Kenaston, Uriah B. 1839-1935

KENASTON, HAVILAND

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke--Volunteer
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:33

Source: Hawarden Independent (4-25-1935)

Born: June 24, 1839
Died: April 18, 1935

DEATH OF CIVIL WAR VETERAN--U.B. KENASTON PASSED AWAY LAST THURSDAY NIGHT--NEARLY 96 YEARS OLD AND FATHER OF CHARLES W. KENISTON OF HAWARDEN--FUNERAL HELD AT AKRON

Uriah B. Kenaston, Civil War veteran, Plymouth county pioneer and father of Charles W. Kenaston of Hawarden, died last Thursday night at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Le Mars where he had been a patient for the past three months. He was nearly 96 years of age and had enjoyed good health all his life until last August when infirmities incident to his advanced years began to creep upon him. He had made his home of late years with his daughter, Mrs. Louella Allen, at Akron, but about three months ago was removed to the Le Mars Hospital.

Utiah B. Kenaston was a son of William and Hulda Finnie Kenaston and was born at Orange, Ohio, June 24, 1839. He was left fatherless when 7 years old when the mill his father operated was swept away in a flood, the father dying from exposure and pneumonia in efforts to rescue his family and save his property. His mother with three children came west to Chicago and when he was still a boy moved to St. Charles, Illinois, where he went to school and grew to young manhood. While living there he was united in marriage with Miss Hester Haviland.

A year and a half after his marriage he enlisted in Company F, 105th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and fought in the Civil War for over three years, being honorably discharged in July, 1865. Mr. Kenaston was a member of one of the regiments under General Sherman in the famous march to the sea and fought at Savannah and at the battle of Rassca. He was a member of the G.A.R. and the last remaining Civil War Veteran at Akron.

Mr. Kenaston came to Iowa in 1867 and homesteaded land three miles north of Le Mars and his passing removes the last of the original homesteaders in Plymouth County. He later moved to the west part of Plymouth County. He retired from active work years ago but continued to maintain an interest in affairs of public concern through wide reading. He was well known in Hawarden, having made his home here with his son at various times during the past thirty years. He had been an Odd Fellow for more than fifty years and was a member of the Hawarden Lodge. For forty-six years he was a member of the Christian Church in Akron.

He is survived by seven children, Chas. W. Kenaston of Hawarden; Mrs. Hattie Ferguson of Anderson, Missouri; Will Kenastin, who resides in Minnesota; Mrs. H. Kanago of Le Mars; Mrs. Daisy Port of Sioux Falls; Mrs. Ethel Parker of Sioux City, and Mrs. Louella Allen of Akron. Four children preceded him in death, one in infancy, and Edward and Delfert Kenaston of Lemmon, South Dakota and Mrs. Minnie Van Zandt of Cheyenne, Wyoming. There are 32 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.

The funeral was held Saturday at the Christian Church at Akron and attended by a large number from Plymouth and Sioux Counties. A delegation of Hawarden Odd Fellows attended. The services were conducted with military honors, the casket being draped with the flag he honored and upheld. The salute to the dead was fired over the grave and taps were sounded to the memory of a brave soldier and good citizen.