The Kenan Family of Wyandot County, Ohio

SAMUEL KENAN. This worthy and respected pioneer was burn in Ohio County, Va., July 6, 1806. His parents were James and Catharine (Yhoast) Kenan, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of New Jersey. They were married in Virginia, and after several removals settled in Wyandot County in 1830, subsequently migrating to Illinois, but returning to Fremont, Ohio, where he died, aged seventy-four years; Catharine, his wife, survived him about four years, her death occurring in Knox County, Ill., in her seventy-fifth year. Samuel Kenan was reared on the farm, and educated in the common schools of Virginia. He resided with his parents till twenty-four years of age, making his way to this county, and settling in Tymochtee Township in 1829. He was married to Minerva Earl May 19, 1830, and six children resulted from this union, four now living — Alvin, Amanda, George and James. Samuel and Joel are deceased. The death of Mrs. Kenan occurred in May, 1844, and Mr. Kenan was again married the following October to Mary Freet, whose death occurred in March, 1845. In August, 1855, his marriage to Marv Havens occuiTed. She was the widow of Benjamin Havens, and by this marriage had four children, namely, Elizabeth, Frank P., Hiram and Henry, twins, deceased; the latter was accidentally killed by the cars at Pittsburgh in 1865; Hiram died at the age of seventeen. Mary Kenan, the third wife died in May, 1877, and Mr. Kenan was married May 2, 1883, to Lucy M. Pool, widow of Ira Pool. He has always devoted his attention to agriculture and has accumulated a large amount of property, at one time owning 425 acres of land. He is highly esteemed as a citizen, having served as Treasurer of Tymochtee Township seven years and as member of the School Board twelve years; he is a member of the Universalist Church, and in political sentiment a Republican.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ALVIN KENAN, of the firm of Kenan Bros., real estate dealers, Upper Sandusky, was born in Tymochtee Township, April 26, 1832. He is the eldest son of Samuel and Minerva (Earl) Kenan, of Irish, German and English ancestry. Samuel Kenan was born in Ohio County, Va., July 6, 1806. Alvin Kenan was educated in the Tymochtee Schools and remained upon the farm with his parents till his twenty-fourth year. In 1860, he entered into a partnership with his brother in the shipping of live stock, and continued in this occupation twelve years. In 1875, he abandoned his agricultural and other pursuits, and established a real estate office in Upper Sandusky, in partnership with his brother, George Kenan, in which occupation they are still engaged, doing the most extensive business in that line of any firm in the county. Mr. Kenan was married in October, 1856, to Miss Olive E. Torey, daughter of Joseph F. and Elizabeth (Wright) Torey, early settlers of Tymochtee Township. They are the parents of eight children — six living, Ernest E., born October 6, 1857; Cora M., June 16, 1862; Myrtie, November 18, 1864; Earl T., January 21, 1868; Jessie R.,

May 30, 1875: Dudley D., October 19, 1877. The deceased were twins, born in 1860, and died the same year. Mr. Kenan is a member of the Knights of Honor, and a Republican in politics. Himself and wife are both members of the Universalist Church.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

GEORGE KENAN, of the firm of Kenan Bros., was born in the village of Tymochtee October 18, 1837. He is the son of Samuel and Minerva (Earl) Kenan, they being the parents of six children, four of whom now survive, viz., Alvin, Amanda, George and James. The deceased are Samuel and Joel The father is still living, in his seventy-eighth year; the mother died in 1843. George Kenan, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the village school at Tymochtee, remaining on the farm with his parents until eighteen years of age. He engaged in teaching during the winter months, and farmer during the summers for five years. In 1860, he began buying and shipping stock in connection with his agricultural business, and continued in this occupation twelve years, being the largest shipper in the county. In 1873, in partnership with his brother Alvin, he opened a real estate office in Upper Sandusky, and is still engaged in that business on an extensive scale. He was married, July 22, 1867, to Ella Ayres, daughter of William and Harriet (Quick) Ayres, and three children have been born to them — Eva, born September 2, 1868; Grace, born May 20, 1870: Clara A., born March 18, 1878. Mr. Kenan is a member of the Knights of Honor, the Royal Arcanum and the Universalist Church. In politics, he is a Republican.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRANKLIN P. KENAN, proprietor of grocery store, Wyandot avenue, Upper Sankusky, was born in this county September 25, 1850, He is the son of Samuel and Mary (Cutting) Kenan, natives of Virginia and Vermont respectively. Franklin P. our subject, was educated in the district schools of Tymochtee Township, closing his educational pursuits in the schools of Upper Sandusky at the age of twenty-one. He engaged in agricultural pursuits for a few years, teaching school during the winter months, removing to Upper Sandusky and embarking in the mercantile business in the spring of 1875. He engaged as clerk with S. J. Wirick, one and one-half years and with Harper & Waters one year, purchasing their stock of groceries in 1880, and forming a partnership with D. R. Kelly. He subsequently purchased Mr. Kelly's interest and has since conducted the business independently. He carries a $1,500 stock and keeps a full line of everything usually found in a first class grocery store. He is a Republican in politics.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

GEORGE W. KENAN.

The gentleman whose name stands at the head of this paragraph is one of the oldest in point of business at this time, if not in years of life, in the city of Upper Sanduskv. He was born in Tiffin. Seneca county, Ohio. Octolxm 2, *1835, and is a son of Robert and Josephine ( Pulliam) Kenan. Robert Kenan was born in Perry county. Ohio, in 1810, where he was reared until about sixi teen years old, when the family came P what is now W’vandet county. Being among the early pioneers. Here the father of Robert Kenan entered land in Tvmochtee township, where Robert learned the trade of a wheat-fan manufacturer and later engaged in the business at Tiffin. In 1840 lie went to Versailles, ind., where he conducted a factory for the making of this class of farm machinery until his death, in 1847, when about thirty-seven years old. He was a man of energy and enterprise and a true and patriotic American. He enlisted at Xew Albany, ind., for service in the Mexican war. but was not enrolled, as the quota of the last regiment called for had been filled and he was deprived of the privilege of going to the front.

James Kenan, father of Robert Kenan, was a native of the north of Ireland, where his father was a commission merchant and did a large business in shipping. When vet a boy James set out on a trip to Virginia and on arriving in the new world was so pleased with the country that he concluded to remain. He was there married and about the year 1805 moved to Ohio, and later, though still at an early day. came to what is now yandot county, where he afterward resided until his death, which occurred when in his eightieth year. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Yost, also lived to an advanced age and died in this county.

Mrs. Josephine (Pulliam) Kenan, mother of our subject, was born in Jessamine county, Kv., and was a daughter of Benjamin and Frances Pulliam, natives of Virginia. She was very young when the family removed to Indiana and settler! at Versailles. Ripley county. The parents were both of English extraction, lived to prolonged years and died in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. The daughter. Josephine, was twice married and it was to her first husband. Robert Kenan, that the six following named children were born: George \V., the subject of this sketch; Benjamin M.. who was a sergeant in Company

I. Thirteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at Bermuda Hundred. Va., when about twenty-four years old: Tilford

J.. now in the hotel business at Versailles, ind.; William R., who was a private in the Nineteenth Iowa Infantry and lost his life in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark.: Charles X., who served in the Eighty-third Indiana Volunteers, was wounded at Vicksburg, Miss., and subsequently died of his injuries; and Elizabeth, who is the widow of Cory Hyatt. The father of this family died in December, 1847, and the mother when sixty-three years old; she was a greatly respected lady and trained her children to fully do their duty to their parents and their country, as was fully proven by the gallant part four of them took in the military service of their country during the war of the Rebellion.

George W. Kenan attended the common school until seventeen years old. when he went to St. Louis, Mo., where he clerked in a drug store for seven years. In 1856 he went to Lexington, Mo., and clerked in a drug store until the breaking out of the Civil war.

Li May, 1861. inspired by patriotism, he became a member of an independent or '‘home" military organization, in which he served until August of that year, then enlisted in Company A. Seventh Kansas Cavalry, in which he served until discharged. He then re-enlisted as a veteran, as did his entire regiment, serving until peace was triumphantly secured, following which happy result Mr. Kenan was sent in pursuit of the hostile Indians, in which capacity he served until receiving his honorable and final discharge, late in 1865. Mr. Kenan took part in all the marches, skirmishes and engagements in which his regiment participated and the casualties he sustained were a wound in the head, one in the foot, and an injury in the knee by a horse falling on him. While in the service Mr. Kenan was promoted to a captaincy in the Thirteenth [Missouri Cavalry, but on looking over the situation he declined the honor, as he preferred the intimate and close companionship of his fellow privates, whose good will accompanied him wherever he went. After his return from the army Mr. Kenan traveled until 1869, selling drugs on the road, and in that year purchased his present drug store in Upper Sandusky, where he now does an extensive business in his line.

Mr. Kenan was married at Cedar Springs, Mich., in February. 1871, to [Miss [Mary J. Groff, of that place, to which union have been born six children, viz.: Two died young; Robert, the eldest, met with a sad death at the age of twenty-two years by a gunshot while hunting; Frederick is an assistant of his father in the store; Laura and Joseph still have their home with their parents. The family of [Mr. and [Mrs. Kenan are among the leading ones of Upper Sandusky- and Mr. Kenan is an honored member of the F. & A. M., and also of Robbins Post, G. A. R.

[Mr. Kenan is the inventor and proprietor of Kenan's Poultry Powder, Kenan's Hog Powder, the Sterling Stock Food, Kenan's Worm Powder. Kenan’s Distemper Cure, and other curative for live stock disorders, all of which have an extensive sale in the surrounding states. Wherever the name of Kenan is known, so are his remedies, and it is to such men as lie, in every branch of business, that give a reputation to a town and send its fame to the surrounding country.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.