Orrin Potter Kenyon, youngest son of William Gardner and Emeline Bull (Allen) Kenyon, was born January 11, 1852, at Point Judith. His childhood was spent at Wakefield, where he attended for a time the local public school. He was afterwards a student at the famous Friends' School, at Providence, and upon completing his studies he was given a position in his father's store, where he secured his early business training. At the death of his father, he purchased the business, and continued to operate it until 1881, when he formed a partnership with his eldest brother, William A. Kenyon. This lasted until the death of the latter, when he again came into possession of the whole interest, and erected a new store on what was part of the old Kenyon farm, opposite the Post Office. In 1891 he moved into the new building on the corner of Main street and Kenyon avenue, where he developed a large and prosperous business. With the exception of three years, which were spent by him in a woolen house at Providence, Mr. Kenyon has made his home in South Kingston. He was formerly a director of the Wakefield Land & Investment Company, which was liquidated in 1918, and he owns the 'Boston Store' at Narragansett Pier, which he conducts during the summer season, for the wealthy tourists at that place. He is an active operator in real estate in and about Wakefield. Orrin P. Kenyon married, August 24, 1880, Fannie Gorton Grafton, a daughter of Samuel G. Grafton, and three children were born to them, as follows: Grafton Irving, with whose career we are here especially concerned; Leslie, born March 12, 1883, and died Aug. 31, 1885; and Gladys Bull, born Nov. 22, 1888, married Dr. Joseph N. Crandall, of Wakefield.
