J.N. Kittle
J.N. Kittle, a veteran of the Civil War now filling the position of village marshal in Shabbona, in which position he has served for five years, was born in Rensselaer County, New York, February 24, 1846. His parents were natives of the state of New York and came to Illinois at an early day. The mother died in this state and the father afterward went to Kansas, where his last days were spent. In their family were five children, of whom J.N. Kittle is the oldest, the others being: Margaret N., Cornelia, C.P. and Hannah.
J.N. Kittle accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois and was reared in the usual manner of farm lads of the period. He was only eighteen years of age when he responded to the country’s call for troops and enlisted in 1864 as one of the boys in blue, becoming a member of Company C, Fifty-eighth Illinois Infantry. With this command he served until the close of the war and participated in the battles of Nashville and Fort Blakely. Though he was frequently in hotly contested engagements and skirmishes, he came out of the service without a wound and was honorably discharged at the close of the war.
When the country no longer needed his aid Mr. Kittle returned to Illinois and for several years was engaged in farming in this county. As a companion and helpmate for life’s journey he chose Miss Sylvia Morris, whose parents were natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Kittle were married in 1867 and lived happily together for thirty-seven years when, in 1904, they were separated by the death of the wife. Four children were born of this marriage: Frank, Widy, Maud and Mary. Of these two are deceased, while the other two reside in DeKalb Co.
In politics, Mr. Kittle has always bee a Republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. Though not a politician in the sense of office seeking, he has served as tax collector of Shabbona Township for four years and for five years has acceptably served as marshal of the village. He proves a competent officer and in the discharge of all the duties of citizenship manifests the same loyalty which he displayed when he followed the old flag on southern battlefields.
Source: Past and Present of DeKalb Co
