Charles H. Kenyon
Arizona USGENWEB archives
Arizona, the Youngest State, 1913, page 485

The list of Arizona's pioneers contains the name of no more worthy, upright and loyal 
citizen than that of Charles H. Kenyon, whose death in February 1906 lessened that 
sturdy band of men to whose initiative spirit and preserving labor the state owes her 
early development and upbuilding.  Mr. Kenyon was born in New York in 1840 and was a son of 
Henry C. and Elizabeth (Yerden) Kenyon, natives of New York, where they lived and died. 
In their family were five children, all of whom have passed away, the subject of
this review being the second in order of birth.

Charles H. Kenyon acquired his education in the New York public schools and when he was 
eighteen years of age came west across the plains taking the old overland route,
by which the journey from St. Louis to San Francisco could be accomplished in 
twenty-two days. He pushed on to Arizona, naming the Kenyon stage station and going forward to 
Stein's Pass in Pima County where he spent eight years as a pony express rider between 
that place and Fort Yuma.  

Here he encountered conditions typical of the pioneer west, his days being filled with 
hard riding, rough labor and danger from Indians and outlaws.  He had many narrow 
escapes from death, having his horse killed under him on several occasions, and the 
life was altogether one which demanded courage, coolness and self-reliance.  Possessed 
of these qualities Mr. Kenyon became well known and popular in the locality, which he
left after eight or ten years thus spent he settled in Fort Yuma and embarked in 
business as a general merchant, conducting a profitable and important enterprise of 
the character until 1872 when he disposed of his mercantile interests and purchased 
property in Rome, New York.  For some time thereafter he journeyed back and forth 
across the continent, dividing his attention between the management of his eastern 
and western interests butin 1879 he located permanently in Globe, where he engaged 
in the stock business.  He purchased a large herd of cattle and conducted a profitable 
ranch until 1900 when he sold his land and stock, investing the comfortable fortune 
which he had acquired in city real estate and retired from active life, making 
his home in Globe until his death,which occurred in February 1906.

In 1872 Mr. Kenyon wedded Miss Sarah J. Crampton and they had the distinction of being the first white couple 
married in Phoenix.  She is a daughter of John V. and Matilda J. (Burnette) Crampton.  The mother, who was a 
native of South Carolina, crossed the plains to California with her parents in 1850 and was married the following
year to John V. Crampton, an native of Ireland, who died about 1856.  She subsequently married James A. Moore, 
who was born in New York and was also a western pioneer.  Their marriage took place in San Bernadino, California 
where for a number of years Mr. Moore served a county sheriff.  He afterward went to Wickenburg and became 
interested in the Vulture gold mines.  He was however, unsuccessful in his mining operations and there lost a 
fortune, thence moving to San Francisco and dying in 1853.  His wife survived him until 1901 and made her home 
in Globe.  By her first marriage Mrs. Moore had three children: Mary, the widow of Henry Fitzgerald of San 
Francisco, John F. Crampton of Globe and Sarah J., now Mrs. Kenyong.  The children by here second marriage were
Susie A. and Clara A., twins, the former of whom is deceased, while the latter is the wife of George Schofield,
a rancher living near Rosemont and J. Arthur Moore, who resides in Globe.

Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon became the parents of four children: Maud B., who was born in New 
York and is now the wife of George Kingdon, general superintendent of the Old 
Dominion Mines and Smelter Co of Globe; Arthur M., who operates the hoist in the 
Old Dominion Mines; Myrtle M. who is connected with the Gila Valley Bank and Claude 
H. who was born in 1893.  All of these children acquired their education in California 
and the eldest daughter was a teacher of music previous to her marriage.  
Mrs. Kenyon owns a large amount of property in Globe.