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F.W. Kenny House
1818 Grant Street
Earliest know images
is from 1892 when it was the home owned by Mr. F. W. Kenny. It later
served as the home of local physician, Dr. Nielsen, who had his offices in
the second floor rooms.
Later owners:
Mrs. A. J. Kenny (1908)
Dr. Morris Nielsen
Mrs. Milton (Esther) Olson [Current owner]
 from
The Blair
Courier, Jan. 23, 1892
(Grand
Opening of the Keeley Institute)
Mr.
F. W. Kenny, Sr.
Mr. Kenny, the president of the Keeley Institute of
Blair, is a gentleman so well known in this part of the
state that it is poor taste for the writer to undertake
the difficult task of saying anything that would be new
to most of our readers, but we cannot let the
opportunity pass without giving a few lines in reference
to his past life.
Mr. Kenny was born in Geneva, Ashtabula county, Ohio,
in 1844. There he passed his early lift going to school.
Mr. Kenny also took a turn at the printers trade, but
was fortunate enough to drop it before he got too far
going on it.
At the outbreak of the rebellion he enlisted and was
with Sherman all through the war, receiving an honorable
discharge in June 1865. He returned to his home in Ohio,
and remained there but a short time, going to Chicago to
engage in the wholesale hardware business, where he
remained for five years, traveling most of the time for
the house he was connected with. At the expiration of
this time he concluded to come farther west, and in 1870
he came to Blair, bought an interest in the hardware
business of H.C. Riordan. Here he continued with Mr.
Riordan for seven years, when Mr. J. S. Stewart
purchased the interest of Mr. Riordan, and the firm
became known as Kenny & Stewart. The new block was built
in 1882. In January 1887, Mr. K. sold out his interest
to J. H. and E. A. Stewart. The Blair State Bank was
organized in 1887, Mr. Kenny being elected president,
which position he has since held. The bank is located at
the northeast corner of Washington street and Walker
avenue, and the building is one of the finest in the
county. He was one of the organizers of the Blair
Canning Company, and is still a member of the board of
directors. He has been a member of the Board of
Education for sixteen years, three of which he served as
its president. Mr. Kenny has been mayor of Blair twice,
and that he gave satisfaction is evidenced by the manner
in which the people in general wanted to elect him
again, but he insisted on not accepting if elected. He
is president of the Building and Loan Association, a
prosperous and paying institution; also president of the
Electric Light Company, and in all is one of the busiest
gentlemen in this neck of the woods.
Mr.
Kenny was married in 1871 to Miss Amy Taggart, daughter
of Rev. J. M. Taggart, a gentleman who was well known
and respected by the people of this county. Mrs. Kenny
was also a general favorite in this city. They have
seven children, five girls and two boys, the oldest
being Fred W. Kenny, Jr. They reside at the corner of
Grant and Fifth streets, where everything is planned to
make a pleasant and comfortable home.
As president of the Keeley Institute, Mr. Kenny has
been a faithful worker for this cure and the making of
so many men, and he is honored and respected by many
reformed men and thankful wives and children.
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