JOHN F. KREILING
Page 673
JOHN F. KREILING
Page 673
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JOHN F. KREILING. Situated on section 26, Forest City Township, lies one of Mason County's fine farms. It consists of one hundred and eighty acres of well improved land, upon which may be noticed a suitable complement of buildings. This is the property of Mr. Kreiling, who has here spent his entire life. He was born on this place Christmas Day, 1858, and was here reared to manhood, receiving his education in the neighboring schools. The father of our subject, B. H. Kreiling, was born in Hanover, Germany, and thence accompanied by his family came to America about forty-five years ago. Proceeding westward to Illinois, he settled in Bath Township, Mason County. After the death of his first wife he married Helen C. Witte, a native of Oldenburg, and they became the parents of seven children. Four are now living: Lydia, wife of Fred Myers; John F.; August H. and George W. The father died in 1879 and the mother in 1891. The original purchase of land made by Mr. Kreiling, Sr., consisted of one hundred acres, to which he afterward added eighty acres. At the time of purchase the land was open prairie and wholly unimproved, but in time he placed the land under good cultivation and erected substantial buildings. In politics he was a Democrat. He was an official member of the Lutheran denomination and assisted in the erection of St. John's Church. April 26, 1883, our subject married Miss Lena Theis, who was born in Hanover in 1863, and came to America in 1882. Their seven children are all living, viz: Johanna Helene, Louis August, Harmon Frederick, Mary Maggie, Carrie Catherine, Maggie, Minnie Louise Augusta and an infant. In religious belief the family is connected with the Lutheran Church, in which Mr. Kreiling is Trustee, and he is also a teacher in the Sunday-school. In politics he is a Democrat and is the present incumbent of the office of Highway Commissioner, to which he was recently elected. At present he is serving as School Director, Socially he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Topeka. |