JOHN H. KOLB has been identified with the interests of Tippecanoe Township since 1859, and is classed among the representative citizens. He is a native of Indiana, born in Rush County, August 13, 1833, a son of WILLIAM and KEZIAH (RICH) KOLB. The father was a native of Georgia, and when he was eight years old his father, RICHARD KOLB, removed with his family to Indiana. The family settled in Franklin County, and later removed to Fayette County, where WILLIAM KOLB was reared and married, his wife having been born near Chillicothe, Ohio. After marriage WILLIAM KOLB entered eighty acres of land in Rush County, Indiana, on which he lived until 1853. He then removed to Benton County, where he still resides at the age of eighty-two years. His wife, the mother of our subject, is now seventy-nine years of age. They have journeyed down life’s pathway together for a period of fifty-nine years, and in 1878 they celebrated their golden wedding. They have nine children—MRS. MARY JANE CHEAK, JONATHAN (a physician), JOHN H., MRS. MAHALA BENEDICT, JASPER, PHOEBE, RICHARD, WILLIAM D. and ALBERT.

JOHN H. KOLB, the subject of this sketch, resided under the home roof until twenty-seven years of age. He was married March 20, 1859, to MISS MARGARET CHRIST, a native of Tippecanoe County, and a daughter of BENJAMIN and LORETTA (MARSTELLER) CHRIST, who settled in this county in 1824. Four children were born to this union, of whom only two are living, named WILBER and WALTER. Two are deceased—MRS. LUELLA GRAVES, who died at the age of twenty-six years, and Benjamin aged six years. MRS. GRAVES left at her death two children—HALLIE, who lives with a sister of MR. KOLB, and EVA, the younger, who is the pet of her grandfather’s home. MRS. KOLB died December 24, 1860, and February 27, 1871, MR. KOLB was again married to MISS JEMIMA DEATH, who was born and reared in Fountain County, Indiana, a daughter of JOHN and ROSANNA (WALKER) DEATH. Two children have been born to this marriage, named JOHN E. and CHESTER. In 1860 MR. KOLB made his first land purchase in Tippecanoe Township, consisting of forty acres. He has since added to his original purchase until he now has 150 acres of Tippecanoe County’s best soil. His farm is well improved, being underlaid with about 900 rods of tiling, and his residence and farm buildings are among the best in the township. MR. KOLB began teaching school at the age of nineteen years, and for about thirteen years was engaged much of the time in that profession. He has been a member of the Christian church since twenty years old, and in 1858 he was licensed to preach, since which time he has done much for the cause of his Master. Possessing a genial and cordial disposition he has made many friends, and is esteemed by the entire community.