Marshall-Logan County KS Archives Biographies.....Kinsley, W. J. 1871 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 18, 2007, 6:42 pm

Author: Emma E. Forter (1917)

W. J. KINSLEY,

    W. J. Kinsley, one of the prominent men and substantial farmers of
Marysville township, Marshall county, was born in Wisconsin on November 3, 1871,
and is the son of John and Jane (Lootitt) Kinsley.

    John and Jane Kinsley were born in England, he on July 4, 1845 and she on
October 14, 1853. They were both of the farming class in their native land and
grew to maturity on the home farm, receiving their limited education in the
public schools. The father worked as a farm hand before he came to the United
States and the mother did much work for people other than her parents. They came
to America single and located in Wisconsin, where they were married on December
5, 1870. John Kinsley was a young man when he located in Wisconsin and there he
worked in the lead mines, after which he enlisted. in a Wisconsin regiment and
served eighteen months in the Civil War. At the close of the war he returned to
Wisconsin, where he was later married and where he and his family lived until
1880. Mr. Kinsley then came to Kansas where he purchased eighty acres in
Marshall county. This he developed and improved and engaged in general farming
for ten years, when he traded the tract for three hundred and twenty acres in
Logan county, Kansas. This farm he also developed and improved and was engaged
in farming and the raising of good stock, until 1913, when he sold the farm and
moved to Overland Park, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, where he is now
living a retired life. Mr. Kinsley was prominent in the life of Logan county,
Kansas, but did not aspire to office. He is a member of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows and has filled all the official positions .in the order, including
that of past noble grand.

    John and Jane Kinsley are the parents of the following children: W. J.,
James, Christopher, A. T., Sadie, and one that died in infancy; Jennie,
deceased; Louise, Elmer and Pearl. James is a farmer of Logan county, Kansas;
Christopher resides in Logan county, Kansas, and is engaged in the practice of
veterinary surgery; A. T. is president of the Kansas City Veterinary College at
Kansas City, Missouri; Sadie Long is a widow and lives at Oakley, Kansas; Jennie
is now deceased; Louise Pelfresne resides at Denver, Colorado, where her husband
is an employee of a railroad; Elmer resides at Laramie, Wyoming, and is
assistant state veterinarian, and Pearl is at home.

    W. J. Kinsley received his education in the common schools of Wisconsin and
Kansas and remained at home until he was fifteen years of age, when he worked as
a farm hand until he was twenty-four years of age, when he rented eighty acres
of land near Marysville, where he lived for one year, when he rented another
eighty acres near Oketo, where he remained for three years. He then rented three
hundred and twenty acres in the same vicinity, where he engaged in general
farming and stock raising for ten years. He then purchased his present farm of
one hundred and sixty acres near Marysville and is engaged in general farming
and stock raising, in which he has been most successful. He keeps a fine lot of
Duroc-Jersey hogs and many high-grade Shorthorn cattle and ten to twelve horses.
He has always taken much interest in local affairs. Politically, he is a
Republican and for thirteen years he served as a member of the school board and
was township treasurer for two years, when he was elected trustee of his
township, which position he now holds. He is secretary of the Farmers Elevator
Company and president of the local Farmers Union. His official life has always
been above reproach and his services have been such that he has the confidence
and respect of the entire community. He is most progressive and gives the same
care and attention to his official positions that he does to his own personal work.

    On October 14, 1896, W. J. Kinsley was united in marriage to Laura J.
Kirkwood, the daughter of Amos W. and Mary (Slaughter) Kirkwood. Mr. and Mrs.
Kirkwood were born in the state of Indiana, he on May 15, 1838, and she on
September 17, 1846. Mr. Kirkwood was reared on the farm and attended the common
schools. His father died when the lad was but fourteen years of age and it
became necessary to look after himself. He worked as a farm hand, and at the
outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in an Indiana reigment [sic] and served
three years in the cause of the Union. He then returned to Indiana, where he was
later married and there he and his wife lived for some time. They then took up
their residence in Illinois, where they lived until 1884, when they came to
Kansas, and here Mr. Kirkwood purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land near
Marysville, where he lived until 1896, when he sold the farm and bought three
hundred and thirty-three acres of land one mile north of where he had lived.
There he engaged in general farming and stock raising until 1901, when he rented
his place and moved to Manhattan, Kansas, so that his children might have better
educational advantages. After a residence of four years in that place the family
returned to Marysville, where Mr. Kirkwood lived a retired life until his death
on April 18, 1916. Mr. Kirkwood was a man in whom the people had the utmost
confidence and respect. He was a warm supporter of the Republican party and
served his township as trustee for several years. Fraternally, he was a Free and
Accepted Mason and had attained the order of Knight Templar. He was also a
member of the Eastern Star and was active in the work of the Grand Army of the
Republic. He attended the Presbyterian church and was a liberal supporter of
that denomination. Mrs. Kirkwood was also reared on the farm and received her
education in the common schools. At the age of sixteen years she left school and
until her marriage she worked for others, away from her home. She was ever a
constant help and inspiration to her husband in his work, and shared his
hardships. She sympathized with him in reverses and joined him in thanksgiving
over successes. Her life has been a worthy one and she is loved and admired by
all. She is a member of the Presbyterian church and she has long been prominent
in the religious and social life of her home community. She is a member of the
Knights and Ladies of Security; the Eastern Star and the Woman's Relief Corps,
and has always been active in the latter organization.

    Mr. and Mrs. Kirkwood were the parents of eight children as follow: Charles
N., Laura J., William M., Robert L., one, that died in infancy; Owen, who died
at the age of eighteen months; Mildred I. and Nina H. Charles N. is engaged in
farming and stock raising on the home place; Laura is the wife of W. J. Kinsley;
William M., resides at Hull, Kansas, and is engaged in farming, as is his
brother Robert L.; Mildred and Nina are graduates of Manhattan College and are
now teaching in the Marysville public schools and are at home.

    Laura (Kirkwood) Kinsley was born in Iroquois county, Illinois, on February
27, 1874. She received her elementary education in the public schools and later
attended the normal school at Marysville. After completing her education, she
was for three years one of the teachers of the county before her marriage. She
is a woman of fine attainments, cultured and refined and by her kindly
disposition and womanly traits, she has won for herself many friends who hold
her in the highest regard. Mr. and Mrs. Kinsley are the parents of two sons,
both of whom are at home: Elmer R., who was born on July 2, 1897, and is a
graduate of the Marysville high school in the class of 1915, and Ross K., who
was born on September 17. 1901, and is a junior in the high school.

    Mr. and Mrs. Kinsley were active members of the Presbyterian church and are
prominent in the religious and social life of the community, in which they live
and where they are active in all that tends to the betterment of the home
township and are among the strongest supporters of the best school system
possible. Mr. Kinsley has for many years had much to do with the civic life of
the township and the confidence placed in him has not been abused. His official
work in the schools and in the general civic life of the township has been of
the highest class.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions
by
Emma E. Forter

Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917)


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