| 140 cont'd | HISTORY OF ALLEN AND |
FREDERICK KETTLE.
FREDERICK KETTLE—Among the practical, progressive farmers of Carlyle township, Allen County, is numbered Mr. Kettle, who was born in England, April 22, 1859, a son of Robert and Jane (Roland) Kettle. The mother died at the age of thirty-five years, but the father came to America in 1873, and is now living near Iola, at the age of seventy-six years.
Mr. Kettle, of this review, was reared in the land of his birth and at the early age of twelve years entered the employ of the Britania Rolling Mills, with which he was connected until the time of his emigration to America. These were the largest rolling mills in England, utilizing one thousand tons of metal each week. As his educational privileges were limited he attended night schools. In the year 1881 he crossed the Atlantic and has since been a resident of Allen County, Kansas. When he arrived here he knew nothing of farming, having never seen an ear of corn growing, or had hold of a cultivator handle up to that time; but he possessed a resolute spirit and readily adapted himself to his new surroundings.
In 1882 Mr. Kettle was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Menzer, a native of Germany and a daughter of Conrad Menzer, a resident of Iola, who came to Kansas when Mrs. Kettle was only twelve years of age. After his marriage Mr. Kettle began farming on his own account, renting land. He lived upon two rented farms, making his home on each for about nine years. He then purchased about eighty acres of land on Deer Creek and the rich, productive soil enables him to raise from fifty to seventy-five bushels of corn per acre. One of the first things he learned in connection with his life in the new world was always to have the best of everything, and this he has followed in equipping his farm with buildings and machinery. His has been an industrious and active life and through his well directed efforts he has acquired a competence. He raises cattle and hogs, to which he feeds his corn, and in the sale of his stock he has acquired a good income.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kettle have been born seven children, namely: Libbie and Lillie, twins; Agnes J., Hattie H., Florence M., George F., and Robert R. They have been trained to habits of industry and are now very helpful to their parents. In his political views Mr. Kettle is a Republican, and while he is thoroughly conversant with the issues of the day he has never sought nor desired office, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his business affairs.
Page 140, transcribed by Carolyn Ward from History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas: embellished with portraits of well known people of these counties, with biographies of our representative citizens, cuts of public buildings and a map of each county / Edited and Compiled by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott. Iola Registers, Printers and Binders, Iola, Kan.: 1901; 894 p., [36] leaves of plates: ill., ports.; includes index.
