George W. Kenan

As printed in 1902

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 Biographical memoirs of Wyandot County, Ohio : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography ... embellished with portraits of many national characters and well known residents (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.