Sutter History Biographies K-L

History of Sutter County, California
Thompson & West, 1879

Biographies K and L

KECK, Robert, farmer; P.O. Yuba City; was born in Pennsylvania in 1848; when only one year old moved with parents to Ohio, in which State he lived for about 15 years; he came te California in 1864, and has ever since made this county his home. He was married in 1869 to Miss Alice Bacon a native of England; they have 4 daughters - Ida May, aged 8 years; Irene Y., aged 7 years; Frances J., aged 4 years; Carrie M., aged 2 years.

KEMPTON, H. B., farmer; P.O. Sheridan; lives on section 16, township 13 north, range 4 east; he owns 240 acres; was born in Maine in 1828; when ten years of age his parents removed to Ohio; in 1842 they moved to Illinois, where he lived until coming to this state. In 1853 he crossed the plains, coming to California and settling in Sutter county, where he has ever since resided. Married March 24, 1856, to Martha Wilson; she was born in Richland, Ohio, in 1833; they have seven children - three sons and four daughters.

KEYSER, Hon. Phil. W., attorney at law; P.O. Yuba City, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1824; read law with John H. B. Latrobe in Baltimore during the years of 1846, '47 and '48; was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Maryland, October, 1848. He came to California September, 1849, by way of Cape Horn, and went to the mines near where Nevada City now stands; from there he moved to Nicolaus; elected Alcalde of the town of Eliza, two miles below Marysville in 1850; lived there about 5 months, and then returned to Nicolaus. He was elected to the State Senate in 1851; a year later he opened a law office in Marysville in partnership with Judge Reardon, now Judge of fourteenth District. In 1853 was appointed postmaster of Marysville by President Pierce; which office he held for four years, when he resigned to resume his practice. In 1860 he moved to Yuba City, in the fall of same year, he was appointed County Judge; he was elected to the same office in 1861, which he held until January, 1864; he then removed to Virginia City, and engaged in the practice of law until 1867, when he moved back to Yuba City. A view of his residence may be found on another page of this book. He was here again elected County Judge, holding the office two years, when he resigned to accept the office of District Judge to which he had been elected in the fall of 1869; he still holds this office, having been re-elected in 1875. In 1879 he was elected the first Superior Judge. Judge Keyser was married November, 1861, to Miss A. M. Shoemaker, a native of Pennsylvania, her parents now reside in Fruitvale, Alameda county.

KIMBALL, E. C., druggist; P.O. Yuba City; was born in Richland county, Ohio in 1847, where he lived until ten years of age; he then moved to Knoxville, Iowa, living there three years; when he removed to Ashley, Pike county, Missouri; and lived there nine years; from there, he came direct to California, and located in Yuba City; he owns the only drug store in the town. He was married July 1877, to Miss Maggie Speer who was born in this state.

KIMBALL, John H., farmer; twelve miles south-west of Yuba City; owns 1,450 acres of land; P.O. Yuba City; born in Maine in 1831; he lived there until he was seventeen years of age, when he to Massachusetts, remained there until he came to California in 1852, by water; on his arrival he settled in Marysville, in 1856, removed to this county; in 1856 he was married to Miss Thankful Spooner, who was born in Massachusetts, they have five children, three daughters and two sons. Mr. Kimball has a fine home.

KINGSBURY, Henry K., farmer; Yuba City; was born in Howard county, Missouri, in 1826; born and raised a slave, about 60 miles from Jefferson City; he lived in slavery until the Emancipation Proclamation; during the war he purchased stock for his master, who was furnishing it to the Federal army. He was married in 1864 to Katherine Calaway, who was also raised a slave in Missouri, they have 4 children - all boys.

KIRK , J. A., farmer; was born in Virginia in 1817; left there when he was twenty-two years of age and went to Michigan; resided there and in Indiana some ten years; removed to Missouri in 1849; remained there until 1852, when he then started across the plains for California; was some four months on the way; settled in Yolo county; removed to this county in 1867; he owns 160 acres of land some twelve miles south-west of Yuba City; farming has been his principal business since his coming to this county. He married Miss Samantha Frost, a native of North Carolina, in 1850; they have six children - three sons and three daughters.

KIRKPATRICK, Samuel, farmer and stock raiser; P.O. Pleasant Grove; lives on section 14, township 11 north, range 4 east; owns 477 acres; he was born in Madison county, Kentucky, in 1810; moved with his parents in 1816 to Montgomery county, Illinois. In 1852 he came to California across the plains; being about six months on the way; he settled first in Placerville, but remained only one year; when he returned to Illinois, by water. In 1854 he crossed the plains again, and settled in Nevada county, where he lived one year; he moved to Sutter county, in 1856, and lived there until the division of the county, he living in the part assigned to Placer county; he removed to this county in 1876, where he now lives. He engaged in mining three years but has since been farming and raising stock. He was married in 1830, to Miss Lydia Starr, a native of North Carolina; they have three children living - two sons, and a daughter.

KLEMPP, Frederick, brewer; P.O. Yuba City; was born in Germany in 1850; he emigrated when 18 years of age to the United State and went to Ohio, where he lived only one year; he then moved to Saint Louis, Missouri, and lived there two years. Subsequently he came across the plains to California and lived one year in Sacramento; then moved to Marysville and lived one year; came to Yuba City, February, 1875, where he engaged in the brewery business. A view of Mr. Klempp's brewery will be found on another page. He was married to Mrs. Butler, a native of Illinois, they have four children - two boys and two girls.

KLOSS, C., farmer; P.O. South Butte; lives on section 5, township 15 north, range 2 east; owns160 acres he was born in Germany, Jan 26, 1848; he went to France in 1868, and remained there two years; emigrated to the United States in 1870; on his arrival in New York, he at once started overland to California, stopping for a short time in Sacramento; he then moved to Colusa county, where he lived for one year; subsequently he moved to Sutter county, present location, where he has since resided.

KNAPP, S. S., farmer; P.O. Live Oak; he lives on section 1, township 16 north, range 2 east; he was born in Vermont in 1820; when he was quite young his parents removed to New York; in 1838 he moved to Michigan; in 1852 he came to California, and remained here for about seven years, when he returned to Michigan. In May 1874 he came back to California and went to Marysville, living there about one year, he then removed to Sutter county where he has since resided. Married in 1854 to Miss A. A. Wright, who was born in Michigan in 1842, they have seven children.

KRULL & BENDER

KRULL, E. H., farmer; P.O. Live Oak; was born in Germany in 1841; emigrated to the United States when twelve years old, and settled in Iowa, where he lived about seven years; he then moved to Minnesota, and lived three years; he came to California across the plains, in 1864, being over four months on the way; he lived for awhile in Marysville, and settled in this county in 1870, where he is now engaged in farming; Krull Bros. own 400 acres near Live Oak, and 320 acres in East Butte.

KRULL, E.C

KUPSER, Bayott, farmer; P.O. Yuba City; was born in Switzerland; emigrated to the United States when about four years old, and lived five years in Galena, Illinois; he came to California in 1849, being eight months crossing the plains; on his arrival in the state, he first went to Butte county, but stopped there only three months; he moved to Yuba City in 1850, and has lived in the county ever since; he started a vineyard in Yuba City in 1855, but sold out in 1872 and has since been engaged in farming. Mr. Kupser owns 200 acres about 7 miles north-west of Yuba City. He was married in 1877 to Miss Mary Gard, a native of Germany, by whom he has had one child - a son.

KUPSER, John, Jr., farmer; P.O. Yuba City; was born in Yuba City, California in 1851, where he lived about 20 years, when he moved to the Live Oak area and engaged in farming; he has lived on his present place ever since. He owns 400 acres, and has a fine home 7 miles north-west of Yuba City.

LAMB, F., farmer; P.O. Kirksville, lives about 6½ miles north of Kirksville; owns 300 acres; was born in England in 1839. He emigrated to Canada when about 13 year old; he lived there about 10 years, when he came to California, and settled in Sutter county; he removed to his present location in the fall of 1878. He was married in 1874 to Mrs. Martha Budd; she was born in Illinois.

LAMME, Adam H., farmer and stock raiser; P.O. Yuba City; was born in Illinois in 1837; he was engaged in farming in that state until 1859, when he came across the plains to California. He first settled in Parks Bar, Yuba county, where he engaged in mining; in 1860 he went to Grass Valley, where he remained until 1862, when he moved to Carson City, and again engaged in farming; in 1867 he moved again and settled at North Butte, where he is now living, about eighteen miles from Marysville; he owns 1,160 acres of land. In 1857 he was married to Miss Fannie Crane, of Illinois; they have four sons.

LANDIS, L. H., farmer; P.O. Nicolaus; was born in Ohio, 1833, where he lived until 1857; in that year he came to California, and settled in Marysville, living there until 1864, when he moved to where he is now living, and engaged with his father in farming. Married in 1872 to Miss Lovica 0. Smith, who was born in Indiana, in 1841; they have four children - Francis E., Samuel H., Chas, W., and Anthony L.

LANDIS, Samuel, farmer; P.O. Nicolaas; was born in Pennsylvania, in 1804; removed to Virginia in 1829, to Ohio in 1833, and came to this State in 1858; he lived in Marysville six years when he moved to his present location where he has since resided. He had always been engaged in the boot and shoe business until moving on his farm. Married in 1828 to Miss Hannah Fairchild, of Pittsburgh, who was born in 1808; six children five of whom are living - S. F., aged 49; Joseph, aged 48; L. H., aged 46; Sarah E., aged 43; Mary J., aged 33. He owns 200 acres lives seven miles below Nicolaus.

LATHOM, C., farmer and stock raiser; P.O. Grand Island, Colusa county; owns 774 acres. He was born in Livingston county, Illinois, in 1842 where he lived until he was 18; when he moved to Nebraska; he lived there about 3 years; he then came to California, across the plains, and settled in this county, about 7 miles from Yuba City; he lived there about 3 years, when he removed to his present location where he has since resided. He was married in 1868 to Miss Frances Wemple; she was born in the state of New York; they have 2 sons and 2 daughters.

LEARY, James T., farmer; sec. 20, township 12, range 4; P.O. Nicolaus; owns 560 acres of land, born in Clarke county, Kentucky, in 1833; lived there until 1842, then went to Missouri, where he remained until the spring of 1853, when he went out with a Government surveying expedition; in the winter of 1853 and 4; they wintered at Salt Lake; several were killed south of Salt Lake including the captain of the expedition; in 1854 they reached California under command of Lieutenant Beckworth, and were discharged in August of the same year. Mr. Leary ran a pack train for the government until 1855, then settled in Sutter county. A view of his place may be found elsewhere in this book. He was appointed Supervisor in 1874 and served for one year; afterward ran for the same office and served three years. Married Miss Frances J. Mood, September 18, 1868; she was born in Missouri, in 1851. They have one daughter.

LEE, W. H.; P.O. Yuba City; was born in Howard county, Missouri, April 6, 1841, where he lived until twenty-one years of age: he came across the plains to California in 1864, and located in this county; he returned to Missouri in 1866 and engaged in farming for four years. In 1870 he returned to this state, and engaged in the livery business; subsequently, was appointed Deputy County Clerk; in 1877 he was elected County Clerk, and still holds the office. He was married in 1871 to Miss Ida Phipp, of Missouri.

LEET, George L., farmer; section 3, township 12, range 4; P.O. Nicolaus; owns 320 acres of land; born in New York state, 1844; lived in that state until January, 1865 when he came to California; after stopping in Napa county fourteen months, went to Sandwich and other islands of the Pacific, where he remained some nine months, when he went to Portland, Oregon, where he lived nine months; his next stopping place was Marin County, California; eighteen months later he went to Sacramento, and two years later he moved to this county and settled near Nicolaus, where he has continued to reside. Married Georgeana V. Algeo, October 31,1872; she was born in Nicolaus, Sutter county, Cal., in 1854; they have two children.

LUTHER, H., farmer; P.O. Live Oak; was born in Massachusetts in 1837, where he lived until seventeen years of age; he came to California by way of the Horn, in 1854, aboard the ship "Gov. Morton," and settled in El Dorado county; in 1860 removed to Sierra county, and lived there until 1864, in which year he settled in Sutter county; he was engaged in mining in the first mentioned county; while in Sierra county he kept a dairy and timber ranch; he has been engaged in farming since coming to this county. Mr. Luther owns 300 acres; a view of his residence is given elsewhere in this book. He was married in 1865, to Miss Laura B. Drew, who was born in Iowa; they have 5 children - Mary, 12; Everett W., 10; William. H., 8; Laura J., 6; Annie S., 4.

LYBECKER, Erick B.