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Our research shows Christopher Columbus Abel was born February 28, 1855, in Keokuk County, Iowa, the son of Joseph Abel and Christina Kiesel.
Columbus' family moved to Keokuk County, Iowa prior to 1855. Columbus appears with his family on the 1860 and 1870 Keokuk County census in Jackson Township. The 1860 census lists him as 5 years old and the 1870 census lists him as 14 years old.
Columbus married Elizabeth Emiline Kirby about 1878. Elizabeth Kirby was born February 18, 1860, in Iowa.
The 1880 Keokuk County census shows Columbus, 24, a farmer; Elizabeth, 18; and Zina, 1 year old. They are 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, b. abt 1879, Keokuk Co, IA; d. young
2. Earl Abel, b. June 25, 1880, Keokuk Co, IA; d. 1958
3. James Marion Abel, b. 1885, Keokuk Co, IA
4. Merle H. Abel, b. Aug 6, 1888, Keokuk Co, IA; d. 1963
5. Mary Myrtle Abel, b. 1893, Keokuk Co, IA; m. Earl Louis Bush (our line)
6. Infant Abel, b. & d. before 1899, Keokuk Co, IA
7. Elmer Baker Abel, b. Aug 15, 1899, Keokuk Co, IA; d. Aug 1965, NE; m. Freda M. Locke then m. her sister Fern Locke. They were daughters of Iradel T. Locke and Katherine Darby.