In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1891) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1822
From History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : and biographies of representative citizens. History of Michigan (1881), Portrait and biographical album of Washtenaw County, Michigan, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies of all the governors of the state, a (1891)
John Kenny, farmer, sec. 22, Webster tp.; P. O., Dexter; was born in Vermont in 1822, and is a son of Munnis and Patty Kenny, who settled in this county in 1828, where the former died in 1864. The mother is still surviving, at the age of 87 years. John grew to manhood amid the scenes of pioneer life, and in 1850 he married Adelia Queal, daughter of Henry M. and Eliza (Bennett) Queal, natives of New York, who emigrated to this county in 1829, and rank among the early pioneers of the " region along the
Huron." Six children were born to them, Byron D., Ossian, Eliza J., wife of "Warren Waldron; Ida B., born Jan. 18,1858; Muiinis, born March 13, 1864:, and Bert, born May 9, 1866. Mr. Kenny is
?uite au extensive stock-raiser, and sells annually about 400 sheep, n politics he is a Bepublican.
Jerome B. Lanphear, farmer, sec. 9, Webster tp.; was born in Washtenaw county Feb. 4, 1840. His parents, Ashley A. and Lovina Lanphear, were natives of New York, and settled on the farm now owned by Jerome, in 1833, where the former died in 1877. The mother still survives, and has passed the allotted time, three score and ten. They were the parents of four children — three sons and one daughter, Jerome being the youngest. He was married in 1864 to Mary M. Page, daughter of George C. and Anna Page, natives of England, the former being at present a Justice of the Peace in Dexter. Tvfo children were given to bless this alliance—EUery L., born in 1870, and William A., born in 1876. Mr. L. is a farmer of some prominence, and devotes a good share of his attention to the raising of stock. He owns 120 acres of land, and in politics, votes with the Democratic party.
William C. Latson, farmer, sec. 24, Webster tp.; is a native of this county, where he was born in 1833. tlis parents are William and Elizabeth Latson, natives of New York, who emigrated to this county in 1832, being among the first to open up this fair region. They lived here till death came to their release, the former dying in 1872, and the latter in 1860. Mr. L. was raised on a farm, and has followed, that occupation through life, and successfully, too, for he now owns 223 acres of rich land, valued at $65 per acre. In 1859 he was married to Mary J., daughter of Henry and Mary Johnson, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of New York. They were old pioneers of the county, coming here in 1831, where the former died in 1857, but the latter is still living, at the age of 72. This marriage has been blessed with 14 children — Frank A., Antoinette E., George H., Aline, Ada N., Lawrence, Elmer, Jennie, Edwin, Anna, and the twins, Lottie and Lizzie. Two twin infants are deceased. Mr. Latsou adheres to the Republican administration.
L. B. Lee, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 30, Webster tp.; P. O., Dexter; is a native of this county, where he was born Sept. 5, 1843. His parents were Frederick and Polly Lee, the former a native of Vt., and the latter of N. Y. They emigrated to this county in 1833. The subject of our sketch was married in 1867 to Hattie P. Nordman, who was also born in this county, Sept. 26, 1846. They have one child by this marriage — Anna L. Mrs. Lee's parents came to this county in 1832. Mr. Lee's father died in 1878, but his stepmother, who came to this section of the country in 1830, is still living with him. She has beheld many changes since first coming here, and can hardly realize that this prosperous region, with its thousands of intellectual inhabitants, and in wealth only second to Wayne, was once a wild and uninhabited section, when land could be bought for a mere song. Mr. L. is a well-respected and honored citizen of the county. He is a Republican, and the owner of 190 acres of valuable land.
Alva P. Litchfieldi farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 34, Webster tp.; P. O., Dexter; was born at Brooklyn, Conn., Oct. 1, 1854. His parents were Edward and Amanda ( Preston ) Litchfield, and old pioneers of this county. On March 1, 1854, he was joined in holy wedlock to Almira Boyd, daughter of Louis and Sophia (Oushman ) Boyd, natives of N. Y. and where she was born in 1829. Her parents emigrated to Washtenaw Co. in 1836. They have one child by this marriage — Louis A. born in 1854. Mr. L. and his brother Foster are partners in the stock business, in which they are successful dealers. Mr. Litchfield is not a member of any Church, but leads a strictly moral and temperate life, and one worthy of imitation in many respects. Mrs. L. is a member of the Baptist denomination. Politically he votes with the Republican party.
i'<)Si;6r ZiiJcAeM, farmer, sec. 34, Webster tp.; P. O., Dexter; was born in Conn., June IS, 1830. He is the son of Edward and Amanda ( Preston ) Litchfield, both natives of Conn., and who emigrated to this county in 1833, therefore ranking among the early pioneers of Washtenaw. The former was born in 1799, and died in 1880, and the latter born in 1802, and died in 1833. The grandfather of Mr. L. purchased 80 acres of land in this county from the Government in an early day. Mr. Litchfield was married in Erie Co., ISf. Y., N"ov. 30, 1852, to Lucy E. Smith, a native of Conn., and daughter of E. S. and Allie E. ( Hays) Smith, the former a native of New York, and of English parentage, and the latter a native of Mass., and of German ancestry; emigrating to this county in 1825. Mrs. L. attended the first school taught in Ann Arbor, and in company with seven other young ladies, rode 40 miles on horseback to attend a 4th of July celebration. Her father and mother are still living, in Lake Co., Mich. This marriage was blessed with 6 children — Ida M., wife of David Waite, of Scio tp.; they have 1 child, Jay D., born Nov. 19, 1879; Allie, wife of Clinton J. Snyder, and mother of one child, Lucy M., born April 23, 1879; Fred J., Ernest M., Almira J. and Edward S. Mr. L. has been a prominent man in the township, and has held several local offices. Both are members of the M. E. Church, and he is a Republican. In connection with farming he is extensively engaged in the stock business. He owns one-half interest in 160 acres ot richly cultivated land.
James Lucas, miller; P. 0., Dexter; was born in England in 1833. He is the son of Edward and Jemima ( Metcalf) Lucas, both natives of England. He received but a limited education, and in 1847 was put to work in a mill to learn that trade. This he did, and thoroughly, too. He came to Waslitenaw county in 1856, and was married to Susan Hubbard. They have 3 children — Calvin, Hattie and Jay. Mr. L. rented the Peninsula Mills, in Dexter, some time ago, and has been operating it successfully since.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
Aleooander Mallion, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 28, Webster tp.; P. O., Dexter. His parents are William and Jane Mallion, the former of English, the latter of Irish descent, who emigrated to this country in 1844. Alexander was born on a farm in this county in 1839, and has lived in the neighborhood the greater part of his life. He owns 72 acres of cultivated land, valued at $75 per acre, and is a respected and honorable citizen of the county in which he resides. He was married in 1868 to Mary J. Clark, daughter of Asahel and Mary Clark, natives of Connecticut, where Mary J. was born in 1842. Mr. Mallion is connected with the Democratic party.
Robert MoC oil, farmer, sec. 26, Webster tp.; P. O., Delhi Mills; is the son of Hugh and Jane (Trotter) McC.,both of Scotch nativity, who emigrated to this county in 1830, after purchasing a piece of land from the Government in 1829, and where the former died in 1864, at the age of 69. The subject of this sketch was born in Pennsylvania, in 1824. In 1855 he was married to Sophia D. Latson, a daughter of William and Elizabeth Latson, natives of New York, and who immigrated to this county in 1831, where their deaths occurred, the former in 1871, and the latter in 1860. Mrs. M. was a native of the county, being born here in 1831. Seven children have been sent to this happy couple — Ora, Mattie J., Irving G., the twins. Jay P. and Ray J., Willie and Jennie. Mrs. McCoU ranks second of the oldest persons now living who was born in Webster township. Mr. M. is a prominent Republican, and has been elected to fill the position of Supervisor from his tp. several times. He possesses a fine, richly cultivated farm of 325 acres.
As printed in History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : and biographies of representative citizens. History of Michigan (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN KENNY. The very fine farm owned by our subject extends over three sections of Webster Township, overlapping sections 15, 22 and 23. He was born in Townsend, Windsor County, Yt., September 27, 1822, and is a son of Munnis and Patty Kenny, both natives of Vermont. Our subject's paternal grandsire was Moses Kenny, who was of Irish descent, his father having been a native of the Emerald Isle. His mother, whose maiden name was Patty Campbell, is of Scotch descent and a sister of Polly Campbell, who is the mother of J. C. Wheeler. Muinis Kenny was educated in Livingston College and afterward studied law with Judge Field, and was admitted to practice at the bench and bar when a young man. He pursued the profession for some years, his marriage taking place when he was about twenty-one years of age, and three yeai-s after this he removed to Bnghton, a market town near Boston. Our subject's father died April 23, 1863. He was born Deceml)er 10, 1788, and his marriage was solemnized January 12, 1814. His wife, Patty, was born February 21, 1792, and died February 2, 1886, at the age of ninety-four years.
After the marriage of our subject's parents they ckm tinned to live at Brighton for about five years, there keeping a market house, and finally came to Michigan in 1829, the family having lived in Poultney one year. Mr. Kenny's sister has in her possession a sample made by his mother at the age of eight years, bearing the following lettering: '* Poultney, Vt., July 16, 1800, Patty Campbell, bom February 21, 1792, aged eight years."
Our subject was one of the following-named children: Keys K., lK>rn December 8, 1839; Eliza died January 4, 1839, at the age of twenty-two years; Martha died Septeml)er 8, 1855, at the age of thirty-six years; our subject is the fourth child in order of birth; Jane died April 25, 1881, at the age of fifty-six years; lura survives; Cliarles Henry died Octoler 4, 1882, at the age of fifty-two yeai-s. As is seen only two of the family still survive. The family emigrated to this State in 1829, the father living made a prospecting tour the previous year, at which time he secured a tract of two hundred and forty acres of Government land, upon which his family later settled. While en route for this State the family stopped at Ashtabula ( >hio. The elder Mr. Kenny clear'ed a ti-act of three hundred and eighty acres, nor did he confine his attention alone to his individual interests, having the progress of the vicinity at heart. He was a member of the Territorial Legislature that met at Detroit, and was elected by the Whig party.
Munnis Kenny originated the Washtenaw Mutual Insurance Company at a time when only seven men could be induced to enter it. They, however, secured a charter from the Legislature, and at his death the company erected a monument in the Webster cemetery in honor of the man who had not only advanced the interests of a company but was a public benefactor. He was a leader in many similar enterprises. The organization of the Congregational Church in this place was aided and hastened by him. He and his son Keys hauled the logs to build the first place of worship occupied by that people. He was one of the first Deacons, and when a fine edifice was erected in 1860 he was one of the most generous contributors to the project. A stanch Whig, the principles of abolition appealed to him from a humanitarian standpoint, and when the district in which he lived polled only seven votes he advanced the interests of the Abolition party.
Prior to coming to this State Munnis Kenny had been a member of the Vermont Legislature, and after coming either was Supervisor of the township in the year of 1839-40, and was Township Clerk from 1847 to 1849, and again in 1856-57. He was Secretary of the Insurance Company, and devoted much time and attention to the interests of this enterprise.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
The original of our sketch has lived on the farm which his father located here for many years. He has the original entry of the land, but has added to the farm until it now comprises two hundred and sixty-three acres. For forty years he lived on the old farm before coming to his present place. He has just erected a fine new residence which adds greatly to the appearance and value of the plac. The family that has been entrusted to the care of our subject and wife are named as follows: Byron, Ossian, Eliza, Ida, Munnis and Bert. The first named lives in Webster Township, on Indei:>pendence Lake; he man led Emily Hadley. Ossian resides in Garden Grove, Cal., where he is a farmer; Eliza is now Mrs. Warren Waldron, of Hastings, Neb.; Ida lives at home; Munnis died November 28, 1887, a victim of typhoid fever. The youngest son 18 owner of part of the old farm; his wife was Miss Hattie Phelps, a daughter of George Phelps.
Our subject has for years devoted himself to general farming. He has never had ambition to fill public office, giving his whole attention to agricultural pursuits. Both he and his wife are members of the Congregational Cliurch, and have been so connected for twenty-five years. Our subject is a Republican in politics, and an ardent advocate of temperance.
Since the al)Ove was written our subject has passed away, his death occurring September 17,
As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Washtenaw County, Michigan, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies of all the governors of the state, a (1891). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Henry Stumpenhusen (b. 1843) Munnis Kenny
Their biographies name John Kenny: Bert Kenny (b. 1866)
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.