Santa
Clara County
Biographies
JAMES MONROE KENYON
On the Homestead road, near Santa Clara, is located the ranch belonging to James Monroe Kenyon, a pioneer of the state and one who has labored zealously toward the upbuilding and promotion of the agricultural interests of the community. When he first located upon this land, in 1850, having come to California the year previous, he settled as a squatter, and on discovering that is was private property purchased two hundred and forty-two acres upon which he has engaged in farming since. He now owns one hundred and seventy-eight acres in this ranch, thirteen of which are devoted to prunes, while the remainder is in hay and grain. He owned a farm of one hundred and eighty acres near Saratoga, which he sold for $27,000, later, however, taking back eighty acres of the piece. Although advanced in years, having been born May 29, 1817, Mr. Kenyon still manages his large ranch and takes an active interest in all that is going on about him.
A native of Adams county, Ohio, Mr. Kenyon was born on the banks of the Ohio river and just opposite the town of Vanceburg. His father, Jonathan, though a native of Vermont, came to Ohio when a young man, locating in Adams county and engaged extensively in agricultural pursuits until his death. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and politically was a Republican, though he had been a Whig in early life. While a resident of Ohio he actived as a justice of the peace and also did some service as a lawyer. He married Sarah Stratton, born in Vanceburg, Ky., her father, Aaron, a native of Virginia, having removed to the Blue Grass state, where he engaged in the manufacture of salt. He was an extensive slave owner and a prominent man in the community, where his death occurred in 1829. He was also a soldier in the War of 1812. Mrs. Kenyon was the mother of seven sons, of whom James Monroe is next to the youngest.
After receiving a good education in the common schools of the state Mr. Kenyon worked on the farm with his father until he was sixteen years of age, when he was apprenticed at Portsmouth, Ohio, to learn the carpenter's trade. Completing the work in two and a half years he began contracting and building throughout Adams county and in the city of Cincinnati. Going to the mouth of the Ohio river he walked to St. Louis, Mo., on account of ice in the Mississippi river, and followed his trade near there till spring, when he went after his tools, which were left at Cairo, Ill. In 1839 he located in Alton, Ill., still continuing at his trade. He also worked at the mouth of the Illinois river and near Quincy, Ill., after which he returned to his Ohio home and engaged in the prosecution of his trade for five or six months. In company with his two brothers, Samuel and Thompson, he then went to Missouri, locating first near Fillmore and then near St. Joseph, combining farming interests with the prosecution of his trade. . After traveling in various portions of Missouri he started to California in 1849, making the trip with ox teams, and with his brother Aaron and others accompanying them went as far as the Platte river, after which they took the Hedgepath route. Upon his safe arrival in California Mr. Kenyon entered the mines, this being in the spring of 1850, and remained so employed until the next fall, when he came to Santa Clara valley, and near the city of that name eventually purchased the property upon which he now makes his home. In addition to his farming interests in California he has worked at his trade occasionally and has accumulated a competence.
In Andrews county, Mo., Mr. Kenyon married Martha Roberts, a native of Lewis county, Ky., and the daughter of Woodford Roberts, who came from his native state of Virginia first to Kentucky, then to Maryland and afterward to Missouri. His wife died while they lived in Kentucky, and after his daughter located in California he came west in 1889 on a visit, dying two weeks later at an advanced age. To Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon were born the following children: Mrs. Sarah F. Gardner, located near here; John Fletcher, deceased; Harry Thompson, deceased; Mrs. Emma Stevens, of Santa Clara; Frank, located near here; and James Monroe, Jr., in Aptos, Cal. Mr. Kenyon has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since he was sixteen years old and has officiated as trustee and steward, as well as taking an active part as class leader. Politically he is a Republican. During the Civil war he belonged to the militia in this state.
Transcribed
9-3-15 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 758-759. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Marilyn R. Pankey.