Lake County
Biographies
WILLIAM KESEY
Was born in Franklin County, Pennyslvania, February 22, 1819. When he was seventeen years of age he became apprenticed to the cabinet-maker’s trade. When he was twenty years of age he went to Lancaster County, that State, where he worked at his trade one year. He then returned to Franklin County, where he worked at his trade until the spring of 1845, when he went to Wyandotte, Ohio, and there worked at his trade for one year. He then returned to his native county and volunteered for the Mexican War. He was taken sick at once, and after six months he returned to Franklin County, where he remained until 1847. He then went to Ohio with his father, where he clerked in a store until February, 1849, when he started for California, crossing the plains with mule teams. He arrived at Sutter’s Fort September 19th of that year. Here he engaged in packing and trading, which he followed until 1851. He then engaged in keeping a hay-yard at Sacramento City, and also owned and conducted a farm a short distance down the river. In 1852 he lost all his city property by fire, and all his farm products by flood. In 1853 he went to Los Angeles, and was engaged in the stock business until 1858. He then went to Yolo County, where he dealt in stock until 1862. He then went to Washoe, where he remained only a few months. He then went to Calaveras County and prospected until the spring of 1863, when he came to Lake County and located at Lower Lake. Here he engaged in carpentering until fall, when he went to Borax Lake and remained there for about four years, engaged in his trade. In the meantime he purchased a tract of land which he moved upon in 1867, and engaged in farming until the spring of 1871. He then sold out and moved to Lower Lake, where he has since resided, being engaged in wool growing since then to some extent. In 1872 he was appointed Postmaster and Notary Public, which positions he held till 1875. He was appointed Deputy Assessor in 1873, and has held that appointment ever since. He was married, May 26, 1864, to Miss Margaret Adams, a native of Missouri, and they have one child living, James, and have lost one.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 252
JAMES KENNEDY
Was born in Goffstown, New Hamsphire, July 12, 1796. Here he resided on a farm with his parents until 1823, when he, in company with three other men, built a pail factory at New Boston. Just as this institution was proving a success it took fire and burned to the ground. Mr. Kennedy then turned his attention to milling, and was foreman in different grist-mills for about twenty-seven years. Then, on account of failing health, caused from the dust, he changed his labors to saw-mills, which he followed until 1849, when he sailed from Boston in the bark “Chester,” and rounded Cape Horn, arriving at San Francisco, after a rough passage of one hundred and ninety days, in April, 1850. Mr. Kennedy engaged at once in mining, which he followed at different places until June, 1859, when he came to Lake County and settled in Long Valley, where he has since resided. He married, in June, 1823, Miss Phoebe Robie, who died in the spring of 1856 in New Hampshire, leaving six children: Clarinda, Diantha, Roberta, Hiram, Almus and Esther.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 253
HIRAM KENNEDY
Was born in Goffstown, New Hampshire, November 20, 1835. His early days were spent in a saw-mill with his father, and in 1849 the father came to California, and Hiram engaged as apprentice to the mechanic’s trade. This he followed until 1854, when he came via Panama to California, and joined his father at Dicksburg, a mining camp in Yuba County. Here he followed mining until 1859, when, with his father, he came to Lake County and settled in Long Valley, where he now resides. Mr. Kennedy married, August 20, 1872, Miss Rosa Wilson, a native of Pennsylvania, by whom he has three children: Alexis, Milo and Albert.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 253
WILLIAM KERR
Was born in Tennessee, September 12, 1832. In 1849 he went to Missouri, where he followed farming until the spring of 1853, when he crossed the plains to California with ox-teams, and arrived at Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, on the 22d of October of the above year. Here he was engaged in farming, sheep raising, clerking, and working in a wagon shop until 1874, when he came to Lake County and settled at Upper Lake, where he has since resided. Mr. Kerr married, February 16, 1862, Miss Catharine Bradshaw, a native of Missouri. Their children are, Ida, Isaac and Bell. They have lost five: Eva, Lulu, Willie, Cora and Nellie.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 253
THOMAS KEATLEY
Was born in St. Louis County, Missouri, April 19, 1826. When eighteen years of age he went to Houston, Texas, where he followed surveying for about one and a half years. In 1846 he volunteered and served in the war with Mexico eight months, after which he returned to Houston and worked in a cabinet shop and saw-mill for two years. He then went to St. Louis, where he remained until the spring of 1850, when he crossed the plains to California. After spending about one year in Sacramento he went to the southern mines, and after about six months went to Trinity County. Here he followed mining until the fall of 1852, when he made a trip through Lake County to San Francisco, where he remained, being engaged in different business, until 1859, when he returned to St. Louis. Here he remained until 1861, when he again came to San Francisco, where he engaged in contracting and building until 1873, at which time he went to Cloverdale, Sonoma County, where he spent one year. He then came to Lake County and settled at Upper Lake, where he owns and conducts the Upper Lake planing and grist mill. Mr. Keatley married, June 14, 1860, Miss Amelia Gibson, a native of Missouri. They have three children: William T., Fannie P. and Ella F.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 253-254