David KISOR, b. 1822, d. 1899
DAVID KISOR.
David Kisor, deceased, was for many years
a respected and valued resident of Mahaska
county, where he followed agricultural pursuits.
He was born in Knox county, Ohio, July 2,
1822, his parents being John and Elizabeth
(Bolton) Kisor, who were natives of Virginia
and were of German descent. David Kisor spent
his youth upon the old home farm in Ohio and
received but limited educational privileges, for
the schools were in a primitive condition and
his aid was needed in the farm work. He was
married June 6, 1850, to Miss Margaret
Braddock, who was born in Knox county, Ohio,
July 22, 1828, and was a daughter of William
and Nancy A. (Cathers) Braddock, both of
whom were natives of Virginia.
In the fall of 1850 Mr. Kisor and his wife
came to Mahaska county, driving across the
country with teams from Ohio, twenty-six days
being spent in accomplishing the trip. They
passed the first winter in their little cabin where
coal banks are now located. In February, 1851,
Mr. Kisor purchased a claim of one hundred
and sixty acres and traded eighty acres of it
for the eighty acres in what became his old
homestead. It was upon this farm that he made
his home until his death and his widow has
lived here continuously for about fifty-five
years. The farm was covered with a brush
thicket when he took possession of it and a log cabin had been built, while about three hundred
rails had been cut on the farm. They lived in the log house until 1857, when a small frame house was built and is still standing.
Mr. Kisor afterward added to his first eighty acres,
increasing his landed possessions from time to
time as his financial resources increased until
be was the owner of five hundred and eighty-
six acres. He was always a hard worker and
his death was undoubtedly hastened by the close
and unremitting attention which he gave to
his business.
About 1894 Mr. Kisor was striken with
paralysis and for five years, four months and
thirteen days lay helpless, his wife caring for
him all this time until he passed away on the
13th of June; 1899. He had been a kind and
affectionate husband and father, was conscientious
and honorable in all his dealings and was
a very religious man, who for many years held
membership in the Christian church and was
most faithful to its teachings. In the early days
he was a whig. After he became converted he
joined the church and never voted again. He
thought war a great wrong and would not help
elect a man who had the power to declare war.
He took no interest therefore in politics aside
from voting, at school elections.
Mr. and Mrs. Kisor were the parents of five
children, of whom four are living, Dwight M.
having died at the age of four years. Martha
E. is the widow of Porter Hedge and and resides
at Lincoln, Nebraska. Sylvesta Bell is the
wife of Oliver Hedge and resides near Oskaloosa. Melissa Adell is the wife of J. G. Cordner,
living in Lincoln, Nebraska. Zona May
is the wife of George W. Cassidy, who is living
two and a half miles southeast of Oskaloosa. Mrs. Kisor is a bright and
intelligent lady, who, though well advanced in years,
lives upon the home farm, renting her land but
keeping the dwelling which was built by her
husband, for no place else seems so much like
home. She relates in an interesting manner
many experiences of the hardships, privations,
trials and pleasures of pioneer life. Once
during the high water when the mill could not be
operated for two weeks their only food was
bread made from cornmeal grated on a piece
of tin, the corn being boiled to make it soft
enough to grate. They had but little when
they came to Iowa, and all that they possess
came through hard work and economy, and as
the years passed by they prospered and became
owners of a valuable farm property, which is
still owned by Mrs. Kisor. She now has two
hundred and sixty-six acres.
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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy
Iowa Genealogy
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