1890 Buchanan and Delaware Counties History pgs. 504-505
B. F. KAHL, an enterprising and
successful farmer of Oneida township, Delaware county, is
a native of Clinton county, Pa., and was born July
10, 1833.
His parents, Michael Kahl and Mary Beerley, were both natives also of Pennsylvania, the
father having been born in 1790, and the mother in 1799. They
always lived in their native state and there also died, the father in 1851, and
the mother in 1861. They belonged to the sturdy, substantial class of people of
the locality where they lived and passed their lives in those pursuits in which
they were best adapted by taste and training to succeed, being always engaged
in farming. They were members of the Lutheran church, zealous in their advocacy
of the cause of Christianity, and lived lives consistent with their
professions. They had twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, only five
of whom are now living.
The subject
of this notice, who was the eleventh of these in point of age, was reared in
his native county, growing up on his father's farm. He received an ordinary
common-school education and was engaged in farming pursuits until he reached
his eighteenth year. He then entered a, shop in Clinton, Pa., where he learned the wagon-maker's
trade, which he followed about five years. In 1857, he came to Iowa and bought the tract of land in Oneida township, Delaware county, on which he now lives,
returned to Pennsylvania, married, and came again to Iowa, settling on his farm, where he has
since lived. Mr. Kahl thus became one of the early settlers of his township as he has since
become one of its most valuable citizens. Beginning, as all early settlers did,
on the raw prairie, and with hardly enough to make a successful start, Mr. Kahl experienced many of the hard
ships and privations which were known only to the early settlers as he enjoyed
many pleasures which were especially theirs. Out of his early struggles he has
emerged victorious, in a great measure, at any rate. He now owns a good
farm-one that yields well and is well improved -and has sufficient stock to run
it successfully; he has a pleasant home and many friends and desirable
acquaintances. He has reared a considerable family of children, whom he has
trained to habits of industry and usefulness and to whom, at least those old
enough to begin life for themselves, he has given such aid as his means would
allow; so that, measured by the standard by which men are usually measured, he
may not unfairly be said to have done well.
Mr. Kahl married January 17, 1857, taking as his wife Miss Abby Lowry,
who was born and reared in Pennsylvania. Her father,
Jacob Lowry, and her mother, whose maiden name was Matilda Mohr, are both
living, residing now, as always, in their native state of Pennsylvania.Mr.
and Mrs. Kahl are the parents of eight children, six
now living-Matilda, born August 28, 1859; Henry J., born July 31, 1860; Jennie V.,
wife of Frank Miller, of Elk township, Delaware county, born July 5, 1862; Elvina E., wife of George Robinson, of Elk township,
Delaware county, born March 6, 1864; Mary A., wife of Richard Mattingly, of
Oneida township, Delaware county, born January 19, 1866; Leah M., born November
15, 1868; Lenora, born May 11, 1870; Lillie M., born April 6, 1875. Matilda
died September 28, 1859; Henry was married to Allie Byers
of Delaware county, March 15,
1883, and
died December 7, 1885.
Mr. and
Mrs. Kahl are both members of the Methodist church,
as are also their children, and they all take great interest in all church
work, as well as all other matters relating to the welfare of the community in which
they live.
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