Welcome to the Kenyon surname project, a family history site currently focused on identify the parents of Lyman Kenyon. Until they are identified, the family history is stuck in New York with a lot of questions of where we came from, but with very few answers. So, here is what is known about Lyman Kenyon and his ancestors so far. Before I get into that, anyone reading this who may have any information, which may provide any additional information on Lyman Kenyon is encouraged to email me.
Lyman Kenyon was born about 1815 in New York and died Sep 1882 in Arcadia, Trempealeau, Wisconsin.
Since the names of his parents are unknown, at this time, he is not identified on the 1820, 1830, and 1840 U.S. Censuses, which show only the number of children within age categories of their head-of-household parents.There is an account from “The Phelps Family of America and their English Ancestors,” by Judge Oliver Seymour, Vol 1, Eagle, 1899, that Lyman (Kinion) married Melissa on 30 Jun 1843. Family records, in the possession of Dick Nutter, show the name of Melissa Phelps on an old Kenyon Brothers’ document. At this point, it is unclear where the two were married.
Lyman is first identified on the 1847 Wisconsin Census, in Shullsburg, Lafayette, Wisconsin, where he has two children under the age of ten. On the 1850 U.S. Census, he and his family are living in Centre, Lafayette, Wisconsin. He purchased a lot in Avon, on 04 Dec 1850, which is now known as Darlington. Lyman is listed as 35 years old, a carpenter. They have three children: Alonzo, age 3; Alphonzo, age 2; and Charles, age 1. All the children are listed as being born in Wisconsin. He sold the property one year later, which was witnessed by John Gray, who may have been a close friend of his from New York.
One family document places the birth of Alphonzo Kenyon, as “Stump Grove,” in Lafayette. Stump Grove was a small community located between Shullsburg, and Darlington. By one account, Stump Grove was “filled with prospectors and miners of lead.” (www.wisconsinhistory.org – name and date of the article are unknown.) The 1855 Wisconsin Census shows Lyman living in Centre, Lafayette County, WI.The 1860 U.S. Census shows him living in Darlington,Lafayette, Wisconsin. Darlington was organized in 1849, but was for a long time known as Center (also spelled Centre). (Name and date of the newspaper are unknown, www.wisconsinhistory.org). It is likely the family did not move, only the name of the town changed sometime between 1850 and 1860. The census also shows the addition of four more children: David, Millard, Lyman, and Julia, all of whom were born in Wisconsin. (His land deed was recorded 18 March 1863, which may suggest the approximate date when he moved to Arcadia, WI.)
The 1870 Census shows that the family moved to Arcadia, Trempealeau, Wisconsin. The census shows one additional child, Frederic, who died 28 Jun 1873, at age11, and buried in the Arcadia, Wisconsin Cemetery. His inscription reads, “Son of L. and M. Kenyon.”Lyman lists himself as a farmer and appeared to have increased his holding of real estate. In fact, Lyman Kinyon received 160 acres from the Homestead Act. He settled on the land 26 October 1863 and was issued the land patent final certificate 1 March 1871.
The 1880 Census shows wife Melissa a widow, but Arcadia town historian reports that Lyman did not die until 1882. So, it is unclear why Melissa may have reported herself as a widow when Lyman was still alive. Lyman does not show on the 1880 Census. Perhaps, he was in a hospital. Melissa is reported to have died in 1888.
Here are some of my favorite websites:
Wisconsin Historical Society (http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/research.asp)
Washington County, New York, Historian Office (http://www.co.washington.ny.us/Departments/His/His1.htm)
Lyman Kenyon's grave on Findagrave (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSfn=Lyman&GSmn=&GSln=Kenyon&GSby=&GSbyrel=in&GSdy=&GSdyrel=in&GScntry=4&GSst=51&GScnty=0&GSob=n)