BIOGRAPHY - S. H. Kiblinger
S. H. KIBLINGER is the popular proprietor and host of the City Hotel,
of Piper City. He began business in this line on the 1st of September, 1891,
and has already worked up a liberal patronage, of which he is well
deserving. He has the house supplied with all modern conveniences. It is
neatly and tastefully kept and has found favor with the traveling public.
Mr. Kiblinger was born in Springfield, Ohio, on the 11th of January, 1856.
His grandfather, a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent, located in
the Buckeye State at an early day, and there followed farming until his
death. His son Lemuel was born on a farm near Springfield in 1833, and in
lhs youth served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, which he
followed for a number of years. In 1854, he was united in marriage to Miss
Rebecca Heller, who was born in Springfield, Ohio, and was of German
descent. After the birth of our subject, they emigrated to Illinois, in
1856, locating upon a farm near Bloomington, where the family circle was
increased by the birth of several other children. In the spring of 1874,
they came to Ford County, locating upon a farm south of Piper City. The
death of the father occurred February 11, 1890, in Piper City, where his
widow is still living. He was a member and one of the founders of the
Methodist Church in this place, and an earnest worker in both church and
Sunday-school, as is Mrs. Kiblinger. In politics, he was a Whig until the
organization of the Republican party, and was a highly respected citizen of
the community. In the family are six children, of whom our subject is the
eldest; Frank is engaged in the insurance business; Albert is a carpenter;
Hester Ann is the wife of James W. Jeffery; Yale is a carpenter of Piper
City; and Elizabeth, the youngest, makes her home with her mother.
The boyhood days of our subject were spent upon his father's farm near
Bloomington, and in the winter season he attended the district schools of
the neighborhood until eighteen years of age. Two years later, he started
out in life for himself and began farming in Ford County, when he turned his
attention to carpentering, which trade he had previously learned with his
father. He has done considerable contracting and building, and is an expert
workman. He worked at his trade in sixteen different States, extending from
Dakota to Florida north and south, and from Illinois to Colorado east and
west. On the 1st of September, 1891, he took charge of the City Hotel, as
before stated, and is now the owner of the house.
On the 20th of August, 1891, in Bloomington, Ill., Mr. Kiblinger led to the
marriage altar Miss Jennie Taylor, who was born in Peoria County, Ill., and
is a daughter of Thomas Taylor, of Pella Township. This worthy couple are
widely and favorably known throughout the community. In his social
relations, our subject is a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and, in his political
affiliations, he is a Republican, having supported that party since he
attained his majority. He belongs to the fire company of Piper City and has
been a member of the Town Board for two years. A straightforward and upright
business man, he is winning his way upward by his own industrious efforts,
and well deserves success. He has gained the respect and confidence of all
with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact and it is
with pleasure that we present this record of his life to our readers.
Extracted 31 Jul 2020 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Record of Ford County, Illinois, published in 1892, pages 290-291.
