Michael R. Kenefick Biography


	This biography appears on pages 232-236 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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			MICHAEL R. KENEFICK.  

	Honored and respected by all, there is no man who has occupied a 
more enviable position in the financial and business circles of the 
southeastern section of South Dakota than Michael R. Kenefick, who 
passed away on the 11th of February, 1906. The place which he occupied 
in public regard was due not alone to the success he achieved but to 
the straightforward and honorable policy which he ever followed, to his 
courteous manner, his cordial nature and his friendly spirit. He ever 
recognized the good in others and was continually extending a helping 
hand to assist a fellow traveler on life's journey, finding opportunity 
for this in business and in other connections. From the organization of 
the First National Bank of Dell Rapids under its present form until his 
death he occupied the position of cashier and was prominently 
identified with banking interests elsewhere.  

	Mr. Kenefick was a Canadian by birth, born in the province of 
Quebec, near Laubinerre, in 1853. He was but a year old, however, when 
his parents crossed the border into the United States, settling upon a 
farm in Wisconsin, and his youthful days were spent amid the usual 
experiences of the farm lad of the middle west. His education was 
acquired in the public schools and when his books were put aside he 
concentrated his energies upon the occupation to which he had been 
reared, being thus identified with agricultural interests until the 
accidental discharge of a gun caused him the loss of his left hand in 
1868. 

	It was about that time that the family removed to Iowa and Mr. 
Kenefick took up the profession of teaching, which he followed in both 
Butler and Grundy counties. While thus engaged he devoted the evening 
hours to reading law and after mastering many of the principles of 
jurisprudence was admitted to the bar in Franklin county, Iowa, in 
1876, Almost immediately afterward he removed to South Dakota and 
secured a claim in Moody county, upon which he lived for two years. In 
1878 he came to Dell Rapids and formed a law partnership with Albion 
Thorne, with whom he remained until the fall of 1880. On the 
dissolution of that partnership he joined A. H. Hall and when later in 
the same year the partnership with Mr. Hall was discontinued he became 
the professional associate of Hon. Robert Robertson, with whom he 
remained until February, 1881, when Mr. Robertson died. Mr. Kenefick 
was then alone in practice until the spring of 1884, when he turned his 
attention to the banking business, aiding in the organization of the 
Peoples Bank of Dell Rapids, of which he was chosen vice president. At 
a later date that institution was converted into the First National 
Bank and Mr. Kenefick was elected cashier, holding the position 
uninterruptedly to the time of his death. He contributed in large 
measure to the success of the institution. He familiarized himself with 
every phase of the banking business and gave earnest attention to the 
wishes, wants and needs of its patrons, whose interests he most 
carefully safeguarded. He also extended his efforts to banking activity 
elsewhere. In 1889 he became one of the organizers of the Colman State 
Bank, of which he was chosen president. In the winter of 1903 that bank 
was reorganized and converted into a national bank under the name of 
the First National Bank of Colman and Mr. Kenefick remained as its 
president until his death. He was one of the heaviest stockholders in 
the First National Bank of Dell Rapids and he was also the owner of 
large property interests in the city and throughout the surrounding 
country, having made judicious investments in real estate from time to 
time. He started out in life practically empty-handed but worked his 
way upward, his life record proving the force of determination, 
perseverance and laudable ambition.  

	On the 4th of September, 1881, Mr. Kenefick was united in 
marriage to Mrs. Coralynn A. Codington, of Medary, South Dakota, who in 
her maidenhood was Coralynn Chamberlin, a daughter of Colonel Enoch 
Chamberlin, of Waterloo, New York, who was a colonel of the Fifteenth 
Regiment of the New York State Militia. He was a prominent farmer of 
Seneca county who occupied the old home farm of his father, Tenbrooke 
Chamberlin, located about seven miles from Seneca lake. He died at 
Syracuse, New York, whither he had removed after retiring from active 
business life in 1859. His death occurred in 1889, when he had reached 
the age of eighty-one years, His daughter Coralynn had become the wife 
of the Rev. George S. Codington, a Congregational minister, who was one 
of the pioneer preachers of the northwest and for a time followed his 
holy calling in Illinois. From Sioux City, Iowa, he started with his 
young wife for South Dakota in 1872, driving from the former place to 
Medary, this state, with a single horse. The roads were crude and the 
country wild and the settlement in which they took up their abode was 
largely inhabited by the foreign element, containing only seven 
American families. A few years later the Rev. Codington passed away, 
and his widow subsequently became the wife of Michael R. Kenefick. To 
them was born a son, Robert E. Kenefick, who is now married and makes 
his home in Dell Rapids. Mrs. Kenefick has been prominently and 
actively identified with fraternal organizations, being a charter 
member of the Dell Rapids Eastern Star and first worthy matron of the 
order. She was also the first noble grand of the Rebekahs, which lodge 
was named "The Coralynn" in her honor, thus conferring upon her a very 
unusual distinction. She is one of the well known pioneer women of 
South Dakota and a lady of refinement and culture who has made many 
warm friends.  

	Mr. Kenefick was a prominent figure in fraternal circles. He held 
membership with the Masons, Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen and Canton 
Militant lodges of Dell Rapids and with the Elks lodge at Sioux Falls, 
He was a charter member of the Knights of Pythias, the Eastern Star and 
the Rebekahs and an honorary member of Dahlgren Post of the Grand Army 
of the Republic. His life was ever honorable and upright, and he never 
deviated from a course which he believed to be right between himself 
and his fellowmen. He stood for progress and improvement in public 
affairs and at various times did effective work for the benefit of his 
city. For several years he served as president of the council, was at 
various times a member of the board of education and in 1890 was chosen 
mayor of Dell Rapids, in which capacity he was continued by reelection 
until the spring of 1894. He possessed a most generous disposition and 
there are various residents of South Dakota who owe their start in life 
to his assistance and friendly interest. No trust reposed in him was 
ever betrayed in the slightest degree and he held friendship 
inviolable. He was a man of mild disposition, yet lacked not that 
determination which enabled him to pursue a course that he believed to 
be right and to carry forward to successful completion whatever he 
undertook. When death called him, proof of the high regard in which he 
was held was indicated in the fact that his funeral was the largest 
ever seen in this community. Many resolutions of respect were passed by 
the organizations with which he was identified. The resolutions of the 
Odd Fellows spoke of him as "a staunch Odd Fellow, a true friend and 
benefactor to many, and a kind and affectionate husband and father, who 
exemplified the teachings of the order by his tenderness in sympathy 
and his kindness to others in their grief.  

	Unpracticed he to fawn, or seek for power
	By doctrines fashioned to the varying hour.
	Quick to relieve the wretched was his pride,
	And e'en his failings leaned to virtue's side."