Michael Kenny 1807-1895

KENNY, COX, GARRITY, MCNALLY

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 3/7/2020 at 18:21:30

Cascade Pioneer, Cascade, Iowa, Friday, Morning, February 8th, 1895

MICHAEL KENNY DEAD

The Venerable Octogenarian Pays the
Debt of Nature.

After a long and useful life, of varied experiences and interesting events, the soul of that venerable and esteemed citizen, Michael Kenny, passed to its eternal reward at an early hour Wednesday morning, Feb. 6th.

Mr. Kenny had been in feeble health for a long time owing to his advanced age, and while his death was expected, it was nevertheless a sad blow to his children, and received with sorrow and regret by his neighbors and friends.

Michael Kenny was born in the parish of Kilcounale, County of Galway, Ireland, in the year 1807. His early boyhood was spent in the vicinity of his birth, and among many other incidents his retentive memory preserved recollections of the victorious return of Duke of Wellington from the battle of Waterloo, where Napoleon’s star of destiny was set in gloom. In 1826, Mr. Kenny went to London and lived there four years. He subsequently returned to Ballinsie, Ireland, where he went to school and studied the classics, ostensible to prepare himself for the medical profession, but instead of doing so emigrated to America in 1834, and in 1837 went to St. louis, where he remained during the winter, and in the employ of Col. John O’Fallen, president of the State Bank of Missouri. In the spring he started for Galena on a stern-wheel boat commanded by Capt. Thomas Gray, a well-known river man. When they reached Alton, Illinois, they discovered that ice prevented further progress up the river. They landed at Alton the night that Lovejoy, the abolitionist, was shot and killed by a mob. Mr. Kenny gave graphic descriptions of that notable tragedy. When the ice broke up in the Mississippi he went to galena, lived there until 1840, and then returned to Ireland. Ten years later he again came to America, and settled in Washington Township, Jones County, where he began farming and continued to until some years ago, when he relinquished the actual labor to his sons. Two years ago he took up his residence in East Cascade, where on Wednesday morning his spirit left its tenement of clay for “that borne whence no traveler returns.”

Mr. Kenny was finely educated, always took a deep interest in public affairs and was abundantly able to discuss them intelligently. He was a just and generous man, commanding the respect and veneration of all who knew him, and revered by his children, of whom there survive him, his sons, Wm. Patrick, and George, all of Cascade, and daughters, Mrs. William Garrity, of Cascade Township, Mrs. Robert McNally, of Richland Township, and Misses Emily and Agnes, at home. His wife died several years ago, and his daughter, Mrs. Christie cox, also died a number of years ago.

The remains were taken to Temple Hill today. The funeral services were held in St. Peter’s church, and internment made in the adjacent cemetery. Revs. Convery and Roche officiated.