Nobles County MN Archives Biographies.....Kizer, B. F. 1838 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com October 23, 2006, 1:51 am Author: Arthur P. Rose (1908) B. F. KIZER, retired farmer and capitalist of Wilmont, is one of the highly respected citizens of that village, and his life's history is an interesting one. Mr. Kizer was born in Cedar county, Iowa, Dec. 9, 1838. His father was Abraham Kizer, who was born in Virginia, but who came to Iowa when that commonwealth was a territory, and was among the pioneer settlers. He located in Cedar county and engaged in farming. There were Indians in that part of Iowa when he made his home there and for many years afterwards, and the settlers sometimes had trouble with them. The nearest market was Dubuque, eighty miles away. The Kizer family had many and varied experiences during the pioneer days. Abraham Kizer died in December, 1899, and was 98 years of age at the time of his death. He was of German descent, but the family had resided in America for many generations. Our subject's mother was Maggie (Lipsie) Kizer, of Irish descent. She died in 1897, aged 84 years. When B. F. Kizer was twelve years of age the family moved over the line into Scott county, and that was his home for many years. He was educated in the country schools of Scott county and was raised on his father's farm. For two summers during war times Mr. Kizer was a freighter, hauling goods from Plattsmouth (where the river Platte empties into the Missouri) to Denver. Returning to Scott county after this service he engaged in farming for himself, which he followed three years. He then moved to Buchanan county, Iowa, bought a quarter section of prairie land, broke it out, and farmed six years. From Buchanan county Mr. Kizer went to Benton county, Iowa, bought 160 acres of wild land there, and farmed until 1880. He then bought eighty acres in Osceola eounty, one mile south of the Nobles county line, and farmed it four years. In 1884 he sold out there and bought 240 acres of school land in Little Rock township, Nobles county, paying therefor $6.00 per acre—land which he still owns and which today is worth $65 per acre. Mr. Kizer farmed his Little Rock land until 1906, when he rented it and moved to Wilmont. He owns a ten acre tract in the village, all fenced and cut up into lots. A few years ago Mr. Kizer underwent a severe operation at Sibley, one of the most remarkable surgical operations on record, and he is now enjoying good health. In Cedar county, Iowa, on April 12, 1863, Mr. Kizer was married to Isabella Beckworth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. W. Beckworth. The former was born in Vermont, but later moved to Canada, where Mrs. Kizer was born April 4, 1848. Mr. Beckworth later returned to the United States and died in Missouri. Mrs. Kizer's mother was also a native of Vermont. She died when Mrs. Kizer was a child. Mr. and Mrs. Kizer are the parents of the following named children: Margaret S. (Mrs. Ed. Botwick), of Harris, Iowa, born Jan. 30, 1864; Ida May (Mrs. T. J. Stage), of Sibley, Iowa, born Feb. 27, 1866; G. E., of Little Rock township, born June 6: 1868; Sidney, of DeSmet, S. D., born July 26, 1871; B. Frank, of Little Rock township, born Nov. 27, 1882; Eva Isabell (Mrs. Emery Reese), of Wilmont, born March 30, 1884. Additional Comments: Extracted from: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF NOBLES COUNTY MINNESOTA BY ARTHUR P. ROSE NORTHERN HISTORY PUBLISHING COMPANY WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA PUBLISHERS 1908 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/nobles/bios/kizer146gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mnfiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb