WILLIAM B. KINNICK
William B. Kinnick, one of the most extensive landowners of Dallas county
and vice-president of the Adel State Bank, has manifested in his business
career the spirit of enterprise and progress which has gained him a
distinctive position in business circles. He was born in Johnson county,
Indiana, March 20, 1849, his parents being William and Sarah (Clark)
Kinnick. The father was born in North Carolina, March 20, 1793, and
the mother in Kentucky, February 6, 1804. They were married in Indiana,
in which state Mr. Kinnick followed the occupation of farming until
1854, when he came to Iowa, settling in Adel township among the pioneer
residents of Dallas county. He first built a log house and broke the
wild prairie with ox teams, bringing the land under a high state of
cultivation, so that he annually gathered rich harvests as the result
of the care and labor which he bestowed upon his fields. At the time
of his death he owned five eighty-acre tracts of land and his prosperity
was due to his own labors and careful management. His political support
was given to the democracy until after the election of Franklin Pierce
as president, and upon the organization of the new republican party
he became one of its stalwart advocates. He belonged to the Christian
church and his life was a most honorable and upright one. He died in
April, 1863, while his wife passed away at the advanced age of eighty-six
years. In their family were twelve children but only four are now living:
Ann, J. T., R. R. and William B.
In taking up the personal history of William B. Kinnick we note that
he was but five years of age when he came with his parents to Iowa,
so that his education was acquired in the district schools and he was
reared amid the wild scenes and environments of pioneer life. He early
became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the
agriculturist and when about twenty years of age he began farming on
his own account. He has since followed the business and has attained
a position as one of the most prominent and successful agriculturists
of this part of the state. When he started out on his own account he
had but forty acres of land of his own but he rented the remainder of
the old homestead, thus having charge of one hundred and sixty acres
in all. He carefully managed his finances, made the best use possible
of his opportunities and as the years passed by was enabled to purchase
more land from time to time until he now owns twelve hundred and forty-five
acres. He has not only successfully tilled the fields but has also raised
many hogs and has been an extensive buyer and feeder of cattle and hogs.
He has also bought and sold about five thousand acres of Canada lands
in the past few years. In 1902 he was elected vice president of the
Adel State Bank, which office he is still filling.
On the 3d of March, 1875, Mr. Kinnick was married to Miss Mary Jane
Stump, who was born in Indiana, August 6, 1851, [but her tombstone in
Oakdale Cemetery says 20 October 1852] and who died on the l5th of April,
1896. She was the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Dunn) Stump, both natives
of Indiana. [But other sources say Jacob's wife's name was Mary Troxel].
Her father was a farmer of that state and removed to Iowa in the early
'50s, settling in the eastern part of Dallas county. He aided in reclaiming
the region for the purposes of civilization, breaking the wild prairie
and otherwise aiding in the early development of this part of the state.
He also kept a station on the old stage line between Des Moines and
Council Bluffs. At one time he owned between five and six hundred acres
of land but later he sold his first home and bought near Van Meter.
In 1902 he took up his abode in that town, where he is now living in
the enjoyment of well earned and honorable retirement from labor. He
has acted as a member of the county board of supervisors and has been
active in township affairs, serving at one time as township trustee.
He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures
of the republican party. In his family were nine children, three sons
and six daughters, of whom seven are now living. The home of Mr. and
Mrs. Kinnick has been blessed with eight children, of whom five survive,
namely: Frank B., Mary B., Ruth, Nile C. and Marguerite.
Mr. Kinnick votes with the republican party and has been called to some
local offices. He has filled the position of township trustee and at
the present time is one of the county commissioners. He has also been
a member of the city council of Adel and he exercises his official prerogatives
in support of many movements and measures for the public good. He belongs
to Adel lodge, No. 80, A. F. & A. M., and also to the Knights of
Pythias fraternity. In business life he has made an excellent record
for success and for honorable methods which he has followed. He may
truly be called a self-made man, for he had little assistance when he
started out in life on his own account. Gradually, however, he has worked
his way upward until he occupies a foremost position among the leading
agriculturists of this section of the state, his life proving conclusively
that success may be attained by determination and honorable methods.