James Kizer Sr. is the son of
Peter Kizer Sr. (1776-1851), and his
wife Catherine Force (1786-1852),
of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and
(later), of
Moreland, Wayne County Ohio.
(James's parents had 14 children).
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Note: PLEASE, do NOT transfer this
memorial to other web sites.
Thanks, Nancy (Letcher) Heib.
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The obituary for his older brother
Ebenezer Flanagan Kizer Sr., states
that the Kizer family moved from
Pennsylvania to Wayne County Ohio
in 1817.
(His brother then moved with his wife
to St. Joseph County Indiana in 1842).
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(Note: James Kizer Sr. had a son and
two nephews, also named James Kizer).
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James Kizer Sr. was married to
Mary Catherine Ammerman, the
daughter of William Amerman
(spelled with two "m's" on his
headstone, and per cemetery records),
and his wife Eliza Ann Schenck
on Dec. 23, 1852 in Terre Coupee
Pairie, later known as
Hamilton, St. Joseph Co. Indiana,
by Alonson H. Pidge,
Minister of the Gospel
(a Methodist minister).
(He was 24 and she was age 18).
Per: "Marriage Records Volumes 1-3,
1830-1855 St. Joseph County,
South Bend, Indiana",
located in the
South Bend Public Library,
and per a copy of their marriage license
obtained in St. Joseph County Indiana.
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In the 1860 census, they were living
in German township,
St. Joseph County Indiana,
South Bend post office
(with Mary's parents).
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In the 1870 census, they were living in
Olive township, St. Joseph County Indiana,
New Carlisle post office (near Hamilton).
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In the 1880 census, they were living
in Clay township, St. Joseph Co. IN,
South Bend post office,
and James is listed as a farmer.
---
On Nov. 1, 1894 (when James died),
they were living on East Second Street,
in Mishawaka, St. Joseph County Indiana.
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James and Mary lived near Hamilton, IN
(near the Michigan-Indiana state line),
and (later), on East Second Street, in
Mishawaka, St. Joseph County Indiana.
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While living near Hamilton, Indiana,
James Sr. and Mary Catherine Kizer
were members of the "historic"
Hamilton Church, along with
their daughters Isadora and
Mary Ellen Kizer (perhaps others).
Also members were Mary's brother
Abraham Ammerman and his family.
(per: membership list 1874-1878,
located in the Indiana State Library).
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Mary and James Kizer Sr. had ten
children, five girls and five boys.
They are listed under his wife
Mary Catherine (Ammerman) Kizer.
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At the time of James' death, he was
living on East Second Street, in
Mishawaka, St. Joseph Co. Indiana,
but he did NOT die in Mishawaka.
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Two obituary's have been found
for James. One states that he
died in his doctors office "near"
Niles (Berrien Co.) Michigan, and
the other states that he died in his
doctors office "North of South Bend",
(St. Joseph County) Indiana.
Note: Niles, Michigan is about 20
miles North of South Bend, Indiana.
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One obituary was published in
"The South Bend Weekly Tribune"
newspaper, in South Bend, Indiana
on Sat. Nov. 10, 1894, page 12.
It reads as follows:
----
James Kizer, a well known citizen of
this place, died Nov. 1, of dropsy of
the heart. Mr. Kizer had been afflicted
with this disease for some time and was
under the care of the faith cure
physician, who resides near Niles, [MI].
Mr. Kizer was born in Wayne county, O.
[Ohio], Feb. 11, 1828. He leaves to
mourn, his wife, eight children, a
brother, and a sister. The children
are, Mrs. William Rogers, of Penn
township: A. F. Kizer, jr., Oceola, [IN]:
L. D. Kizer, Galena, Mich: James H.
and F. A. Kiser, of this place. The
funeral took place at Oceola [IN] last
Saturday. Rev. C. H. Murray officiated.
---------------------------------
Another obituary was published in
"The Mishawaka Enterprise", newspaper,
in Mishawaka, Indiana on Nov. 2, 1894,
Page 1 (front page), Column 3.
It reads as follows:
----
Christian Science Failed to Cure.

James Kizer, an old and well known
resident of this city, died yesterday
of dropsy of the heart, from which
desease he had been suffering some
time. He had been receiving treatment
for his ailment from "Doctor" Wenger,
the faith cure physician living north
of South Bend, [IN] and it was while
this man was operating upon him that
Mr. Kizer died. His son drove him
over to be treated yesterday, and
on the way he complained of feeling
badly. He had been but seconds under
the care of the christian scientist
when he fell over dead.
The deceased was born in Wayne
county, Ohio, on the 11th of
February, 1828, making him 66
years, 5 months and 21 days old
at the time of his demise. He was
married to Miss Mary Ammerson
[Ammerman] at Hamilton, this
county, and she survives him.
There are also living, a brother
and a sister, A. F. Kizer, sr.,
living south of Osceola, and Miss
[Mrs.] Minerva Hoffine [Hoffhien],
south of Bremen, [IN]. Besides one
dead, the following children remain
to mourn their father's loss:
Josephine, wife of Wm. Rogers,
south-east of town: Isadora,
wife of T. A. [Theodore Albert]
Upham, Baroda, Mich.:
Mary, wife of John Rogers, south-
east of town: Wm. P. Kizer, south
of town: A. F. Kizer, jr., Osceola,
[IN]: James H. Kizer [Jr.], who has
been making his home with his parents
at their residence on East Second
street: L. D. [Lorenzo D.] Kizer,
Galena, Mich.: F. A. [Frank A.] Kizer,
also living at home and attending
the Mishawaka High School.
There are also sixteen living grand-
children.
The funeral will be held in Osceola, [IN]
tomorrow, the party leaving here at
11:30 a.m., Rev. C. H. Murry officiating.
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James is buried in Lot 87, Space 1
(with his wife Mary in Space 2).
James and Mary's large
headstone reads:

KIZER
JAMES
1828-1894
MARY C. HIS WIFE
1834-1913
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Note: James had a nephew named
William L. Kizer who was very
prominent in South Bend, Indiana.
See: "South Bend and The Men Who
Made It", compiled by Anderson
and Cooley. 1901, pages 103 & 104.
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Also see:
"A History of St. Joseph County
Indiana", by Timothy Edward Howard,
1907, pages 758 & 759.
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Note: This Kizer family
is of German descent.
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James and Mary are buried East
of Mishawaka, and Osceola, Indiana
in the Osceola Cemetery, located
on the County line between St.
Joseph County and Elkhart County.
It is on the corner of State Rd. 933
and West County Line Road
(also called Ash Road),
next to the railroad tracks.
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Buried next to James and Mary,
in Lot # 87 are
their son Frank Albertus Kizer and
his wife Mabel C. (Bishop) Kizer,
and Frank and Mabel's son
Orley Albertus Kizer and his
wife Viola Mae (Updike) Kizer.
Viola Mae's mother,
Bertha Luella Updike and her
brother Ellis Updike, are also
buried near James and Mary Kizer.
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Also buried in this cemetery are
James and Mary Catherine's daughter
Josephine (Kizer) Rogers and her
husband William C. Rogers.
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Note: See the memorials for one line
of his family, on this web site:

Brother,
Ebenezer F. Kizer Sr., of Indiana.
Mother-in-law,
Eliza Ann (Schenck) Amerman, of IN
(spelled with two "m's").
Wife,
Mary C. (Ammerman) Kizer, of IN.

Daughter, Isadora N. (Kizer)
Upham & McBain, of Michigan.
Grandson, Clarence Upham, of MI.
Great, Granddaughter,
Cecile Gay (Upham) Bliss, of MI.
Great, Great, Granddaughter,
Thelma (Bliss) Letcher, of MI.
----
Note: James Sr. and Mary Catherine Kizer
are my Gt., Gt., Great, Grandparents.
Nancy (Letcher) Heib.
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