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Biographies of Sangamon County
"K"
JOHN KELLY
BENJAMIN KESSLER
Great Grandfather of Mrs. Jane Dufour
Benjamin Kessler, Auburn, Illinois, was born in Beloit County, Virginia, December 28, 1803, son of Benjamin and
Margaret [Clare] Kessler, father of German Descent, and born in Maryland, and mother of Virginia; were married
in Virginia where they reside; family of twelve children, eleven of whom loved to be men and women; father was
a farmer, lived an died in Virginia, and mother died in Virginia. In 1827, left his native State for the Sangamon
country, having heard much of its broad prairies; also having an uncle who was living here by the name of David
Kessler, who died while they were on the road to the States. After arriving, he hired out by the month for $10,
and worked one year for that wages. In September 1830, married Miss Mary Ann Wallace, nee Duil, who came from South
Carolina in 1822, and located in Auburn township, one mile south of where Auburn now stands. She was born in Nova
Scotia, October 18, 1812. In September 1880, they had their golden wedding having lived together half a century.
There was a large concourse of people and they were recipients of some valuable presents, among which were a gold-headed
cane, and an easy chair. Their family consisted of seven children, all of which are living, Margaret J., James
H., Harriet E., David F., Mary A., and Benjamin L. Soon after coming to the State, purchased sixty acres of land,
where Mr. Charles Rauch now lives. He afterwards sold and purchased other lands, and at one time had between seven
hundred and eight hundred acres. MR. K. is one of the pioneers of the county, and has lived to see it pass from
a wild, uncultivated wilderness to a thickly and densely populated county. ["History of Auburn" by the Auburn Historical Society, unknown date - Transcribed
by Debbie Quinn]
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