Authors - Knox County Historical Society

Delano L. Ames

(1906-1987)

One of the truly famous fiction writers of Knox County was Delano Ames. He was born at Lakeholm Farm at the southeast edge of Mount Vernon, Ohio, in 1906. He was the son of Benjamin and Isabel (Kirk) Ames and the grandson of Columbus Delano, who was Secretary of Interior in President Grant's cabinet. As a young man, Ames attended schools in the east, including Yale and Columbia Universities. Much biographical detail is lacking, but it appears that Ames left the United States about 1935 and spent most of the rest of his life in Europe. He was married twice. He considered England his home, though he also spent much time in a fishing village in Spain. He died in Madrid, Spain, in 1987.

John Taintor Foote

(1881-1952)

John Taintor Foote spent his adult life writing stories about the things he loved, especially horses, dogs, hunting, and fishing. He was born in Leadville, Colorado, in 1881, the son of George and Margaret (Moore) Foote.
In 1887 the family moved to Gambier, Ohio. Here John attended Kenyon Military Academy and in 1905, married Ada Curtis, daughter of Henry and Lucia Curtis. The couple lived in Knox County until about 1920, when they moved to New York and later to California. John died in Los Angeles in 1950.

George Morrow Kahrl

(1904-1988)

One of the recognized 20th century scholars of British literature was George Morrow Kahrl. He was born in West Virginia in 1904, the son of Frederick and Margaret (Allin) Kahrl. In 1907 the family moved to Mount Vernon, Ohio, where George attended public school.
After attending Wooster College for two years, he transferred to Connecticut Wesley University, graduating in 1926. This was followed by several years of graduate study in several universities, including Princeton and Harvard. In 1929 he married Faith Jessup. Also, during this period, Kahrl traveled widely and taught for short periods in Europe, and for two years at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio. He received a PhD degree from Harvard in 1936.

John Samuel Gotshall

(1891- ? )

John Samuel Gotshall was a popular short story writer. He was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, in 1891, the son of Samuel and Winifred (Lane) Gotshall. In 1913 he was a law partner with his father in Mount Vernon.
Soon after, John became involved with journalism activities throughout Ohio and other states.
In 1923 he married Carol Magennis of Texas. In 1930 he was managing editor of the Ashtabula (Ohio) Star-Beacon.

Vaughan Kester

(1869-1911)

Vaughan Kester was a very popular writer of short stories and novels. He was born in 1869 in New Jersey, the son of Franklin and Harriett (Watkins) Kester. The family moved to Delaware, Ohio, where another son, Paul, was born. A few years later while the boys were young, Vaughan and Paul came to Mount Vernon to live with their grandmother. The boys were educated by tutors in Mount Vernon and in Cleveland. During this period Vaughan also traveled in the West and lived for a short time on an uncle's ranch in Colorado.

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