My Genealogy Hound

EZRA T. KENYON, retired farmer; P. O. Atlanta. Logan Co.; was born in Sterling, Windham Co., Conn., Feb. 16, 1813. At the age of 10 years, he went into a cotton mill, and worked in various departments until April 13, 1840, when he started for the West with his little family and $1,000 in money. They came via Erie Canal and the lakes to Chicago, thence to Crown Point, where they stayed only a short time. Procuring a team of oxen and wagon, they loaded up their baggage, himself sick with ague, and wended their weary way across prairies, swamps and rivers, reaching Mount Hope Township on the 9th day and the farm where he now resides, 160 acres of which he had purchased two years before. They arrived on the 18th day of July, 1840. Mr. K. married Susan S. Rathbone, of Scituate, R. I. Oct. 7, 1832. She was born in Exeter, R. I., Oct. 4, 1809. Her forefathers were of English origin, and farmers. They have been blessed with two sons — Dennis and Ezra W., who own fine homes and large farms adjoining the homestead. Prosperity now smiles where at first they experienced hardship for ten or fifteen years, when they had to go forty miles to mill or market with an ox team, and sell their corn or oats for 5 cents a bushel, and wheat for twenty-five cents; while for clothing they spun, wove, colored, cut and made up wool from their own sheep; and now, for the last nine years, rich in home and friends and ripe in years, they are reaping their earthly reward, with a homestead increased to 400 acres, and farm buildings desirable for size, number and convenience.