Biographies
from
The History of Otsego County, New York
1740-1878
D. Hamilton Hurd
Published by Everts & Fariss, Philadelphia
KENYON, James P - Morris
James P. KENYON was born in Cooperstown, Feb. 26, 1822.
His parents were of Welsh descent. He came to Butternuts (now
Morris) when only five years old, and lived with Samuel SOMERS,
a tailor, until the spring of 1837 working the last two years at the
tailor's trade. He then apprenticed himself to Wing & Waite, working
in wagon-making.
In the fall of 1841, when only nineteen years old, he commenced
business for himself. In 1847 he married Miss Permelia S., only
daughter of Sutton PEARSALL by whom he had three children.
The eldest, Charles L., volunteered in the defense of his country in
the United States navy where he contracted brain-fever, and died in
1865, aged seventeen years. Mr. Kenyon by industry and economy
acquired a competency, but his temperament would not permit him
to be idle; and, in 1870, he purchased the drug- and grocery-store
formerly occupied by R. B. WING, and at the present time is still
engaged in that business. He was an indefatigable worker; whatever
he undertook he generally accomplished. He has the reputation of
being one of the best business men in the place. He is of a social
nature and liberal in his ideas.--
Excerpt from History of Otsego Co., NY, page 218