- STEPHEN B. KENYON, of Janesville, who for thirty-two years
has been a resident of Rock
- County, was born in Oswego County N.Y., Sept. 30, 1829, and
is a son of Reynolds and Abby (COMBS) KENYON. The KENYON family
in America is descended from three brothers who emigrated to
this country during the early colonial days and settled in the
Colony of Rhode Island.
- Reynolds KENYON, the father of our subject, was born in Rhode
Island, and when about twenty
- years of age, went to Connecticut, where he made the acquaintance
of the lady who afterwards became his wife. A short time subsequent
to their marriage they removed to Oswego County, N.Y., where
Mr. KENYON entered a tract of heavily timbered land, from which
he developed a farm, and resided thereon for the long period
of forty years. In 1858 he removed with his family to Allegan
County, Mich.., where his death occurred March 13, 1860, at the
age of seventy-four years. His wife who was born near New Haven,
Conn., died on the 8th day of September, 1866, aged seventy-one
years and six months. Her father, Thomas COMBS, was a native
of the north of Ireland, but came to America in early life, settling
in Connecticut, where he continued to make his home until death,
engaged in the occupation of farming.
- The family of Mr. and Mrs. KENYON numbered eleven children,
seven sons and four daughters,
- all of whom are living with the exception of Abby and Job
R. Deborah is a resident of Syracuse, N.Y.; Thomas is a resident
of Texas; Austin makes his home in southern Illinois; Ursula
is living in Allegan County, Mich.; DeWitt is located in Santa
Barbara County, Cal.; Stephen B. is the next in age; Francis
H. is a resident of Syracuse, N.Y.; Sarah is living in Pawtucket,
R.I.; and Gurdin N. is in Los Angeles, Cal.
- During his early life the subject of this sketch learned
the trade of blacksmithing, which occupation
- he followed for the long period of thirty-six years. He married
in Oswego County, N.Y. to Miss Ellen A. GILLETT, a native of
Otsego County, that State, and a daughter of Joel and Charity
(FINCH) GILLETT Her parents were also natives of the Empire State,
and passed many years of their lives in Oswego County. They reared
a family of six children, two sons and four daughters, four of
whom are yet living - Everett, of Mexico, Oswego County, N.Y.;
Ellen, wife of Mr. KENYON; Eveline, now Mrs. CORNWALL of Clinton,
Rock County; Emaline, who is living Mexico, N.Y. The deceased
were Ellery and Eveline, who died in childhood.
- In 1857, Mr. KENYON and wife left the East and emigrated
to Rock County, Wis., locating at
- Clinton. While residing in that town, they had the misfortune
to lose their only child, a little daughter, Alice C., who died
on the 3d day of April, 1860, at the age of eight years. The
same year, the parents
removed to Janesville, where Mr. KENYON resumed his occupation
of blacksmithing, which he carried on until 1882, when he retired
from active life. In 1884 he was elected Superintendent of the
poor for Rock County, a position which he still holds. He is
one of the self-made men of this community. Without capital he
began life's work, but by industry, and careful management and
perseverance, has secured a comfortable competency. He and his
wife are numbered among the esteemed citizens of Rock County,
where for thirty-two years they have resided, gaining friends
by their kindliness, their cordiality and upright lives. In his
earlier years, Mr. KENYON was a Whig, and cast his first Presidential
vote for Zachary Taylor in 1848, but since the organization of
the Republican party, he has been numbered among its supporters.
-
- Taken from "Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock
County Wis." (c)1889, p. 193-194.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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