James William Kenney

James William Kenney[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Male 1847 - 1925  (77 years)

Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name James William Kenney 
    Born 5 Aug 1847  Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
    Gender Male 
    Residence 1880  Covert, Van Buren, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Residence 1900  South Haven Village, North Side, Van Buren, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Residence 1910  Decatur, Van Buren, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Residence 1920  Decatur, Van Buren, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    _FSFTID KL8M-654 
    _UID B9C7D554363E4B19B60319BE947B754ADF2A 
    Died 31 May 1925  Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Person ID I2825  Strong History
    Last Modified 6 Jan 2018 

    Father William Miles Kenney,   b. 10 Apr 1824, Halton Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Oct 1898, Covert, Van Buren, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 74 years) 
    Mother Mary Jane Sherburne,   b. 24 May 1825, Halton Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Nov 1908, Covert, Van Buren, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 83 years) 
    Married 10 Mar 1846  Gore, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    Family ID F792  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Harriet M. Haggerty,   b. Oct 1854, Berrien County, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 1930, Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 77 years) 
    Married 1 Dec 1874  Berrien County, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 7, 9
    Children 
     1. Lena Kenney,   b. Nov 1875, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Eva Kenney,   b. 14 Nov 1880, Covert, Van Buren, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Mar 1937, Decatur, Van Buren, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 56 years)
     3. James Wynn Kenney,   b. May 1883, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 14 Jan 2020 
    Family ID F800  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • James ran a stage coach between Watervilet, Covert and South Haven. He modified it unlike any known to add comfort to the ride. His modifications included oversized and wider wheels nearly as tall as a man to roll over stones and not sink in the mud and sand. The coach had metal sides and a canvas roof. He fitted the coach with suspension springs, windows, side seats, and a grated floor with charcoal burner to heat the feet, He played music from a music box, had reading materials, mirrors, clock and other amenities for the passengers. His coach could hold as many as twenty people and was driven by a team of white horses matched for looks and disposition. James always spoke politely to his horses and they were well cared for and their equipment perfectly maintained. The horses were adorned with copper and silver ornaments, his coach was well known throughout Michigan.
      After the railroad was built the coach was no longer needed so he rented a building and starting selling groceries and later general mechandise in Covert. As business increased he built his own larger store accross the street. In 1891 he moved the business to South Haven where he enlarged it into a department store It was said he was the first to offer his merchandise at odd prices .49¢, .99¢ etc. He always priced his goods lower than the next town but the prices were so low he was left little profit and went out of business.
      After his business was disolved, he began selling whips for a Massachusetts firm. He would travel to merchants in his buggy with no bridle or line demonstrating how the whips were used to touch the horses on the right or left flank to turn. - summarized from A Look At Covert's Heritage, Pearl Sarno, 1976

  • Sources 
    1. [S496] Michigan, Deaths and Burials Index, 1867-1995.
      Birth date: abt 1848 Birth place: Canada Death date: 31 May 1925 Death place: Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan Residence date: Residence place: Michigan, United States

    2. [S502] 1900 United States Federal Census, Year: 1900; Census Place: South Haven, Van Buren, Michigan; Roll: T623_745; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 153.
      Birth date: Aug 1847 Birth place: Canada Marriage date: 1874 Marriage place: Residence date: 1900 Residence place: South Haven Village, North Side, Van Buren, Michigan Arrival date: 1842 Arrival place:
      1900 United States Federal Census
      1900 United States Federal Census


    3. [S501] 1920 United States Federal Census, Year: 1920; Census Place: Decatur, Van Buren, Michigan; Roll: T625_799; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 188; Image: .
      Birth date: abt 1848 Birth place: Canada Residence date: 1920 Residence place: Decatur, Van Buren, Michigan Arrival date: 1863 Arrival place:
      1920 United States Federal Census
      1920 United States Federal Census


    4. [S506] 1880 United States Federal Census, Year: 1880; Census Place: Covert, Van Buren, Michigan; Roll: 607; Family History Film: 1254607; Page: 399A; Enumeration District: 210; Image: 0830.
      Birth date: abt 1847 Birth place: Canada Residence date: 1880 Residence place: Covert, Van Buren, Michigan, United States
      1880 United States Federal Census
      1880 United States Federal Census


    5. [S12] Ancestry Family Trees, Ancestry Family Trees.

    6. [S500] 1910 United States Federal Census, Year: 1910; Census Place: Decatur, Van Buren, Michigan; Roll: ; Page: ; Enumeration District: ; Image: .
      Birth date: 1848 Birth place: Canada English Residence date: 1910 Residence place: Decatur, Van Buren, Michigan
      1910 United States Federal Census
      1910 United States Federal Census


    7. [S299] Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925, https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N3DF-43G.

    8. [S493] Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928, 1933-1934.
      Marriage date: 10 Mar 1846 Marriage place: Gore, Ontario, Canada
      Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1801-1928
      Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1801-1928


    9. [S502] 1900 United States Federal Census, Year: 1900; Census Place: South Haven, Van Buren, Michigan; Roll: T623_745; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 153.
      Birth date: Oct 1854 Birth place: Michigan Marriage date: 1874 Marriage place: Residence date: 1900 Residence place: South Haven Village, North Side, Van Buren, Michigan
      1900 United States Federal Census
      1900 United States Federal Census