My Genealogy Hound

MAURICE O. KESLER (deceased). One of the first men to take a homestead on the Fort Kearney reservation after it was thrown open to settlement was Maurice O. Kesler, who settled in 1879 on Elm Island, in what is now Platte township, Buffalo county. Buying a relinquishment at that date on the northeast quarter of section 3, township 8, range 13 west, on which he filed a soldier’s homestead claim, made his improvement, and there lived till his death. Mr. Kesler was a Pennsylvanian by birth, and came direct from his native state to Nebraska. He was born in Union county, and came of old Pennsylvania stock, originally of German extraction. His father, William Kesler, who was a tanner, and his mother, Mary Swartz, lived and died in their native state, and were plain, industrious, useful citizens.

Maurice O. Kesler was the youngest of a family of five children, all of whom reached maturity and all of whom except himself, are living. These are — Ellen J., now widow of Hugh McCullough, of Wilkesbarre; Lewis, of Warren, Jo Daviess county, Ill.; Joseph, of New Berlin, Union county, Pa.; Agnes M., wife of William Loughridge, of Cass county, Nebr., and Maurice O., the subject of this notice.

Maurice O. Kesler was born in New Berlin, Union county, Pa., December 18, 1840, was reared in his native place and began the active duties of life as a boatman on the Pennsylvania canal. He was so engaged in 1862, when he entered the Union army, enlisting on July 31 of that year in Company F, One Hundred and Fourteenth Pennsylvania infantry, being a member of the “Collis Zouaves.” He served with the Army of the Potomac and was in all the principal engagements in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland, in which that army participated. Most of the time he was under “fighting Joe Hooker,” and his regiment bore its full share in winning for its general that honorable soubriquet. At Chancellorsville, Mr. Kesler was wounded by a shot in the heel, from which he was disabled from service for some time. He was discharged May 29, 1865, at Arlington, Va.

Returning to his native place he resumed his position as a boatman on the canal and continued at this till 1878, when he moved West and settled first in Hall county, and afterwards in Buffalo county, this state. He was engaged in the active pursuit of agriculture from that time on till his death, being also prominently identified with the best interests of his township and vicinity. He was assessor of Platte township for five years, treasurer three years, and on the school board of his district for several years, and was a public-spirited, progressive citizen and discharged his duties as an official, citizen and neighbor with zeal and fidelity. He died March 27, 1889, surrounded by his family and friends — a genuine loss to his community and a sad bereavement to his family. In personal appearance Mr. Kesler was prepossessing, being nearly five feet and a half in height, of dark complexion, having keen black eyes and a large, well developed head, which was covered with a profusion of jet black hair, inclined to curl, and an open, frank face, square jaw and thin lips, indicative of energy, firmness and strong individuality of character. He was a man of great kindness of heart and warmly attached to his family, lived chiefly for them, and at his death left them well provided for. The surviving members of this family are a widow and six children, of whom some of the latter are verging on to manhood and womanhood.

Mrs. Kesler, who bore the maiden name of Mary J. Weaver, daughter of Henry and Catherine Weaver, is a native of Lycoming county, Pa., and comes, like her husband, of old Pennsylvania stock. Her parents lived always in Lycoming county, being plain, substantial, well-to-do people of that county. Her father died there October 28, 1876, in his fifty-seventh year, having been born February 19, 1819; her mother died February 9, 1889, in her sixty-ninth year, having been born May 17, 1820. Besides herself there were six other children in the family to which Mrs. Kesler belonged, the full list being — Charles B., Mary J. (Mrs. Kesler), Jacob W., Sarah E., John B., Maggie A. and Harry L. Most of these reside in their native county of Lycoming, in Pa. Mrs. Kesler and her brother, Jacob W. (who is a resident of Shelton, Buffalo county), being the only representatives of the family in this state. With her six children — Harry W., Annie H., Kate W., Sadie S., Rodney J. and Maggie A., Mrs. Kesler continues to reside on the old home-place, which she manages and which gives every evidence of the industry, order and thrift that prevail there. She has one of the handsomest residences in the township and within its walls friends and strangers are alike welcome.