Edgar Raymond Kiess

     Edgar Raymond Kiess was born on 26 August 1875 at Warrensville, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of Samuel S. Kiess and Angeline Ann Winner. Edgar Raymond Kiess married, at age 43, Mary Roemer Clarke on Wednesday, 4 June 1919. Edgar Raymond Kiess died on 20 July 1930 at Eagles Mere, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, at age 54 years, 10 months and 24 days. He was buried in the Wildwood Cemetery, located in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
     KIESS, Edgar Raymond, 1875-1930

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KIESS, Edgar Raymond, a Representative from Pennsylvania; born in Warrensville, Lycoming County, Pa., August 26, 1875; attended the public schools; was graduated from Lycoming County Normal School, Muncy, Pa., in 1892; taught in the public schools of Lycoming County for two years; engaged in the newspaper publishing business in Hughesville in 1894; member of the State house of representatives 1904-1910; engaged in business in Williamsport in 1910; served as a trustee of Pennsylvania State College 1912-1930; elected as a Republican to the Sixty-third and to the eight succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1913, until his death at his summer home at Eagles Mere, Pa., July 20, 1930; chairman, Committee on Insular Affairs (Sixty-ninth through Seventy-first Congresses); interment Wildwood Cemetery, Williamsport, Pa.

In 1906 the "Genealogical and Personal History of Lycoming County, PA" was published, in which we find Edgar's biography that was submitted to the book's editors Emerson Collins and John W. Jordon. In volume II, pages 305 - 308, preserved for future generations we find the following:

     Edgar Raymond Kiess, prominently identified with the business, social and political interests of Lycoming County, is a native thereof, born in Warrensville, Eldred Township, August 26, 1875.

     Mr. Kiess comes of an honorable German ancestry. His paternal grandfather, Christopher Kiess, was one of that little band of religious exiles who came to America in 1806 and settled in "Blooming Grove", Lycoming County. He received a liberal education in his native land and was a weaver by trade. After settling in Lycoming County he cleared a farm and also did weaving for the pioneer settlers, and for many years taught a German school. He was a member of the Dunkard Church, and was active in religious work. Before leaving Germany he married Christina Sheets: four children were born to them before their emigration, and seven others after their coming.

     Emanuel, youngest son of Christopher and Christina (Sheets) Kiess, was born on the homestead in Lycoming County, in 1818, and resided there until his death. During the Mexican War he served in the militia with the rank of first lieutenant.

     Samuel S. Kiess, son of Emanuel Kiess, was born in Eldred Township December 23, 1844. He is a carriage maker by occupation. He married Annie Winner, who was born October 27, 1850, in Loyalsock Township, Lycoming County. She was descended from English Quakers. Her parents were Enoch and Mary (Collins) Winner. Her father, son of Abraham Winner, was born in Hepburn Township, Lycoming County, in 1823, and made his residence in Loyalsock Township. He learned the trade of carpenter. During the Civil War he was in active military service for three years. The children of Samuel S. and Annie (Winner) Kiess were Edgar Raymond, to be further spoken of, and Murrary, born in 1890.

     Edgar Raymond Kiess began his education in the public schools, from which he entered the Lycoming County Normal School, and graduated therefrom with Honors in 1892 at the early age of seventeen years. For two years he was a teacher in the public schools, serving efficiently and creditably. He then accepted a position with the Eagles Mere Railroad, and in 1895 was made auditor of the company, meantime taking up residence in the borough of Hughesville, where he has since resided, at once becoming actively identified with its business and social life. In 1898 he assumed the management of the Eagles Mere Chautauqua at Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania, of which he has made a pronounced success; and, in connection with it, he has also successfully managed The Forest Inn, a large summer hotel. At Hughesville he is a member of the general insurance firm of Kiess and Emery, and is president of the Hughesville Printing Company, publishers of an excellent local newspaper, "The Independent." In addition to his business interests he has always taken an earnest and intelligent part in the advancement of the higher interests of the community. He is vice-president of the Muncy Valley Farmers' Club, and a useful member of various of its most important committees. He is a regular attendant of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Hughesville, and has been for a number of years a sustaining member of the Young Men's Christian Association of Williamsport. He has always taken a deep interest in fraternal affairs. He became an Odd Fellow so soon as he had arrived at the age which would permit him to become a member, and is connected with Hughesville Lodge, No. 331. He is affiliated with all the higher Masonic bodies and is a member of Muncy Lodge, No. 299, Free and Accepted Masons; Baldwin II Commandery, Knights of Templar, of Williamsport; Williamsport Consistory, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (thirty-second degree); of the Howard Club of Knights of Templar, and of Irem Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Wilkesbarre. He is also a member of several years' standing of Washington Camp, No. 158, Patriotic Order Sons of America at Hughesville.

     Mr. Kiess has always been an ardent Republican, bearing an active part in political affairs, and has served as delegate to county and state conventions of his party. In 1904 he was elected to the legislature from Lycoming County, and his firm hold upon the esteem and confidence of the people is eloquently attested by the fact that he received a plurality of 1,174 votes, while the county is normally Democratic by a plurality of about one thousand. The handsome vote which he received was accorded him out of recognition of his sterling integrity, wide business experience, thorough knowledge of the needs and wishes of the people, both of the farm and town; his sustained interest in education, and his tireless energy and demonstrated ability to accomplish the purposes which commend themselves to him as being in the intersts of the entire people. Mr. Kiess is unmarried.²