Anderson County Biographies
"Portrait and Biographical Record of Southeastern Kansas"
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1894
BENARD H. KELLING has been a resident
of Anderson County since 1872, when he
came here from Washington County, Iowa,
and located in Jackson Township, on section 29. Mr. Kelling was born in Prussia, January 31, 1835, and when but one and a-half years
of age was brought over to America by his parents,
Benard and Helena Kelling. The father died in
Comanche, Iowa, about six months after arriving
there, and the mother passed away in Rock Island
County, Ill. Soon after the death of the father,
the family removed to Rock Island County, where
our subject lived until he was sixteen years old,
when he crossed the plains to California, being
eight months on the way. He lived at various
places along the Pacific Coast for five years, working by the month part of the time and subsequently finding employment in the mines. He
returned to Rock Island County and remained
there a few months, and then went to Iowa, where
he was employed by a railroad company for two
seasons, after which he tried farming for about a
year.
At the tune when so many people were going
to Pike's Peak, our subject was among the very
first to go, but he was satisfied the re only a
short time, and returned to Illinois. He remained there another brief period and then went
to Washington County, Iowa, where he engaged
in farming. While living there he was united in
marriage to Catherine Seber, in 1861. By her
union with Mr. Kelling, this good lady became the
proud mother of three children, Alex H., William
B. and Frederick L., and went to her final rest in
that county in 1880. Two years later our subject was again married, his second choice of a life
companion being Mrs. Mary E. Durstine, nee
Gorton. Mrs. Kelling was born in Vermont,
March 29, 1849, and was the widow of C. Wilson
Durstine, who died in April, 1881.
When Mr. Kelling was first married, he settled
in Washington County, Iowa, and stayed there
until the spring of 1872, when he came to Kansas
and located in Coffey County. He remained
there until the following autumn, at which time
he established himself in Anderson County, and
located on section 20, this township. From there
he came to his present place of abode, one mile
south. Mr. Kelling possesses a clear intellect, and
is a man of wide experience and extended information. He has improved his estate, which comprises five hundred acres, and it is considered one
of the best kept farms in the county. Besides general farming, our subject is engaged quite extensively in the raising of stock, and keeps some of
the best grades always on hand. He has never
been an office-seeker, but attends strictly to his
own affairs at all times, thus finding but little
time to devote to politics.
Mr. Kelling is known and respected for the
honesty and sincerity of his character, and has the
friendship of some of the best men in the community. His genial and hopeful disposition, combined with a persevering nature, is the secret of
his success in life.
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