Jared Kenyon, son of Potter and Martha Armsbury Kenyon, was born in Petersburg, Rensselaer County, N. Y., March 30, 1819, and died at his home in Independence, N. Y., March 27, 1908. He lacked but three days of being eighty-nine years of age.
April 11, 1839, he was married to Clarissa Brown, with whom he lived happily for more than forty-three years. She died October 16, 1882. To them was born one son, Orson C., January 28, 1841. He enlisted for the Civil War, but died on Craney Island, September 19, 1862.
Brother Kenyon was baptized by Elder John Green, and joined the Petersburg Seventh-day Baptist Church when eleven years of age. As a child he loved prayer more than play. At nineteen years of age he preached his first sermon, and was licensed to preach when about twenty-four years old. He preached two years for the Petersburg Church, and then moved to Alfred to attend school. He was four years in school, preaching at Elm Valley once in two weeks, during the last year.
When through school, Mr. Kenyon became pastor of the Second Alfred Church, which he served about six years. While pastor there he taught school for five years, during four years of which time he was town superintendent of schools. He served the First Alfred Church, as a supply for a short time, before Elder Hull became pastor there. In 1855, he moved to Independence and served the church as its pastor for twenty-five years. During this pastorate one hundred and twenty were added to the Independence Church.
For many years he was an active member of the Missionary Board of the Western Association, before the work was turned over to our general Missionary Board. The Board would send him to the churches to collect funds for this work. He was always a good worker at the quarterly meetings in this county and among our churches in Pennsylvania.
After an illness of about five weeks, while loving hands ministered to his needs, our brother was called home. A. G. C.
