"The BIOGRAPHICAL History of Clark County, Wisconsin"

Compiled by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge, Chicago and Winona, H. C. Cooper Jr., & Co. in 1918.

WILLIAM KENNEY, who is successfully farming 120 acres of land in Section 1, Worden Township, has been a resident of Clark County for nineteen years. He was born in Jefferson County, Wis., Mar. 11, 1861, son of Lawrence and Mary (Dolan) Kenney. The parents were born and married in Ireland and, subsequently emigrating to Canada, settled on a farm near Montreal. Two years later they removed to Niagara Falls, N. Y., where Lawrence Kenney was engaged in teaming for three years. At the end of that time he and his family moved to Jefferson County, Wis., and there, for three years he managed a farm for Henry Breed. The Civil War coming on, he enlisted in the First Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and saw service under General Grant for several years. In 1864 he bought a farm in Outagamie County, Wis., to which he and his family moved. During his military service he had received a wound in the leg, from which he never, fully recovered, but he lived to the age of 68 years, his death taking place in 1880.

His wife died in 1868 at the age of 42. They had a family of twelve children, two of whom died on board ship on the way to Canada, and only two of the twelve are now living: William and his sister, Bridget, the latter being the wife of John McGrogan, of Thorp. William Kenney came to Clark County in the spring of 1898, first buying the farm now owned by Fred W. Fischer in the same section as Mr. Kenney's present farm. It contained 160 acres and he resided on it for eight years, during which time he cleared off most of the timber and erected a large barn and other buildings. In 1907 he sold that place and bought his present farm of 120 acres, which was an improved one. He has further improved it by the erection of a number of buildings, including a brick silo of 155 tons capacity, built in 1909, at a cost of $1,100. He is raising full-blooded Guernsey cattle, having a registered sire named Boisterous, said to be one of the best-bred bulls in Clark County, and which was raised by Fox brothers of Waukesha, Wis. Mr. Kenney's farm is now well improved and includes a small apple orchard. He has traveled somewhat extensively in the United States, having visited both the Pacific Coast and Gulf Coast. In 1905 he was elected treasurer of District School Board, No. 2, and served as such for nine years.

Mr. Kenney was first married in 1885 to Margaret Kennedy, who died in 1892, leaving three children: Mary, now Mrs. Jake Dobmeier, of North Dakota William, who died young and William R. (second), who resides at Marshfield, Wis.

On Jan. 13, 1902, Mr. Kenney married for his second wife, Martha Moone, widow of Eveard Moone, who died at Stanley, Wis., July 6, 1900. Her maiden name was Martha Beekman, and she was born in Manitowoc County, Wis. Her father is now a farmer in Worden Township, Clark County. Of this second marriage eight children have been born: John, Florence, Margaret, James, Arthur, Alice, Charles and Grace. Charles is now dead. The others all reside at home with their parents. The family are members of the Catholic Church.