Kyle - Silas
Source: 1913 History of Montgomery County, Indiana. Indianapolis: AW Bowen, 1913
p 1037
No history of Montgomery Co, purporting to go into the
industrial life as well as other leading phases of our complex
civilization here would be complete were there failure to make
propert mention of Silas F. Kyle, one of the foremost citizens
and substantial business men of the town of Ladoga, and not only
as a busy man of affairs is he eligible for representation in
these pages, but also as a citizen, for he is public spirited and
enterprising in his advocacy of progressive methods to an
unwonted degree; as a friend and neighbor he combines the
qualities of head and heart that wins confidence and commands
respect. He is a good manager, makes a success of whatever he
turns his attention to, possessing sound judgment and keen
foresight, and who believes in pressing forward in all lines,
believing with Tennyson, "that the old order changeth" and should
be supplanted by the new and better. He is one of our worthiest
native sons and has come down to us from the pioneer epoch, his
life here of over 70 years having witnessed phenomenal changes,
such as the vast forests giving way under the sturdy stroke of
the woodmen to fertile fields, and groups of log cabins springing
up into thriving marts of trade. He has not only wintessed but
taken part in this transformation. Mr. K. was b. in the southern
part of Clark Twp, Montgomery Co on April 4, 1841. He is a son of
George E. and Elizabeth (ASHBY) Kyle, the mother having been a
daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (HOHIMER) Ashby. The Ashbys
have been a prominent family in thiis locality from the early
days. A complete record of them is found on other pages of this
work. George E. Kyle was b. in Md, was a son of Nicholas G. Kyle
and wife. Nicholas G. Kyle came from Germany and was probably
marr. there. George E. and Eliz. Ashby were marr. in Ky, fro
which state they came to Montgomery Co IN about 1829. He entered
80 acres from the government in Clark Twp, and the subj. of this
sketch still has the deed of the government, signed by Andrew
Jackson. To George E. Kyle and wife six ch. were b, : William d.
20 years old; Mary and James both live in Ks; Silas F of this
sketch; John and Lettie S. are both deceased. After the death of
the mother of the above named children, the father marr. Eliz.
HAMILTON and the following children were born: Nicholas G;
Mildred ;Nancy; Sallie; Lottie and George. None of them now live
in Montogmery Co. George E. Kyle was killed by a locomotive at
Ashby's Station, Aug 14, 1871, being thrown 68 feet and died
instantly.. He was both a farmer and blacksmith. He cleared land
and began farming ont he 80 acres; however, he depended
principally on his shop for support. He also loaned considerable
money to advantage. He finally became the owner of 600 acres. He
was a business man of rare foresight and sound judgmeent, and he
never lost on a loan but once. His honesty was unquestioned.
SIlas F. Kyle remained ont he home farm until 16 years of age,
then, with his father, went into the mercantile business at
Forest Home on the SO. line of the Co. and remained there from
1858 until the fall of 1875 then sold out and came to Ladoga,
where he bought a partly furnished store building, furnished it
and started a general store. In 1903, having been successful, he
built another building on the corner W. of it at Main & Wash.
Streets joining it to his other building. He also has a fine hom
ein Ladoga, which was built at a cost of $10,000 and is modernly
furnished. Mr. K. retired from the mercantile business in 1905,
after having enjoyed a very extensive trade for many years. Since
then he has carried on an electric light and coal business. In
partnership with Jacob E. LIDIKAY he assists in operating the
electric plant at Ladoga, and they have made a great success of
this venture. Mr. K. has taken an active interest in local public
affairs for some time and he has more than once been nominated
for local office against his wishes, however; and in the county
convention he once refused nomination for co. treas. Fraternally,
he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, haivng belonged to this
lodge for over 30 years. Mr. K. was marr. to Susanna McGINNIS, a
daughter of Joseph T. and Eliza (DeVORE) McGinnis. The dat eof
Mrs. Kyle's birth is Dec 3, 1844 and she grew to womanhood and
was educated in her native vicinity at Cloverdale. Her parents
were both worthy representatives of typical pioneer families of
that section. On Dec 3, 1863, she and Mr. k. were marr. FOr
almost 50 years she was the faithful helpmeet (sic) of our
subject, working with him, through toil and trial, through
success and achievement, the increasing responsibilities of home
and parenthood drawing them seperably entwined with the
commercial, educational, religious nad social life here. Any
considerable acquaintance with Ladoga has meant of necessity some
acquaintance with Mr. Kyle and his family. Mrs. Kyle's chief
interest was in her home and to its welfare she delighted to make
her richest contribution. She found life's sweetest joy in giving
self for service, in feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and
ministering to suffering. Selfish interests never determined her
policy in life. The lasting impression her many friends had of
her was that she gave more thought to doing her own part well
than to criticise others for their failures. As a wife she was of
a high type of faithfulness and sympathetic devotion and at her
death her children said in all sincerity, "You cannot exaggerate
in praise of mother." She was a woman of beautiful Christian
character and faith, and did much good in her huble sphere of
wife and mother. She was called to her eternal rest on Nov. 27,
1912 after having been an earnest, faithful member of the
Christian church since she was 12. To Silas F. Kyle and wife were
born six children, one of whom is deceased, namely: Eliza
Florence is the wife of WIlliam C. RAPP, the carriage
manufacturer of Ladoga; Etta d. when six months old; Hattie marr.
John LINDSKOGG, a native of Sweden, who d. four years after his
marr. and his widow now lives with her father in Ladoga; Minnie
is the wife of Edward ASHBY, who is at the head of the canning
company at Ladoga; Walter E, who is now at Ladoga, was for some
tiem in Iowa travelling for John V. Farwell Company; Nellie is
the wife of L. Ben MAYHALL who was in the Mercantile business at
Ladoga for a number of years.
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S.F. KYLE, merchant, Ladoga, is one of the active businessmen
of Ladoga. He was b. in Montgomery Co, IN April 4, 1841 and is
the son of George E. and Eliz (ASHBY) Kyle. The father, a native
of Va, went o Ky when a young man and married and removed to
Montgomery Co In. Here he entered land in Clark Twp, where he was
among the first settlers. In 1871 he was accidentally killed at
Ashby's Station while crossing the railroad, by a passing train
of cars. Mr. Kyle's mother d. about 1847. He was raised on a farm
till 18 when he began the mercantile business by clerking for the
first 3 years, after which he embarked in the dry goods trade at
Ashby's Station and has been in continuous business ever since
and since 1874 at Ladoga, where he keeps a full stock of dry
goods and millinery. When he first began trade he did a business
of $8000 per year and at present his ave. is form $4000 to $5000
per year. He also does outside business about $75,000 per year
buying stock. In 1880 he was elected as Twp. trustee. In 1863 he
marr. Miss Susanah McGINNIS, daughter of Joseph L. McGinnis of
Putnam Co.