Biographies of Peoria County People
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KERSHAW, MARY A. Widow of James S. Kershaw; born in South Wales, September 12, 1838. She was the daughter of Evan and Elizabeth Jones. Her parents came to the United States in 1850 and settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where her father died in 1859; her mother is still living there at the advanced age of 82 years. Mrs. Kershaw came to Peoria with her grandmother, Jane Rowland, and was married to James S. Kershaw, April 5, 1855. They had three children: Daniel R., born January 28, 1856, married Jennie Cole; Alfred E., born August 18, 1857, married Malinda Jones; and Margaret Ann, born January 5, 1863, married Edward C. Spangler. Mrs. [sic] James S. Kershaw’s parents, John and Mary, were natives of England, where he was born December 28, 1832, and where he received his education. After coming to this country, he was engaged in the coal-mining business for some time in Peoria County, but later purchased a farm at Jones Prairie, which he soon sold and removed to Oak Hill, where he again invested in farm property. He came to Elmwood in 1893 where he was one of the leading citizens until his death July 15, 1897. He was a member of Company C, One Hundred and Fifty-first Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served through the Civil War. (Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, 1902, page 693, submitted by Robin O'Neill)
KLINCK, DANIEL; Farmer; born in Ontario, Canada, July 6, 1841; educated in his native country. Leonard Klinck, his paternal grandfather, was born in Albany, New York; Elizabeth (Brown) was his paternal grandmother; Emanuel Homer, his maternal grandfather, and George and Mary (Homer) Klinck, his parents, were natives of Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Klinck had twelve children, ten of whom are now living: John; George; Daniel; James; Mrs. Martha Ditson and Mrs. Mary Baker (twins); Mrs. Elizabeth Baker; Joseph; Elias; and Thomas. The father died in 1853 and the mother in 1875. The two deceased children were Abraham and Leonard, the latter dying in infancy. The ancestry of the family is English, Dutch and Welsh. Daniel Klinck was married to Jane Martin in Canada February 18, 1869. They had seven children: S. Beatrice; Edith A., deceased; T. William M.; A. Louisa: Mary Jane; D. Edgar; and George F. S. Beatrice married Charles A. Bush, in Princeville, November 19, 1891. They had five children: L. Jane; C. D. William, deceased; George D. A.; Elizabeth L. S., who now resides in Bedford, Iowa; and Edgar F. Mary Jane was married March 28, 1900, to John A. Sentz, of Princeville Township. They have a daughter, Mabel J. T. William M. is a farmer in Bedford. A. Louisa is the wife of Bert P. Williams, of Princeville. They were married December 14, 1898, and have one daughter, Garna Z. Mrs. Daniel Klinck died April 27, 1894. Mr. Klinck is a member of the Methodist Church. In politics he is a Prohibitionist. (Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, 1902, page 786, submitted by Janine Crandell)
KOERNER, DAVID; Farmer; born in Hamilton County, Ohio, October 15, 1835; son of Jacob and Christina Koerner, and grandson of Jacob Koerner, natives of Germany. The second Jacob Koerner came to America and settled first at Cincinnati and then near Columbus, Ohio, where he rented a farm and carried on farming and stock-raising. In 1848 he came to Peoria county and purchased a farm on section 15, Kickapoo township, where he passed the remainder of his life. He died in 1867, and his wife in 1877. They were buried on the old farm. At twenty-five years of age David Turner left the parental roof-tree and bought a farm of 80 acres. After his father's death he bought the interests of the other heirs and became owner of the old homestead. He now has three hundred and twenty acres of land, and is a hard-working and successful farmer. He is a Democrat and has served as school director. In 1860 he married Louise Seibold in Kickapoo township. She was born in Germany in 1837, daughter of Gottlieb Seibold, who came to America and was never afterward heard of. Subsequently the mother died in Germany. Mrs. Koerner came to America in company with friends when sixteen years old. There were born of this marriage six children: David (deceased), Jacob C., Caroline Rosina, Frederick W., Louisa C. and Mary Elizabeth. (Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, 1902, page 731, submitted by Janine Crandell)
KOERNER, JOHN F.: Farmer; born February 6, 1859, in Kickapoo township, Peoria county; is the son of Christian and Nancy A. (Stringer) Koerner, who were born, the father near Cincinnati, Ohio, the mother in Peoria. Jacob Koerner, his grandfather, was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany. Christian Koerner settled on a farm in Kickapoo township in 1847, and there his wife died in 1877 and there he lived till 1893. They were the parents of four children: John F., David Williams, Christine and Anna. Mr. Koerner was the owner of one hundred and ninety-two acres of land, ninety-two acres of which is on the Knoxville Road. John F. Koerner was educated in the common schools and at the Parrish Business College, and after the death of his father, he settled on a part of Section 5 in Richwoods Township, where he has been prominent in public affairs, serving as School Director in District No. 6 and as Township Assessor. He married Emma Sebruck in Peoria, March 5, 1892, and they have two children, named Ralph S. and Cora M. Mrs. Koerner was born in Pekin, Tazewell County, May 10, 1862, a daughter of John and Mary Sebruck, natives respectively, of New York and of Switzerland, but now deceased. Her father did galliant service in the army of the United States in the Mexican War and again in our Civil War. (Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, 1902, page 815, submitted by Janine Crandell)
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Updated July 16, 2006