My Genealogy Hound

JOHN B. KINNEY, farmer; P. O. Horatio; was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1830; was the son of John and Margaret Kinney; John was born in Pennsylvania and Margaret in Ohio; her maiden name was Brown, daughter of George and Debora Brown. Mr. Kinney, the subject of this sketch, was married in 1859 to Nancy Ellen, daughter of William and Elizabeth Spry, they being both born in Ohio; her grandparents were Henry and Martha Spry; Mr. Kinney and wife are the parents of five children, three of whom are now living, viz., Clinton Douglas, John Milton and Minnie E. Mr. Kinney spent one year, after he was of age, in traveling in the lightning-rod business; then he went into Mr. Burrough’s store, in Fairfield, Ohio, as salesman, where he remained with him about five years; then he went into partnership with Mr. Tate, in Tremont, Clark County, where he continued one year and sold out, and was married soon after and went back to Fairfield and was salesman for Mr. Burroughs for two years more; then he left there and went on to a farm in Greene County about one and a half years; then sold out and went into the fruit-tree trade for Forgy, McCaffry & Co., traveled one summer; then rented a farm for one season; then moved to Dayton and went into the tobacco business with J. P. Wolf & Co., where he remained four years; when he went to Darke County and bought the farm upon which he now lives, and moved with his family on to it and has followed farming since; he first bought 100 acres, but at various times he sold off from it till he had but 10 acres left; and during his trading he came in possession of a farm of 80 acres north of Versailles, after which he bought back 25 acres of the old farm, so that he now owns the two farms together, making 115 acres. Mr. Kinney has had his “ups and downs” in life, having lost much by going security and other ways; but, notwithstanding this, his industry and energy have enabled him to retain his property, and he has built new buildings on his farm, and is fixed very comfortably; he is a member of the Reformed Church, to which he has belonged about twenty-one years.