My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography from the book,  The History of Crawford County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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James Kenner, farmer, was born January 27, 1834, in Hawkins County, Tenn., and is a son of Wiley B. and Elizabeth (Shanks) Kenner. The father was a native of Virginia, who in an early day started for Tennessee by wagon, where he engaged in farming in an unsettled country. He had but a limited education, and it was in Tennessee that he died in 1861. The mother was born in Hawkins County, Tenn., where she passed her entire life, dying upon the old homestead in 1887. She had ten children, seven of whom are now living: William, Hanson, Mark, Dock, Newton, Polly A. and James. Those deceased are Lucinda, Marian and Wiley R. Hanson Kenner, the grandfather, was resident of Virginia, and engaged in trading with the Indians. The maternal grandparents were both natives of North Carolina, born of German parents, and in an early day went to Tennessee. Our subject passed his youth upon the farm in Tennessee, receiving only a common-school education, but learned the blacksmith’s trade. When twenty-four years of age he left home and married Adeline Wells, daughter of Newton and Susan (Brewer) Wells. Mr. Wells was a soldier in the Mexican War. Mrs. Kenner was born and reared in Tennessee. To Mr. and Mrs. Kenner six children have been born, all save one living: Susan, Sallie, Minerva, Wiley and John. Polly Ann is the one deceased. During the late war Mr. Kenner enlisted in Company H, Eighth Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, First Brigade, Third Division, and served until the close, being mustered out in North Carolina. He was in the battles at Burnt Hickory, Atlanta Crossing and others, and besides being on the raid through Georgia, participated in a number of other engagements. After the war he returned to Tennessee, and twelve years ago came to Crawford County, buying land on Cedar Creek, where he lived eight years. He then removed to his present farm, which contains 160 acres, forty of which he has finely cultivated. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and in politics is a Republican.

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This family biography is one of 222 biographies included in The History of Crawford County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Crawford County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Crawford County, Arkansas family biographies here: Crawford County, Arkansas

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