Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 1130.

ADAM S. KIGHTLINGER

     One of the worthy pioneer settlers of Oregon, is a native of Crawford
county, Pennsylvania, born September 26, 1823, a son of Isaac and Elizabeth
(Conroid) Kightlinger, also Pennsylvanians by birth, and descendants from good,
old German stock; they had born to them a family of thirteen children, four sons
and a daughter, still surviving.  Adam S. was reared in the Keystone State, and
in his youth learned the carpenter's trade.  In 1850 he went to Illinois, and
thence, in 1853, came to California.  He worked at his trade for a year,
receiving $6 per day, and $12 for Sabbath labor.  Wearying of the drought and
dust of California he started for Oregon, April 8, 1854; arriving in Portland,
he found that hamlet little more than a mudhole, so he came to Salem, and was
favorably impressed with appearances.  He decided to make this his home, and
purchased some lots near the Congregational church, on which he built a
dwelling.  At the en of twelve years, however, he went to Albany, and was
engaged in merchandising there.  Under this employment his avordupois increased
so alarmingly that he was obliged to take more active exercise than that
business afforded.  He returned to Salem, and resumed his trade, assisting in
building nearly a quarter of the structures that now stand in the city.
     Mr. Kightlinger has always been an ardent advocate of temperance, and for
nearly twenty years was a member of the Good Templars.  For all these years of
labor he has the satisfaction of believing that he saved one man from a
drunkard's grave -- an abundant reward.
     He was united in marriage January 3, 1856, to Miss Mary J. Bailey, a native
of Naples, Illinois, and to them have been born nine children, five sons and a
daughter are still living:  Elmer, Ellsworth, Elhiden, Marion, Ulysses Grant and
Schuyler Colfax.  The deceased are:  Athelia, Izadore, and Walter.  In his
political convictions Mr. Kightlinger formerly affiliated with the Democratic
party; but during the great civil war, when he saw such numbers of the Democracy
arrayed against the Union, he came over to the Republican ranks.  He was bold in
denouncing the Rebellion and all its sympathizers, thereby making some dangerous
enemies, but possessed of the courage of his convictions he stood by his colors
in the face of opposition.  He has now nearly reached the biblical three-score
years and ten, but is hale and strong of body and mind.  He has been a man of
the strictest business methods, and while he has not accumulated a fortune, he
has a good dwelling house and a nice little farm, which he is setting to hops.
His beloved wife, the partner of his sorrows and joys for thirty-seven years,
still abides with him, and they are spending their declining years in peace and
comfort, in the home which their industry has provided, honored and respected by
a wide circle of acquaintance.
     

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2005 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.