Aaron Kleiber was born in Rutland township, LaSalle county, Illinois, August 25, 1833, and in this county he has thus far spent his life, devoting his energies to agricultural pursuits, his present location being in Bruce township.
Mr. Kleiber traces his ancestry along the agnatic line to the French. His grandfather, John Henry Kleiber, was born in France, and early in life became a resident of this country, living for some years in Pennsylvania. In Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, Joseph Kleiber, the father of Aaron, was born, and in Licking county, Ohio, he was reared and married, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth Daniels. In 1830 the youngcouple left Ohio and came out to Illinois, settling in LaSalle county. They became the parents of eight children, namely: Mary, Margaret A., Jonathan, Malissa, Aaron, James, William and Stephen. All of this number are now deceased except Aaron and Stephen, and the last named resides on the old homestead, in Rutland township. The father died at the age of seventy-one years. He had lived for nearly forty-two years in this county and had not only seen the land developed from its primitive state into fine farms, with substantial buildings thereon, but also had done his part toward bringing about this change. Politically he was a Democrat, and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Aaron Kleiber grew up on his father's farm, his boyhood days being spent not unlike other farmer boys of the neighborhood, and after reaching manhood he purchased a farm in Allen township, three and one-half miles southwest from Ransom. He now has a well cultivated and valuable farm of two hundred acres, and is ranked with the prosperous and influential farmers of his township and county.
February 20, 1856, he was married to Miss Rosanna McKernan, a native of Otter Creek township, LaSalle county, Illinois, and a daughter of Captain J. McKernan, an old and well known citizen of this county. Captain McKernan was born in Ohio, son of John and Polly (Stowder) McKernan, and in his native state was married to Miss Mary Cramer, daughter of Henry Cramer. They had a family of nine children, namely: Rosanna, now Mrs. Kleiber; Mrs. Candis Ackerman, of Iowa; Ann Eliza Gochanour, of Otter Creek township, LaSalle county; Samuel; Celanda Lockwood, of Streator, Illinois; Charles, of Iowa; Augusta McKernan, of Streator; and George and Ralph, deceased. The mother now resides with her daughter, Miss Augusta McKernan, at Streator. The father died at the age of sixty-three years. He was a man of prominence in the county, was a Republican, and filled a number of political offices. His military title was earned during the civil war. He was captain of a company in the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was held as prisoner at Huntsville for some time during the war.
Mr. and Mrs. Kleiber have had eleven children, five of whom are living, as follows: James, who married Miss Harriet Cramer, resides in Bruce township; Mary, wife of Fred Zigler, of Manville, Illinois; Joseph, at home; Elma, wife of Alfred Patton, of Allen township, this county; and Grace, wife of Perry Snyder, of LaSalle county. The other members of the family died in childhood, - Stephen, Milton, Candace, Mabel, Maud and Myrtle.
Mr. Kleiber is identified with a number of fraternal organizations, and politically he gives his support to the Democratic party. Honorable and upright in all his dealings, and frank and genial in manner, he enjoys high standing among his neighbors and many friends.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 152-153.
| Lee | DeKalb | Kane |
| Bureau |
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Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
