These biographies were transcribed from Goodspeed’s Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton Counties. They are only the biographies for individuals who resided in Hall County Nebraska in 1890 whose surname starts with the letter K.
KELLY, Nicholas
Nicholas Kelly was born in the “Emerald Isle” in the month of June, 1829, being a son of Andy and Mary Kelly, who spent their lives on their native island. In 1856 Nicholas Kelly was united in marriage to Miss Ellin Costiean, their union taking place in the United States, but she was also born in Ireland, and on first coming to the New World settled with her relatives in the province of Canada, but later moved to Philadelphia, Pa. Mr. Kelly received the advantages of the common schools, and possessing the quick wit and keen intellect of his countrymen, he made rapid progress in his studies, and is now a well-informed and intelligent man. He followed various pursuits until the spring of 1861, then joined the home guards, but was never in active service. In 1882 he emigrated to Hall County, Neb., and purchased a farm of 160 acres, but his second crop was destroyed by the devouring elements, and for some time it was all he could do to make a living. By almost superhuman efforts he soon established himself on a sound footing, and has made for himself and family a comfortable home, much better than is owned by the average Nebraska farmer. His farm of 160 acres is all under cultivation, and is well stocked. He has always been generous in his contributions to worthy enterprises, and has always interested himself in the welfare of the community in which he has resided. He and wife are the parents of four children: Audrene (deceased), John, William and Andrew. The family attend the Roman Catholic Church.
KENT, Hiram E.
Hiram E. Kent, farmer, was born in Erie County, Pa., April 5, 1833, and is a son of John Kent, who was born in New Hampshire, but was reared principally in Canada, whither he was taken by his parents at an early day. After reaching manhood he moved to Vermont, and was married there to Miss Zanna Chittenden, a native of the “Green Mountain State.” Mr. Kent served for over three years in the War of 1812, and after his marriage moved to York State, thence to Erie County, Pa., and supplemented this with a three-years’ course in Girard Academy, after which he engaged in teaching the “young idea” in Pennsylvania and Arkansas. He was married in 1860, in Pennsylvania, to Miss Asenath Jerome, who was born, reared and educated in Ohio, and a daughter of Charles Jerome, and after their marriage they engaged in farming in Erie County, continuing until 1864, and in February of that year Mr. Kent enlisted in the Third Pennsylvania Artillery, and served until he received his discharge, July 25, 1865. He was then engaged in farming in Erie County until 1869, at which time he moved to Kansas, and after a two-years’ residence in Atchison County, he came to Hall County, Neb., and is now the owner of 160 acres of good land. His farm is situated about five miles from Grand Island, and is well improved with good buildings, fences, orchards, etc. Mr. Kent has served about twelve years as justice of the peace, and is a man who commands the respect and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact. He and wife have a daughter, Elma A. (who is still at home.)
KOEHLER, Gustave
Gustave Joehler is a liquor merchant and ice dealer of Grand Island, Neb., and was born at Mohorn, near Wilsdruff, kingdom of Saxony, Germany, December 27, 1842, being a son of Heinrick and Carolina (Henker) Koehler, who reared a family of three children: Bertha (widow of Herman Werner, of Wilsdruff), Louis and Gustave. The father was a brick-maker by trade. Gustave Koehler came to America in 1866, and joined his brother Louis in Indiana, the latter being now a resident of Chicago, in the tin-smithing business, and although he had learned the drug business prior to coming to this country, he found that the hardware business would be more profitable, and accordingly opened an establishment at New Corydon, Ind., and was profitably engaged there for two years. Being subject, however, to chills and fever in that locality, he removed to Omaha, Neb., and worked at the liquor business for two years, and then followed the same occupation n Wichita, Kas., being also engaged in farming and gardening. Since 1880 he has resided in Grand Island, and although he held the office of supervisor of Hall County one term, he is averse to holding public office. In 1885 he started a fine ice and fish pond at Grand Island, introducing German carp, and in addition to these enterprises, he is quite extensively engaged in the real-estate business, dealing in farms as well as city property. He is a stockholder in the Grand Island Improvement Company, is a director of the Citizen’s Bank, and is a stockholder in the canning factory. In all matters pertaining to the growth and development of his locality he has given an active support, and is highly respected as one of the leading business men of this portion of the State. He is a member of the Liederkranz, and he and his family worship in the Lutheran Church. He was married in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Miss Kate Whitney, a native of York State, born in Otsego County. Mr. Koehler’s only child, Emma, is a student at Garfield University, Wichita, Kas.
KOENIG, Hon. Henry Arnold
Hon. Henry Arnold Koenig, president of the Citizens’ National Bank at Grand Island, Neb., was born in Gütersloh, Westphalen, Prussia, May 3, 1836, and is a son of Henry Christof and Caroline (Zumwinkel) Koenig, the former of whom was a distiller by occupation, although his attention was given to other occupations also, he being the proprietor of a hotel. The Koenigs were a mercantile and manufacturing people, and the Zumwinkels were prominently identified with the pork packing interests of Westphalen. Hon. Henry Arnold Koenig grew to manhood in his native land and received a good literary education in the public schools, supplemented by a commercial training at Osnabrück, graduating from an educational institution of that place, at the age of sixteen years. After spending four years as clerk in Arnsberg he went back to Gütersloh, and for about three years was a book-keeper in a pork-packing establishment belonging to an uncle. He next spent one year in the regular army, but in the fall of 1859 he joined an elder brother, who had been a resident of Omaha, Neb., and was then at home on a visit, and came with him to America, and until the breaking out of the late Civil War was engaged in clerking in Omaha. He then enlisted in Company B, First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, and was on active duty until the fall of Fort Donelson, when he was honorably discharged on account of disability and returned to Omaha. In 1863 he became associated with Fred A Wiebe in the general mercantile business in Denver, Colo., but not being satisfied with his location he sold out his interest there and returned to Omaha, but almost immediately came to Grand Island nd opened a general mercantile establishment, which he successfully conducted for several years. During the Sioux Indian War of 1864 he fortified his store, and many farmers with their families would take refuge there during the night to protect themselves from the depredations of the Indians. During the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad he was a general contractor in railroad ties, and also furnished supplies and kept a State station and telegraph office for the Western Union Telegraph Company. Mr. Koenig and his partner built the first saw-mill in Grand Island, and in 1867 attached a grist-mill, which did duty here for many years. They dealt in grain, lumber, coal and general merchandise at an early day, but by 1871 it had become so extensive that they opened a State bank under the name of the State Central Bank, which continued until 1884 and then became the Citizens’ National Bank, and as such has since continued, Mr. Koenig being president of the bank continually since its organization. In 1887 the United Sates Investment Company was organized and a street car railway was built, of which Mr. Koenig has since been president. He has always been a very public spirited citizen, and to his influence is die the establishment of the beet root sugar industry at Grand Island, and he was also one to the chief promoters of the Grand Island Improvement Company. He has been active in local politics and has served the county as treasurer several terms, and from 1871 to 1874 was treasurer of the State. He has also been a member of the school board of the city, and was one of the organizers of the Liederkranz. Although he attends the Lutheran Church he is liberal in his views. He was married in Grand Island, Miss Agathe Henriette Von Wasmer, a daughter of William Von Wasmer becoming his wife, and his union with her has resulted in the birth of three sons and one daughter: Richard (who is a book-keeper in the Citizen’s National Bank, is married and the father of a son, named William), Mary (who is the accomplished wife of Dr. John Janss, of North Loup, Neb., and is the mother of a daughter, named Frida), Arnold (an intelligent young gentleman, taking the civil engineers’ course in the Washington University of St. Louis), and Henry (a clerk in St. Louis).
KURKA, William
William Kurka is a Bohemian, born in 1840, which fact is enough to assure one that he is one of the enterprising, frugal and industrious men of the community in which he resides. He remained in his native land until thirty years of age, then came to the United States to seek his fortune, and subsequent events have proved his judgment to be good, for his is now a successful merchant tailor of Grand Island, and has a competency which places him beyond the reach of want. After coming to the New World he worked for a short time in Chicago, then traveled for some time, and in 1880 located in Grand Island, and here has been prominently identified with the merchant tailoring interest of the place ever since. He is the owner of a fine business block and residence in Grand Island and the thorough manner in which he has conducted his affairs and the success which has attended his efforts, have tended to place him among the leading business men of the place. He was united in marriage to Miss Anna Manning, a native of London, Canada, their union taking place there. Mr. Kurka is a Select Knight of the K. Of P., and as a man of business enjoys the esteem and confidence of all who know him. His parents, Matthew and Catherine Kurka, were also native Bohemians.
Source: Goodspeed brothers. Biographical and historical memoirs of Adams, Clay, Hall and Hamilton counties, Nebraska, comprising a condensed history of the state: a number of biographies of distinguished citizens of the same, a brief descriptive history of each of the counties mentioned, and numerous biographical sketches of the citizens of such counties… Chicago: The Goodspeed publishing co., 1890.
Back to: 1890 Hall County Biographies
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