Biographical Sketch of

Daniel D. Kingsley

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 646 - 647


Daniel D. Kingsley, a well-to-do farmer and stock raiser of Marquette County, residing on section 10 in the 
town of Packwaukee, is a native of the Empire State, having been born in Franklin County, Oct. 31, 1830.  
His parents were George and Betsy (Drake) Kingsley, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New 
Hampshire.  The paternal grandfather, Uriah Kingsley, was born in Connecticut and served his country in 
the War of the Revolution.  He was long a pensioner of the Government on account of his services and 
attained to the advanced age of nearly one hundred years, and was well remembered by the subject of our 
sketch.  The Kingsley family have produced a number of men of ability who have been highly influential 
and well known in their respective spheres of life.  The maternal grandfather of Daniel, was Daniel Drake, 
a native of New Hampshire.
 
George Kingsley and wife were the parents of four children who grew to mature years, one son and three 
daughters, who are yet living at this writing in 1889:  Lydia, the eldest, is the wife of a Mr. Stevens, 
of Grafton County, N. H.; Betsy is the wife of Jasper Hawkins, a prominent lawyer of Des Moines, Iowa; 
Maria is the wife of Henry Hamlin of St. Lawrence County, N. Y.; and several members of the family died 
in early life.  George Kingsley, the father of the above-named children passed away in 1849, and several 
years after the death of her first husband, the mother became the wife of a Mr. Hawkins, who died in St. 
Lawrence County, N. Y.  She then came to Marquette County, in 1885, to make her home with her son and one 
year later went to Des Moines to visit her daughter, returning in 1887.  She died on the 8th of September, 
1888, at the ripe old age of seventy-eight years.  In the home of our subject she was surrounded by all 
the love and care which a dutiful son can give and her declining years were thus passed in peace and quiet.  
Mrs. Kingsley was an excellent Christian woman and labored earnestly for the welfare of her children.
 
The subject of this sketch was reared to the occupation of farming, which he has made his lifework.  His 
father died when he was a youth and he attributes much of his success to the teachings and example of his 
Christian mother, who early instilled into his mind lessons of industry, economy and uprightness.  When he 
had attained to man's estate he chose for a life companion Miss Margaret Arquit, who was born in Canada, 
and is a daughter of Peter and Mary (Pepper) Arquit, who were also natives of the same country.  Immediately 
after his marriage he started with his young bride for Wisconsin, landing in Sheboygan in the spring of 1855, 
thence removed to Fond du Lac, and in April, 1857, we find him engaged in farming in the town of Packwaukee, 
Marquette County.  His first purchase of land consisted of eighty acres which is now owned by Florentine 
Hotchkiss.  In 1863 he settled upon the farm which has since been his home, covering a period of twenty-six 
years.  His landed possessions aggregate 335 acres, all in one body, and the entire amount is under a high 
state of cultivation and well improved, indicating the thrift and unceasing industry of the owner.  To know 
that one has been successful in his business enterprises is certainly very gratifying, but the knowledge that 
one's entire possessions have been acquired by his own efforts is a fact of which any might well be proud.  
Such is the case with Mr. Kingsley who came to this county a poor man and encountered all the privations and 
trials incident to frontier life.  But by industry, economy and good management on the part of himself and 
estimable wife, who has indeed proved a helpmate to him, all difficulties and obstacles vanished and they are 
now surrounded not only by the comforts but many of the luxuries of life and are accounted substantial citizens 
of the community.
 
To this worthy couple has been born one child, a daughter, Mary Celestia, who is now the wife of William Barrows 
of the town of Moundville, Marquette County.  He is her second husband and by her former marriage she had a son, 
Merrett, who was born Aug. 29, 1879, and is now living with his grandparents.  Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley are numbered 
among the esteemed and worthy citizens of Marquette County, and are faithful and consistent members of the 
Presbyterian Church of Packwaukee, whose daily endeavor it is to live in harmony with their professions.  They 
are liberal in their support of all enterprises which are calculated to promote the moral and intellectual 
growth of the community and it is with great pleasure that we present their sketch to the readers of the Album.






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