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Our great grandfather Christopher Columbus Abel was born February 28, 1855, in Keokuk County, Iowa. He was the son of Joseph Abel and Christina Kiesel.
Columbus' family moved to Keokuk County, Iowa prior to 1855. They settled in Jackson Township of Keokuk County. Columbus was listed as 5 years old on the 1860 Keokuk County census and as 14 years old on the 1870 Keokuk County census. Living not far from the Joseph Abel family in 1870 Keokuk Couty was the family of John Fritz. Living with the Fritz family in 1870 was 7 year old Emiline Kirby.
Columbus married our great grandmother Elizabeth Emiline Kirby about 1878, probably in Keokuk County, Iowa.
Elizabeth Emiline Kirby was born about 1861, in Keokuk County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Jeremiah W. Kirby and Mary Ann Trotter. (Note: Although family records show Elizabeth Kirby was born February 18, 1860, we know that date is not correct. Elizabeth was not listed on the 1860 census with her parents and her brothers, James, 3 and John, four months. The census was dated June 7, 1860, so we know she was not born until after that date. She was probably born February 18, 1861.)
The 1880 Keokuk County census shows Columbus, 24, a farmer; Elizabeth, 18; and Zina, 1 year old. They were living in Jackson Township next door to his brother Rufus and his family.
The 1900 Keokuk County census, Jackson Township, shows the family living in the town of Ollie. The census shows Columbus Abel, head, 45, born February 1855, in Iowa, married 24 years, father and mother born in Tennessee, a day laborer; Elizabeth E., wife, 40, born February 1860, in Iowa, married 24 years, given birth to 7 children, 5 children still living, father and mother born in Tennessee; Earle, son, 19, born June 1880, in Iowa, farm laborer; Marion, son, 14, born August 1885, in Iowa, farm laborer; Mearl, son, 11, born August 1888, in Iowa, day laborer; Mary, daughter, 6, born June 1893, in Iowa; and Elmer, son, 1, born August 1898, in Iowa.
Elizabeth died November 7, 1934 and is buried in Brethren Cemetery near Ollie, in Keokuk County. Columbus was hit and killed by a train while walking across the railroad track in Ollie on December 25, 1936. He is buried beside Elizabeth in Brethren Cemetery.
Children of Columbus Abel and Elizabeth Kirby
1. Zina Abel was born about 1879, in Keokuk Co, IA.
2. John Earl Abel was born June 25, 1880, in Keokuk Co, IA. He married Rose Ella McDonald in 1901, in Iowa City, IA. John died Sept 1958, in IA. Children included: (1) Infant Abel, b. & d. 1902, Iowa City, IA; (2) Jesse Earl Abel, b. Apr 3, 1903, Ollie, Keokuk Co, IA; d. 1955, Scott Co, IA; m. Malinda Feitz; and (3) Helen E. Abel, b. abt 1912, IA.
3. James Marion Abel was born Aug 10, 1885, in Keokuk Co, IA.
4. Merle H. Abel was born Aug 6, 1888, in Keokuk Co, IA. He died in 1963.
5. Mary Myrtle Abel was born June 28, 1893, in Keokuk Co, IA. She married Earl Louis Bush. (our line)
6. Infant Abel was born & died before 1899, in Keokuk Co, IA.
7. Elmer Baker "Dutch" Abel was born Aug 15, 1899, at Ollie, Keokuk Co, IA. He married Freida Mary Locke on Nov 29, 1923, at Fairfield, IA. Freida Locke was born May 23, 1906, at Ollie, Keokuk Co, IA, the daughter of Iradel T. Locke and Katherine Darby. Freida died Jan 31, 1934, at Ollie. Elmer then married her sister Fern Margaret Locke in 1934. Fern Locke was born July 30, 1908, at Ollie, the daughter of Iradel T. Locke and Katherine Darby. Fern died May 25, 1936, at Ollie and is buried in Rock Creek Cem, near Ollie. Elmer Abel died Aug 1965, in Omaha, NE, and is buried in Forest Lawn Mem. Park, Omaha, NE. Elmer's children by Freida included: (1) Elmer Claire Abel, b. Nov 22, 1924, Ollie, Keokuk Co, IA; d. 2004, Lewis Co, WA; (2) Helen Clarice Abel, b. Oct 6, 1926, Polk Co, IA; d. 1975, Page Co, IA; m. Estle Frank Foster; (3) Clarabell Abel, d. in infancy; and (4) Cloyce Colman Abel, b. 1931, IA. Elmer's child by Fern: (5) Beverly Ann Abel, b. 1935, IA; m. Cleo Eugene "Gene" Houchin