New Page 0

From B.J. Griswold, THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, and THE STORY OF THE TOWNSHIPS OF ALLEN COUNTY, by Mrs. Samuel R. Taylor, Chicago, Robert O. Law Company, 1917

The KELLS were of Franco-German descent. JACOB KELL came to Perry in 1843, and entered, in all, 120 acres of land. He earned the money with which to furnish his own house by splitting rails at 75 cents per hundred, furnishing the timber and boarding himself while doing the work. JACOB KELL was a "Regulator" and served as township trustee for 4 years. Industry, not speculation, was ever the method of Mr. Kell, who amassed thereby a 1000 acres of Allen county's best farming land, 800 of which was incorporated in his homestead farm.

SOLOMON KELL, his son, received a good education at the Perry Centre Seminary, after which he taught for 5 years, a part of that time as a resident of Iowa, where he was honored with public office, returning to his native township in Indiana, and took a similar position to that of his father in the estimation of the community. He was a constable, and a "Regulator", in both of which capacities he did his full duty.

……………………………………………………………………………

From THE VALLEY OF THE UPPER MAUMEE and ANNALS OF THE TOWNSHIPS, 1887 edition, Reprint by Brant and Fuller, Madison, Wisconsin, page 325

JACOB KELL, an old and successful farmer of Perry township, is a native of France, born July 10, 1818, son of GEORGE and MAGDALENE KELL, both of German descent. At 10 years of age he emigrated with his parents to America and first settled in Wayne county, Ohio. In October, 1843, he removed to Indiana and settled on the farm where he now lives, buying 80 acres of land, and afterward entering forty acres, all timbered land. He began work for MR. NEWHOUSE, making rails for 75 cents per hundred, and furnished the timber and boarded himself. By this labor he bought his house furniture. He cleared and fenced 10 acres and in the summer following he raised some corn and potatoes. In a few years he had a beau-tiful farm. In 1841 he was united in marriage with Catharine Weimer, and they had 5 children, 3 of whom are living:

SOLOMON, GEORGE V. and AMELIA E.

This wife was born March 27, 1824, and departed this life November 2, 1852. She was a member of the Cedar Creek Presbyterian church. On July 7, 1855, he was married to CATHERINE M., daughter of JOHN and MARY (CROUS) FONER, and they had the following children:

MARY MAGDALENE, JOHN (died at the age of 17), EMMA, HIRAM A., (died aged 21), EDNA VIOLA (died at age 5), BERTHA MAY and FREDERICK JACOB.

Mrs. Kell was born in Pennsylvania, April 19, 1828. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Huntertown. Mr. Kell was a member of the Regulators for protection of property in Allen county. He has served his township as trustee 4 years. He makes a specialty of the best grades of all kinds of stock. He has prospered in life, and now owns about 1,000 acres of fine farming land in Allen county, and his home place, being the old homestead, consisting of about 800 acres, is handsomely improved, with good buildings. His accumulations have been by industry, not through speculation, and he is esteemed as one of the prominent citizens and representative farmers of his township.

……………………………………………………………………

SOLOMON KELL, of Perry township, was born August 23, 1842, son of the above named JACOB and CATHARINE KELL. He was raised in Allen county, and received a good education, attending the Perry Center seminary 4 or 5 years, and studying all the higher branches, after which he followed the vocation of teacher for 5 years. Part of this period subsequent to 1868, he was a resident of Iowa. He was there elected trustee of his township, but after being in office 2 years, returned to Perry township. In 1865 he was united in marriage with EMELINE, daughter of JOHN and ELIZA KRIDER, born in 1845. Her parents were pioneers of Allen county. This union was blessed with 5 children:

ALICE MAY, ELIZA M., MABEL ELLEN, CHARLES E., and GRACE GERTRUDE.

Mr. Kell is a constable, or one of the riders of the “Regulators” who have done much in the past to rid Allen county of outlaws. Being a resolute man, he is very earnest in his work, and does his full share in helping to bring to punishment these enemies of law and good society. Like his worthy father, he occupies one of the first places in estimation of his township. He has a fine farm of 80 acres, with a good two-story frame dwelling house and commodious barn.

_______________________________________________________

DESCENDANTS OF JOHN GEORGE KELL (KOELL)

1. John George Kell b: May 21, 1789 in France/Germany d: July 4, 1861 in Allen Co., IN

+ Mary Magdelane Mutchler b: 1791 in Alsace, France d: 1875 in Allen Co., IN

2. George Kell b: March 26, 1816 d: May 5, 1886 in Allen Co., IN

married Feb 17, 1842

+ Elizabeth Newhouse b: Aug 8, 1815 in OH, d: March 13, 1883

3. Eliza Jane Kell b: Jan 10, 1861 d: April 4, 1927

+ Allen Sterling b: 1856

2. Jacob Kell b: July 10, 1818 in Alsace-Lorraine, France d: Aug 31, 1904

in Allen Co., IN married 1841

+ Catherine Wimer (Weimer) b: March 27, 1824 in PA

d: Nov 2, 1852

3. Solomon Kell b: Aug 23, 1842 d: Jan 31, 1915 m: 1865

+ Emeline Krider b: June 14, 1846 d: July 29, 1912

4. Alice May Kell b: abt 1866

4. Eliza Maud Kell b: abt 1868

married Jan 11, 1888 in Allen Co., IN

+ Augustine E.M. Martin

b: Aug 17, 1868

4. Mabel Ellen Kell b: abt 1873 m: 1899

+ Lewis Michael

4. Charles E. Kell 1874-1947

+ Lulu A. 1871-1961

4. Grace Gertrude Kell

3. George V. Kell b: Feb 3, 1846 d: Sept 8, 1918

married Oct 1, 1867 in Fort Wayne, IN

+ Alice Hatch b: Dec 8, 1846 d: Sept 8, 1906

4. Gertrude Wilma Kell b: Feb 21, 1870

in Taylor Co., Iowa d: 1967

4. Louise Abigail Kell b: April 16, 1872 in

Iowa d: Aug 26, 1954 in Garrett

4. Jessie Ellen Kell b: Nov 25, 1874 d: 1968

4. Beatrice A. Kell b: Sept 27, 1876 d: 1961

4. V. George Robert Kell b: Sept 10, 1878

d: March 6, 1953 married June 1909 KS

+ May Jenette Brown

4. Frank Basil Kell b: May 2, 1881 d: Aug 13

1954 m: Jan 11, 1902

+ Olive A. Williams b: March 17,

1880 d: Nov 16, 1957

4. Walter Vincent Kell b: March 24, 1889

d: 1973 married Nov 28, 1913

+ Myrtle M. Snyder 1892-1986

4. Dorothy Alice Kell b: Nov 20, 1884

married Sept 9, 1909

+ John Clinton Rundles

3. Amelia Ellen Kell b: Jan 16, 1849 d: May 2, 1922

married Sept 28, 1869

+ Theron Versil Hatch b: Oct 7, 1845 d: Aug 9, 1928

4. Clinton Jacob Hatch b: May 1889 d: 1938

+ Lovetta (from 1930 census)

4. Arthur Hatch b: July 1872

+ Cora M. b: Feb 1873 (1900 census)

4. Edwin Jason Hatch b: Jan 27, 1874

married May 1, 1907

+ Verne L. Bosler

4. Ethel May Hatch b: Abt. 1877 D: Sept 16,

1879

3. David Kell b: april 16, 1851 d: April 10, 1852

3. Isaac H. Kell b: Aug 16, 1852

2^nd wife of Jacob Kell, married July 7, 1855

+ Catherine M. Foner, b: April 19, 1828 in PA d: March 5, 1912

3. Mary Magdalene Kell b: July 29, 1856 d: Oct 1936

married April 11, 1889

+ Frank Rowley Pulver b: Dec 15, 1851 in NY

d: Jan 19, 1931

4. Harry J. Pulver b: March 23, 1890

d: Nov 27, 1977 m: Oct 18, 1911

+ Grace Marie Tate b: Feb 18, 1892

4. Edna Catherine Pulver b: Oct 20, 1892

d: Dec 7, 1987 in FL m: Oct 15, 1913

+ Morley Milner Malcolm b: Aug 23,

1889 d: Oct or Dec 1965

4. Carl T. Pulver b: April 10, 1895 d: Aug

1986 married June 5, 1919

+ Beulah Garman b: abt 1904

3. John Arthur Kell b: Nov 1, 1857 d: Aug 4, 1875 at 18

3. Emma Catharene Kell b: Sept 1, 1858 d: Dec 5, 1928

married April 19, 1883 in Allen Co., IN

+ George Ellis Dunten b: april 1858 d: June 3, 1938

4. Louis Herbert Dunten b: Aug 3, 1889

d: June 23, 1976 in Allen Co., IN

+ Bess Devilbiss b: Dec 7, 1890

d: May 23, 1979

4. Alda May Dunten 1902-1933

3. Hiram Arthur Kell b: March 10, 1862 d: Aug 2, 1883

3. Edna Viola Kell b: June 2, 1867 d: Feb 1, 1873 at age 5

3. Bertha May Kell b: June 20, 1869 d: Feb 8, 1956

married Sept 25, 1890

+ John Emrich (Emrick) b: Aug 29, 1865

d: Feb 26, 1938

3. Frederick Jacob Kell b: June 30, 1872 d: Aug 4, 1959

married April 10, 1900 in Perry Twp., Allen Co., IN

+ Florence Bessie Fitch b: May 10, 1875

d: July 9, 1942

4. Carolyn Kell b: June 8, 1901 d: May 11,

1995 married June 9, 1923

+ Clarence Perry Davis b: Nov 28,

1892 d: March 31, 1965

4. Sarah Elizabeth Kell b: July 12, 1902

married June 7, 1934 in Allen Co., IN

+ Earl Eugene DeBolt b: Feb 13,

1896 d: May 19, 1957 in FL

4. Frederick Jacob Kell b: March 16, 1904

d: July 11, 1003 m: Nov 15, 1930

+ Elsie Cornelia Aden b: Dec 1, 1903

in IL d: May 1, 1987 in Allen Co.

4. Mary Ellen Kell b: Feb 2, 1907 d: Oct 18,

2002 married Oct 27, 1935

+ Dewey Sylvester Arnold b: Oct 19,

1900 d: March 16, 1984

4. Thomas Kell b: Nov 9, 1908 d: Aug 30,

1910 in Allen Co., IN

2. Margaret Kell b: 1820 in Alsace-Lorraine, France d: 1881 not married

2. Catherine Kell b: June 29, 1824 in Alsace-Lorraine, France (or Jan 29)

d: Jan 23, 1887 married May 16, 1850

+ Phanuel White Jackson b: May 19, 1827 in Maine d: March 24,

1911 in Allen Co., IN

3. Mercy Magdelene Jackson b: 1851 d: 1939 m: 1874

+ William Oscar Ream 1850-1933

4. Jesse E. Ream b: Aug 27, 1877

d: June 7, 1949

4. Pearl William Ream b: Oct 12, 1879

d: April 28, 1955 or 58 married 1906

+ Grace Odessa Tonkel 1886-1967

4. Katie Arloa Ream b: Sept 30, 1881

d: Nov 16, 1967 m: Feb 1, 1900

+ Marion Gump b: Nov 3, 1866

d: Aug 9, 1928

4. Belle Ream 1893-1969 married 1924

+ George Aikens b: Sept 24, 1898

d: Jan 1979

4. Carrie Ream

+ Dale Tonkel

4. Bertha V. Ream

+ Delmar Tonkel

4. Ivy or Irvy Ream

+ Moss

3. Cordelia M. Jackson b: Aug 18, 1855 d: Jan 26, 1879

3. Margaret Delilah Jackson b: abt 1859 d: 1946

+ Gillette

3. Ira Jackson b: abt 1862

3. Amelia N. Jackson b: Oct 2, 1864 d: 1941

married Sept 15, 1885

+ John Samson McComb b: July 7, 1855

d: Nov 1, 1932

4. Hubert J. McComb b: July 12, 1886

+ Addie Shore

4. Cleo McComb 1889-1890

4. Forest Jackson McComb b: Oct 2, 1896

d: Aug 8, 1978 married Dec 31, 1918

(farm was present site of Perry Hill Sch)

+ Clara Belle Gump b: Feb 10, 1902

d: April 1, 1973 auto accident

4. Fordyce McComb

+ Rosella Helwig

4. Charles Arthur McComb

+ Leta Valentine

4. Bertha McComb

+ Clyde Sheets

2. Magdalena Kell b: Feb 6, 1829 d: Feb 26, 1880 married Nov 18, 1858

+ Alexander S. Stirlen b: Dec 24, 1832 in Holmes, OH d: 1909 in IN

3. Martha Stirlen b: abt 1860

3. John Stirlen b: abt 1863

3. William J. Stirlen b: abt 1865 d: March 26, 1945

+ Blanche b: about 1880

4. Richard Stirlen b: 1910 d: Sept 22, 1929

4. Donald Stirlen b: 1905 d: Dec 1965

+ Clara

4. Harold E. Stirlen b: Jan 27, 1901 d: July

15, 1980 in Rome City, Noble Co., IN

married June 18, 1927

+ Agnes Marjorie Hollopeter b: May

7, 1907 d: March 28, 1994

4. Lena Stirlen b: abt 1903

3. George Stirlen b: abt 1867

3. Edgar-Edward Theron Stirlen b: abt 1869

+ Catharine Cora Chapman b: abt 1871 d: Dec 1942

4. Margaret Mary Stirlen

+ Bibby

4. Lucile Stirlen

+ Waters

4. Georgia Stirlen

+ King

4. Roy D. Stirlen

4. Melvin O. Stirlen

4. Charles Rex Colorick Stirlen

4. Soloman Alexander Stirlen

4. Theron Stirlen

4. Robert Stirlen

2. John Kell b: abt 1831 d: 1898 (moved to Iowa and Texas)

+ Martha L. b: abt 1842 in PA

3. Clifford Kell b: 1868 in Taylor Co., Iowa

3. Chester Kell

3. Guy Arthur Kell d: Oct 1954 in the West

+ Maggie Kay Moutrey d: Feb 1972

3. Magdalene Kell b: May 27, 1891

+ Alton Hardin b: March 1, 1878 d: June 10, 1958

George V. Kell (1846-1918)

The Griswold, -Phelps handbook and guide to Fort Wayne, Indiana, for 1913-1914 / comp. by B.J. Griswold

With all of appreciative consistency may it be said that Hon. George V. Kell is one of the prominent, influential and representative of his native county, and his loyalty and progressiveness have been shown along lines that have tended greatly to conserve civic and material advancement and prosperity in his home county and state. The owner of a splendidly improved landed estate in Eel River township, Mr. Kell here stands exemplar of the best in modern and scientific agricultural and livestock industry; he is president of the Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Association; is a member of the directorate of the Citizens’ Trust Company of Fort Wayne, and has not only represented Allen county in the lower branch of the state legislature but has also given equally loyal and public-spirited service as a member of the state senate. Thus it will be seen that there are many salient points that make consonant the according of special recognition to this sterling and popular citizen within the pages of this history. He is a scion of one of the sterling pioneer families of Allen county and on the old homestead of his parents, in Perry township, this county, his birth occurred, February 3, 1846. While the ancestry of Mr. Kell is in large measure of German order he takes pride in reverting to the fact that his great-great-grandmother on the paternal side was a near kinswoman of the Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. Mr. Kell is a son of Jacob and Mary Katherine (Weimer) Kell, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter was a native of Ohio, but of German ancestry. The father of Mr. Kell settled in Allen county when much of this section of the state was little more than a forest wilderness, and developed a productive farm in Perry township, where both he and his wife passed the residue of their earnest and useful lives. George V. Kell was reared to the invigorating discipline of the pioneer farm and in his youth was favored in receiving good educational advantages, as he was able to attend the Perry Center Seminary, which occupied a site on one corner of his father’s farm and which was in its day one of the best educational institutions in Indiana. Mr. Kell’s father and two other specially liberal and influential citizens of the county established this admirable school and for a considerable period provided for its maintenance. The principal of the seminary was Professor Timothy Titus Tilden, who had been graduated in Dartmouth College and was an educator of exceptional ability and enthusiasm, his name meriting high place in the records of educational history in Indiana. At the age of sixteen years George V. Kell completed the curriculum of this excellent school, and in the meanwhile the Civil War had been precipitated. He was unable to prevail upon his parents to permit him to enlist and go forth as a soldier of the Union, as he was but fifteen years old when the war began, and this parental refusal did not dampen his youthful patriotism and loyalty, though it made impossible their desired fruition in action. Until he had attained to his legal majority Mr. Kell continued to assist in the work and management of the home farm during the summer seasons and during the intervening winters did effective service as a teacher in the district schools. At the age of twenty-one years, in 1867, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Alice Hatch, and their bridal tour or honeymoon trip was made through the medium of a team and covered wagon, a veritable “prairie schooner,” which they became pioneer settlers and Mr. Kell purchased a tract of two hundred and forty acres of land. To the reclaiming, improving operation of this farm he continued to give his attention for the ensuing six years, and the ill health of Mrs. Kell then led them to return from the west to the old home in Allen county. Here they established themselves the fine estate comprises two hundred acres of the most fertile land in Eel River township, the while the improvements of permanent order are of the best type, including a large and attractive farm residence that has become widely known as a center of generous and unostentatious hospitality, with Mrs. Kell as its gracious and popular chatelaine. Apropos of Mr. Kell’s sojourn in Iowa in the pioneer days, it may be noted that while there he again gave his attention to teaching school for a time, and an indication of the sparsely settled condition of the country in that period is conveyed in the statement that his school district embraced four townships in four different counties and that in this pioneer district, comprehensive in area, there were only twelve children to be mustered as pupils in the little school house. Mr. Kell became influential in public affairs in his community and, though he was the only Democrat in his township, his popularity was such that he was elected township trustee, an office of which he continued the incumbent four years. He was still a resident of Iowa at the time of the national election of 1872, notable as that in which Horace Greeley appeared as presidential candidate on a fusion ticket, against General Grant, the Republican candidate, Charles O’Conner, of New York, as the “straight-out” Democratic candidate, besides which a Temperance was in the field also. In this election Mr. Kell gave his support to O’Conner, and from that time to the present has invariably voted the regular Democratic ticket in all national elections as well as in state elections. He has been one of the strenuous and well fortified workers in the ranks of his party, has been a deleg