Adrian S. Kingsley

ADRIAN (or ADRIAL) SYLVANUS KINGSLEY. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Erie County, N. Y., twenty miles from Buffalo, February 1, 1818, a son of Sabin and Betsey (Abbot) Kingsley, the former of whom was a native of Huntingtou, Rutland County, Vt., and the latter of Concord, N. H.; she being a relative of the Abbotts of New England, well known writers. The mother was born in a block house. Mr. Kingsley was a tiller of the soil, and this occupation followed after his removal to Indiana, which was in a very early day. They went down the Ohio River on a raft, leaving Pittsburgh in November, 1818, and before reaching their destination passed through many hardships and perils. At the end of six weeks they arrived at Cincinnati (January 1, 1819), and on account of ice between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati landed only once. They settled in Switzerland County, Ind., in January, 1819, and resided there until their removal to Indianapolis in March, 1855, in which city the father died on February 25, 1865. He was a strong Abolitionist, and upon his death bed, among the last words he uttered were, that he had only one desire and that was to live to see the Rebellion put down. His widow survived him until February 3, 1881. The youthful days of the subject of this sketch were marked by many thrilling adventures, for the State of Indiana was in its primitive condition at that time, and until he was thirty-five years of age he lived on farms twenty years half a mile from the town of Jacksonville. In the spring of 1854 he removed to Aurora, Ind., and in the spring of the following year to Indianapolis. He had obtained a common school education in his youth, and after reaching a suitable age taught school in Switzerland County for a number of years, and under the shades of Hanover College, and had among his pupils some men who have become eminent in the affairs of the State and nation. Upon locating in Indianapolis he opened a boarding-house, and during the five years that he conducted this establishment he became well known as one of the best hotel men of the city. Succeeding this he engaged in the dairy business, and in April, 1877, established the creamery, which business he is operating in a highly successful manner at the present time. On November 16, 1840, he was united in marriage to Roxy J. Aldrich, a native of Montgomery County, N. Y., and to their union eight children have been given: Mary E. J. (deceased), Harriett E., widow of C. J. Shawver; Royal A.; Mary E. J., wife of James A. Johnson, of Dakota; Loring B. S. (deceased), Loring B. S. (another child, deceased), Charles E. A. and Frank E. Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley celebrated their golden wedding about three years ago, at which time all the family were present. Althoxigh Mr. Kingsley is quite advanced in years, he is yet hale and hearty and carries on an active business. He has a tine mind and is a frequent contributor to newspapers, being an interesting writer of the early history of Indiana, in which State he has lived for seventy-five years. He is a strong temperance man, and as early as 1832 began alone to promote temperance work by refusing to drink whisky, and in 1847 aided in the organization of a division of the Sons of Temperance in Jacksonville, Ind. On coming to Indianapolis he united with the division here and was one of its most active members while it was in existence. He became a member of the Baptist Church at the age of fifteen years, and, although not a member of any church organization at the present time, is a moral and upright Christian gentleman. In politics he was originally a Whig, but cast his first presidential vote for Martin Van Bureu in 1840. He was a strong Abolitionist and an ardent sympathizer in that cause, and, owing to his pronounced ideas in this particular, he was subjected to many threats and insults, and at one time his life was threatened. Since the organization of the Republican party he has been one of its stanch supporters. While a resident of Switzerland County, in 1852, he was the nominee of the Free Soil party for county treasurer, receiving forty-five votes, the entire strength of the party in the county at that time. Mr. Kingsley is a man of unblemished reputation, and his honorable walk through life points its own moral to the rising generation.