McKenzie, Kenneth

MCKENZIE

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 17:22:18

Kenneth McKenzie

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.577)
KENNETH McKENZIE, an intelligent and well-to-do farmer of Waveland Township, came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, in 1874. It is eminently fitting that an outline of his life should be given in this work; in fact, its omission would make the history incomplete.

Like many of Iowa's successful men, Mr. McKENZIE is a native of Scotland. He was born in December 1836, son of Roderick and Ann (McLEOD) McKENZIE, both natives of that country in which they passed their lives. At the age of thirty-three, Mr. McKENZIE married May KENEDY, also a native of Scotland, born of Scotch parents, Donald and Ann (McLENNAN) KENEDY. In 1869 he and his wife bade farewell to native land and sailed from Glasgow to New York. They continued their way westward and settled in Lapeer County, Michigan, where Mr. McKENZIE was employed at whatever he could do that was most profitable. For a time, he did railroad work and was afterward engaged in lumber woods. In 1875, he came to Pottawattamie County and bought 160 acres of wild prairie land in Waveland Township, paying for it good old Scotch money that he had earned by the sweat of his brow. Here he has since lived, worked, and prospered, and in many ways has been aided by his worthy help-mate. He is now the owner of 440 acres of rich, well-improved land, one of the best farms in the township. He has a fine home, built in 1884, at a cost of $1,000 and is beautifully situated on a natural building site. Mr. McKENZIE is engaged in stock-raising and general agricultural pursuits. He has a grove and orchard, all necessary farm buildings and fences, all the result of the thrifty Scotchman's well-directed efforts.

Mr. And Mrs. McKENZIE have four children: Anna, Christena, Donald and Rodena M. In his political views, Mr. McKENZIE is a Republican. He was reared a Presbyterian. Financially, he is regarded as one of the solid men of the township. He is honest and upright in all things, and his word is as good as his bond. His postoffice is Griswold, Cass County, Iowa.