| Other People | Frank J. Bradley | Olive Rambo Cook | Jerry Litton | | |||
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Past and Present of Livingston County Volume 2. Biographies by Major A. J. Roof. 1913 |
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Page 239-241
Neal Kirtley, a prosperous agriculturist owning a farm of one hundred and fifty acres on sections 15 and 16, Mooresville township, Livingston county, is a descendant of an old Welsh family that came to America at an early day from the little rock-ribbed country on the western coast of Britain. It was in the very house in which he now makes his home that he was born on the 17th of May, 1867 a son of Marcus and Mary K. (Stuckey) Kirtley. The father was only a boy of nine years when he came to this section in company with his father, Asa T. Kirtley, who settled here in 1842, being one of the early pioneers of Livingston county. Marcus Kirtley was well liked and popular in Mooresville township where he made his home all of his life, and here he passed away on the 15th of July, 1882, finding his last resting place in the Mooresville cemetery. He left a widow and five children, namely: Homer, a prominent farmer of this county; Melvin, who also followed agricultural pursuits but died in March, 1897, his remains being buried in Mooresville cemetery; Leona, the wife of Julian Rockhold; and Gertrude, who died in 1884 at the age of four years and who is also buried in the Mooresville cemetery.
The other member of the family, Neal Kirtley, received his education in Brush College and after he laid aside his text-books remained at home where he continued to reside for some time. On the death of his father he inherited the property but soon thereafter disposed of the same and bought the farm on which he was born and where he now follows mixed farming, specializing in stock-raising. He is well acquainted with all of the details of the business mid employs the most modern and scientific methods, feeding annually about fifty head of cattle and as many as one hundred head of hogs. He is one of the most extensive raisers of the latter animal and his cattle are also favorably known for their quality in the markets in which they sell. He has made a number of important improvements upon his property, has his buildings well repaired and has provided such equipment as is considered necessary in the conduct of an up-to-date agricultural enterprise.
On November 21, 1900, Mr. Kirtley was married to Miss Juda Herrold, a daughter of J. W. and Martha (Van Buren) Herrold. Mr. and Mrs. Kirtley are the parents of four children: Robert, attending school; and Mary Gertrude, Helen Catherine and John Marcus.
Mr. Kirtley by his industry and energy has become one of the substantial men of the locality and outside of his farming interests is a stockholder of the First National Bank of Chillicothe, Missouri. In politics he is an adherent of the democratic party of which he is a stalwart supporter. He is public-spirited and any measures undertaken to benefit the community in which he resides find in him a warm friend. He has served for a time on the township board and manifests his interest in educational advancement as a director of the local school board. Membership in the Modern Woodmen of America constitutes his only fraternal affiliation. Mr. Kirtley is a man of strongly marked character and has come to be recognized as a forceful element in the community where his sterling qualities have won the confidence and high regard of all those who have become acquainted with him. Not only has he witnessed the wonderful transformation which has taken place in this section but he has been a constructive factor in bringing about general advancement, especially along agricultural lines. At all times he has been actuated by laudable ambition to succeed and this ambition, combined with industry and energy, have launched him to success.