Kenton, Simon, 1755-1836

Kentucky and Ohio frontiersman, pioneer, and settler.

From the description of Simon Kenton : miscellaneous papers, 1798-1818. (Filson Historical Society, The). WorldCat record id: 49244572

Simon Kenton, a pioneer settler of Kentucky, was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, April 3, 1755. In the spring of 1775, Kenton and Thomas Williams explored the area of Mason County, Kentucky, where they set up camp. Kenton moved on to Boonesborough in the fall of that year and became a famous scout and Indian fighter. Shortly after his first wife's death, Kenton married Elizabeth Jarboe in 1798. That same year, Kenton moved to Ohio where he spent the rest of his life, mostly in poverty. He managed his finances badly, lost large amounts of land, and was even briefly imprisoned for debt while on a visit to Washington, Kentucky, in 1820. Kenton died near Zanesville, Ohio, April 29, 1836.

From the description of Simon Kenton collection, 1780-1865. (Kentucky Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 38849974

From the description of Simon Kenton deposition, 1811 Aug. 17. (Kentucky Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 48093524

American explorer, land owner, and general in the Ohio Militia.

From the description of Contracts, 1780-1805. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86171724

From the description of Deposition, 1814. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122462107

From the guide to the Simon Kenton contracts, 1780-1805, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

Indian fighter, scout, and army officer.

From the description of Papers of Simon Kenton, 1787. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79423785

Frontiersman, scout.

Kenton, a native of Virginia, lived in Kentucky for more than twenty years. He worked with Daniel Boone and George Rogers Clark and fought in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

From the description of Kenton vs. McConnell and Keene depositions, 1789-1795, 1789-1790 (bulk dates). (University of Kentucky Libraries). WorldCat record id: 13531744

Frontiersman, Indian fighter, and early settler (1802) with friend and business partner William Ward on Miami or Symmes Purchase lands in the Mad River Township (9th range of townships) of Greene County (now Champaign County), Ohio.

Kenton and Ward purchased their land from Cincinnati land speculator John Cleves Symmes, who in 1788 obtained the Miami Purchase lands from the federal government.

From the description of Know all men by these presents that we Simon Kenton and William Ward both of the eleventh range of the Miami purchase in the county of Green & state of Ohio are held and firmly bound unto John Cleves Symmes of Cincinnati in the county of Hamilton & said state of Ohio in the full and just sum of four thousand dollars ... : bond, 1804 Apr. 20. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 38562000

Simon Kenton was born in Fauquier County, Virginia in 1755. At the age of sixteen, he migrated west and spent two years hunting along the Ohio River. After serving in Dunmore's War in 1774, Kenton moved to Boonesborough, Kentucky where Daniel Boone hired him as a scout. During the Revolutionary War, Kenton scouted for George Rogers Clark and others.

After receiving large tracts of land (which he later lost), Kenton moved to Ohio in 1798 and served as a brigadier general in the Ohio Militia. He also fought in the War of 1812. Kenton died in 1836, impoverished except for his twenty dollar monthly pension. Kenton County, Kentucky is named for him.

From the description of Papers, 1782-1814. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 191917720