Benjamin Kiser
Benjamin Kiser was born in Montgomery County, O., in 1800. He is a son of Peter Kiser. and was the tenth of fourteen children. In 1823 he was married to Elizabeth Baker, with whom he lived seven years, when she died, leaving four children. About two years afterward he married Mary Knoop, with whom he lived twenty-one years when she died, leaving no children. Shortly afterward he married Nancy Knoop, a sister of his second wife. By this marriage there were two children. He lived with his third wife fourteen years, when she died. He then married Rebecca Fannestock (née Rebecca Bender), with whom he has been living some fourteen years.
Mr. Kiser was among the early settlers of Perry; he has been an industrious and energetic man; has been one of the strongest men of his day; was a great woodman, both with the axe and gun; has cut and split his four hundred rails in a day. He has been noted as a hunter, as also was his father before him. Mr. Kiser is now in his eighty-third year, being born in the year 1800. He has spent a long life of hard toil. For thirty years of his life he has been in the ministry of the German Baptist church, to which he is fondly attached. About six years ago Father Kiser had his thigh broken, from which he has never recovered, being compelled to walk with crutches. He now spends his time reading his Bible and other books and papers. He has seen the same place where he used to meet the red man, become the site of the church and school house. Many were the deer and wolf that met their fate at the crack of his rifle; also, the catamount and other wild animals.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883