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1900: Kenneth is youngest Rock County town

Subhead
Bits by Betty
Lead Summary
By
Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical Society

The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911.
 
Rock County Village (continued from 12-03-20 edition of the Star Herald.)
 
Kenneth
         Located on the line between sections 1 and 2, Vienna township, on the Worthington-Hardwick branch of the Rock Island railroad, seven miles southeast from Hardwick, is Kenneth, the youngest of Rock county’s towns. Although it was the last to come into existence, it has outdistanced some of the other villages, and today is the largest of the county’s unincorporated towns. Since its founding, Kenneth has been distinguished as a leading grain market and derives its support from a rich farming section. It is well supplied with the various business enterprises that go to make a prosperous country community.
         Kenneth came into being as a direct result of the building of the Burlington road extension from Worthington to Hardwick, during the year 1899-1900, and was one of the four towns, three of which were located in Nobles county, that were created by this agency a decade ago. Plans for the new town of Kenneth were in the making for several months before the rails were laid to the proposed location. The track-layers reached Lismore, the nearest station on the east, June 9, 1900, and from that point continued their way westward into Rock county, passing through the Kenneth townsite during the month of July and reaching the terminus at Hardwick on the 4th day of August.
         Before the spring of 1900 opened, negotiations were under way by T. H. Brown & Co., the townsite company connected with the Burlington road, for the purchase of a desirable site for the new town it had been decided to establish in Vienna township. The deal as finally closed in April for the promoters by their agenda, J. A. Kennicott, resulted in the transfer of twenty acres on sections 1 and 2. It was decided at that time to name the town Kenneth, for the eldest son of Mr. Kennicott, in recognition of that gentleman’s efforts in the company’s behalf.1
         The townsite was surveyed by County Surveyor W. N. Davidson, the dedication was made by Thomas H. Brown July 20, 1900, and the papers filed for record ten days later, on July 30. The plat created from this survey formed the town into four blocks. The streets running east and west were named First, Second and Third, and were intersected by First Avenue west, Main avenue and First avenue east. A second plat of Kenneth was surveyed by W. N. Davidson for Andrew Messner2 on April 2, 1902. This survey was filed for record in May, 1902. No additions to the original townsite have been platted.
         Simultaneous with the arrival of the connecting iron band to the undeveloped townsite of Kenneth, during the latter part of July, 1900, building operations were commenced and the town assured of a reality. Before the month of August had passed three elevators had been completed and were prepared to handle the person’s business. The three grain firms initially represented were Bemis & Howard, Ryan & Berg and E. A. Brown.
         Although the greater part of the year 1900 was over before activity in the promotion of the new town was commenced, it saw the establishment of a number of enterprises. Early in October James A. Palmer opened his saloon. The pioneer merchant and first postmaster was J. L. Hogan. He was not long to have an unopposed field in the general merchandise business, for during the winter A. D. Parker became a resident of Kenneth and established a second general store. Mr. Parker at once created a building, 60x22 feet in size, to house his business. About the same time the firm of Trotter & Trotter, hardware dealers, commenced business. The St. Croix Lumber company, during the same season, established a branch yard in Kenneth and installed Frank Underwood as agent. The depot was also erected in 1900, and James Costello became the first station agent.
         1“The new town on the Burlington extension has at least been definitely located. The site chosen is twenty acres on the farms of Nelson & Wold, A. B. Turner, Eric Engebretson and Ben Hoven, on the line between sections 1 and 2 in Vienna township. About five acres is taken respectively from the northwest and southwest quarters of section 1 and the northeast and southeast quarters of section 2. The new town has been named Kenneth, in honor of the son of Jay A. Kennicott, Mr. Kennicott owns a section farm half a mile south of the new town and has been instrumental in securing the location of the town.”—Rock County Herald, April 20, 1900.
         2Mr. Messner purchased the Kenneth townsite from its original owners in June, 1901, and was responsible for its later development.
 
         The story of the village of Kenneth will continue in the Dec. 17 edition of the Star Herald.
         Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

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