Bio: Kenney, William,
1861
Contact: Stan
----Source: 1918 History of
Clark Co., WI, by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge, Transcribed Sun, 11 Feb
2001
Surname: KENNEY, DOLAN, BREED, MCGROGAN, FISCHER,
MOONE, BEEKMAN
William Kenney,
1861
WILLIAM KENNEY, who is successfully farming 120 acres of land in Section 1,
Worden Township, has been a resident of Clark County for nineteen years. He
was born in Jefferson County, Wis., Mar. 11, 1861, son of Lawrence and Mary
(Dolan) Kenney. The parents were born and married in Ireland and, subsequently
emigrating to Canada, settled on a farm near Montreal. Two years later they
removed to Niagara Falls, N. Y., where Lawrence Kenney was engaged in teaming
for three years. At the end of that time he and his family moved to Jefferson
County, Wis., and there, for three years he managed a farm for Henry Breed.
The Civil War coming on, he enlisted in the First Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry
and saw service under General Grant for several years. In 1864 he bought a
farm in Outagamie County, Wis., to which he and his family moved. During his
military service he had received a wound in the leg, from which he never,
fully recovered, but he lived to the age of 68 years, his death taking place
in 1880. His wife died in 1868 at the age of 42. They had a family of twelve
children, two of whom died on board ship on the way to Canada, and only two of
the twelve are now living: William and his sister, Bridget, the latter beii7g
the wife of John McGrogan, of Thorp. William Kenney came to Clark County in
the spring of 1898, first buying the farm now owned by Fred W. Fischer in the
same section as Mr. Kenney's present farm. It contained 160 acres and he
resided on it for eight years, during which time he cleared off most of the
timber and erected a large barn and other buildings. In 1907 he sold that place and bought his present farm of 120 acres, which
was an improved one. He has further improved it by the erection of a number of
buildings, including a brick silo of 155 tons capacity, built in 1909, at a
cost of $1,100. He is raising full-blooded Guernsey cattle, having a
registered sire named Boisterous, said to be one of the best-bred bulls in
Clark County, and which was raised by Fox brothers of Waukesha, Wis. Mr.
Kenney's farm is now well improved and includes a small apple orchard. He has
traveled somewhat extensively in the United States, having visited both the
Pacific Coast and Gulf Coast. In 1905 he was elected treasurer of District
School Board, No. 2, and served as such for nine years. Mr. Kenney was first married in 1885 to
Margaret Kennedy, who died in 1892, leaving three children: Mary, now Mrs.
Jake Dobmeier, of North Dakota; William, who died young; and William R.
(second), who resides at Marshfield, Wis. On Jan. 13, 1902, Mr. Kenney married
for his second wife, Martha Moone, widow of Eveard Moone, who died at Stanley,
Wis., July 6, 1900. Her maiden name was Martha Beekman, and she was born in
Manitowoc County, Wis. Her father is now a farmer in Worden Township, Clark
County. Of this second marriage eight children have been born: John, Florence,
Margaret, James, Arthur, Alice, Charles and Grace. Charles is now dead. The
others all reside at home with their parents. The family are members of the
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