S.G. Kem
For a period of six decades Simeon G. Kem has been a resident of Grant County. Farming has offered him the field of opportunity and labor, and for many years he has held a distinctive place among the county's agriculturists, as a raiser of fine Poland China hogs. He is proprietor in Pleasant Township of the Fair Lawn Stock Farm, a beautiful country homestead, and one that is managed as profitably and on as systematic scale as any business house in the county seat. Mr. Kem both by experience and by observation and study has mastered his business, and is one of the most substantial and highly esteemed residents of Grant County.
Simeon G. Kem as born in Wayne County, Indiana, November 19, 1852, a son of John and Ann (Russell) Kem. His father, a native of Virginia, went to Ohio, and from there to Wayne County, Indiana, where he met and married his wife who was born in Ohio. On October 2, 1853, they arrived with their family in Grant County, locating in Pleasant township. In later years they moved to the city of Marion, where the father died at the venerable old age of ninety-two years. The mother likewise lived to great age being eighty-six years of age at the time of her death. Of their seven children five are still living: Augustine, of Marion; Jane, wife of Samuel Druley, of Kansas; Luther A., of Marion; Nancy S. Kem, who resides in Marion, and Simeon G.
Simeon G. Kem was eleven months old when the family moved to Grant County, and he has thus spent practically all of his life in this vicinity. He grew up on a farm and as soon as old enough began walking back and forth to the district schools in his community. By attendance at school and work on the home farm he gained a fair education and developed a good constitution and also acquired a practical training for his regular career. He lived with his parents on the old farm until he was thirty-one years of age.
On January 11, 1883, he married Mary Horton, who was born in Grant County and who received her education in the county schools of Washington Township, also attended school in Marion. Mrs. Kem was born April 21, 1858, a daughter of David F. and Adelia (Rogers) Horton. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, and her mother of Ohio, and they were married in Highland County of the latter state. Coming to Grant County, they located in the northeast quarter of Marion, where her father was long a successful nurseryman, conducting the Horton Nursery. There were seven children in the Horton family, three of whom are now living, the brother and sister of Mrs. Kem being: Laura Jane, wife of Warren Stout, who lives at First and Hill Streets in Marion, and Frank Horton, who is unmarried and a resident of California. Mrs. Kem's father, besides his occupation as a nurseryman was also a cabinet-maker, and conducted a shop in which he made furniture of all kinds. He was also prominent in public affairs, served in local offices, and was twice elected to the office of county commissioner, resigning during his second term. In politics he was a Republican. Mr. Horton was in his life time a great traveler and made two trips to Europe. One of these he visited the World's Fair at Vienna.
When Mr. Kem started out on his own responsibility he was a comparatively poor man, and only by the thriftiest of management and close attention to duty has he climbed the ladder of success step by step. The Fair Lawn Stock Farm comprises one hundred and forty acres, and the place represents almost entirely his own effective labors. For the past thirty years he has been known all over the county as a breeder of high class registered Poland China hogs. He also keeps good horses, and runs everything about his place with an efficiency that explains his prosperity. Mrs. Kem is a stock-holder in the Farmers Trust & Savings Company at Marion.
Mr. and Mrs. Kem are the parents of three children; Emma is a graduate of the local district school and also a business college, and is now a stenographer in the office of the Marion Shoe Company. J. Rupert is a graduate of the Marion Normal College in the business course and is a farmer. He married Grace Blackman and they have one child, Gerald Rupert. Gladys is a graduate of the grade and high schools of Marion and lives at home.
Mr. Kem and wife are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Marion, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Sweetser Lodge No. 433, I.O.O.F., of which he is past grand and a member of the State Grand Lodge. He also belongs to Marion Court of the Tribe of Ben Hur. he carries insurance in the latter order.
Submitted by: Gina Reasoner