SAMUEL KAHL.

SAMUEL KAHL is the owner of one of the finest farms of Woodson County, and the place is a monument to his enterprise, thrift and indomitable perseverance. It is located on section thirty-one, Eminence township, where stands a commodious and modern residence in the rear of which are seen substantial barns and outbuildings that in turn are surrounded with well tilled fields.

Mr. Kahl was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, April 9, 1844, and is a son of William KahI and a grandson of Jacob KahI, who was born in the latter part of the seventeenth century and was a soldier in the war of 1812. His children were Adam, John, Peter and the father of our subject, together with two daughters, Rebecca and Hannah. William Kahl was a native of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, whence in 1852 he removed to Ohio, where he died at the age of seventy-eight years. He became one of the well known and prominent citizens and successful farmers of Ashland County, that state. In early life he supported the Whig party and on its dissolution became a Republican, but was never an office seeker. He married Sarah Bittinger, a daughter of Jacob Bittinger, a blacksmith and farmer, who was also numbered among the defenders of his country in the war of 1812. Mrs. KahI passed away in 1889. Her children were Samuel; Rebecca, wife of T. J. Eagle, of Topeka, Kansas; Sarah, wife of John Springer, of Ashland County, and Christiana, wife of Emanuel Treace, of Ashland County, Ohio, also Jacob Kahl, of Ashland County, Ohio.

The educational privileges granted to Samuel KahI of this review were rather meager. For some time before he attained his majority he earned his own living, working by the month as farm hand in Ohio. In 1867 he married Rebecca Baron, a daughter of Jacob Baron, of Ohio, and in April, 1869, they came by rail to Woodson County, unloading their goods at Neosho Falls. Soon afterward Mr. Kahl selected the farm upon which he has made his home continuously since, on section thirty-one, township twenty-six, range sixteen, of the Osage creek lands. There have been times since when drouth, flood and pestilence scourged the land and it seemed that he would have to give up the attempt to make a home here, but he had no money with which to pay the expenses of a return journey to his old home, and

summoning all his courage and fortitude to meet the conditions, he labored on and in course of time the farm yielded abundantly. He now yearly harvests large crops and also adds materially to his income by the sale of cattle, for through a number of years he has been engaged in raising, feeding and shipping stock and has considerable local prominence in this direction. He keeps on hand high grades of cattle and has done much to improve the stock raised in the county, his labors thus proving of great practical benefit for he who introduces a better grade of cattle thereby adds to their market value and thus indirectly promotes the general prosperity. His ranch now comprises five hundred and forty acres and he personally superintends the operation and conduct of his farm, which in all its departments indicates the careful supervision of a progressive owner.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Kahl has been blessed with three children: Ida M., wife of Frank Parsons; Alice, wife of Fred Dumond, of Woodson County, and Inez, at home. Mr. Kahl is one of the leading advocates of the Republican party in this locality, having staunchly upheld its principles and policy since casting his first presidential vote for U. S. Grant in 1868. He manifested his loyalty as a citizen of the Union at the time of the Civil war, enlisting in 1864 as a member of the Ninety-sixth Ohio volunteers, and when that regiment was consolidated with the One Hundred and Sixty-Third regiment of Ohio, his enlistment was construed as being with the latter. The command did duty at Petersburg and Richmond and aided in the capture and destruction of the Weldon Railroad. After six months service he was honorably discharged. He has always been as true and loyal to his duties of citizenship in times of peace as when he followed the starry banner of the nation through the south. His forceful individuality has left its impress for good upon Woodson County, and it is with pleasure that we present his record to our readers.

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