J S Kennison

KENNISON

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/20/2009 at 00:54:04

J S Kennison Upon a farm on Sec 15, Garden township, lives J S Kennison. His friends, and the circle is an extensive one, call him Joe. He is popular with those who know hi and is also accounted one of the most enterprising agriculturists of the community in which he owns and operates 320 aces of land, situated on Sec 13 and 16 Garden township. Born in Vermont, his birth occurred on September 4, 1845, in Caledonia county, his parents being Henry and Arvilla (Smith) Kennison. The father was also born in Caledonia county and his mother was likewise a native of the Green Mountain state. IN 1855 they left New England, journeying westward to Illinois, spending one summer in Kendall county. Subsequently they removed to Kankakee county, taking up their abode in Wilmington, where Mr Kennison died in 1857. His wife survived him for a number of years carefully rearing her children and at length was called to her final rest, passing away in Kendall county.
Leaving the mountainous district of Vermont, Joseph S Kennison of this review was reared upon the plains of Illinois. He had little opportunity to attend the schools and is largely self educated, his knowledge being acquired mostly in the school of experience. From early youth he has been dependent upon is own resources and whatever he has achieved life is therefore the merited reward of his own labors. When a young man he came to Iowa, in 1865, and purchased and here. Later he sold that property, and in 1868 bought a portion of the tract upon which he now resides, becoming owner of 80 acres on which was an old log house and some of the land had been broken, but the work of improvement had scarcely been begun. It is his labors that wrought the transformation, which made the farm a tract of rich fertility. As time passed he added to his first purchase until he now has 320 acres surrounding a now and attractive farm residence and good outbuildings. Shade and fruit tree of his own planting are found upon the place and all modern accessories are indications of the practical and progressive spirit of the owner. He makes a specialty of the raising of good graded stock and usually feeds and fattens fro one to four carloads of stock annually, shopping them to the city markets.
In Kendall county, Illinois, on Christmas Day of 1867, was celebrated the marriage of Mr Kennison and Mrs Euretta Story, a widow. She was born and reared in LaSalle county, Illinois, and is a daughter of William Badwell a native of Kentucky. By her fist marriage she had two children, who reached mature years, H F and William B Story. The former resides in California. The latter, a farmer of Polk county, Iowa, married Nellie Van Zandt, a daughter of J W Van Zandt, and they have four children, Fay, Ray, Rex and Bud E. The marriage of Mr ad Mrs Kennison has been blessed with eight children. George is married and lives in Grimes, Iowa. Wealthy is the wife of R A Frise and has three children, Guy, May and an infant while their other son met death by accident at the age of four years. Delbert is married and is a farmer of Garden township. He has one child, Crystal. Claudie is the wife of Edward Kendall a business man of Luther, Iowa. Villa is a student in the Dixon College of Dixon, Illinois. Pearl met death by accident at the age of thirteen years. Tirzah and Virgil are at home.
Mr and Mrs Kennison hold membership in the Congregational church of Garden Prairie. He has always voted with the Republican party, never faltering in his allegiance to its principles or failing to give his support to its candidates. He has served as township trustee for six years, has also been on the school board for a number of years and has ever labored to advance the welfare and progress of his community. During thirty-seen years’ residence in Boone county he has become familiar with its history, has witnessed the growth and development, has seen the prairies broken and the swamps reclaimed for purposes of civilization, while cities and towns have been builded, railroads have been constructed and all of the business interests of the east are now factors it eh development of this portion of the state. Mr Kennison is very widely known as a man of sterling worth and integrity and is honored and respected by those who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.

1902 Boone County History Book