|
RECALLS BIG EXPLOSION
William R. Kenyon, former mayor of Butte and at one time a leading
merchant of the city and a prominent politician of the state of Montana,
is dead in Amsterdam, N.Y. The end came there yesterday and was caused
by acute indigestion. Mr. Kenyon was 67 years of age and leaves two
daughters, Fredericka and Caroline, and one son, William. His wife died
several years ago.
Mr. Kenyon was a native of Oswego N.Y. When a young man he went
to Iowa, where he was in the mercantile business and took an active
interest in politics. From Iowa he came to Montana and to Butte, where
he again engaged in the hardware business. After some years of success
in this line he started the Kenyon-Connell company, one of the largest
supply houses at the time in the Northwest.
It was the great explosion of January 15, 1895, that practically ruined
the concern. The warehouses of the Kenyon-Connell and Butte Hardware
companies near the Great Northern depot were destroyed by an awful
explosion of giant powder on the
night of that |
Suits on behalf of relatives were brought against the two concerns
aggregating more than $100,000. Several verdicts were had against the
Kenyon-Connell company, the first being for $5,000. Before the jury came
in with the verdict in the case the whole Kenyon-Connell stock was
attached by the Clark bank for big indebtedness it had run with the bank.
When his company was thus wiped out, Mr. Kenyon left Butte for
Dallas, Texas, where he started again in the hardware business and
continued in it until a few years ago, when he retired.
It is said his business venture in Texas was not altogether
successful. On leaving Texas, Mr. Kenyon went to Amsterdam, N.Y. where he
engaged in the lumber business with his brother with success.
Mr. Kenyon was a democrat in politics and took quite an
active part in public affairs while in Butte. He was elected mayor of the
city in 1888 and again in 1889, the term then being for one year. In 1894
he was chairman of the democratic state central committee. He was one of
the original members of the Silver Bow club. Date:
Tuesday, July 30, 1907 |