Kynett, A. J. Rev. 1829 – 1899

KYNETT

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/13/2020 at 14:02:08

Source: Decorah Republican Mar. 2, 1899 P 4 C 1

Death of Rev. A. J. Kynett.
The death of this distinguished minister was announced as occurring at Harrisburg, Pa., on Wednesday, last week. It calls to mind a political incident that occurred in Decorah just after the war times. Soon after the war closed the Upper Iowa Conference met in Decorah. Mr. Kynett had just began his life work of secretary of the Church Extension Society of the Methodist church—a work of magnificent proportions and a monument to his memory.
He was here at the meeting, as he came regularly for many years afterwards. Reuben Noble had just gone over from Republicanism to Democracy, and was billed to make a speech on the night the conference closed. Mr. Kynett had made some addresses in conference that captivated everybody. In those days joint debates were greatly in favor; and the idea seized Republicans to get one out of Judge Noble and Mr. Kynett. A committee went to the latter and found him willing to go in. The debate was held, and for years it was a celebrated case. The victory of Mr. Kynett was one of the greatest oratorical victories ever won In Northern Iowa. Mr. Kynett was brilliant, logical, witty and eloquent. Judge Noble was astounded, dismayed and weakened to a degree that made his last half-hour absolutelv painful to spectators.
Mr. Kynett's death resulted from dropsy of the brain, at the age of 69 years and 6 months. During the 31 years he was with the Church Extension Society $6,500,000 passed through his hands and assisted 11,000 churches, of which the Decorah M. E. church was one.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows he was born Aug. 12, 1829 and died Feb. 23, 1899. He is buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, PA.