January 2005 - John A. Kidney
John A. Kidney (deceased) [Robert K., Jacobus, Robert Isaac, John/Jan] was born in Marcellus, Onondaga County, N.Y., Jan. 8, 1823, a son of Robert Kidney, a native of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. who moved with his family to Cattaraugus County, that State, settling upon a farm. John A. was raised on a farm and educated at the Springville Academy. He taught school and followed the insurance business in his native State until the fall of 1850, when he came West, locating in Dodge County, Wis. He engaged in teaching there, and was married March 21, 1854, at Lowell, Wis., to Waity A. Sweet. After his marriage he followed the mercantile business in Markesan, Wis., two years, thence to Winona County, Minn., in 1856, being among the earliest settlers of that region, and suffering many of the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life, engaging in farming there until 1865, when he came to Nora Springs, and resided here until his death, one of her most prominent and respected citizens. He owned a fine farm near the town and much city property. He was very conversant with law and practiced in the justice courts, and was Justice of the Peace several years. He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and was always ready with open purse to subscribe to church and school funds. As a man of rare social qualities, superior mental endowments, he had few superiors and in his death, which occurred April 9, 1880, Floyd County lost an esteemed and honored citizen.
Picture from Myron L. Newton's "Old Cattaraugus County Family Pictures" Web site at http://www.myronnewton.com/Albums/familypix.htm.