| 660 | NEBRASKANA |
Company for 20 years prior to 1928, and was secretary and director of the Farmers Corpoation (sic) in which he still holds a majority of stock.
He was married to Belle Frances Edwards at Neligh, Nebraska, January 1, 1889. Mrs. Kinney was born at St. Louis, Missouri, November 1, 1863, of Welsh and Holland Dutch descent. Six children were born to them: Albert E., July 25, 1890, who married Grace M. Jenkins; Ray H., November 7, 1892, who married Ethel Linton; Walter L., March 16, 1895 who married Ella Earl; Harvey C., January 22, 1898, who married Martha Johnson; Laura B., January 5, 1901, who married Raymond Elliott; and Charles E., November 22, 1903.
Mr. Kinney is a member of the Park Congregational Church at Elgin and holds membership in the Nebraskana Society. Residence: Elgin.
Hazel Gertrude Kinscella
Hazel Gertrude Kinscella, composer, writer, and noted music educator, has lived in Nebraska, since 1908, and has been prominent in educational fields for many years. She was born at Nora Springs, Iowa, the daughter of Samuel and Ella Gertrude (Quinn) Kinscella. Her father, who was a business man, was born at Cumberland, Ontario, Canada, May 19, 1851, and died February 26, 1930; he was of Scotch descent. Her mother, who was at one time a teacher and writer, was born at Freeport, Illinois, of English and Irish ancestry.
Miss Kinscella was graduated from the Nora Springs High School and Seminary, and in 1916, received the Bachelor of Music degree at the University School of Music at Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. In 1928 she was awarded the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Nebraska; received her A. B. degree there in 1931; and is a graduate student at Columbia University, New York. She holds membership in Alpha Rho Tau; Pi Kappa Lambda; Mu Phi Epsilon; and Phi Beta Kappa.
Her professional activities are as follows: guest teacher at the universities of North Carolina; South Carolina; Michigan; Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York; Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia, Kansas; Kearney State Teacher's College, Kearney, Nebraska; and Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina. She is now major teacher of piano at the University of Nebraska School of Music in Lincoln. She was one of three American pianists chosen to serve as piano consultant at the Anglo-American Music Conference at Lausanne, Switzerland, in the summer of 1931. She is a member of the advisory council for the Damrosch Music Appreciation Hour on the air.
She is the author and composer of the following: Young Pianist's Library, published by G. Schirmer of New York; First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Steps for the Young Pianist; Essentials of Piano Technic; My Very First Music Lessons; My Own Little Music Book; Velocity Studies for the Young Pianist; Ten Little Pieces for the Young Pianist; Ten Tiny Tunes for the Young Pianist; Ten Little Duets for the Young Pianist; Ten Tiny Tune Duets for the Young Pianist; and Ten Musical Tales for the Young Pianist.
While Miss Kinscella has devoted most of her writing to musical compositions for children, she has also written: six Readers in Appreciation, published by the University Publishing Company; two songs, Longing, and Daisies, published by G. Schirmer; and a college song, Dear Old Nebraska. She is the composer of Music and Romance, published by the RCA-Victor Company; has been recording pianist for the RCA-Victor and the Duo Art companies; and is the author of more than a hundred articles for The Etude, Musical America, Musical Courier, and Better Homes and Gardens.
Miss Kinscella is a life member of the National Educational Association; a member of the Supervisors' Conference; Writers' Guild of America; Nebraska Writers' Guild; the American Guild of Organists; the Lincoln Clef Club; is state president for Nebraska of Pen Women of America, and a life member of the Nebraska Alumni Association. She holds membership in the Red Cross; the Nebraskana Society; the Young Women's Christian Association; and the Second Presbyterian Church of Lincoln. Residence: Lincoln.
William Thorton Kinsey
A leading farmer in Franklin County, Nebraska, is William Thornton Kinsey, who was born at Leon, Iowa, March 19, 1868, the son of David Jacob and Mary Eliza (Linton) Kinsey. His father, who was a pioneer farmer in Kansas in 1871, was born in Ohio, December 25, 1837, and died at McDonald, Kansas, February 19, 1920; he served as sergeant in the Fifth Kansas Cavalry during the Civil War. His mother was born in Montgomery County, Indiana, August 11, 1843, of Scotch and Irish descent, and died at Phillipsburg, Kansas, November 7, 1903.
Mr. Kingsey completed his high school education at Sutton, Nebraska, in 1882. He has been successful in farming near Naponee, Nebraska, for a number of years, and is especially interested in Aberdeen Angus cattle. He is a member of the Aberdeen Angus Breeders Association, holds membership in the Naponee Elevator Company, and is affiliated with the Congregational Church of Naponee. He is a Mason.
On January 25, 1898, his marriage to Ella Florence Fogleman was solemnized at Phillipsburg, Kansas. Mrs. Kinsey, whose father was a surgeon in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, was born at Butler, Illinois, September 4, 1873, and died at Naponee, April 15, 1930. She was a teacher prior to her marriage. The two children born to this marriage are: Wayne, May 28, 1906; and Helen, July 26, 1909, who was graduated from Naponee High School in 1928. Residence: Naponee.
Thomas Jefferson Kirby
For the past 47 years Thomas J. Kirby has lived in Nebraska where he has been consecutively, a farmer, hardware dealer, and automobile dealer. He was born at Carman, Illinois, November 2, 1856, the son of James and Sarah (Butler) Kirby. His father, who was born in Maryland, July 18, 1819, and died at Carman, March 22, 1895, was a farmer who had 160 acres of farm land in Illinois, in 1850; he traveled by ox-team to California in the gold rush of 1849. His mother was born June 21, 1832, and died at Carman, January 12, 1861.
Mr. Kirby attended the grade school and then became engaged in farming. In 1890, he became active in the hardware business at Gresham, Nebraska, where he sold some of the first bicycles manufactured. He moved to Tobias, in 1918, and entered the automobile business in connection with a hardware store. Mr. Kirby has the distinction of selling the first radio and first automobiles in Saline County.
His marriage to Sophia Ruth Worden was solemnized at Carthage, Hancock County, Illinois, March 5, 1884. They have three children: Minda, born April 8, 1889, who married Harmon G. Eyestone; Thomas G. Jr., born November 2, 1895; and Nellie Ruth, born May 27, 1897, who married Harold J. Horney.
Mr. Kirby holds membership in the Nebraskana Society, the Woodmen of the World, and the Odd Fellows. He is a Republican. Residence: Tobias.
Sarah Seybolt Kirk
A resident of Nebraska for the past forty-five years, and principal of the Junior High School at Broken Bow for the past five years, Sarah Seybolt Kirk was born at Westtown, New York, September 27, 1880. She is the
NEBRASKANA |
661 |
daughter of George Arnold and Mary Josephine (Thorn) Seybolt.
George Arnold Seybolt, born in Orange County, New York, May 10, 1843, was a real estate broker at Lincoln until his death there on January 23, 1931. His ancestry in America dates to 1730, when his great grandfather, John Mickle Seybolt, came from Wurtemburg, Germany. He later fought in the Revolutionary War.
Mary Josephine Thorn was also born in Orange County, but on April 16, 1847. She traces her ancestry to 1700 when her family came from England. Many of them served in the Revolution. She was a devoted worker in the Presbyterian Church, who died at Lincoln on August 21, 1904.
Educated in the public schools of Lincoln, Sarah Seybolt was graduated from high school in June, 1900. She later attended the Peru State Teachers College, the Kearney State Teachers College, the University of Nebraska and the University of Wisconsin. She has a life teacher's certificate.
On March 7, 1907, she was married to James Albert Kirk at Lincoln. He was born in Orange County, Indiana, January 30, 1878. There is one son, Harold, born February 2, 1908. She (sic) was an honor student at the Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa, where he was a member of Tan Beta Phi, honorary engineering fraternity, Eta Kappa Nu, honorary electrical fraternity and Phi Kappa Phi, scholastic fraternity. He is a member of Acacia, the Masonic Lodge and the Presbyterian Church, and at present is an electrical engineer at Waukegan, Illinois, with the Northern Illinois Light and Power Company.
A leading figure in civic and club work, Mrs. Kirk is a member of the Woman's Club, the P. E. O., the Eastern Star and the Degree of Honor. She is a member of the Red Cross, General George A. Custer chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Nebraska State Teachers Association and the National Educational Association. Recently she was made a life member of The Nebraskana Society. Residence: Broken Bow.
Howard Kirkpatrick
Howard Kirkpatrick, director of the University School of Music at Lincoln, has lived in Nebraska for the past 25 years. He was born at Tiskilwa, Illinois. February 26, 1879, the son of John and Honor (Grubbs) Kirkpatrick. His father, who was born in Ohio and died in Illinois, was a business man and a farmer of Scotch-Irish descent. His mother, whose ancestry was German, was born in Indiana and died in Tiskilwa in 1891.
Mr. Kirkpatrick attended elementary schools in Elmwood and Tiskilwa, Illinois, and in 1899, received the Bachelor of Music degree at Oberlin, Ohio. He studied music at the Royal Conservatory at Leipzig, Germany, was a student at Florence, Italy, for two years under Vincenzo Vannini. During 1902-03 he studied with and was assistant to Edmund J. Myer at Chautauqua, New York. In college he was elected to membership in Phi Kappa Lambda and Phi Gamma Delta. He is now director of the University of Nebraska School of Music and a teacher of singing. The author of many songs, and of Applied Vocalization, he has composed operas Olaf and La Minuette, anthems, and the Nebraska pagent the Fire Worshippers.
He is a member of the Nebraska Writers Guild, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, the Crucible Club, The Club, the Nebraskana Society and the Shrine Club. He is past president of the Nebraska Academy of Singing Teachers, is affiliated with the Congregational Church, Lincoln and is a member of the Republican party. He is a Mason and a member of the Shrine and an Elk. His favorite sport is golfing.
Mr. Kirkpatrick was married at Neligh, Nebraska, to Vera Wattles, on June 23, 1907. One child was born to them, Jean, born on October 25, 1913. Residence: Lincoln. (Photograph in Album).
George A. Kittle
George A. Kittle, county clerk at Hayes Center, Nebraska, was born in Hayes County, November 10, 1897, the son of George Y. and Tillie (Larson) Kittle. His father, who was born at Cantril, Iowa, July 30, 1869, is an auctioneer and rancher, served as county commissioner four years, and is leader in county improvements. His mother, whose Norwegian ancestors moved to Hitchcock County, Nebraska in 1875, was born in Wisconsin, May 5, 1872. Her mother died in a Nebraska prairie fire.
Mr. Kittle was graduated from the high school at Palisade, Nebraska, 1918, attended the College of Business Administration for three years at the University of Nebraska, and taught school in Hayes County for three years. He received honors in high school and took part in athletic events, especially cross country running. Mr. Kittle has been a farmer and salesman for a wholesale grocery house, and since 1926 has served as county clerk of Hayes County, having been elected on the Democratic ticket by an overwhelming majority.
A member of the American Legion, he served as adjustant (sic) of that organization for two years 1928-29, and is now service officer. He holds membership in the Hayes County Commercial Club, the Masons and Odd Fellows, and is a director in the local school district. He is affiliated with the Hayes Center Congregational Church of which he is treasurer.
His marriage to Elva C. Birchall was solemnized at McCook, Nebraska, February 23, 1922. Mrs. Kittle, whose ancestry is English, was born at Hayes Center, September 5, 1898. She is a member of the Rebekahs Royal Neighbors, is treasurer of the American Legion Auxiliary, and is active in the work of her children. Their two children are: Keith, born November 26, 1923; and Bernard, born March 24, 1931. Residence: Hayes Center.
Henry Kitzinger
One of Nebraska's pioneer farmers is Henry Kitzinger who was born at Darmstadt, Germany, January 12, 1858, the son of Saervatius and Mary Cathrine (Miller) Kitzinger. His father, who was a farmer, was born in Germany and died at Lincoln, Nebraska, November 9, 1900; he came to America in 1860. His mother was born at Darmstadt, and died at Harvard, March 25, 1894.
Mr. Kitzinger attended the elementary schools of Stephenson County, Illinois, and for the past 55 years has lived near Harvard, Nebraska, where he has been active in political, civic, and business affairs. He served as a member of the city council for eight years, was a member of the school board for a number of years, and acted as township board-officer for a time. A Democrat, he was constable of Harvard for two terms.
He is a member of the Red Cross, the Nebraskana Society, the Congregational Church, and various other community societies. He served as director in the Harvard State Bank for four years, and for 44 years was an active member of the Modern Woodmen of America. During the World War he was interested in the sale of Liberty bonds.
His marriage to Mary Ann Gotheridge was solemnized at Harvard, October 30, 1881. Mrs. Kitzinger was born at Derbyshire, England, August 13, 1864. To this marriage the following children were born: Lottie May, July 5, 1882; Melvin E., April 3, 1886, who married Flora Waldorf at Western, Nebraska, December 27 1918, and Edith, October 27, 1888, who married Frank Kightlinger on November 3, 1929. Residence: Harvard.
Albert A. Kjar
Born at Lexington, Nebraska, May 9, 1890, Albert A. Kjar is a farmer and wholesale dealer in grain and hay. He is also interested in the breeding and management of registered Holstein-Friesians and has a very choice herd on his ranch near Lexington. His father, who was born in Denmark, March 4, 1848, came to this country in 1872 and homesteaded in Dawson County where he has been a farmer for many years. He was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary Volk in Dawson County. She was born in Germany, May 12, 1850, and died at Lexington, May 20, 1919.
Mr. Kjar received his early education in country schools, was a student in high school for two years, and in 1911 was graduated from the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture. He is a director and vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, is affiliated with St. Ann's Catholic Church, and is a member of the Knights of Columbus, having served as state deputy in Nebraska during 1929 and 1930. His social club is the Lexington Country Club.
He was united in marriage with Veronica Stuart at Lexington, April 17, 1917. Mrs. Kjar was born at Lexington, April 11, 1894, and died there, August 19, 1919. They have one son, Albert William, born January 23, 1918. Mr. Kjar is a member of the Democratic party and the Nebraskana Society. Residence: Lexington.
Oliver Cecil Kleckner
Born at Firth, Nebraska, October 4, 1881, Oliver Cecil Kleckner is the son of Samuel and Lavina (Auman) Kleckner. His father was born at Union Town, Pennsylvania, August 4, 1851, and later moved to Nebraska. He was a farmer, whose death occurred at Firth on June 4, 1922. His wife, Lavina Auman, was born in Kent, Illinois, June 16, 1858, and died at Firth, December 14, 1930.
Oliver Cecil Kleckner attended country school and for a number of years engaged in farming. For some time he has been in the general merchandise business at Firth. He was married to Minnie Louise Damrow at Lincoln, on November 24, 1908, and to their marriage were born four children: Ethel, September 27, 1909: Irene, November 11, 1913; Leona, November 11, 1917, and William, September 14, 1920. The two oldest have just completed business college, one is in high school and the other in grammar school.
Mr. Kleckner is a Democrat. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Firth and is a member of the Nebraskana Society. For two years he was a member of the Parent Teachers Association, and for four years was on the local school board. Residence: Firth.
Alois J. Klein
Born at Frantoly, Prachatice, Bohemia, February 6, 1866, the Reverend Alois J. Klein is one of Nebraska's most outstanding members of the clergy. He is the son of John and Catherine (Stepan) Klein, the former a native of Vitejice, Bohemia, born August 3, 1822, a master miller and a prominent member of the Millers' Guild at Lheaice, Bohemia. John Klein came of an unbroken line of millers who operated emphyteutic mills on the brook Zlaty Potok, beginning with the famed Forka Mill near Kralovice (Prachatice) Bohemia, under the Counts of Bucquoy and Schwarzenberg. John Klein came to America with his family in November, 1881, and died at Rosedale, Kansas, on April 24, 1887.
Catherine Stepan, who was born at Zernovice, Prachatice, Bohemia, April 4, 1838, died at Brainard, February 11, 1920, having made her home there since December 5, 1895.
Father Klein attended the German grade school in Frantoly, and was graduated from the German grammar school in Prachatice on July 31, 1878. On July 20, 1886, he was graduated cum laude from The Bohemian Gymnasium at Budejovice, and thereafter completed theological studies equivalent to a master's degree in America, in the seminaries of Budejovice and Klagenfurt, in Carinthia, and the German University at Prague, finishing in 1889. He was valedictorian in the Classical Gymnasium in 1886, and was ordained to the priesthood at Klagenfurt, Carinthia, on June 15, 1889.
Coming to Nebraska in November, 1889, he was appointed rector of St. Wenceslaus' Church at Wahoo, where in two years he paid off the last farthing of indebtedness on the rectory and erected a beautiful new church building. He had charge of the missions of Brainard and Weston, visiting each once a month. On December 10, 1891, he was transferred to St. Ludmila's Church at Crete, but retained charge of the missions at Brainard and Weston. The mission of Brainard prospering greatly Father Klein was determined to make a parish of it, and in 1898 secured a handsome building for a rectory. On September 5, 1893, he came to Brainard as its first resident pastor.
Weston formed, until February, 1901, a part of his ecclesiastical precinct. Father Klein was instrumental in enlarging the church building by extensive additions (1891), adding five lots to the church site, and increasing the membership from 32 families to 140. He founded three sodalities and completed the organization of the congregation.
During the "Bohemian Ethnological Exhibition" in Prague, Czechoslovakia, (1895), Father Klein paid a visit to the land of his birth. Upon his return he organized branches of the "Catholic Workman" at Brainard, Weston, Dwight, Touhy (1897), Loma (1902), and Bee (1909). Dwight was then a promising tributary of his Brainard church, and there Father Klein held services in the public schoolhouse until, owing to his tireless work, a frame church was erected in 1899. Then while in charge of St. Anthony's Church at Bruno, a new priest's house was built in 1901.
Turning his attention to Dwight, he furnished and improved the church structure, founded a number of benevolent societies, added an acre of land to the cemetery, enlarged the church site, purchased a residence for the parish house and erected a hall for the use of the organizations connected with the church.
In 1909, he founded a mission in Bee, where he saw a church arise in 1910. In the fall of that year the Dwight and Bee missions became independent pastorates. From St. Luke's branch of the "Catholic Workman" organized by him in Loma, in 1902, the present congregation sprang, a church for its use was erected in 1911, under his direction.
Though Father Klein has rendered valuable pioneer services to so many mission movements, still his main work has been founded in the upbuilding of Holy Trinity Church at Brainard, where hard working and faithful, he has embodied his ideals, and has poured forth lavishly the ardor of his youth. Through his untiring and enthusiastic efforts a vigorous campaign for funds was instituted and after long and persevering work, facing much opposition, the construction of a stately brick and stone church was completed in 1906, at a cost of $47,000. Its size, magnificence and interior elegance easily rank it among the most notable buildings of Omaha.
Being an ardent advocate of religious education, Monsignor Klein conceived a parochial school for Holy Trinity. He had provided a site beside the church for this, and after tireless effort, and many hardships, witnessed the dedication by Bishop Tihen on August 23, 1916. This beautiful structure, erected at a cost of $52,000, accommodates 180 pupils, and is a most cherished monument of Monsignor Klein's career.
In the year 1927, this zealous pastor turned his attention to a new rectory, and in the spring of 1928, completed what is perhaps one of the finest in the Lincoln Diocese, costing more than $30,000. The brilliant achievements of Monsignor Klein form a lasting memorial of his devotion
|
