Bio: Kirkhoff, Sumner B. (1914)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org.

Surnames: Kirkhoff, Hughes, Fety, Hathaway, Deans, Beardsley, Selick, Worthington, Smith, George 

----Source: History of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin (1914) pages 760-761 

Sumner B. Kirkhoff, of Eau Claire, has been one of the leading men of this county for years, was born here on June 19, 1866, the son of Frank and Ada (Hughes) Kirkhoff. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and during the civil war enlisted in Company E, 13th Pennsylvania regiment, volunteer infantry, and was a brave and efficient soldier. At the expiration of his army service he came to Eau Claire with his wife in 1865, and besides our subject, Sumner B., one daughter, Hannah, was the only other child born to them. Hannah has been twice married, her first husband was Mr. Hathaway, a veteran of the civil war, by whom she had four children: Percy S., Grace R., Maud and George E. Percy S. married Delia Fety and they have two children, Loy and Verne. Grace R, married Charles Deans, and they have two children, Dorothy and Warren. Maud is now Mrs. George Selick. George E. is a teacher at West Salem, Wis. He married Miss Burgle Worthington, and they have one son, Parker.  

Her second husband is C. L. Beardsly (whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume). 

Benjamin F. Kirkhoff, grandfather of Sumner B., was born in New Jersey, and when a small boy his parents moved to Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and thence to Crawford county, Ohio, where he followed the occupation of machinist and blacksmith, and was married to Miss Rebecca George, daughter of Michael George, an old and respected resident of that county. They had a family of six children, viz: Caroline J., Sarah E., Minnie E., Frank L., Sumner B., and Martha L. These were all born in Mineral, Penn. 

Sumner B. Kirkhoff was for twenty-three years successfully engaged in farming, and during ten years of that time he conducted a blacksmith shop in the town of Pleasant Valley, and for the past nine years he has been Deputy State Game Warden. He was County Superintendent of the Poor for two years, and served four years in the City Council of Eau Claire. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen and the Beavers. 

In October, 1889, Mr. Kirkhoff married Miss Clara Smith, of Pleasant Valley, and they have four children, viz: Warren O., Helen R., Sumner B., Jr., and Harris S., all born in Eau Claire.