Michael Johnston Kenan (1807-1875) was born at Milledgeville, Georgia. He married Catherine Anna Spalding, and they settled near Catherine's home in McIntosh County, Georgia. Kenan was an attorney by profession, but he abandoned his practice because of his deafness and became a planter. As a young man, Kenan was appointed by Governor Troup as secretary of the commission to investigate the murder of General (Chief) McIntosh by Indians near Carrolton, Georgia. Although this experience convinced Kenan that whites were treating Indians unfairly, he was later given credit for the removal of the Cherokee Indians from Georgia when he was a colonel on General Winfield Scott's staff.
From the description of Michael Johnston Kenan papers, 1836-1871. (Georgia Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 44645382
