Joseph was the second child of Albert Gillespie Kenney (#19) & Susannah Bussard (#20).

(Source of green information and photographs: July 2018 e-mails from Matt Kenney, Great Great Grandson of Joseph).

The photograph below is of Joseph and Susan sometime after 1860 when they married and before 1864, when Joseph went west. This photograph is courtesy of Matt Kenney.

This same photograph (below) is included in a cartes de visite photo album in the possession of the webmaster.)

 

Apparently Joseph lived with the Gililan(d) family in Ohio and moved to Iowa with them. Later, his brother George and brother-in-law Thomas Rhoten joined him in Iowa. In 1864, when the Civil War began, Joseph, George, and Thomas went West to avoid the draft and find his fortune. At the time Joseph and his wife had a young son and daughter and Susan was carrying another daughter. Joseph wrote letters back to Susan of his adventures. The three men left by wagontrain, stopping at Omaha, Ft. Kearney, Laramie, and then to the Montana Territory where they settled. They farmed 160 acres, mined and milled for 4 years before surrendering to the elements. In the Fall of 1868, after the harvest, they advertised that they would take passengers in Mackinaw boats up the Yellowstone to the Missouri and back to "the states" for $25 each. (Click here to see their ad in the Montana post).They had 3 takers. Before the trip, George opted to take the stage or train back to Iowa and then to Ohio so he survived and lived a full life.

Joseph, Thomas, and their passengers made it up to about 60 miles from the mouth of the Missouri near present day Savage, MT. Not knowing they had encroached onto Sioux land as granted by the Treaty of 1868, they all were captured, killed and burned at the stake. This was reported to the Montana Democrat reporter by a Crow Indian in the Spring of 1869.

Russell Leach (#3) in his family genealogy stated, "He moved to the West and was killed by Crow Indians on return trip down the Yellowstone River--another report says he burned at the stake in Montana)." It was a misprint in a newspaper that has been widely copied that he was killed by Crow Indians. The truth is a Crow Indian told the story of Joseph's death as heard from the Sioux.] After Joseph's death, "his widow, Susan Rhoten Kenney, married his friend Charles (C.O.) Plumly. He was widowed when Susan's sister Malinda passed. Seemed convenient, I suppose."

Joseph had three children, as stated above. His only son was Gilford Clifton Kenney. Gilford is shown with one of his children (George Franklin Kenney) below:

Photograph below: Gilford Clifton Kenney (only Son of Joseph Kenney), Gilford's baby son (George Franklin Kenney), and Gilford's wife (Bertha (Bauhard) Kenny.

Photograph below: George Franklin Kenney (son of Gilford Kenney) as an adult.

 

Joseph's obituary (courtesy of Matt Kenney) is transcribed by this webmaster below. The original obituary transcription obtained from Matt is linked here. The original transcriber is unknown.

JOSEPH L. KENNEY Joseph L. Kenney was the eldest son of Albert G. Kenney and Susan Bussard Kenney. He was born in Tuscarawas County, O., May 13, 1830. He was married in 1860 to Susan Rhoten, daughter of Alexander and Nancy (hazelrigg) Rhoten. They were the parents of 3 children, Gilford Clifton, born near Viola, Iowa, Jan. 4, 1862, Louisa C., born near Viola, Iowa on May 23, 1863 and Ella May born on Jan. 7, 1865. Joseph was killed by Crow Indians on the return trip down the Yellowstone River in Sept. 1869. [Note: As explained above, he was killed by Sioux not Crow Indians].

 

 

Contact person for this website is Susan Snyder: susanleachsnyder@gmail.com