Bartholomew County IN Archives Biographies.....Kiel, Augustus (Sr.) 1850 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 24, 2007, 3:45 pm Author: B. F. Bowen (1904) AUGUSTUS KIEL, SR. There is in the life record of Augustus Kiel, of Jonesville, Indiana, much of interest, his history furnishing many lessons worthy of emulation. All that he has achieved has come as the reward of his tireless energy, perseverance and determination. The successful men are they who have planned their own advancement and have accomplished it in spite of obstacles and have at the same time won the favor and esteem of their fellow men. This class of men finds a worthy representative in Mr. Kiel, who began life amid unfavoring circumstances, but who is today one of the largest tax payers and landowners of the county. His birth occurred in Westphalia, Prussia, on the 5th of March, 1850. His parents were Fred and Anna Castroff (Pitmeyer) Kiel. During the infancy of Augustus they established their home in Columbus, Indiana, and there the father worked at his trade of painting for a number of years. Subsequently he turned his attention to farming, which he followed in Harrison township until his life's labors were ended in 1877. He found the business opportunities he sought and gained for himself and family a comfortable competence. A naturalized citizen, he informed himself concerning the political conditions of the country and ever endorsed the Democratic party. Both he and wife held membership in the Lutheran church. They had four children: Elizabeth, now deceased; Augustus, Annie and Amelia. Mr. Kiel of this review spent his boyhood days under the parental roof and at the usual age entered the public schools, acquiring a fair education. In early life he turned his attention to farming and has never seen occasion to change his occupation. The work is congenial to him and has also proved a source of good income. He has cleared over one hundred and twenty acres of land himself in Bartholomew county and knows what it is to perform the arduous task of rolling logs, teaming and of turning the first furrows in the fields. Year by year he has continued his work and year by year he has prospered as his crops and stock have been sold and have returned to him a good profit. He has thus been able to invest more and more largely in land and is today the owner of nine hundred and sixty acres of land, all lying in Wayne township, Bartholomew county, with the exception of a tract of three hundred and eighteen acres in Jackson county. All of this is arable and productive and Mr. Kiel is the highest tax payer in his township. He has made a specialty of raising grain and yet has given some attention to the raising of shorthorn cattle and other stock, and has recently turned his attention to buying and shipping stock, his acquired knowledge proving of value in this special line of business. He has never feared that close attention to the details of his business that forms the basis of success. In former years he worked early and late in order to gain a start and has always been an active and energetic business man, realizing that success comes not from a fortunate combination of circumstances, but is the direct result of perseverance and energy, guided by sound practical judgment. In 1874 Mr. Kiel was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Schnatzmeyer, a daughter of Henry and Minnie (Molting) Schnatzmeyer, both of whom were natives of Prussia. At an early period in the development of Bartholomew county they became residents of this portion of the state, having determined to try their fortunes in America in consequence of having heard many favorable reports concerning its business conditions. They settled in Columbus township and Mr. Schnatzmeyer carried on general farming there. Unto him and his wife were born eight children: Minnie, Louise, Henry, Daniel, Charles, Annie, Lena, and Tillie. The parents held membership-in the Lutheran church and Mr. Schnatzmeyer gave his political allegiance to the Democracy. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kiel have been born twelve children, Gus F., Charles, Albert, Henry, Daniel, Minnie, Clara, Nettie, Grover, Lena, Ora and Beatrice, and the family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death. Mr. Kiel votes with the Democratic party and at one time sought the nomination for county auditor, yet he has never been an active politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to give his time and energies to his business affairs. His Christian faith is indicated by his membership 'in ' the Lutheran church and his active work in its behalf. He is serving at the present time as one of the trustees of the church and contributes liberally to its support. Mr. Kiel is indeed a worthy and representative citizen of this community. He has reared a fine family of children and through his untiring efforts in the-business world has attained success. Yet in the prime of life, he has only passed the fifty-third mile-stone on life's journey and further prosperity will undoubtedly be gained by him as the years go by. He has worked hard, performing much arduous toil, and his success has been so honorably won that the most envious cannot grudge him his prosperity. Additional Comments: Extracted from BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA ILLUSTRATED 1904 B. F. Bowen PUBLISHER File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/bartholomew/bios/kiel761gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 5.8 Kb