KUMLE, ALVES L., a well known, popular and progressive farmer of Alexander, Morgan County, Ill., who also officiates as Deputy Sheriff of the county, was born in Alexander, November 25, 1863. He is a son of Sebastian and Gertrude (Rush) Kumle, natives of Germany, the father being born in Baden, January 20, 1830, and coming to the United States at the age of twenty years. The mother emigrated to this country with her brother in 1850. After spending two years in St. Louis, Sebastian Kumle settled in the vicinity of Alexander, Ill., where he secured employment as a farm hand and afterward conducted a rented farm. In 1853 by hard work, perseverance and economy he had saved sufficient money to buy a farm, which he improved and increased, until at the time of his death, July 28, 1901, he was one of the most prosperous agriculturists and substantial stock-raisers in Morgan County.
Alves L. Kumle attended the district schools in his boyhood and subsequently took a course in the Jacksonville Business College. From 1880 to 1885 he served as bookkeeper for the Central Illinois Banking and Savings Association of Jacksonville, known as the Central Bank. In 1856 he began operating the farm on which he has since lived. He and his wife are the owners of 225 acres, situated in Section 25, Town 15, Range 9, the tract being in a high state of cultivation, neatly fenced and improved with a fine group of buildings.
On November 9, 1886, Mr. Kumle was united in marriage with Alice G. Coultas, a daughter of Hon. Oliver and Margaret (Headen) Coultas. Mrs. Kumle is a woman of rare talents and many accomplishments. Four interesting children have blessed this union, namely: Harry C., born in 1887; Sebastian, in 1890; Margaret Emily in 1891; and Fannie Belle, born in 1904, who died in July, 1905.
In politics, Mr. Kumle is a firm adherent of the Democrat party. In 1902 he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Morgan County, by Sheriff H. J. Rodgers, whose duties he is capably and faithfully performing, in addition to ably managing his farm.
Fraternally, he is affiliated with Jacksonville Lodge, No. 152, K. of P., and with the Modern American Fraternal Order, No. 43. He and his wife are earnest and consistent members of the Christian Church at Antioch. Mr. Kumle has been identified with Morgan County all his life, and is highly regarded as an honorable, upright man, and a citizen of high repute.