Some of the most substantial agriculturalists of Carroll county, are native-born sons of the county, whose lives have been spent amid rural surroundings, and who have been reared to farm work from childhood. One of the most prosperous farmers of this locality is Andrew J. Kingery of section 8, Salem township, born in Mt. Carroll township, July 6, 1866, a son of David and Elizabeth (Boyer) Kingery. The father was born in Hagerstown, Md., and the mother in Franklin county, Pa.
Andrew J. Kingery was educated in the district schools and helped on the farm until he was eighteen years old, when he went to work as a farm hand, thus continuing until 1889, when he rented his father's farm of 292 acres in Salem township, where he has been farming since that time. In 1898, he bought the farm, which now contains 276 acres, and is called Meadowdale. Here he carries on general farming, and raises full-blooded Aberdeen-Angus cattle and Hampshire hogs. Politically a Republican, he has been a school director for the past twenty-four years, and road overseer for the same length of time. Fraternally he is a member of the Mt. Carroll lodge Odd Fellows. Mrs. Kingery belongs to Royal Neighbors and Rebeccas.
On July 1, 1884, Mr. Kingery was married to Martha E. Kuhn, born in Lee county, Ill., March 28, 1863, a daughter of Philip and Mary (Kuhn) Kuhn, natives of Maryland, who moved to Cedar Rapids, Ia., in 1865. There Mrs. Kingery lived until her marriage, and there her parents died, the father, July 23, 1893, and the mother, July 4, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Kingery have had nine children: Mrs. Ada M. Hanson, of Cedar Rapids. Ia., who has one son, Lawrence; Mrs. Bessie E. Beck, of Buffalo, N. Y., has one son, Paul; Jay Walter, who is with his parents; Mrs. Louisa E. Derrer, of Murdo, S. Dak., has one son, Lloyd; David Franklin; Edith Mary; Charles Earl; Andrew Theodore and Ruth Marian. The last five children are at home. Few people are better known in Carroll county than those belonging to the Kingery kin and they have won their standing through conscientious, upright living, and kindly interest in the affairs of others, giving a hearty sympathy and helping hand whenever needed. An excellent farmer, Mr. Kingery is recognized as an authority upon stock matters, and is a good citizen and loyal friend. Mrs. Kingery is very fond of poultry and her magnificent flock of several hundred White Plymouth chickens and her ducks are a source of pleasure to her.
SOURCE: source of biographical sketch (verbatim transcription): "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Carroll County", 1913, pages 823 - 824