My Genealogy Hound

JOHN KRESS, farmer; P. O. Gordon. The subject of this memoir was born in Wittenburg, Germany, June 15, 1825, and is a son of George M. and Mary Ann Kress, natives of Germany. Our subject assisted his father in the duties of the farm till his 16th year, when he learned the baker’s trade, which he followed for five years, and then abandoned on account of injury to his eyes, caused by the excessive heat; he emigrated to America in July 1849, and landed in New York City, his voyage occupying forty days; immediately after landing, he started for Ohio, and in Darke Co. he went to work as a farm hand for one year, then to Montgomery Co. and labored another year, when he rented a farm for five years; thence to Preble Co. where he rented for one year, and was now able to buy land; came to Darke Co. and purchased 80 acres in Sec. 20; it was mostly in the woods, but by his own hard labor he cleared and improved and made a No. 1 farm, the result of his industry and good management; he lived on this farm upward of nineteen years, when he purchased 80 acres on Sec. 19, in 1868; this was partly in the woods with no improvements, but he has cleared it and built a large house, barn, and made other improvements of such a nature that today he has the best farm buildings in Monroe Township, and his land is in a high state of cultivation; he was united in marriage with Eve Henkle, Nov. 13, 1851; ten children have been given to this union, viz.: Noah, born Sept. 8, 1852; Henry, born July 16, 1854; Eve; R., born Feb. 17, 1856; Anna M., born July 3, 1857; George C., born Nov. 21, 1858; John M., born Nov. 23, 1860; Lewis, born July 14, 1862; Samuel, born Sept. 28, 1864; Charley, born July 24, 1866; Frederick A., born July 28, 1870. Noah was married to Belle, daughter of Elias Harte; Anna M. was united in marriage with Aaron Davenport; they reside on the farm Mr. Kress first purchased. Mr. Kress has been identified in his township’s offices, having served his neighbors and friends in the capacity of Trustee for five years in succession, Pike Superintendent for three years, School Director for four years, and in all he has discharged his duty fearlessly, and to the satisfaction of his constituents. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kress are members of the Lutheran Church, and are good, consistent, Christian people; they have been very fortunate in rearing their large family of children, having lost none by death, and we believe he and Mr. Shank, whose sketch appears in this work, are the only ones in this township that can say as much.