Kenney, Texas, Austin County. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Settlement 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.

The Kenney Store
TE photo, August 2002

Historical marker for the town's namesake
TE photo, August 2002
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Historical Marker

John 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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