Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-27

that either OF them lays claim to
any striking intellectual superiority : Both
Of them will draw their pay with great
ability < x Neither of them possesses the
order of civil abilities necessary to dis
tinguished career in Congress. * = So far
as the national public are concerned both
would sink out of sight in the general mob
Of mediocre congressman.
THE LATE CAPT. J. H. McKENNY.
Sketch as Gire,, By Himself.
1Chatfeld Democrat May 25.
DIED, at his residence in this village, on Thurs
senior editor and proprietor of this Journal
aged IS years and months.
Yes, our best friend, gone forever.--The
saddest lines we ever penned.
There are none who knew the deceased
better than the writer hereof, his son, or
who could more correctly record the many
and pleasant recollections of his past event
full though happy life-yct grief is our con
slant companion, and we are unequal to a
task clearly the duty of another. Suffice for
US to say here, deceased was an afectionate
husband, a kind, indulgent father, honora-
bic IN business transactions, always patient
and submissive, and possessed with supe-
rior social qualities that won him host of
sincere and devoted friends.
He leaves a wife, seven grown children
and sister to mourn his loss.
For the past year he has been great suf-
ferer; but made no complaint, nor found
fault with his Maker. Father, farewell.
Below we give a brief sketch of his life,
received from his own lips few months pre-
vious to his death
was born in Chambersburgh, Pa, Oct.
25th, 1913. Ny father, Spencer McKenny,
was native of Wilmington, Delaware, and
my mother, Sarah McKenny, Of Chambers
burg. My father emigrated to Virginia in
1920, and settled near Winchester, in that
State. Here our family remained until
1926, when my father died, leaving my
mother widow, with seven children, and the
youngest an infant at the breast. While re-
siding at or near Winchester, I went to
school three months, only, in an old log
school house, ''away up in the pines.'' In
1928, my mother and her little brood moved
to Staunton, Va, where had three months
more schooling (all ever had). At the age
of 16, my mother having died that
spring, was bound out to learn the print
ing business, in the office of the ssStaunton
Spectator" Kenton Harper, editor. In
1888, Mr.. Harper, whom had served faith
fully, gave me the balance of my five years
term, and an outfit to come West. My first
point was Maysville, KY, where 1 had
friends. I worked in Maysville, Cincinnati
and Augusta, Ky, as a journeyman printer
until the spring of 1884. I came to ST.
Louis, Mo-, and continued to work at Jour
ney work in that city until 1887. I was
mo I'D ~ 81
Saint Louis. to Miss Mary f. Duva]. In
July, 1886, my wife died. In July, 1887, ]
came up to Burlington, Iowa, to assist an
old friend, Hon. James Clark, afterwards
Governor of the Territory of Iowa, to get
out the first number Of a new paper, the
Iowa Territorial Gazette, he was about start
ing. l worked in the Gazette office as a
journeymen until the beginning Of 1899
when / became partner in the publication
of the Gazette.
l was married on the I'd day of January
1887, to Miss Mary Alethea Sleeth. In Octo-
Der, 1912, I was elected sheriff of Des
Moines county, Iowa, and in 1914 reelected.
In 1847, | was appointed first lieutenant OF
company of volunteers, to be stationed at
Fort Atkinson, Iowa, to guard the frontier
during the Mexican war, then progressing.
was quartermaster and commissary of the
post until May, 1848. Our company was
detailed by the war department., to escort the
Winnebago tribe of Indians to their new
homes in the northern part of Minnesota. In
the fall of 1848 we were mustered out of the
service, at Fort Atkinson, and returned to
Minnesota with my family to accept from
Hon. II. M. Rice position in the en-
ploy of the American Fur company at Grow
Wing. In the fall of 1849, was appointed
sutler at the new fort then building, and
called sFort Gaines,' now Fort Ripley, at
the mouth of the Nakasipi river. I was
also appointed postmaster for the fort. !
roughed it through there until May, 1851, a
little unpleasantness arose between the secre-
tary of war and myself, about remarks made
by me relative to Gen. Taylor, then, presi-
dent, and upon my refusal to retract my Ian
guage, I had the privilege of surrenderine
my commission which did very cheerfully
l then returned to Burlington, Iowa, and
bought an interest in the old Gazette again.
continued as joint owner of the Gazette
until the spring of 1854, when was ap-
pointed receiver of public money of the new
U. S. land Office at Brownsville, Mimi. In
July, 1854, again returned to Minnesota
with my family. and settled at Brownsville.
In 1856 the land Office was removed to this
place (Chatfeld) and I accompanied it with
my family. At the expiration of my first
term a years. was reappointed, and served
till 1861, when stOld Abe'so ak rolled nv
head into the basket.
In the spring of 1861, my brother, J. S.
McKenny, now deceased, and myself, pur-
chased the Chatfeld Democrat establish
ment, and published the same together until
1867, when / became sole proprietor in con-
OF his death.
In 1862 I was the Democratic candidate
for State auditor, but the records of the
State contain no documents to show that
was elected! In 1864 was the Democratic
candidate for State Senator in Fillmore
county, against the lucky DR.. Luke Miller.
and shared the same fate as when running
for State auditor. In 1861 I was elected
Justice of the Peace, in this county, and
have been continued in Office by reelection
up to the present date. Twas appointed aide
de-camp to General Sibley while governor of
the State. I also received the same
appointment from Governor Hempsted
of Iowa while residing in that State.
In 1864 was elected dele
gate to the National Democratic Convention
held at Chicago, acted as chairman of the