Frederick "Fred" Albert Kennon, was born in 1857 near Plattsburgh, NY on a farm and tanning operation on what is now known as Kennon Brook. The brook meanders through Clinton County and finally empties into Lake Champlain just above Plattsburgh. His father, Albert Gallatin Kennon, and grandfather, David Kennon, had been working in this area for at least 38 years.
The larger map, from 1856, shows the home and tannery underlined in green below the name "Cannon."
The topographical inset map shows present day Kennon Creek. The names on the old map are very familiar to my research and Stafford Cemetery shown on the inset map is full of family. Click on the map to enlarge.
David Kennon, was born in Massachusetts in about 1786, the first proof I find of him in New York is the birth of his 5th child in 1819. There is a David Cannon (sic) in the area in the 1810 census although I am not sure he is "my" David Kennon as the age is off and there are way too many people in the household. However, the 1820 census shows 9 people in the household which is two more than I can figure out. David fathered at least 12 children by two wives, 10 daughters and 2 sons. The two sons are our Albert and his younger brother Septa. As an aside, I was confused by Septa's name as it refers to the number 7 although he was the 2nd child of David and Fanny (Fillmore) Kennon. Many years later I found the first wife of David, Sophia Tousley, and their children. Turns out Septa was the 7th child, if one discounts two that died as infants.
Septa died in 1856 at the age of 23. The 1860 census shows that all the children (all unmarried daughters) born after Septa are living with family members elsewhere, perhaps the tanning business could not support such a large family. Albert lives next door to David with his wife Elizabeth "Betsey" (Garrett) Kennon and their two children Frederick and Clara, ages 3 and 1 respectively. David's occupation is listed as farmer and currier (dressing, finishing and coloring a tanned hide). Albert's occupation is listed as farmer and tanner.
David Kennon died about 1872; his wife Fanny died in 1869.
Albert Gallatin Kennon, moved to Iowa in the early to mid-1870's, Fred was about 15 and Clara about 13. They settled in Nodaway Township, Adams County about 15 miles southwest of present day Corning.
Clara married in 1880 to Louis Worley, he was the superintendent of schools in Adams County. Louis died 8 years later and Clara then moved back to Champlain, New York; later she was in Albany, NY and finally died in 1931 at the age of 71 in New York City; she is buried in Greenfield, Massachusetts.
Elizabeth (Garrett) Kennon died in 1887 from an "abscess of abdomen," she was 62. Albert remarried about 18 months later to Sarah Clarinda McClelland; he was 57, she was 32. Together they had three children.
Albert died in March of 1902, obituaries along with many others, was pasted into the middle of a bible that was in my grandparents’ home. Oddly, these items weren’t in special pages sometimes included for this purpose, they were just pasted right over the text. Perhaps somewhere between Esther and Job. His obituary and the obituaries of Frank and Henry LaRue as well as Fred Kennon's fascinated me as a kid and I would return to them again and again. I especially wondered what illness would require "the constant attention of strong men, both day and night! The bible and a drawing entitled "Family Record" that listed the birthdates of people in the early 1800's with a name I was not familiar with (Dailey) is probably why I got so interested in genealogy.
OBITUARY, ALBERT G. KENNON For quite a number of months it has been the fortune of A.G. Kennon, whose home was just north of Corning to be a sufferer from nervous prostration and other diseases. He has required the constant attention of strong men, both day and night for many weeks. At the hour of 3 o'clock a.m. on Monday, March 10th, 1802 (sic), the angel called Death, came to his relief and his spirit passed to the Grand Master above. Mr. Kennon lived for many years in the township of Nodaway ere removing to his late home. From the rough ashler in the quarries, he became as a finished corner stone of the building.
CALLED HOME Death of an Aged and Highly Respected Citizen Last Monday
For some weeks the death of A.G. Kennon has been daily expected. For several years he has been failing in health and about three months ago he was taken much worse and never regained his strength. He said in the fall: "I do not expect to live through the winter." His friends thought his pluck and energy would pull him through, but he contended it would not. The disease that caused his death was the result of la grippe, contracted several years ago, and for the past few months suffered a great deal of pain and he welcomed the peaceful end of a long and useful career which came last Monday morning at the advanced age of 71 years, 2 months, and 21 days. The subject of this sketch was born in Plattsburg, N.Y., Dec. 20, 1830. In 1853 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Garrett who died May 14, 1887. They moved to Iowa in 1869 and located on a farm near Nodaway. To this union was born two children. F.A. Kennon of this city and Mrs. Clara Worley of Albany N.Y. On Nov. 5, 1888, Mr. Kennon married Miss Sarah C. McClelland and in 1890 they moved to Corning where he has since resided. To this union were born three children Ruth, Elizabeth and Helen. He has been a shrewd and successful farmer, a thorough-going wide-awake citizen, with strong convictions and unquestionable courage. For a number of years he was treasurer of the Adams County Mutual Insurance association. Politically he was a strong advocate of democratic principles. In his youth he became a member of the Presbyterian church. On coming to Iowa he became an attendant and supporter though not a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian congregation located near Nodaway. Mr. Kennon was a member in good standing of the Masonic order and the local lodge attended the funeral in a body and participated in the funeral exercises. The services were held at his late home in Corning at 10:30 this morning. Rev. M.V. Higbee preaching the sermon from the text chosen by Mr. Kennon himself, I Corinthians xv:22, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."
FREDERICK ALBERT KENNON, married Clara Edith Daisy "Daisy" LaRue in April of 1887 a month before the death of his mother; he was 29 and Daisy 21. When applying for a marriage license Fred gives his occupation as telegraph operator in Corning, Iowa, his obituary says it was for the Burlington railroad.
Daisy gave birth to five children within the next 11 years, two girls and three boys. The third was a girl that died either at birth or early infancy. My understanding is that Fred abandoned the family about 1906 when my grandfather was just 8 years old and that he later died in a boarding house in Oklahoma City on February 2, 1910. A sketch of his life published 10 days after his death stated "Mr. Kennon had been away from here, most of the time, for several years.”
My idea of a traveling salesman was informed by watching "The Music Man," a bunch of guys in straw hats happily singing on the train between towns and occasionally, like the anvil salesman, having a little trouble making a sale. The picture painted by Frederick's probate records, which I recently discovered, show a very different picture - more Willy Loman like.
Fred's obituary says "On the afternoon of his death he complained of not feeling well and in the evening a physician was summoned. He left the patient resting easier and went to supper. On returning later in the evening, he found Mr. Kennon dying, and the best efforts to sustain him proved unavailing"
Frederick died with $125.44 on his person, some clothing, two watches, various trunks, grips and suitcases, and a package of books. It appears as if his co-workers were not immediately sure about his family, the day after his death a "next friend," C. D. Maberry, applied to be special administer of Fred's estate. The petition says Fred has died intestate and has no known heirs. The next document, also dated the 3rd, instructs Mayberry to oversee the return of the body to Iowa, to "his people."
Fred's body was returned to Iowa on February 5, his funeral was held February 6. The paper reports that Fred Kennon Jr., aged 21, went to Oklahoma City the day after the funeral to settle up affairs.
Maberry returned to the court February 12 to inform them that Fred was "simply working here for wages" and that his family resided in Corning, Iowa. He gives an accounting of assets and debts discovered. Among the debts are doctor bills totaling $7.00; the undertaker, $86.00; court costs of $16.05 and $12.50 from his boarding house for damage to the appointments caused by his death. After expenses the family was left with 39c.
A sketch on his life was published February 12: “The remains of F. A. Kennon, whose death occurred at Oklahoma City on February 2, mention of which we made last week, arrived on Saturday morning and they were met at the station by members of the local Masonic order of which he was a member, and conveyed to his home in the north part of the city where the funeral was held on Sunday morning at 10:00 conducted by reverend S. F. Gutelius assisted by Rev. J. A. Lovejoy. The interment was in Walnut Grove Cemetery, the Masonic fraternity having charge of the services at the grave. A number of the members of the local Knights of Pythias, of which deceased was also a member, attended in a body. On Tuesday last week Mr. Kennon, who was employed by the John Deere Plow Company was about his work as usual, went back to the office after supper and about 8 o’clock was taken with a severe pain in his stomach, a complaint he had been subject to for many years. A physician was called and prescribed and the next morning when the physician called again his patient was worse and he said he could not recover and death came to his relief about noon. The deceased was born in Plattsburgh N.Y. July, 24 1867 and was a son of the late A. G. Kennon and came to this country about 40 years ago. For many years he was employed as a Telegraph operator along the Burlington and later was in the hardware and implement business in Corning. He was married April 30, 1887 to Miss Clara E. D. La Rue who, together with four children survive him, they being Edith, Fred L., Frank D. and Ralph E., one child died in infancy. Mr. Kennon had been away from here, most of the time , for several years, but he had provided for his family in case of death and was carrying life insurance to the amount of $8000, two policies for $2000 each being in old line companies and one for $4000 being in a Des Moines company. It was reported that the policy of the Des Moines company had been permitted to lapse and was not enforced, having expired on January 31st by reason of nonpayment `of the assessment, but that was found to be erroneous, so reported. At the time of his death he was aged 52 years, six months and eight days. The cause of his death was pronounced intestinal obstruction.”
As with many deaths the paper reported on the amount of life insurance carried by the deceased and whether it paid out or not. We see that Daisy, his widow was left with $6548.00 after expenses.
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