Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-01-12
SENATOR KENNA'S LIFE



America when fourteen years OF age, ana
was employed at NatcheZ, Mississippi, oy
al extensive trm, of which the venerable
Felix LaCOste, now of ST Louis county,
Missouri, was the chief member, when tue
great tornado OF 1870 swept over the Town.
almost entirely destroying lt, killing sever
al hundred residents and leaving many on
SIS inhabitants TO escape barely Win lheis
lives. Among the latter was EDWARD
Kenna. who wrote a description Oh tue
e great hurricane, which has been preserved
and republished on several recurring
anniversaries OF the dread event
From NatcheZ Edward henna MADE
his way 10 Cincinnati, wnere ne
took such employment as ne cOul9
command He was thus engaged
when brought In contact WIN
Charles Fox. "a respectable lawyer, VIZ
kindly rendered him the use or ms library
and advised him 10 study law HIS adj
vice was readily accepted and Mr.. henna
began the study Of law win MT. l. OK
finding among his associates 81 the par,
George Hoadlev, VIM. =. GrOesOeck, GeO.
il. Pendletou and others who have since
risen 20 national distinction.
In 1917 sir kcnna married Margery, the
only daughter of John Lewis, OF hanawn3
county, Virginia a grandson OF Generai
Andrew Lewis. and soon AFTER Settleu iu
that county, where he successfully prac-
ticed his prof ssion. In 80 he earned
State reputation Oy O speech in the Staun-
ION convention. secOuding the nomination
OF Henry a. Wise for Governor.
In 1886, in the prime and vigor OF splen-
did manhood, az the age OF 50, ne met an
untimely death. lie leit TWO OausaleIs,
aged 4 and O. respectively, ana the suUIeCI
Of this sketch, aged years.
InIS5S Mrs. Kenna, with her three chll-
dren. removed 70 Missouri, where her
brother resided, and where she renamed
until the breaking out OF the war. She
had pOverness for awhile, under whose
utelaCe her children were trained 10
the branches of an English education;
but the failure Of her nus
bands estate, which largely
consisted OF unmarketable lands, IN the az
sepce of iudicious management, 10 realize
funds, took away the advantage and ner
son began aCtive employment. he con-
tributed his labor 70 the opening OF new
farm. and often Senator henna nOV' refers
with pride 70 the fact, that he can look
pride upon one Of the finest plan
tations in Missouri, and remember that ne
redeemed 10 from its natural state with
prairie pillow and
FOUR YOKE OF OXEN
when be was but eleven years old. While
50 engaged he became also an expert Team
ster, aEd did most Ofthe heavy hauling and
opening up Of new habitatiOus on the then
western prairies The fact that he was an
only son led his mother, during ner WIDOW
hood, to rely greatly upon him, notwlth-
standing his youth; and this dependence
had q tendency 20 give Seif-relanCe aud nL
him more rapidly than is usual, for the
sterner duties of life. "A gentleman VINO
was ACQUAINTED with him iu those days
tells me thar he W as a brave manly COY ana
shirked no responsibility In any form.
Indeed, this may be said Of his enure
career.
In early life Mr.. Kenna exhibited an es-
peCiGl liking for field SpOrtS-eSpeclally
hunting Game was plentiful i'm Missouri
when be resided there, and nearly always,
when the weather was unit for farm WORK,
he was most sure 90 be found IN the held
with his dog and gun. I'm this way ne ac-
uuired great skill i'm handling the rifle,
which has given him a state reputation IN
West Virginia as an expert marksmap, anu
has afforded him rare opportunities Tor
sport in the mountains adjacent TO the
Great kanaWha Valley, where ne
mas for many years resided. Every
iaQ he spends several weeks In
tLa-~- hin country In search or
ZANE. and it is well known that he is not
= excelled I'm such sports by the old resident
hunters ia the districts which ne so often
freQUents Az siXte n years OF age Mr..
Kenna enlisted in the Confederate army,
and followed it's fortunes TO the end or the
war. In an engagement i'm which he was
Dn detached serv &c from Gen. Shelby bril-
gads be was badly wounded IN the snOul-
der and arm, out declined 10 be retired on
account of bis wounds and therefore re-
NAMED with E.s comrades ia act
i've service I'm toe field.
In all the constant and pressing march.
though but sixteen years of age and suffer
b I'd hn "a I'd "a
task than any other soldier performed, ana
never lost a day from active service. From
Missouri the command % which he belong
ed retreated into Arkansas and during
hardships that are indescri 0able. The Sc
we're exposures Of the hurried march caus-
ed 2 serious illness which drove him 20 the
hospital where he lay in dangerous con-
ditiOn for six weeks. He relOlned his com
mand and in Juue 1865 was surrendered 70
the federal forces az Shreveport, La, and
IN August of that year he returned 70 bis
native kanawba where his mother, step
father and sisters th, u resided and where
he has since remained.
He secured employment at salt making
with the firm Of Ihayer * Chappe.l soon
after his return, and remained with them
until February, 1860. Realizing the lucOm-
pleteness OF his education, and possessing
strong desire to rise in the world, through
the assistance of kind friends, notably
THE RI REV BISHOP r.. V. wHELAN,
Mr. kenna entered ST. NiuCent'S Academy
at Wheeling. and there took up q course OF
study running through TWO and half
wears that gave him such an insight into
books as 20 enable him 10 success
fully pursue his studies alone at ais
home Many Young men of Wheeling
, were his schOOluates az St. Nincents who
have watched with interest his successful
career. After leaving school In lSoS, Mr..
Kenna studied law at Charleston IN the OF
fee OF Miller and Quarter, aud was al
mitted 20 the bar on june 20, 1870 In the
practice of the law be seemed % have dis
covered his calling From the beginning
he rose rapidly in the profession. In 1877
he was nominated by tbeDemOcrauc party
and elected TO the office OF Prosecuting
Attorney Of hauawha county. In
that capacity be rendered acceptable and
efficient service. In 1874 he came within
few votes of being dominated FOR Congress.
His practice extended into all the surround
ing counties of kanawha and in 1879, in
the absence Of the Circuit Judge, Mr.. Ken
ma was elected the member of the Circuit
Bar TO I'm the position of Judge Of the Cir
cult pro tenn. This was a marked comph-
ment to the ability OF one or hls years, and
was made the more so by the acceptable
manner in which he discharged the I'M
pOrtant obligations of the Bench.
In 1876 MIR kenua was nominated by the
Democrats as their candidate for Congress
In the Third District OF West Virginia.
His competitors were Hon. Frank Here
ford. who had represented the district for
three successive terms, and Hon. Henry =
Walker q man Of great briliancy as a
writer and public speaker The only OBJ
lection urged against Mr.. Kenna was his
lack Of years and experience. He had
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