Kennan

 

Downtown Kennan 1912
 
Contributed by: Dale Heikkinen

Town of Kennan
The Town of Kennan was formed on January 8, 1889 from parts of the Towns of Ogema and Georgetown. It was 37 square miles in size covered in dense timber with tributaries of the Jump River running through it. In the northern half of the Town the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault St. Marie Rail Road ran across it east/west.
The first settlement in the Town of Kennan was the settlement of Kennan which was located on the railroad line.
 
Kennan began as a small railroad station along the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault St. Marie Rail Road line. It was platted in 1886 by K. K. Kennan and thus named after him. Another village was also considered and platted in 1890 with discussion to call it Ripley but it was never actually settled.
 The Kennan settlement had a post office and a newspaper. The "Banner" newspaper was owned and operated by W. W. Yarham and it carried an independent political view.
Kennan also had a sawmill operated by Rickett Brothers company.
In 1890 there were approximately 20 people living in the settlement of Kennan.

Kennan, WI Baseball Team:
Identified in the Front Row: 2nd from left -Frank Jones; 2nd from right Albert Keller;
Identified in the Back Row: Far right – Cliff Edinger; 2nd from right – Otto Keller; center – Mr. Greene.
 
Photograph contributor: Ronald Tovsen.

 
If you have any information you would like to contribute, please contact the County Coordinator.

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