LOUIS KINDER (deceased) was a son of Valentine Kinder, and a brother of George Kinder. His great-grandfather, George Kinder, resided on Plum Brush, and followed the Ohio and Mississippi rivers as a trader and boatman. For a time he was successful in business, but, being overtaken by financial trouble, a few years later went to New Orleans and never returned. His son George was born in East Bethlehem township, this county, and lived in that vicinity until after his marriage, when he was accidentally killed in a carding-mill which he owned and operated. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Christian Boone, was born in Greene county, Penn. He had no educational opportunities, and followed farming and carpentry, but eventually became a successful business man. Valentine Kinder, father of subject, was born in 1805, in East Bethlehem township. He received a limited education in the common schools, and was a good penman. When a young man he went to Galena, Ill., upon a mining expedition, thence proceeding to St. Louis he raised a crop of corn, and returning home, taught school for a time. He then married Miss Julia Boone, at which time his entire worldly property amounted to $35. He located just below the present home of his son, George, and remained there two years. He then removed to West Mill. Six years later he bought the home of his son Louis, where he lived a number of years, and thence removed to the old Nicholls farm near Hillsborough. At the time of his death, which occurred June 12, 1890, he left $10,000 for distribution, having previously divided $50,000 among his children.
Louis Kinder was born October 21, 1834, on Pigeon creek, West Bethlehem township, Washington Co., Penn. When a young child his parents moved to the old home farm, where he was reared, and resided with his family. Although his school advantages were comparatively limited, Louis Kinder became a good scholar and an earnest reader, and one of the best informed men in his community. On December 10, 1856, he was married to Nancy Roberts, a daughter of J. D. and Elizabeth Roberts, and soon after his marriage he began business for himself upon the home farm.
J. D. Roberts, the father of Mrs. Louis Kinder, was born in 1802 upon the old farm in West Bethlehem township, and in early life followed the carpenter's trade, from which he saved enough to purchase his farm, where he spent the remainder of his life, accumulating a good property. In 1827 he married Elizabeth Hamilton, daughter of Alexander and Catherine Hamilton, and they had the following named family of children: Sarah, Leonard, Henrietta, Catherine, John, Wesley, Elizabeth, James, Antoinette and Nancy. Mr. Roberts and family were members of the Methodist Church. He died on the farm on January 10, 1877, and his wife at Hillsborough on January 10 1889.
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Kinder had the following children born to them: Elizabeth Jane (deceased), Wilber Leonard, Curtin, Iona, Anna, Valentine and Frank. Mr. Kinder was a Republican, and took much interest in the workings of his party. He was a highly-esteemed citizen and neighbor, and a successful business man. He was in the United States service about nine months, enlisting in the Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry in March, 1864. In religion he was a Lutheran, while most of his family were members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Kinder died October 6, 1889, deeply mourned by his friends and neighbors. He left to his family an excellent farm of 130 acres.
Text taken from page 915 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]