My Genealogy Hound

Edward Kenney, a manufacturer of cement building and paving blocks and also a contractor for the laying of public sidewalks of this character, has been thus identified with the industrial interests of Creston since 1890 while his residence here dates from 1884. His enterprise proved a strong element in the commercial activity and consequent prosperity of the city and he belongs to that class of energetic, determined men who win advancement not because of their advantages but in spite of the obstacles and difficulties which they encounter in a business career. Mr. Kenney was born in Quincy, Illinois, in 1852. His father, Joseph Kenney, was a native of Hartford, Connecticut, and in his veins flowed the blood of Irish ancestry. He was a bricklayer by trade and about 1820 removed westward to Illinois, settling in the city of Quincy, where he followed his trade as a journeyman for a time and afterward became contractor and met with success in his undertakings. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church while his political support was given to the whig party. He married Jerusha Sawin, who was born in the state of New York of New England parentage and died in 1879 at the age of sixty-seven years. She was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their family numbered eight children: Amanda J., the wife of T. J. McCann, a carpenter of Independence, Missouri; Alonzo, who is a bricklayer of Creston; Nellie, deceased; Leroy J., who is a gardener of St. Joseph, Missouri; Linus H., who was a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry and was captured at Memphis, after which he was paroled but died in 1898; two others who died in infancy; and Edward of this review.

Edward Kenney pursued his education in the schools of Camp Point, Illinois, and in early business life followed the trade of plastering for a number of years. He then took up the work of the manufacture and laying of cement blocks and in 1884 came to Creston, where he worked at his trade. In 1890 he began the manufacture of cement blocks and also laying sidewalks and since that time he has laid four miles of sidewalks in Creston. He has also put in cement walks in other places and is a manufacturer of all kinds of cement building blocks. He has been very successful in his undertakings and is now recognized as one of the leading representatives of industrial life in Creston.

In 1880 Mr. Kenney was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Baird, who was born in Quincy, Illinois, in 1854. They have six children: Mary L., at home; Laura J., a teacher in the schools; Lloyd, who is with his father; Samuel and Charles, twins, who died in infancy; and Grace Frances, now attending school. The wife and mother passed away in 1890 and Mr. Kenney wedded Fannie Cormack, who was born in Bellevue, Iowa, and died in January, 1907, at the age of fifty-six years in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she was a faithful and devoted member. Mr. Kenney is also a member of the same church, in which he is a class leader, and has ever led an upright, honorable life, in harmony with his professions. In politics he is a democrat, while fraternally he is an Elk.