John A. Kirchner, 1829-1916

KIRCHNER, BICKNELL, SITZ, PARKER, WILLIAMS

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 11/21/2010 at 13:59:59

John A. Kirchner, a retired farmer, who was the first settler in Clay county and for many years identified with agricultural and other interests of Peterson township, and who has contributed largely to the general improvement and financial worth of the vicinity, was born in Germany, May 24, 1829, a son of Christian and Magdalena (Knipchen) Kirchner. His father, also a native of Germany, came to the United States in 1841, making the voyage in a sailing vessel, and upon arriving in the new world went immediately to Albany, New York, where he remained for three years and then removed to a farm located about twenty-eight miles from that city where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1856 when he came to Peterson township, this county, and here spent his remaining years. The mother was born and married in Germany, and after a long and useful life also died in Peterson township. They had a family of eleven children, namely: John A., of this record; Dorothy, deceased; Mary, widow of C. H. Brokschink, of Webster City, Iowa; Barbara, who became the wife of Michael Springer, of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Jacob, a miller of that place; Christian and Philip, deceased, Charlotta, widow of Dr. Butler; Magdalena, who is, united in marriage with Walter French, a clothier of Sioux City, Iowa; Julia, deceased; and William, a farmer in this township.

In the common schools of his native land John A. Kirchner acquired his education and when twelve years of age left Germany with his parents for Albany, New York, where he was confirmed in the Lutheran church, remaining under the parental roof until he was nineteen years of age. He then started out in the world for himself, working out until 1852, when he went to California and located in Downieville, where he followed carpentering and mining for four years, and then returned to Peterson, this county, or rather where that town is now located. At that time there were few evidences of civilization in the vicinity and Mr. Kirchner squatted on the land which is now the site of Peterson, this being before the homestead law went into practice, and later he bought the property from the county as swamp land. Shortly before he made the purchase the railroad company laid claim to the same property, but he succeeded in buying it from the railroad corporation, though they failed to give him a bona fide deed. He was then obliged to purchase the land from the state and by appealing to the state legislature he had a special bill passed to that effect that one who had occupied land for a certain period of time could become its owner by paying two dollars and fifty cents an acre. Mr. Kirchner bought a half section in Peterson township and was the first pioneer in this part of the state. In company with him was A. S. Mead, and they started to walk from Dubuque, Iowa, crossing the river on the ice and then westward. Upon coming to Cedar Falls they were overtaken by a severe storm and thinking they had better stop over for a while, they applied at a hotel for lodging, but found it too expensive, so they decided to go on and were just leaving the building when the proprietor told them it would not be safe to make the venture in the terrible tempest, that they had better remain until springtime insasmuch as they would be unable to cross the country against the odds of winter. Taking his advice they desisted from journeying any farther until the weather had broken when they again started out to explore the surrounding county in search of desirable property and were finally directed to the Little Sioux, which they followed until they finally reached some land upon which Mr. Kirchner deemed it advisable to locate. He here remained long enough to put a portion of this acreage into shape for cultivation and he went east to visit his family, bringing them back with him to the new country. Through their combined efforts a cabin was built, and he at once engaged in farming and he has followed this vocation more or less ever since. Mr. Kirchner's mother would often facetiously remark that they had the largest door-yard in existence, extending from Sioux City to Fort Dodge, and that her chickens did not cause any trouble with the neighbors. He engaged somewhat in other enterprises, however, having built the first sawmill in Peterson township in 1872, which he has kept running constantly since its establishment. In addition to a tract of land consisting of four hundred and twenty acres in Clay township, Clay county, Mr. Kirchner owns two hundred and forty acres in Buena Vista county, eighty acres in Waterford township, Clay county, and five modern dwellings and one large store building in town.

In 1859 Mr. Kirchner was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Bicknell, by whom were born four children, namely: Ella, who became the wife of Edward Sitz, a miller of this township; Charles E., a farmer of Clay township; Rosa, wife of John Parker of Montana; and one child who is deceased. Mrs. Kirchner having departed this life, Mr. Kirchner was again united in marriage to Rachael Williams, by whom he had four children, namely: F. W., a hardware merchant of this township; John A., who resides in Oklahoma; Clyde, a farmer of Buena Vista county; and May, a foreign missionary in Chili, South America. Politically Mr. Kirchner has voted with the republican party since its organization and probably cast the first vote polled on that ticket in Clay county. He was the first postmaster of Peterson, officiating in that capacity for fifteen years, was also township clerk of the first district court, and county supervisor. Mr. and Mrs. Kirchner are members of the Lutheran and Methodist Episcopal churches, respectively, each being dutiful in the observances of religious obligations and faithful in attendance upon divine services in with the respective congregations. Mr. Kirchner belongs to Peterson Lodge, A. F. & A. M., in which he takes a profound interest. Being a man of considerable business ability and executive judgment, he has contribute much to the general welfare of the community, being instrumental in getting the railroad through this place. During his days of activity his energy was untiring and it was through his zealous application to business his straightforward dealing that he met with such rapid success and is now able to retire, maintaining the respect and praise of his fellow citizens and enjoying the comforts and contentment of a well spent and useful life.

Source: History of Clay County, Iowa, From ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO 1909, by Samuel Gillespie and James E. Steele, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1909.

Interment in Oakland cemetery
 

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