The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-23
J. G. KENYON is DEAD.
A Wealthy Pioneer Of Whom
but Little Is Known.
NO FAMiLYTO ENJOY RICHES
In His Early Years He Was q Travelling
vcntriloquist-His Fine Property
Interests Here.

J. Gardner Kenyon, an old Coast pioneer and
one of Seattle's wealthy men, died at O'Clock
last evening a. the Rochester house, Oh Pike
street, aged IS years. Death resulted from dia-
betes.
Mr. Kenyon came to the Coast sometime be-
tween 1852 aud 1856, and worked among the
mines in California for one or two years. He
learned yentriloquisEn, and for about ten years
Travelled through the country districts of Cali
fornia giving exhibitions of his powers
yentriloquist in country school houses. He
accumulated some money, and finally
settled in Humbaitt county. taking
mp considerable timber land 'ae-e
Shortly afteward he made trip to Seattle and
invested in some property here. buying it very
cheaply. The property at the corner of Front
and Madison streets, on which he recently
erected q brick building, he purchased for so2a
1t extended clear out to deep water in the harbor,
but he afterwrad lost the outer portion OF it in
some manner. He since bought other .,Ieiesty
h@fe.
He has hvedscn the Sc ind continuously the
past fifteen or twenty years, but at different
Places He owned about 100 acres of land III the
vicinity OF Port Townsend at the time of his
death, and also mad ranch at Kent, on which
he usually made his home. In addition to his
building at the corner of Frnnt and
Maaison streets, he owned another
brick building on Commercial street.
almost opposite the Hotel Northern, and
had third IN course OF erection on Front street.
title to large body CT timber land in Humboldt
county. Cal.
MI kenyon wss never married and his auibi-
tion seemed to be to arnass wealth. He was ill.,
oustrious anu economical, though not stingy.
He simply did not believe III extravaganza and
contented himself with a plain. respectable nv-
ing. He was man of great secresiveness,
and but very few in this city knew much
about his affairs. J. c. Pendegast, day
Clerk at the Grand hotel. probably knew
more about his history than any other
person IN the city, having met him two three
times while he WAS making his tours, giving ex-
hlbluons in ventriloquism through California.
On one occasion Mr.. Kenyon gave ali exhibit
ton in the country sehoolhouse in which Mr..
fendesast was teaching and they became quite
familiar When they met here again a few
| years ago and their acquaintance was renewed
| they became fast friends
The old man possessed quite an inventive
turn OF mind and secured patent on what he
| called an independent wheel wagon, from
; which he expected to reap a fortune He
| Claimed that his patent lesssned the amount of
friction, the wheels being made fast to the
| axies, which overlapped and worked around
| each other in some manner. The little brick
| structure in tbs rear OF his building on Front
| aud Madison streets he had contemplated to use
| as shop in which to manufacture these
! Wagons.
| Deceased was strong, healthy looking man
| up TO the time he was taken ill a few weeks ago.
lie failed very rapidly. but never gave up to the
| last. He was down town last Saturday, and
| that was the last time he left the house. Where
| ne came from or whether he has any relatives
| living, Mr. Pendegast did not know; neither
| did Mrs Wilbur Palmer, the landlady OF the
| house in which he died.
| The body was taken to Bonney & Stewarts
| undertaking rooms. and will be buried under
| the auspices OF the lodge of Knights Templar
| o. which deceased was a member. The date OF
| the funeral has not yet been set.