of our subject were passed on his father's farm in his pleasant Pennsylvania birthplace.  He received but a limited education in the local schools and is mainly self-educated.  He was married in his native State September 12, 1850, to Elizabeth Garver.  To them have come nine children, namely: Samuel, deceased; John G., a school teacher; Joseph,  who lives in Piatt County; Dr. Mary Keller, a well known physician in Monticello; Jacob, a resident of Piatt County; Jonas, also a resident of this county; Nancy, married Marion Williams of this county December 25, 1890; Jesse and Lydia.      In the spring of 1857 Mr. Keller left his old home in Pennsylvania and came with his family to Illinois.  He took up his resident in Piatt County, and for a short time farmed as a renter.  He settled on his present farm in the spring of 1872 and here he and his wife and children have a cozy home.  He owns one hundred and twenty acres of fertile land which is admirably tilled and most of its improvements are the result of his hard and well-directed labors.  He is practically a self-made man as he started out in life with no capital save a stout heart and willing hands.  His fellow-citizens regard him as a man of exceptional honesty and sterling integrity in business matters and have perfect faith in his word.  He and his wife are among the most prominent members of the United Brethren Church which he has served as Class Leader.  In politics he favors the Republican party. (Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of DeWitt & Piatt Counties, Illinois - Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1891)
	Dandy Kellington.  A prominent place among the farmers and stock-raisers of Cerro Gordo Township, Piatt County, is held by the gentleman about named who owns an estate of which any man might well be proud.  It consists of two hundred and forty acres of fine land on sections 14 and 30, with a dwelling that is both comfortable and attractive and furnished with all that will add to the pleasure and comfort of its inmates.  Neatness and order prevail in every part of the estate and all of the improvements are substantial and well suited to their various purposes.  The most casual observer on looking over this fine farm would be impressed with the belief that industry and perseverance have marked the life of its owner.  Elsewhere in this volume will be found a view of Mr. Kellington's commodious residence and farm surroundings.      The birth of Mr. Kellington took place in Yorkshire, England, September 21, 1830.  His parents, John and Mary (Dandy) Kellington, were also born in the mother country.  In 1840 with his father, stepmother and other members of the family, our subject crossed the Atlantic on the sailing vessel "Amazon," embarking at Hull and landing in Quebec after a voyage of five weeks and two days.  The father located in Markman, Ontario, Canada, and spent the remnant of his days there.  He was the father of six children, of whom the survivors, besides our subject, are William, John and Henry, all living in Canada.      The subject of this notice arrived at years of maturity in the Province of Ontario, working at various employments until he was twenty-one years old, when he began to learn the trade of wagonmaking.  He followed that occupation about four years, then abandoned it for farming, in which he has since spent his time.  His schooling was obtained in the schools of England and for a short time he attended in Canada.  He came to this State in 1851 and became a citizen of Morgan County, sojourning there several years.  There he wooed and won Miss Sarah A. Coultas, who became his wife May 27, 1855.  She was born in that county August 9, 1837, her parents, William and Jane (Richardson) Coultas, having been early settlers there.  Both parents were born in "Merrie England" and the mother is now deceased.  The family of Mr. and Mrs. Coultas consisted of eight children, the survivors being Sarah A., wife of our subject; John, who still lives in Morgan County; Elizabeth, wife of John Dousland, whose home is in Jacksonville; Hannah, wife of Henry Elliott, living in Decatur; and Maria, wife of B. Headen, whose home is in Hancock County.      In the fall of 1867 Mr. Kellington brought his family to Piatt County, settling on a practically unimproved farm, which by dint of energy and good management ere long became one of the best in the vicinity.  In the accumulation of property and the establishment of a good home Mr. Kellington has been ably assisted by his wife, and admits that her counsel has been excellent and her management wise and prudent.  Their family consists of eight children:  William T., John C., George H., Hannah M., Newton, Mary J., Peter D. and Edgar R. Hannah is now the wife of George Huff.      Mr. and Mrs. Kellington are identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church and are active aids to its various lines of work, and prominent members of society.  The husband is a Republican.  He served eight years as Constable and eight years as Justice of the Peace, discharging the duties of each office in a manner alike creditable to himself and those who placed him in the position.  In his contact with mankind he is honorable as well as kindly, and he therefore has the confidence of business men and the friendship of neighbors and acquaintances.  His wife shares with him the good will of their associates, and surrounded by children and friends they are spending their declining years in the enjoyment of the fruits of their former industry and well-doing. (Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of DeWitt & Piatt Counties, Illinois - Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1891) NOTE:  For connections to the above family you can contact Mary Bonavia , tuscangal@insightbb.com
	John W. Kingston is a good representative of the native citizens of Illinois, who were born in this State in the early years of its settlement, and are still active in promoting its interests.  He is a well-known farmer and stock-raiser of Piatt County, and may be denominated a pioneer of Goose Creek Township, as he has improved here a large and valuable farm.  Mr. Kingston was born in Peoria County, April 5, 1827.  His father, whose given name was George, was born in County Cork, Ireland, November 15, 1795, and died in this State June 2, 1883, at a venerable age.  He was sixteen years old when he cane to America.  He made his way to the pioneer wilds of Illinois, and located near Springfield, Sangamon County, in an early day of its settlement.  He afterward lived in Woodford and Peoria counties.  He was a man whose upright conduct in life caused him to be greatly respected by all who knew him.  He was a true Christian and for more than sixty years was identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church as one of its most earnest members.  His wife, whose maiden name was Susan Miller, was a daughter of one of the early pioneer families of Springfield, Ill., her birthplace.  She was also a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  Her life was brought to a close in 1863.      Our subject was one of twelve children, of whom seven are now living.  He was born in a rude log house and passed his early life amid pioneer surroundings on a farm.  His educational advantages were limited.  He attended school in his boyhood in a log house that had a puncheon floor, was furnished with slab seats, and a log was taken from the side of the building to admit the light.  He first began to work out on a farm by the month when he was about eighteen years old.  He subsequently served an apprenticeship at carpentering and pursued that trade about fifteen years in all, mostly in Woodford County.      In 1854 our subject turned his attention to farming, to which he had been reared, and he then bought eighty acres of land in Woodford County.  He engaged in its cultivation until the fall of 1867, when he sold it and removed to Piatt County.  He located in Goose Creek Township, where he purchased four hundred and forth acres of unimproved land.  The surrounding country was but sparsely settled, and very few farmers had been developed from the wilds.  His first work was to build a shanty for his family to live in; then he actively commenced the task of putting his land under cultivation.  His toil has resulted in making him the possessor of as well improved a farm as may be found in this vicinity.  It is amply supplied with buildings, and has every needed convenience for carrying on agricultural operations.  Besides this valuable property our subject owns a quarter-section of land in Sheridan County, Neb.  He is a keen sagacious wide-awake man who has gained much information by experience and by his observation in his travels, as he has been about the country a good deal and in his journeys has visited many States and Territories.  He is a man of much prominence in religious and political circles.  Both he and his good wife have been members of the Baptist Church for thirty years, and he has served it as Deacon for a long time, and his  name is associated with its every good work.  He is a local leader among the Democrats, and has been a delegate to conventions.      May 6, 1852, was the date of the marriage of our subject with Sarah M. Bunting.  Mrs. Kingston was born in Medina County, Ohio, November 6, 1832.  She is the daughter of John and Jane (Cooley) Bunting, natives respectively of Scotland and Pennsylvania.  They came to Illinois in an early day and are long sine deceased.  The happy wedded life of Deacon Kingston and his wife has been blessed to them by the birth of these seven children:  Sarah R., wife of Henry H. Purkhiser, a railroad conductor at Tulare, Cal.; Susan J., deceased; George W., a farmer in Goose Creek Township; John H., deceased; Ancel, a farmer in De Witt County; Ellis, a farmer in Piatt County; and Virginia B., deceased. (Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of DeWitt & Piatt Counties, Illinois - Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1891)

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