LUCIUS B. KINNE.

LUCIUS B. KINNE, Moran's efficient post master and for many years a leading merchant of that city, is among the substantial and sterling citizens of Allen county. It is almost a score of years since he came amongst the people of Moran and since that September day in 1881 when he became an inhabitant of the town his life has been one even and straightforward career, devoted not only to his private needs but to the public interests, as well. He established a drug and grocery store in Moran when that village was in its infancy and became at once one of the central figures in the development and growth of one of the business centers of Allen county.

By training Mr. Kinne is a western man, but a native of the east. He was born in Livingston county, New York, August 5, 1850. He was trained a merchant, for his father, Elias G. Kinne, passed a lifetime merchandising. In 1851 the latter moved his family to Van Buren county, Michigan, and resided in Paw Paw many years. In 1882 he died in Kalamazoo county. He was born in the same county in New York as our subject, in 1815, and was a public spirited man and much interested in public affairs. He was a useful and honorable citizen and while his maiden vote was cast with the Democrats the issues of the war changed his opinions and he was ever afterward a Republican.

The Kinne name was imported into New York from Ireland by Lyman Kinne, our subject's grandfather. He accompanied his children from New York to Michigan and died at Albion in 1864 at the age of ninety years. He was the father of two sons, Allison and Elias Kinne, and of the following daughters: Clarissa, who married Jonathan Rogers; Hannah, who married Elisha Goodrich; Phebe, wife of E. J. House, and Mary, who became Mrs. Jedediah Holmes.

Elias G. Kinne married Amanda Alvord, a daughter of Phinneas and Rachel (Lemon) Alvord. Their two children were sons: Lucius B. and Frank E. Kinne, deceased. Lucius B. Kinne grew up at Paw Paw, Michigan, and acquired his education in the public schools. Among his first efforts were those of a farmer, first as hired man and second as a tenant. He was engaged in business as a druggist in Texas, Michigan, for a time and upon coming to Allen county he put in the first stock of drugs in Moran.

Mr. Kinne was early recognized as a man of sound judgment and of correct business principles. In spite of the opposition and of jealousy engendered because of success, he prospered and maintained his commercial standing unimpaired. This record, together with his known integrity had much to do with securing his appointment as receiver of the Moran Bank in 1898. His political activity and his intense loyalty to Republicanism and to McKinley, especially, placed him in line for the appointment as post master and in June 1897 he succeeded Charles Mendell as chief of the Moran post office. For many years he was a member of the Republican

County Central Committee and the direction of matters political for Marmaton township has been left to the care of him and his advisors.

February 15, 1876, Mr. Kinne was married in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Esther, a daughter of John S. Harrison, of the line of the first Benjamin Harrison, of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Kinne's children are: Clare B., born October 7, 1877, is a registered pharmacist and looks after the drug department of the store; Lulu, born April 23, 1881; Bessie, born June 22, 1885, and Verle, born June 17, 1890.

In reviewing the life of a citizen for this work it is only possible to touch upon the chief events therein and to impress posterity with the dominant elements of his mental makeup. It will be seen that Mr. Kinne was a son of respected and honorable parents and that industry was his capital from early manhood. His accumulations have come by dint of toil and prudent management and his reputation established by right living and right conduct toward his fellow man.

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