Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-Robert Kenney
Portrait and Biographical
Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
ROBERT KENNEY was for several years a
prominent farmer of Dickinson County.
He was born July 20, 1824, in County
Fermanagh, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish parentage,
and in his native land learned the shoe-maker's
trade. On emigrating to New York, he worked
for the firm of Benedict & Hall, of that city,
for seven years. During his residence there he
was married, March 20, 1857, to Elizabeth Phair,
who was born in April, 1823, in the same county
where the birth of her husband occurred. When
a maiden of sixteen summers she came to this
country with neighbors and became a shirt and
dress maker of New York City, being a fine seamstress.
Soon after their marriage, our subject and his
wife determined to seek their fortune in the West
and removed to Wisconsin, but on account of the
extremely cold climate they returned to the Empire
State. They afterward joined a party from
Wisconsin and traveled through Missouri with a
double ox-team, until seven weeks later they
reached Dickinson County, Kan. They settled on
Turkey Creek, south of Abilene, although not a
house marked the site of the city at that time,
and pre-empted land. On account of the ague
they were forced to remove from the bottom lands
to the hills, where they resided until the fall of
1860, when, on account of the failure of crops, Mr.
Kenney returned with his family to New York.
He was variously employed during the period of
the war until the fall of 1864, when he again
started for Kansas. On account of the Missouri
River being held by Gen. Price, he had to remain
in St. Louis during the winter, but the following
May he again located on his two hundred acre
farm in Center Township, on the south side of
Smoky Hill River. At the time of his death the
farm contained one thousand acres, but it has
since been divided among the heirs. A fine bearing
orchard, covering one hundred acres, with its
excellent yield adds not a little to the income of
the owners and in 1891 seventeen hundred barrels
of apples were shipped to Omaha and Denver, on
which over 12,500 were realized. The main varieties
raised are "Jonathans," "Winesaps" and "Missouri
Pippins." Mr. Kenney also engaged extensively
in wheat-raising. One year after his crop was
all harvested it was set on fire by a discharged hired
hand, and the loss resulting therefrom was over
$3,000. Circumstantial evidence, however, would
not convict the fellow, the law requiring that the
incendiary must be seen to strike the match. The
labor and improvements placed upon the land
transformed the wild tract into rich and fertile
fields, and that which was purchased at $4.50 and
$5 per acre is now valued at as high as $35 per
acre.
In politics, Mr. Kenney was a Republican but
not an office-seeker, as he preferred to devote his
entire attention to his business interests, in which
he met with excellent success. He was enterprising
and progressive, sagacious and far-sighted, and
won a well-deserved prosperity. After three years
of suffering from dyspepsia he passed away on the
13th of April, 1889. His death proved a loss to
the community and to his many friends.
Since the death of the father the land has been
divided into four farms. Ella, now the wife of
Ed Sanborn and the eldest of the family, received
one hundred and twenty acres; Henry now owns
and operates three hundred and twenty-five acres;
and Robert received as his share two hundred acres.
He was the only child born on the old homestead,
his birth occurring February 28, 1867, He now
operates the home farm, which comprises the remaining
three hundred and fifty-five acres. The
family numbered one other son, Abraham, who
was born in New York City, March 25, 1864. He
was associated with his brother Robert in conducting
the farm, and their business affairs were carried
on in perfect harmony. They engaged extensively
in shipping apples to Omaha, and it was while
there on business connected with these shipments
that Abraham met his death. He was found dead
in his bed at the Grand Central Hotel, December
7, 1891, and the Coroner returned a verdict that
death resulted from foul play, as all his money
except a few cents had been taken. His two purses,
his hat, suspenders, gaiters, and other wearing
apparel were all gone, still no evidence has been
produced to warrant the arrest and prosecution of
the guilty parties. The remains of the young
man were brought back and interred in the cemetery
of the Hiawatha Lutheran Church. A large
concourse of people followed him to his last resting place,
for he was widely known, had many friends
and was beloved by all.
Mrs. Kenney still resides on the old homestead.
She and her children are representative citizens of
this community, and her sons are numbered among
the prominent and progressive agriculturists of
Dickinson County.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP