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Kenney History
in a Pecan ShellSettlement
here began in the late 1820s, with German immigrants buying land from the original
Anglo landowners starting in the 1840s and continuing into the late 1800s.
The community formed around a station of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad
in 1880. A post office was granted that same year.
The community (first
named Thompson, Texas) was equidistant from the county seats of Bellville
(Austin County) and and Brenham
(Washington County). J.F. Thompson was the town’s namesake and first postmaster.
In the mid 1880s the first name change occurred. This was done to honor evangelist
John Wesley Kenney. First it was Kenneyville
(1884) and by 1892 it became simply Kenney. History hasn’t recorded Mr. Thompson’s
feelings on the change of name.
By 1885 the population was a mere 150
but the community had a gin and gristmill.
This dropped to kust 75 residents
by 1890 (probably due to the ease of travel to the larger towns). By 1904 the
number of residents had grown to just over 200 where it has stayed (more or less)
ever since.
A historical marker commemorates
John Wesley Kenney. |
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The
Kenney Store
TE
photo, August 2002 |
Historical
marker for the town's namesake
TE
photo, August 2002
More
People |
Historical
Marker TextJohn
Wesley Kenney(1799-1865)
One of great pioneer Methodist
ministers of Texas. Pennsylvania-born, he began preaching
at age 19. In 1833 he came to Texas and soon settled
in this county. Unkempt in appearance, Kenney redeemed his eccentricity with an
eloquent style of preaching. In Texas -- then part
of Mexico and Catholic by law -- he helped found Methodist societies and, in 1834,
served a vast circuit covering all of present state west of Trinity River. In
1836 he took part in Texas War for Independence. His lifetime saw Methodism become
one of the major denominations in state. | |
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