My Genealogy Hound

Garrett Kieffer, merchant, and revenue collector of Benton County, Mo., was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., in October, 1856. His father, Luther Kieffer, was born in Germany, and immigrated to the United States when a lad of twelve years, coming with his parents, and was reared in the State of New York. He was there married to Polly Rouse, a native of New York, and soon after went to California, but returned home, and at the breaking out of the Civil War enlisted in a New York regiment, being elected captain of a company and afterward major, and served three years. He afterward re-enlisted, raised a regiment, and served until he was killed. Garrett Kieffer remained in his native State until he was twelve years old, then moved to Missouri with his mother, and located at Cole Camp, Benton County. Here he grew to manhood, receiving a good common-school education. His early days were spent in farming, running a thrashing-machine, and trading and dealing in horses, but in 1882 he engaged in merchandising, forming a partnership with Mr. Mahnken, and has since done a very successful business. He has always been identified with the Republican party, and was elected on that ticket as collector of Benton County at the general election in 1888, and still holds the office, having carried his township almost unanimously, receiving 410 out of 520 votes. October 23, 1880, he was married in Cole Camp, to Miss Anna Mahnken, a daughter of his business partner, and by her is the father of three children: Amy, Sidney and Luther. Mrs. Kieffer is a member of the German Lutheran Church.