JOHN E. KASNER. Succeeding his honored father in the office of county auditor of Benton County, Mr. Kasner is giving a most effective administration and is now serving his second term in this important position, the while his circle of friends in his native county is limited only by that of his acquaintances, as he is a young man of sterling character and has accounted well for himself in connection with the practical responsibilities of life.

John Edward Kasner was born on his father's homestead farm in Alberta Township, Benton County, Minnesota, and the date of his nativity was January 17, 1890. He is a son of Anthony E. and Mary (Schloss) Kasner, both of whom were born in West Prussia, in one of the provinces formerly a part of Poland. Anthony Kasner came to America in 1870 and as a man of excellent intellectual attainments he was for some time a successful teacher in the public schools of Minnesota, besides which he served six years as county superintendent of the schools of Benton County. Here he gained inviolable place in the confidence and esteem of the people of the county and he became prominent and influential in civic affairs in this county, where, as a staunch supporter of the cause of the democratic party, he was elected county auditor, of which office he continued the incumbent fourteen years, his death having occurred on the 12th of July, 1910, and his widow being still a resident of Foley, both having been reared in the faith of the Catholic Church, of which they early became zealous communicants.

John E. Kasner is indebted to the public schools of Sauk Rapids and Foley for his early educational discipline and when a lad of but fourteen years he began to give to his father clerical assistance in the office of county auditor. After having served most effectively as deputy county auditor he was naturally looked upon as an eligible candidate for the office which had been long and efficiently held by his father, and in 1912 he was elected county auditor by a gratifying majority, the best voucher for the excellence of his administration having been that afforded in his re-election in 1914. Mr. Kasner has from the time of attaining to his legal majority been arrayed in the ranks of the democratic party, and he is a stalwart advocate of its principles and policies. In their home village of Foley both he and his wife are communicants of St. John's Church, and he is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of St. Cloud, Minnesota.

On the 24th of June, 1912, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Kasner to Miss Estelle Willing, of Foley, and they have one daughter, Lucille Mary. (Vol. 3, pp. 1562-3)