Somerset County NJ Archives Biographies.....David Randolph KENYON, 1836 - 1901 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nj/njfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 8, 2008, 8:52 pm Author: Mary Depue Ogden, Editor (1917) KENYON, David Randolph, Manufacturer, Inventor. Ready when the Master called, Mr. Kenyon slowly sank under the attacks of heart disease and closed his earthly career, May 16, 1901. A prominent manufacturer of Raritan, New Jersey, he was moreover an exemplary man in all his relations with life. He possessed sterling qualities of character, was an influential citizen, always taking an interest in every enterprise that tended towards the prosperity of Raritan. He was ever ready to extend help to the needy and sympathy to those in distress. He was a son of Palmer Kenyon, one of the first settlers of Raritan, New Jersey, there being but seven houses there when Mr. Kenyon came from Belvidere to Raritan. He was a grandnephew of the founder of Kenyon College, Ohio, and paternally was a descendant of the New York branch of the Kenyon family, a second cousin of Congressman Kenyon of that State. Maternally he descended from Stephen Crane who, with a company of one hundred and thirteen, bought and repaired the ship "Caledonia" at their own expense and came to America from England to escape persecution. The "Caledonia" was wrecked off Amboy, New Jersey, but all reached shore in safety. They were among the first settlers of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and there and in Newark many of the descendants still reside. David Randolph Kenyon was born at Belvidere, New Jersey, October 30, 1836, died at Raritan, New Jersey, May 16,1901. After gaining an education he learned the machinist's trade in the machine shops founded by his father and then operated by the Kenyon estate. After learning his trade he worked in Brooklyn, New York, becoming an expert worker in steel and becoming thoroughly familiar with the designing and building of machinery. Shortly after the Civil War he formed a partnership with his brother, J. C. Kenyon, and engaged in the manufacture of machinery. About 1876 they began the manufacture of textile and finishing machinery, also made the New York meat chopper, a patented device invented by David R. Kenyon, a machine which had a world wide sale and is yet on the market. The plant of the company was located at Raritan, New Jersey, and in addition to the manufacture of machinery used in woolen manufacture, Mr. Kenyon made many valuable improvements in that class of machinery which have been introduced into the factories of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey and Ohio, while his patented machines are in use in almost every country of the world. A most valuable improvement was a machine for the manufacture of chinchilla cloth, the new machine making all the various grades of that cloth. He also patented a cloth drying machine which is very valuable to the manufacturers. In 1895 the firm of D. R. Kenyon & Son was formed, Mr. Kenyon continuing the active head until his death in 1901. The business is still continued by the son, C. C. Kenyon, the products of the mill being shipped all over the world, largely, however, in the United States and Canada. Mr. Kenyon was president of the Raritan Savings Bank, president of the Bridgewater school board, member of the board of county commissioners, member of the Manufacturers' Club of Philadelphia. member of Somerville Lodge, Mo. 46, Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Second Reformed Church of Somerville, New Jersey. For several years he served as committeeman, but refused all other offers of political preferment although often importuned. Mr. Kenyon married, December 2, 1863, Mary Elizabeth Carhart, of Clinton, New Jersey. Their children are: 1. Minnie M., widow of Henry P. Vanderveer, now a resident of Somerville, New Jersey. 2. Angeline D., an artist in oils; she studied her art at the School of Industrial Arts, Philadelphia, and in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and has gained success as an artist. 3. Charles C., of the firm of D. R. Kenyon & Son; is a graduate of Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, class of 1894, partner with his father from 1895 to 1901; at the time of death of his father he became sole owner of the business; ex-mayor of Somerville, New Jersey; member of Manufacturers' Club of Philadelphia; and member of the Masonic order. Additional Comments: Extracted from: MEMORIAL CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF MARY DEPUE OGDEN VOLUME III MEMORIAL HISTORY COMPANY NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 1917 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/nj/somerset/bios/kenyon-dr.jpg This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/njfiles/ File size: 5.0 Kb This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nj/somerset/bios/kenyon-dr.txt