Kenworthy - D. C.
Source: Biographical and genealogical history of Appanoose and Monroe Counties, Iowa New York: Lewis Pub. Co., 1903, p 541.
The subject of this sketch
is a man who has been prominent in many of the affairs of life, has
fought on the battlefields of the south in defense of the Union, has
been a leading farmer of the county for nearly half a century and has
taken an active part in public, social and religious matters of the
community. His grandfather, Elisha Kenworthy was a native of PA, he and
his wife Sarah both died in Indiana. Thomas Kenworthy, father of DC
Kenworthy was born in Ohio where he was reared on a farm. In 1844 he
went to Miami County, Indiana and until 1853 ran a grist and saw mill.
Then coming to Monroe County, Iowa, he bought a farm near where the
subject of this sketch now lives; selling this place a few years later
he removed to Rinngold County, but soon sold the farm he had acquired
there to the Burlington RR, and then went to Oregon, where he died at
the age of 85. He was a successful medical practitioner in Iowa for a
number of years and was a man of sterling traits of character. He lived
during the heat of the slavery strife and was an uncompromising
abolitionist Republican and was an active supporter of John C. Fremont
in the first campaign of that party; he was also a friend of Colonel Jim
Lane of Kansas. He was a Methodist in religion. He was married in
Montgomery County, Indiana to Sarah Beesley, a native of PA; she was the mother of 12 children: Sirena, Irnada, Delitha, Louisa, Mary, Saphrona,
Martha, David C, and 4 others. Thomas Kenworthy's second wife was
Minerva Jackson by whom he had 7 children; she died in Oregon.
David C.
Kenworthy was born at Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana July
13, 1839 and was 14 years old when he came to Monroe County in November
1853, and here he was reared and completed his education in the common
schools. When he was 22 he enlisted in July 1861 in Co. H, 1st Iowa Vol
Cavalary under Col. F. Warren and Capt. D. Anderson. He saw much active
service in the campaign in Missouri, Arkansas and Mississippi; he was in
the engagements with General Price's army, also Quantrell's raiders and
Bill Anderson's troopers. He was in the battle at Jackson, Missouri;
Little Rock, Arkansas; Camden, Missouri; and he started to assist
General Banks in the Red River expedition, but his regiment failed to
reach him in time; they then went on a forced march up the Saline River
to meet General Price and after crossing on pontoon bridges engaged in a
hard fight which lasted all day; he took part in the battle of the
Poison Springs on the lIttle Missouri and then received a veterans'
furlough for 30 days. He was stationed at Mexico and St. Joseph,
Missouri and fought bushwhackers all over the state; he was sent to
Jefferson City to support the Union forces against Price and received
his final discharge in November 1865 returning home with amost enviable
war record.
While on his veteran's furlough, Mr. Kenworthy was married
May 29, 1864 to Alice Harris who was born in Delaware County, Ohio in
1845, being the daughter of R. B. Harris, a native of New York and of
Mary Bains, a native of Wales. Morris Bains, the father of the latter,
is now 100 years old and was born in Wales, where he married Alice
Jones; in 1835 they came to Delaware County, Ohio and 1856 to Monroe County;
they had two children, Edward deceased and Mrs. Harris; Mr. Bains has 8
great great grandchildre, 36 great and 18 grandchildren and he is known
and respected as one of the patriarchs of the county. RB Harris and wife
had 14 children: William, who was a soldier in the Civil War in the 1st
Iowa Calvary and died while in service; Alice, who became Mrs.
Kenworthy; Zilia, deceased; Morris; Albert; Edward, deceased; Clinton,
deceased; Emily McGillis, living in this county; Mary; Losinia, wife of
Rev. William Potter of the Methodist Church at Ainsworth, Iowa; Hattie
and 3 others. The father of these children passed away at age 80 and
mother at 77; the former being a member of the Republican party and both
devoted members of the Methodist church.
Mr. and Mrs. Kenworthy are the
parents of 5 children: Florence, the wife of Henry Payne, of Albia;
Mattie R. Barnhill of Franklin Twp, a former teacher of the county;
Arthur who married Myra Searcy, of this county; Hattie of Albia and Maud
Richardson, residing in this county. Mr. Kenworthy lives on a three
hundred acre farm, known as the old George Town farm. He takes an active
interest in the success of the Republican party and is a member of the
central committee of the township, of which he has been chair for years;
he is a leading member of the post of the Grand Army of the Republic at
Albia; and he has been steward of the Methodist Church for many years
and one of its most liberal supporters. Throughout his long residence in
the county he has proved himself a man of no mean ability and is held
in high regard.