Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 476-477; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Ira A. Kuykendall, whose sketch now claims attention, is one of
the most popular and highly esteemed gentlemen in Liverpool Township,
and after a long life well and pleasantly spent looks back upon the
years with great satisfaction in remembering how faithfully he
performed every duty that fell to him.
Our subject's father - James Kuykendall - was a native of
Pennsylvania, and his grandfather, Henry Kuykendall, was also a native
of that State, living to the advanced age of seventy-five and devoting
his attention to farming. He reared a family of twelve children, and
died in his native State. He served in the Revolutionary War, and the
gun he used is now in Cuba, this county, in the possession of John
Harmison.
Mr. Kuykendall's father moved to Ohio about 1817, being one of
the pioneers of that State. He made the trip on horseback, and settled
in Richland County, where he entered two hundred acres of land. The
country was very wild, wolves prowling around, and deer abounding in
the woods. He continued to farm there until 1837, at which time he
moved to this county, settling near Cuba, in Putman Township. Here
again he numbered among the pioneers, and in 1866, having lost his
wife, he came and made his home with our subject until he died at the
age of ninety-seven. He was a member of the Baptist Church and his
remains rest in the cemetery at Cuba. He was drafted into the war of
1812, but was never called into service. He married Miss Elizabeth
Aten, who was born in Allegheny County, Pa. She lived to be about
sixty-seven years old and at the time of her death was a faithful
member of the Presbyterian Church. To their union were born nine
children, viz: Ira A., Matilda, Lucinda, Abigal, Sarah, Henry, Susan,
Anna, and Jennie, who died in infancy.
Our subject remained at home until after reaching his
twenty-fourth year and attended the schools in his neighborhood; they
were subscription schools where each pupil paid $1.50 tuition, and were
naturally without improvements that have since been made in educational
matters. He worked on a farm during the summer and at an early age
developed a great fondness for agricultural pursuits. When twenty-four
years of age he married Miss Rebecca Neff, the ceremony taking place on
January 19, 1836. Miss Neff was born in Shenandoah County, Va., and was
a daughter of Christian Neff, who was also a native of Virginia and a
farmer and rope-maker by occupation.
Our subject, after selling out his property, came to Fulton
County, settling in Liverpool Township, having made the trip by wagon
and being five weeks on the road. After his arrival he entered one
hundred and sixty acres of land in section 6, and spent several years
clearing it up. He built a rude log cabin such as were common to those
pioneer days, and worked faithfully and well to improve his property.
To Mr. and Mrs. Kuykendall have been born three children, viz:
Christian N., Anna A., Mrs. Roberts, who is dead; and Mary Electa Jane,
Mrs. Phillips. They are both members of the Baptist Church and have
been married for over fifty years and have celebrated their golden
wedding. Our subject is a member of the Democratic party and has served
as Township Commissioner for several terms. He is a prosperous man, and
one much liked throughout this community for his sterling worth and
integrity.
