John Kiger (1806-1890) papers

John Kiger was born March 5, 1806 in Augusta county, Virginia. His grandfather, Christopher Kiger, had emigrated from Germany in 1750. His father, Anthony Kiger, was born in 1754, five miles from Reading, Pennsylvania, and served in the Revolutionary War. At the close of the war he sold his property in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and moved to Pendleton County, Pennsylvania. John later wrote, "There amidst bears, rattlesnakes, panthers and wolves, I spent most of my boyhood days. John's apprenticeship to a blacksmith was completed on his 21st birthday (1827) and he then traveled about working his trade. On August 6, 1829 he married Sarah Eversole in Springfield, Ohio. His personal religious experience began with attendance at a Camp Meeting and extended for several years as he struggled to decide if he should give up his trade. In 1834 he was licensed as an exhorter in the Methodist Church and in August 1836 was licensed to preach. In 1837 he was admitted to the Ohio Conference of the Methodist Church and immediately transferred to the Indiana Conference. John Kiger's first assignment was to the Connersville Circuit, where he and another pastor shared responsibility for twenty appointments. Each preacher made the round in four weeks, including weekday services, giving to each appointment preaching every two weeks. He later served on the Centerville, Liberty and Lexington Circuits as well as at Charleston and Madison. In 1846 he was appointed Presiding Elder (now called District Superintendent) of the Evansville District. At that time he was 40 years old and had spent 9 years in the ministry. He later served on the Greencastle District and the West Indianapolis District, including Bridgeport and Pleasant Grove. He also served as an "agent" for DePauw University for at least one year. With the start of the Civil War he volunteered his services, and on September 10, 1861, received an appointment as chaplain of the Seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. He continued in the service until March 3, 1863, when he resigned. His health had suffered as the result of exposure and cold. John Kiger then served the Plainfield Circuit and as Presiding Elder on the New Albany District (3 times), the Vincennes District, Mitchell District, Bloomington District, and at Ames Church in Indianapolis. His son, Harrison Kiger, died March 23, 1865. Sarah Kiger, his wife, died March 26, 1879. During his second term on the New Albany District he was married to Mrs. Amantha E. Alfriend of Charleston, West Virginia. Rev. John Kiger passed away April 2, 1890 at his home in West Newton. He had been given the retired relationship in the church on September 21, 1887. The funeral was held in Meridian Street Methodist Church, with burial at Crown Hill Cemetery.